A Sweet Activity

It seems like this time of year, my kiddos are in the mood to do a craft any given moment of the day. As I am elbow deep in making pumpkin rolls or up to my eyes in wrapping, my 5 year old boy will say sincerely (and with gusto), "mom, I am feeling creative. Can I pleeeease do a project?" Aargh. Mom guilt. I cringe as I think.... There is no way I can go pull a project together for my kiddos right now with all MY projects going on!!!!

Problem solved:
Last year, I found a big square box (12X12X12) and then cut a piece of cardboard that would fold in half to make a roof. After hot gluing that together, I cut out two triangles to fill in the empty spaces under the roof and hot glued that on too. Then, armed with lots and lots of graham crackers, I hot glued and hot glued until it was covered.

I made sure to use the homemade icing that really dries solid. The storebought icing is too greasy and never completely hardens. Then, I left the enormous gingerbread house out on a little table with the icing (tightly sealed) and bags of a variety of different candies that I bought from the dollar store. The kids spent some jolly time designing it and every time a friend came over, it was a ready-to-go activity that they really enjoyed. Probably because candy was involved; however, the house turned out darling. After Christmas, I stored it in a bubble wrap in a big plastic tub and when we opened it this year, it was perfect! There is another side left to cover, so I'm thinking next time I get that craft project question, I'll know exactly what project they will be doing. Look at Works For Me Wednesday for more great ideas!

Craft Junkie

Since I'm having technical difficulties with the last craft project I posted about, I was feeling the need for another quick crafthit. This one turned out to be cheap (especially if you are a reformed scrapbooker like me), easy and cute. And a lot like the clipboards I did a few months ago. To get the project ready, I bought some .88 cent Stenopads at Big Lots, and then just rummaged through some of my old scrapbooking paper.

I cut coordinating pieces of the different papers 6 inches wide in different size strips, making sure to have one 6 by 9 inch piece that would provide a background. I glued that on first and then let the kids be creative with the strips. They used old letter stickers and some lonely embellishments to add the final touches.

The only secret is to keep the glue (Elmer's works just fine) very thin and spread out. I just used my finger to thin it out evenly over the first piece that went down on the stenoboard cover... that way, the paper wouldn't buckle or pucker. WE do not like buckling and puckering around here, at least when it comes to crafts!

This craft project for kids worked well for me and my kiddos and my kiddo's friends, and you can find lots more Works for Me tips over on Rocks in My Dryer.

A DECADE with Kami

Today we celebrated Kam's bday. Wow, can 10 years go F-A-S-T. More thoughts on that later. For now, here is the front of her birthday invitation. She and her great friend Lizzie are having a party together, and the invitation just turned out too cute, to see how they have grown throughout the years. I couldn't resist posting it. Click on it to get a better look at their little faces.

Precious Art Work Project

"Stoplight" Luke's light is ALWAYS green!!! Age 4
An Ellie Original - Age 7
This is more typical of Ellie than the other one. Most of her drawings have DOGs or other animals in them!!!

"Walking the Dog" - Age 7
Too precious. Luke's "Butterfly for Kami" - age 4

"Happy Girl Reaching the World" by Kami - age 8 Luke and Mommy at Walmart" (uh oh, I'd rather that be "Luke and Mommy at somewhere other than Walmart" This tells the sad, sad story of where Luke and I spend lots of quality time! But Luke's characters look awful happy!!!) - Age 4
"Mom at the Mall with Her Hair Blowing in the Wind" Ellie - age3 (one of my FAVORITES!)
"Goldfish" by Ellie - age 7
"Sisters" by Kami - age 3.
"Skyline" - by Kami I do not consider myself a pack rat, but yet I have drawers overflowing with stuff the kids have done. And I'm telling you, I throw loads and loads of it away! The guilt as I stuff them in the trash can!!! But I just cannot and will not bear to get rid of some of them... they are like flash drives of memory.... each one holding it's own little story, it's own set of emotions, helping me connect to a moment in our very recent, yet fading past.

So, I'm starting a project. And I will keep you updated as I tackle it. It involves a 4 X 5 piece of plywood, 2 flush mount hangers, buckets and buckets of Mod Podge (I've come to love the sticky stuff) and my upstairs hall wall. Get the idea?

If you can't picture it, it may end up looking something like this:

By the way, I totally cannot take credit for this idea. I am copying it 100% from a house I saw a few months ago. I didn't know the owner, which I guess is good. I feel a little less guilty for stealing the awesome idea and making it my own.

Out My Ears

In the spirit of clipboarding, I have decided to post some more of the many clipboards that have been created in my kitchen sweatshop. They are all going to new owners tomorrow, so my house will finally be free of the clipboard clutter. Not to sound negative, because I did enjoy each and every little clipboard creation.... but I am now ready to move on. Before I do, a little FAQ for those questions I have received on decorative clipboards, otherwise known as altered clipboards.


Q: How do you design a clipboard?
A: If you have ever scrapbooked, you can easily create a clipboard. Most of my designs are taken straight from scrapbooking layouts that I have done.

Q: Do I have to be a scrapbooker to make clipboards?
A: No! You can be creative and have fun. You can use paint, paper, stickers, markers, ribbon, and embellishments to help you design your clipboard. There is no right or wrong.

Q: How do you get them to look so shiny?
A: Oh, the wonders of Mod Podge. Just thin layers of Mod Podge over what you have placed on the clipboard and you will have a very durable and beautiful finish. You can also use Mod Podge to glue down the items to your clipboards. Thin layers are better. Thick layers of Mod Podge will take longer to dry and cause more wrinkling.

Q: Wrinkling?
A: Yes, the paper will probably wrinkle or bubble up a little (or a lot) when you apply the Mod Podge, but do not panic. Let it dry overnight and most wrinkles will flatten out.

Q: Do you sell the clipboards?
A: Um, no... but I will make them for very good friends. In fact, I am planning one right now for a very good friend of mine who needs a little lift.

Clipboard City

Remember a few weeks back, I mentioned that I have been making clipboards for Teacher Appreciation at the kids' school? Well, I am finally and officially finished with the clipboards and wanted to post pics of a few of them. Most of the clipboards were decorated with leftover scrapbooking materials, so they cost me next to nothing to make. They are known as "altered clipboards" and you can do a google search to get more ideas about how to make them! They are a great teacher gift and are really pretty easy to make.