crafts Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

Christmas Chatterbox Activity

Paula — Sat, 10 Dec 2022 23:55:11 +0000

Remember that childhood game we used to call chatterbox? Well, once upon a time I remember when it was called something a bit different but I like the idea of a Christmas chatterbox and no matter the origin of the concept, it simply is nostalgic for me every time. This was the school playground girl’s activity at recess so many days. If we weren’t skating, playing tag or indoors helping the teacher, then we were on the yard doing this and deciding which flap to pick, waiting for it to reveal some silly truth or character. Post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers. Purchases made via qualifying links mean I receive a small commission. Now this adorable and colourful Christmas chatterbox activity is free for you to share and enjoy! I hope your kids love this as much as I used to. Christmas crafts make the season more fun for everyone! This cute Christmas chatterbox activity printable is easy to make. Follow the instructions on the schematic page attached in the PDF. Which Christmas symbol are you or which do you most identify with – the Santa Claus or the elf? Maybe you are a tree. No shame in that at all. In fact, I can’t think of a anything more grounding. Printable Activities When my kids were younger, they were forever coming in from school and asking for free printables off the Internet. In the interest of keeping them happy and occupied, I would google free printable and colouring pages often and I had stash of them ready to go anytime. If you don’t want to have to go out and buy an old school colouring book or word puzzle booklet, you might as well stay right here and bookmark the free Printables tab above. This time of year, as we decorate and trudge through snow and start gearing up for the holiday season everyone is a little more stressed, a little more excitable anxiously waiting for Santa to arrive. We can all use things kids can do quietly, things that don’t cost a fortune….right now it seems like everything costs TOO MUCH money. I have also always found that coloring is a way to unwind. It’s a great ice breaker and a creative calm quiet task that helps with transitions too. Little known fact – coloring, plus arts and crafts are a brilliant tool for kids with anxiety and/ or special needs. Don’t miss this Free Printable Santa Coloring Page. Download the Chatterbox Now! These easy activities couldn’t be easier to download. Here you go. Simple instructions basically just click and download. No Supplies Necessary, BUT… What are you upto this Christmas? Will you travel somewhere amazing and new or have a homespun Hallmark Christmas at home. I wish you all the very best no matter what the holidays bring. You got this!

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Eight Ways to Teach Gratitude and a Gratitude Jar Craft

Paula — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 15:30:00 +0000

Gratitude is a funny thing. It’s hard to teach at times, but such an important value to hold close for life. Without gratitude life can ring hollow. For me, gratitude ties in closely with mindfulness. That’s why I like this gratitude jar kids’ craft idea for families. I’ve talked about self esteem before and self esteem crafts that help kids to grow more self esteem, but what about gratitude? How do you build a sense of gratitude from a young age that permeates a lifespan? Eight Ways to Show Gratitude Here are several ways to help build gratitude in kids as they grow. Model Gratitude Talk about the things YOU are grateful for as a parent. This can be a simple way for kids to understand that there are many things to be grateful for daily. I find that this works in conjunction with mental health. It is also a bonding activity in some ways. When my kids were tiny I would often state: I am so grateful we adopted you and that would support positive adoption language as well. All good things. Share Something Sweet Giving helps kids and adults feel good about themselves and also it can help to show and make gratitude concrete. So bake those cookies, cupcakes or brownies and deliver them to a neighbour. Watch them light up. You get the distinct feeling of baking something nice and sharing something sweet with a neighbour. Share Your Time Volunteer together. Look for chances to give back to your community. You can also model this by volunteering yourself as an adult. When you communicate to kids that this is just part of being a member of a community they are more inclined to understand that over the lifespan and find ways to give back as well. List Five Things You Are Grateful For Each Night One of my daughters does this thing before bed sometimes where she comes in to see me and gives me a hug and then recounts five special things about the day. I enjoyed taking a walk with you. I’m grateful for seeing the neighbour’s dog and having the chance to pet it on our walk, etc. You get the idea. This small thing helps lift us up before bed. Some people do this daily at dinner as a family. It is also a trick the kids learned at camp one year. We love it. Start a Gratitude Journal Remember your childhood diaries? Well, a gratitude journal is a little like that, but by stating the positive things every day in the morning or at night and creating your own positive little journal, you can help to create and explore positive grateful sentiment. I like this idea because it is a positive space for everyone. Obviously kids and teens have their own version of this and it is simple to do. Mine is sometimes on my phone and occasionally I use this space to explore gratitude as I did here – 85 Things I am Grateful For. These are often very simple daily details but they make me smile. Scooter Kid for instance and Mindy the dog. Draw, Create, Make Something Beautiful Art has many therapeutic benefits. One of my kids is very much tiny making art as a therapy tool, so you can also help elevate someone else with this. Draw something and post it in your window to brighten the neighbourhood or paint a picture and deliver it by mail to a relative you haven’t seen recently. Pay a Compliment Show gratitude and share some joy by simply eating a kindness forward and paying someone a compliment. My youngest daughter is excellent at this. They tell random strangers how much they love their nails or hair or simply say have a great day. It all helps and the positive smile is rewarding. Make a Gratitude Jar Craft This gratitude jar craft is a great craft for families. Here’s how to make yours. Gratitude Jar for Kids You can do this gratitude jar craft a couple of different ways. Print these two sheets out and make it a fun little two dimensional drawing activity. Or, go get a mason jar and make it a fully hands on gratitude activity that resonates. I veer towards hands on here because that’s the kind of thing that’s always spoken to my kids. We’re a hands on kind of family. It’s how the kids learn. Finding Gratitude How do you find gratitude or how do you show gratitude? Sometimes I write down things I am grateful for. When things seem overwhelming I give that a lot of work. There are many days when it’s hard to find any reason to be grateful for anything especially during the pandemic, but doing these every week or even periodically can help to shift your mindset. That helps everyone in my family and I hope it helps yours too. Don’t Miss These Other Craft Ideas

