Easy Sewing Project for Boys or Girls

We love crafts and sewing projects in our house.  Two nights ago, we had about 30 minutes before bed and I wanted to do something fun but quiet with the kids.  We hadn't pulled my daughter's sewing kit out in a little while, so I decided that it would be the perfect project for us.

Instead of having my husband spend time with Little Guy while Little Gal and I sewed, I decided that I would let Little Gal work on a project that I designed (this pattern will come too!), and let Little Guy work on a different project that I designed.

It was wonderful to sew with both of them.  Little Guy is only 3.5 and I helped him handle the needle with the first few stitches, then let him do the rest while I held the fabric.  He was SO proud of himself.  Little Gal is 5.5 and was able to do her project almost all by herself.

If you have lots of children on your gift list for Christmas this year, this pattern could be printed out, the supplies gathered or purchased and given as a gift.  It would be very inexpensive, but meaningful.  Most children will need supervision, so this gift could be given with your time and attention attached.

The project that I created for Little Guy was a Fish Friend.  Print the pattern below, gather the supplies and your child, and let's go!

SUPPLIES:

One sheet (9" x 12") of felt in desirable color
*Craft thread (embroidery thread would work, but this craft thread works great for kids)
Chenille Needle
2 buttons for eyes
One printable pattern

First, print and cut out the Fish Friend Pattern.  Use chalk or another marking tool to trace two Fish onto the felt.  Using scissors, cut the two fish out.  Mark the pieces where the dots are on the pattern.  This is where you'll sew the buttons on for eyes.

There is a large cutting margin since chalk leaves a thick mark.  If your child is older and wants it to be more precise, use an instrument that will leave a thinner line.  Instruct young children to cut within the chalk markings.  Remember, it is not going to be perfect, and that's ok!  They're learning and they'll build so much confidence as the positives are noted.

Select or allow your child to select the buttons they'd like to use.  You'll need two.  One for each Fish Friend piece.  Using a Single-threaded needle, tie a knot in the thread, and sew 4 stitches to attach the button to one piece.  Repeat with the second Fish Friend piece.

Now each of your Fish Friend cutouts has an eye sewn on, you need to lay the two pieces down, wrong sides together with the eyes on the outside.  Pin in place.

They will probably not match up perfectly if your child used a wide cutting margin.  Remember!  This is ok!  They are learning.  If you need to trim a bit, go for it.  It doesn't need to be perfect, but your child will be happier if it looks like a fish, not a rectangle.

Using the single threaded needle again, make large running stitches around the entire fish, about 1/4" from the edge, with stitches about 3/8" apart.  Tie off the thread, and you're done!  Good work!

Free Printable Fish Friend Sewing Pattern for Kids

*This is not an affiliate link.  This is simply the craft thread that we use and it is especially good for kiddo fingers.

How to Fix Shoes with Shabby Velcro

Over the summer, my sister-in-law gave us a bag of clothes and shoes for Little Gal.  It was very sweet of her, and full of beautiful things.  Her youngest daughter had grown out of the items, and she wanted to pass them on to us.  

There were ballet shoes, some fancy velvet shoes (I'm thinking Christmas), and these adorable black Mary-Jane shoes.  Little Gal really needed some black shoes for church, so I was thinking these would be perfect.  I got her dressed for church one day and as we were walking out the door, she told me the shoes wouldn't stay on because the velcro kept coming undone.  After watching her, it was totally true.  Bummer!  Quick wardrobe change and we were out the door.

I knew we either needed to buy new shoes, or fix these ones.  Like many things, I let it simmer until I came up with a possible solution.  I fixed them the way I'm about to explain, however, you really do have a second option if this one doesn't work for you.  I'll explain that second option, I just don't have pictures to illustrate it as I didn't need to use it.

Let's get started!

SUPPLIES:

Needle
Thread in complimentary color
Needle Nose Pliers
Thimble

Examine your shoe.  See where the velcro matches up, and look for any places where you might be able to add elastic into the strap.  Try the shoe on your child (or whomever will be wearing it) while holding the strap tight and on the shoe, and see if they can slip the shoe on and off without needing more "give".  In our case, Little Gal could slip her foot on without needing extra or needing less.  I put the strap where I wanted it to hold it fast, then moved onto the next step.

