Construction Birthday Party!

August hit me hard this year. I think it was the first time I've felt so busy as a mom. My husband said I was finally to the Soccer Mom stage of my life. Well I've finally slowed down a bit and would like to share the boy's combined birthday party we had a couple weeks ago.

I took a picture of the construction going on behind our house and used it as the back ground for the invite.

As guest arrived they had to follow a few construction signs to get to the back. I made these with orange poster boards and black paper I cut out with my silhouette SD.

As they went through the gate they received a hard hat and apron. In the apron was a demolition ball (jaw breaker) and measuring tape (bubble tape). The kids then played in the sandbox as we waited for the rest of the kids.

First activity of the party was hammering nails into wood. They seemed to really like this and didn't want to stop to go on to the next game.

The next game was pin the wrench on the pipe. I came up with this one from an idea I saw online. They did pin the nail on the hammer, but I was already doing a hammer game and wanted to use a different tool.

Next we did some building and demolition. you could use cereal boxes for this as well. I hadn't saved any so I was really excited to find these brick boxes at Wal-mart for only $10. The best part is my kids still love playing with them even weeks after the party.

The next event and the biggest hit with the kids was painting. We replaced our air conditioner this summer and still had the box. I'm sure you could get one from a store or I have seen cardboard houses that are meant to be painted or colored. Not sure where to buy those though. I bought some cheap paint trays, foam brushes and rollers, and poster paint.

After the painting we got everyone washed up and got ready for cake and ice cream. They kids watched the construction going on behind our house as they waited.

We had chocolate cake(dirt), ice cream (cookies and cream to look dirty) cones (orange cones).

Here is the cake. sorry the coloring is so bad.

We then opened presents.

I'm showing this gift for Brig, because it was the one I made. I just used a small mans black shirt, which I trimmed a bit and hemmed. Bought the rubber boots on clearance. I put yellow duct tape around the edges. I'm sure the tape will come of, but it is easy to fix.

Lastly we did a pinata. I looked everywhere near me for a construction themed pinata and could not find one, so I made one.

As they left they got a party bag with candy corn, reeses pieces, stickers and a small truck or tractor.

Train and Airplane Quilts

I'm so excited for today's post! I started this last September and was hoping to have them finished for Christmas. I might have done it if I didn't make anything else. I finally finished in May and I love them! What do you think?

I took a quilting class in collage (wont say how many years ago). Thinking I knew what I was doing  made a wall hanging about 2'x3'. Not the prettiest thing. Don't even have a picture.

 I came across a blog, Diary of a quilter (before pinterest) that has a tutorial on how to make a quilt. I learned more from that tutorial then I ever did in the quilting class. After feeling confident I knew what I was doing, I took the plunge and made two twin size Quilts! 

 

My favorite part of the airplane quilt is the pinwheel squares that look like airplane propellers. 

 

With the airplane quilt I went for a more detailed (complicated) center with a basic (easy) boarder. with the train I went the other way around. The train boarder was probably what took the longest out of the whole project.

My favorite part of the train quilt is the railroad track boarder. I came up with that one on my own.

Waz up Wednesday? - Lego Floor Bags!

Waz up Wednesday's is when I talk about a project I've been working on recently. It may still be a project I'm currently working on or one I have recently finished.

My boys got Legos and Duplo blocks for Christmas this year.

What a pain in the butt to clean up!

not to mention all the times the vacuum go over them.

Dear Santa,
It was so great seeing my boy's faces when they opened the Legos you brought them, but now my vacuum is unhappy. So for Christmas this year I'm asking for a new vacuum! 
Thanks, A Mom 
P.S. after all it's your fault!

My boys hate cleaning them up also.

I'm sure you have seen these around and I even saw some for sale for about $64 (Eeek!)

I've also seen some cute ideas of putting each lego color in it's own bin.

Maybe my kids are not normal, but all I thought of when I saw that was..."Those bins will just be dumped out and mixed together in a matter of seconds."

Talk about a bigger pain when it comes to cleaning up!

I like the floor bag idea, yes some of the legos do manage to wonder off the bag, but over all they are SOOO much easier to clean up!

No more using a dust pan to scoop them up over here (yes, it's true, bigger surface area then my hands meant faster clean up! don't judge!)

I used 6 (3 of each color) yards of fabric. some cotton rope and eyelets.

The rectangle one I don't like as much. it does give a larger area to play, but not as easy to pull together.

The round one is AWESOME!

(I apologize now for not taking photos of the process, I hope words will be enough)

So I took the three yards of fabric and folded it in half and cut down the fold.