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30-Day Drawing Challenge to Enjoy

Paula — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 14:41:00 +0000

I love a good challenge these days. In fact, I just signed up for another yoga challenge starting April 1st with Kassandra. So, that made me think that perhaps readers would enjoy a drawing challenge again. Post contains affiliate links as a service to readers. I receive a small commission from qualifying purchases. Why a Challenge? Last summer, I ran a children’s summer drawing challenge. That kind of family friendly fun activity is usually a hit for a lot of reasons. I mean last summer we were all looking for fun things to keep kids occupied. So, drawing challenges and building challenges are a simple creative activity that you can do with your kids. Or, if you are looking for something kind of fun, free and simple to bring out your playful side, this could be it. Try This Challenge for the Kids If your kids are yelling “Mom, I am bored,” then this cute drawing challenge might help you to get through the coming month or even just and afternoon. And if you have teenagers and you are hunting for things to do with them now during a pandemic, then you may wish to check out this post – > 19 Things to Do During a Pandemic with Teens Download the challenge below via the secure link. Start off with an animal drawing. That’s an easy and fun one. If you are into making these kinds of activities even more fun while adding in a bit of learning, then figure out what animal in advance and google some facts about them. Koala bears? I’ve got you covered. Check out my Australia Worksheet and learn a few new things. Comic Strip Draw a comic strip! That’s so much fun and can be turned into a cute writing activity. My kids both did these in school at a certain point – maybe grade 6, 7 or 8. They came up with an original story and a comic and had to tie them together. So cute. I still remember Payton’s cute story and characters. We love these Castle pencil crayons for sketches and colouring here. Download the Activity Now If you use this or do it together, then please remember to come back and let me know. I love to hear about you and your family using the recipes or printables here. Seeing you succeed at the crafts or the recipes makes all the work I do on this site worthwhile. Sketch a Memory and Make Some New Ones Drawing a childhood memory is a great way to share a few fun memories together. There are zombies and mermaids for those who love that kinds of fantastic mythical creature. There’s a lot of inspiration in this challenge. Hope you enjoy it. What kinds of things do you like to draw?