IF YOUR SHOE DOES NOT GO ON AND OFF EASILY, never fear...yet!  If you're really determined to fix the shoes, you may be able to cut the strap at a discrete place, then stitch the straps to both sides of some elastic.

For example, if Little Gal's foot wouldn't have gone off and on, I would have cut the strap right where the strap is laced through that little buckle on the instep of the shoe.  I may have trimmed the strap a little if I needed give, but not necessarily MORE strap.  I would have then sewn the straps back onto a doubled-up piece of black (or complimentary color) elastic.  I would have threaded it back through the little buckle piece, then continued onto the next steps.

Thread your needle.  Since I wanted this to be heavy-duty, I used a double threaded needle instead of a single threaded needle.

Mark or remember where the strap is going to permanently end up.  Pull the strap off of the velcro, then stick the needle through the inside of the strap on the velcro side.  This way your knot will be hidden.

Once you've pulled the needle and thread through, replace the strap where you want it.

Begin stitching about a 1 inch line.  Take care to follow the stitching that the manufacturer sewed.  It will be easier.  Use that thimble and the needle nose pliers to help you.  These shoes were both leather and man-made on the top, and it was pretty rough at times.  It killed my needle.  

After you've stitched about an inch down the shoe, you'll need to stitch back up on the other side of the velcro unless you want to go all the way down the strap, stitch across, then stitch back up.  I didn't want to or feel it was necessary.

Cross over when working on the inside of the shoe, so that you can't see that huge stitch (I'm pointing to it with my pliers) on the outside.  

Continue up the shoe.  Do a couple of extra stitches if you're worried about durability.  Tie the knot on the inside so nobody can see it.

Can you see the stitches?  I can only see a hint of one when I'm looking at the shoe carefully in my hand.  Woohoo for saving some money and not wasting perfectly good (well, NOW perfectly good) shoes!

Have you mended shoes before?  Any tips?  I'm particularly interested in finding out if there's a better needle to be used for this sort of thing.  I just used a general use one.  I also have an awl that I could have used to make the needle holes, but didn't think of it at the time.

How to Make Laundry Detergent

About three years ago, my sister gave me her super simple laundry detergent recipe.  It was around the same time when coupon deals for nearly free laundry detergent quit coming as regularly and it just seemed easier and much, much cheaper to make it than deal with the hassle.

Our family has had zero skin issues from this detergent and that's worth something!  We all of sensitive skin and I used Dreft for my Little Guy and Little Gal until they were about two, at which point I began using this without skin problems.  I find that it cleans our clothing/towels/sheets well, leaves them smelling fresh, and I don't find that it fades clothes or leaves them dingy.

Some people love tide or another detergent, have had bad experiences with homemade laundry detergent, or just don't want to fuss with it.  If you want to save money from your household budget, though, I suggest you at least try it.  Even if you only make one batch, Borax and Super Washing Soda have other uses.

Ingredients:
1 Cup Borax
1 Cup Super Washing Soda (NOT regular baking soda!)
1 Bar Fels-Naptha soap, grated finely

Use the fine side of your grater and grate the entire bar of Fels-Naptha.  Pour it into your detergent container.  I believe my sister cuts her bar into small cubes and then she uses her food processor and washes it really well afterward.  Not really sure!  I'm sort of old school with my grater.

Add 1 cup of Borax and 1 cup Super Washing Soda.  Break up any clumps that you may find.  Tightly place the lid on your storage container and shake to combine the mixture.

To Use:  Add 1-1.5 TBS detergent per load of wash, following your machines instructions for when and where to place the detergent.  I am unsure of how much to put in a High-Efficiency washing machine, but probably the same amount since it is so little and this detergent doesn't really make a lot of suds as it doesn't have the added ingredients that make bubbles.

NOTE:  If I have towels or clothing that is especially soiled or mildewed, etc., I will pour in 1 cup distilled white vinegar with the water.

I did a little math for you so you can know (roughly) the cost.

Borax:  $.41 per 1 Cup/Batch
Super Washing Soda:  $.43
Fels Naptha Bar:  $.97

Total for one batch of Homemade Laundry Detergent:  $1.81

Number of Loads per Batch (rough estimate and determined upon about 1 TBS per load:  44ish

Cost of Laundry Detergent per Load:  A hair over $.04

Now, I usually like to do a full load of wash, and I usually have heavily soiled clothing (my kids like to play outside and they're 3 and 5), so I use a slightly heaped scoop.  I run at least 1 load of laundry per day and the last time I made laundry soap was just before October 7th in my Ways I Saved post.  I just made this batch on the 16th, so I'd say that's pretty stinkin' good!

