Unicorn Cornrows

First let me thank the many soldiers who sacrifice their time to watch over our nation in a way that so many are not willing to do.  I LOVE spending Memorial Day with my family and especially my wonderful husband, who is a stupendous Father, kind Husband, perfect Friend and companion and courageous Warrior by far!  Now that being said... what is something fun to do over Memorial Day Weekend?  How about a bike ride!  Oh... need some cute hair with that!  OK!

Ok... so my next few hair posts will be bike helmet friendly!  This one is graduation cap friendly as it was actually for her preschool graduation, but... with summer here and the windy and cold subsiding somewhat on certain days in out area (don't want to jinx it!)  Our summer trips to the library by bike are on!  Our new problem is cute hair that will work under a helmet and be kept off her neck.  Sweaty bike helmet necks are no fun to snuggle.  And... now that we are doing cute hair.  The normal pigtails or low pony won't cut it.  Besides... they get all frizzy when you remove your helmet and you have to redo then anyways!

If you don't know how to do a French Unicorn a link will be here in the future!!

All I did for the hair was part the front part where I knew her graduation cap was going to be.  For a bike helmet do, I would make if more oval to cushion the helmet. 

I then divided that part into 3 diagonal sections and french unicorned away!  For the bike I would have finished it with 1 low pony to the side.  For graduation we did down with curls!

Primary 6 Lesson 19

This lesson was a snap!  Partly because there are so many movies about the story of Moses that the kids new the story well.  I just made sure I read the scripture well so I would know what to tell them actually happened and what was just part of a movie.

Today's story was the portion where Moses goes to ask Pharaoh to let the Hebrews leave Egypt, then the plagues, then the crossing of the Red Sea.  It focused on teaching the children that "the children that the priesthood is the power of God." To view the lesson online click here.


For this lesson I created a mini matching game to help them teach the story to their families!  My hope was that they would use it as a Family Home Evening on Monday.  Just download the file and print onto heavy cardstock.  Some kids wanted to color.  Others didn't... I left it up to them.  I do wish I would have remembered to bring paper bags for the kids who ended up cutting theirs at church!  Silly me.


To download my matching game click here!
Most of the clip art was found at freeldsart.com, the fly I found at arthursclipart.com, and the Red Sea at fundraw.com!  Thank you!


I also created my usual handout for the kids to take home.  The top portion has highlights from today's lesson and a scripture reading assignment for the next week!  Click here to get that!

Homemade Baby Wipes

I was given this Homemade Baby Wipe recipe by a friend when I had my first baby and my very first baby shower.  Now...  5.5 years later.  I still have the same container!  Along with the wipes she included the recipe taped GOOD to the front and the ingredients to make it.  I know give these away for most EVERY shower I go too.
I have ALWAYS had great luck with these wipes.  They are thin, but sturdy... if you use Bounty!   They are great for those wondrous diapers where the poop seems to never disappear.  No need to fear!  The homemade wipes are here!

Stuff You'll Need:
A roll of Bounty Select-A-Size paper towels.  I have tried several others and these are my fav.  They aren't as large as the others so you aren't wasting and they clean like a champ!
A container- One large enough around and tall enough to fit a half of a roll of paper towel.
Baby shampoo
Baby Oil
Water
Recipe for the front!  (See bottom for different recipe pictures I created for this post!)

You are first going to cut the paper towel in half so you have 2 stubby paper towel rolls and place 1 in the container.  Next stir 2 cups water, 2 Tbl Baby Oil, and 3 Tbls Baby Shampoo in a seperate bowl and then pour over top of you paper towels in the container.  Don't get all silly and pour it over the one that isn't in the container.  I would smack you for that!  Put your lid on and let it soak for about 15 minutes.  Then go back and slowly pull out the cardboard insert!  You will be pulling wipes to use out of the middle!
Now... select a recipe cover for yourself!  I have created them all in 5 inches squares.   Click the link below each picture to download!