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How to Create a Fun Family Time Capsule

Paula — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 14:19:00 +0000

Right now, if you are looking for creative pursuits that are a little bit out of the ordinary, you might consider making a time capsule with your family. Post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers. I receive a small commission from purchases made via qualifying links. I have a few easy printables to help pass the time. This time capsule is a great idea to get kids involved in sharing a piece of history that they might celebrate years from now. At the very least, it is worth noting some of the events of this past year. While it might not have been the best year, to say the least, and while it was clearly eventful and downright hard as hell at so many points, there were also a few moments of joy that got us through. My Time Capsule Years ago, when I was in the elementary grades, my school in Guelph celebrated a special anniversary and the entire school made a time capsule. In fact, each grade made a unique time capsule, with dozens of mementoes and stories and then we took an afternoon to bury them in the yard. I still recall that process and I enjoyed being a part of that experience. Then again, I have always enjoyed telling stories and writing. From an early age, stories have been my currency and my passion. How to Print this Activity Just download the file below and you can easily print out the time capsule sheets. Fill them out with your kids or have the kids do them on their own depending on their age and ability. Craft Supplies: Paper, a printer, pens or pencils and either a small box, small reusable container or a stainless steel time capsule container. There are several great stainless steel containers available on Amazon. This capsule container is a good option too. This four page printable capsule craft is pretty simple. A relatively young child could use it and fill it out without needing that much support. Always Something Worth Remembering What are your favourite things this year? What were they last year? I know mine were very different a year ago. Just a year ago we travelled freely, shopped and went skiing in Vermont without much concern over health. Time has moved differently than we ever imagined. Have older kids? Here are a few things we have been doing to stay busy this year. Nineteen things teens can do during the pandemic. But here we are and most days we are still keeping our heads up and moving forward.

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Easy Fun Five Senses Sensory Scavenger Hunt + Printable

Paula — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 09:23:00 +0000

A sensory scavenger hunt is perfect for so many kids. Whether they are sensory seekers or avoiders, there’s a little something for any child here. Some of you by now are aware that my kids have a fair number of sensory issues. So sensory stuff here is second nature. And I am sure that you know that we love scavenger hunts. My oldest would literally still do this actually. She is the crafty kind of kid who lives to get outside exploring and then brings what she has found indoors to build something crafty or creative with it. I am always up for a walk, so that works for me. Anyways, here’s a sweet Five Senses Sensory Scavenger Hunt. So here’s the thing. We are fully aware that there are more than five senses. But this is for simplicity sake. Your kids, if younger, don’t really want to hear all about proprioceptive senses, do they? There are More Than Five Senses Another day we can get into that ball of wax. For now, this is intended to be a simple activity with free printable for your kids. If you homeschool, or have a daycare even, then feel free to print this out and use it as a tool to keep kids occupied and creating something fun together. How Do I Print This? Here you go. This is super simple. Click on the link below and check it out. This scavenger hunt will download easily and without a fuss. If You Like This Sensory Scavenger Hunt, There’s More…

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How to Make These 2-Dimensional Simple Origami Tulips

Paula — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 06:55:00 +0000

Here’s an easy 2-Dimensional Simple Origami Tulips craft that is perfect for spring. Nothing cheerier than tulips popping up through the frost. Well, maybe daffodils as they often pop up a pinch earlier than tulips. Post contains affiliate links as a service to readers. I receive a small commission via qualifying purchases. This spring, these could make a great and simple craft for all of you to share. Simple Origami Tulips This is pretty much the easiest way to make these. The three dimensional flowers, tulips and cranes are a level up. Don’t worry though I have some other craft posts coming soon that will explain the intermediate origami crafts. FYI if you are interested in simple origami projects and more ideas then check this EASY Origami Projects book out on Amazon. Easy 2-D Tulip Instructions I think this is a perfect spring break craft idea and it honours social distancing because you can all do these inside your home at the kitchen table or in the playroom area. You just need some paper and then possibly straws if you want to be fancy with the stems. Shapes Start with a square! Cut a piece of paper into a square shape. Fold diagonally Take lower right corner and fold up. Repeat with lower left corner. Take about a thumbs width of the bottom. Fold that in behind Mini tulip Start with a small square Fold in half diagonally. You should be left with a small triangle Fold the triangle in half vertically Unfold lower right corner of these simple origami tulips and bring it up parallel to crease in centre. Repeat on the other side Fold the tip in centre for extra pizazz. It’s complete. Add a stem easily. Now simply fold a green stem or attach to a painted green straw. Origami is Perfect for Crafty Kids My kids are both extremely crafty and love origami. Last year I bought a few different kits for them to play around with and we have made so many origami projects with the help of those. Have Some Fun The origami turtle shown above was a bit trickier than the typical flowers and cranes and butterflies we make here. But it was super rewarding to make. Stay tuned. Another day I will share that one with you.

