Strollerderby : crafty

Crafty Playdate: Birthday Tees From Way Back

JeanneSager — Fri, 08 May 2009 18:31:00 GMT

I sometimes think my constant persusal of craft blogs is proof I'm a bit of a masochist at heart. Because looking at some of these totally rockin', oh so easy to do at home projects is like driving a knife into my still carpal tunnel from pregnancy plagued wrist.

I'm not Martha.

So when I find something that makes me go, dude, I could so totally do that, I have to share it with you. Because if I could do it, a completely untrained monkey flown in and suffering from the affects of ebola could probably do it.

And hey, I love monkeys. Who doesn't?

So what's the craft? Yeah, yeah, I'm getting to that.

Over at Tangled and True, Jenn takes you through the entire process of making a totally retrolicious vintage tee for baby.She gives you the font, walks you through the stencil making, even tells you what paint to buy. OK, so stencil practically readymade and a keep it simple stupid walk through? Hello, sold to the non-Martha mom browsing the net. Although, it's free, so is it really sold?

Anyway, the number shirts caught me - because with my daughter's birthday coming up, I've been debating "is it too dorky to buy her a 4 tee for her 4th?" Because right now, I don't care. I've found a craft project she and I can do together, that will result in a funky tee for her birthday, and (cha ching) work as birthday gifts for all the kids whose parents say "oh, they don't need anything and refuse to give me a blessed idea of what their kids like."

Check out the whole process over at Tangled and True and get cracking - summer birthday parties are coming up fast!

Image: Tangled and True

Move Over Booties! Here Come Knitted Boobies!

Kate Tuttle — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:30:00 GMT

From England, a new and crafty way to promote breastfeeding: a competition in which knitters create faux breasts. The contest is called Tit-Bit for Knitters, and is a project of the Trading Standards, a government agency that oversees trade, consumer, and food issues, in the town of Wigan, just outside Manchester.

Part of a larger governmental push to get more British moms breastfeeding, the Tit-Bit contest has already attracted some attention, according to Julie Middlehurst, a spokesperson for the Wigan Trading Standards. From the article:

"It's a bit of a joke but there's a serious message behind it. There isn't a huge up-take of breastfeeding nationally and it's the same in Wigan. Around 15% of mothers in Wigan who start breastfeeding stop after a few weeks.

"We're hoping to get people talking about the issue. We've had quite a few entries already, which are all different shape, sizes and colours."

Any Babble readers who find themselves in or around Wigan can still submit their knitted boobies, up to the April 3 deadline. Winners will be chosen, according to the news article, for qualities such as "most eye-catching, the most realistic and the largest number knitted."

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Crafty: President Obama, Cube Style

JeanneSager — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 20:34:00 GMT

Tuesday was supposed to be the best part of the week, but I can't help thinking Wednesday was even better.

Every time someone came on the radio and said "President Barack Obama," did such and such, my daughter said, "Mommy, Barack Obama's the president, I saw it on TV!"

The way I see it, we made the little kids sit through watching the inauguration with us, so now they can celebrate the new president nursery school style - it's time for crafts! Leave the macaroni in the closet, because we've got a modern craft for a modern president.

The folks at Cubeecraft have done up 44 so you can download him, print him, and let the kids get to work cutting along the lines (good practice for kindergarten!). The folding part is rated two scissors, which means "there is a shape that needs to be cut with an exacto besides a straight line (such as a beard or other detail.)", so you'll need to lend a hand.

But with no glue required, it's a no muss, no fuss craft - and lets them get in on the excitement!

To download President Barack Obama, visit Cubeecraft here. Stock your printer - with Grover, Grimace, Spongebob and Jigglypuff, there are plenty of kids Cubeecrafts to stock up on for future snowy days when you're stuck indoors.

Image: Cubeecraft

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Is It Ever Too Late for the Thank You Note?

JeanneSager — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:46:00 GMT

We do a lot as a family around this house. But the thank you notes? Somehow they landed in my court - for all three of us.

