Homemade Gift Ideas for Babies

It seems now that I have a little one and I have 4 nephews and nieces I find myself drawn to the little handmade things.  I finally got a niece last March so I'm looking forward to trying my hand at frilly skirts and dresses. 

One thing that I don't leave the home without is my diaper pack in my purse.  Unfortunately I just have an ugly Pampers one I got for free, so I'm looking forward to trying this one out.  Tutorial Here

Colby tends to make a mess at every meal so I can imagine new parents would love some of these large 'baprons' these are a hybrid of an apron and a bib.  The fabric choices could be endless and I look forward to gifting some of these. Tutorial Here

Another necesity I have found when we are out and about is a changing pad.  Those fold down changing tables frighten me and I can't imagine how many germs are floating on its tan textured plastic, ick.  Tutorial Here

For the older toddlers some bathtub crayons would be a blast.  I tend to think that the time in the warm sudsy water is one of Colby's favorite time of day.Tutorial Here

Good old Martha, she's always got such great ideas, or at least her staff does.  What little kid couldn't use another stuffed animal.  I love the ears and contrasting fabric. Tutorial Here

Gifts for the Sewer

I always have a hard time buying presents for my family because I tend to be more on the practical side:  sure those slipper are pretty, but they've got three pairs they don't wear, so it makes it very difficult to gift.  Many of the ladies are also very big on sewing and crafting so I've run across a few good ideas for gifting.

Tutorial Here

This one is not only pretty, but practical as well since you can store buttons and odds and ends down below. (free)

Amazon.com

I just got this book from my good friend and I love it!  There are so many great patterns and bag ideas.  It explains how to make pockets, do lining, and everything else.  I'm excited to start my bag making. ($17.00)

amazon.com

This BurdaStyle book looks great and looks like it has some great ideas on clothes making.  I'm sure it would just add to my long list of projects to do, but I'm willing to sacrifice that to have the book.  (20.00)

Find them Here  (best for the beginner sewer)

These sewing sissors would be great for the sewer just starting out.  My mom gave me a pair shortly after graduating college and I love them.  They make cutting fabric a breeze, and they look really scary so you can defend yourself if you ever get burglarized while you are sewing. ($27.00)

Gift Ideas for the Women in Your Life

Year after year our family has slowly moved away from spending money on Christmas gifts.  Usually we just buy or make something small for each family.  Last year we just got board games for my siblings' families.  This year I'm still torn on what to make but the females in my family always seem to be running cold so I think some hand warmers and tissue holders would be welcome. For Something pretty I really want to try making a beautiful bracelet as well.  Once again, a million projects but nothing made yet, looks like I need to spend less time acquiring ideas from Pinterest and just make what I've got already.  So many ideas, so little time. 

Here's the Tutorial

Example Comes from Here

Tutorial Here

DIY Christmas Wreaths

Well, I have been in such a creative funk lately.  I think with the snow storms I have this urge to just wrap myself in a blanket and throw in a movie, but alas, with a ten month old that only happens after eight o'clock, so I have been spending my time chasing him around and preventing him from eating cords, dog food, and leaves.  What fun!   I have so many project ideas to do and I just need to start the sewing machine up.  For now though, I'll just add to my long list of projects to do.

Tutorial Here

Tutorial Here

Tutorial Here

Tutorial Here

Tutorial Here

Silly Pictures

So I've been working with Paint for some reason and am just starting to figure it out a bit.  This month I'm trying to send a picture a day to Colby's grandparents as a Christmas present.  I took these of Colby playing with a Cabbage Patch Doll and when I reviewed them I thought they would make a funny collage.  Happy Monday to you all!

Homemade Butterfingers

Hmm, these tasted really great but I must say the final product looked terrible because I tried to melt the chocolate chips to quickly so it got chunky,  so that is why I don't have a picture.  I got the recipe from Pinterest and had to try them.  Here's the original recipe.

Ingredients:
1 bag or candy corn
1 cup of peanut butter
Chocolate for coating

1.  Melt candy corn in bowl in microwave.  This took a few minutes but stir it periodically until it is smooth. 
2.  Add peanut butter and stir until smooth. I microwaved it a bit (30 seconds) until the peanut butter got a bit melty as well. 
3.  Place in greased 9x9 pan.  Let cool.
4.  Cut into bar size and coat with chocolate.  Eat.

Infant Sensory Wall

So I've been struggling with the feeling that I am some how failing as a mother and should be working harder to stimulate Colby's brain.  I suppose it is partially my fault since I read lots of parenting books and a brain enrichment book.  I know deep down that just the fact that I worry about him means that I am probably doing just fine.  I also have heard of a few people having their kids in Montessori preschools and day cares.  From what I can gather these basically just involve getting the kids involved outdoors, textures, tastes, and talking through your day with them.  I thought I would give my hand at stimulating his brain with sticky textures.  He seemed to like the wall and the dog also liked the challenge of pulling things off.  (I taped up contact paper sticky side up to the wall under a counter and then I taped some strips of clear tape on the other sheet.  Many different objects stick to these and I taped tape sticky side out onto a oatmeal lid and he was really perplexed by the lid getting stuck to his fingers)