What's Left on Your Summer "Wouldn't It Be Fun?" List?

Where we live, school begins in a few weeks.  Although I'm looking forward to having the children return to school and regaining much-needed quiet during my workday, I would also welcome some extra time to finish all the things we had on our "Wouldn't it be fun?" list.  You know . . . those things that pop into your head that you may even have purchased supplies to do with the best of intentions, but never actually got to them.

What's left on my family's list this summer?

1. Wouldn't it be fun to make tie dye shirts for the whole family?  I found a great deal on a large tie dye kit on Amazon last month!  I was super-excited and even bought a white t-shirt for each member of the family at A.C. Moore a couple of weeks ago.  That's as far as I got.  THERE'S STILL HOPE!
2. Wouldn't it be fun to make slushies anytime we wanted to?  I bought the ice shaver machine to grind up the ice before summer began.  I bought some red punch this week and started to make extra ice this morning.  THIS WILL HAPPEN!
3. Wouldn't it be fun to make our own taco shells and experiment with different fillings?  I bought a pan to make our own taco shells out of corn tortillas at the beginning of the summer.  That's as far as I got.  Unless my husband takes the lead on this one, IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD!
4. Wouldn't it be fun to make a framed dollhouse miniature version of my daughter's artwork?  I bought an antique looking dollhouse miniature picture frame many months ago.  That's as far as I got.  If #7 happens, then THERE'S STILL HOPE!
5. Wouldn't it be fun to make our own cinnamon and sugar tortilla bowls to serve ice cream in?  I bought two wavy tortilla shell pans a year ago from a school fundraiser.  I really think think our children would love this dessert idea.  With so many other fun things on this list, this one seems sort of low priority, doesn't it?  IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD!
6. Wouldn't it be fun to get our oldest son into building model cars?  He bought the model a couple of weeks ago from A.C. Moore.  He even used his own money.  My husband and he started to paint the parts one evening.  It looked like it was a great father-son activity.  They haven't touched it again since.  (The same thing happened with the robotic arm my son got for Christmas.) We need to teach our son to finish what he starts!  THIS WILL HAPPEN!
7. Wouldn't it be fun to build our daughter a dollhouse that can hang on the wall?  We bought this cool, but simple hanging dollhouse kit for our daughter since she began showing an interest in collecting dollhouse miniatures.  My husband and daughter started building it, but then we had a mishap with the scrapbook paper he was using for the wallpaper.  When we went to buy more, the craft store was out of that particular print.  Two weeks later, we were able to find it back in stock.  We bought the paper, but they haven't touched it since.  Between the kit and the supplies, we've spent well-over a hundred dollars on this dollhouse.  THIS WILL HAPPEN!
8. Wouldn't it be fun to clean out the basement and have a place for the children to practice Taekwondo and perhaps have a ping pong table?  If possible, there might be more things in the basement now than at the beginning of the summer.  IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD!
9. Wouldn't it be fun if we had a Disney fund jar?  We think the children are around the perfect age to go to Disney, but we need to save quite a bit of money for the trip.  This is something we'd like to encourage the children to participate in.  I bought the personalized vinyl decal and I already have an old-fashioned reach-in candy jar I can use for this.  You know, the kind that sits tilted with a round knobbed lid.  I think every time I read the instructions for applying the decal, it seems so technical that I put it off for later.  I just have to sit down and do it!  THIS WILL HAPPEN!
10. Wouldn't it be fun to let our youngest son loose on the beach with his metal detector?  He got a kids metal detector for Christmas, so we're all set there.  Now we just have to get to the beach.  We have a trip planned before school starts.  If we don't forget to pack the metal detector, we'll be all set.  THIS WILL HAPPEN!
11. Wouldn't it be fun to take the whole family to New York City for the weekend?  We've said this multiple times throughout the past year or two.  That's all we've done is talk about it though.  The next step would be to reserve a weekend when we don't already have plans, find kid-friendly hotel accommodations, buy the bus tickets, plan an itinerary, and  . . . IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD!
12. Wouldn't it be fun to turn this closet into a book nook for the kids? This is my latest "Wouldn't it be fun?" thought.  Well, I actually planned it out and ordered just about everything I need to set it up.  We're almost done emptying the closet out and my husband just bought paint and supplies to give the closet interior a fresh coat.  I'm super-excited about this project, as are the children.  I'll definitely take photos of our progress and share them in a blog post when we're done.  THIS WILL HAPPEN!