Then sewed them back together side by side. (I hope this makes sense)

Cut it into a perfect square. ( I am planning on using the extra fabric to make other bags or pillow cases for their rooms)

then take some butcher paper, string, and a pencil. Divide the squares length in half and cut the string to that length.

Tie the string to the pencil. holding one end of the string, draw with the pencil, at full length, a quarter circle on the paper. cut along the pencil line.

Fold the fabric square in quarters and pinned the paper to it (make sure the rounded edge is away from the folder parts of the fabric). Then cut along the rounded part of the circle.

Unfold the fabric and you have a circle my friends!

Do the same for the fabric you want to use for the inside.

On the outside fabric, find a spot along the edge (about an inch or 2 in) to put your eyelets (make sure they are big enough for your rope to go through.) Put two about and inch or two apart from each other.

Okay now you can sew the two parts together, make sure you leave several inches to flip it right side out again and then sew that part together.

Now you will want to sew another line about 3-4 inches in from the side, all the way around. making sure that the eyelets are in between the edge and the new line.

weave the rope through the eyelets and around the edge of the bag, making sure there is enough to allow the bag to lay flat. tie a knot and you are done!

Thanks for stopping by!

sewing lover's bulletin board

 

What you will need:

sewing starter kit

about two medium patterns

bulletin board

mod podge
hot glue and gun

pencil

fabric

fabric button kit

pliers

step one: mod podge patterns on to bulletin board. you want to layer them, but try to stay as close to one layer as possible.

 Step two: cut pattern paper into 2" squares. this does not have to be exact. wrap the squares around the end of a pencil. put a spot of hot glue on the tip and stick it on the frame. you can make this as thick or thin as you want.

 Step three: hot glue sewing kit items around the edge however you would like.

Step four: make button push pins. you will want to use pliers to remove the loop on the back of the fabric buttons. then follow the instructions that come with the fabric button kit.

hot glue thumb tacts to the back of the buttons. you can also use regular buttons as well.

science kit

This was so fun!

I made this kit for my nephew for Christmas.

first I gathered science experiments from Science Bob. and printed out the ones I felt were age appropriate (he's four).  

 

I then gathered some of the supplies that were commonly mentioned in what was needed for the experiments (like balloons, food coloring.)

I found kid safety glasses on Amazon (came in a pack of six)

I made the lab coat out of a mans button up white shirt. I choose to buy one, but I'm sure an old one would be a cheap, great idea. I cut off the bottom a bit and hemmed it and used the fabric I cut off to make the pockets. 

I put it all together in a bin I bought at Walmart and it was done!

Things to come!

It's been awhile, I had a family death that threw me off my creative game for awhile, but I'm back and have started working on some projects for Christmas.

I have also started on my Boy's rooms and am so excited to see how they turn out. Here are some pictures to give you a taste of what to come.

Also I wanted to show my mom opening her nutcrackers! so enjoy!

Superhero Capes

There is a lot of cape patterns out there, but after looking at them all you can not beat this one. It's cheap and easy and fit well enough it doesn't choke the child.

All you need:

mens XL t-shirt (I got them at the thrift store)

scissors

sewing machine or Velcro

Here is the tutorial I followed. I sewed the neck shut to the size a regular t-shirt of the child wearing it, instead of using the Velcro.

even puppies like them.

Fleece Baby/Kid Blanket

My toads love there blankies!

I received one as a gift for my oldest. 

He loved it so much I had to make one for the next toad that came along and he loves his even more.

I am now making them for other babies on the way (not mine!). 

Here is how they are made.

You will need:

two pieces of fleece that coordinate in color (1-1.5 yrds. each)

coordinating thread

scissors

sewing machine

 Step 1: cut edge off fabric

 

Step 2: If your fabric has a print, put it facing the other fabric.

step 3: line up one side (the lengthwise side) of the fabric and pin it.

 (note: pin the first and last needle 4 inches from end. 

this will be the starting and ending points for your sewing line.)

step 4: smooth and line up the rest of the fabric the best you can. pin other side and trim any extra fabric.

  

Step 5: starting at 4 inches in sew a straight stitch down the lengthwise side of the blanket. Repeat with opposite side.

Step 6: turn the blanket right-side out.(for a nice finished look, on the outside of the blanket, do a zig-zag stitch down the same sides you've already stitched)

 

Step 7: on the width-wise side of the blanket stitch a straight stitch 4 inches from the side.repeat for other side.

 (Tip: I used masking tape and marked a line 4 inches out for a guide)

Step 8: on the width-sides of the blanket cut 1 inch strips. be careful not to cut past the sewn line. repeat for opposite side.

Step 9: tie front and back strips together in single not as seen below.

There you have it! a soft blanket they can grow with.