Kiddy Krafts with Mr. E

Last Friday Mr. E brought me a pad of paper and a pencil. He then proceeded to dictate to me a list of things he wanted to do the rest of the day. ( another list maker in the family:). One of the things on his list was to make a pair of binoculars. This seemed like a random request until he started telling me all the supplies he would need and how he would construct the binoculars. I asked if he had made binoculars at school that day, but nope they hadn't.

I don't know where he came up with the idea, but I thought it was cute none the less!

I told Mr. E that I was gonna take picture of him making his binoculars and make it into a tutorial for my blog. He didn't seem to car, but I was just so stinking excited that he had thought out how to make something.

So here we go, you are gonna need so e toilet paper rolls, Popsicle sticks, yarn, tape, staples, and stickers



First, hold the toilet paper rolls up to your eyes to see where you need to position your binoculars.



I took a string and measured the distance from the middle of each roll and then placed it on the Popsicle stick so I would know where to attach the toilet paper rolls.



Now staple your toilet paper rolls to your Popsicle sticks. There needs to be two on the top and two on the bottom, Mr. E was quite adamant about this step.






Now measure your string. Mr. E wanted his binoculars to hang down to his waste.



Now, tape the string to the Popsicle sticks. This took a couple pieces to really secure the string.



Use stickers, paint, crayons, markers, or anything else to decorate your binoculars.






Put those puppies around your neck.






(Miss C's turned out a little wonky, her eyes don't point in opposite directions)

Now go exploring!

Amy


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Makin It Monday- Back to School Style

Here in my neck of the woods the kiddos have been back to school about a month. I know that other parts of the country starts later in the year. If that is your case, then this is a post for you!


Mr. E's preschool teacher is wonderful! He has the same teacher he had last year. I thought we would try to make her first day of school special too!

We made her a special "Teacher Treat" box. I mean after dealing with a dozen 3-4 year olds all day who wouldn't need a little pick me up.

I found a pencil box at Kroger the other day for $1. I filled it up with some yummy treats, then embellished the top.









I also sent a bottle of hand sanitizer for her room.









This resulted in a nice little teacher gift! I hope she enjoyed her gift and the first day of school. I know Mr. E did!










Happy crafting!

Amy


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Things to Try Thursday-Fly Bags

I know, catchy title right?

Well flies are a problem at my house. Fortunately not inside the house, but outside.

Let me explain. We have cows. Explanation done!

For those of you who aren't familiar with the bovine species, well any mammal beside human (most humans), they live outside and attract flies. Even though my husband diligently sprays the cattle for flies there is still a large majority that hang out near the cows. I think you can figure out why!

Anyway, the flies decided my back porch is a cool, awesome, marvelous hangout! And for some reason believed that it was their own personal outhouse, minus the door with the moon cutout.

I am sick and tired of having little black specs all over EVERYTHING that is outside!! These specs have been left courtesy of the flies.

I searched online for ways to get rid of flies. There are some very useful tips for keeping flies away from outdoor gathers, but I needed a more permanent solution.

We have tried a similar solution in the past, fly bags.

I found significant hard core research, okay a you tube video of a guy and a kid. They explained the the water in ziploc bags makes the flies look bigger, and they think it is a scary bug and fly away. Makes since, but not sure how they really know. Anyway, if you wanna get rid of flies from an outside area here is how ya do it.

Take a wire hanger and separate the top.



Using wire cutters, cut the hanger in three pieces.



Fill a ziploc bag with water. Add a penny. The copper has something to do with this equation, I'm just not sure what! Guy didn't explain this to the kid in the you tube video!



Now take one end of the hanger and punch through the top of the ziploc bag. make sure both ends of the hanger are curved. This keeps the bag on the hanger, and the hanger on what ever you choose to hang it from.



Now hang these suckers up!



I have a large back porch, it is the full length of our ranch style home, so I used twelve fly bags. I really have noticed a difference in the flies. Now if it will only cool down a bit so we can enjoy our fly free space!

Happy Fly Chasing!

Amy


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Makin' It Monday-Portfolio Redo

A couple of weeks ago the hubby went to a training meeting. He got some good training, and brought home a portfolio from the training company.

Well, he threw it in the trash can!!

Can you believe that? A perfectly good portfolio just tossed aside, and left to the whims of the garbage man.

Well, luckily for this little portfolio, I happened to walk by and see it in its sad dismal state.

Look at this beauty, well not really a beauty yet.









I took some fabric scraps (it isn't like I have a shortage of them) and made some little fabric rosettes. I made just enough to cover up the wording on the front of the portfolio.









Here is how it turned out. I am pleased with the final look.








