DIY Memory Game for Toddlers

We are preparing for our summer vacations, which this year, include several long car rides and many stops in between. In order to maintain the sanity of mama (ahem) and of the toddler-man I have been dreaming up new ways to keep those little fingers entertained, all while sticking to my budget of a few dollars, and keeping in the mind minimal space (we drive a very small car...) we will be occupying.

My first new addition to my "Travel Fun Bag," or the "Bag of Magic," as  I like to call it, I have added a mini-memory game. I  painted  some of my son's favorite insects, birds and mammals onto medium-sized wooden disks I bought at Michael's for around $3.

 With two ways to play this game, either with all images facing up to match the pairs; or all images facing down you turn one over at a time trying to find the match, I have a feeling this will be gracing many a restaurant table this summer.

I had so much fun making the first set that I painted a second set as part of a  birthday gift for a little friend who adores the ocean.

I have a feeling several other young children in our life will receive sets of this little game personalized to their taste in their Christmas stockings this year.


How do you entertain your kids on long car trips? Have you come up with any great frugal games for your kids recently? 

Keepsake Home Decor- Guest Post With Paige of Final Clothes-Out

Today I am so happy to have Paige of Final Clothes-Out join us with an innovative home decor project. She always has tips for frugal and stylish living, so check out her blog and please give her some comment love!

Hello! I'm Paige from FinalClothes-Out, and a big thanks to Julia for inviting me to post here today. My blog is all about saving money when you shop--and a large part of that is knowing when to just make something yourself.  Today I have an easy, versatile art project I put together for less than $5.00.

It's great for kids (or people like me who prefer to craft while they catch up on episodes of Project Runway, and therefore can't use their entire brain), and it only takes about 15 minutes.

You will need:
a piece of wood (canvas or foam board will also work)
letters or numbers
paint
paintbrush
glue (optional)

I used leftover wood from a bookshelf I refinished last month, and I already had the paint and paintbrushes. The stickers were 40% off at JoAnn the day I went, so they only set me back $2.99. (And I still have a ton of them left for other projects.) If you don't have any wood, canvas or even foam board would be a good alternative.

First, I decided what I wanted my artwork to say. I was considering "total awesome sauce" but I decided to stick with my wedding anniversary instead.

Since my numbers were acutally scrapbooking stickers, I just put them on the wood and pressed firmly for a few seconds. If you're using anything non-sticky, this is the time to glue it down.

After your letters/numbers are in place, it's time to paint. I used grey craft paint mixed with Dutch Boy no VOC flat wall paint. This helped me get better coverage on the wood (since it just sucks the paint right in). If you don't have any wall paint handy, three coats of the craft variety will get you the same results.

Finally, I let it dry and that was it! Easy, right?

This project is extremely versatile, too: I could add a hook and turn it into wall art, put magnets on the back and stick it on the fridge, prop it up next to my favorite books on a shelf, or leave it as-is and send it to work with Hubsey for his bare cubicle (which is probably what will happen).

Not too bad for only $2.99!

Thank you Paige! I think I will be making one of these with my son's birth date and maybe for his new room. Please check out Paige's fabulous blog Final Clothes-Out when you get a chance. She always has the best advice, coolest cheap finds and just a savy know-how.

{Guest Post} Frugal Scapbook Decorative Box Tutorial

Today I'm so happy to share something special with all of you, a guest post! Paige and I met through Etsy, and she's here today to share her frugal crafty side with you. Prepare to be impressed:

.........................................

Hello!  I'm Paige from Final Clothes-Out, and a big thanks to Julia for inviting me to post here today. My blog is all about saving money when you shop--and a big part of that is knowing when to just make something yourself.  Today I have an easy tutorial for revamping an old box using scrapbook or wrapping paper.

You will need:
a box
scrapbook or wrapping paper
Mod Podge
a paint brush
scissors
a ruler
paint (if needed)

First, get your box.  I actually used two of mine, but this will work just as well if you only have one that needs some TLC.

This next step is optional.  I wanted to use lighter paper for this project, but my boxes were pretty dark.  To keep the black from peeking through, I did a quick coat of white paint.  Any kind will work, but I used some leftover Dutch Boy no-VOC ceiling paint I had on hand.

Decide which parts of your box are getting covered and measure them with the ruler (I covered everything except the bottom and the back).  Mark where you need to snip on the back side of your paper and cut the pieces out.

Once your paper is in place, get the Mod Podge and paint brush.  The easiest way to avoid air bubbles is go to bit by bit.  Paint a line of Mod on the box and carefully smooth the paper over top.  Paint another line, smooth more paper.  Keep doing this until the whole box is covered.

I recommend putting a coat of Mod on top of the paper to make the outside of the box more durable.  Doing this will also help get rid of any air bubbles that managed to sneak in.

Let it dry for several hours (mine sat overnight) and you're done!  Piece of cake.

For more bargain-hunting and shopping ideas, be sure to stop by Final Clothes-Out. And check out Paige's lovely Etsy Shop, Little White Chapel!