This year, I've rebelled. Instead of writing out sweet, thoughtful notes pretending to be my daughter and allowing her to make a scribbly mark at the bottom to signify they are from her, I've told her she has to draw pictures.

For everyone.

That's grandparents on both sides, her uncle, my aunts, friends from my work, friends from my husband's work, her teacher, the teacher's assistant . . . the amount of people who buy "just for the kids" means the pile of thank yous "from the kid" is still high. And we're not done.

It would be faster to sit down and write them myself, I know that. I could bang it all out one evening during Toot and Puddle. But it's high time that she learn there's a little more involved than just shouting "thank you" and rushing back to play with her toys. I'd also like to think that people will appreciate something from her that much more, and they'll be so impressed that they won't mind the wait. Will they?

It hasn't been a full month since Christmas, so we have, what, a week left? Two? Until Easter?

We're moving along at pre-schooler pace on the pile of pictures, but we'll get there. I'm just happy to report the birthday presents won't start rolling in until June.

Image: Parties by Nina

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Five Easiest - and Cheesiest - Christmas Gifts to Make With the Kids

JeanneSager — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:36:00 GMT

Let's face it, even when the economic picture is rosy, Christmas with the kids is expensive. There's that darn Toys R Us lookbook that always seems to make it into their hands. Most of us won't scrimp on their gifts, so it's the rest of the family that gets the shaft.

What if there was a compromise? No need to beat around the bush here - I'm talking good old-fashioned child labor here. Yeah, it's a little cheesy in that holiday commercial where a kid hands mom a big handmade card kind of way, but what the heck. At least you can afford it.

Tempted to throw caution to the wind and make presents with the kids? Here are my five favorites:

Cookies - seriously a no-brainer here. Most people who celebrate Christmas are making them anyway (or buying them and plunking a doily on a paper plate to make it look like they are anyway). So throw together an extra batch and take them with you - anywhere. The thing about cookies is that people who say, "Oh no, I couldn't," inevitably end up digging in. And they'll appreciate not having another tchotchke that ends up taking up space on their bookshelves. Speaking of which . . .
Whatsit jars - Forget the muffin mix in a jar. Have you ever actually seen someone bake one of these things? I usually end up pouring mine in the compost pile just in time to get another shelf full. Save the jars, the gingham squares and the raffia ties, and let your kids loose in the junk drawers or their toy room. Short of the knowledge that everything MUST fit inside the drawer, all they need to know is this is a gift for so-and-so. In other words, they can't get this stuff back, but they can make somebody's day and clean up your house. See what they come up with; you might be surprised - and your best friend will have a kitshy found art piece to show off instead of the same old macaroni necklace. Speaking of which . .
There aren't many people who really like to wear kid-made jewelry (their mothers accepted, of course - and maybe some grandmothers). But a button that can be stuck in a corkboard? Not too shabby. Flattened bottle caps, with pictures glued to the front and plenty of glitter are a bit more work, but the fact that they're kid-made is a bonus for these, not a detraction. (Click here for directions).
Who says the presents have to be people-specific? The same people who will stop in awe to watch a bluebird alight on their windowsill don't necessarily have the time (or the ambition) to go out and buy a feeder. You can do the old pine cone and peanut butter trick (or Crisco, if your kids are young and you're still wary of allergies). Smear the pine cone in goo, swirl in a pile of cheap birdfeed, tie on a piece of twine and voila. Or . . .
Popcorn strings will keep the animals who don't hibernate busy this winter, and provided your kids are old enough to trust with a needle and long piece of thread, they're something a trained monkey could make. And did I mention won't require dusting or take up space for time eternal?

Call them cheesy, but they're easy on the pocketbook - and your kids will remain out of your hair for a good thirty minutes.

Image: Family Fun

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Crafty: Shrinky Dink Your Christmas Tree

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Crafty: Shrinky Dink Your Christmas Tree

JeanneSager — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:36:00 GMT

If you're not one of those "everything has to match" holiday tree people, you're my kind of parent. The more nursery school Santas and one-eyed reindeer the better in my book.

