Kids Craft: Ballerina Puppets and Stage

It's a strange day here in our household, only Parker and I are at home...Skylee started her very first day of school. ever. :( All last week we were getting things ready for her to start, which included a special skirt and matching headband made my me. I figure there are only so many years I can get away with these things, so I must take advantage! While I was working away on her skirt, she asked if she could do a craft too. Since I don't have all my craft supplies with me, I had to do something really simple, but she's been loving it and playing with it ever since.

We took a shoe box and turned it into a stage, then I cut out ballerina silhouettes with "leg holes" for her to color and decorate. Since I was working with pink tulle, she put "tutus" on some of her ballerinas , and although she didn't, it would be fun to decorate the stage too!She had a lot of fun, and thought I'd share it for those of you who may have little ones around who want to feel included in your crafting :). It was a great way to keep her busy, creative, and out of my hair ;) This can be modified to be anything or anyone with legs :) The only downside to doing ballerinas was that they couldn't really spin :(

(backstage)
Hope you're all having a great week! I'll be taking advantage of the time I have on my hands to play with Parker and get my house in order!

*Brittney*

Felt Flower Pillow

I consider each of my readers and followers my friends, so I need you to keep a secret. I'm pretty confident my husband doesn't really read this little blog of mine, at least I hope he doesn't read this post ;)
I love my husband, really, I'm very blessed. I won't tell you all he does, you'd be jealous, then we might not be as good of friends as I hope! haha. His job in the Coast Guard makes it so he's away a fair amount, especially at night. Before I found the wonderful world of craft blogging, and before I actually started trying to re-create projects I saw, I would sit at home like a sad puppy dog every time he left for a few days at a time. ( I know, I'm pathetic, even after years of it!) When he was gone, I would watch some t.v., stuff my face with something chocolate, catch up on my family blog (failing in that dept right now!), nothing really exciting or productive...Now that I have a craft to-do list, there are always things I'm trying to find time for and I've found that days and nights that my husband isn't here, make the perfect time for projects! Now, I'm still a sad puppy dog when he leaves, but I don't sit around anymore(usually) eating bon bons(not that there's anything wrong with that) I have things to do!
This is what I did this evening: A Felt Flower Pillow, I first saw it over at The Crafting Chicks
I've never had pretty pillows on my couches, but my world has changed, it adds more than I thought it would! I'm so happy with how it turned out, I feel like making 10 more but that would be overkill. One pretty pillow for my couches down, a few more to go :) Go check out the tutorial, it's great!!
2 post in 1 day?! Man, I'm chatty!
Have a GREAT 3 day weekend!

*Brittney*

Rustic Wire Pumpkin

Maybe I'm the only one here, but I tend to get all excited to decorate my house when seasons/holidays change, go up to the attic to pull down my boxes and find that I really only have one whimpy little box, with hardly anything inside to decorate with! I have visions of my house looking amazing, and then I get a reality check! Bummer...but that's all the more reason to MAKE stuff, right!? No doubt this will happen when Christmas rolls around too, maybe I should start to emotionally/mentally prepare myself now!
While cruising the isles of Target last week I found some cute little rustic looking pumpkins. So simple, yet so stylish, and you can never have too many pumpkins!!!The next day while blog-hopping I came across this tutorial from The Hand Me Down House featured on Someday Crafts and KNEW it was just meant to be!
I knew I wanted to make mine a little different so I bought some wired jute/twine (found it at Micheal's) and used all 50ft of it for one bigger pumpkin. I really like how it turned out. Not too bad for $2, and let me tell you...ANYONE can do this! So simple, my favorite kind of projects ;)
Now go make one!...or two...or three...
Fall officially will be here NEXT WEEK!
****Update****
I've had a few people e-mail me about where I found the wire...I found it at Micheal's but when I search for it online it doesn't come up their site. I searched online for this stuff and you'll have a few options if you call it "Rustic Wire". Hope this helps :)