Primary Flair

Created using Smarshmellows by Shabby Princess

Sassy Squares

Created using Sweet Sprinkles by Shabby Princess

Queen of Rock

Created using Sound Fx by Digital Scrap Place

Guitar Baby

Created using Sound Fx by Digital Scrap Place and

Future RockStar by Chris Ford

Sweetie Button

Created using Carousel by Shabby Princess

Homemade Laundry Detergent

OK... I'm for sure not going to take credit for this.  I have a friend across the street who makes this and I LOVE LOVE LOVE any way possible to pinch some pennies.  Thank you Melanie Shult!  Also... thank you Duggars... It's your recipe I'm using!  I did google and find several recipes, but I also had several questions so... I'm lucky to have found 2 great sources!

Duggar's Laundry Soap Recipe

4  Cups - hot tap water

1  Fels-Naptha soap bar

1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super WASHING SODA

½ Cup Borax

So... really this post is to give some a few tips as to questions I had when I was making it.  I followed the Duggar recipe to a "T"...  Almost.  I was lazy and cut the bar into chunks.  But... let me start at the beginning.

1. Their recipe says to use the Fels Naptha bar soap and WASHING SODA!
2. They use the Fels Naptha because many other soaps can leave a residue on your clothing after a couple washes.
3. I like ordering things offline, but the link on the Duggar's site always says OUT OF STOCK.  Poopy!  So...  Melanie told me which Ace Hardware to buy washing soda and Fels Naptha here in our area.  I had previously google and found that Ace seems to have the best price and... they have BOTH!   Just check the cleaner isle.  They are right next to each other by the other laundry detergents.
4. Chunk vs Grated: With my test I'm gunna say grated is the winner.  Several recipes I found said they cut their soap into chunks.  I made mine at night and I was tired, but knew I would need to do laundry in the morning.  I thought I was saving time, but.... due to the need to melt the chunks... grating would have been much faster!
5. Many sites say the consistency is strange the next morning.  I'm gunna call it egg-like.   I have posted a video so that words need not describe.  I may be calling mine egg-like because I had a spot where some chunks that never melted created a sort of yolk.  I swear it is much more visible on video than in real life!          
6. I have kept my soap in the bucket and been transferring it to a laundry soap container as needed.  I have been through 2 bottles and am LOVING IT!!!

Easy Braid Headband

Raise you hand if you like easy!   (I jump up and down... with hand flailing...)  ME ME!!!   I'm a huge fan!  This is a hair do that is quick easy and super simple!

Start by taking a small portion from the front and putting the remaining back hair into a temporary pony. The divide the front section in half.... I did mine where her hair naturally parts, but you can divide them evenly in half too...  That would be even easier... you will see why.  Anyways...  Braid the two sections and just leave em hangin.

See, this is why it would be easier for most to divide the hair evenly in half.... My little girls hair is pretty fine, so I ended up doing some french braiding.... but not all the way... you will notice if you look close that I only did pieces of it.  And I didn't french very long!  Just past the ear.

Now... I undid my temp pony and pulled out a small section from underneath... then put the temp pony back in!

Now.... grab both braids and pony them to this little section at the nape of her neck!

Then you can take the rest of the hair out and style how you would like.   Or... do a cute updo or messy bun!

Primary 6 Lesson 18

Nothing spectacular this week!  Just wanted to share my handout for the lesson. Click here if you would like it!

The lesson online is here.  This week it's about Moses.  It includes scriptures talking about how he was found and then called to lead the Hebrews our of Egypt.  The actual leading out of Egypt is next week.  This week is focused on how we are all "called" here on a mission.  Great lesson!

If you look at the handout... Instead of assigning tons of scripture reading I have asked them to come prepared to talk about how the Priesthood has made an impression on them for the following week.  Funny... in preparing for this lesson I got some ideas for the following week... I'm way to scatter brained!

Mermaid Coral Crown

Aurora's shirt had a mermaid on it today so naturally she wanted a mermaid crown!  My attempt turned out... not quite what I wanted, but it worked!

