02 September 2011

The Number Game

Now that the twins are almost 3, we have been starting to introduce some more formal preschool learning games. It will be fun to get the ol' preschool box of tricks out, and learn some new ones. Our favorite game lately has been "The Number Game." To play, we find some number cards and line them up at the other end of the room. We started by using some old flashcards, but they soon got ruined (I left them in my pocket and they didn't survive the wash- oops!) so we used the numbered UNO cards instead. I think they work even better because it incorporates the use of color into our game.
After the cards are lined up, I call out a number and the kids take turns running across the room to the number line and bringing back the correct one. If they are having difficulty (6 and 9 are always a problem), we give them a hint by telling them the color.It works every time.The game ends when the attention spans start to dwindle or someone gets bored (usually me).
I love how it gets them active, teaches them to take turns and encourages them to root for each other to succeed. We seriously have been playing this A LOT and they are never sick of it. I think we will try it with shapes in the near future! I think I will start posting some of the other little games we do throughout the day to ward off boredom and promote learning. Stay tuned!

03 June 2011

Last-minute Teacher Appreciation Gift

Here are some quickie teacher appreciation gifts that can be finished in just minutes! First, carefully disassemble a disposable tape dispenser.

Choose a piece of good quality, heavy, double-sided cardstock like this Amy Butler design by K & Co. and use the removed paper packaging as a template to recreate the appropriate pieces.

Reassemble. Then, embellish as you see fit. This one is about as simple as can be, basically, because it was really late at night and I was super-tired!

Add a nice message. (We added a hand-written addition on the back from my daughter.)

Then, because she was an Extra good teacher, we could not resist making her another little something. This is almost too easy. You just cut your paper down to size, fold it around (using a bone folder makes your creases extra crisp and neat) and stick. Add a label and insert your package.

This is seriously, a 3 minute project- tops! And as we all know, EVERYTHING and just about ANYTHING looks better wrapped up in pretty paper!




27 October 2010

Exhausted!

I'm so sorry it has been so long without a post. I just need a bit of a break to get the stuff done I need to do, get the kids to where they're going everyday, feed people, clean and still have some sanity. Unfortunately, hobbies tend to be the first to go to the back burner. I will still post... just not as regularly for a while. Thank you for understanding!!!!

15 September 2010

How Many Plastic Bags Are in Your Collection?

I don't know about you, but we use plastic store bags like crazy around here. We use them as trash bin liners, car trash bags, dirty nappy bags, etc. Of course, we still never get to the bottom of our stash as they just seem to multiply, so for some stores, we have started using the reusable bags, but we still seem to accumulate a ton of them. Here is an easy, convenient way to keep a few with you without taking up a ton of space.

Step 1: Lay the bag flat.
Fold in half lengthwise...
...and fold in half again.
Step 2: Working from the opposite side of the handle, fold a corner up.
Continue to fold "flag style" until you are almost to the end.
Step 3: Take the flap that you have left and tuck it into the back flap.
That's it! You will have a small triangle-looking thing when you're done.
Now, make a bunch while you watch your favourite TV show (I LOVE Psych on the USA network... don't even get me started!!!)
Now, they are easy to stash without all the bulk of just crumpling so when you need a quick trash bag (or you've just taken your doggie for a walk in the park and he's left a little surprise), you are ready! Put them in your purse, nappy bag, glove compartment, wallet, kid's back packs, emergency kits, junk drawer, on the boat, etc.

09 September 2010

Thank You Thursday #6

Yea! It's Thank You Thursday! First, I want to thank my twins for NOT throwing up all night and morning. It had made all of our day so much nicer! I cannot wait to share the fun projects this week, so without further ado:Mr. PP is always complaining that he cannot find his favorite English snacks since he's moved here, to the U.S. It seems like everything is so greasy when I try to recreate the savory ones. Thank you Lazy Budget Chef for teaching us how to make Baked Scotch Eggs. Now we can make yummy Scotch eggs with a bit less fat! (Mr. PP thanks you as well!)

I have always wanted to make wire stars for Christmas ornaments but just needed an easy way to do it. Thank you Maggie at Generally Creative for doing just that! Your Wire Wrapped Stars are so cute and look so do-able. You can bet there will be some of these on this year's tree (and on some packages as toppers, and next 4th of July...)
Thank you, Chica and Jo, for not only having an awesome website packed with helpful tips and crafty projects for the whole family, but also for your giveaways... one in particular... the notebook making kit... which I actually won!!! Can you believe it? What a great surprise. I cannot wait to start making notebooks! Oh no, I think I am giving away everyone's Christmas gifts this year! Oh well, it's all good. Thanks again!

All photos and graphics are the creative property of their respective blog owners.

06 September 2010

Fabric Flowers; Two Ways

Hi everyone! Sorry for the delay! I have been crafting like crazy, but nothing is finished and everything is in the works! Have you noticed how many different fabric flowers there are out there in the crafty corners of blogland? There are a million creative and darling tutorials out there! I love them because you can use them to embellish just about anything from clothes, to hair accessories to paper-crafts and gift treatments! Here are two ways which have a similar looking finished product.The first steps in both flowers are the same. First you will need to cut out a bunch of circles in various sizes.
I have cereal box templates of every 1/2 diameter circle between 1 inch to 5 inches and I use them ALL THE TIME!
For these two flowers, you will need the following circles in three sizes in as many types of coordinating fabrics as you want. I used three. (I made these to match the museum tote, can you tell?) You will also need to make a covered button- the kits are readily available wherever sewing notions are sold and are SO easy and quick to make. They are one of my very favourite things (Oh, no! Please stop me if I start sounding like Oprah!)
Set the largest and smallest circles aside and fold the eight others in half. This is where the similarities in making the two flowers end. From here on out, I will show you one type at a time.

Type A

Take your fabric half circles and overlap them like in the following photos until they form a circle.
Then add another layer (and even another if you feel so inclined).
Stack your layers on top of your largest single fabric circle and sew little stitches close to the middle, through all the layers of fabric. Sew your covered button on the top and you're finished!
This is the flatter and least fluffy of the two so I used mine as a brooch and sewed it directly onto my daughter's sweater using a small circle as a backing.
I also added a fabric yo-yo to the center of mine, just under the button, to hide my horrible stitching. I was really happy with how easy it was and how well it turned out!

Type B

Take your circles and fold the same eight in half (four each of two different sizes).
This next part is easy to do but hard to describe in words; there is some squishing and pinching until you get a fluffy quarter-circle. Just look at the next 4 pictures and hopefully it will make more sense than my horrific attempt at a description.
Perfect! Then, while I make the others, I like to squish them into a big book so they'll keep their shape.
When all the quarter-circles are made, sew them on the largest circle one by one using two simple stitches per piece starting with the largest 4 and then stacking the smaller 4 on the top.
Sew on your covered button and you're done!
This type is fuller and fluffier so I sewed it onto a clip to make one huge, honkin' barrette.
Warning: These are so easy to make and so versatile, you will want to make about a bajillion! And you will love everyone!! Happy flower making!!!!
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