What items on your list fall into the categories of THIS WILL HAPPEN, THERE'S STILL HOPE, and IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD?

DIY Mod Podge Beaded Magnetic Bow Holder Craft

This is a craft for a magnetic bow holder I did several months ago and just am now getting around to sharing it.  It is a super-easy DIY project using a white framed magnetic dry erase board.  My 5 year old daughter ended up liking it so much that I have been thinking about doing the same thing with a few wholesale poster frames and an inexpensive wall mirror, so that my daughter can have a matching set.  As she gets older, even if the posters change over the years, I think she would still love the beaded frames for several years to come.

This might be a project you can have an older child help you with.  Even though I was extremely careful while doing this project by myself, the some of the tiny beads still got away from me.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

DIY Project:  Beaded Magnetic Bow Holder

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Mod Podge

sponge brush applicator

seed beads (in your choice of colors)

basic framed magnetic dry erase board (any size)

basic round craft magnets (one for each hair clip)
shallow pan or tray
large decorative magnet (optional)

All the supplies above can be found at your local craft store, although you may have more choices for the magnetic dry erase board at an office supply store.

Step 1.  Pour all your beads into the shallow pan or tray.  If you are using multiple colors, be sure to mix them together well.

Step 2.  Using the brush applicator, apply Mod Podge to the front of the dry erase board's frame.  Only apply to about a 6-inch section at a time.  (For best results, put the straight edge of the sponge applicator right at the inner straight edge of the frame and spread the Mod Podge toward the outer edge of the frame.  This helps to keep glue off of the magnetic surface.)

Step 3.  If it's not too heavy for you, hold the part of the magnetic board with the freshly applied Mod Podge  over the tray of beads.  Then use your fingers to generously sprinkle the beads over the glue.  Then gently shake or tap the board so that any excess beads fall back into the tray.  (You can also sprinkle the beads onto the frame while the board lays flat, but you will still need to lift the board to shake off the excess beads either now or when the glue has dried.)

Step 4.  Repeat Step 3 until the whole front of the magnetic board's frame has been covered with beads.

Step 5.  Check for "bald spots" on the frame where the beads are especially sparse.  Then, using the tip of the sponge applicator, dab some Mod Podge on those spots and sprinkle some beads over it.  Again, shake off any excess beads.

Step 6.  Allow the glue to dry for at least 20 minutes.  Then apply a thick coat of Mod Podge over the entire beaded frame by dabbing the glue on with the sponge applicator.  (This ensures that the glue gets in between the beads, creating a nice strong seal over and around them.)  Don't worry, the Mod Podge dries clear.

Step 7.  Allow the last layer of glue to dry for at least a half an hour.  You'll know that it is completely dry when the beads are rigid and immobile.  Then add your decorative magnet and hang your new bow holder on the wall.

Step 8.  Lastly, add the round magnets to the board.  They should hold any bows, hair clips, or barrettes securely that contain a metal clip, even if the clip is covered with fabric.

I learned that it is a good idea to buy more magnets than you think you'll need.  Our daughter's hair clip collection has grown quite a bit and she also manages to lose a magnet now and then.

If you decide to do this easy craft, I would love to hear about how it turns out.  This would make a great handmade gift for a young girl in your life.

Infographic: Fun Crafts with PVC Pipe and Fittings

You may have heard of innovative and crafty people making jewelry out of everyday hardware from their local home improvement store, so why not take this concept to the next level?  If you are ready to think on a larger scale, checkout some of these ideas for DIY projects using PVC pipe and fittings, such as a DIY waterpark, a soccer goal for the backyard, and even a playhouse!

This data in this infographic was assembled by Commercial Industrial Supply, a leading pvc pipe and fittings supplier.

My GBC Creative Laminator Makes Craft and Kids Projects Even More Fun

I recently shared an easy craft for a DIY menu board.  One of the last steps in the project is to laminate the cards on which you have written your dinner choices.  I wanted to show everyone how super-easy this is to do using my GBC Creative 9" Laminator with the GBC HeatSeal UltraClear Thermal Laminating Pouches.

