Saturday, February 23, 2013

Playroom Project

This is becoming my favorite room in the house. It used to be our master bedroom, which I disliked. It was small and the furniture didn't fit the space. However, now that the new addition is getting completed, PJ and I have have moved upstairs to a bigger bedroom which will eventually become Lydia's room.

The plan is to finish the sunroom on the first floor of the new addition and then rework the master suite. In the meantime, our old bedroom was sitting empty. PJ suggested we make it a temporary playroom. Eventually, when everything is finished and Joshua is out if the crib, what is now the nursery will be a play space for both kids right next to their bedrooms.

So toys were thrown into the old bedroom and the kids were happy to play there, and at least we could shut the door, but it was a mess and I wasn't happy with it. I decided we needed storage, but it would have to be pieces that would also work when the playroom relocates.

And then I went to the thrift store and found this long low storage piece. I thought it would work in several locations in our house and could even get a cushion to be a window seat. For now, it is storing and also separating the toys into categories.

Once there was one improvement in the playroom, I was excited to make additional improvements. I moved in a book case that wasn't being used and finally got the last of my wardrobe out of my old closet. In its place, I hung up Lydia's dress up cloths and her puppets. I even hung up a curtain for fashion shows and puppet shows. I'm pretty sure they like it! I LOVE that they have a safe and fun place to play.... And that I can actually get a few things done while they play!

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Valentines Day Teacher Gifts

Hoo, Hoo, Who can guess what I'm making for the kid's teachers for Valentine's Day?

I cut a square of pink paper to cover the original candy bar wrapper. Then I punched two circles and cut out a small square for a beak.

The wings were tricky. I ended up using a rectangle if paper and wrapping it around the bar and trimming it until I was happy with the shape. Once I had my pattern, I cut more from my pretty papers.

Speaking of paper, when I was nearly finished, I spotted this floral sheet that was left over from my wedding.... In 2006! I thought the flowers made much better eyes than the plain white paper.

I added a heart where the wings met and the owl is finished. It does need some type of a tag, but I need to make about ten of these so there is still time to think about how and where to add that!

Sunday, February 10, 2013

It's almost Valentines Day! If you haven't made anything yet, there is still time.

To help you out with a few quick and easy ideas, here's the link to all three "DIY on the Fly" Valentines segments that aired earlier this month on WBIR!

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Princess Valentines!

It's time to start working on Valentines for Lydia's preschool. Sadly, it is a lot more work than I ever imagined, especially considering that I opted for store bought cards this year!

When I saw these Disney princess cards at the drug store, I knew Lydia would LOVE them!

I have to admit, the artwork on the Valentines is lovely! The paper is flimsy, which makes tearing them apart a pain! But they are lovely and Lydia loves them.

Here is the adorable AND agonizing part. The teachers ask that each child sign their own name to each card. Then they requested a card for each child in the ENTIRE pre-school.... FIFTY kids and FIFTY cards and FIFTY signatures! Have you tried getting a four year old to do ANYTHING fifty times? I get about five at each sitting so this is going to take a while.

Once the cards are signed, there are these tiny stickers that also need to be torn apart, withOUT tearing the flimsy paper. Then the tiny stickers have to be inserted into even tinier slits in the flimsy valentines. Not a job for a preschooler! If it didn't say "A sticker for you!" then I wouldn't bother and Lydia would gain a big pile of princess stickers!

Once the sticker were inserted, I decided to add one more item. Instead of adding candy, i found these cute plastic rings at Oriental Trading. They came in a bag of 72. My idea was that we could use 50 with the valentines and still have 22 for Lydia's birthday party.

I really wanted to add a tag that said "You're a GEM, Valentine!" But Lydia said she didn't get it! She said her friends wouldn't get it either..... and she's right. So I just taped the ring to the card and saved myself that extra step.

Welcome to life with a kid who has an opinion, crafty mom! Enjoy the princess valentines, Lydia!