Playdough

I favorite in this house is playdough with the adults too.  One thing, I just can't stand the smell of the stuff the comes from the store.  Not to mention it is hard to get out of the container without making a mess of your fingernails.

I know there are only a million and a half recipes out there for it, but here is my favorite.

Playdough
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup warm water
1/4 cup salt
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon peppermint/almond/vanilla extract (peppermint being my favorite)

Mix the dry ingrednets in a pan.  I like to use my old crappy nonstick pan.
Add in the water and oil, heat on medium high.
It is going to start to look weird as it cooks, just keep stirring it around so that the middle will cook because it will want to ball up a bit.  When it looks to be done about 2-3 minutes put it onto wax paper/cutting board.
Then divide it and start to color.  I find that using rubber gloves can be very nice.
 

Time to play.

Freezer paper

I'm sure you've seen them on all the blogs at some time or another, but finally it was my turn to take a try at using freezer paper.  It was really easy and I used a simple picture to do it from.  I was pleased at how easy it was to do and I'll be doing it again sometime I am sure!

I decided to make a fabric bow because homemade by jill had some cute ones and so I used the same idea.  To make the bow I used a technique similar to this but with fabric.  I used hot glue to hold it together and to stick it to the shirt.

 I think they turned out pretty well.  I might have to make a goofy one next, Sweet Pea love that guy.  Here is a great place for some Disney images.

Ribbons

I don't have a ton of ribbons but those that I do have were driving me crazy.  Constantly, falling out when I did not want them and not going anywhere when I did.  They were stuffed in a few places, one being a gallon sized baggie (yes I know again with the baggies, what is wrong with me?) and I couldn't stand it any more.  So luckily for me on my facebook feed Craftzine had this tutorial, and I thought brilliant, cheap and easy!

Got them all out

Got my stick, measure and cut.

Done.

The only thing I can see that would not be fun is taking them out to add more ribbons, but you know, it isn't a terrible hardship.

I Spy Jar

I've seen these I Spy jars around for a while now and finally found a cute enough container to put it in.  What it is, for those not in the know is a small container, jar filled with small items and rice that a child can rotate around to find objects in the rice.

I rounded up random stuff from the craft/play room and the kitchen.

Put some stuff in the rice, then more stuff.  Screw on the lid and give it a shake.  Sweet Pea liked it, I think.

Mail time

The Sweet Pea has be interested in mail lately.  Her vintage little people have a mail box with letters she likes to play with.  For Valentine's day I got her and her cousins little metal mailboxes with treats and she loves to carry it around with her.  So when I saw this I knew I needed to make one too!

I cut apart a large cereal box and painted the outside blue
 

The inside white, because I wanted it to look a tidy

Taped it together with packing tape.

Probably should have got The Mr. to paint the word mail on it.  I have terrible penmanship, ask anyone!

Get a little person to try it out!  I was saving all our junk mail for a week and then the Mr. came up and opened it all, so I have to try again.

 

Placemats or Pillows?

I'm picky about my couch pillows. We got a new couch in November (it was our Christmas gift to our selves with help from the Other Mother and Big Daddy (that would be my in laws) and it came with some pillows that are pretty ugly on one side.

So who wants to make cheap and easy throw pillows that do not require a sewing machine if you don't have one? Well this lady right here!

I found this tutorial online but can't remember where, because it is so simple I did not bookmark it! Speaking of which I just organized my bookmarks, whew that was a job! One of these days I'll share my favorite blogs with you all.

Here is the placemat before. Feel free to iron them at this point if you wish!
Then use the seam ripper and make a small hole (preferably where the tag was then you can get that ugly white out anyway) between the fabrics.

Then stuff it to your liking. I prefer a more firm pillow myself. When it is stuffed (use a chopstick, wooden spoon handle to get the corners) just sew it closed!

Done and done. I did say it was easy right?

Then I can even flip them over!

I've got visions of season pillows, watch out Easter egg shaped placemats. Those pictured I got at World Market because they have interesting prints and fun colors. I think I maybe paid $3 for each and some polyfil, so less than $12 for two cute pillows. Score!