I used custom printed Moo MiniCards for my meal cards, which have my own food photography printed on the backs of the cards.  It was difficult to show in the photo, but I was amazed at how clear the UltraClear pockets turned out after going through the laminating process.  I was extremely pleased that the quality of my photos was in no way reduced.  This is light-years better than our old "antique" of a laminator that used to leave bubbles amidst a sea of cloudiness.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

Laminating my meal cards was as easy as placing them between the two layers of the laminating pouch, carefully covering them with the top layer, and inserting the pouch between the two layers of the cardboard sleeve that comes with the laminating pouches.  I placed the cards over an inch apart because our old laminator would leave a wide bubble of air around the item being laminated.  I soon learned that was not necessary with the GBC laminator.

After the the green light comes on indicating that the laminator has heated sufficiently, simply feed the filled sleeve into the front of the laminator.  The sleeve then self-feeds itself through the heated laminator and comes out the back.  Even though it may not be necessary, I always feed the sleeve through twice to get the best results.  Then the sleeve is placed on a flat surface to cool completely before I cut out the individual laminated cards.

Some other projects I would like to do with this laminator are . . . 

• Photo ID cards for pretend play for our children
• A memory card game made out of photos of our family members (pets included)
• Pretend play restaurant menus
• Dry erase chore charts
• Bookmarks out of our children's art

Visit MyBinding.com to view their full assortment of laminating supplies for use at home, at the office, or in an industrial setting.  You can receive Free Ground Shipping on orders over $75.  Also visit the MyBinding.com Blog and MyBinding.com on YouTube to find helpful product information, reviews, and product demos.

Thank you to MyBinding.com for providing complimentary product samples for us to base this review upon and for providing additional product for our contest prize.  I was given complimentary Moo MiniCards because I'm a Klout influencer. I was under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck in the drawing!

3 Things I Would Love to Do When We Move

First of all, I would like to clarify that we are not moving.  Despite the fact that we are upside-down on a mortgage for a home that is way too small for a family of five, sometimes I like to think towards the distant future when we will be able to move to a larger home with a big fenced-in backyard.  Aside from the typical things that I would want for my family, such as each child having his or her own bedroom and having a separate playroom, I have a few things that are on my own personal wishlist . . .

1.  Adopt two dogs-  I miss having dogs so much.  Our house is too crowded right now to own dogs, especially since my husband has his heart set on owning ones from some of the larger breeds.

2.  Have a craft/sewing room- Right now, I have craft supplies tucked into nooks and crannies of every closet in the house almost.  I constantly worry that the children will tamper with the supplies I have sitting out for a project I am planning.  I also keep thinking that maybe I would sew more if my sewing machine was already set up at a table ready for me to use at anytime.  Right now, it is zipped up in its case and in the back of our closet.

3.  Build a really cool playhouse in the backyard- I know my husband is probably hoping for a large play structure, a trampoline, or a tree fort, but I would love to have a beautiful playhouse that all three of our children could enjoy.  If we had the space and the money, I would really like to build a small playhouse for each of the children . . . each one a different style to match the child's personality.  Can you just see it now? . . . a mini neighborhood of whimsical playhouses!  It would be such a fun family project to build, paint, and decorate the playhouses inside and out.  I bet our daughter would want hers to be pink.

I also thought about adding my own office to the list.  Right now, my desk is adjacent to my husband's and I rather enjoy that.  (Not sure if my husband feels the same way or not though.)  After having my desk next to his, I think I would feel lonely working in my own office.

What's on your wishlist for the future?

How to Make Easy Interchangeable Labels for Canvas Bins

For the past few weeks, I have been slowly reclaiming the living room.  What does that mean?  I am attempting to remove all of the toys that had overrun the room, making it appear to be a playroom rather than a living room.  If you take a look at the type of toy storage we were previously using, then you will likely agree that this Guidecraft Espresso Bookshelf paired with the Set of 5 Canvas Storage Bins is a huge improvement.

These shelves blend much better with the rest of our dark wood living room furniture and will allow our children to keep some toys close at hand in the living room.  The only problem is that our children would throw anything and everything into these bins unless each bin has a designated purpose.  I had to come up with a way to label canvas bins without permanently altering the bins, like using fabric markers would.  The reason why this is important is that the bins' labels would need to change as our needs change.


Canvas Bin Labels Craft . . .

SUPPLIES NEEDED

1 Wooden Shape Per Bin (I chose oval, but you can choose almost any shape)

Thin Permanent Markers (Choose colors that will match your decor)

Mini Wooden Clothes Pins  (I bought a package in assorted colors at A.C. Moore)

NOTE:  These wooden shapes are unfinished, so the markers may bleed anywhere from a tiny bit to quite a lot.  You may want to test your markers out on the backside of one shape or on a scrap piece of unfinished wood before proceeding.  To avoid bleeding, you can finish or paint the wooden shapes.

