Simple Gifts: Art Kit

When my daughter turned 4, someone gave her the cutest little butterfly magnet set.  She loved it. And I loved it because we could work on it for short periods when we had a little time vs some of the longer projects.  I'd give her 1-2 butterflies and let her paint.  Later we'd add glitter and sparkles.  And voila... we were done.

So, when a friend's daughter was also turning 4, I decided to create something similar for her.  First... we gathered the supplies... wooden figures that I added magnets to the back of, paint, paint brushes, glitter glue, and sparkles.

Next, my daughter and I painted a butterfly as an example and included a set of instructions for Mom and Dad.

Of course we needed a box to keep it all in... maybe with the birthday girl's name.

Put everything in the box, wrap, and enjoy!

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Simple Gifts... Simple Charms

For the last year, I've found myself making a number of these easy necklaces.  The first was in honor of my daughter's first dance recital a year ago.  Then there have been more for Christmas, special outfits, and birthday gifts for friends.  The supplies are simple and inexpensive... just thin ribbon, silver beads (I used 10 per necklace, usually 4mm though I used larger ones on the starfish necklace), colored Czech glass beads, and a pretty little charm.  String the beads (cutting the ribbon at an angle can help in threading it through the smaller beads). Tie the ribbon to the length you want, ensuring it can fit over the recipients head.  And seal the ends.

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A Mermaid Tale

Once upon a time there was a beautiful little beach baby who dreamed of being mermaid.  One day she found a magical necklace.

She wished on the necklace and, to her surprise, a tail appeared.

She couldn't wait to go explore the water with her new tail.

But, alas, after a while she missed her legs.  She missed running and dancing and cuddling with her mama.  If only she could have both.

She wished again and the tail transformed back into legs.  Legs for running.

Legs for playing.  Oh the joy... the best of both worlds.

This mermaid tail is based off of Ikatbag's design (really her daughters' design).  It is a brilliant idea.  Many compliments to her daughters.  I love the practicality to let them play while still letting them move.  Those girls definitely have a future in toy design.

Of course, my daughter really wanted this to be water-friendly, so we made ours out of swimsuit fabric.  And she insisted that it had to be pink... all pink.  The top is just a simple tube top with straps, made from leftover fabric.  I tried a reverse-applique.  Turned out to not be my best idea, but she likes it all the same.

It has definitely been a hit.  The only problem is that now my daughter is signing me up to make them for all her friends.

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Gone Fishin'

Warm summer days, refreshing breezes...

Fish in the lake...

Fish in the sea...

Is there a fish I can catch just for me?

This little fishing game was an Easter gift for my son.  It was so popular that I had to make a second pole for big sister so that they could fish together.

I couldn't find a good tutorial at the time, so I kind of winged it.  Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos.

The supplies are pretty simple... fun fabrics, buttons, batting, and metal washers for the fish.  The fishing poles are just dowel rods, magnets, ribbon, strong super glue (don't use hot glue), and colorful electrical tape.  The tricky thing for me was sewing around the metal washer since I wanted it exposed.  It's probably much easier to sew the fish if you put the washer inside.

Now back to fishing...

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Mini Minnie

June in our house means Celebrations!  In this month alone we celebrate birthdays for my husband, daughter and niece, our wedding anniversary, and Father's Day... plus dance recitals and end-of-school-year events.  By the time we reach my birthday in July, I'm partied out.

But for now I am having fun creating special gifts for so many loved ones.  For example, what little girl doesn't need a cute little red and white polka dot skirt... just like Minnie Mouse.

But wait.  What's that peeking out?

A pink Minnie Mouse skirt.  That's right... two skirts in one... a fully reversible skirt.  But I admit, I am partial to the red side.

This is a basic circle skirt.  Dana has a great tutorial on her blog MADE.  I was inspired by You and Mie's Reversible Circle Skirt entry in Project Run & Play.  In fact, I loved her entry so much that it has inspired me to make one for my daughter's Fall wardrobe.  This may be my new favorite way to make a circle skirt.  I love using the bias tape instead of hemming the circle.  And the peep of color underneath is such a fun detail.

I love this gift... paired with a simple white shirt and a little flower for the birthday girl's hair.

Do you have a busy gift season?  What are some of your favorite gifts?


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Hug Pillow

Ever since coming across From an Igloo's fantastic Keepsake Hug Pillow, I had been saving it until my son was born.  And now that he's here, it became the perfect Mother's Day gift.  So leading up to Mother's Day, I became a little factory making three versions... one for my mother, one for my mother-in-law, and one for me.

Her tutorial is great.  I tweaked it slightly by making it an envelope-back for a 12x17 pillow form.  My favorite part was customizing each pillow to the recipients' house (mine is the blue one).  Special thanks to my sister-in-law who just finished designing my mother's house and gave me leftover fabrics so that the pillow would perfectly coordinate.

Is there anything cuter than a baby hand print?

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DIY Braided Linen Bracelets

Last Christmas I came across this great tutorial for Braided Irish Linen Wrap Bracelets from Make Bracelets!  I made one for each of my sister-in-laws, but I modified slightly and incorporated czech glass beads in addition to the silver beads... one in orange and blue for the die-hard UVA fan and one with emerald and pearl in honor of my nieces' birthdays.  Then I ended up liking them so much that I had to make one for myself, and then another, and then another.  Does anyone else do that?  They're rather addictive and a great project to do while watching a show with my beloved.  (I don't sit still well.)

This third one is the one closest to my heart.  In honor of the birth of my third child, I made this one in honor of my kiddos.  How lucky am I that my kids' birthstones are not only some of my favorite birthstones, and just happen to match much of my wardrobe, but also coordinate so well together.  That was really considerate of them in choosing their birthdays.

