The busy book

I had on of these as a child and I loved it. I remember always being slightly confused about where to put the soft book, on the shelf or in a toy bin. 

I remember pulling the book into bed with me during quiet times and being fascinated by the Captain Kirk figure inside. I haven't got a clue where that book ended up (I was the first of four) but I wanted one for my kids. 

It took forever to finish, but this is what I came up with...

 My cover wraps around and the book itself is in 2 parts - one side for each kid.

2 kids means either two books or just one mega book in two halves. Much better idea!

Shapes have Velcro on them and the colour printed under the stick on shape. 

The presents each have something inside. A few fold down and a few have snaps to undo. The charms are attached by a ribbon, so they don't disappear.

Counting fish.. 1,2,3...

The pocket is sewn on and then I cut fish out of felt.

The clocks hands move around. Attached with a piece of pipe cleaner and a button. It gets them familiar with a clock face... Who knows they might be the last kids to know how to read an analogue clock!

The shirt opens and you can undo and do up the buttons. 

Lace up and learn to tie a bow. The panels open and there is a turtle inside. 

The lacing is tied to one side, again so it doesn't disappear.

The coloured felt strips are just sewn at one end, they can be woven into a pattern. 

Count the buttons on the train. I still think I want to do something more on this page, I just don't know what.

The apples are attached with snaps. You can pick them and put them into the basket.

A huge sunflower with a braidable stem.

Hide and seek in the talk grass with super cute fancy buttons.

A little mitten for a little hand. Teaches right or left.

There are usually little puppets of animals who live on the farm. The barn doors close.

A piggy bank with coins to count and figure out sizes and how to read a coin.

Count to nine.

Each door opens to find that number beads attached to ribbon. Count the number of beads and see the numeral that corresponds. 

A pocket with a little book and pencil to draw and a zipper and a buckle. The is a fan favourite!

Who doesn't love getting mail? 

I had other ideas, but I ran out of time! The kids love it and I always love when they like something I made. It makes my heart warm! 

Waffle Eggs

Not particularly mind blowing in originality, but a cute little last minute dinner fix!

My kids LOVE breakfast for dinner and I tried to find a fun, quick way to do it.

Enter the waffle maker. I softened some peppers, wilted spinach and added left over ham to warm up. 

Cooked 4 eggs in the waffle maker and let cook. Topped with the pepper/spinach/ham mixture and a little cheese (and tomato for b). Cut into strips and it was finger food fun!

An attempt to keep the car tidy

We recently got a new vehicle. My 3rd "NEW" car in my lifetime.

It is exciting, it is beautiful and it is less than 3 weeks old and a hot mess.
I found something like this online and thought I could tweak it to actually work in my car. I sat down one evening and 2 hours later, my attempt to keep books, toys and assorted children paraphernalia in one place was finished.
The kids so far, have been great at tucking their books into the 'car library' and it's been easy to pull it out with the carseats when it needs to be used as a work vehicle.

It was really easy to put together.
Measure your seat in your car; the length and width you'd like it to be.
I wanted it to fit in the middle, between the kids.

I measure the pieces out. I made them as wide as I wanted, but made them twice as long. 

I made 3 pockets and one backing piece.  I put together each pocket, facing each set of pieces together right side in. I sewed them together and turned them face out.

I top stitched the pockets, making sure to top stitch the sides and bottom together.

I added a tie to the top that allows me to attach the unit to the car seat and ensure it doesn't end up on the floor, like everything else. 

Little fingers and big projects

I have little kids and am a stay at home mom. I am constantly trying to find things to keep an 18 month old and a 4 year old entertained. Preferably cheaply. They have toys, oh boy they have toys, but I find that they tend to blow through toys fast. New toys are exciting and fun and played hard with, for about 2 or 3 days and then they lose their appeal. I have a toy cycle. Not all of the toys are out at all times. Things go away and reappear and become new and exciting again. This does work well for the most part, but sometimes when it is winter and it has been -30 for weeks and we have had the plague and haven't left the house things become a little stale and I go scouring for new ideas.



I found this little gem awhile ago on Pinterest and my kids have loved it.
It does require a little bit of planning (or buying bread/milk tags) but was free and fun.
I started collecting the bread tags off of english muffins, bread, buns, sometimes potatoes or carrots (milk too if you live in an area with bagged milk) when b was only a few months old. I finally had enough of a stash (and felt confident enough that b wouldn't immediately put them in her mouth) to let them play with it.




It is literally just a clean, empty yogurt or sour cream tub with a hole in the lid and the object is to have the kids pick them up one at a time and put the bread ties back into the container. Not exactly earth shattering rocket science here, but it is a game both of the kids really like. b actually sat there for about 25 minutes picking the ties up, putting them into the tub and requesting to dump it out and start again and again!

Best little doll house ever...

Okay, best recycled non permanent dollhouse ever maybe?
My kids have toys, the have lots of toys, but they are kids and inevitably want more.
Now, some of these requested toys will never, ever happen (ahem all the transformers ever mummy), some might happen another day and some can be made for about $20.00 and a trip to the dollar store.

The dollhouse. My kids have imaginations and love to play with lego, so instead of buying a dollhouse and a firehouse. I chose to make them.
The firehouse is not pictured, partly because I didn't take pictures and partly because it is a hot mess.
The dollhouse turned out much nicer (to the adult eye at least).

What you need:
A diaper box (or any kind of longer box)
carpet ends or samples
a piece or two of dollar store linoleum
2 or 3 rolls of dollar store contact paper
heavy duty duct tape
extra cardboard for floors


1). Cut the extra cardboard into pieces that fit into the bigger main box like floors and using as much duct tape as you dare, get those things to stay put. I used a lot of tape. both and and down. Don't be shy, you'll be covering the walls with contact paper anyhow and can hide just how much you used from your SO.



2). Using the contact paper, cut pieces to size and stick to the walls to create wallpaper and to cover up all that duct tape.

3). Cut the linoleum to size, remove backing and stick down. This might require extra glue if you really want it to stay. I didn't add extra glue and the piece does move and fall off from time to time.

4). Cut carpet and place inside. If you don't have carpet pieces, a piece of felt works just as well and can make pretty colours for "girl" dolls.




Optional: I found in the scrapbook area fun things like little mirrors and cutouts that would be really fun on the walls as art or decorations. I didn't end up adding them because they would end up being pulled off and probably eaten. Maybe the next one?

**UPDATE: It is now April and the dollhouse/firehall are still being loved and are in semi working order. The cardboard is beginning to sag, but since it is just cardboard and duct tape, I'd say it's doing a pretty good job!**