Pretty Sassy Straw Purse for Tween Fashionistas

Time for a new fun craft for Tweens and Moms!

I picked up these very cute straw purses at the dollar store. They were lined with fabric and Only One Dollar - how do they make them so cheap? They did have some very tacky sequin decor on them which I easily removed by snipping a few threads. I chose a "Spring" design and a "Tropical" design but feel free to do your own thing as they say. Remember Tweens are crazy for choosing their own style and also LOVE crafts that are FASHION related. Teaching them to create their own style can save LOTS OF MONEY too, because a girl who can design, glue and sew loves the individuality of her wardrobe and often avoids the "cookie cutter" expensive fashions worn by the masses.

Wander through a Michaels or A.C. Moore craft store and you can get ideas for the design style you like. Browse through the jewelry and applique isles and something will "Grab Your Fancy" ........................Exactly what is "your fancy"? (Strange cliche )

Anyway Have fun.................. AND GOGO GLUE GUN!........................


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Valuable Shadow Boxes

Here's a Very Cool Project I found at the Comox Valley Kids Blog and want to share - I usually only post my own crafts, those for tweens that are "keepsake" items - not paper plates, paint and pasta. Simple and fun to do but usually in the circular file in a week. Tweens are capable of making things that are useful and attractive and keepable - Is that a word ? They build huge amounts of self confidence when something they create becomes keepable (If spell check sayes it's not a word then I beg to differ).

My Design-A- Doll kits, Dress A Bunny, Rattlesnake Toy, puppets. etc. are all things to be kept and enjoyed and that tells the tween --

"You made something of value and You are valuable"

The shadow boxes can house lots of treasures such as; nature collections, school year mementos, concert or movie tickets & playbills, childhood mementos, old jewelry & watches, weird junk tweens won't throw away and you think is clutter etc. Think about what souvenirs you have stored in drawers or boxes that would make a nice display. You know tweens think your stuff is boring clutter! (LOL) Drag them out of hiding and turn them into artwork!



Comox Valley Kids Shadow Box Craft Tell them I sent you!

Pretty Up the Bunny - Part Two

"Tomorrow" got away from me,while I was visiting other blogs and chatting away - It's so much fun . Mid-Century Modern Moms is a new favorite. Stay away if you don't want to know how crazy the home gets with teenagers in it. Here's part two of the bunny craft.............

Dress a Bunny ( Plushie of course)

Time for a new craft video and your tween will love this one. She will get to chose fabric and trims and design an oufit for her favorite stuffed bunny, monkey or doll. Be sure to let her make all the color choices and do the mixing and matching HERSELF. The fun and playing here is the joy and sharing of time together .......... NOT producing a perfect looking finished project. Mom, you can design one yourself if you want a "pretty perfect bunny" to add to next years Easter decor. Due to the 10 min. limit on youtube this project required a Part One- making the dress and Part Two-decorating the dress, headband and shoes. Part Two will be up tomorrow.

Be sure to give your tween lots of compliments on her project, even if it's not exactly how you would do it. Compliments on a project like this build self confidence and self esteem.

Just relaxing and playing with your kids is so much fun and so important. They need to have unstructured unrushed free time with you. AND, YOU NEED unrushed play time too - it's a great stress buster for busy Moms. As kids turn into tweens and teens their play time can develop into mutually shared activities with parents that are more sophisticated both mentally and physically such as art projects, games and sports. Crafts that are keepsakes and not just paper and glue items for the frig door are a perfect example.

My daughter loved crafts as a tween and I must admit sometimes turned out a project that was cuter and jazzier than mine! My son I took to the raquetball court to "teach" him thebasics of the game and he whooped my butt the first time!!



Supplies:
Critter
fabric (jersey,knit,fleece etc. non fraying)
measuring tape,
sissors,
pencil or chalk marker
trims (flowers, ribbon, buttons,etc.
fun foam

And of Course Your GOGO GLUE GUN ..............HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!

Silly "Rattle" Snake and Laboring to Smile

Here's my latest video and this item is fun for kids from 3 to whatever. I did a teen party once and they had a ball, although a few snakes had 3 eyes and other space alien type appendages, but clever and lots of laughs at the party!!

Supplies:
fleece or jersey material 1 yd by 5"
two-2" or 3 " pom-poms
lg google eyes
felt scrape (tongue)
small plastic egg
dry rice
tiny stretchy hair ties
Boa about 6"

My favorite weapon - Glue Gun & glue sticks






I know I need to be more animated and smile more --I"M TRYING -Do you realize how "over the top" you have to act to have it come across on camera as just friendly and happy ..................like Richard Simmons or Tom Cruise on a yellow couch. Actually they must be acting like total lunatics in person to come across as just overly boisterous on film.

