Funky Polkadot Giraffe: handmade

Showing posts with label handmade. Show all posts

Monday, May 22, 2017

DIY Father's Day Book {My Dad}

Back in my former life as a 2nd grade teacher, one of my favorite things I made
with my students was adorable Father's Day gifts. They were also so excited
to make a special present for their dads. So I made sure they made something
special that the dads would cherish and not hang in the closet to be forgotten
until it was time for Goodwill donations. So, we made a sweet and easy
"My Dad" Book that includes writing prompts and their original artwork.

I created a printable version of the "My Dad" Book with fun fonts and frames
that you can make with your kids. It's a great project for kids of any age
because those that are too young to write can dictate to you and draw their
pictures and your older kids can show off their writing and artistic talent.

There are 6 double pages in the book - for a total of 12 pages.

They have writing prompts like "My dad and I have the most fun" or

"My dad makes the best" and lets the kids finish the sentence with their answers.

You will fold all the pages with blank/wrong sides together, so that you see the
writing prompts on both sides of the page.

Have the kids write and illustrate their pages BEFORE you put the book
together. It is easier and keeps the binding of the book looking nice. Grab
colored pencils and a free afternoon, when dad isn't around, and have the kids
work on their pages.

I printed the inside pages on regular copy paper, but I printed the cover on
heavyweight cardstock. I also have the kids illustrate the cover of the
Father's Day book before I put it together.

It's easier to maneuver and if someone makes a page they aren't happy with

(which never happens with my Type A perfectionist kids),

you can easily toss it and replace it and not have to take the whole book apart.

When your child has finished all of their pages, it's time to put it together.

You will insert all the pages with the open side into the inside spine of the cover.

If you've assembled it correctly, yours should look like mine below.

The open/flappy part of the pages will be on the inside, and the folded edge

of the pages will be on the outside edge of the book.

It's an easy DIY project that you can finish in 2-3 free afternoons.

My super detail orientated little artist could spend a day on each page trying

to perfect the illustrations. So, if this is the case at your house too, then you

might want to allow for a week to get it finished without stressing anyone out.

When you're all done, assemble as instructed above, and staple 2-3 times down the
spine of the book, being careful not to staple too far in so that it makes the pages
hard to turn or covers up your child's beautiful pictures and writing.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FATHER'S DAY BOOK

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Creations 4 Wildlife Valentine's Day {GIVEAWAY} #Creations4Wildlife

I first met Michelle and Dylan, the mother and son duo behind Creations 4 Wildlife, about 6 years ago at one of my first social media events. It was a fairy garden building event and Dylan seemed less than thrilled to be building a fairy garden and made his very un-fairy-ish and very outdoor-ish instead. Two-year-old Isabella on the other hand was thrilled!

Michelle and I got to talking and I found out that Dylan was an animal lover - just like my JT. I've watched on social media over the year as Dylan has gone from a little boy that loves animals to a full blown conservationist. It is really amazing all the great work he and his mom-partner have done for
endangered species around the world. Dylan is an excellent example of kid power and that kids can accomplish great things and be examples for adults.

In 2015 Dylan and Michelle took their conservation efforts to the next level and Creations 4 Wildlife was born. Inspired by endangered animals and their habitats, they make hand crafted bracelets to help support the causes they are passionate about. For every bracelet that is sold, 40% from that bracelet
is donated to a charitable organization. In 2016 they raised over $10,000 for animal conservation. I think that is amazing!

They have beautiful bracelets like the Elephant Haven bracelet. It was inspired
by the ivory tusks of the majestic elephants. Every 15 minutes an elephant is poached,
thus causing them to disappear from the planet at an alarming rate.
Creations 4 Wildlife donates profits from this bracelet to Save the Elephants.

Or there is Isabella's favorite bracelet - the Sea Turtle bracelet. It is inspired by the sea turtle's inspirational journey from land to the ocean. Threats of marine debris, pollution, wildlife trafficking, oil spills, and human consumption are driving down their ability to survive to adulthood. Profits from the Sea Turtle bracelet benefit the Sea Turtle Conservancy.

You can keep up with Creations 4 Wildlife on:
{INSTAGRAM}
{FACEBOOK}
{TWITTER}

{{{GIVEAWAY}}}
Creations 4 Wildlife is offering a bracelet of your choice for me to give away!!
I have the Africa's Watchtower bracelet (giraffes of course!) and
Isabella has the Sea Turtle bracelet and we love them!
This is just in time for Valentine's Day and would make the perfect gift! Enter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Friday, September 2, 2016

Basket of Sunshine Gift with Printables

Once upon a time I made a box of sunshine for a friend to brighten a rough patch in
her life. The whole yellow box just made me happy putting it together because yellow
just brightens everything. Plus, it's always fun for me to put together a gift for a friend.
Recently, another friend got some stressful news and I decided to freshen up the
idea, since she's a local friend, and make her up a basket of sunshine.