Step 1.  Create a border for your shape.  The possibilities are endless.  I chose to draw lines around the edge alternating between two colors.  Then I added fine dots around the inside of the border to add a little whimsy.

(Click any photo to enlarge)

Step 2.    Add the lettering for each label.  I chose to print uneven letters in all caps to make the labels more interesting, but still easy to read at the same time.

Step 3.  Clip the wooden labels onto the canvas bins.  Using one or two mini clothespin, secure the wooden shapes onto the outward-facing side of each bin.  Our bins have cutout handles, but you can also clip the shape to the top edges of your canvas bins.

If you make a mistake or change your mind about a label, the wooden shapes are double-sided, so you can just flip it over and start again.  As a precaution, I did purchase a few extra shapes, but I did not end up needing them.  These labels were quick and easy to make, but you can spend more time on yours by using paint, stencils, stamps, sponges, or any of your favorite wooden craft supplies.  These labels would also work on vinyl or leather bins as long as the walls of the bins are not too thick for the clothespins, which do come in a variety of sizes.


Thank you to Guidecraft for providing a complimentary product sample for this project.

FedEx Office is No Longer Just For the Office

FedEx Office (formerly FedEx Kinko's) has long been the go-to place for businesses who need to have flyers copied, booklets bound, and posters laminated. In this DIY age, FedEx Office decided that it was time its customers realized the endless possibilities their services can offer to those outside of the office and workplace.

Out of Office is FedEx Offices new blog which shares ideas for fun and creative projects. If you like to give handmade gifts, this is one blog you should add to your feed subscriptions. I was extremely impressed with the all the cost-friendly projects offered by the six Out of Office bloggers. My favorite article is the one written by Kellie Bell about how to turn your leftover holiday wrapping paper into placemats, coasters, bookmarks, and notebooks. These are all easy project ideas I can do with my children to create inexpensive gifts . . . gifts they will be proud to present to their loved ones.

The content in the Out of Office blog is not limited to handmade gifts. If you take a look around you will find ideas for event planning, favors, and DIY home decor. To keep up with new project ideas, you can follow the Out of Office Blog on Twitter.

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of FedEx Office. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Giveaway & Review: Zoom Album Photo Book Kit [CLOSED]

Anyone who knows me knows that I love playing with graphic design and I love to take photos of everything and everyone around me. So when I had the opportunity to create my own photo books at home, I jumped at the chance.

A Zoom Album Photo Book Kit, comes with everything you need to create 3 photo books at home. All you need is some digital photos, a color inkjet printer, and of course a notebook, a PC, or a Mac.

I decided to make a book of my children with photographs of them from birth through present. Each 3" x 3" book is designed to show 12 photos plus one on the cover. This is the book that I made . . .


I was impressed by how professional the exterior of the book looked without the use of any scissors or glue.

These are the first pages of my book. The page on the left is how I wanted the entire book to be formatted. As you can see in the following photos, that was not how it turned out. I was glad that the kit came with enough to make 3 books because the first one was just a test run.

There are two parts where I ran into trouble. First of all, I thought that if I selected the desired layout, that every page would be uniform. It turns out that you need to select the layout for each page. The reason why I did not catch it was because on the page to add the text, all the pages were shown like that very first page of my book.

The second spot where I had problems was that the software does not show you where the frames begin and end. So when I was adding the text, the text boxes (which can only have a colored background) overlapped with the photos and with the frame. It would have been more helpful if the software showed you the actual placement and shape of the photo and the frame by the time you are entering the text and trying to figure out the placement of the text boxes.

If you keep the above mentioned things in mind, I think you will end up with a book you are pleased with. Here are some other things I would like to point out about this Zoom Album Kit . . .

1) These books would make nice inexpensive personalized gifts for almost anyone.

2) I think becoming a Photobook Coach is a great idea for anyone who is already in sales (for cosmetics, candles, kitchen items, etc . . .) who has an established clientele.

3) I also think a photo-savvy mom could start a nice little business making either personalized photobooks with the customer's photos or using her own photos to make themed gift books for special occasions, perhaps with some original poetry.

4) The quality of the photos is exceptional. I used a lower end photo quality inkjet printer and the photos are very clear.