With the economy, well. . . you know what the economy is like . . . this year we'll be decorating the tree in a way that's both nostalgic AND futuristic. Think shrinky dinks (remember those?) from recycled plastic.

Instead of picking up the sheets of shrinkable plastic from a retro toy store online, rescue clear #6 plastic from your recycling bin (it's usually in the form of those single-serve take-out boxes from restaurants, salad bar containers or those the grocery stores use to store strawberries and blueberries).

Cut off the excess plastic so you have a flat sheet to work on, pour out a pile of markers and let them have at. Have your cookie cutters out to make holiday cookies? Trace around them, and let them add their embellishments. Let them write out a holiday message . . . whatever. Then cut around the picture. Make sure you cut a small hole near the topto later slip a string through to hang the ornament on your tree.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and drop the rack to the lowest spot it can go in the oven. Create a "tray" out of aluminum foil, and place the kids' plastic pictures across it - just make sure you keep the pieces spaced an inch apart.

The plastic will start to get wavy in the oven, but it will flatten out, shrinking to about one third of the original size and nine times the original thickness. For a piece that's about six inches across, cooking time is about three and a half minutes - a little less for smaller pictures. You can keep an eye on the plastic through the oven door and take it out after it's finished the shrinking process and flattened out. Remove carefully (using tongs) - when the plastic is still hot, it is still relatively pliable.

Stick your string through after the "ornament" is cool, and commence decorating.

Image: Playlibrary

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Cornstarch Hand Turkey A Step Up From Paper

Brett Singer — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 02:39:00 GMT

We've all made the Hand Turkey – trace your digits onto construction paper, cut it out, and voila, instant Turkey Day decoration.

If you want to go into the Hand Turkey Big Leagues, you can make a "handprint turkey keepsakes" using this cornstarch dough recipe from SusieJ.com.

As near as I can tell, it's not unlike making an inedible cookie. Lasts longer than paper, and has more heft. A word of warning: if the political arguments get too heated, keep these puppies out of sight until everyone is safely in a food coma.

Source: SusieJ.com

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Crafty: Make a Green Owl With "Oh My GAWD" Janice from Friends

JeanneSager — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:32:00 GMT

The time, the late nineties. The setting, a coffee shop with couches that were mysteriously always free at just the right time. The characters, "OHHH MY Gawwwwd, Chandler. My Bing-a-ling." Yes, that was the first reaction when I caught the first episode of a new kids crafting show starring one-time Friends star Maggie Wheeler. Fortunately, she has a way with a unicorn-shaped tube of glue.

My second thought? It's the playhouse, but where's PeeWee? Turns out the show, Magpie Time, is the brainchild of a group of creative Hollywood types that includes Ric Heitzman, three-time Emmy Award-winning production designer on PeeWee's Playhouse. OK, that 'splains it. But Janice? Turns out Maggie Wheeler (who has done her fair share of highly respectable gigs in Tinsel Town, even though that shriek still sends chills down my spine) is a mom of two and long-time crafter.

The clip, made available by Boing-Boing, shows she's got the stuff to spin turntables from cereal boxes and maybe make ratings gold from recycled garbage?

First up, a green take on making an owl:

Take one fast food restaurant or coffee shop cup tray, three paper coffee cup sleeves, cup stirrers and two cup lids.
Cut the bottom off two of the cup-wells in the tray (make sure they are two that are side by side). The cut-out pieces will be used later, so be careful to save at least one well.
Cut a slit up the side of each cup sleeve so it can be stretched out into a straight sheet of paper.
Spread two across the cut-out space in the cup tray and glue in place. If there is significant hangover, feel free to trim.
Cut a triangular shape from one of the cut-out cup wells and glue on top of the upper sleeve, positioned between the two remaining cup wells, to serve as a nose.
Cut two wing shapes from the remaining cup sleeve, and glue one to either side of the tray.
Glue a cup lid to each of the wells to serve as eyes.
At the opposite end of the tray, along the edge, you will need to find space for two clumps of stirrers sticks that will serve as the owl's feet. Three sticks, fanned out, are sufficient for one foot. The same can be done for the second.
Feel free to gussy her up with glitter, paint or whatever strikes your fancy. Whooooo are we to judge?