Do you make your own laundry detergent?  Do you add other things?

{EXPIRED} How to Make a Thankful Tree + LEAF CUT-OUT GIVEAWAY

For those of you that live in the U.S., have you noticed that each year that goes by, Thanksgiving seems to become less and less important?  I know I am not innocent here.  We've had years where we didn't mention a single thing we were thankful for, or perform any other tradition for that matter, on Thanksgiving except for eating a huge meal.

This year, as Thanksgiving approached and I noticed that stores were putting Christmas items out with the Halloween/Fall items, I was determined to do some special things for Thanksgiving.  I think it's a good start!

1.  We separated out some of our Fall and Halloween decorations so that we could actually decorate for both holidays separately.

2.  We're going to have a family movie night and watch A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving which we got in this pack last year when it was on sale.  (This is not an affiliate link)

3.  I plan on making some Thanksgiving cookies with the kids to take to our neighbors.  I found some sprinkles on clearance that will look very pretty that are specifically fall, not Halloween.

And best of all...

4.  We started a new Thanksgiving tradition this year. We call it our Thankful Tree.  Not only have we been working on being grateful for what we have in general, but we decided to take this opportunity to look for more things to take note of and verbalize each evening as a family. 

Here's how we did it:  First, on butcher paper, we colored a tree trunk and branches.  We taped ours to the refrigerator door, but you could tape it up anywhere, really.  The tree is about 3 feet tall.  Then, the children and I cut out leaves out of different colored paper using my Cricut Cutting Machine.  Next, we talked about Thanksgiving and why we celebrate it.  Then we talked about one thing that we were thankful for, we each wrote it down on a leaf, which we then taped onto the tree.  

It has been wonderful to be able to do this as a family each day.  It is a wonderful way to be grateful as a family, to see the good, and to enjoy each other's thoughts.  We were able to include guests one night also, which was a fun way to wrap up our evening with them.  It's a good way to remind the kids (and myself!) to be thankful throughout the day by asking them, "What will you be writing on the Thankful Tree tonight?"

I know it would be tedious to cut out these leaves without a Cricut, and it might be costly to purchase the leaves (if you can find something like it), so I wanted to offer a packet of Leaves and Circles to three readers.  I thought it would be a fun little giveaway!

I will offer the Leaf and Circle packets to the first three readers to contact me.  Feel free to include your name and mailing address in the first email, or you can wait for my response letting you know that you've won.  If you choose to wait for my response to give me your mailing address, please respond quickly with your mailing address so that I can send out your Leaves and Circles as soon as possible.

To enter this giveaway, send me an email with a subject line of Thankful Tree Leaves and Circles at LifeLivedIntentionally [at] gmail [dot] com

And don't worry, I'll mail them out by Thursday so that you will be able to have time to use them until Thanksgiving.  You can use the snail mail time to make your Thankful Tree trunk and branches so it'll be ready when the leaves arrive.

Good Luck!

Disclosure:  Email and mailing addresses will only be used for the purpose of this giveaway and getting your gift to you or letting you know you did not win.  I'm sorry, but this giveaway will be open to U.S. Residents only.  I will do my best to be timely in updating this post once the giveaway has closed, however, the giveaway may be closed, even if it is not marked so.  This giveaway doesn't include the tree trunk, which you will need to make yourself.

How To Fix Footie Pajamas

Little Gal has long, slender, feet, unlike footie pajamas have.  The combination of long and slender vs. short and wide creates holes!  Two years ago, I had a pile of about 8 pairs of footie pajamas that had holes in the toes where her little toes had rubbed and worn the fabric.  After making attempts at mending them with darning stitches, hole-sized patches, cutting the bottoms of the feet out and sewing new ones back in, I gave up and discarded the pajamas.  It drove me nuts throwing them away because they were still very usable and not worn out at all.  Except for those feet.