5) Color ink is pretty expensive, so after you make your first cover and set of photo pages successfully, you might consider skipping the test prints on your second and third books.

Thank you to Zoom Albums and the Family Review Network for this opportunity.

What you can win:
The prize for this contest is one Zoom Album Photo Book Kit to create up to 3 photo books of your own. (FYI: This software does not work well with Hewlett Packard All-in-One Printers or with laser printers.)



Limitations:
This giveaway is open to entries within the U.S. only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.



How to Gain Entries:
Leave a comment telling me what theme you would like to use for your first photo book AND who would get to keep it. You must do this to be eligible to win this contest.


Extra Entries:

1) Read about how to become a Photobook Coach. Then leave a separate comment telling me who you know who would probably make a great Photobook Coach.

2) Add this blog to your Technorati Favorites. Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so and under what username. Add to Technorati Favorites

3) Blog about this giveaway linking back to this post AND to ZoomAlbum.com . Then come back here and leave a separate comment with the link to your blog post.

4) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave your link in a separate comment.

5) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

6) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

7) Help me promote an upcoming event for my other blog by adding this button to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

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(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)

Random Drawing:
This contest will be closed on Monday, March 16th, 2009 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

Easy Dragon Puppet Craft for Chinese New Year

In honor of Chinese New Year and Heritage Month at our son's preschool, my dear husband is going to talk about the holiday to our son's class. It will be interesting because my husband is not Chinese and did not grow up with these traditions. He has been celebrating for over 13 years, so I think it will be nice for him to speak about the parts which fascinate him the most.

In addition to ornate red lucky money envelopes with shiny new quarters in them, I thought it would be fun to also offer a craft project to the class. Dragon Dance: A Chinese New Year by Joan Holub is one of the books my husband will be reading to the class. In the back of this book I found easy instructions to make a paper bag dragon puppet. I had everything we needed in our home . . . brown paper lunch bags plus red and green construction paper. I thought I would share this easy craft here because it would be a great idea for a classroom project or a fun party activity for kids.


Below are all the components you need aside from markers, scissors, and glue or paste . . .

1) A brown paper lunch bag
2) A tongue 5"-6"L cut from red construction paper
3) 2 antennae about 10"L cut from green construction paper
4) 2 ovals for eyes (slightly wider than the antennae) cut from green construction paper

The basic instructions are easy and then the child can decorate the dragon however he or she wishes.

Step 1: Cut a fringe all around the opening of the paper bag.

Step 2: Fold the bottom corners of the flap under and secure with glue.

Step 3: Draw ovals on the eyes for pupils and a line down the middle of the tongue.

Step 4: Glue the eyes and antennae onto the top of the bag.

Step 5: With marker, add a nose, a mouth, and scales to the body.

Step 6: Glue on the tongue underneath the flap.

That's it! Easy right? I was able to pre-cut all the construction paper pieces and put them right inside the individual brown paper bags to make kits for each child too.

Join in on Mamalicious Monday, hosted by Heather of The Gift Closet, and you will be entered in a drawing to win a great prize each week you play along. All you have to do is post about something related to being a mama . . . which can just about be anything.

Personalizing Stockings With Crayola Glitter Glue

Last year after Christmas, I picked up these felt stockings at the Christmas Tree Shops for something ridiculous like $1.00 or $1.50 each. They were generously-sized so I thought it would be fun to pick them up and personalize them. If we only ended up using them for one year, it was inexpensive enough to just be a fun activity for myself and Jake.

I asked my dear husband to pick up some glitter fabric paint from A.C. Moore or Michael's and he ended up getting this Crayola Glitter Glue from Walgreens. It was not what I expected, but I worked with what I had.

Overall, the Crayola Glitter Glue wasn't too bad. The darker colors were less fluid than the lights and the darker ones also retained air bubbles and spit now and then. Luckily, I was able to wipe most of the excess glitter glue off the stockings. There were no instructions at all on the packaging other than in regards to the washability of this product. I found out that the glue goes on puffy, but dries flat. It took laying flat overnight to dry completely.

My nearly 5yr old son would not be able to use this glue easily other than to paint and swirl, definitely not to draw or write. I'm not unhappy with how the stockings came out. I originally had pictured one color for all the personalization, but multiple colors are fun too. Jake had a great time dictating which stocking should be for which member of our family and which color glitter glue I should be using for each stocking. Here are the results of our labor . . .