I started by parting the front portion of her hair into 4 parts and keeping them separated in temp clips.

I then started with the front right portion down near her ear.  All I did was take a tiny piece of it and twist, twist, twist!

Add another section to it and twist twist twist again!

Keep on going until you come to the center, then start adding hair from the bottom left potrion you saved!

Keep going until it's long enough to place into a half pony.  (My daughter's hair is a little thin so I should have used the hair from the half pony as I was going on the down side.)  When I do it again I will!)

Next... do the same to the opposite side to create a crown effect!

Add a cute bow and you've got yourself a Mermaid Coral Crown!

Table Conversation Game

We have hit a point where our oldest do more playing than eating at the table, no matter what we say or bribe!  We like being silly in our house and we often have sit down dinners so that we can sit and talk as a family, but it has hit a point where my husband and I feel like we are saying, "Take a bite!" or "Please eat first!"  instead of any general conversation.  We don't have any strict "rules" at our house.  In general our kids know what is acceptable and what is not.  But... the table for sure has numbered rules you must follow.   The little idea that follows was the result of one of our rules!

When we had our "Meet Your Teacher" activity in Primary I printed of these conversation cards to use in various games.  (I just went to get the link and noticed that the creator actually used the for the dinner table!  I don't remember reading that at all, but I know I must have!!!!!)  Anyways... we often take very long road trips to see our family, so I lamented them for future use.  My daughter has a fetish for tiny things in tiny boxes, so she pulls these out to play with them ALL the time!  Of course she ended up with them at the table and we were about to tell her to put them away!  IT'S EATING TIME!!!!!   Anyways, we decided that we could have this one thing at the table, but there was a catch!

First, print of the pretty cards she created (I plan on making some of my own later.  This incident sparked all kinds of ideas in my head!).
Next, laminate them so they don't get food on them!
To play we all had to take a bite of food!  Then one person would pick a card and all would answer it and take a big bite after your answer!  Just keep going until all the food is gone!

It worked miracles at our meal!

STAY TUNED FOR MORE MEAL TIME IDEAS!!!!   YEAH!!!!!!

Teaching Sites

Being in a Primary Presidency has made me become extremely thankful for the talents that others are willing to share!  (Yours included!)  I thought I would share some sites and tips that have helped me through my calling!  The following is a worksheet I created for the teachers in our primary.  The hopes was that they would find other was to creatively teach their classes.  This list does have more for primary than any, but most of the other sites listed are awesome for any calling!

Click here to download the handout.  Feel free to edit it as you might need!

Primary 6 Lesson 17

This week the lesson is on Joseph forgiving his brothers.  First, obviously, you are going to need your lesson this week! Click here!   This week we are asked "To help each child have the desire to forgive others."   


My only difference this week was with one of the extra activities!  Instead of giving the kids a piece of paper to tie around their neck I created a whole page that I packing taped to their backs!  First I had then all stand and repeat after me.  The pledge went something like this.  "I, _________, promise my most beautiful and favorite primary teacher and myself that I will forgive others to the fullest extent."  Something like that.  I then reminded them that they must even forgive me for taping a large sign on their backs!  It was really cute to see people stopping them on the way to sharing time and ask why they had those.


"Because I promised!"  


I asked that they place these signs in their home, somewhere they would see them all the time.  I love them!  To download my sign click here!
I had 2 out of 7 read the scriptures so they could help me tell the story!  I was glad... there were alot of scriptures on that list.  I did give less for this reading this week.  The handout with topic discussed today and the scriptures for next week can be downloaded by clicking here.  My most favorite part of this was watching how much more careful they were with their assignments when they realized that I really wanted hem to read it!


I can't wait for next week! 

Twist V's

Aurora is so funny.  I have no clue how I can keep satisfying her silly hair ideas!  They actually turn out pretty cute too!

I didn't take step by step pics for this on cause it's actually much easier than it looks.  Just follow the directions!  Just look at the pic as you read my directions.