Tardy Blog Resolutions

I know, I know, I know. New Years was, what? 20 days ago? There's still time to make a resolution...or two...right? Well this girl has a resolution she would like to propose to the blog world and perhaps then I will keep it. It will be public, so in order to avoid public humiliation I should probably stick to it. Ok, enough of the banter. Let's get to it shall we?

Baby Boy Turns 1,and the start of a new business adventure

My Blog Resolutions:
1. Take the fun activities, art projects, and beautiful moments of my daily life and share them with all those fabulous blog readers. We could all use a little inspiration from time to time. I know I do! So, I want to be a beacon of inspiration for any of those who wish to follow and read my musings.

2. Actually have some authentic and awesome readers. My promise is to share as much as I can with all of those who can stand to read me as much as I can for the first (365) days of blogging. Starting....now!

3. Get featured. What can I say? I love reading other blogs and I would love, love, love to offer some of those blogs I read a break and help them fill some of that much needed content. At least for one day or so. So, how many features? As many as I can. My goal is to make my little craft business just that, a business. A toast to that expression of confidence!

4. Make a swap, exchange of sorts with other like-minded blogs. I hope to swap blogs for a few days out of the year and join in someone else's blog for a bit. Share an awesome craft, a tid-bit of love, etc. Wouldn't that be fun?

5. Comment, comment, comment. I want to comment on other blogs that I love and therefore receive comments on my own. Sounds selfish? Nah. If I can comment on at least 5 blogs a day...who knows what that could mean!? That also means I need to post articles that are worthy of a comment. It is my duty as a blogger to post stuff that readers actually want. I will try my best!

6. Comments , comments, comments. I also plan to respond to any comments posted on my blog. Even negative ones (: Maybe I can bring a little ray of sunshine into that cloudy day of theirs.


OK, so there you have it. 6 goals. There are plenty more, but I think this is a good start. We will see where I am in say 5 days. Hopefully still here. Blogging. Crafting. Being a(n) (awesome) mom. AND just being me. Hope someone will join in the fun. It's going to be an awesome ride!

Cheers!

Julia

New In The Shop

There are fun and new little goodies in the GoatNotes shop, just in time for Valentine's Day! AND, I have been working on my first "collection." I know, how can you stand it!? Right?! You can expect that new little collection of mine to take flight in the first on-set of spring. Around here, in NorCal, I consider spring has sprung when the daffodils come into bloom. Their leaves have recently begun peaking out of the Earth, so expect many new items to make their way into the land of the Etsy shop very soon.

The new collection is a mixture of rustic and romantic and lots, and lots of earth tones. I have been really into browns, greens, mustard (like the color of daffodils), and the many colors of song birds. Oh, there are so many. Hopefully those who stumble across it will like it too.

Until then, take a gander at some of the new items that are in the shop now. Especially check out the "Lucky Penny" gift. You choose the year, and the type of decorative paper to adorn your charm, and I will make you an excellent gift for a birthday, Valentine's Day, or graduation season is just around the corner!

Introducing the Elizabeth Bennet Hair Accessorie

New hair pretty in the shop: GoatNotes

Paint Chip Necklace Tutorial

In my wanderings among the craft blogs this morning I came across this awesome tutorial by Infarrantly Creative. She uses paint chip samples that you typically find at Home Depot to create stunning necklaces! I am thinking this could be a nifty gift for the holiday season. Check it out!Paint Chip Necklaces

Enjoy!
Julia

Regain your creativity- creative blogs

Artists, like writers, will often complain about getting into a sort of "writer's block," or rather, a creative rut. Creative ruts seem to happen at the most inopportune times , but there are several ways to get out of them and the next several articles will explore some methods to get you and your children back on track to creativity.
One of the best methods to regain your creative spark is to do a little research, and one of the best places to look is the internet. Type in "craft blog" or "childrens craft blog" and you will have a list of creative brain candy generated for you within seconds.

If you are looking for frugal crafts for your toddler or early school-aged children check out Frugal Family Fun Blog. Vallerie is a mother of two and will provide you with oodles of craft activities that you can create with your children on a budget. She breaks down her projects into categories, so if you are looking for the perfect back to school craft or something fun to do in the outdoors Vallerie has it all for you! She knows how to make creative play fun and affordable.

Two homeschooling mothers Maureen and Shanti of Twig and Toadstool blog together about their adventures in crafting, homeschooling, and sharing their lives with their children. Their projects reflect their love of nature and their Waldorf pedagogy. All of their crafts are colorful, whimsical, and often connected to nature. Check them out the next time you want to make homemade hand cream or create a dazzling window star.

If you love frills, flowers, scarp booking, and cooking then Little Birdie Secrets blog is just the place for you. They are another blog that was created by a few friends who loved to get together and craft; a sort of quilting bee on the web. Don't think all of their crafts are just for girls just because they feature flowers and pretty things, oh no! Several of the authors have sons and will feature creative activities that boys will enjoy. Check out their  tutorial on how to create a flower rosette clip

These are just a few of the creative blogs out there. Keep searching for a creative blog that speaks to you. Creativity is often sparked when you have the influence of other creative minds, so it is important to find resources that resonate with your sense of style, purpose, and creative philosophy. More to come on methods of igniting that creative spark in you and your children.