Tutorial: Monster Page Corner Bookmark

From Sabrina at NeverlandNook.

Like many of you out there, I am a self confessed addict to Pinterest!!! I just can't help it, so I decided to "Pinterest Challenge" myself. I decided to start with an easy challenge and so I chose the Monster Page Corner Bookmark. This is something you can just do for fun or with your kids! They would love it!

Supplies:

• Paper (I used double sided paper - 1 side had a pattern)
• Glue Stick
• Pencil
• Scissor
• Ruler

First I drew the pattern on the non-decorative side of the paper. Each small square is 2.5" x 2.5".

Next I cut the pattern out along with a 2.5" x 2.5" square from the paper.

 

Glue the square piece so that you see the pattern because next you will fold the triangle pieces over and across the square and glue them together.

 

Next you will want to draw out a pattern by teeth. The triangle should be 2.5" x 2.5" x 3.5" to fit in the square. Draw teeth however you would like! It's fun to create different characters!

 

Once you've glued the teeth in, cut out some circles for eyeball(s).

 

Glue them on and Ta Da!!!!! You have the perfect Monster Page Corner Bookmark!!!

So gather up some different shades of green paper and a variety of circles and let the kids make-up a slew of green toothy monsters to mail their bookworm friends for St. Patty's.  Thanks Neverland Nook for sharing this fun tutorial.

You can find Neverland Nook online at these different locations:  Etsy Shop, Blog, Facebook & Twitter. 

Tweet

Introducing Mia4Art

Today We Introduce You to Mia from Mia4Art

Q: What motivated you to start your shop?
My children motivated me to start painting children's custom orginal canvases. Before my daughter was born, I was preparing her nursery and was inspired to create original art work. Parents put a lot of work into their children's nurserys with unique, personal, personalized items. I did not want a reprint of children's art for my daughter.

Q: What is the story behind your shop name?
My shop's name on Etsy is Mia4art...My first name, my favorite number and my love for art. My children's painting business is called "Naptime Creations by Mia" because I started my business during my first child's nap time!

Q: Do you have a favorite Etsy Shop (non-child related)?
No, all my favorites are for children .

Q: What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
No surprises yet!

Q: What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
No challenges, feel that it is user friendly.

Q: What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
I paint each canvas as if it were for one of my babies. I believe in my heart that no customer will be disatisfied. Each canvas grows with their child bringing joy, inspiration and design into nurserys, bedrooms and playspaces.

Q: How would someone (other then you) describe you?
Creative, perfectionist when it comes to designing.

Q: What music do you have on while you are creating?
Carribbean or standup comedy.

Q: What do you do when you aren't working?
Being a mommy to my 3 year old daugther and 1 year old baby boy.

Q: Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?
Prior to painting, I was a Graphic Designer and Elementary Art Teacher. I feel that through working with children and having my own children, I am able to create paintings that inspire and capture chidren's eyes.That my paintings make great gifts for baby showers and birthdays. Perfect for big girl and boy rooms. Please come over to my facebook page and connect with me: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Naptime-Creations-by-Mia/103900334151?sk=wall

Tweet

Tutorial: Shake an Egg

From Lauren at crocheting4baby.


Have you heard of Laurie Berkner?

She sings songs for kids that we just love here in our home. She makes kids music enjoyable, instead of annoying. I must say I can listen to her music non stop while playing with Bug and not get sick of it. She has 5 CDs {i believe} plus a The Best Of CD and I can't tell you which is my fave. I love them all!

On her CD "Whaddaya Think of That?" there is a song called I Know A Chicken, it's also on The Best Of CD.

The song is so much fun and she tells you different ways to shake an egg. If you don't have a shaky egg you can just shake your body, but we made some shaky eggs from old plastic eggs we had in our play food cart since Easter.