Need some more help? Watch ~~Janice~~ Magpie making fast work of night-time bird crafts. Because this is just a teaser for the show, beware she skips ahead, so be prepared to hit pause (and sometimes rewind the clip).

The Official Magpie Time sizzle reel from Magpie Time on Vimeo.

Image: Magpie

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The Candy That Time Forgot

Brett Singer — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 21:45:00 GMT

I stumbled onto a list of candies that we are unlikely to encounter in our children's treat bags tonight. One of them (Bit O'Honey) was on my Babble List, but the rest weren't. Let's look at a few entries from the Island of Discarded Sweets:

Bubble Gum Cigarettes

To my recollection, these tasted really gross, but they blew sugary "smoke" and were therefore "cool" – or should that be "Kool"? I can't imagine seeing them today.

Candy Buttons

Nothing wrong with these, I guess – that is, they're not a candy that mimics a horrible unhealthy habit. But they do encourage the eating of paper, since it's impossible to get the stupid buttons off the backing without ingesting a little mashed up dead tree substance.

Wax Bottles

I have to be honest here. I've never tasted one of these. Whenever I encountered one, I avoided it like booger-flavored jellybeans. I guess it's some sort of sugary liquid encased in wax – is that right? Anyone want to enlighten me?

Sixlets

These were a rare treat. So good. Like M&M's but somehow fancier.

Toffifay

These always offended me a little bit. I can't remember if “It’s Too Good For Kids!” was the actual slogan but that was definitely the attitude. This and Toberlone – if these somehow ended up in my trick or treat bag, some dopey grown-up would liberate them from my possession. NO CANDY IS TOO GOOD FOR ME!

Pop Rocks

Man, do I not miss these things. They did not, I believe, actually kill Mikey. But they're so gross it's believable.

There's more, read the rest of the list here. Any old-time candy that you miss, or don't miss?

Source: MightyJunior

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How To Carve a Pumpkin (Video)

Brett Singer — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:00:00 GMT

If anyone hasn't gotten around to slicing and dicing their yearly Jack O'Lantern (me), or just wants a few tips on how to do it better (me), here is Chris Gould (not me) to show you how. Apparently it's all about etching rather than carving. In the spirit of the holiday, we'll forgive the Red Sox t-shirt.

Source: how2heroes.com

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Incredibly Good Homemade Halloween Costumes

Brett Singer — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:00:00 GMT

When it comes to Halloween costumes, we're not very crafty at my house. The kids want to be characters from movies and TV, and I'm fine with that. It's much easier to buy an Iron Man costume than it is to make one. Admittedly, I have the artistic ability of a three year old, and that's being generous.

Some people, however, have the talent and are not afraid to use it. Check out this gallery of homemade costumes from the Kansas City Star.

Optimus Prime

This is, frankly, much better than anything you could buy. It wasn't cheap or easy, though – 40 hours and 50 bucks worth of materials, such as " rubber doorstops, PVC, football shoulder pads and 'lots and lots of duct tape'" according to Eric Collins, who made the lead Autobot costume for his son Cameron. The final touch was "custom vinyl decals." Way over my head. But nice job, dude.

Homemade Hippies

These two are more the kind of thing I might be able to do, except for the whole "making the clothes" part. (I can sew on a button, but that's about it.) Less impressive than Optimus Prime, but still cute. I guess that means the younger generation still knows what hippies were.

For a few more, click here.

When Halloween rolls around, do you buy costumes or make your own?

Source: kansascity.com

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When the Characters are INSIDE the Kids' Lunchboxes

JeanneSager — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:02:00 GMT

If you know a chef, you've probably heard the art of food is in the presentation. Which for me means cutting my daughter's PB&J into four triangles instead of two. If she's lucky I'll crimp the edges when I remove the crust. But Japanese mamas apparently have more Martha in one little finger than I have in my whole body. Either that or a lot more time on their hands.

