TA DA

Mission Chair= Complete

Toddler Magnet Tray

My 16-month-old LOVES pulling all the magnets and photos off the fridge, so this week I decided to make her her own magnet tray.

Supplies- Old metal shallow pan or a cheap new one (the one I used was used once for a super bowl party- it once was green and decorated like a football field, from where else but the dollar bin at TARGET), spray paint,  paper cutouts and/or embellishments, mod podge, old magnets.

The picture pretty much says it all. You just need to spraypaint the pan and mod podge on the scraps/photos/embellishments to make it pretty.

When my daughter gets a little bit older I will trace the letters of her name with the abc letter magnets, and put those magnets on the tray to have her fit the magnets in the corresponding outline like a puzzle of sorts.

I just gave it to her about 20 minutes ago but she hasn't put it down since. Pulling the magnets on and off and moving them around the tray.

Stuff I've been up to lately.

With Father's Day and a milestone birthday celebration so far this month, I've also been busy learning how to use my Silhouette. Here are a few little easy projects I've done.

 Embelished placemat for birthday dinner.

Cutesy items in a bucket for the same birhtday. "A watch for always having time for me" and "Smarties because you are oh so smart" etc. More examples and ideas for similar "kits" here. Includes hundreds ideas for specific people and gifts including new mom, coach, teacher, fireman, bride, cheerleader etc etc  etc

Three part frame for my husband including photos of both of his daughter's on their first birthdays

We won this silly plastic tie with an elastic necklace so it can actually be worn at a carnival, and I knew I would need to use it for something someday. We are going to make my dad wear it at church tommorow.

I couldn't beleive it when Target had this full toddler golf set in their $2.50 bargain bin. Although P isn't quite ready to play with it, I couldn't pass it up as a "gift" for her golf loving dad. The tag is one of the free printables on my previous post, saying "You're a TEErific Dad."

My version of the "Make a Wish" card referenced on a previous post.

In addition I've spray painted the base coat for Peyton's Redskins Chair im working on, and the crate I'm using to make a name wall hanging that is also going to store seashells Im collecting. I'm going to start saving one shell from each time we go to the beach, and write the location and date it was collected with a sharpie. In addition, depending on if there is room based on the shell, I will write something memorable at that beach trip. For instance, all of my current shells are from my honeymoon. Perhaps I will write something funny to remember like BANANA BOAT ADVENTURE on the shell I select from that trip. The finished product of this crate will be a cross between this and this.

Questions

Make your own Table Topics, using the questions I've come up with and found. Decorate a pretty jar or box to keep them in, and make them more personal than just buying the store bought edition. Use them at a family reunion, get together, first date, etc.

Who is your favorite athlete, and what do you like about them?

Tell us about your two best friends

What was the best moment of your day today?

When you were little, what did you most look forward to being  able to do when you grew up? How do you feel about that thing now?

Where would you like to retire? What hobbies/activities will you participate in?

If your family was depicted in a movie, what actors would play each family member?

What is the most adventurous thing you've done this year?

What was your very first paying job?

What do you spend most of your money on?

What's the best compliment you've ever received?What's a subject you wish you knew more about?
What did people tease you about growing up?
If you had to eat 1 thing for the rest of your life, what?

Has someone ever spread a nasty rumor about you?What's the habit you're proudest of breaking?
What are your favorite 3 Websites and why?
Where do you get your news? How often?

Where were you on September 11, 2001?
Have you ever requested a song on the radio?
Last movie you watched?
Have you ever made a career move you regretted?

What's the last thing you purchased?
The highlight of your week?
Are you named after anyone, or is there a story to your name?

Where/how did you meet your spouse? How long did you know each other before your first date?  How long did  you date before you got married?

What are you afraid of?

What's most often the cleanest room in your house? The messiest?

What gift would you like for your next birthday?

What star/celebrity do most people say you resemble?
How many car accidents have you been in? How many were your fault?
What did you dress up as last Halloween?
About how many friends from high school do you still talk to?
What was your first car?
What three items will always be found on you?

What experience has changed your outlook on life?
What bill do you hate paying the most?
Dumbest purchase you ever made?