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Fun and Free Valentine’s Scavenger Hunt

Paula — Thu, 14 Jan 2021 14:07:00 +0000

This Valentine’s Scavenger Hunt for families can get them thinking outside the box after tearing into the chocolates and treats. So, first of all Happy Valentine’s Day! I am always a little excited about this day because it brings out the child in me. That’s why, in that spirit, I thought I’d share my Valentine’s Scavenger Hunt! Celebrate Love and Friendship I can easily recall making those adorable little Valentine’s crafts at school. For instance, every year at my elementary school in Guelph we brought in old tissue boxes and made cute little boxes for our Valentine’s cards. Here’s a post you might enjoy about Valentine’s Day crafts for kids. Fun Valentine’s Scavenger Hunt Doesn’t everyone enjoy a good scavenger hunt? I know when my kids were small we used to do them often as a means of getting outside into the neighbourhood and keeping them busy on a walk. Valentine’s Day is just a fun day to show people you love them or to show friends that you care. These days, those little reminders of love are more than welcome and necessary. The world at large benefits when we share joy and love and messages of hope. FYI, I have some adorable Star Wars Valentine’s cards you might want to share this year. How to Download the Valentine’s Scavenger Hunt Free Activity: Here are a few tools that I recommend for making the crafts above and doing scavenger hunts: Post contains affiliate links as a service to readers. I may receive a small commission via qualifying links.

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My 2020 Christmas Gift Guide – Celebrate With Me