When one of my son's footie pajamas got holes in them a month ago, I left them in his closet instead of tossing them because I really wanted to figure this footie thing out.  When we updated our kids' room, I cleaned out their clothes and had to face these pajamas again.  As I looked at them, it hit me.  I didn't need to anything more than sew an inner lining of the bottom of the footie, stitched in around the seams.

I mended two feet (footies? ha!) of the pajamas in about 20 minutes, and even let Little Gal help with about 10 stitches.  He has been using them off and on for about a week now and they're working great!  No complaints from him, which is the real proof of success.  I discovered the holes one night when he begged me to change his pajamas because the feet were bothering him.

Disclaimers:  Yes, that is a nasty crack on my dried out thumb.  I've been using more lotion and my hands are getting better.  Handling all of the fabric with the costume-making at Halloween plus the change of weather has been rough on my already cursed skin.  I'm sorry you have to look at it!  My hand model wasn't in for the photo shoot  ;)  Also, that nail polish was an experiment with Little Gal that has been on for a LOOOOOOONG time.  It's still on.  In fact, I'll probably go take that off after I finish this post.  Or maybe not.  :) 

Ready to fix some Footies?  Here's what you'll need:

-Thread
-Scissors
-Needle
-Thimble (not necessary, but helpful when the layers of fabric get really thick)
-Fleece fabric (flannel might also work.  You want something thick)
-Chalk or some sort of washable marker if you feel so inclined.  I didn't take this step as this project is VERY forgiving.

Turn the pajamas inside out.  Lay the foot of the pajamas flat on a piece of fleece that you'd like to use.  I matched the fabric in my daughter's because I had time, but my son got crazy orange as it was the color I had out.

Once you've got the foot of the pajama flat, cut around the foot, taking care to not cut the pajama fabric.  If you prefer, you can use your chalk in this step to trace the foot of the pajama, and then cut it out.

Line the footie patch up with the foot of the pajama, and pin in place.  It'll be neater if you do.  It'll probably forgive you if you don't so long as you're a decent hand-sewer and you take care to continue lining it up.

Using a slip stitch, sew around the patch and foot of the pajamas.  To make a slip stitch, stick the needle through, pull until snug and make sure you don't get knots in your thread.  Make sure your stitches go through where the original stitches in the pajamas are.

Next, stick the needle through about 3/8" away from the first stitch, with the needle going through the fabric in the same way it did the first time. You do NOT sew needle down, then up when making a slip stitch.  It will be needle down, needle down, etc.  The thread will make little loops over the fabric edge, closing the seam off.

Once you've gone all the way around, tie the knot off.  If you really want to go for it, you could, at this point, stitch (by hand, or by machine, perhaps, if you can get the footie into the machine) over the places that have holes to connect the patch and the pajama fabric together.  I did not find this necessary, but you may need to do something like this if the hole is severe.  I think prevention is the key here, friends.  Do this as soon as you see a hole, or perhaps BEFORE you see a hole.

Here is a finished footie patch, slip-stitched all the way around.  It's in there well, and very comfortable for the Little Wearers.  I'm happy they're comfy and I'm happy I didn't have to get rid of perfectly good pajamas!

By the way, my daughter found a hole in her pajamas as I was writing this post, that's why there are two sets of jammies here!  I was able to take some more pictures of a couple of details I'd missed the first time.  Off to fix the other footie!

Do you mend footie pajamas?  How do you do it?

How to Grow a Fall and Winter Garden

(These are my snow peas.  I've got several that are about 2" long.  I'm veeeeeery tempted to try one because I haven't eaten anything but herbs and green onion out of my garden in several weeks, but I'll be patient and let them grow...I guess!)

I loved my spring and summer garden this year!  Though I have been gardening and interested in gardening since I was a child, it was the most variety I have ever grown, and I enjoyed my successes so very much and I learned a little patience with my failures.  

The only problem was that I started my spring and summer garden very late this year.  I started seedlings mid May!  So I barely got a spring crop at all, and with that started so late, my summer crop was also started late.  On top of that, I had a very disorganized and tiny amount of space.  I felt like I was just "getting it" late summer and when fall came, I hadn't gotten my fill.

I started reading more and more about fall and winter gardening, my zone (7b-8a) seems pretty happy to oblige a fall and winter garden, and so I decided to plant one.