What you will need:

• Plastic Eggs {one per kid, or as many as you'd like}
• Small items to put inside the egg to make noise. We used yeast, rice & small noodles. We wanted to make ours soft and loud shakers. Other ideas are oatmeal, cornmeal, sprinkles, beads...
• Crazy glue
• Tape

First you are going to want to tape the inside where the holes are {if any} so there are no leaks.

Then fill half an egg about 3/4 of the way. Place glue around the edges and let it dry. {don't glue your fingers to the egg} If you are lazy and impatient like I am you can just wrap some packing tape around the egg so it doesn't open easily. You might not want to do that meathod with younger ones who will try to open it. Bug was a good listener and didn't even attempt it.

Give it to your little one, turn on some Laurie Berkner and shake an egg!

See more of Lauren's toddler friendly activities on her blog, Tutus & Tea Parties, follow her on facebook and see her crocheted offerings in her Etsy shop:  

Tweet

Book Nook: How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids

From Cherice of InnerPiecesGallery.


Have you helped fill someone’s bucket today? And no, I don’t actually mean with water, sand, or potting soil.

Authors Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer fill buckets every time someone reads their children’s book How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids. So does illustrator Maurie J. Manning. Want to learn how?

The aptly titled How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids is based on the adult edition How Full Is Your Bucket, a #1 New York Times bestseller. This delightful and empowering storyteaches children and adults what bucket filling is all about.

First we learn that we each have our own imaginary bucket. Granted, some children are not thinking in metaphors at the age they most enjoy picture books. In my humble opinion, a little guidance may be in order while reading to your young, concrete thinking child. We don’t literally have buckets of water floating above our heads all day long. We can, however, learn which actions fill us up and which ones empty us, that is, with a little help from a bucket.

How do we feel when our buckets are empty?

How do we react to other people when that happens?

How do other people react to us?

Manning’s beautiful illustrations help address these important questions and more in a lighthearted, easy to understand way.



I must admit, I initially grew a bit concerned while reading examples of how to fill our buckets. Felix, the main character, began to fill his own empty bucket by receiving compliments from others. I wholeheartedly support cheering for children after a job well done. I do not agree, however, with encouraging reliance on praise in order to feel good about ourselves. Better to form internal mechanisms for self empowerment than to create unhealthy dependence on other people’s opinions. Then again, that’s just my opinion.

As it turns out, my concern only lasted for, oh, a fraction of a moment. The authors, being the research focused professionals that they are, include a variety of ways to fill our own buckets. They placed plenty of emphasis on one of my favorite bucket-filling methods, helping other people fill theirs.

If you’re a parent, you most likely have already filled your child’s bucket numerous times today. If you would like a helpful tool for empowering them to do the same, I highly recommend How Full Is Your Bucket? for Kids. Published by Gallup Press, you can find it along with other Tom Rath bestsellers here.

Parents of 10-14 year olds, you will find resources to help discover your child’s strengths there as well.

Care to help fill some more buckets today (including yours)? Spread the word about this empowering children’s book! Pin it. Tweet it. Share it.

If you enjoy this month’s inspiring book find you might also like:
Incredible You and Unstoppable Me!
The Dot, Ish and
The 7 Habits of Happy Kids

Find InnerPiecesGallery online at their blog, twitter and Etsy Shop.

InnerPiecesGallery, EtsyKids Team nor Etsy is affiliated with the books author(s), illustrator(s) or publisher.  This review is provided simply for the joy of sharing good books and for supporting the work of inspiring authors.

Tweet

Tutorial: Show Off Your Shamrocks

From Peggy at ComfyCozyKeepsakes.

I’m Irish. 1/4 Irish tossed in with 1/4 Polish and 1/2 German. I LOVE my heritage – all 3 of them. I also   LOVE to decorate for holidays. I have a bin for each and I can tell you right now that my St. Patrick’s Day bin is too small for my liking.

That means it’s time to make some more decorations!!

This is one of the easiest craft projects ever!


