Tot School Tuesday: Word Bug Swat

May 14, 2013 in educational, kid-friendly, tot school tuesday

 

Hi there!

Welcome to another Tot School Tuesday where See Vanessa Craft and Mine for the Making come together to share fun and educational activities to do with our kiddos.
Today I am sharing an educational “game” that can be modified to meet your child’s developmental/educational stage. I have played this game with pre-k through 3rd grade and all ages have really enjoyed it.

Word Bug Swat

 
 
You will need:
Paper bugs
Marker
Tape
Clean fly swatter
Parent Instruction:
I purchased my *new* fly swatter at Dollar Tree…the flower already attached. You can easily make one like this yourself if you can’t find one at your local dollar store.
For the paper bugs, there’s a number of ways you can do this. I cut mine using my Silhouette but you can easily trace and cut them out or purchase paper bugs from a teacher or craft store.
Write numbers or letters or words that you want your child to practice/learn/master.
Tape the bugs to a wall.
Child Instruction:
(Demonstrate first) 
The child should look at a bug and say the letter or number before “swatting” the bug. I wanted my daughter to work on sight words, so I had her sound out the word, say it, then swat the bug.
Tip: If you laminate the bugs and use a dry eraser marker, you can reuse them lots of times.
Thanks so much for stopping by today! 
Be sure to head on over to See Vanessa Craft for more Tot School ideas!
Now it’s your turn to link up and share your kid-friendly ideas below! We can’t wait to see what you have been up to with the kiddos…



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Easy DIY {Choose the Right} Sign

May 11, 2013 in decor, DIY, lds, sign, tutorial

Hi there!

It’s the weekend AND tomorrow is Mother’s Day! Any big plans?

Today I am sharing a DIY wall decor project that took me all of 10 minutes and cost me under $5 to make.

I made this sign for my daughter’s bedroom and I wanted it to be something that was a good daily reminder for her. One of the themes or sayings in our church is “Choose the Right,” often abbreviated with CTR. When I found a ready-to-paint sign at Michael’s that resembled the CTR emblem, I knew it was the perfect fit.

I spray painted the sign with Krylon Ballet Slipper and while it dried I used my Silhouette SD to design and cut CTR out of the awesome grey/white vinyl I received in my SNAP swag (thanks Expressions Vinyl!).

I applied the vinyl to the painted sign, slapped a 3M strip on the back and hung it on my daughter’s wall.

Don’t you just LOVE simple crafts that turn out great?

I think it goes perfectly on this wall too.

This sign can be easily modified for your child’s bedroom as well. Change the color of the spray paint, color or pattern on the vinyl, letters/words…really you can do anything! Michael’s had several different shaped pieces of wood to choose from too. The options are endless.

So tell me what you think? Do you think this is a craft you’ll try out?

If you’d like to see more of my daughter’s room, check HERE and HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Enjoy your weekend and if you are a momma,

HAPPY {early} MOTHER’S DAY!!

If you need any last minute Mother’s Day ideas, check out my Mother’s Day archives or my Mother’s Day Pinterest board.

Mothers make the world go ’round…have a good one friends!

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My Craft Room Makeover {part 1}

May 9, 2013 in craft room, decor, hoopart, organization, spray paint

Hi friends!

The other day I shared some of our favorite bloggers’ creative spaces. I’ve been busily working on my creative space and I’m really excited to share what I’ve done so far! Want to take a peek into a corner of my craft room?

I was really itching to get something on this bare wall in my craft room.

I started with 2 of my favorite signs from my shop then added the fun fabric hoops to the mix (thanks Wholeport for the hoops!). I had the “R” on a shelf already and I feel like this is a much better home for it. Then I added the cute yellow frame and mini print my sweet friend Michele (The Scrap Shoppe) gave me at SNAP conference, and I painted the wooden frame (Poppy Seeds Projects) aqua and stuck the Rhonna Designs print I received in my swag from SNAP. We’ll get a closer look at them in a minute.

Let’s back up a little to see more, shall we?

Well hello there aqua craft cart. Fancy meeting you here…

Are you as in love with this cart as I am? I actually swiped this from my husband…want to see the before?

I took that bad boy outside and showed it a thing or two with my aqua spray paint. Now my craft cart rocks!

And another look at my pretty wall…

Here’s a close up of the yellow frame…

And the aqua frame…

I love this corner of my craft room.

It’s pretty, organized, and inspiring.

So what do you think of my craft room so far? 

I have so many more fun plans for it.