I used my new portfolio the other night at a VBS meeting!

Happy Treasure Hunting!

Amy


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Tip Junkie

Someday Crafts

Makin' It Monday-Pillowcase Dress and bloomers

I have made a couple of Pillowcase dresses for Miss C in the past.

I LOVE the simplicity, and sweetness of these dresses.

I decided to make another dress for a friends daughter's birthday. She likes purple so I used some purple and green flower fabric. I added a green border on the bottom to make it a little longer and to add a little more color.
























I really like how the dress turned out. But what little girl outfit would be complete without Some matching bloomers.

I used an existing pair of bloomers as a guide. I started by tracing my bloomers on my fabric.

I cut out my bloomers. Two pieces, one for the front and one for the back.
























Then I sewed up the bottom and sides.























You can see that I drew a line on the leg holes. This is where I will fold over the material to make a casing for the elastic.
























Then do the same thing for the waist band.























Open of of the side seams and feed elastic through the casing of each of the leg holes and waist band. Take waist and leg measurements to know the length of elastic you will need. So, if the child's waist is 13 in around you will need 13 in of elastic.

Now that the elastic is through each hole sew the ends together. Then smooth out the elastic and stitch up the side seams of the casings.
























The bloomers are done!

When you put the two pieces together you get a sweet little outfit, and a great present!
























Happy sewing!

Amy

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Tip Junkie





Someday Crafts

Frugalicious Friday

http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com/2011/08/weekend-wrap-up-party-and-scentsy.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FOivM+%28Tatertots+and+Jello%29

Makin' It Monday-Swimsuit Refashion Part 3

I hope you don't think I am beating a dead horse with my swimsuit refashions.

Anyway, I took the skirt off that old ugly swimsuit and made a new cover-up.

I started by measuring my waist and pinning the skirt together to so that it was the correct length around.  Since I had cut the skirt up to use in other projects I needed to add an extra seam down the front.

Just like with the bottoms I made I needed to sew a casing (1/4 in) to put in the elastic waist. 

I used the same procedure as the bottoms by turning the top over and pinning in place.  I cut the elastic to the same length as the waistband of the bottoms. 

After sewing the casing I ripped out the side seam and started feeding the elastic through.

Once the elastic was all the way around, and the skirt waist smoothed I sewed the ends of the elastic together securely.

Smooth the elastic into the waist and then sew up the side seam and you have yourself a new swimsuit cover-up.

And to think I have one of these that I paid full price for at a Department store.  This one works just as well and was only fractions of the price!

Who new you could do so much with one thrifted swimsuit!!

Happy Sewing!!

Makin' It Monday-Swimsuit Refashion Round 2

Okay I know that I showed you a simple modesty update to a swimsuit two weeks ago.  This week I am gonna take the original ugly swim suit and show you how to make a cute set of bottoms!!

I don't know about you all, but I think it is hard to find a swimsuit that really fits my dairy air!! 

I am not really ready for the granny pantie version of swimsuit bottoms that come up over my belly button, but I am tempted by the butty coverage they offer.

My solution to this problem is to make my own swimsuit bottoms!!!

So I took the old Grandma swimsuit from my friends modesty refashion.  I ended up deconstruction the swim suit into the skirt, the bottom, and the top.  I took the bottoms and matched the up with a pair of good fitting underwear.

I turned the cut ends over and pinned to the correct length.  I tried them on to make sure they hit right above my hips.  Once I was satisfied with the fit of the bottoms I sewed a casing for my elastic. I used 1/4 in elastic since that is what I had on hand.  I measured my waist and added a couple of inches to determine the length of elastic I needed.

Now it is time to feed the elastic through the casing you made.  Take a safety pin and run it through one end. 

Rip open one of the side seams and start to feed the safety pin into the casing.

Keep pushing the safety pin through the casing until it is all the way around the waistband.  Now take the two ends of the elastic and pin them together.
(sorry the pic is blurry)

Stretch the waistband out so that it is smooth over the elastic.  Cut off the excess elastic and hand stitch the ends together.  Make sure you secure it pretty well!!  We don't want any wardrobe malfunctions in the pool!! 

Once again stretch the waistband so that the elastic ends are in the casing.  Now hand stitch the side seam closed!! 

I added a second sewed line around the waistband right below the original one for the casing.  The gives a more finished look and some extra stability!

Finally I cut off the excess fabric!!

Now to find a tip to go with my new bottoms.  Don't get me started on how hard it is to find a swimsuit top to cover and support!!!  I swear swimsuit makers don't think about what pregnancy does to your body!!!

Happy Swimming!!