This reminds me of a photo of me, taken when I was in labor ( against my will I might add- probably one of the underlying reason I divorced that jerk) Any way I was at the midpoint,......miserable ..........no epidural yet,...........and here comes a camera in my face, so I go " wait a minute, let me prepare so it's not to awful looking"............where upon I cranked up the biggest smile I could muster..CLICK..FLASH....UGH-CONTRACTION. When the film was developed ( yes I had my child the middle ages) I looked like I was about to cry and forcing my lips to slightly curl up -- it was pitiful! Only now after hearing the next generations stories of long labors and misery, can I look at that picture and laugh about how I thought I was making a happy face!!
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Me "The Uniform Lady"

For four years I've been in charge of the uniforms for my daughters high school marching band. It's a lot of work but only initially...........getting the new kids fitted.........refitting the ones who grew, gained or lost weight over the summer, and keeping master lists by alphabetical names and chronological numbers. These are important because the only problem all season after fittings are complete is "missing uniforms ".

Of course, they are never really missing................. because they are always found on the body of another student!! Always very funny too because you would think they would "feel" the difference. I've had large kids squeeze in to a tight uniform and not think its odd until we make several announcements and go around and check alllll......... the jacket numbers and then they say " I thought it got tighter" (???????????hmmmm not a math major I hope.)

Any way after getting a reputation as the band "uniform lady", people come to me for all costume problems the rest of the year. I only hem about 6 uniforms as they are adjustable and made to fit a large variety of body types, but a lot of the Moms think I do major alterations

The last two times Moms came to me with costume decorating problems, I listened, asked how many wearings would be needed ( only about 10) and reccomended the glue gun. These hard working moms were going to spend hours and hours hand sewing small trims and colorful strips up and down the arms and legs of 20 adult size costumes. They wanted me to help with the sewing.(puuleeeeease)........................NO No NO I said Go Go Go ..................Get a Glue Gun............................... and Go Go Glue gun Go. I t worked great -- the kids even helped and with gentle hand washings they easily lasted the ten wearings ---No Problem

It's amazing what can be secured, repaired, designed and completely fabricated with a glue gun...................stay tuned I've got a million ideas to share!!!

Keep Your Laptop Cozy

Found the cutest project at Design*Sponge , to protect your laptop instead of a new $50.00 travel case. I already have a large tote I cart everything to work in and making a cozy makes more sense to me instead of carrying two bags.

Of course I can see how to get my GOGO glue gun involved to save time making it. Glue the two pieces together ---corners and edges and skip the stitch -witchery. I also found their color choice rather yucky, but to each his own. And you better gogo glue gun the velcro dots in place because the light weight glue that comes on them wears out after a bit of tugging and pulling.

Also instead of felt, which will only take so much "wear and tear" I would suggest using the flannel back vinyl that is used to make tablecloths OR use the thick vinyl alone (one layer) that is found in the upholstry area.

Or if you have an old tablecloth your tired of using or maybe one that has a stain or a candle wax spot that you can't get out but your mother made it and you can't bear to throw it out . Or maybe you've finally found a use for that hidious flowered flannel raincoat your Aunt Ruby gave you for Christmas that you know you will NEVER wear..........................YES!!!!!!!

I suddenly am in support of Aunt Rubys' right to not join the computer generation and learn all that "new-fangled high techso stuff" as she calls it! I must learn to respect my elders..........

Valentine Snowman Easy Craft

Freezing your tootsies off? (I'm in Florida and used to live in CT so I feel for ya) Here's a really fun and simple craft - A snowMan or Lady - however you design it. Use a glue gun or Fabric Tac, I call it "glue gun in a bottle" no heat and great for kids.
Supplies:

White tube sock

rice

black fun foam

pink & red fun foam hearts

sequins

1/2 inch ribbon or fabric strips

1/4 inch ribbon

colored markers

chenille stems orange and brown

tiny stretchie hair bands

trims-birds,gifts,lace, etc.

glue gun and sticks, scissor, wire cutters, and funnel

Watch the video and don't laugh, I say "um" about 50 times, I make a little "tsk"weird sound frequently (?? I have no idea what thats about) and it wasn"t a good hair day ----but I had fun!!

Kooky Home Made Hand Puppets

Are they monsters, aliens or kooky people? Who knows, who cares .....they were great fun to make and even more fun to play with.

1. Draw and cut out two same shape pieces of felt - any color you like and any body shape you choose.


2. "gogo glue gun " the two pieces together leaving the bottom open

3. Provide lots of trims, feathers, beads, yarn, pom-poms, fur, etc. and let your imagination RUN WILD!!! ( I especially love the green guys' teeth ) Here's where you can unload any odds & ends and scraps from other projects

4. Very Important NO GLUE GUNS for kids under age 10. Have them use a fast drying bottle glue . I really like Fabric Tac because it dries so fast - It's like a glue gun in a bottle. A little pricey at the craft stores but reasonable at Wal-Mart. And a little goes a long way

5. Fun Suggestion! Do two characters on one puppet ---front and back!

6. Put a spring curtain rod in a doorway about 3 ft from the floor. Drape a light sheet over it and "Viola !" A Puppet Theater ! Have Fun!!