*Brittney*

Henri Lou Inspired Bracelet

Looking for the 100 Follower Giveaway? Go HERE (now closed)

Photo from Henri Lou website

Happy Labor Day! Anyone hittin' up some of the big sales today?! Hope you've been enjoying your holiday weekend :)
Last week while watching some TV, and folding laundry (of course), I saw these bracelets by Henri Lou, a jewlery high-end jewlery designer. When I saw these I thought "I could totally make that!"- don't you just love those moments? Well, I headed to my local Goodwill and found this U.G.L.Y. belt (for a whopping .99 cents) that I knew would be perfect for my bracelet. I even found a purse that I thought would work for the straps, but it didn't look that great when I made it...anyways... enter Exhibit A:

Then I cut out all the rings and got rid of the rope-ish, ribbon, belt part :)

After a little hot glue and satin ribbon, here is my Henri Lou inspired bracelet:

Henri Lou version- $80
Brittney's version- $3 (and that makes 4!)

Not too shabby :)

*Brittney*

Keeping it Simple
The Girl Creative
It's So Very Cheri
Between Naps on the Porch
Sew Can Do
Mad in Crafts

Quiet Book

This is the first craft project I took on last fall. I had no idea what I was doing, what materials would work best, and how durable it would be. I also never really finished it, and just remembered I still wanted to add to it. Just in time too, we're leaving town in 2 weeks, complete with long hours of sitting for little ones (me too)! I figured I'd show you what all I've made and then I'll be able to keep you posted on new pages I add. I wanted to keep the cost to a minimum(as always) so I used felt, hot glue, felt, buttons, felt, velcro, felt, ribbon, and oh, FELT! What can I say, it's inexpensive and perfect for child's play :)

Cover with handle:

Flowers button on and off for practicing skills. Counting beads and using patterns:

Play purse with mirror and lipstick/ Hair page with pocket to hold hair supplies:

Dress up closet:

Ice cream scoops:

Tic Tac Toe

Oven opens for baking cupcakes/muffins:

I still plan on doing a few more pages for this book. I'll also see if I can start and finish another one for my little guy, more catered to boys :)

*Brittney*

P.S. I took some of these ideas from other bloggers, but since it's been a while I can't remember where! If you recognize any, let me know so I can give the credit due!

Linking up to:
Keeping it Simple
Craftastic Mondays
Market Yourself Monday
Get Your Craft On

Korker Bows

I recently found a tutorial from Pink Tea for making these korker bows, and just had to share it. I have everything to make some (it's surprisingly easy!), now I just need to find the time ;)

*Brittney*

DIY Wall Decals

Wall decals are totally "IN" right now, and I totally LOVE them! The problem is I'm not willing to spend much money on them. My solution, I made my own for WAY less $$! I don't have a Cricut machine, and I didn't use vinyl, but it's the same idea. This post from The Craft Patch is what inspired me, and although it's completely different, it got me to thinkin'...


I had a brown sheet that was perfect for this idea, a search on google, and some felt to finish it up would do the trick. Sorry I didn't take too many pictures again (didn't have this little blog), but you'll get the idea. If you have questions I'd be happy to answer them :) I'd still like to add more leaves, maybe add some more color to it, and I wish I would have made the trunk wider. Overall, I'm really happy with how this experiment turned out!

This is how I did it:
1. From queen size or full size sheet, cut out the shape. I'm no artist but I looked at a picture and did it free-hand (probably why the trunk turned out a little funny?)

2. Using push pins, I hung the now "decal" to the wall for placements. Then I used spray starch (like the kind you use for clothes) to adhere the decal on the wall (almost like wall paper). My decal is big, and I drenched the fabric, still had plenty of starch left over :) If you do this,make sure to re-pin the decal once the starch is on, until it dries. When it's completely dry, remove push pins.
3. From felt, I cut leaves/birds (or any other desired shapes). I didn't want to waste my time trying to starch-spray these to the wall...I put a little tape on the back, and stuck those little birdies up there! :)

I simply wiped any starch residue on the wall away with a wet cloth.
This works great for me since we are guaranteed to move in the next 6-18 months! The decals will peel off the wall with ease, leaving no residue! Perfect for renters on a budget, and a 3 year old girl who doesn't care about the imperfections!!!

