Bacon and Eggs

I have been feeling guilty that I haven't posted a real project on here yet (Although not quite as guilty as Katie Pryor seems to feel).  I made these a while ago and had been meaning to post them on here, but just couldn't make it a priority.  Today, I needed a break from my real job, so I decided to finally post them while Jimmy is taking a nap.  These probably one of Jimmy's current favorite toys.  I was actually quite proud of myself for coming up with it, but at the same time, it just seems so obvious.  Jimmy loved playing with his Easter Eggs after Easter.  He would put tiny little toys in them and try to close them (which I usually had to help with).  I got kind of sick of having his basket in our living room around June, so I put them in an old egg carton and decided to make felt eggs to put inside each one. And well, if you are going to make eggs, you need bacon too.  Everyone needs bacon.  

The eggs are just white and yellow felt with a little stuffing. I used some fiber fill coming out of a hole in a pillow before I sewed the pillow closed, but you can use cotton balls.  I have often thought that I should use the lint from the dryer for some craft project such as this.  Is that kosher? (Please post your opinions).  I hand stitched them, so it was super easy.  The bacon I did on the sewing machine so it was a little bit trickier, but not too hard.  I used the only three colors of brown felt that they sell at Michaels.  I used the middle toned one as the base and then just made some uneven stips of the other two colors and carefully stitched along those.  Then after I was done sewing them on and just pulled on them a lot to make them more wonky like bacon really is.  Then I like to fold them up so they get those nice curves like bacon.  I have considered making my next batch double sided.  Jimmy watched me make one, so now he asks for bacon whenever he looks at my sewing machine.  I don't know if he is asking for the real thing or another fake one... He loves both.  For more pictures of him enjoying them, check out my blog Here.

UP NEXT: Donuts 

Um....

Could this be any cuter?

Kathleen's Krazy Krafts: The First Installment

I wasn't going to post this, because aesthetically this is lame. However, our family is all about good times and who doesn't love fishing? I had a bunch of scraps of fabric that I wanted to get rid of and got this idea from these cute identical twins from India who could do almost anything including recite every single song on Taylor Swift's Fearless Album from memory.

Anyway.

What you need:

Scrapes of fabric that you cut into the shape of fish. Get creative people. Toile Fish are so in!


Beans. As I am writing this I am thinking that you shouldn't use beans. I think they make the fish too heavy and you need the fish to be light enough for the magnet to be "caught" by your pole.


Sew the fabric together inside out, leave the tail open, fold the fabric to the right side out. Then you fill with a few beans (or no beans), two of these magnets:


Sew up the tail. Then find a stick, some yarn, a little more fabric, and two or three magnets for the fishing pole:


It might keep the kiddies quiet for a little while before they start using the fishing pole as a sword or something.

If you are intimidated by quilting...

This is a perfect place to start. I used a pre-picked pattern for my first quilt but I did everything for this one and the hardest part was coordinating fabrics.

Simple preschool

I don't have any creative crafts, yet, but I think this blog will really inspire me! My little project this summer has been creating preschool activities for Jacob. I was actually having a hard time coming up with something I really liked until I came across this little book: Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Preschool Years. I had wanted something that would really be on his level, but not just workbooks full of ABCs and 123s. I wanted something that would capture the attention of a very active 3 year old. This book is a simple read with tons of activities laid out in detail to make it easy for a parent. It is for ages 1 1/2- 5. At the end of the book the author gives details on how to make the materials for many of the activities. It's great for tight budget. Most things can be made from things you already have around the house or can buy for a few dollars. So I have spent a few weeks preparing some of the activities and Jacob started using them. He loves it and is just soaking up everything! I'm amazed at how quickly he's learning letters, numbers, shapes, sorting etc. When I tried to do these things my own way it just wasn't working, but he really just gets these activities.

Here are a few of the things I have made:

Sandpaper letters. Made with black sandpaper on poster board. They feel the sandpaper as they learn the initial sound of the letters and it prepares them for writing.


Number Rods. They are used for learning to count and eventually the concept of adding and subtracting.
Busy Board. This is used to help with their fine motor skills. They learn how to button and unbotton, zip, tie bows, lace a shoe, snap, hook and eye.


Now you can keep your kiddos busy so you have more time for crafts.

A lot out of a little

I was reading through this blog last night and feeling bad about myself. I kept telling myself that I too could and would make something amazing from nothing to share with all of you. It wasn’t until this morning that I realized that I already had. Although not as creative as a quilt or amazing hanger-names, thanks to my friend Maureen at homemademothering.com, I created an abundance of hand soap out of everyday household items.

Refreshingly (pun intended), her recipe calls for things I already had at home:

1 bar of soap (I used Ivory)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon honey
water

My favorite thing about the recipe was that it consisted of two distinct steps so I was able to accomplish the first step, as well as some other things around the house, while Isaac napped. Then, I finished the project the following morning during another of his naps!

Here goes:

First, finely chop or grate the soap and put into a large saucepan with 3 cups of water. Bring the mixture to a boil and, stirring often, melt the soap. Stay near the stove because my mixture kept attempting to overflow. Once the soap dissolves, remove it from the heat and whisk in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Let the mixture sit overnight.

In the morning, the mixture will be solid. Break it up and put it into a blender or food processor with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, the honey, and 1 cup of water (I added more to get it to my desired consistency).

Pour into empty soap dispensers (or a jar if you run out)! Can you believe how much soap this makes? What a money and environment saver!

I have a new obsession.

I am a total sucker. I go into the fabric store looking for a zipper for a purse I'm making and buy a quilt set since it's on sale. I have never had any interest in quilting, I just really like toile. I am now hooked. I made this last week and I plan to make a bigger one this week. Do you think this would be more suitable for a boy or girl baby?