Paula — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 11:48:52 +0000

Happy Holidays! My 2020 Christmas Gift Guide is ready to share. I couldn’t be happier to spread some joy this year and share a few of my favourite things with you. My 2020 Christmas Gift guide contains affiliate links. At no extra fee to you, I receive a small commission off of purchases made via qualifying links. I received product and compensation in some cases for features in this guide. Well, here we are almost at Christmas and this year I am doing a few things differently. One thing I am doing is shopping slowly and in chunks to spread out the cost. We definitely have a budget to stick to this year. Welcome to the 2020 Christmas Gift Guide I am launching my holiday content this week with a great building toy/ craft kit that’s perfect for teens or tweens. The price is amazing so add this one to your list. Better yet order now directly from my Christmas gift guide. Gifts for Teens Creatto 4 in 1 Light Up Crafting Kit Ever since she was a preschooler, my youngest child Ainsley has been fascinated by sharks and dinosaurs. She also loves puzzles, has freakish superhuman strength (could lift a ten pound bag of potatoes when she was not even two) and enjoys building things. Creatto Building Toys/ Craft Kits When this craft kit, stem building toy arrived here recently I was excited to see how she’d react. Immediately after school one night she opened it and tore into the plastic pieces. For a minute she looked at me and considered asking for help and I broke into a cold sweat. Following written manuals and video tutorials is her strength and not mine. This came in from Creatto recently by @thamesandkosmos and by dinner it was done. She patiently built it while I was writing, editing, proofing and helping her sister with remote learning. It was a busy day and I was ripping my hair out at some points. But then this charming package of building toys and memory games showed up. And at least one of the kids was hyper focused. What I Like: The Creatto 4 in 1 by Thames and Kosmos is just right for your kids 9 and up who love to build things. Any younger and it would be frustrating. It’s a 4 in 1 kit. We love toys that keep my builder busy and can actually be kept afterwards. Amazing gift which makes it perfect for my Christmas gift guide and frankly this price is shocking to me. Super affordable. I would actually buy all of these, one for everyone on my list. Now You Can BUY it here – > Creatto 4 in 1 Craft and Building Set Other Notes: It is challenging, so be patient and also use the Youtube tutorial link. Shimmer Shark & Ocean Pals includes 140 Creatto pieces, a string of 100 LED lights, and assembly instructions to build a shark, octopus, seagull, and fish, but the possibilities are limited only by your imagination! Lights powered by USB cable; USB power adapter not included. Suitable for ages 9 and up. Buy It Here – > Creatto Craft and Building Set Brainwaves The Wise Whale is a busy memory game from Thames & Kosmos. $14.95 or $14.26 (not a bad price for a game that will last.) Brainwaves is a series of games developed by game designers and neuroscientists with which players can challenge their episodic memory — their recent memory of autobiographical events. These compact, card based games are scientifically proven to exercise the brain to improve memory functions. These innovative memory games place demands on three types of brain functions: fluid intelligence, working memory, and long-term memory. I thought this one would be great for all of us because memory games are as relevant to young people with executive functioning challenges as they are to people who are middle aged. This Christmas gift guide item is great for anyone with memory impairments. What I Like: Easy to play and cute. Brainwaves was a fun game and we will keep it around. Other Notes This memory game was almost too simple. My daughter thought it could have used a deck with more cards. In fairness, I think it would be perfect for someone 7-8 years old. There are several versions of Brainwaves including, Brainwaves: The Astute Goose (AGES 8+ MSRP: $14.95), Brainwaves: The Brilliant Boar (AGES 8+ MSRP: $14.95), and Brainwaves: The Wise Whale (AGES 8+ MSRP: $14.95). Buy it Here: -> Brainwaves Pensilly Get ready to laugh yourself silly this holiday season with the crazy shaking pen, PenSilly! PENSILLY™ is the super, silly drawing and guessing game! It takes creativity, teamwork and imagination to play! Grab your friends, select your cards and sketch out the clues. The team who collects the most points, WINS! But it’s not that simple, you see, PENSILLY™ makes drawing CRAZY! It shakes and moves as you sketch out the clues. There are over 5,500 clue combinations with 2 Levels of play! Are you ready for the challenge? Recommended for age 6 +. This is a game for the entire family which is why it made the cut for my Christmas gift guide. What I Like Lots of variety in the drawings that you get to make as inscribed on the cards. Very funny and works for every member of the family. Pen is not heavy at all even though it looks like it might be. Other Notes Pencil takes three AAA batteries. Buy it Here: -> Pensilly Books to Gift You’re Pulling My Leg Is it a game or a book? This cute activity book/ family game reminds me a bit of charades or Mad-Libs. You’re Pulling My Leg! and You’re Pulling My Leg! Junior, created by award-winning game creator Allen Wolf, lets you test your bluffing skills with entirely new questions that range from thought-provoking to zany. How You Play During the game, players choose a question from the cards within the book. The secret flip of the coin tells them if their answer should be true or made up. When players hear a story, they vote on whether they think a player is telling the truth or pulling their leg. Players win points if you’re right but lose them if you’re wrong. They also try to bluff others and not be fooled. The first player to 21 points wins. You’ll be surprised how much you learn about other players in a short amount of time. What I Like The game can be played in person or remotely. That’s why it is perfect for the Pandemic and the 2020 Christmas gift guide. There are two versions: one for younger kids and one for older kids. From MorningStar Games this book/ game is simple and requires no extras like batteries. Just old fashioned creativity. $12.99 is an excellent price for this game/ book. 2 or more players. Other Notes: I can’t really think of anything negative about this although you are meant to write in the book and I know some people in my home are triggered when people write in books. To circumvent wrecking that and keep it in great shape for years I’d just add a handy scratch pad to keep notes. Get it Here: – > Amazon You’re Pulling My Leg book set MorningStar Games – You’re Pulling My Leg Endless hours of entertainment and a chance to know your family members better. That’s what makes this a great choice for my gift guide. Family Is….by Katya Longhi Alright, originally I wondered why I got this book. It arrived here one day and I was thinking wow this is a really young board book and then I opened it and was enthralled. This adorable board book is a brilliant example of a diverse and inclusive book that shares various examples that reflect how families look today in 2020. What I Like I love it. Period. This book is a keepsake and it is one I would buy for every single baby shower. It fits my vision of diverse families, including foster families, adoptive families, the disabled community (child in a wheelchair), and LGBTQ+ community with examples of two Dads and two Moms. Family is by Clever Publishing is super sweet and it also encourages a bit of counting as well. $8.99 US and $11.99 Canadian. Sturdy construction. Great illustrations. Other Notes None. More PLEASE!! More books should strive to be this open and inclusive. Get it Here – > Family Is by Katya Longhi Great Gifts for Booklovers So, I still love to give people books as gifts. I also love to receive books as gifts. That just makes me happy. Random Acts of Kindness This good-humored guide to being the change you want to see in the world is filled with suggestions for making a real difference. From improving someone’s life with just one penny to ensuring all children are well fed, the day-by-day positive proposals of Random Acts of Kindness combine inspiration with action. We can all make an impact on the environment, throughout out local community, and within our own hearts. This book of inspired ideas and good deeds conveys how you