Category: crafts

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Music Stick Tutorial

We’ve always loved hands-on toys around here. You know, the kind that you have to interact with to get it to work. So, I knew when I saw a picture of this pretty little “music stick” that we’d need to give it a try.

The idea is so simple, a two-year-old can use it. It works like this…

Your child slides the washers up to the top of the threaded metal rod then lets them go.

As the washers spin and twirl down to the bottom, they make a lovely, tinkling sound–almost like a rain stick–only softer. Quite pleasant, really.

Now the really nice part. It went together in less than 5 minutes. No kidding. Seriously, the hardest part for me was walking in to Home Depot and trying to act like I knew what I was doing. I finally just handed the list to one of the workers and they gathered up all the stuff for me.  :}

You’ll need:

1/2 by 4-inch threaded eyebolt
Teflon plumber’s tape

1/2 inch all-thread rod, 24 or 36 inches long

1/2 inch coupling nut

1/2 inch locknut

10-15 1/2 inch washers

Directions:

1. Wrap a piece of Teflon tape around the end of the eyebolt and both ends of the rod. This will help it all stay screwed together over time.

2. Take the eyebolt…

and screw it to the coupling nut.

3. Screw the rod to the other end of the coupling nut.

4. Slide the washers onto the rod.

5. Secure the locknut to the bottom–and you’re finished.

Now hang it from a post or tree or–in this case–the top of my canopy bed, and turn the kiddos loose with it.

They’ll be enthralled, captivated, amazed and surprised at just how fun it is to play with.

So will you.

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Daddy’s Dollar Shirt

Growing up in L.A. I spent a ton of time watching kids make incredible things out a simple piece of paper…watching and envying that is.  There was this one girl–Donna–who could fold a dollar bill into a man’s dress shirt. She’d do it too…if you gave her a quarter…and brought your own dollar, of course.

So now, my friends–we’re going to totally bypass old Donna, and figure out how to make these cute things by ourselves–for nothing. But you still have to bring your own dollar.

Just in time for Father’s Day.

1~ Fold dollar in half.

2~ Unfold and then fold side edges to the center crease. Crease as precisely as you can, and use a newer bill, if possible. It will hold the shape better than a worn one.

3~ Fold out the corners of the bottom.

4~ Now fold up the bottom so that the crease is just where the flaps end.

5~ Reach into the fold and grab the tip of the corner piece and pull it gently out–but don’t press it. See the crease lines where you folded up the tips in step 3 ?

6~ Tuck the corners down in along the crease line.

7~ Press down flat.

8~ Now do the same thing…

to the other side. These are going to be your “sleeves” in a few minutes.

9~ Flip your bill over…

10~ and fold down about 1/4 inch at the other end.

11~ Turn over again.

12~ Carefully fold in each side at an angle so that the little “collars” touch the center line.

13~ Fold the bottom half up to the “collar.” You’ll see that the shirt front is a bit too long to look normal so….

14~ make an accordion fold in the middle of the bill.

15~ Tuck the sleeve piece under the collar…like this.

Now make a zillion more with your millions and stand them up where ever you want to make a lasting impression on Dad.

Of course, you could always use $50’s…

that would do it too.

Heh, heh….

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T-Shirt PomPoms

Yes, yes…that’s me. On a bit of a pompom rampage these days. But I triple-dog dare you to tell me–if you can–that these aren’t just adorable.

And the best part is–that you don’t need to buy a dang thing. These are just one more bit of loveliness made from a T-shirt that has seen better days. Seriously, we could write a book. I believe I shall call it “T-shirt Reincarnation.”

Some day…

To make T-shirt pompoms–first, follow the instructions for making T-shirt yarn. Once you have a pile of  “yarn” you are ready to begin.

Oh, and I found out something interesting while doing this and it is– that some t-shirt knit will curl when stretched and some will just…stretch. That’s what mine did this time. At first I was bugged, but now I actually love it.

Start winding the knit around your hand and keep winding until you have gone around about 50 times. Now, you may have to adjust your count depending on how thick or thin your knit is. Don’t worry, there is no real right or wrong here. I usually just keep going until I feel like stopping…or until I can’t feel my fingers anymore. You should probably stop before that.

Slide the bundle off your hand carefully and set it on a piece of string or yarn about 12 inches long.

Tie it around the middle really tight. Flip it over and pull it even tighter and tie another knot. Leave the long ends of your string uncut. You’re going to hold onto your pompom with those.

Slide your scissors through the loops and cut them.

Keep going until you’ve found them all.

Your pompom will look a bit wild and uneven. You can certainly leave them like that or you can trim them just like we did the yarn pompoms last week. Just fluff it and trim…fluff it and trim…kinda like a poodle.

You can hang them separately or string them up together.

Either way…brace yourself.

It’s hard to stop at just one.

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Quick & Easy Yarn PomPoms

Have you ever wanted to have those pretty little yarn pompoms pop up magically whenever you wanted them? Well, brace yourself. You positively can, and in a matter of minutes…with no fuss. I mean it–and all you need is yarn and a pair of scissors.

Start by taking a piece of your favorite yarn and wrapping around 3 of your fingers. You can make your pompoms larger or smaller by adding or subtracting one finger.

Keep winding until you’ve gone around your fingers about 50 times…

Cut your thread. Now take a 10 inch length of the yarn and slip it between your fingers. This will be the string you use to tie all these threads together.

Tie a loose knot…

and carefully slide the yarn off your fingers.

Tie the string good and tight around the bundle. Take your scissors and cut through all the loops at the top and bottom of your pompom.

Your pompom will be seriously in need of a trim. I used two colors of yarn here–you know, for dramatic effect.

Pinch your bundle in the middle and trim off all the pieces that keep it from looking round. Be careful not to cut the long string that you tied the whole thing together with–it’s what you’ll hold on to while you trim.

After trimming for a few minutes, hold the pompom by the long string and whip it against your hand to fluff it out. You’ll find more threads to trim….

until they look exactly how you want them to look.

Positively perfect in every way.

:]

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Mama’s Flowers

I’ve been thinking of a line from a childhood song, that goes, “…dear Mother, all flowers remind me of you.” It’s been humming around in my head all day. Since my mom’s been gone for 10 years, it felt right and good to create something simple and pretty to remind me of her.

These simple little paper flowers did the trick. It may just make you feel good too–if you are a mom…or had a mom…or knew a mom–to make your very own little bouquet for the table. Especially if your sky is still trying to decide between sun and snow–like ours is. We need flowers I tell you!

Supplies needed:

1 inch paper strips–I used magazine covers because they were heavier than regular paper and shiny too.

Pipe cleaners

Random buttons

Small hole punch

Fold a pipe cleaner in half–like this.

Poke a button onto the pipe cleaner…

and slide it all the way to the top of the fold.

Loop a paper strip just like this…

and punch a small hole right through all three layers.

Now slide the paper loop onto the pipe cleaner and scoot it all the way up to the top.

Keep adding more and more loops until you love the way it looks—five or six were good for me, but go crazy if you like.

When you are finished adding “petals” slide another button up to the under side of the flower and twist the pipe cleaner to secure the button in place.

You now have the power to go forth and beautify the whole planet…or at least your corner of it! I’m expecting big things.

:}

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