Children Self Portraits {Creative Gifting}

2013

Father’s Day is just around the corner and I am always on the look out for gift ideas that my kiddos can make (or at least be a big part in the making process). My sister-in-law, the creative Debra, shared with me this cute idea of self portraits. She even snapped a picture for me to share. I love the idea and it would not only be great for a Father’s Day gift, but could work for other occasions with Grandparents, Christmas, etc. I believe the youngest below was 3 or 4.

creative father's day gift idea, mother's day gift idea

What You Need:

White card stock (or light colored)
Pencil
Acrylic paint (variety of colors)
Paint Brush
Fine point permanent marker in black
Picture frames of choice

Directions:

Step 1: Have each child draw a picture of themselves on a piece of card stock using a pencil. You will probably want to make sure the card stock is precut to the size of your desired picture frame. I know my kiddos would use the entire space given to them!

Step 2: Then have them paint it using acrylic paint.

Step 3: Once dried, trace over the pencil / outline the entire drawing with the skinny permanent marker.

Step 4: Frame and display!

Super easy, unique and you cannot help but love it! And you can update it every few years to add to the fun.

Creative gifts made my children

Enjoy!!!

Filed Under: All Ages, Creative Gifts, Decorating on a Dime, Preschool Tagged With: Crafts

LYSOL Healthing Initiative

2013

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Is it just me being a paranoid mom with a new baby or does it seem like EVERYONE is sick lately?

The little things that we do every day – particularly our hygiene and cleaning habits – truly can make an impact on our health. This is especially important on the heels of one of the worst cold and flu seasons in a decade. So, this season, do more than Spring Cleaning. Let’s practice Spring “Healthing.”

LYSOL has a new concept of Healthing that they are introducing. It is an idea centered on keeping families as healthy as possible, by looking beyond just cleaning out closets, decluttering and organizing, but making sure that the right steps are taken to stay well. While cleaning is important, killing germs on commonly touched surfaces can lower the risk of spreading bacteria and viruses between family members.

The first thing we do when illness hits our house is to take a disinfecting wipe to all door knobs, light switches, remotes, keyboards, faucets, toilet handles and any other commonly touched surface hoping that we can prevent the spreading. I know it is a little step, but it is something my 7 and 5 year old will happily agree to doing, especially if we make it a race, and so far we have avoided spreading most of the illnesses that are going around to the entire family.

Checkout the Healthing Guidebook

To help spread the word about Healthing, LYSOL and television personality Giuliana Rancic have partnered together to visit YMCAs in select markets across the country to demonstrate Healthing in action. At each YMCA location, LYSOL will provide attendees with hands-on education about the products and steps required to practice improved hygiene habits in their own home, while making the idea fun and relatable to kids. LYSOL will also provide educational information and disinfecting products to the local YMCAs, along with the donation of a one-year membership to a deserving family.

Visit www.Lysol.com/Healthing or the LYSOL Facebook page for more information about Healthing.

For LYSOL, Healthing goes beyond its products to provide the education and motivation to keep a healthy home and family.

**I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for LYSOL^®. I received a promotional item to thank me for participating.

Filed Under: All Ages, Health

A Mug With a Personal Touch

2013

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Some may see this as a unique gift and others may see it as a much needed sanity saver…either way it is awesome! Take a look….

Unique rift - picture mug

My cute little sister gave me a laugh the other morning when I walked into the kitchen to see her enjoying her morning hot chocolate drinking out of her OWN mug. There is no denying that the mug belongs to her! So, I just had to share.

You can make it yourself, but I am thinking it is just as cheap at artscow or a local copy place. Give it as a gift for the person who has everything or make one for every person in the family to solve the fight of which cup belongs to which person. So simple and so funny. I can’t help but laugh when I see this!

ENJOY!!!

Filed Under: All Ages, Creative Gifts Tagged With: Crafts, Made By Me!, Spare Change

Cute St. Patrick’s Day Home Decor Craft {Guest Post}

2013

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Hi! I’m Liz, from CrowleyZone – a personal blog about life and my adorable kids, but mostly about my kids. I’m so lucky that Michelle is letting me visit with you again. She rocks, I have learned so much from her.

Well today I wanted to share a simple and cheap Saint Patrick’s Day craft to help get your home in the spirit of the holiday. I’m sure you’ve all seen the cute Button Heart on Pinterest and I decided to take that idea and make a button Shamrock.

What you’ll need:

Cardboard (or whatever you would rather use-plaque, tile, I chose cardboard because it was free)
Paint (any color you want, I chose black and white to make stripes) and paint brush (or foam brush)
Letter stickers
Buttons
Glitter (this is optional, I just love glitter)
Painter’s Tape
Spray Adhesive (not pictured)
Glue Gun (not pictured)
Outline of 4-leaf clover (not pictured but I just googled it)

Steps: (sorry no pictures, forgot to take them)

Step 1: First cut the cardboard to size. I luckily got to skip this step because I already had some cut. (Mine was a little bigger then 8×10)

Step 2: Next paint it. I painted 3 coats white then measured the stripes I wanted. Put down the painters tape and painted 3 coats of black.

Step 3: Then I used the spray adhesive to make a couple of the buttons glittery.

