Tree of Thanks

Last year around this time our pastor gave a talk that has stuck with me.  In it he mentioned that "if you are not teaching your children to be thankful, you are teaching them to ask for more."

So in that spirit and with the upcoming holiday, we made a Thanksgiving tree of sorts over the weekend.  I simply stuck a large tree branch in a pot with rocks and we were good to go.  (Of course Michael has become interested in those rocks...thankfully they are too big to do any damage!)  I printed out tags for everyone to write out what they are thankful for.  Simple.  And the kids are really enjoying it!  And I love seeing what they have come up with over the past few days.

Ellen's grateful heart.  

Funny because we don't own any!

He really does love them!

Teether Necklace

Michael is at an age where wearing a necklace (and having him ignore it) is nearly impossible.  In fact, he recently broke one of my favorites right off my neck.  Thankfully (?) it broke all over my kitchen floor and I was able to collect all of the beads and fix it.  

I actually saw this idea for a "teether necklace" on pinterest and made one for myself (before he broke my beads). 

To make your own you need a scrap piece of fabric (I didn't measure before I started...mine was probably 4 inches wide and about 48 inches long tops...depends on how long you want it and how large the beads are) and large wooden beads (I used 6). 

I took the piece of scrap fabric (of course I'm not daring at all and stuck with off white!) and sewed it, making a tube that would fit snug around my beads.   

I made a knot in the very center of the fabric, then added a bead, then made a knot.  I added 3 beads and 3 knots on each side of the original knot.  (This was just so I knew I had centered everything.)  When I was finished, I sewed the 2 ends of the necklace together.    

I tried my finished necklace on for size...and Michael immediately loved it!  

Here's the (blurry) finished product.  

No fear of him breaking this one!  

Linking here.  

Halloween Felt Wreath

My MOPS group's big fundraiser is tonight....bunco!  We also do a silent auction during the night to raise funds for the year.  

I got my crafty on and made a Halloween wreath to donate.  I made it the same way I made my red felt one for Christmas.  (See here.)  Then I added some letters I painted black from Michaels and stitched up a "ribbon" to hang it from.  (Which may or may not be made from the old curtains from the loft...)  

Festive for a fall fundraiser!

Have a great weekend!

T-Shirt Redesign

Clare and Jude participated in "Bible Camp" at our parish last week.  As a souvenir for the week, they each received a Bible Camp T-Shirt.  Clare and I decided to "reinvent" her T-Shirt to be a little bit more unique than a regular T-Shirt.  (I was fine with this idea since most of our freebie T-Shirts get shoved into the kids' pajama drawers.)  We settled on fringing the bottom of the shirt.  (She wanted to do the sleeves as well, but I drew the line at that thinking it would look a bit ragamuffin-ish on a 7 year-old.)

Here's what we did...

(pretty much following this video.)

Start with any T-Shirt laid out flat.  

I cut about 6 inches of "fringe" to the bottom of the shirt, cutting the front and back separately.    

Knot two pieces together.  

Then knot the next two strands together.

Then take a strand from each of the new knots and tie them into a knot...like so.

Continue this pattern all the way around the shirt.  

Finished product!

Modeling our work of art.

Clare felt like Aunt Margaret (fashion school grad!) since we "made" her shirt.  This was a fun project for us to work on together and kept us busy while Michael took a TWO HOUR nap one afternoon!  Win-win-win!

In researching how to re-make Clare's shirt I came across this website with several other T-Shirt "hack" ideas:
http://skyturtle.net/11-t-shirt-hacks-totry/
I especially liked the ruffle ideas!

Burlap Wreath

I had my Easter wreath up on our front door the entire month of April and decided it was time to exchange it for something new.  I found this idea for an easy burlap wreath on pinterest and got to work while Michael was napping this weekend.  I think the whole thing took me 20 minutes tops and with coupons from Michaels cost about $6.  

I used an 18 inch wire wreath form and 1 - 10 yard package of burlap.

Simply weave the burlap in and out of the wire form making large loops.  

Continue all the way around the wreath.     

Mine is plain for now until I head back to Michaels.  

I'm thinking of adding some kind of monogram to it...  

In the meantime it is already hanging on the front door.

Moss Monogram

A friend pinned this idea for making a moss letter monogram and I was excited to make one of my own.  I think it's perfect for those of us longing for some spring color right now! 