It was so fun to go find all the yellow things in the store. I had my 7-year-old with me
and she loved helping me find them. It was like a little scavenger hunt. So we scoured
the store aisles and grabbed every yellow item that we saw and just threw it in the
shopping basket. Then, when were all done, we went through all the items and picked
our favorite ones. I was glad that I had Isabella with me, because she was all about
using only the cutest things. Like we found 2 pairs of yellow socks and she made sure
we picked the fuzziest and cutest pair for the basket.

I lucked out that I found a cute yellow basket too. You could also use a yellow sand
bucket or spray paint a basket yellow if you didn't find one when you need one. This
basket worked perfectly and it fit all of my things nicely. I also bought some yellow
tissue paper and stuffed it in the bottom of the basket to lift of some of the items and
make it all look pretty when it was put together in the basket.

I made a face plate label for the front of the basket and secured it with some

double stick tape on the back and some cute washi tape on the corners. I also made a

little card to include in the basket that let's the person know you're thinking of her.

This version is perfect to deliver and leave on a friend's doorstep, but if you need to send

some sunshine to an out of state friend, then you can use my box of sunshine option.

Do you have someone that could use a little bit of sunshine in their life?
What items would you be sure to include? I definitely had to have some Lemonheads
and cozy yellow socks. You can print your own basket of sunshine face plate and
poem by follow the link. Let me know if you make one and if it helps brighten
someone's rather gloomy day!

Friday, April 29, 2016

Fancy Ice Cream Cozy Tutorial

Summer is coming and with summer comes ice cream. We have a few grandpas
in our family that love ice cream so much, that they don't bother with
silly things like bowls. However, this poses the problem of the freezing fingers
because you can't hold the carton very long before your hand is a popsicle.
You could wrap the carton with a kitchen towel or you could get fancy
and use an ice cream cozy. There are cozies for Starbucks and soda pop,
so why not an ice cream cozy!

ICE CREAM COZY SUPPLIES:

two coordinating pieces of fabric cut to 17.5″x5″
2 pieces of elastic (I used new ponytail holders)
double sided iron on adhesive
one piece of felt or fleece cut to 17″x4.5″
buttons
scrap of coordinating fabric (for initial)

STEP ONE
Cut your coordinating pieces of fabric to 17.5″x5″. This size fit my ice cream container
perfectly. For sizing to your container you’ll need to measure from the bottom
of the lid to the bottom of the container and then add in for seam allowances.

STEP TWO
Following the package directions, cut your double sided iron on adhesive
to about 1/2″ smaller than your fabric and adhere to the WRONG SIDE
of the fabric that you want on the outside of your cozy.
Then remove the paper and adhere the piece of felt or fleece to the iron on adhesive.
This will give you extra insulation against the cold container.

STEP THREE
Pin wrong sides together. Then, on one end, slip in your two pieces of elastic
and leave the extra hanging out. Then, stitch around three sides of your rectangle
with a 1/4″ seam, leaving the short side opposite the elastic pieces open for turning.
Clip the corners.

STEP FOUR
Turn your cozy right side out and push out your corners.
Fold your open side in a 1/4″, iron to make it crisp,
and then top stitch all the way around your ice cream cozy.

STEP FIVE
Put your cozy around your ice cream container and make marks
where you’d like you buttons to be. Also, mark where you’d like your initial to be.
I wanted my directly opposite of the of the buttons,
so I marked where I wanted to sit with a pin.

STEP SIX

Trace the initial you’d like on your cozy to the paper side of the iron-on adhesive

and follow the package directions for adhering it to the WRONG SIDE of your fabric.

This means, that your alphabet letter will need to be flipped so that when you cut it out,

you have it the right way. Remove the paper and iron your letter onto the spot

you previously marked and then sew around it.

STEP SEVEN

Finally, sew the buttons onto the two spots you marked and then put it on your ice cream container and get to eating! If you're making it

for someone else, you can leave it in the freezer for them to find!

Is there someone in your house that would love this? You could also
make a smaller version to fit the personal pints of ice cream.
Oh, the possibilities!

Saturday, May 9, 2015

25 Adorable (and Personal) Mother's Day Gift Ideas

Happy almost Mother's Day!!!
I hope you have grand plans to read a book, have breakfast in bed,
and eat bon bons all day :) But, if you've left making your own mother a gift,
then here are 25 adorable (and personal) Mother's Day gifts!

1. DIY Mini Silhouette Pendant