Honestly, things may die.  We might not get anything out of it except for garlic (next summer) and experience.  However, I'm hoping that I've chosen nice little micro-climates in my yard that will provide some warmth and shelter.  I also did my best to chose plants that would survive the cold.  We'll see!  Here's what's growing:

Part of our home school curriculum is gardening.  Not only can you learn a skill, but about seasons, about the earth, how does a seed grow into a plant, anatomy of plants, etc., etc.  It really is endless!  My husband built these great little boxes that are 12"x 12" wide and about 18" deep.  They're perfect for the plants the kiddos picked out and they're easy for them to water and observe.

I am growing garlic for the first time!  I planted a Spanish Hard Neck as well as a Late Italian Soft Neck.  The Spanish is thriving and the growth is probably about 8" tall.  However, I hadn't seen my Italian yet, though I planted the Italian at the same time as the Spanish.  When I pulled the mulch back yesterday, I saw a little growth poking out of the clove!  I'm very excited!

Here's the Spanish Hard Neck bed.  There she grows!

This is one of the radish beds (breakfast variety?) in a bed that is not raised.  It's struggling.  Those are thinnings on the ground, by the way!  They are struggling because of the insects, I think.  Though I'm having a hard time seeing anything that's eating them.

I think plants, even smaller ones, know when they are in a raised bed.  For some reason (knock on wood!), the slugs and bugs (with the exception of a few spider friends) have not yet found this bed.  This is the awesome bed that my husband built for me out of re-purposed wood.  And my oh my!  My plants love this bed.  These are radishes (I think breakfast radishes) and rainbow carrots, which you can see coming up if you look closely.  I'm crossing my fingers that I'll be able to overwinter the carrots.  I haven't told my children that they're rainbow carrots.  I want it to be a surprise when we pull them up!

This is another one of my favorite beds.  The upper and lower rows are spinach, the center is more breakfast radish.  Yes, I went a little crazy with the radishes!  I wasn't successful growing them this summer (I started them too late in the spring!), so I'm trying several areas of the yard.

They are also a very quick crop.  I read that you can sprinkle them in when you sow carrot seeds as they grow fast and can be harvested shortly after your carrots are beginning to germinate.  They also mark the rows where you planted the carrots.  So I'm trying that!  They are also quite cold hardy.

Last but not least, the poor cement block bed that has been planted three times and is now a netted fortress of doom.  The garlic has been planted--1 clove in each hole of the blocks--carrots (baby and rainbow), radishes (Cherry Belle), one broccoli seedling that I saved from when my greenhouse blew over (grrrr), and the Bok Choy that I planted has germinated and we'll see how that does as well.

Because of the cat, I keep finding random radishes popping up all over the place.  However, I'll let them grow as I plan on putting some lettuces, broccoli and kale in here once they're germinated and grown a bit bigger in the greenhouse.  

To sum it up, Fall and Winter gardening is awesome!  I can't wait to see what makes it and what doesn't.  I'm having fun taking notes in my garden journal, and I'm hoping to record some crops.  I'll do a post next week about my little greenhouse and the happenings there.

Tips for Starting a Fall or Winter Garden:

-Choose your crops carefully!  Pick plants that are cold hardy.  

-Picking up  transplants from the greenery could be a good idea.  While you're there, ask them what you can grow in the winter.

-If it's too cold outside in your climate, try growing some herbs inside.  I'm planning on bringing some basil, parsley and rosemary inside for the winter.  I have a large window in my kitchen and I think they will look nice sitting on the windowsill.

-Don't forget to mulch.  It keeps the soil warmer and protects from frost.

-Grab some horticultural fleece.  If you have a night or two that will be colder than usual, these may just tide your plants over.

-Try lasagna gardening.  Or at least throw a thick layer of mulch (such as leaf litter, straw, pine needles, etc.) down and put your garden soil on top.  The mulch will create heat as it decomposes.

-Try to plant on the south facing side of the house.  This is going to get the most sun.  Also, a bed on the south side of the house with a wall on the west side would help keep a lot of heat in and would also protect from the wind to a degree.

-Buy a row cover.  They don't always protect from frost, but they can help keep the soil warmer.

-Don't be afraid to try something.  If it works, it works!  If it doesn't, try it in the "correct" season next year.