Do you have a craft room? I would LOVE to see it! Leave a link in the comments.

Thanks for stopping by today friends!!

Have a great rest of your week!

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Close To My Heart

May 8, 2013 in ad, paper, photos, scrapbooking, sponsors

Hi friends!

I am so excited to share our newest sponsor, Diana of Close To My Heart.

Close To My Heart is an awesome scrapbook/paper crafts company and how perfect that May is National Scrapbooking Month! Can I get a “woot! woot!” from my scrapbooking/paper crafting friends?!

Let’s learn a bit more about Diana and Close To My Heart…

Hi my name is Diana and I am a wife and Mom, I have four boys. I am passionate about doing family history, I have always loved taking pictures. So it was very easy for me to start scrapbooking.  I have always been a crafter and Close To My Heart is a wonderful company that allows me to scrapbook, card make and  create home decor. I love teaching classes using our wonderful products as well!

In honor of National Scrapbooking Month, you can get a special paper packet for only $10 when you spend $35 in May (valued at $19.95 retail). This paper packet includes 12 cardstock sheets as well as 12 B&T Duos® papers that were specifically designed for this promotion only—you can’t get the paper packet anywhere else! Start National Scrapbooking Month off right with a unique paper packet at a bargain price and get your creative juices flowing! Party Hostesses receive one paper packet free with qualifying May Gathering sales totals of $400 or more. New Consultants who sign up during the month of May will receive the Dream Pop paper packet in their New Consultant Kit.
* Shipping/handling and tax apply. Not available for purchase at full retail. Offer valid May 1–31, 2013, while supplies last. Purchases must be current, retail-priced product.

  I am also offering a drawing for anyone who places an order on my web site, under the Mine For The Making party, the drawing will be for a stamp set or paper pack worth up to $17.95.

How awesome! Let’s give a big welcome to Diana!!

Head on over to Close To My Heart to check out the fun collections they have. Not only is the Dream Pop collection adorable, but I L.O.V.E. the Stamp of the Month idea!! $5 for a crazy cute stamp? Yes please!

Total cuteness! I can’t wait to attend one of Diana’s craft classes!

Find Diana here…

{shop} Close To My Heart

{blog} Scrap N Today

{facebook} /DianasCTMH

Are you interested in sponsoring Mine for the Making? 

I would love to help promote your shop, business, blog, or product. Please send me an email!

MinefortheMaking{at}gmail{dot}com

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Tot School Tuesday: Spring + Senses Print

May 7, 2013 in educational, home school, kid-friendly, preschool, tot school tuesday

Hi there!

Welcome to another Tot School Tuesday with See Vanessa Craft and Mine for the Making!

We dedicate every Tuesday to sharing kid-friendly activities, crafts, education, etc.

Join us!

Today I am sharing a fun (and FREE) print with you and your kiddo(s). Last week I shared a fun round up of outdoor learning activities and a couple weeks before that I shared a fun “I Spy Spring” outdoor game. If you haven’t noticed, we like to be outside during the spring time!

So keeping with my love for nature and being outside, I made a fun print that combines spring and 4 of our senses!

{Download HERE}

Just download it and print it out for your tot, preschooler, or early elementary kiddos.

This would be a fun activity to do in your backyard, on a walk (bring a clipboard!), at the park, on a hike, or even at the zoo! Be sure to go over the directions with your littles…and if they are writing, I encourage you to have your kiddo label their pictures as well. When your child is finished drawing/writing, ask them to tell you about their work…this promotes processing, comprehension, and communication skills.

*Ask questions to promote higher level thinking.

Remember, this print is FREE for personal use only.

If you LOVE this print and decide to use it, leave me a comment letting me know! 

That’s the best form of payment a blogger can ask for.

Oh. And we love when you “Pin it!”

*winks*

Head on over to See Vanessa Craft for more Tot School Tuesday ideas and link up your ideas below!

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20 Blogger Creative Spaces

May 6, 2013 in craft room, decor, inspiration, organization, round up

Happy Monday, y’all!

I hope you had a great weekend. We sure did! It was full of Mexican food, family time, Home Depot kids workshop, and working in the backyard.

I have been working on my creative space recently…organizing and decorating it. It’s always fun to be inspired and get ideas from other creative minds. So today, I’m sharing 20 Blogger Creative Spaces!

Have you ever wondered where some of your favorite bloggers work?

What their space might look like where they create the beautiful things they share on their blogs?

