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

 

Fathers Day Part II

Now I know if you've been to a craft show in the past 5 years you've seen these all over the place. But...little did you know there was a link to free images to use in it. (Below). You can use these for anything, but specifically for father's day you could spell "dad", "pops", "Insert man's first name/last name".

Album of "letter" photos

Make him checks that say things like "free lawnmowing" or "free trash takeout" here

Homemade "treat of the month" gift tutorial here

No real explanation needed for this one, other than to say that you can get a spare scrabble set at your local thrift store for about $2. For the word enthusiast, like my dad is.

Make your dad an "info sheet" Printable here

How cool would this printable card have been in 1995?

And last but not least, make your own dad-to-be survival kit with any of the items below::

Father-to-be Kit

A roll of quarters

Dr. Spock's book
Baby sitting coupons so parents can get out for some time to themselves
A small cloth frustration ball - for the times we needed to throw it on the floor.
Hand Lotion - to remind you that babies need lots of soft touches
Safety Pin-- to help remind you to be safe
Marbles - to replace the ones you will loose
Lifesavers - to remind you that parents are lifesavers
Pen and paper - to write down your thoughts/memories to share when they are older
Wipes - for cleaning up those little messes
Candle - to remind you, you will be the light of that childs eye
Peppermint - to remind you you are worth a mint
Brag Book - so you will always have your child near
Sweet & Sour Candy - to remind you that every child can be both
Clock - to remind you that time passes to quickly...enjoy every minute
Mounds Bar - for the mounds of wisdom you will pass onto your child
Hershey's Hugs & Kisses - because you deserve them~!
Happy Face (Sticker) - to remind you to keep smiling
Paperclip - to help hold it all together
Balloon - to remind you to teach the children to reach for the sky
Rubber band - to remind you that flexibility is the key
Tissue - to dry those tears, the babies and yours.
Fireball - for times when you are burnt out
Lollipop - to lick all your problems
Eraser - to remind you that every new Dad made mistakes
Playing card - Raising and educating children is a gamble
Cotton Ball -- for times when you can't hear yourself think
Rope - in case you get to the end of yours
Puzzle Piece - to remind you that you are an important piece in the journey of your child
Tootsie Roll - to remind you to roll with the punches
Candle - so you never feel in the dark
Do Not Disturb Sign - to remind you that you need time to yourself
Aspirin - for when all else fails...take two

Kid Stuff

Today first a project that I created to capture my daughter's weekly growth, and then one of HER first projects.

During my pregnancy I found this awesome idea to make a photo book with a photo for each week of her first year. I found several versions, with most of them being fancy "computer printed" albums. I wanted this one to look more "homemade" and have my husband help as well. You could also have an older sibling help. So I used the classic medium construction paper, and had my husband HAND WRITE the weeks on the side of each page. To bind the book I used a hole punch and ribbon.

Sad that stores no longer sell the traditional "paint with water" books that I remember having as a child, I used the classic construction paper medium again, and handed P a paint brush dipped in water. (She is still at an age where I need to dip the brush in water for her, otherwise she will drink and/or spill the water).

Old Projects Part II

Redskins Tutu (Currently being worn by a piggy bank)

So I saw some awesome tutu's at a store in SC (Clemson Ones) for little girls and absolutely fell in love with them. They had ribbons and sparkles (the picture below is not really good, but note I took the traditional tulle and also added "ribbons and sparkle"). The one at the store was $40. I was not going to pay that much for a tutu P would wear 3-5 times so I set out to find a way to make one, and I did.

Remember the vinyl stickers I promised?

Clothesline Photo Ceiling Trim

Just nail a ribbon every 3-5 feet along the wall, and use clothespins (you should probably decorate the clothespins first) to add a photo border to any room.

An EXTREMELY old one, circa 2001.

Just a piece of wood, a photo, paint, glitter, paint pens, stickers.

Touches of color

I spray painted the bookcase (once purple) that I used as a child to match my daughter's pink and green room. I also bought white shelves at Ikea ($3 each as opposed to $12 pink ones) and spray painted them pink. I added little green dragonfly accents to the windows using crayola window markers, and a simple stencil that had come with another kid related item I had purchased along the way.

Name Sign

A block of wood, pretty paper, spray paint.