Kiddos | less cake {more frosting}

Hello, Clearance Racks!

Authored By: ellie g Author/Writer
January 27, 2012 --7:00 AM

So….have you seen all the clearance stuff at the stores lately?
Holy bargains batman!
I went to Target for some pickles, no I’m not preggers…just picky about my pickles….and I ended up sifting through rows and rows of 70% off awesomeness!

C’mon, 70% off!?!
Who can seriously pass that up? Those little red and white stickers over the original price that squeal “hello! I’m on sale. Don’t you want me?” (the answer is usually “yes!”)

And then I bring it home and my husband says, “do you mistake the word “sale” to mean “free”? Because they’re not the same.”

Whatever.

Regardless, the end of January and first of February are FANTASTIC times to stock up. I love to buy clothes one size too big for the kiddos. And use them next year.

And I LOVE to buy gifts.
Yep.

If you get a gift from me, and you think “my goodness you shouldn’t have. This is expensive!”
Guaranteed it wasn’t.

See, if I have a small stash of gifts on hand, I can give them out whenever I choose. And you don’t know any better. (shhh…..)

Another awesome thing you can do with clearance items is find something with a good “base”.
This little jacket is completely darling. And I needed it for my super cute niece. But I also wanted to give something that was more personal than “here’s a fleece jacket.”

It’s one of my favorite things to do for gifts. Take something basic…make it personal. (and possibly awesome!)

Once upon a time…when LCMF was a brand new baby….I showed you how I LOVE to customize little baby carriers. If you saw that one….you are LOYAL fan!

I know it’s a tried and true option, but nothing is as awesome as some mix-n-match flowers. And they’re SO EASY.

Start with a thin strip of material. (keep in mind this one was for a 6 month old baby jacket, so these strips were maybe 1.5″)
Tie a knot in one end and then start to wrap the material around that knot….while twisting the fabric just a bit.

I don’t recommend using hot glue for something that’s going to be worn. Particularly by kids. In fact I sewed up this bloom with upholstery thread. It’s not BUDGING!

As you twist just sew through a few layers here and there. So it stays in place. There’s really no rules. Just do it ’til you like it.

Don’t cut the thread when you’re done sewing….just sew it directly onto the garment.

Now that clearance jacket, is a one-of-a-kind gift. And although my niece is ALREADY the cutest baby on the planet…..now she’ll be even cuter.

And don’t blame me if you go to Target for pickles and come out with amazingness at awesome prices. You’ve been warned.

(for the record…Claussen sliced dills….in the refrigerated section….you’re welcome!)

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Filed Under: kiddos, NOT crafts, sew what?

Feeding Kiddos on the Run

Authored By: ellie g Author/Writer
November 10, 2011 --4:55 PM

With the upcoming holiday season approaching, we’re facing some car travel. Are you? What’s the song? “Over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother’s house we go.” Well, gratefully we don’t have to go over the river in an open sleigh. Because I’m afraid if that was the case, Grandma would be dining alone.

Anytime we travel, we try to make it as easy as possible. And often that means, eating in our car. Years ago, with a young child, I discovered that eating on the go is harder than it sounds. They have a super hard time manipulating food, and not making a GINORMOUS MESS! (let alone if they’re a kid that likes sauce with their nuggets!)

We love to give our kids their meals in a cup holder.
You know the kind?
The recycled ones that you can get if you order a bunch of drinks.

Well, they are PERFECT for a little hamburger, and fries, and they hold the drink real still. (Plus, the center is great for sauce….if you need it)

We’ve used them for years. Love it!
On one of our recent trips, the place we stopped at was OUT OF CUP HOLDERS!
*gasp*
What would we do? No way my 4 year old was doing that.

Since that harrowing experience… (I’m not dramatic, I just like my nugget sauce holders) I’ve been on the lookout for some replacement cup holders that I can KEEP in the car. But I usually just find plastic trays. They’re either flat, or the holes for food aren’t deep. One sharp turn and we’d be swimming in a Root Beer pool.

So….I decided to take matters into my own hands. Operation: make the holders I like, more durable. (and if they happen to become cute on the way….all the better)

I started with my old buddy, The Podge. It really is my friend.
I also got some scrap material and cut it into random pieces. It’s best if they’re not much bigger than 4 or 5 inches in any direction. That makes them easier to use.
Cover your material with a GENEROUS helping of Mod Podge with a sponge brush.
Then place it into your holder, smoothing it down into all the crevices.

If you come across a tough corner, just snip small slits into the material, and then smooth it down so that it lays as flat as it can. It doesn’t have to be perfect.

Another tip: Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty! Just get some Podge on your fingers and go for it. Your results will be better.

After getting the material all smoothed on the top, turn it over and do the bottom. Then, cover it all in another layer or two of Mod Podge. Letting each coat dry well. (PS….I checked, Mod Podge is non-toxic. And we always put the food in it’s wrappers. So there shouldn’t be any problems there.)

This new holder is just as awesome, ‘cept it’s re-usable. I wiped the surface, and it was fine. I doubt it would hold up to a royal beating, and maybe not a dip in the Root Beer pool….but I think it will totally meet our needs.

Now, we’re off to Grandmother’s house. (I bet she HATES being called that!)

(PS….I meant to display a cheeseburger in the final pic. Pretend it’s there. I TOTALLY ate it. Oopsie!)

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Filed Under: Give Thanks, kiddos, NOT crafts

Not So Basic Canvas Tote

Authored By: ellie g Author/Writer
August 25, 2011 --2:24 PM

Back to school has officially begun at our house. My son began 3rd grade and my daughter started a 2 day a week preschool program. I officially have 3 hours (twice a week) all by my lonesome! It doesn’t seem like much.

I have to admit….I picked up toys this morning and walked back into that room at least 3 times, just to make sure they were still cleaned up. Sure enough. That room stayed that way for 3 hours. Heavenly.

My daughter attends a delightful local preschool. However, they do not allow children to carry backpacks. You have to bring a canvas tote bag. (they say it is easier on the art projects and easier for 4 year olds to open)

You can buy your own or they offer one for purchase.
I cannot purchase the school bag because it is an ugly color.
Forrest Green and I broke-up in 1997 and I cannot go back to him. (My subsequent relationship with Maroon ended badly too. However Plum and I have made up.)

When looking for a tote this year I found myself with not a lot of choices. The store happened to be out of most sizes. And as a professional procrastinator….I hadn’t left myself with a lot of time to look elsewhere. This was the only one that would work. But my daughter DID NOT appreciate the red trim. She is a girl. “And red is a boy color.”

So I unpicked the red trim and purchased some hot pink double-fold bias tape. And recovered the spots that WERE red. It was actually pretty slick. Although pinning it prior is a MUST!

After the trim was attached the fun part began….Decorations!

I covered the handles in a fun fabric. Just detach, cover, re-attach.
I made several fabric flowers and sewed them onto the pocket
I used iron-on rhinestones around the top.
I made a graphic that she liked and printed it out on ink-jet transfer paper.

The ink-jet paper is one of my favorite tools. I’ve used it several times before and have instructions and tips listed HERE:on my Headless Horseman Art, and HERE:on my Surf Art.

I also added her name across the top….but I’ve blurred that part out….

She was so excited to take her super girly bag on the first day of preschool.
And I am super happy that my silent war with Forrest Green is still goin’ strong.

They make great gifts for both kids and adults. And super fun totes for swim gear. I also think you could make one for a teacher. So many possibilities! Go get a canvas bag and see what you can make!

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Filed Under: just 4 you, kiddos, NOT crafts, sew what?