can make a better world, starting today! What I Like Sometimes the smallest gesture makes the biggest difference. This little book shows how to start. True stories about acts of kindness and generosity of spirit. Suggestions for living more compassionately and inspirational quotes. Other Notes BUY IT Now – > Random Acts of Kindness ISBN: 978-1642504798Price: $15.95 The Declutter Challenge: A Guided Journal for Getting your Home Organized in 30 Quick Steps by Cassandra Aarssen From the Host of HGTV’s HOT MESS HOUSE A guided decluttering journal. Life happens to the best of us, whether we were born with messy tendencies or not. Messes find their way into our homes and lives and we can’t seem to find the strength or time to tackle them. That’s where this motivational guided journal by decluttering guru Cassandra Aarssen comes in. MY older daughter is all over this. At the start of the pandemic she embraced the Marie Kondo decluttering philosophy. Let me just say it’s time to revisit some decluttering in her room. School plus home life all in a bedroom makes for one messy living space. Tested methods that work. Cas Aarssen wasn’t always an organization expert. She climbed out of years of cluttered living and transformed her home and her life through organization. In this self-help journal, Cas guides you through favourite tips and tricks that she used to declutter her home. What I Like It’s the perfect time of year for a decluttering exercise. Most people enjoy a good cleanup and decluttering experience. Get this for your Mom, or best friend, maybe your teenage daughter. Other Notes: Get it here….Buy Now – > Declutter Challenge Books for Mental Health and Self Care Any of you who read our posts or my content over on CBC Parents know we have had our share of mental health struggles and illnesses. So, I was thrilled to get these books which arrived at just the right time. In my world books make great gifts, so here’s a roundup of several that touch on mental health too. Hey! It’s Your Day: Inspirational Quotes and Affirmations to Live By June Cotner Ready to change your life today? Best-selling anthologist June Cotner returns with Hey, It’s Your Day, a collection of her favourite quotes to start the day and delight any friend or relative. Inspiration at your fingertips in minutes. June Cotner has been gathering her favorite quotes for more than two decades. Now, she shares these specially curated words of wisdom to guide readers on their personal journeys of positive thinking. Featuring an eclectic selection of figures like Edward Abbey, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, and Oprah Winfrey, this positive thinking book captivates readers with fresh, insightful, and engaging motivational quotes. What I Like Everyone can benefit from positive affirmations and we definitely use them here. My mantra when the kids were younger was: I am the adult here. What is yours? Other Notes You should order it now and make it your New Year’s self improvement goal. That works too. Depending on where you live this might not be available again until January but order it now because you can use it in the new year. BUY IT NOW – > Hey It’s Your Day I Believe in Me I Believe in Me: Finding Joy with Heartwarming Affirmations by Chi Sing Cheng A little world of positive mental attitude. No one is all darkness or all light. But sometimes it can feel like we’re walking with a dark cloud over our heads. So, how can we find a spark of joy? Follow author Soolooka through 150 hopeful illustrations to help you overcome bad days and negative thoughts. Cool cartoons that cheer you on. Featuring old and new comics from Reiki master and Instagram illustrator Cheng Chi Sing (a.k.a Soolooka), this short and sweet guidebook is here to help you find joy when you are feeling lonely or anxious. Self-help manuals are often overwhelming and intimidating for someone who just needs a boost during stress. What I Like PERFECT for Teens with Anxiety or any other Pandemic related stress. Other Notes This is ideal for any kid who is old enough to be all in over on Instagram, Snapchat or TikTok. Buy It Now – > I Believe in Me You’re Strong, Smart, and You Got This: Drawings, Affirmations, and Comfort to Help with Anxiety and Depression by Kate Allan It’s not easy to discuss mental health, even though it affects everyone. We want to believe we can handle anything that comes at us, but the reality is we all have good days and bad days. Because of this, it is important to check in with our mental health. Through guided illustrations, author Kate Allan opens the door to discussion about mental health in an approachable and unassuming manner. What I Like Any book that helps people who are living with mental illness to feel less alone is a worthy addition to my Christmas gift guide and to your home. Other Notes Cute cover and the notes are accompanied by adorable animal illustrations that we love. Buy it Now – > You’re Strong, Smart and You Got This! Start Here, Start Now…Start Anywhere: A Fill-in Journal to Discover Your Best Year Yet! by Ronnie Walter Mindful Journaling and Self-Care Strategies for a Better You(Part coloring book, part guided journal Start Here, Start Now…Start Anywhere!) is specially made to help you accomplish your ambitions, meet your goals, and enjoy moments of mindfulness. Personal growth starts here. With not enough time in the day, it’s hard to find room for self-reflection and short-term goals. From best-selling author and illustrator Ronnie Walter comes an eye-catching, guided, fill-in journal that will produce some clarity on your goals. Buy It Now – > Start Here Awe Factor: How a Little Bit of Wonder Can Make a Big Difference in Your Life by Allen Klein How to Find Awe, Meaning, and Wonder in Everyday Life Bestselling author and TEDx presenter Allen Klein returns to find and define awe. In his latest book, he shows readers how to escape the everyday ruts of life by opening their eyes to the wonder around them. Exploring the human ability to be in awe. What does it mean to be awestruck? Or more simply, what is awe? Backed by the latest scientific research, Klein sets out to define awe and its effects on health and happiness. With a sprinkling of the spiritual and scientific, The Awe Factor takes readers on an exploration of a human phenomenon. From research to first-hand awe-inspiring stories, Klein reflects on feelings of awe, meaning and purpose. This is simply uplifting. Buy It Now – > The Awe Factor Be True To Yourself: Daily Affirmations and Awesome Advice for Teen Girls by Amanda Ford In this book of short daily meditations and essays, Amanda Ford, a young adult herself, offers stories, information, and advice on all the important issues facing young women today: boys, dating, drinking, self-respect, self-love, fights with friends, dealing with parents, and more. Support for young women as they navigate one of the most confusing and challenging times of their lives. When Amanda Ford emerged from her tumultuous teenage years, she saw the need for a guide to help girls learn to listen to their inner voices and think for themselves. Be True To Yourself is the big sister Amanda never had. It provides the encouragement and guidance she wished, as a teenage girl, that an older sister had given her, as well as stories and advice that she would have loved to share with a younger sister during her own teen years. What I Like This is very much needed Other Notes A very positive book for young women. BUY IT Now – > Be True to Yourself The 7 Habits on the Go by Stephen R. Covey A Condensed Guide to Improving Personal and Business Health and Reducing Stress Everyone has heard of the original 7 Habits book by now. Here’s a followup to that. Check it out. For the Home What good is a Christmas gift guide without gifts for the home? This gorgeous collection of furniture is something you need to look closer at. We are redoing our living room soon. Oh, I know I have been saying that since we moved in five, no six years ago. But, this is not something that can wait any longer. Here’s some of my inspiration this year. Eternity Modern There are several gorgeous stylish pieces at Eternity Modern. My favourite is the stunning Mario Bellini Camaleonda Sofa, available in numerous rich shades. The turquoise shade is my favourite and frankly I am swooning over that right now. Sofa Mario Bellini Camaleonda Sofa : Provides endless flexible solutions for any project or living room. It’s a sectional that you can configure many different ways. The sectional elements of Camaleonda sofa can be used freely and apart...