-Get a cold frame, hoop house over an existing garden bed, or a walk-in green house.  Even if you're just dealing with a plastic covered, unheated green house, it can prevent some insects from getting in and supposedly stay about 5 degrees warmer.  Even if you can't grow much, one of these suggestions will allow your spring and summer crops to come up a bit earlier.


Are you growing a fall or winter garden?  What did you plant?  What have you had success with in years past?

Free Printable Freezer Inventory Chart

Ever since I started cooking ahead and keeping sides and meals in my freezer, I've kept a freezer inventory chart.  However, this was just a sheet of notebook paper, hastily ripped out of a binder and quickly scribbled on.  

In each row, I'd write down the item I had made and then make a tally for each serving that I threw into the freezer.  Yikes!  It got ugly towards the end when all of the tally lines were cross-marked and smooshed onto the line again and again, with the tallies getting closer and closer to the titles of the dishes as I added more and more tally marks.  You see, I was avoiding "making" another inventory chart out of notebook paper.

So I created a pretty Freezer Inventory Chart.  Something that would actually look nice as it adorned my refrigerator or the inside of my cupboard door.  It is going to be very nice to have it on a nicer, more organized paper!

I wanted you to be able to try it out as well, so I made it a complimentary printable...I think!  The more I work with this blog and experiment with and try new things, I realize how little I know about the behind-the-scenes working of websites.  Who knew just how difficult it would be to create a printable document!?!

If you wouldn't mind, if you try printing the Inventory Chart, please let me know how it goes in the comments.  I'm learning, and I'm having fun learning, but in the end, I want this to be a frustration-free place for you, the readers. 

How do you keep track of your freezer meals?  Any favorite recipes?

FREE Printable Freezer Inventory Chart

How to Build a Raised Garden Bed with Cement Blocks

I am experimenting with a fall/winter garden.  Even if it doesn't grow, the beds that we've built will be ready in the spring.  So far I have planted lettuce, spinach (about to get true leaves), radishes (some have true leaves), kale (ugh, still hasn't come up, so I'll be starting these in the greenhouse), rainbow and baby carrots (I plan on mulching these for overwintering), purple sprouting broccoli, leeks, onions, snow peas, bok choy and green onions.  I also have some parsley, cilantro, basil and rosemary in the greenhouse and we'll see how long they survive.

I'm hoping that I have found some good microclimates in my yard that offer more sun and warmth and the beds are raised and might be mulched which will add extra heat.

I also have a walk-in greenhouse, which is about 4x6' and not glass, but I know it'll add a certain amount of protection.

Remember when I ripped out my tomato plants for a new bed? Well, we built one more raised bed out of cement blocks in that spot over the weekend!  I'm very excited to have another raised bed.  The drainage is a million times better than it had been, I can put bird netting over it (for our cat...grrr), and I'll be able to cover with a row cover if I want to by attaching it to the fence.

It was very simple to build, and we're really happy with it.

First, we measured the length and width of the bed.  We also decided on some specs.  One thing we were worried about was the fact that the bed is up against one wall of the house and a length of fence.  We wanted to protect them with extra cement blocks to prevent rotting, so we measured them out and found blocks that were a little taller, but also thin enough to not take up precious bed space.

Next, we bought the blocks and set them up.  This was probably the easiest part.  You might want to take some gloves to the home improvement store if you don't want your hands getting ripped up from the blocks.  I use my hand a lot, and they're definitely not smooth and delicate, but I was surprised at how much damage they received from my loading and unloading them to the cart, then helping my husband place them.

Next, we laid down a 2-3" layer of straw.  As the straw decomposes, it will add nitrogen to the soil, but also heat, which will be helpful for my fall/winter garden.

Next, we filled it up with soil from our favorite greenery.  Do you see how rich that soil is?  I tell you what!  I can get anything to grow in there.  Buying dirt was a little mental struggle for me, because it's DIRT.  DIRT shouldn't cost money because it's everywhere.  However, this dirt is awesome.  And the dirt in our yard is not awesome.  It's either rocky clay or rocky sand.

Not pictured, are the holes filled in.  I bought one last bag of dirt and filled them in after I'd already photographed this.  After filling them, I planted them with garlic as fortress of doom to keep the slugs out...or that's what I tell myself!  Ha.  I'm not sure if this is the best place for garlic to grow, but I've got it all planted around the yard, so we'll see how the experiment goes.