Every day, Japanese moms are keeping alive a tradition begun at the latter end of the country's Kamakura Period (which officially came to a close in 1333) in their children's lunchboxes. It's a modern twist on charaben, short for character bento boxes, that sends average kids to school with a lunch styled to look like Piglet, Spiderman or Tinkerbell is popping out of their box.

The creations were profiled in Face Food: The Visual Creativity of Japanese Bento Boxes, a hardcover out earlier this year from Mark Batty Publishers. Author Christopher D. Salyers recalls talking to mothers who were embarrased by the notion that magazines would want to display their work. They do it, they told him, for the praise of their kids. He says it's evidence of deep "parent-to-child devotion," a value highly valued in Japanese society.

Salyers' rich photographs were paired with detailed ingredient lists. A spot on likeness of the Aristocats' Marie, for example, took sixteen different ingredients to create - including cucumber, fish cake, green beens and thinly sliced beef. Seaweed was lovingly sliced to craft a winking eye, whiskers and even supply eyelashes for the Disney feline.

Can you see your kid eating seaweed? What about fish cake? Mine either. But as "Western" food from McDonald's and Starbucks have come to dominate the Japanese eating habits the way they have our own, Salyers says charaben help moms keep their kids nutritional habits healthy. But the projects can take anywhere from half an hour to two hours, and it's all going to be eaten by lunchtime.

What do you think? Worth a try, or too much work? I'm impressed. . . but Martha's still out to lunch.

Images: FaceFoodBento, Christopher D. Salyers

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Scare off Republican Trick or Treaters With the Obama Pumpkin

JeanneSager — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:35:00 GMT

Want to make a political statement with your family's Halloween celebration this year? Forget Caribou Barbie or stuffing your shirt with pillows to pull off "I was a teenage Alaskan who studied the abstinence-only approach to birth control." Thanks to two creative bloggers with a lot of time on their hands, and us at the 'derby with even more time to search the Web, we bring you . . . the Barack-o-lantern.

Kevin Fairdosi and friend Minh taped themselves pasting an Obama template (which they provide!) to a pumpkin, and they take you step by step through the carving of a candidate. The result looks a little creepy in the daylight, but the nighttime affect is downright eerie - in a good way. So grab your gourd, your knife, your scoop and the kids, and get carving (and by the way, if you're voting for McCain, hold onto the plans - you'll have something to take your agression out on come November 5).

Remember, It's all fun and games until someone carves a presidential candidate into the side of their gourd.

Images: Kevin Fairdosi

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Just in Time for Halloween: How to Make Your Own Slime!

JeanneSager — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:32:00 GMT

If you're too old for slime, you're too old to be using a computer. Seriously, Gramps, don't you know the evils you can find on this here machine?

There's just something so satisfying about sticking your hand in a big bucket of glop and making it fart. Or squeezing said glop in your fist and letting it dribble out between the fingers (bonus for fart noises).

Since slime brings out the kid in all of us, and Halloween is the ultimate kid holiday, I've scoured the 'net and found the best slime recipe out there, courtesy of InfoBarrel, to make your very own fart-tastic holiday fun:

Ingredients:

water
white glue (like Elmer's™)
borax
food coloring (the weirder the color, the creepier the ooze)

How to do it:

In one mixing bowl, combine 1 cup of water with 1 teaspoon borax
Stir until the borax has completely dissolved.
In a second bowl, combine 1/2 cup of water with 1/2 cup of glue.
Add food coloring until the mixture is the desired color.
Combine the two mixtures.
Once combined, the mixture will become more difficult to stir, so get rid of your spoon and start working the goop by hand.
When it seems like it's well mixed, remove it from the bowl (some colored water left behind is OK).

Your slime is ready! To store, slip slime into a zippered freezer bag and keep in the refrigerator.

