Feeling Crafty

I've had this insecurity for making gifts for friends.  I will make things for my family on occasion but I'm always nervous about making something for a friend because what if they think it is lame?!  Well after receiving so many cute homemade gifts at my baby shower I decided I would make a gift for a friend.  This friend just had a baby girl in January and is such an amazing person.  She is a woman of so many trades but doesn't really like to get crafty so I decided to make something for her little girl.  Since she has two older boys she loves dressing her little girl in a lot of pink so I stuck with pink things.

I made these three hair clips all in different shades of pink.  

 As well as a frilly, pink tutu.

 Here are a few more hair clips I've made in the last week.  

Here are the tutorials I based my designs off of: Ruffle petal flower, Bows, Felt Rose, cluster of flowers, rolled felt flower.

Five Kid's Crafts for February

It's been a mild winter but cold enough to keep us inside on most days.  I have a new baby in the home so my son has been babysat by the TV or games on my phone.  I admit it but you got to do what you've got to do.  I have tried to do a few activities with my son to change up the routine a bit.  Here are 5 projects we have done in February.

1. Fruit Loop necklaces.

2.  Valentine Card for Dad

3. Play Doh

We made every color of the rainbow with some food coloring.  Each had a scent too.  Rose, orange, lemon, peppermint, eucalyptus, and almond extract (I didn't have another essential oil for purple).  The recipe is very easy.  

2 Cups of Flour

2 Cups of Warm water

1 Cup of Salt

2 Tablespoons of vegetable oil

1 Tablespoon of cream of tartar (optional but increases elasticity) 

Mix all ingredients and cook on low heat on the stove top.  When dough pulls away from the side of the pot and forms a large lump it's ready.  Divide play doh and add coloring and scents if you wish.  

I had to take a picture of my pretty play doh because it didn't last long. 

 4. Parking lot and little city diorama.

We used an old diaper box, cut the side to open it up and drew lines to make a parking lot.  

5. Bird Feeder

I've been looking for pine cones but couldn't find any pine trees near us so we used a paper plate and yarn.  Added some peanut butter and stuck the seeds on.  

Right now I'm in survival mode.  Sometimes I get dinner done sometimes it doesn't happen.  Half the laundry gets done or half the kitchen gets clean.  I'm still working out a routine with two kids but I wanted to show myself that I have done some interesting things with my son even in the midst of taking care of a little baby.  Simple but it was time spent with my little boy.  

Embroidery Hoops Wall Art

My baby girl's room is coming along.  I want to eventually post pictures of the completed room.  I still have a few last touches but I think I should have it complete enough to post by the end of February.

I saw this idea on Pinterest.  

The Gift of Homemade

I've received several homemade gifts for our newest arrival (the best homemade gift of all).  I had an amazing baby shower and I was so impressed with all the talented women and the homemade gifts for my little girl.

I received these three blankets.

 I love these knitted beanies and this taggie dinosaur is so cute. 

 They made hair clips at the baby shower.

My mother-in-law sewed this ruffle tutu to these grey leggings.  So cute!

 My mom made this comfy bird blanket.  

 And of course the best gift of all.  My little girl.  

Fresh Wreath

A few years back I helped do an activity where we made fresh Christmas wreaths.  Wreaths sell for around $20-$25 at the grocery store or at a tree farm and they are super easy to make.  When we did this activity we bought the wreath frames in bulk from someone who had a wholesale card for items like that.  The cost for us was about $3 a wreath frame.  To make a wreath you will need

Wreath frame (they are metal)
green wire (the same type of wire you would need to make a corsage)
wire cutters
garden pruners
tree boughs/branches
decorations-bows, pine cones, berries etc.

I got all of my branches when we picked up our Christmas tree.  Usually Home Depot or Lowes will have a pile of excess tree branches and if you ask they will most likely give it to you for free because they will be throwing it out.

To make the wreath start attaching branches to the wreath frame and tie down with the wire.  Just go in a circle and fill in any bare spots while trimming as you go.  Give your wreath a spritz of water here and there to keep it fresh.  Easy and super cheap!

Wood Block Nativity

Back in October my church had a super crafty Saturday and we made these cute wooden nativity sets.  They are great for little kids.  I really don't know where the women in charge found the craft I'm just in awe that she cut out over 500 pieces with a jig saw for the activity.  That's some serious dedication.  The silhouettes are all made out of vinyl.  We used some type of spray that would be similar to using mod podge to seal the vinyl in place.  Super cute!!

A corner in the baby's room

Getting the energy to get all my projects done for the baby's room has been a challenge.  If I can get the mobile done I'll be thrilled.  Here is a corner of the room..  I think I'll add a basket with books in it eventually.

 Lamb pillow tutorial found on the Purl Bee.  Click here.

 Paper flowers found at Dozi Design.  Click here.