Clothespin Cup Clips

 In our house of four kids I could spend my days filling and emptying my dishwasher of just cups alone. My solution has been one cup a day per kid. We have a space on our counter where I line up the kids cups in order of age. This works just fine, until we run into days when more than one child chose the same type of cup. Then begins the filling fast of the dishwasher again. One of my followers has a post on her blog (mightytwosave.blogspot.com) about clothespins being used to identify whose cup is whose. I thought this to be a wonderful and fun solution to our cup confusion.
One idea is to have your child decorate their own clothespin. What child would not have fun doing that! I decided however, to make them for my kids. They have used clothespins in many different crafts in the past. I did not feel they would miss out, but rather have fun with what I came up with.
You could simply do a solid color differing color for each child, or add the child's name, glue ribbon to the front, make a label cover it in contact paper and glue it to the front of the clothespin and so on. Have your kids color them with markers, paint them, put stickers on them, glue pom poms and turn them into caterpillars etc. Your imagination could go wild.
Please keep in mind I am not an artist, just a mom whose kids are blinded by my love. They do not see the amateur work, but rather the fun intended. Smile, smile!

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Resurrection Eggs for Easter

Easter is Springing upon us and I wanted to share with you one of our family's favorite traditions. Resurrection Eggs.
Before becoming a mom to my own wonderful children, my mom shared resurrection eggs with me. Years back my mom made her own eggs, treasure hunting all over town for just the right things of the right size to tell the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. Even as a twenty something year old, I was captivated by the interactive display of what Jesus has done for me.
 Now that I have a family of my own, I too have shared these plastic eggs with my children. This is a captivating way of reminding children (and ourselves) what Easter is truly about. The way it works... hiding in each egg is an item that goes along with the story of Jesus' death and resurrection. The eggs are numbered to follow along with the story. I have my children each take  turns opening an egg at the appropriate time. If you don't already have this as part of your family's Easter tradition, I do hope you add it in and see the joy on your little ones (or big ones) faces.
You can now buy ready made and packaged resurrection eggs at your local Christian bookstore or even online. You could even search online for tips, video and instructions on how to make your own if you want to turn this into a craft for your kiddos.
Here are some links I found of places to purchase Resurrection Eggs online. I did not check out what the shipping or tax if applicable is on any of the below stores. Hint: Whenever I purchase anything online I always check the Internet for the stores coupon codes or promotional codes. Sometimes you can get an additional percentage off or free shipping by doing this.
Christianbook.com
Deepershopping.com
Christianbookstore.net
Stevensbook.com

The treasure of truth cracked open in these eggs is way better than any jelly bean found in a plastic egg on an egg hunt. Happy (almost) Easter!

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Potato Chowder Bread Bowls

Well we have been at it again. Putting our Kid's Crock Pot cookbook to use (click here for post on the cookbook we use  Kids In The Kitchen.) This time it was my seven year old's turn. She selected Potato Chowder that we served in bread bowls from Panera Bread Restaurant. She had fun serving everyone and playing hostess to our family. We are having great fun... if you have not already may I highly suggest you do purchase this book. If you have a kid's cookbook you love, I would love to hear about it.

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Basket Case

I love baskets! As a young child of four years, I took dance classes next door to a shop where all they made and sold were baskets. My mom took me in there once and  from that day on, after every class I would beg her to take me back. The smell, the different shapes, colors and textures of  the shelves and shelves of baskets was so fascinating to me. Here I am decades later and baskets are still woven into my heart.
I found these baskets on clearance and knew I would find a use for them. I just had no idea when I bought them how perfectly adorable they could become. Here is the transformation of three very plain and ordinary baskets into cute and purposeful.

  I began by threading the ribbon through the top and bottom of the basket.

I then hot glued the ribbon to the basket. On the bottom I folded the ribbon in and glued it's edge so it would not fray, before gluing it to the basket.

I stenciled a star between the two ribbons. I used a stencil brush, but I am sure a paintbrush would work just fine.

 

There are so many great things you could do. Instead of stenciling the star directly on the basket you could attach a wooden star cutout. Or add a small chalk board. Add a word in wooden letters. Or a monogram. Add a small picture frame. The possibilities are limitless. These baskets have a specific purpose now and I can not wait to put them in their new home. These baskets will be "hanging" out in my baby boy and horse lover daughter's room. I will reveal their special spot in a post to soon to follow.