Linking up to:
Keeping it Simple
Craftastic Monday @ Sew Can Do
Tip Me Tuesday @ Tip Junkie
Today's Creative Blog
You're So Crafty Mondays @ Miss Crafty Pants
We Did It Wednesdays @ Sew Much Ado
Whatever Goes Wednesdays @ Someday Crafts
Idea Sharin' Wednesdays @ Women Who Do It All
Hook'n up with HoH
Pumpkin Seed Productions
*Brittney*

Cake/Cupcake Stand

For my little man's birthday last month I wanted to have a cupcake stand, but didn't want to spend the money on something I wouldn't really use too often. I didn't take a picture at each step, since I didn't have this blog, but here is what I did:

Supplies You'll Need:
salad plate
dinner plate
platter
2 canisters (I used empty formula cans)
empty paper towel roll
Cardboard
Foam-board
Epoxy glue and hot glue gun/glue
scissors or x-acto knife (or something similar, I actually used a box cutter)
Ribbon
Buttons or other accessories

1 .From cardboard, cut 3 circles out using your plates/platter as your template. Cut down the paper towel roll to the height you want. Then cut the3 same size circles from the foam-board.

(pay no attention to the 3rd canister)

2. Glue the cardboard and foam board together to make one piece with the foam board on top. Don't expect your edges to be perfect, we'll cover them up :)

3. Using hot glue, wrap the ribbon around the canisters, paper towel roll,and the edges of the boards.
4. Measure out where the middle of your circles are and place the canisters in the appropriate area. (I measured, but ended up eying it, works just as well for me!). To attach the canisters to the foam board and cardboard, use the epoxy glue if using formula cans. Hot glue won't hold it...believe me ;) Do the same for the top with the paper towel roll.

5. Stack it up and embellish with buttons, flowers...whatever!

It's inexpensive enough to make one for every occasion :)

*Brittney*

Welcome!

I thought I'd kick this blog off right...with a TUTORIALLLL! ((In an Oprah-like announcing voice))
Cheap, easy, quick, versatile and cute too! Really, does it get any better!?! I first got the idea here, then made it work for me, for even less moolah! This example is in my daughter's room, but you can use this on ANY wall in your home just using different styles of paper that go with your decor!

3D Wall Art:

It was over her bed, then I changed it (I'll show you later what I put in it's place)
And I changed out a few...

(Ignore the empty dresser)

Supplies you'll need:

12x12 piece of scrapbook paper (I usually like at least 8-9 coordinating squares)
Scissors
tape
shape guide: approximately1- 1 1/2 thick, and 7 x7 square (I used books. You could also use a styrofoam block, picture frames or whatever else you can find)

Let's get started!

1.Place book(s) in the middle of the scrapbook paper (printed side facing down)

(I took 4 books from my kid's bookcase stacked up to use as my shape guide.)

2.Fold paper around the shape of the books, be sure to make a good crease.

3.This is what it should look like when you've done all the sides:
Once you've gone all around, go back and re-crease the folds really well.

4.Cut the corners where the folds overlap.

5. This is what it looks like after you cut all the corners out:

6. Fold up the sides and tape!

7.Finished Back

8.Finished front

* To mount to the wall, I use tape to figure out where I want to position them, then I slide a push pin underneath to hold it in place for good.

There ya have it! Easy, right?! Let me know if you have any questions! Thanks for looking and HAPPY CRAFTING!

******************************update****************************

this is how it should look from the side
If you don't have the sides, then make sure the template that you're using (what you fold the paper around) is at least an inch thick. Hope that helps :)

You can use anything, I used a couple books stacked.


*Brittney*