Image: StarStore

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How To Fake Being the Crafty Mom This Halloween

JeanneSager — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:57:00 GMT

What's better than being the creative mom who makes her kids' Halloween costumes? Faking it.

YouCanMakeThis is a whole Website devoted to pretending you came up with crafty ideas for your kids, including crochet patterns for pirate hats and make-your-own tutus. Some of this stuff looks too hard to fake. They promise that the buccaneer hat is perfect for a "beginning crocheter," but they had me at crocheter. And even I can admit it's a little disingenuous.

But it's cheaper than buying a whole book full of costume plans you'll never be able to tackle, and you'll earn a little street cred with the "we make our own baby food/sew our own cloth diapers/make elaborate princess castles out of a single cardboard box" mom set.

I have come to terms with the fact that I will never be Martha. Despite the packrat in me that's stored up bits of ribbon and decoupage-able cardboard boxes, all I've got is a closet of crap. But facing a future when the free Halloween costume run we've enjoyed will come to an abrupt (and expensive) end, I'm getting myself ready.

Image:

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Crafty: Hair of the Dog

Adrienne Martini — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:00:00 GMT

As crafts go, I'm a fairly live-and-let craft kinda gal. There are some hands-on activities that I don't quite understand -- like leather burning -- but can admit that reasonable crafters can agree to disagree. There is only one handicraft that I simply cannot get behind.

Why on earth would you spin yarn from your dog's fur? Do you simply want to make the dander-sensitive sneeze when you walk past? Do you enjoy the eau d' wet canine on a rainy day? Are you so thrifty that you can't bear to throw Fido's fluff away?

I just don't get it. And I especially don't get why you'd let a random photographer take your picture with your sweater and the dog who donated to it.

Photo credit: Erwan Fichou

Crafty: Flying Fingers

Adrienne Martini — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 15:00:00 GMT

I have a confession to make, one that will firmly cement my status as an old lady with seriously geeky habits. Ready?

I am a knitter. I love the yarn and the needles. I make all kinds of knitwear all of the time. I knit socks -- and, yes, I know I could just buy them. I knit hats and mittens and scarves and sweaters. My kids wear handknits, too, but grow out of them amazingly quickly.

Here's my other little secret: my daughter has just entered the prime "learning to knit" age and I haven't taught her yet. Partly, I know that she'll resist anything I want to teach her right now. But the largest reason I haven't started the lessons is that I just don't think she has the co-ordination right now to juggle needles and yarn.

Enter finger knitting, whose only tools are yarn, which I have waaaaay too much of, and fingers, which we have just the right number of. I'll let you know how it goes.

Photo credit.

Crafty: Pretty -- But Then What?

Adrienne Martini — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:00:00 GMT

Embossing velvet is one of those crafts that I've seen demonstrated a couple of times. Each time I have the same response, which is, "oooooh. pretty." Then I look at it five minutes later and have the same second thought, which is, "now what?"

I still don't know that I have a great answer for the second question. How many drawstring bags/scarves does one human need, even if that human has no qualms about giving all of those bags/scarves as gifts? Anyone?

Still, this Instructables demo (and video) has sucked me in again. All you need to make this pretty, pretty fabric are stamps, velvet, water and an iron.

Holler if you have a great idea what you should do with yards of this once you're done...

Photo credit: Inklings and Imprints

Crafty: Sit 'n' Spin

Adrienne Martini — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 20:00:00 GMT

Have you ever found yourself staring at a piece of cool kid art wondering how on earth they did it? Or am I the only freak who does that?

Maybe I don't want the answer to this question...

Anyhoo. This project appeals to both the multi-tasker and the recycler in me. Plus, it looks cool.

Plum Pudding put together another great idea for spin art. Using just a salad spinner, the backs of old cereal boxes and water-soluble paint, she and her kids came up with some pretty, pretty pictures.

It's all I can do to keep me kids' hands off of the salad spinner in the first place. I can only imagine how addictive it will be to add paint.

Photo credit.

Crafty: Tree You, Tree Me

Adrienne Martini — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 18:00:00 GMT

I am a complete sucker for any sort of craft that incorporates a visual representation of many points of data. In simpler words, I love a good family tree.