The LOVE Charm was just an extra touch since this one represents my precious babies.  And as my maternity leave ends and I head back to work, this is a nice reminder of my little ones even when they aren't with me.

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Teacher Gift

With the end of the year upon us, it seems like teacher gifts abound.

Around here, its Strawberry season.  The berries are ripe and sweet.  So after going strawberry picking recently, it only seemed appropriate to share that abundance with my daughter's preschool teacher.

A simple carton of strawberries, a bamboo skewer, and one of eighteen 25's printables made for a really simple but sweet gift.

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Santa's Workshop #5: A little painting

[Note:  If you are related to me, you should probably stop reading this blog until after Christmas.]

Well, after a crazy work week, I am now in the mad rush to get everything prepared for Christmas.  And hopefully I will get a few of those ideas posted.  How about you?  Is your workshop busy these days as you finish your preparations?

In the spirit of last minute gifts, don't forget the joy of freezer paper stenciling.  It can make anything personal and unique.  Just set up your work station (in my case, my ironing board)...

Start painting

And then get a unique and special gift for someone you love.

(And my apologies for the night-time photos.  The challenge of December.)

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Santa's Workshop #4: Easy Bracelet (fun gift for kids to make)

This project is a really easy one for your child to make for others.  I was originally inspired by the purple bracelet above.  I bought it for my daughter at a faire over a year ago and she broke it shortly after.  I figured I'd fix it and tuck it into her stocking, and it was so easy and fun that I decided to make a few more.  All it takes is elastic cording, beads, and a charm.

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Santa's Workshop #3: Butterfly Barrettes and More Korker Bows

I do love Korker bows, so I couldn't miss an opportunity to make more.  (Check out the Korker Tutorial if interested.)  But I have also discovered a whole new world... ribbon sculptures.  I saw cute butterfly barrettes around around but couldn't find any free tutorials, so I ended up having to create my own.  Continue reading if you are interested in making some as well.
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Santa's Workshop #2: Felt Flower Barrettes

Now you knew that if I was creating Hair Clip Holders that there had to be some barrettes as well.  For these I utilized two primary felt flower tutorials...

• Yoonie's Felt Peony Template (first seen by me on Mia Moo's darling daughter)
• Purl Bee's Rose Template

For my barrettes, I experimented with the peony template, using different pieces to create different sized flowers.  Using just the three smallest pieces makes for an adorable baby clip, whereas larger ones make great additions for headbands.  You can adorn them with buttons for the centers or just some fun contrasting stitching (such as if the headband is for a baby).

For the rose barrettes, I used the same base as on my other barrettes, but her base is lovely.  And those roses are just as sweet as can be.

Want another easy felt flower design?  Check out Purl Bee's Poppy Template.  I am loving this for adorning my Christmas packages.  I even made a charcoal grey one with a black button center for a more sophisticated package.

Next peak into Santa's Workshop... ribbon barrettes and an easy tutorial.

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Santa's Workshop #1: Hair Clip Holder

Does anyone else feel like their house has become Santa's Workshop.  In general, we are trying to simplify the holidays this year.  The kids are getting very few presents (truthfully, they don't need them).  And I am trying to make almost everything for their stockings.  So between their stocking stuffers and gifts for a few friends, we have quite a few little gifts underway.

#1: HAIR CLIP HOLDER
I have previously shared the Monkey Hair Clip Holder I made for my daughter.  I'm making a few more this Christmas to go along with some barrettes I am making.  These are really easy to make.  They could easily be Stocking Stuffers or even party favors for a party of little girls.

Supplies:

• Wooden Figure (I found the Lady Bug and Flip Flops pre-painted at Michael's)
• Felt
• Thin Ribbon
• Thick Ribbon
• Hot Glue
• Scissors

Instructions:

• Trace wooden figure on paper.  Cut out template slightly smaller than tracing.  Pin to felt and cut out.

•  Cut small piece of thin ribbon and long strip of thicker ribbon.  Hot glue thin ribbon to the back of the wooden figure, forming into a loop.  Hot glue thicker ribbon to the back.  Once the ribbons are set, hot glue the felt on the back.  That is all there is to it.

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Baby Taggie and Easter Baskets

I was really pushing it this year in terms of getting the Easter baskets ready for the kids.  I am not sure where the time went.  However, everything came together and we had a beautiful Easter celebrating the resurrection and enjoying beautiful time outside with family.  He is risen... he is risen indeed.

So even though Easter is over, I wanted to share with you the final craft item for the easter baskets that I didn't get made in time to post before Sunday... a teether toy for my son.  I admit that crafts for my daughter tend to dominate this blog, something I hope to fix as my son gets older.  But even though he is only 6 months, I wanted to put something special together for him as well.  And in keeping with the nautical theme that dominates his life (his easter outfit had anchors and sailboats as well), that means a stuffed blue whale.

I added some grosgrain ribbon tags for him to play with and chew on.  It didn't turn out perfectly, but not bad for my first stuffed toy.  The front didn't quite get the straight line I wanted.

His Easter basket ended up being a little tupperware container (to be reused for felt food storage in his sister's room), three cute blue and brown bibs (which we desperately needed), and the little whale taggie.  Not much, but he is only 6 months old.

And just to share, here's the final product for my daughter.  (We re-used last year's Easter Basket from her Nana.)  Content include:  felt flour and sugar bags to pretend to cook, 4 felt donuts, 2 wooden eggs (michaels) for her play kitchen, Benjamin Bunny book (Target dollar section), white satin slippers (Target dollar section), and a little white and pink purse (Target dollar section).  No candy here.  There was enough of that in the plastic eggs for her Easter Egg hunt.

And a belated Happy Easter to everyone.

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