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'

Making Progress and Something New

In my quest to become a knitter I think I'm making pretty good progress.  It's become quite addictive and I've actually had knitting dreams once or twice.  (Is that normal?)  I do find it calms my brain down which I desperately need sometimes.

I've been learning to knit ribbing and to change colors.  I really like the look of the ribbing.  I like that I still have to think knit knit, purl purl, knit knit, purl purl.  It helps with the brain chill. 

I hope to learn how to bind off today as I'm headed to my sister's house later.  (She's an excellent teacher.)  I've also ordered a book from the library that I hope to pick up today.  It's another Debbie Stoller book called The Knitter's Handbook.  I have her crochet book I talked about here.  

I've also found my other crafting has become knit/crochet related.  Carly and I had gone to this fancy knit shop a few weeks ago and they were selling "project bags".  We both had a "what a great idea" moment with those.  What with tiny hands always reaching for our current projects and all. They also make it very simple to take your project with you.  So, we made our own. 

I have two different styles here.  The one on the left has a circular bottom which makes for a happy little area for your yarn ball to bounce around while you're knitting or crocheting.  The right side has a rectangular bottom which I'm testing out to see how happily the yarn deals with that.

I will say the knitting needles rest more happily in the rectangular one. For now I have crochet in the circular one. 

Here's an interior shot.  Let me know if you're interested in a tutorial for these.  They are fairly quick and easy to make.  I plan to have a few laying around so I can keep each project separate.

In other fiber related news... I think I'm also becoming a needle felter. I had done some 2 dimensional felting on another project (I'll share later) and enjoyed it very much.  Last night I started thinking about all the cute 3D projects out there and started trying it out.

It. Was. So. Much. Fun.  I made this cute little cave and bunnies.  (which also look kinda like mice? - so maybe bun-ice?)  My sweet Piper immediately claimed them for her very own and took off.  She's played with them nearly non-stop since last night.  She even slept with them.

I see more needle felting in my future for sure.  Along with knitting.

As for what I'm reading, I'm still working on The Exiled Queen.  I haven't mastered knitting well enough to be able to read while I'm knitting.  I have been listening to audiobooks though.  Right now we're listening to Classic Fairy Stories which we all love. 

I'm yarning along again with Ginny today (and all the rest of you). I can't say enough how encouraging and wonderful everyone at the yarn along has been.

Quick Kitty Inspiration

Piper was given five sweet little stuffed kittens for Christmas.  She loves them dearly and carries (at least) one everywhere she goes.  She talks to them, pets them, has the rest of us pet and talk to them, even lets them sleep in her bed.  Basically, they are very loved little kittens.

Well, yesterday she declared that the grey kitty (who's name is apparently "Concrete" - can you tell her daddy works in construction?) needed a bed.  So, in a perfect storm and quick and crafty I made "Concrete" a bed.

I'd gotten this basket back in the summer at our local "treasure" shop for something around a dollar.  I was keeping some of my sewing supplies in it but it was the PERFECT size for the kitties.  Then we went shopping in my fabric stash.  Piper picked out this lovely tie dyed fleece. 

Then it was just a matter of loosely cutting two circles of the fleece by following the base of the basket.  Sewing those together, stuffing, and trimming up the edges with pinking shears.

With one of the scraps we even made a little kitty "toy".

I think Concrete is pretty happy with his new digs.  This entire project from the beginning spark to completion took all of about ten minutes.  How's that for instant crafty gratification??

And just because it's so cute, here's a picture of my budding photographer/blogger/princess taking pictures of our project.

Happy crafting!

Becoming a Knitter

I'm finally learning to knit!!  It's so exciting.  I've been wanting to learn for years.  I've even been carrying needles around for the last few weeks.  Then one day at my sister's house it all clicked into place.

Thank you to my 6 yr old photographer!

It's a pretty slow process, coming from crochet.  I'm sure I'll get faster with time.  I've learned to cast on and the knit stitch.  Carly (my sister) says "baby steps".  So I'll keep practicing those.

My ultimate goal (at this point anyway) is to knit my own socks.  I can't wait! 

I've also been crocheting, of course.  I don't think I'll be one of those people that totally gives up the other skill.  I've made, and am making, more of those cute cowl's I showed you in the last post.  I even made one for P.  

I'm joining in over at Small Things this week for her yarn along.  I really enjoyed it last time.  (plus it's motivating)  This week I'm reading The Exiled Queen by Cinda Williams Chima.  It's book two in the Seven Realms series.  Great series so far.  I will readily admit...I have NO desire to read any book that doesn't have castles or dragons or fairies or magic in it.  (I'm drinking out of a Harry Potter coffee mug right now for goodness sake)  I like to escape when I read.  And yes, the books I read are usually found in the teen section.  I'm okay with that. :)

If any of you knitters at the yarn along have suggestions for beginning knitters I'd love to hear them! 

Oh and I have a sewing project coming up!  One that benefits crocheters and knitters alike.  So look for that probably next week.