And this project from Nini Makes is, indeed, a good family tree. The full instructions are in the U.K.-based mag The Green Parent. For those who might not be able to get their hands on the magazine, it's appears to be a project that is easy to reverse engineer from the photos. All you'd need are die-cut leaves, some pictures, a canvas and lots of love.

Oh -- and glue. Because you can't keep the leaves on your tree with love alone.

Go forth and make your own data into a craft!

Photo credit: Joan Gorman

Crafty: Random Crap on a String

Adrienne Martini — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:30:00 GMT

Something about the simplicity off this project speaks to me. Or, perhaps, the thing about it that speaks to me is the opportunity to use all of the random toy bits that are scattered around my house in the service of something that looks pretty. Take your pick.

Plum Pudding's Megan always has pretty, pretty projects for the kids. But these mobiles use a mix of yard sale finds, Sculpey and twigs. I'm thinking they would also work with lonely Legos, random doll shoes and the occasional dinosaur, if only so that these kid droppings won't always be underfoot.

Plus, Megan has also provided some helpful links to other mobiles, just in case you need a brush up on the technique.

So what will you hang on your bits of string?

Photo credit.

Crafty: Puffy Pants!

Adrienne Martini — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Remember the halcyon days of being able to stretch out in the backseat and nap while on long car trips as a kid? Me, too. While it's nice to know that kids are safer in car seats nowadays, it's hard to get them to sleep the trip away when their heads are bobbing all over the place.

Enter the genius of Betz White, who turned an old pair of 4T sweatpants into the ultimate neck pillow. Toss in some fabric markers and your offspring can doodle their way to grandmas when they aren't napping.

I might have to make a pair for the passenger seat ...

Photo credit: Betz White.

Crafty: Science! And Hot Wax!

Adrienne Martini — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:00:00 GMT

Want to teach your kids about lenses and use up some old crayons? Or would you just like to spend an afternoon melting stuff with a magnifying glass? Either way, this project will scratch that itch.

Grab some flat rocks, crayons and a cheese grater. I'd pick a grater that I was willing to sacrifice to the goddess of crafts. You, however, can make your own choice.

Apply the crayon to the grater and rub over the rock. Grab a magnifying glass and get to melting. If you're so inclined, you can talk to your kids about why it works. Or just enjoy the liquid waxy fun. Again, you can make your own choice.

Pepper Paints' blog is turning into a regular read for me. Her projects never fail to impress and amuse.

Photo credit.

Crafty: Some Days Require a Flowered Hat

Adrienne Martini — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:00:00 GMT

I have a serious case of the mid-summer blahs. And rather than do something productive about them, I'm inflicting my blahs on my family. Because that is one of the perks of being the mom, that's why.

I suspect a newspaper hat with some flowers on it would help shake my blahs. Even better would be a newspaper hat made out of the Financial Times, if only because it's pink. It'd be especially if I added some glitter, because glitter makes everyone feel happier, unless you've coated your brother in it against his will, which makes everyone kinda cranky. No, you don't want to know how I know this.

If anything can improve my mood, it might just be flowery hats. Now to see if we have any newspaper kicking around.

Photo credit: mayaluna

Crafty: Grrr. Arrrrg.

Adrienne Martini — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:00:00 GMT

These lovely specimen jars look really complicated but couldn't be easier, especially if you have a few spare dinosaurs roaming around the house. If you don't have any extras, please drop me an email and I'll send you any of the four-freaking-dozen that I pick up on an hourly basis.

Anyhoo. Take a big jar, fill with pebbles, then dirt. Add plants and dinos. Bingo. Project done.

If you need more thorough instructions, this tutorial from two straight lines will give you everything you need, including a source for the big jars.

I'm also envisioning a few of these filled with the forty-gazillion small plastic sea creatures we have and/or the ninety-gabillion space aliens. Everyone likes plants, don't they? Even aliens?

Photo credit: Courtney