Perler Bead Mania

The newest craze in our house is the perler bead magnet. Of course, my boys couldn't make this project easy and use the included instruction books. They want to make Mario Brothers, Pokemon, and other video game characters (which I easily found patterns for on google). These have made much cooler magnets than my lame "I love South Carolina" turtles. 

The best thing about this project is they have to count repeatedly.

These beads came in two sizes so I bought the larger ones for C and D. I actually think I prefer the large ones. I just used jewelry cement to glue the magnet on the back after I molded the beads together as the instructions on the bead package stated.

Nothing a Little Glitter Won't Fix

I wanted to work in my classroom today, but of course I didn't make it there. My husband took the keys to the A-team van that had the carseats in it and the minivan is having thermostat issues. This gave me an opportunity to raid my craft supplies. After seeing someone paint their Tom's with modge podge and glitter, I had to do it! I love Tom's, they take a beating.
Using the finest (size not quality lol) glitter, I mixed it with modge podge and "painted" my shoes. To my surprise, they turned out awesome! I am debating on adding some Texas Ranger T's on them, but I am not sure. This was such a quick fix for my raggidy old shoes. On the original silver sparkled Tom's, I used the same size glitter that was already on my shoes.

Original Silver Tom's with stains and holes

Old gray Tom's with holes

Like new shiny Dorothy-looking Tom's and New Silver Tom's

Total Cost:  $3.47 for fine glitter at Hobby Lobby

Total Saved:  Atleast $90

Simple Homemade Goals for February

I love to make and create different things. I jump from activity to activity and craft to craft usually every other month. I spend my money on what interest me at the time and then am left with a bunch of things I will no longer use. I am hoping that if I lay out a game plan for my insanity, then I will have time to work on a few things at a time without overwhelming myself.


1. Homemade laundry soap-my husband is not impressed about this and has begged me to not do it...silly man.

2.  Homemade Italian Wedding Cake- my all time favorite cake and I have never made it. What's up with that?

3.  Homemade Bisquick- We love pancakes in waffles in this house! It would be nice to just have a canister to use every Saturday and Sunday morning.

4.  Garden Box- I tried a garden last year and it was an epic fail. I think I nice 4 x 6 wooden garden box would be perfect for my tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers.

5.  Cornish Game Hens- They look so awesome...why have I not eaten one before?

6.  Chocolate Playdough- This looks awesome for a Valentine center.

7.  Grape Nut Ice Cream-I have had this a few times and it is my absolute favorite. I need to dig up a recipe for it somewhere. Thank goodness for the internet.

Ornament Attempt #1

In an attempt to add ornaments to my child magnet, I mean Christmas Tree, I picked up a 6 pack of clear glass ornaments from Michael's for $2. I found 3 different acrylic paints from my craft cabinet and gave a few squirts inside the glass. I shook the irnament around, allowing the paint to spread. They ended up being one of my favorite crafts for the year. They match my Christmas colors and my house. Tomorrow I will try to snap a pic in the light.

Christmas Crafting Tonight

I painted a flower pot Christmas tree with acrylic paint. Then I found a cheap star at Michaels and hot glued it to the top.

Next I used a foam wreath and 3 different rolls if tulle cut into 20 inch strips to make a wreath. I just tied the tulle to the wreath. I bought the bow to put on it, but the colors are not a match. I might try to pick up some ornaments to glue around it instead. My husband said I need to slow down on the wreath making. He just doesn't understand!

Cinnamon Stick Candles

Due to my lack of Christmas spirit this year, I have not been crafting as much as usual. Yesterday while organizing my craft supplies in search of scotch tape, I found some things to keep me busy. I found some pillar candles from Dollar Tree ($1 each) and 2 bags of cinnamon sticks (also $1 each). I hotglued the sticks to the candles and they made a nice filler for the middle of my table centerpiece. Cheap and easy and they smell delicious!

Burlap Wreath

Tonight at Hobby Lobby I stumbled upon some clearance burlap and an 80% off fall sale. It was only a yard so I cut the burlap in 4in x 1yd strips and just wove it through a wire hanger I had smoothed out. I added 2 accents I got for a few bucks and twisted the wire hanger together at the top. I might add a bow but haven't decided yet.

Pinecone Turkeys

In keeping with my Turkey week, today we made pinecone turkeys for our art museum. A little glue and a few feathers later, we had a pretty cute turkey. I did glue the beak and gobbler on because I used the glue gun, but the feathers, eyes, glue were all them. Some even made one to send to grandma!

Here is the body getting a chance to dry

A finished product completed by one of my older children

Shopping List 10/23

There is so much going on with my family lately, but I still make time to craft!

Michael's has ribbon this week 3 for a $1 so I am going to stock up for Christmas. Also they have 24 inch pine wreaths at $5.99 each. You know I like to hang a wreath on every door in the house. Here are all the coupons for the week!

