Hidden Pictures

So I am always looking for good "busy" activities for my kids for while we are in the car, waiting at offices, flying, and just making our way through a rainy day and when I discovered these printable hidden pictures activities, I knew just what to do with them. I thought I would share the fun with you.

When you visit the site you will find so many to choose from. Since my daughter is just four, I decided to look for some that were age appropriate and not overly difficult. Now, when you print them out it prints out the entire webpage, kind of a drag, but a great excuse to make these a little more exciting. ***The Highlights website has been updated and is now super easy to print!! there is a little printer icon in the upper right of the corner. Easy peasy!***

I printed the pages on regular computer paper. Then I just cut out the hidden picture and the key of items and glued them down to a piece of 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of colorful card stock. I did a page on each side of the colored card stock. I then sent them through my laminator (if you don't have one, get one. The possibilities are endless when it comes to childrens activities. I've used mine for so many things.)

Three hole punched, place in a thin binder and voila! In the pocket of the binder I keep a washable dry erase marker and  a piece of flannel to wipe the pages clean. However, I would like to get my hands on a pack of wipe-off crayons. Have you used them before?? Do they wipe off well?? Anyway, I hope you enjoy! ***I have since purchased wip-off crayons and I like them, but they can be surprisingly messy...I actually think I prefer the Crayola wipe-off markers.

I have included the file for my cover page for you if you're interested.
Hidden Pictures

Have fun!! Start to finish is only about an hour. I love me some instant gratification:)

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Blue Cricket Design

This kid...

...loves anything with wheels or wings, so when I saw this cozy car caddy on Homemade by Jill, I knew I would be making one for my little man. And it fit just perfectly into his Easter basket. But it's new home will now be in our church bag. I have a feeling it may prevent a few of the otherwise inevitable loud outbursts during our church meetings...

Here it is all bundled up:

Car Basket Tutorial

Here it is. The Car Basket Tutorial. Why do I call it a basket?? Because, well, that's what I was originally intending for the car, but I had a hard time finding something that was just the right size. And I wanted something with some pockets. So I made my own "basket."

First, measure your space. How big do you want this sucker?? Me? I needed mine to be 13" square. So all of the instructions will be given to those dimensions. However, for your own, just measure your sapce and decide how big and then cut your panels one inch bigger than that. Now let's get started.

Here's what you'll need:
4- 14" squares of heavy weight fabric (something like canvas, or upholstery fabric)
5- 14" squares of medium weight fabric (anything from a good cotton to home dec. Mine was a recylced curtain)
1- 10" x 21" of the heavy weight fabric (for front pockets)
1- 12" x 18" of the heavy weight fabric (for book pocket)
1- 14" square of faux suede, or something else that is non-slip
5- 14" squares of  Peltex 71f single-sided fusible heavy stabilizer
4 yards coordinating double fold bias tape
Other obvious sewing notions that I am assuming that you have;)

**I used 1/2" seams on everything.

1. Iron Peltex stabilizer to the wrong side of your heavy weight fabric squares and faux suede.

2. Sew the bias tape to one of the long sides of your 10" x 21" piece (and toon eof the long sides of your 12" x 18" piece, while you're at it).

3. Find the center of your 10" x 21" piece and one of your Heavy weight squares and mark on the bottom with a disappearing pen. (yes, the bias tape is missing, that's because I did steps 2 and 3 backwards...trial and error right???)

 

4.  Line up the bottom edges at the the center markings and pin straight up the center.

5. Line up the side edges and pin.

6. Pleat the extra fabric to make two pockets and pin.

7. Sew along the 3 edges and down the middle, making two separate pockets.

8. Now take another heavy weight square and your 12" x 18" piece and you'll follow similar steps to make the book pocket. Pin the three sides and make a pleat in the bottom and sew the three sides.

9. Now sew your four sides together to make a box, right sides together.

 

10. Flip your box upside down and pin your faux suede right side down, to the bottom of your box. I didn't get a picture of this because I was trying not to bleed on everything, as I got some pinning injuries...Anyway, sew it all together. TIP: save yourself an injury and sew each side separately, meaning, sew one side, lift your needle, snip and move to the next side. Don't forget to back stitch all the ends! Turn right side out.

11. Now sew your 5 medium weight squares right sides together to make a box. (don't mind the double seams you see, remember that I upcylced a curtain for this...).

12. Put that inside your heavy weight box and pin on the bias tape along the top edge, leaving an extra 1.5" for overlap. 

13. Sew your bias tape to the box and you're...ummm...done! Aren't you proud??

If you make one, post it and let me know! I'd love to see it! 

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Happy Sewing!

Out to Lunch

Well, the plastic bag that I was using as Emmie's restaurant toy bag finally gave in and got destroyed. Not to mention, since it wasn't enclosed, all of its contents typically ended up strewn all over of my trunk. So, here's the newbie. I like.

I took a pre-fabbed muslin tote and boxed out the bottom, so things would fit a little better inside. Then I put in a zipper that I rescued from a thrifted pillowcase. But of course, that was not enough, because who wants to be walking around any restaurant with a boring old tote? So some prettying up was VERY necessary:) I got the sweet little embroidery pattern from the book Embroidery for Little Miss Crafty. This is a GREAT book for any beginner! It goes through supplies needed and how-to's for all (or many) of the different types of stitches. AND she includes lots of cute little patterns and PROJECTS to use the patterns on! She thought of it all. Anyway, I've been looking for an excuse to use this cute little pattern. So there.

Oh, and I added a picture of the contents of her bag. I change it up every so often, but this is the current state. Although, I am looking for some fun things for one-year-olds to do at restaurants. If you have any winners, I'd love to hear 'em!

1. Magnetic Enchanted Kingdom
2. Ravensburger Mini block puzzle
3. Wooden dress-a-bear (found at a German toy store, but here is a simlilar one)
4. ToysPure Memory game

Trash Happens

A little sewing born from necessity. With two kids and a lot of traveling, we had to find some place to put all of the garbage. This little baby hangs with Velcro straps, so as to adjust the length if necessary, and it is just the right depth to be lined with a typical grocery bag. And the top is held open by a bit of boning. So many uses for that stuff.

{the baby was added for cuteness}