garden stakes

We had a great time making our own garden stakes.  And yes, this was another great free project.  I just picked up a bunch of paint sticks when I was at Lowe's the last time.  I busted out the paints and brushes and let my kids go to town. 

 They had so much fun and I was so proud of myself for letting them let loose, make a mess, and get paint everywhere.

 They came up with some pretty cool colors and designs.  I was so proud of them and I could tell they were happy with themselves too.

 Let's just say that this is one of those times when I am so grateful for my granite countertops.  Everyhing including all this paint just comes right off.  It's a mother's best friend when it comes to projects like this.

 My oldest wasn't into the painting, so he helped me label the stakes for our plants.  They look so great outside and brighten our yard up a lot.  I love that they made them and love to go see them and have me read them to them.

no sew felt flower pillow

So I saw this amazingly cute felt flower pillow at Hobby Lobby the other day and decided I wanted to make one.  So here's what I did.  I just cut pedals out of scraps of pinks that I had and then hot glued them on to a pillow.  It was so simple and didn't cost me a thing.

The best part about it was when my daughter woke up the next morning and saw it.  She squealed and immediately went and put her head on it.  I guess it's hers now! :)

chore chart tutorial

I finally decided on how I wanted to do my kids chore charts.  I don't know why it has been so hard for me to commit to one.  It's just a chore chart!  But those are the types of things that I get stuck on.

So here goes it.  It was simple, cheap, and quick.  All you have to do is know how to color, cut, and glue.  And all the child needs to be able to do is tell what the picture is of.  It only costs about $5 (plus glue cost-I already had it).  And you can finish it while you watch a movie.

You will need:

Crayons

White Card Stock

Scissors

Black Sharpie Pen

E-6000 Glue

Clear Rocks

Magnets

 Trace your rock with your sharpie.

 Draw a picture to describe the job.  Remember that you will be cutting on the inside of the line.  Allow your picture to fit.

 Color your picture.  I have found that two tone colors have a nice effect and show through the rock well.

 Make sure to keep your rocks in order since each is shaped differently.

 Cut out your circle and put a dab of glue on the middle of the picture.  You will use the pressure your put on the rock to spread the glue until it covers the whole picture.

 Allow time to dry.

 When dry flip them over and use the same gluing method for the magnets.

 Be sure to lay them far apart when drying the magnets so they don't attract.  This will cause problems. :)

 When dry, place on magnetic board.  I simply wrote on mine with an EXPO marker.  The jobs that don't have to be done that day are next to the name.  The ones that need to be done are in the "do" pile.  When a job is completed it is simply slid over to the "done" side.

Jobs pictured:

Scripture Reading

Get Dressed

Make Bed

Feed Fish

Homework

Pick up Toys

Brush Teeth

Say Prayers

Take out Trash

Dishes

Set Table

Jobs not pictured above:

Dust

Vacuum

Sweep

Mop

Laundry

Still need to make:

Snow shovel

Weed

growth chart tutorial

Making this growth chart has been on my list for a VERY long time. I finally just did it. It was so easy, I don't know why I hadn't done it earlier.
Growing up we measured our growth on a door frame. I loved that door frame. The only sad part was when my parents moved and that history was gone....

So here's my solution. I can take it with me anywhere I may go.

So here's the step by step so you can make your own.

I bought a 1x8 6 feet long board at Home Depot for just under $5. When picking your board look for one that is not knobby and isn't bowed.

Paint your board and its' sides your choice of color. Be sure to choose a color that is light enough to write on so you can track growth easily.

Run your measuring tape the length of your painted board.

Decide at what height you want your board to start (since it will be hanging on the wall). I started mine at 11" so that the 1 for the first foot would fit on. From there mark each inch with a pencil. I marked the quarters, half and foot inches longer so I would know when adding my vinyl "tics".

I used straps of black vinyl that I had to cut "tics" for the inches. You can also cut your numbers out first and then use the vinyl around them to cut the "tics". Start with the smallest size tics. Then make them longer from there for the quarter, half inch, and foot marks.

After cutting your "tics" to mark each inch, stick them to the left side of your board. I started with all my "in between inches" (don't do the quarter inch, the half inch, or the foot-those will come after and be longer).

After doing all the "odd" inches, cut your next tics to do a little longer. These will be for your quarter inches.

Next cut your "tics" a little bit longer than the last for your half inches, and then a little longer for your foot.

After attaching all your inch "tics", add your numbers off to the right. I cut out different fonts and sizes to make it whimsical. That way, nothing has to be perfect. If it's not, it adds to the look.

Find where you want to hang your board. Measure so that our board is the correct distance from the floor (this tape measure is not correct, I was just showing that you should measure). Draw a pencil line so that you can use that as your guide. Then mark where you will want your nail.

Now hang at the correct height. Doesn't it look great!

folder tutorial

To make your own custom paper folder choose your color/print paper in a 12x12. This will fit 8.5x11 paper that is landscape and cut in half, or anything smaller.
Take your piece of paper.

Fold your paper in half.

Open it back up.

Fold the bottom up anywhere from 2 1/2 to 3 inches, but no more than 3.

Fold the bottom back down to prepare to glue.

Just a thin strip of cool glue on each end. (I use cool glue because it dries quicker and doesn't smoosh so much.)

Right after applying the glue to both sides fold the bottom back up and hold until dry.

Insert your papers. In this case I put all the game papers on one side and the advice cards on the other for my baby shower.

Then tie it closed with something cute. You can write something on it if you want to personalize each one, or leave it blank.