First I did 4 skinny twists and ponied them on the left side of her crown.  Notice that these are perpendicular to her forehead.

Then all I did was take 3 sections (You could do 4... her hair is just thin.) from the right side.  I made those section parallel to her forehead and started with the one going to be closest to the back.  I twisted it and then... instead of putting the pony  at the base, near the head... I gathered the hair from the first left pony and just elasticed them together.  I got another section from the right and twisted, took the second left pony and elasticed all of them together..... blah blah... you get it right?  Hmm... maybe I'll do step by step instructions later....  Let me know if you would like them and I have never gotten around to it!

Conference Thought Jars

Are you ready?  Drum roll please!  (Drum roll noises and then...) Ching! (That's a cymbol sound!)  Our very first guest blogger!  Well... she doesn't really blog, but she is my wonderful Aunt Diane Eld, who is also very crafty!  She sent me her idea for a visit teaching gift for this month and I just couldn't resist sharing!  (Let's face it... I'm awesome, but very much not the only one with awesome ideas!)

She says: "In trying to decide which message to give my ladies this month I decided to give them a little of each talk. Just below each title is a sentence that describes the talk. I copied and pasted it from each talk. President Monson's closing talk I used several important quotes they have a astrix (*) to help point them out. These can be a daily thought to ponder for yourself, families can use them for daily quick thought and maybe short discussion to start the day. Empty nester's or families it's a great family home evening to pick a few and discuss your thoughts."

As you can see it's pretty simple to put together!  I would recommend hot gluing your fabric lid together so that you don't have to "redo" the pretty cushy top everytime you open it.  I'm sure you could have figured that out pretty quick, but... I'm a blonde... so I know I skip silly things like that sometimes!

"It's a recyclable gift. When your finished it's a pin cushion/sewing notion bottle."

*Please note, if you are coming to this post through the "Sew Sweet" page.  It is labeled there because this is a cute pin cushion and notion container!

To download the tag Diane created click here!

For the quote strips click here!

THANKS AUNT DIANE!

2010 Primary Lesson Schedules

OK... so I know this is several months late, but the site wasn't created when I made these!  Since they have recently released me and the new presidency asked for copies I thought.... Hmmm.... somebody else MIGHT want a copy.  I know that everyone's ward schedule is different, but they are easy to edit.  It's a long shot, but I'm posting them in case!

The schedules are all on one file.  There is a separate schedule for Valiant 12 - CTR 7, CTR 6 - CTR 4, Sunbeams and Nursery.

Click here to download!

Primary 6 Lesson 16

Hooray for teaching primary!!!!  They just released me as Primary President in my ward because... well... we thought we were moving.  Turns out last minute, we aren't leaving for another 6 months.  Now I live in a house of boxes, but.... I get to teach primary!  I'm so excited.  It makes me sad when I here people complaining about teaching primary.  I know how hard it is to keep primary teachers.  Right now.... I just don't get it.  I never have!  Maybe one day I will need a primary break, but.. not yet!   It's a rare few who appreciate the simplicity and honor it can be to be a primary teacher.  As a teacher you are simply called to teach a lesson every Sunday.  It comes from a manual and the lessons are VERY well outlined.  For the most part you just need patience!  As parents job is to teach their children first, I consider it an honor that some would allow me to teach a lesson to their children that could very well impact the very way they look at and handle life.  Parenting is such a great resposiblilty.  I thank those of you parents who are subjecting your kids to my crazy personality every Sunday.  I promise to try hard and teach only things you and our Father in Heaven would have them learn....

***Steps down from her Soap Box....***

On to my lesson idea! Lesson 16 is on Joseph in Egypt, click here to view the lesson online.  The manual asks us to read  Genesis 39-41 as preparation.   The purpose of the lesson is "To encourage the children to keep themselves pure by staying away from temptation and living close to the Lord."  In the beginning of the lesson if gives an attention activity where you place 2 magnets on the table with a paper clip in the middle, one to represent our Heavenly Father and one Satan, the paper clip is us.  The activity is to show how the closer we place our standards to those Heavenly Father would have us follow, the stronger his pull is and the weaker Satan's power can be.  I choose to make magnets for the kids in my class to take home.  I already had the stuff to make them.  A tutorial on how to make these can be found by clicking here!  I cut out pictures of Christ from the Ensign, a church magazine, to place behind my marbles.

