Create-Celebrate-Explore

Thrift Store Shelf Makeover

Over the years I have been adding to Marisol's kitchen set.  We bought her a sweet Kidcraft pink kitchen when she was 2 (so about 3 years ago).  Each year since I've given her new accessories to build on the basic set so she never tires of it.  And she hasn't.  She loves having tea parties for her dolls, and for us, and is often in her bedroom whipping up something fabulous.

For Christmas I had planned on giving her a small rack with some more wooden food items but time got away from me and although I had picked up a fabulous towel holder with shelf above it for only $1.99 at Goodwill, I didn't seem to have enough time to get it sanded and painted.  So today, she got a belated Christmas gift.

This was the towel rail with shelf that I purchased ... fabulous deal for $1.99.

After a lot of sanding, applying a sealer, and three coats of paint, it was looking lovely, but needed a little something extra.  So I painted the towel rail silver to match the silver on her kitchen and then cut pieces of scrapbook paper and attached them to each section of the shelf using mod podge, you can see the subtle pattern in the second photo below.

She was thrilled with the results.   I loved the addition of the tea towel, which although was a little expensive at $5.99 from Marshalls, was just perfect and I couldn't resist giving it to her.

I can't wait to finish decorating her bedroom and share photographs.  It seems to be a long process though.

This post linked to:

Rusty and Rosy: Pinkalicious Crafts and Activities

Do you have a little girl who loves Pinkalicious? Pack up a copy of the book along with the crafts and activities I have put together over on Rusty and Rosy.  This will make a wonderful holiday gift that she is sure to love.  Don't forget the pink cake mix along wtih an apron and chefs hat too.

Use these ideas for a Pinkalicious birthday party too.

Simple Hair Accessories

A little while ago I was wandering the aisles of Michaels looking for inspiration for future projects when I found some packets of Recollections floral embellishments on sale for $1.99 each.  I purchased 3 packets - the Mariposa Sheer Rosettes and two packets of the large floral embellishments, I then pulled some bobby pins and hair clips out of our seemingly endless stash, and with my trusty glue gun in hand set to work making more hair accessories for Miss M ... because apparently she doesn't have enough already.

Okay, and there is a chance I may have kept just a couple of these for myself too.

That's 20 pretty flower clips for $5.97.  This is a great way to bring new life to your old plain hair accessories.

These would also make a lovely party favor for a little girls birthday party, just pop a set of hair clips into a little pouch.  This makes a much nicer gift than a bag full of candy and little toys.

 

As seen on:

Modern Parents Messy Kids

Beaded Bracelets

The twins and I made these beaded bracelets for the girls in their preschool class for their upcoming Friendship Tea on Valentine's Day.

Want to make some too?  Head on over to Multiples and More (where I'm the new monthly craft contributor) for the detailed tutorial.

Now to start crafting a little something for the boys in the class too.

 

This post linked to:

 

Creativity For Kids (+ a giveaway)

UPDATE: THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED.

The 2 WINNERS drawn by Random.org are:

Laura ...I love the paint and peel window art! What a great idea!!!! My kids love art projects!

Valerie ...the paint & craft plaster gnome is really cute

*******************************

This is the face of a very happy little girl.

Last week she opened up a box that had been delivered, and inside, she found these

She couldn't wait to get started on them and very quickly got to work on the Diva Puppies.

The pack came with 3 adorable little bobble-head puppies ready to be painted and made glamorous.

So she painted them and decided what outfits and accessories each required and I helped her add on a few of the finer details.

There is a great You Tube tutorial on decorating these too.  My recommendation though is to help the little ones by using a hot glue gun to attach the accessories, because impatient little ones + a brother constantly tugging at accessories = drama.

Next, she worked on the Create Your Own Enchanted Storybook.  This one was my favorite activity.  I'm sure you are aware of my love of handmade storybooks (just look at these ones that the kids made in the Spring, or these that I made them for Christmas a couple of years ago).

This kit came with everything she needed to create her very own fairytale story.

This is the story she came up with:

The story of the Rainbow Fairy.

Once upon a time, there was a King and Queen

Who had a pet dragon

One night a knight stole the dragon

So the King and Queen asked the rainbow fairy to help

She asked her friend Unicorn if she'd seen the dragon. No.

So she asked her friends the Butterflies.  No.

So then, she asked her friend Frog.  Croak. No.

The wizard cast a magic spell and brought the dragon home. 

The end!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

With the holidays coming up - did you know there are only 60 days left until Christmas?  I'm not kidding.  Anywho, I decided to host a few giveaways over the coming weeks to help out with gift giving.