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Little Bakers: Child's Apron and Chef Hat

My three year old came to me and told me she wanted to bake a cake. "I won't get very messy," she said, "just a little messy" were here convincing words. So my three little bakers got dressed and ready to get, just a little messy, as they stired and mixed their masterpiece.
The fun aprons and bakers hats were handmade gifts from their aunt. Absolutely darling and tons of fun for the girls to dress the part.

For all of you who enjoy making handmade gifts, may I suggest this project for you. One more great gift idea for your own kids or someone else. The Internet is full of great free patterns as well as ones to be purchased. Through my search I came across this great blog that has a tutorial on how to make an apron and chef hat. Making It Fun Blog: Kid's Apron & Chef Hat.

Life is never dull or lacking of entertainment around our home!

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Cloth Diapers Transformed Into Cute Burp Cloths

Boring cloth diapers turned adorable burp cloths is the continued subject of this post.
 In my previous post I stated if you have a sewing machine and can sew in a straight line, then this is the project for you. So very simple, cute and fun. They make for great gifts too!

All you need:
Cloth Diapers (you can find them at Babies R' Us or even Target)
Minky Fabric or Flannel Fabric
Coordinating Thread 
Sewing Machine
Ribbon (optional)
Piece of paper for pattern
Scissors 
Straight Pins

Cut a piece of paper 7"x9" for your pattern.
Fold fabric in half, placing pattern (7" side) at the fold. Cut around your pattern. Lay your fabric on your diaper cloth and pin around the edges. (If you are adding ribbon pin the ribbon at the same time you pin the fabric to the diaper cloth.)
Now time to sew. If you are using ribbon I suggest a straight stitch (both side edges of the ribbon are to be sewn). If not adding ribbon you could use a zigzag stitch or a straight stitch. Another hint if using ribbon, cut ribbon long enough to hang over the edge of the diaper cloth. Sew the ribbon thoroughly at the end of the cloth so it does not fray. Then cut the remainder of the ribbon off once sewn.
This could not be more simple for completely darling Burp Cloths.

Another great use I have found for these cloths with my kids has been when they have a cold. When the inevitable runny nose occurs for my little ones, we use these soft burpies to wipe cute noses. I prefer my little ones to carry around a burp cloth than a soggy tissue. I also am not a fan of tissues in bed with my kids, so our solution has been burp cloths. They have loved it! It actually brings them comfort to lay down to nap or bed with a burp cloth, when their nose is runny or stuffy.

 

A ribbon edge instead of ruffle ribbon as seen in my previous post.



 Or just minky and flannel fabric in a rectangle pattern.









  Tip on buying fabric...
I always look for bolts of fabric that are at the end... not much left on them. Most fabric stores love getting rid of the ends of bolts for great reduced prices! When you take your fabric to be cut, ask what price they will give you if you take all of it. I love getting fabric for a steal of a deal!

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Ruffled Burp Cloth for Baby

Darling burp clothes are one of my favorite things for baby. Whether you bottle feed or nurse your baby you have to burp your baby. Those little bubbles in baby's tummy have to be patted out into what sometimes ends up coming out in more than just a burp if you know what I mean. Why not have a soft and cute burp cloth for baby hanging over your shoulder?

When I was pregnant with my youngest daughter I turned some regular cloth diapers into cozy, soft minky burpies. Now you can find these all over the Internet it seems... some at prices that astonish me.  Oh the price we pay for CUTE!
If you have a sewing machine and can sew in a straight line, then there is nothing preventing you from making your own like I did. The ones pictured here are for a friend who is having a baby girl, no worries my baby boy will not be subjected to pink burpies!






Before we jump into the simple diaper cloth burpie (I will do in my next post), let's walk through how I made the smaller ruffled, minky and flannel burp cloth.

I first cut out my flannel  and minky fabrics in a rounded shape. I used a burp cloth I had for a pattern, but you could cut one out of paper to the shape and size you desire.
I then pinned the ruffle first to my flannel fabric, since the ruffle I chose was being folded in half. It seemed easier for me to get the ruffle on one piece and then both pieces of fabric later.
Hint: You could make this more simply by adding Ric Rack instead of a more challenging ruffle ribbon like this one.

I then pinned the minky fabric using the same pins in the flannel. I am sure this is probably the hard way of doing it, but it was what I found to be best in my very limited sewing knowledge.

Pinned and ready to be sewn together.

 All done! Ready for a most adorable baby girl! Burp away baby!

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