Another thing the lesson suggests is to bring a fan and some paper and show the blow of the air.  It's the same idea, but the further away from the fan the less the paper blows.  I brought a roll of toilet paper and a hair dryer instead... (See mom!  Toilet papering in high school does help with something later in life!)  I placed the roll on the end of the wooden spoon blew it with the hair dryer at the class and toilet papered them!  After everyone calmed down I explained that, while in class this is funny, in real life the bad actions we make can affect those around us.  When we choose wrong, those who love us hurt for us.  

After passing out the marble magnets at the end, I also gave them each one of these! (Next week I will pass out something similar, but with no cute paper on the back... the boys ripped if off and started making airplanes with the back paper!  At least they kept the front right?  lol)

It's an overview of the lesson from this week as well as the scriptures that the manual asks to review for next week!  To download the file click here!  I told them that I wasn't going to teach next week.  I wanted them too.  I plan on handing out next weeks "gift" by how well they teach the lesson!  I will of course be directing the teaching and probably leading most of the class.  We will see how it works out! 

Collared T-Shirt to a Hoodie

Ok... this is pretty crazy, but I'm AMAZED at how it turned out.  I've been looking for cheaper and cheaper ways to create clothes for my kiddos.  Anybody who sews, knows that sewing for sure isn't the cheapest.  Most times the fabric will cost just as much as the clothing.  We were packing to move (Note the WERE... long story....) and my husband pulled out a huge stack of clothes that he was willing to part with. I had the great idea to revamp them into other things!  Enter.... Collared T-Shirt into Hoodie!  I hope my pictures will help explain what words can't.

Start by chopping off the sleeves and folding the shirt with seems touching... the fold in half again and attempt to lay it flat.

Notice that this next picture is of the bottom of the sweater.  You are going to need to figure out how long you want your sweater.  Try measuring one of your kids existing shirts from neck to bottom.  For this I ended up cutting off about 5 inches.  Again... look at the picture before cutting.  Notice that I didn't cut all the way across.  About 2 inches from the side I started to go up.  I like to make the least cuts possible in case I want to use the remnants for something.  Before you cut all the way up the side... check the next step....

I included 2 pictures of this to be sure you got what I meant.  The tricky part on any shirt is the arm (For me anyways.)  You are going to want to cut a big "J" our of the arm (Or a backwards J depending on the side you are on.)  Notice the difference in the original arm hole in the first picture.  For this part I only cut through the first layer.  I wanted the J on the back part of the shoulder to be slightly longer and larger so that he could move his arms forward a little better.  You don't REALLY need to do this.  It will work fine if you cut them the same.   Lets face it.  When people aren't going to notice... it's just makes it a little more comfy!

This is the second picture of the arm hole.. from the back this time so you can see the difference that I did.

Now you have cut the body of your sweater and it's time for the arms!  (PARDON MY UPSIDE DOWN PICTURE!!)  The "top" is really the "bottom"... lol.  This sweater was a funny shape.  Normally you will need to cut off some length, but someone with extremely short arms wore this I guess!  All I really did here was cut some of the width off and create a different cut for the connection to the shoulder.  Notice that the "bottom" is not curved and starts to go straighter.  This is for Armpit movement!

This next picture is off the arm left overs.  I cut the "tips" off the one part so I could use it for the hood.  If you have extra from the side of the body then you can use that.

Ok... this next picture shows the remnants of the bottom of the body (that portion will line the face in the hood) and the left over arm pieces with the tips cut off (see above picture).  

Now... the next picture shows the shape I used to cut the hood.  This picture shows it sewn together too. When sewing your remnants together just remember to have the right sides touching so that when you turn it right side out.... uh... the right side is showing!