It may not be the most beautiful raised bed, but it's functional.  And I like functional!  What are your raised beds made of?  What do you like about them?  What would you do different?

How to Make a Scrappy Pumpkin Craft

It's Fall and I'm so excited! I love all of the cozy things we have to eat, special treats, pumpkins, candles, and decorations.

And CRAFTS!  Don't forget about the crafts!  I'm not sure about your pinterest boards, or the blogs you follow, but mine are booming with this craft or that craft.

Here is a simple one that we created at our home school group last week.  All of the kiddos participated (aged 2-5) and had fun creating their own unique design.

You can use any pumpkin printout, or just color one of your own, but I chose this PUMPKIN one for its simplicity and ease of use.

Our kids had fun making them, but wouldn't they be cute invitations?  Or framed?  Or maybe as place cards?  I think they'd be super cute, just size it down or up accordingly.

Ready to make one?

Here's what you'll need:

*1 Pumpkin Outline

* Pile of scrap papers in different colors (I used scrapbook paper cut into 2.5" strips, but construction would work too!)

* Glue stick

* Scissors

* Markers or crayons

First off, Color your pumpkin.  This is where our kids got really creative!  You'll be cutting around the outline of the pumpkin, so it's ok if a little gets outside of the lines, and also, you don't want to spend time coloring out there.  It's just going to get cut off.

Now you want to flip your paper over.  Grab the scraps, and make sure all sides of the scraps have glue on them.  Layer, lay in rows, whatever!  Just make sure glue is covering the back of each piece.  Also, make sure that the scraps go just outside of the outline of the pumpkin.  This is where it's nice if you can see through the paper to cover the outline.

See?  No need to glue scraps on the whole paper.  You're just going to cut it off!  Allow to dry.

Now, flip your paper back over, and cut out the pumpkin along the outside line of your pumpkin outline.  Some kids might need help here, but the bigger kids did a great job with that thick black line.

You're Finished!  Enjoy your fun, Scrappy Pumpkin and enjoy your Fall!

How to Make a Pencil Holder. OR How to Make a Tool/Nails/Screws Holder

About a week ago, I set aside a 28 oz tin can that we'd eaten the food out of.  I'd been working in my garage in my husband's tools and noticed that he had a lot of things on his work bench that could use a container.  I knew I could do some manly decorating of it and he'd be happy.  A few days later, he came home from work and told me that he needed a pencil holder because he had a drawer full of pens and pencils and wanted it empty.  Ha! It's a good thing I saved that tin can, huh?  Looks like I'll be saving a few more.

With Christmas coming up, I actually thought it could be a fun gift for those that could use a little organization in their lives.  I know many people enjoy or need to make as many gifts as possible this year, and this could be just thing for those hard-to-create-for-males.  

You could use two to three different sizes of tins and nestle them together.  Maybe a little candy or a new tool or pen to go in the smallest can.  I used some hemp-type rope, but it could be really fun to use some Paracord to give it a funky look.  I don't know.  Let your imaginations run wild!

Here's what you need to get started:

Hot Glue Gun and Glue sticks

Tin Can(s)

Hemp or other material to wrap around the can.

1.  First, let's make sure this can is safe.  Luckily, my can opener had done a great job, and I had zero issues with the cut.  If your can didn't make so clean a cut, try covering it with a little duck or electrical tape, fabric, or something else simple and not noticeable.  OR try using some pliers to bend it back in, or some scissors or wire cutters to cut it off.

2.  Warm up that glue gun and make sure you have plenty of glue sticks available.  This 28 oz can used about 5-6 mini glue sticks for my mini, low-heat glue gun. 

3.  To start the hemp, begin by making a strip of glue along the top of the can.  Put the hemp directly on the glue, and continue around the can, gluing and then laying down the hemp, until you reach the point at which you started.  To give it a clean look, glue along the top of the beginning of your hemp for about 1 inch to cover your starting point.

4.  Once you've covered your starting point, make a nice glue line off of the top, and NEXT to your circle of hemp.  Continue gluing and laying down the hemp next to the hemp you've glued down until you spiral all the way down the can.

5.  Watch that bottom of the can for a good point at which to cut the hemp off.  Trim, then glue it down neatly and try to make it discreet and clean.  You don't want anybody to see your start or finish secrets!

Have fun getting a little more organized!