Be prepared to be inspired to start organizing and decorating your creative space…or simply to designate a space to be creative in *wink*

Be sure to click on the link to visit the original sources…lots more pretty details to be seen.

Little Miss Momma

Tatertots and Jello

Raising Up Rubies

Cleverly Inspired

Lolly Jane

Dreaming n Color

Cleverly Inspired

The Scrap Shoppe

The Happier Homemaker

TaylorMade

Homework

Rae Gun Ramblings

Crazy Little Projects

Our Thrifty Ideas

Craft-O-Maniac

A Next For All Seasons

A Little Tipsy

Mom Endeavors

DIY Inspired

The Country Chic Cottage

Some of us have entire rooms dedicated to our crafty space. Others of us make due with what space we have, whether it be in a closet or the corner of our living room. The key is to make your creative space work for you. Find ways to organized and decorate so that you are inspired to create in your space.

Thanks for coming by today!

Do you have a creative space? Share a link with us in the comments!

I’m off to organize more of MY creative space.

See you tomorrow for Tot School Tuesday.

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Creative Blogger Business Cards

May 2, 2013 in blog conference, business cards, gift, handmade

Hi friends!

As most of you know, I had to privilege of attending SNAP! conference in Utah this year. I was able to meet, learn from, chat with, laugh with, and hug lots of my blogger buddies. And I’d have to say one of my most favorite things I received from the conference (besides the amazing swag of course) were the business cards my blogger buddies gave me. Talk about colorful, happy, creative business cards. Not only are they probably the most important thing to bring with you to a conference, but they are so fun to collect!

Kinda like collecting pogs and slammers…but cooler.

As a first timer to a blog conference, I had no idea what I could do to make my business cards really stand out. Let me tell you what…there are some serious pros out there. Bloggers who have “been around the block” when it comes to attending a conference. So today I thought I would share some of my favorite blogger business cards with you. And if you are planning to attend a blog conference, take out your notebook and get to note taking, because I guarantee these cards will inspire you to make yours that much better…

Starting at the top left…

Jen of Four Marrs & One Venus gave out cards that were HILARIOUS. They totally fit her personality.

Michelle of Faith, Trust & Pixie Dust attached little bottles of “fairy dust” to her cards.

Ann Marie of White House Black Shutters attached a crayon to her card so that the recipient can color the card themselves. Clever.

Angela of Livingstons House Full of Boys & Bubbas Basics gave a mini mustache photo prop with her cards.

Jamielyn of I Heart Nap Time gave out ice cream cone pens which fit her personality well also.

Kellie of Nest of Posies made her cards into magnets! LOVE.

Laura of Pink Cake Plate attached small cupcake charms to her cards. I already put mine on a necklace for my 5 year old.

Bev of Flamingo Toes gave out handmade bracelets (I wear mine practically everyday) with her cards, which is perfect since she is known for her gorgeous handmade jewelry.

Shelley of House of Smiths attached mini buttons to her cards (that we all wore on our SNAP lanyards) with her personal theme of the year, “I am Awesomer.”

Marissa of Rae Gun Ramblings gave out super cool bookmarks with her shop photos on one side and blog photos on the other. If you know Marissa, you know that a bookmark couldn’t be more perfect for her to give out.

Michele of The Scrap Shoppe gave out a cute mini print and baker’s twine with her card in a cute paper envelope.

Amanda of Burlap and Denim made her cards out of… burlap and denim! SUPER cute.

McKenzie of Girl Loves Glam gave out adorable vinyl decals with all kinds of quirky blogger sayings.

Rebecca of The Crafted Sparrow made 20 gorgeous necklaces (themed around her blog) to give out to 20 lucky bloggy friends…notice I was one of the lucky ones : )

I wish I could share everyone’s cards with you because they are all that great!

I think everyone enjoyed seeing the individual creativity come through with just a “simple” business card.

You’re probably wondering what I did with my collection of creative blogger business cards now that I’m home from SNAP! conference…

Those “seasoned” bloggers had this genius idea… hole punch the cards in the top corner and put them on a binder ring. PERFECT.

Thanks for stopping by today! 

I have so many more things to share with you…I just need more hours in the day to blog about it : )

See you tomorrow, friends!

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Tot School Tuesday: 12 Outdoor Learning Activities

April 30, 2013 in educational, home school, kid-friendly, linky party, outdoor, round up, tot school tuesday

Hello friends!

Welcome to another Tot School Tuesday with See Vanessa Craft and Mine for the Making!

I think it’s so important for us to change up our learning environment and with the nice weather outside, why not take our learning outside?