Next pin your hood to the neck of you shirt.  Normally I would cut off the collar, but... it was late.. I was tired and it looks... different and different can be GREAT!  lol  Again... make sure that your right sides are facing.  

Next pin your arms, AGAIN, right sides facing and sew the shoulder area.  After that start from the wrist portions and sew straight up to the armpit and then down the sides... Just keep on going!

Next hem the bottom and your kiddo is ready to wear!

Email me if you have questions, but honestly.... this is about as good as describing as I can get!  Let me know if it's to confusing!

Dud Cookies

This could work for fun or for a thank you!  Who doesn't like chocolate, caramel and sprinkles!  Introducing the Giant Milk Dud Cookie!  These cookies are moist and gooey when fresh, but.... if you end up packaging them for a gift it would prolly be good to add a note to microwave so they get the full gooey milk dud effect.

I used these as a Teacher Appreciation gift with a tag saying, "Thanks for not being a Giant Dud."  I guess it could sound harsh, but... my teachers had great personalities!  To download the tag I created click here!

The recipe to create the cookies is relatively easy.  You could roll them in powdered sugar or a different sprinkle.  I actually got the idea from a farm themed party.   They had theirs smooshed a little flatter to resemble... well... what would you find on the floor of a barn?  It was cute... and creepy, but the kids loved it!  Click here to download the recipe.

I used the Magic Rainbow Kit by Rhonna Farrer to create the recipe page and tag.  It can be downloaded for free from Twopeasinabucket.com!

Rosettes

Rosettes are simple to make and you can use them on ANYTHING! (Well... I would recommend putting them on your spaghetti, but I think you knew what I meant!) I've been using them on a few of the hair bows I've made for my little girl. You could put them on purses or backpacks, jeans or jackets, I have a friend who put several on a pillow and it was so cute! These are one of those things that you look at and think, "Gee, that would take forever and I bet it's hard." It's so NOT!

Start with a circle of fabric. Mine was about 5 inches. You can use pretty much any fabric. It just depends on what texture you would like. If you use fleece I would recommend making your shape more oval or it's pretty chunky.

Now get your needle and thread ready. (Your fingers will be busy by the time you actually need it.) Now just rolly-roll your fabric circle into a tube.

This next part I couldn't take a picture of cause... well... it was too hard and you guys are smart! But, you just roll it into a snail, making sure you keep the tube in place.

For this step you need to make sure you are squishing it to keep it in place. Take you needle and poke it through all the layers! Pretty much you are going to try and make a stay with your needle. Where you needle comes out poke it near the exit, but not in the same spot and heading a different direction! When you have made you star you should have gotten all the layers from enough angles so that your rosette will stay together. Tie your thread in a knot to hold!

YEAH... now go people! Rosette the World!!

Yo Yo Yo

Ok... how I never learned this simple sewing fru fru thing is beyond me. My wonderful Aunt came by over Thanksgiving last year and showed us how! (Along with another cute crafty thing that I will post later!)

She had a giant bag of these Yo Yo's. Whenever her daughter would get into trouble she would have to make these! lol It's a great idea really. Makes something creative and it's simple, so you can still think about what you did wrong. I'm totally going to use that! Anyways....

Start with a circle of fabric about 5- 8 inches. Use whatever suits your purpose. Just remember your finished project will be half that size! For this tutorial I used some pretty stiff satiny red fabric (I guess if you are reading this you can see the picture though right?)

Then get a needle and thread and start ANYWHERE in your circle sewing a simple straight stitch around the edges. It DOES NOT have to be pretty or even at all. Notice my spaces are not all even... just be sure that you are far enough away from the edge that the fabric won't fray and your stitches don't slip off!

Then... just keep going all the way around.

And PULLLLLLLLLLLLLL tight!

Knot your thread.

Hooray you are done! See Simple easy and cute to add to any project! Put a button in the middle or a rossette! I believe I turned this one into a hair clip!