Fruit Fly Trap

I saw this idea for a fruit fly trap and thought I'd give it a try.
So I took a piece of paper and rolled it up diagonally, put that in a magic bullet cup, and wrapped cling wrap around it.  I taped where the hole around the paper tube and the cling wrap met so they couldn't sneak out that.  I taped the cling wrap around the cup as well.  Put a piece of banana in the bottom and watch it fill up.

It's a lot less messy then some ways.

Sidewalk Paint

This was fun and so easy to make.  It only lasted for about 30 mins before they dumped the cups. :)
I used a muffin pan and put styrofoam cups in it.  Then you mix 1 C of water and 1C of cornstarch, and then put food coloring in the different cups.

Parker and Kinsley loved helping mix them.

Then I bought four brushes at Farm and Fleet for .50 each.  

 They had so much fun, I think we'll do it again tomorrow. :)
It's pretty messy though, so I hope it comes out of the clothes.

Clean microwave!

So great tip I found on pinterest.  To get a clean microwave, put a bowl with water and vinegar in for 5 minutes.  The steam will help loosen set in food.  After you take it out everything wipes off very easy, no scrubbing.

What a difference paint can make

I am so proud at my new front door.  What a change just a coat of paint can do (or 2).  Now I just need to get time to finish the rest of the painting of my house.

Love!

Curtains

I have made most of the curtains in my house.  I thought that would be a nice way to save money, and then I learned it can actually be more expensive to make your own than it is to buy them.  It's a nice way to get just want you want though.  So for Parker's room:

Kinsley's room, I had to be creative with the top, because the length wouldn't be long enough, so I used ribbon:

The ones in my kitchen turned out best.  I used a sturdier fabric:

Next will be ruffle curtains for our bedroom :)

Chore Chart

So I've been thinking about giving Parker a chore chart for a while now.  I know he's 3, but this is just a reminder for him on daily things that he can do.

I thought this would be a good way to help him remember to do these.  Charts work very well with Parker.  We used a sticker chart for potty training, and for nap time and bed time( to make them a little easier).
I put at the bottom the days of the week.  For each day that he does all of his "chores" he get a smiley face.  When he gets 5 smiley faces in a week he will either get a special treat or we will go do something fun.
I put the list inside of a picture from so that way we can write on it with dry erase marker and be able to rub it off as well.  (trying to save paper)
I by all means don't expect perfection, but this is a good way to help remind me to get him doing these things daily.
Something very simple, but can be very rewarding to a 3 year old to make him feel more independent. :)

paper airplanes

So, I have a friend who has a 3 1/2 year old son and is having a hard to thinking of things to craft with him. I know that one of his favorite things are air planes, and I thought of the idea of checking out a book that will tell you different ways to make paper airplanes.  I thought that would be a fun project and he could decorate them and keep them in his room.
If I get around to creating this idea, I will post pictures at a later time.

Ugly Monsters

My son is afraid of just about everything, one being monsters.  So I decided I was going to make him his own monster.  I told him, "Now with having your own monster that means no others can come by you."  I saw some really cute ones and thought to myself, 'Hey i could totally make that'.  Again this is one of those projects that I thought to myself, 'what am i getting myself into.'
I did it in 2 nights.  The first night was the cut out.  I used left over fabric from the Bam Bam Halloween costume I made 2 years ago, and some from baby receiving blankets.  The second night I sewed the monster.  I took me about 1 1/2 hours to sew.  I am by no means a professional sewing.
Here is my finished monster.

As you can see Parker loves his monster.  However he does still come in my room at night.  But it was well worth making it. 

Now I need to make one for Kinsley :)