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How to Bleach Dye a T-Shirt in a Few Easy Steps

Paula — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 02:52:04 +0000

So, a few weeks ago my daughter was all about this bleach dye phase. We had seen it on several sweatshirts and hoodies and thought that it looked cool, but the finished product always seemed expensive. So, we wondered if we could do it ourselves. How hard could it be? Post may contain affiliate links as a service to readers. I receive a small commission off of purchases made via qualifying links. Then we saw t-shirts and long sleeved shirts in Michaels one day on sale. Fate. Serendipity. Whatever you want to call it. It’s all good and it clearly was a sign that we had to do this craft. So, it was decided. We would bleach dye a t-shirt and maybe a long sleeved shirt too. We bought about three different shirts for trials. One was black, one was bright red and one was heather grey. First up. The black t-shirt. We loved the way that the dark black t-shirt would turn to a rusty brown shade that made a random abstract pattern. Black seemed like a reliable and easy colour to tackle. So, that’s where we began. It’s super simple to bleach dye clothing. The only real secret was basically finding the best colour of clothing to start with, because the light grey did not work at all. I think the colour was simply too light and just didn’t have enough dye pigment in it to actually change. My daughter loved the black t-shirt and how it turned out. We were both curious and interested in the process and we didn’t actually care to make it a strategic pattern. Like a lot of things, we just dove right in. All we really needed was bleach, rubber gloves, a spray bottle, a dark or bright shirt and an open well ventilated area. This is an Easy Take on Tie Dye Bleach dye is the latest trend in tie dye basically. All you really need to do is replace the tie dye colours with bleach. But here are the instructions if you would like a play by play on how to make your own. . This is anything but hard to do and the results are amazing. If you like this then you will also want to check out this No Sew Blanket. Make it for a Fraction of the Cost Sometimes the latest fashions are also pretty easy to make on your own. This bleach dye trend is one of those trends you can easily do for a fraction of the price.