Step 4: While the buttons dry place the letter stickers down to say whatever you want them to say (I chose “Lucky”).

Step 5: After that tape down the Clover outline. Then I placed all the buttons down before I glued them down (you don’t have to place the buttons down first it’s just what I did). Then hot glue the buttons down and remove the clover outline. And voila the finished product!

It was so nice to visit with you again. If you have a minute, come visit me over at CrowleyZone. There, I share my everyday happenings and special moments with my kids, my husband, my family, my friends, and my crafting. Also, check out my last guest post Mommy/Daughter Date for another fun idea.

Filed Under: All Ages, Decorating on a Dime, Guest Blogger, Seasonal Crafts, Spring Project Tagged With: Crafts

Mustache Valentine’s Day Cards

2013

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This year we are actually getting our Valentine’s Day cards ready before Valentine’s Day! I like my kiddos to be involved in making their Valentine’s and I usually try to encourage something non-sugar attached to it, but this year they really wanted to give a treat. So, thanks to my mom for the idea we made it a fun treat! I think they turned out pretty dang cute!

Here is the fun…

Here is the card….

What You Need:

Paper for the card – we just happened to have red
Black or brown paper for the mustaches
Suckers
Scissors
Razor blade or knife
Tape
Glue gun

Directions:

Step 1: Cut out mustaches using a template to trace them or some sort of paper cutting machine. I found a really nice lady near me who was able to cut them out for me using her Sillouette.

Step 2: Hot glue mustaches to suckers. A tiny dab works great and helps them last longer, so they can play with them.

Step 3: Print out your cards with your mustache phrase. We used “i “mus-tache” you to be my valentine!” I made the “must-ache” a lot smaller to fit under the sucker. You can kind of see it in the picture.

Step 4: Cut a slit in the paper using your razor blade or knife. about the length of our smaller “mustache” worked great…so about an inch long. I actually just used our kitchen knife because I misplaced my razor blade! Ghetto? Mabye, but it worked! lol

Step 5: Stick sucker mustaches through slit and secure on the back with tape.

Step 6: Enjoy!!! Easy enough that my kiddos can help me stuff and tape (older kiddos can use the glue gun). If you want to get fancy, you can make the card into a heart or circle or use some fun scissors to edge it. Whatever you do, have fun!

I seriously love this picture!

Check out these other ideas for Valentine’s Day…

Homemade Valentine’s Day Cards and Traditions

Valentine’s Day T-Shirt

Filed Under: All Ages, Creative Gifts, Traditons, Valentines Tagged With: Crafts

Wet Socks – Sick Day Necessities {Part 1}

2013

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hydrotherapy for feet

Okay it sounds weird, but give it a try before you make fun of it…When we get sick around here one of the first things we give a try (at least on the kiddos) is this Wet Sock Treatment. I had a lady teach me this method a few years ago. She said it was considered to be like a natural “Children’s Tylenol”. I was desperate to give some relief to a sick 3 year old and so I gave it a try. Much to my surprise it worked! We have been using it ever since.

We use Wet Socks for sore throats, congestion and for bringing down fevers just to name a few. Wet socks add just a little comfort when medicine may not be necessary. I would like to note that I am not a medical professional, this is just a tool we have used and had success with. We will usually give this a try and if it does not work, we go for the medicine.

I recently was going through my old stuff and found a printout that she gave me. As we have been fighting our own colds around here, I thought it would be nice to share it with you. I hope it will help you find some relief, too.

Wet Sock Treatment

(Also known as Hydrotherapy For The Feet)

**This treatment is best if repeated three night in a row, or more often as instructed by your physician.

What Does The Wet Sock Treatment Do?

This treatment acts to reflexively increase the circulation and decrease congestion in the upper respiratory passages, the throat and head. It has a sedating action and may help with sleep. The wet sock treatment is known in some circles as “Children’s Tylenol” as it is effective for pain relief, relaxation, and increases the healing response during acute infections.

When To Use

The following are all common ailments for Wet Sock Treatments: Sore throat, or any inflammation or infection of the throat, fever, neck pain, ear infections, headaches, migraines, nasal congestion, bronchitis, sinus infections, and upper respiratory infections.

Precautions

This treatment should be comfortable you should NOT get chilled during this treatment. Keep warm either in a bed or wrapped in a blanket.

What You Need

1 pair of coton socks
1 pair of thick wool socks (we used my husband’s old hiking socks)

Directions:

Step 1: If feet are cold, warm the feet first for 5 minutes by taking a hot shower or bath, or by using a heating pad. No warming is necessary if you have a fever. Dry off completely before continuing

Step 2: Soak the cotton socks completely in cold water. Be sure to wring out the socks thoroughly so they do not drip. If the dry wool socks become saturated with water, the wet socks are too wet.

Step 3: Place cold socks on feet. Cover with thick wool socks. Go directly to bed and cover up completely with your blanket.

Step 4: Keep the socks on overnight. You will find that the wet socks will be dry in the morning. If you wake up during the night and the socks are already dry, treatment can be repeated before going back to sleep.

CAUTION: If you get chilled during this treatment, discontinue immediately!

ALSO, sometimes we add essential oils to the bottom of feet or rub some vapor rub on them before we put the socks on.

Top photo courtesy of luigi diamanti/ freedigitalphotos.com