I started with a wood chip letter from Hobby Lobby or Michaels...I can't remember anything anymore...or you could also trace and cut out a letter from cardboard.  A diaper box is the perfect cardboard consistency!  

You need sheet moss, too.  Also found at the craft store.  

image

Simply cut the sheet moss around your letter and hot glue securely into place.  

And....behold your custom spring monogram!  

Right now I have mine in our downstairs bathroom.  It adds the perfect touch of green!

I think this easy project beats the $79 Pottery Barn moss letters!

image

DIY Boot "Socks"

My mother-in-law l-o-v-e-s her boots.  For her birthday I made her these boot socks/cuffs after seeing them for sale on etsy for $20 a pair.  (I found the idea and tutorial on making them here.)

First, I found 2 sweaters at my local thrift store.  (One was brand new from Target!)  I specifically looked at the sleeves on the sweaters to make sure they were wide enough to wear as a sock, and looked to see if the cuff would work in a "sock-like" setting...  

After washing the sweaters, I cut about 6 inches of each sleeve off each sweater.  

Then, I sewed a hem to the cut edge so it would not fray.

And...that was it!  

Total cost for 2 pairs of boot socks: $7.    

 I thought they looked pretty cute with skinny jeans and boots, but without the bulk of wearing knee socks.  (They probably look good with leggings, too, but my preggo self has me avoiding anything that tight right now...)

PS - I'm looking for a handful of guest post-ers over the upcoming weeks/months.  

Please contact me if you are interested!

Linking here.  

Hooded Towel

One of the things Santa brought for Ellen this year was a full sized hooded towel (AKA a "big girl" towel).  Clare and Jude each have one and love them.

(Clare has enjoyed her Pottery Barn Kids pink elephant towel for awhile...)

I Mrs. Claus found how to make a hooded towel on pinterest (found here) and got to work.  (Although I did somewhat of my own version on this.)  The whole project took all of 30 minutes tops.  (And that included setting up the sewing machine in the kitchen while Ellen napped and the older two were at school...I love afternoon preschool!)

The hooded towel is made from a hand towel and a regular size bath towel.  I washed both before sewing.

Fold the hand towel in half.  Fold so the right sides are facing in.  Measure and mark 10 inches from the bottom and 10 inches from the open fold.  (You are making a 10 x 10 inch pocket for the hood.)

Follow your markings and make a square by sewing across and then sewing down.

Cut off the excess material and turn the hood right-side-out.
  

Next, find the middle of the bath towel.  Open the hood and center it on the bath towel.  Pin the bottom of the hood onto the towel so that all seems face inward.  Sew the hood onto the towel.

All finished and someone is l-o-v-i-n-g her new towel!  

Thanks, Santa!  :)

Linking here.  

Peppermint Hot Cocoa

I pinned this idea last year and made it this year for Christmas gifts.  

(Is it just me or do mason jars make everything look sweet?)  

Peppermint Hot Cocoa

(**for 1 pint jars**)

1/2 cup powdered milk

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 cup miniature chocolate chips

1/4 cup crushed peppermint (I used starmints, could also use actual candy canes.)

Layer ingredients as you wish in a pint size jar.  To make hot chocolate, mix all ingredients in a bowl, add 1/3 cup of cocoa mixture to warm milk (we tested it with water and milk was much better...yes, even though powdered milk is an ingredient).

Sip and enjoy!

PS - Last year my sister-in-law gifted us with homemade vanilla, similar idea can be found here.

PSS - And last year I made up these "cupcake socks" for gifts.  

Linking here.

Chalkboard/Magnetic Menu Board

I love me some MOPS.  Breakfast is always amaaaaazing, the company of other moms is always much-welcomed, and the crafts we do are great!  

At our last meeting, we made menu boards.  (Idea found here, also made at a MOPS meeting!)   

Hardy-har-har!  :) 

The "board" is a small cookie sheet.  It was painted with chalkboard paint.  So you can either use magnets to post your menu for the week or write it in chalk.  

Holes were also drilled in the top of the cookie sheet to hang the menu board by ribbon if desired.  

I made my magnets out of clothespins.  Some ladies decided to make magnets out of beer/bottle caps.  (Similar to these.) 

Clare has enjoyed seeing what's on the menu for dinner each night and anticipating her favorites!

Have a great weekend!

Linking here.

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