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How to Turn Your Favourite Top Into a T-Shirt Pillow

Paula — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 13:31:00 +0000

This easy T-Shirt Pillow can be done with or without a full sewing machine. Post contains affiliate links as a service to readers. I receive a small commission via qualifying purchases. Anyone Can Make This Project So, cards on the table. I am not the world’s best seamstress. But that said, I am completely confident using a sewing machine and have one that I love, which I inherited from my Mom. I am confident sewing things by hand too. Hemming pants and mending things manually with a needle and thread appeals to the thrifty mom in me. So a T-Shirt Pillow is no problem. It’s a pretty easy little project. You just need an old T-Shirt and some fibre fill pillow stuffing. Saving Money, Upcycling All Reasons to Make This T-Shirt Pillow I last used our Husqvarna sewing machine almost 11 months ago to do all the alterations on my daughter’s prom dress here myself. Saving money for the win! Any excuse that I have to get the machine out and test drive it to be sure it is still working is an opportunity that I will take. Keeping Teens Busy That little beauty of a sewing machine sometimes makes it out during the summer when my daughters are bored, or during random times when we need to hem something or fix something. Occasionally, we craft with it, because I am surrounded by crafty and creative teens. So, during the pandemic one day about 4 weeks in, my youngest daughter grabbed her old long sleeved SARI riding shirt that she loved, but had outgrown and said: How can I make this into a t-shirt pillow? Now, my darling girls sometimes are all in on projects even before mapping them out, so by the time I even grabbed the sewing machine and told her hey here are the steps to this, she had located a pair of scissors and was ready to get cutting away. With No Plan. Rolls Eyes. Hold On and Make a Plan STOP. Right there. This is life with kids who have a lot of energy most of the time, but are lacking anything meaningful to do on the daily during a pandemic when stuck indoors. So, I managed to get her to put a pin in it for a minute while I ran through the steps in my head and then articulated them to her. First, locate all of the materials that you need. For instance, do you have the stuffing for inside a pillow. Luckily, I already had some here. Just enough leftover polyester filling for pillows and other projects that require stuffing. Materials Needed: Polyester Pillow Stuffing Thread Sewing Needle Scissors Easy T-Shirt Pillow Continues Of course, we had scissors as already established and thread that was dark in colour because I have several sewing kits stashed around the house. Mostly, they are organized sewing supplies, but often these can be found underneath my oldest daughter’s bed because she loves to craft and make things. Clearly we had all the materials and then some. Steps to Make an Easy Upcycled Pillow The first step for the long sleeved shirt was to cut the arms off of the T-Shirt. If you have a short t-shirt you also need to cut the sleeves off so that you are left with a square. That was a job my teenager happily did. LOL. After removing the arms, we set that fabric aside for another time. My one teen hates to waste crafty things and material. Turn the fabric inside out first. I double checked that we wouldn’t be sewing through or ruining any of the lettering. Sew the neck up and the armholes too with a straight stitch right across both of the holes, so that it is mostly even with the side seams of the shirt. Grab the stuffing and set it nearby. Sew right across the bottom edge of the pillow to at least halfway point. Turn the fabric for the pillow right side out again and start stuffing it. Nearby, my daughter determined whether it was firm enough or not. Too little stuffing equals a not very firm pillow. Once it is almost entirely stuffed, you still have the bottom edge to sew. Finish it off with the sewing machine or by hand. Then you have a great little keepsake T-Shirt Pillow.

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