This week 2 WINNERS will each receive BOTH the Creativity for Kids Diva Puppies and Create Your Own Enchanted Storybook kits.

I don't like to make you jump through hoops though to enter.  Let's make it easy shall we.

Visit the Creativity For Kids website and tell me 1 other kit you think your kids would love.

That's it! 

If you do decide to send off a little tweet though sending people over here to enter I sure would love it, and of course if you leave another comment telling me you did so and leave a link to the tweet I'll throw in an extra entry.

P.S.  Creativity for Kids are also on Facebook and Twitter so please follow them to get all of the latest information.

This giveaway is open to all US Residents over the age of 18 and will be drawn by Random.org on Sunday 7th November 7pm PST. 

Disclaimer:  I was provided with each kit as part of this promotion.

Crafting with Kids: Beads

The Easter Bunny gave this gift to Marisol last month.

 
 
This week we sat down together and sorted colors, beaded and made her some beautiful necklaces.

As you can see, she loves them. 
(excuse the giant bruise on her forehead, this is what happens though when one bounces on the couch and then falls off banging their head on a wooden box) 

Knitting Pattern: For Little Girls

A scarf, legwarmers and matching headband.

YARN:

• Bernat Softee Chunky Twists: Tawny Rose Twist
• Bernat Softee Chunky: Soft Taupe

LEGWARMERS:

The pattern for these can be found in Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson.  Such a fantastic book.  It's a basic knit purl in the round pattern using double pointed needles.

SCARF:

I used the same knit purl pattern for the scarf and just kept on knitting until it was long enough to double over and tie around her neck.

I accessorized it with cream felt flowers and pale pink buttons

HEADBAND:

I have a pile of very basic headbands that I've picked up over time in the $1 section at various stores.  I used one of these inside the knitted headband.  Instructions below:

Using size US.5 straight needles cast on 2 stitches. 

Knit 20 rows.

Increase 2 stitches into the next row (1 at each end)

Knit 2 rows.

Increase 2 stitches into the next row (1 at each end)

Use the headband from this point as your guide and knit until you come to the point where you need to start decreasing to match the increased side.

Decrease 1 stitch at each end of row

Knit 2 rows.

Decrease 1 stitch at each end of row.

Knit 20 rows.

I made 2 of these exactly the same.  1 with the Tawny Rose Twist and 1 with the Soft Taupe. 

Stitch all the way along one side joining the two pieces together.  Insert the headband and stitch up the other seam.

Cut out 3 felt flowers in assorted sizes and stitch them together in the center with a button.  Stitch your completed flower on to the headband.

A Handmade Dollhouse

Growing up one of my most prized gifts was a handmade dollhouse.  It was made by my dad when my sister and I were very young.  I dreamt that one day I would own a real house that resembled it.  That never happened and I would love to know what happened to my beloved dollhouse.

Of course I wanted Marisol to have a special dollhouse too.  One that I hope she will use and love for many, many years to come.  So this is the one we gave her for Christmas. 

It started out looking more like this when I purchased it from the Antique Mall:

but with a lot of tender loving care, a fresh coat of paint and some furniture, it became something that she could treasure.

It comes complete with a handmade bed and dining set, hand-knitted blanket and rug and custom artwork (okay, okay wooden blocks with scrapbook paper mod podged onto them)

and these three cupboards which were purchased raw from Michaels.  A little paint and scrapbook paper and they look fabulous.



I have big plans to expand upon this over time.  Some lace inside the curtains, trinkets to put on the shelves, a little basket for a kitty cat and so on.  Maybe even an addition of a greenhouse or sun room.  One day.

As seen on:

Tip Junkie

Handmade Felt Vase

As most of you know (who read my blog regularly), I have a 3 year old girlie girl.  She loves flowers, pink, butterflies, dancing, hosting tea parties for her toys and dressing up as a princess.

Whilst Halloween shopping last month I found some green Daisy Reeds at Pier 1 Imports and thought they would look beautiful in her bedroom.  The only problem, I didn't want to put a glass vase in her room because undoubtedly it would be smashed in no time ... either by her carrying her vase of flowers up and down the stairs repeatedly or by her brother hitting it with his hammer.

My solution. To make a vase.

So using sheets of felt, fabric scraps, a button and embroidery thread I started cutting and sewing.

To keep the vase sturdy .. afterall it is felt ... I placed an empty 8.75oz plastic herb container inside.  That not only keeps her Daisy Reeds from falling over, but if she has some fresh flowers to put in her vase, we can put a little water in it too.

As seen on:

One Pretty Thing / 10marifet.org / Craft Gossip

Handmade Hair Clips for Girls

I found these on clearance at Target a couple of weeks ago:

They needed a little something added to them for my princess.