Awesome Products

Ok so here are the awesome products I promised.

Cardboard can organizer's- Better than anything I've seen in the store...available here (set of 4 for $12)


(Through JULY 15 you get 10% off any order with the coupon code "CRAFTS")

New editions of  table topics (available at bookstores- $25) include questions to ask and  conversation starter sets  "Dinner Party," "Girls Night Out" and "80'S"

Rorschach In Color...I want some...$16 from Uncommon Goo

Scratch Map available from Uncommon Goods here $24

Also from Uncommon Goods, this is a great way to savor the funny things kids say, $19.95.

Like and Dislike stamps from ThinkGeek....great for teachers...if they were allowed...

New Inspiration Blogs, a forgotten Old Project, and Awesome Products

I forgot to post this old project I did as a valentines gift circa somewhere around 2004.

I purchased a tile board (I'm just calling it that, I have no idea what the real name is) and painted it black, then printed photos to be the perfect size (this was during the era that digital cameras had become big but easy online ordering and ordering precise sizes was not yet widespread, so I printed them myself on regular computer paper to get the right sizes) Then I lightly glued them to the "tiles" and poured Easy Epoxy on, and let it sit over night. What is that in the middle you might ask? A beautiful Led Zepplin quote (I still like Zepplin, but was especially into them at the time).

If the sun refused to shine, I would still be loving you.

If the mountains crashed into the sea, there would still be you and me.

By the way, can you tell I just learned photos can be resized and arranged at different parts of the page?

New Blogs I Love

I've added these to my blogs on the right, but these blogs are new ones I've found and am now in awe of

Tip Junkie- By far the largest blog I've found as of yet. Even has a free Ipad app, which I'm downloading "as I type" See if it makes the great on my upcoming post "Best IPAD/IPHONE apps."

Bakerella- Such pretty food!

Skip to My Lou- hundreds of  free downloads and ideas

Craftaholics Anonymous- Nuff said

Frugal Life Project- I hate the word frugal. It sounds so ugly, tastless, and just down right  "nails on the chalkboard-ish" but this blog has not only great DIY ideas, but things to do for fun ideas and decorating tips.

AWESOME PRODUCTS
I got my second issue of PARENTS magazine today and saw this in it, and just had to share. While I myself do not have an Iphone, I would have loved to have had something like it for my phone when Peyton was 6-12 months old. Definately getting this for the next person I know having a baby.

 

Fischer Price iPlay, $14.99

 

July 4th Ideas

The Fourth of July is only three weeks away! I tried to find some unique ideas, and not the standard "cake with strawberry and blueberries on top" flag. I myself will be driving back from Charleston on the 4th (after 10 days of vacation I have to work on the 5th) so I will not be planning any shin-digs.

Rustic Beadboard Flag from Brown Paper Packages (Full Tutorial)

I made similar skewers for Memorial Day, but I used Strawerries, blackberries, and bananas. (Although I do like marshmellow idea). I realized blueberries cost about 3X as much as blackberries. You could even shape these like a flag if you want to do the whole flag thing, like so

Good idea for any holiday! Dollar store votives+ vinyl+ Silhouette

Free July 4th Printables, including this cute silverware holder above.

Pretty Patriotic Paper Pinwheels Printable (say THAT 5 times fast)

Recipe at Oopsey Daisy (if you can't figure it out on your own).

Champagne or Wine Cooler with blueberries/blackberries and strawberries in it....brilliant

I LOVE this bleach shirt idea! Full tutorial to make any occaison bleach shirts from Fireflies and Jellybeans

Dollar store candles and colored rubberbands to make these pretty patterned votives!

DIY Tin Can Windsock your kids can help with from Under the Table and Dreaming (just typing that phrase has put DMB in my head for the remainder of the day)

Make a candle crate as seen at Frugal Life Project

More free Fourth Printables from Tweedle D Designs

Cheesecake bars- this includes a full cheesecake recipe

The best looking trifle I've found

Brilliant favor idea from Eighteen 25. Printable here.

Sand candles tutorial abridged from Martha Stewart at Social Couture