Materials needed:

• Shamrock clip art. Copy a simple and FREE file on line or draw your own. 
• 2 sheets of paper or card stock. Card stock works better. 
• Scissors 
• Yarn – white 
• Green Felt or Craft Foam. I like the “natural” look of felt over foam. 
• Tape 

You probably don’t even need directions do you? OK, if you are truly “crafting challenged”, read on:

1.  Copy or trace the Shamrock shape onto the paper/card stock. Cut them out. I used 2 sizes of shamrocks on mine.

2.  Trace shamrocks onto Felt or Foam. Cut them out.

3.  Cut TWO very small holes, evenly spaced, at the top and bottom of shamrocks. 

4.  Cut Yarn to desired length for windows or doors. 

 5.  Slip yarn through holes in shamrocks. Tie a knot at the bottom so the shamrock doesn't slip off.

 

6.  Hang with tape on windows or doors. TA DA!


Keep up with ComfyCozyKeepsakes on facebook.

Tweet

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

On The Go Diaper Pouch from Loubugsboutique

Cat in the Hat Boutique Hair Bow from Avabowtiquee

Dr Seuss Knot Dress Thing One and Thing Two from GROOVYGURLZ

Cat with a funny hat Personalized Invitation or Thank You Cards Printable from PinkPickleStudio

Whimsical Cat in the Hat Hair Clip from CravingCuteness

Cloth Diaper Cover - one size from Zookies

Tweet

Introducing Kurli•Cues!

Today we introduce you to Karla from Kurli•Cues

Q: What motivated you to start your shop?
Probably the same reason most people start a business! :) When I became a SAHM, I realized I needed to find some way to contribute to the family finances. I wanted to be able to have "free" money that wasn't necessarily a part of our budget. I've always loved crafty, girly things so making hair accessories seemed like a good fit. At the time, though, my only child was a boy so I started creating for family and friends.

Q: What is the story behind your shop name?
Originally I thought I'd call my business KCreations - using my initials. BUT that domain was already taken and the name in general seemed over used when I did online research. I still wanted to incorporate my initials and didn't want to choose a name that would limit what I could sell. My husband is actually the one who came up with the name ~Kurli•Cues. We were brainstorming one night and the minute he said it, I knew that's what I'd go with. :)

Q: Do you have a favorite Etsy Shop (non-child related)?
I love shopping on Etsy! I've mostly purchased supplies for my business, party supplies, and digital design elements thus far, but have favorited A LOT of jewelry! The most recent shop I HEART is HooplaHoopla.

Q: What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
Aside from the fact that people actually buy what I make?? I had no idea the amount of non-crafting time it would take to create an online presence and maintain my business. But I've developed a new love and appreciation for taking good pictures and learning all the "behind the scenes" computer "stuff"!

Q: What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
I sell hair accessories.... and so do a TON of Etsy sellers, so probably it's most challenging to stand out from the crowd. My kiddos are still little now, so most of ideas shall remain in my head until such a time as they are in school! I also find it a challenge to price competitively without underselling my time and expenses.

Q: What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
I love helping mothers of babies, especially, find solutions that work for their new little one's hair - or lack thereof! Other than that I don't really have any sort of world changing philosophy or motivation behind what I do. I enjoy it and do promise my customers a top quality product that cannot be purchased from mass producers or foreign importers. :)

Q: How would someone (other then you) describe you?
I didn't really know how to answer this so I asked some others! "multi-tasker, creative, passionate about what she believes in, true friend, meticulous, organized, honest and trustworthy" And well, I shouldn't have asked, because now I feel the need to live up to all those descriptions! :)

Q: What music do you have on while you are creating?
I usually work in silence - it's more relaxing but occasionally I will stream my favorite Pandora stations on my TV. At night, I watch TV with my husband while I work.

Q: What do you do when you aren't working?
My other "job" is teaching piano from my home, but when I'm not working I enjoy playing with my kiddos, cleaning and organizing my home, and going on dates with my husband. We are also very heavily involved with various ministries at our church. I also LOVE to read, but don't have much time for that these days.

Tweet