A Present for the Bug

My sweet little nephew Bug turned two a few weeks ago.  I wanted to make him a little something his mom (my sister) could toss into her purse to occupy him when he needed occupying.  Do you remember the memory game I made for my kids last year?  Well, I decided to make Bug his own version. 

Please excuse the less than ideal lighting. 
My house was NOT designed with lighting in mind.

I went with simple shapes and colors wood burned and painted with watered down acrylic paint.  I also finished them with my homemade beeswax polish.

He loved the game!  He's been over to play twice now since receiving his game and has apparently insisted on bringing it each time.

And here's a little sneak peek at one I'm working on for my sweet kids.

I'm loving it so far!

A Winter Scrub

I decided the other day that I needed some mid-winter exfoliating.  Apparently I don't exfoliate enough?  Anyway, I looked around online (and on pinterest) for some good scrub recipes.  I found a one that looked good here but I didn't have all the ingredients she had so we had to wing it.  We liked it so much I thought you might as well.

Ingredients:

• 2 C. Sugar
• About 1/2 C. of olive oil - more or less is fine.
• Any combination and amounts of coconut oil, cocoa butter, shea butter and jojoba oil to equal  another 1/2 C. 
• 30 drops or so of lavendar essential oil.

As long as your ratio is 1 part oil: 2 parts sugar you'll be fine.

The most import thing for me was....

an adorable assistant.

Our coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter were a bit on the solid side so we warmed them in a jar set down in a pot of warm water.

Next came several spashes of jojoba oil.

Once all those were warmed and mixed well we added the essential oil. 

My sweet little assistant then poured the warm oils into the sugar.

Mix well.

She's such a great helper.

Spoon into jars.

One to keep and one to share. 

This really is a wonderful scrub!  I don't recommend using this while little ones play at your feet in the shower though as it makes the tub floor VERY slippery.   

By itself or paired with our favorite lotion bar it's perfect for Mother's Day, birthday, end of year teacher gifts, Christmas or just because.

Enjoy!

A Quick Game

My parents sent my children sweet Valentine cards in the mail.  My son's card had a cute little alien tic-tac-toe game inside.  It was a game board to cut out and removable stickers. 

We decided we'd like it to be a little more long term than the stickers would likely allow. 

Here's what you'll need to make your own:

- Valentine card with tic-tac-toe game OR just make/print off your own.  Here is a cute hamster one.

- 10-12 wooden 1 1/2 inch circles.  I get mine at Michaels.  $2.99 for a pack of 22

- glue if you aren't using stickers.

- optional: clear contact paper to make the game board really sturdy.  **an especially good idea if using the printable option**

Okay, here's where it gets really tricky...

Step one:  Apply stickers to wooden circles.  Just kidding, it's not really tricky at all.  You'll need to glue them if using the printable sheet.

Step two:  This one is optional.  For an extra sturdy game board you'll want to carefully cover both sides in clear contact paper and trim the edges.  You'll want to do this as smoothly as possible so you're not left with air bubbles.  (Poke tiny pin holes in the bubbles if you need to.)

Step three:  Play.

Thanks Mom and Dad for thinking of the kids and inspiring a craft!



Be My Valentine

We hope you have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Our Valentine's Day Nature table.

**These sweet little gnomes are pulling double duty today over at The Fipper Show.

The Knitting Bag of a Newbie

Pretty much the minute I started knitting I also starting thinking up all sorts of knitting related sewing projects.  I quickly made up a few project bags and a little pouch for holding my crochet hooks and scissors and whatsits.  I like to call it my "hooker pouch".

While we're talking about crochet hooks, take a look at that fancy new one up there.  It's like a magic wand and a crochet hook got together and had a baby.  It's a Brittany hook and it's super pretty.


It used to be, I would toss my hooker pouch and whatever project bag I needed into my purse and would head out the door.  Add snacks and water to that and I was dragging around a TON of stuff.  You should have seen me headed into gymnastics.  I looked like I was moving in.  The madness had to stop.  So...

I made a knitting bag.

Pretty isn't she?  She's the perfect size and filled with the perfect configuration of pockets.  Yep, totally customized.  Wanna see what's in there?  Let's start with the pockets shall we.

The outside pockets are just right for my glasses, ipod, and keys. 

The inside... out.  It's basically reversible.  I personally like the darker color to the outside but, in order to show you the pockets...inside out it is.  These pockets hold my gauge/ruler thingy, lotion, ink pen, a note pad, extra knitting needles, and my little tackle box of goodies. 

I grabbed this little tackle box in the fishing section one day while the boys were checking out fly tying materials.  I think I paid somewhere around $1.75 for this and it's just perfect. It holds all my tip protectors, stitch markers, row counter, and my measuring tape.  Not to mention it snuggles all happily in that there pocket.

It holds a surprising amount of stuff.  I'm usually carrying one or two project bags, my Knitter's Handbook (that i borrowed from the library and they're going to want back soon), tackle box, hooker pouch, and I usually have a little game in there for the kids.  That way if we're stuck at the tire place or the Dr's office they have something to do too.  AND I still have room for snacks.  (and my purse can stay in the car.)

This is the cutest little game by the way.  I bought it here.  I've gathered quite the collection of small travel games and they are wonderful to toss in your bag.  This one is especially great as my three year old can do it all by herself. 

So there you have it.  The knitting bag of a newbie.  Anything I should have that I don't?  Anything I'm carting around that I totally don't need?  I'd love your input. 

Happy Craftin'