Today I am sharing 12 FUN outdoor learning activities that I rounded up around blogland. Be sure to click over to the original source to get all of the details.

Starting at the top left corner and working my way around…

Water a Sight Word Garden at Mom to 2 Posh Little Divas

Play Doh Garden Center at The Imagination Tree

ABC Letter Splash at Make and Takes

Painting Outside at Lighthouse Learning Center

Mud Pie Kitchen at Smile and Wave

Spelling Doesn’t Have to be Boring at Best Practices 4 Teaching

Classifying and Sorting at Playful Learning

Hammering & Tinkering Table at Irresistible Ideas for Play Based Learning

Sidewalk Chalk Subtraction at Education.com

Learning Outside with Chalk & Water at Learn with Play at Home

Color Hop at Train Up a Child

Outdoor Work Station at Discovery Days and Montessori Moments

Don’t these ideas make you want to go play outside right now?? ME TOO!

Take learning outside with your tot or preschooler and enjoy the weather and nature while you can!

Now it’s time to head on over to See Vanessa Craft for more Tot School ideas!
Also, we’d love to see what you’ve been doing with your tot/preschooler…link up your kid-friendly ideas below!

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Fresh Front Patio using HGTV Fabrics

April 28, 2013 in decor, fabric, frugal, HGTV, JoAnn, outdoor, product review

Hi friends!

I’m so excited to share the easy freshen-up I did on our front patio today! I used some of the new vibrant HGTV HOME line of home decor fabrics that’s being sold exclusively at JoAnn, in-store and online! In-store, you can find an assortment of 30 fresh, colorful prints and patters. Online at JoAnn.com, you can find the expanded assortment of 74 exclusive designs. Indoor and outdoor home decor fabrics and trims are all available now, in-store and online.

Are you ready to see when I did with some of HGTV’s beautiful fabrics?

I made some pretty pillows to freshen up our bench on the front patio…

Aren’t the colors perfect for spring/summer time?

I also used some of the material to make a bright new wreath and I used the trim to hang it from my front door.

Here’s the BEFORE and AFTER…

One more close up of the cute pillows and wreath…

Now I just need to add some pretty potted flowers and maybe a hand painted sign or two from my shop…

I think you will LOVE the HGTV HOME line of fabrics!

Hurry into JoAnn to pick out some today!

And here’s a special coupon just for you to use on your next trip to JoAnn…

Thanks for stopping by today friends!!

See you next week.

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SNAP! Roomie Swag (gift idea)

April 24, 2013 in bloggy friends, gift, hand painted signs, handmade, tote

Hi there, friends!

I have to admit…I am playing catch-up here at home since being back from SNAP! conference. I’m almost caught up on my emails and laundry…and I am finishing up sign orders. But most of all, I’m being sure to spend time with my girl (who I missed like cray-cray) and my man (who will be heading out of town for work soon), because let’s face it… family is most important.

* Disclaimer: we are an alarmed and armed house. FYI.*

(Just in case a creepster is reading this. That disclaimer isn’t for my bloggy friends…you gals are my peeps.)

Speaking of SNAP! conference, I wanted to share the roomie swag I brought/made for my friends, Bev of Flamingo Toes and Michele of The Scrap Shoppe. I was so lucky to room with these girls…after being online buddies for 3 years, we finally got to hang out in…*gasp*…real life!! More on that fun later…

So, what do you give/make two of your favorite creatively talented blog friends?

Well…more “stuff” to create with of course! Plus, some inspiration for more creativity…

Rather than using gift bags, I gave the girls totes filled with fun goodies. I stenciled on a quote that reminded me of the both of them and fastened a felt flower and couple of rolled fabric roses to it also. I made a chalkboard tag and tied it to the tote with baker’s twine. I gave the girls cupcake liners, large washi tape, glitter, pad of paper, pen, ribbon, a blank apron to beautify, and chocolate (not pictured…eaten). I made them both a hand painted wooden sign and gave them a few things from my shop (not pictured).

Here’s a close up of the sign I made…inspired by a favorite scripture.

If you know me you know I LOVE giving gifts, so when the girls squealed and “ooooo-ed” and “aaaaaa-ed” over the goodies, my heart was happy.

Thanks to Bev for taking beautiful photos of the swag for me! I totally spaced it before rushing off to the conference.

I’m hoping to share more from SNAP! soon. Stay tuned :)

Find the large washi tape and cupcake liners at Wholeport. Find the apron and tote at FashionArtProjects.com.

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