Hobby Lobby has been my favorite place to get crafts lately. It is so much bigger than Michael's and they have fabric! Spray Paint is 30% off this week and I need some fall colors. I love the small cans they carry!
I also need some felt as I am going to make some adjustments to the boys fabric bins in their room. Here is the 40% coupon for the week.

CVS is my candy store hook up for the week. We have lots of Halloween Parties and treat bags to fill. Candy is 4 for $7 after ECB's and there were tons of $1 off 2 coupons last week.

Easy Halloween Crafts UPDATED PICS

This week was especially busy as my husband started his new job and we all adjusted to our new schedule. I did find a little time to craft. I modge podged a jack-o-lantern and friends on a mason jar ($1.50) and used scrapbook paper and letters from Hobby Lobby to make a sign (cost $7). I need to stop doing Halloween projects and start on Thanksgiving. The frame is a $1 frame with a $1 bag of eyes from Michael's. I am making a sign today and officially starting Thanksgiving crafts.

Shopping List 10/9

Michaels- there are 2 great coupons for Michael's this week. This one for 50% off good for today and tomorrow and this one for 40% good for Tuesday though Saturday. Craft pumpkins are half off this week so I think I am going to grab some to embellish with sequins. Also I am using my half off coupon for black feather boas.

Hobby Lobby- Here is the 40% off any item for this week.

Target- Buy 2 Gillette Proglide razors and get a $5 gift card. These are $9.89 and if you use 2 $5 off coupons from last week's paper you will pay $4.78 after gift card.

CVS- Not crazy about this ad. I have $11 in Extra Care Bucks and I am on my last pack of the Buy 6 get 1 free promo so I am going to get an extra pack of diapers for D to take to school.

Walgreens- I only see more candy corn 2 for $2. I am going to try my hand at Homemade Butterfingers from here.

Big Lots Friends and Family

I received an email with a link for 20% off your entire purchase at Big Lots on Sunday, October 9th. I think I am going to see if I can find some awesome baskets and craft junk for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Here is the link if anyone else is bargain hunting this weekend.

Mummy Jars

My friend Jen made these and posted a pic on facebook. Of course, I fell in love. These are made from a spaghetti sauce jar and a banana pepper jar. I just used crepe paper to wrap them and hot glued some eyes. I think the are adorable! I am going to buy some LED battery tea lights to put in them! Also I bought the crepe paper and eyes for only $1 at Dollar Tree

She had a whole mess of them lined on her shelf and they were adorable. Maybe I can add a few more...

Dollar Tree Love

I have been trying not to overdo the decorations, but still make some cute and cheap things. I have been dragging C and D to local Dollar Trees to scope out the goods. I picked up some tall glass vases, a bag of spanish moss, skeleton garland and some bugs. I told my sister-in-law thay I wanted bones and she told me to just take some apart, so I did. These were cheap and I am filling them with other things for Thanksgiving.

Stress=Crafting

Today has been a rough one so I needed to take some time to craft. While the little ones rested I painted some leftover canvases I found on clearance a few weeks ago. When the boys got home, they wrote their names with a paint pen and stamped their hands. I ended up hot gluing the canvases because they were a pain to hang.

Chore Chart Update

I bought a new pocket chart for the boys' chore chart. I love it! Check out www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com to make your own.

Halloween 2011

I have been MIA on  blogging this week for two reasons. #1 I am addicted to Pinterest and have to make everything I see. #2 I am decorating for Halloween which involves the first reason. Here is some of my progress:

This is my candy corn wreath. Everything I used to make it, I got from the Dollar Tree. 2 rolls of black ribbon, 1 foam wreath and 2 bags of candy corn.

I just wanted to show the cute little mice I put on top of the chair rail. They are all over the Dining Room/Family Room, but they just made a cool shot at this angle. I got these from Michael's from the Martha Stewart section for about $3 and some change.

We made about 3 of these ghosts with $1 white paper lanterns from Michaels and a sharpie. I haven't decided where to put these yet so they are hanging on the curtain rod until I get some fish line.

Here is a ribbon wreath that took up all of my free time in the evenings. I used 25 rolls of ribbon @ $1.39 a piece so this is not a craft for the frugal! The signs I put on it were only $1 at Hobby Lobby though.

Well there you have it, I know that my 3 readers are missing me!

Simple Apple Math Center

I made 2 apple trees out of construction paper and added green, yellow, and red apple cutouts to them. I then added small bowls with tweezers and pom-poms to match the apple colors. My boys and my children at school loved sorting the apples and picking them up with tweezers (great fine motor skill).

Homemade Applesauce

I followed through with my applesauce. I cut up almost a whole stockpot. Put in 1/2 cup of brown sugar, a cup of water and a little cinnamon. The kids loved it.

Shopping List 9/25

What do I need to craft this week?

Michaels: 40% off coupon here. I think I need some stock paper while it is 5 for $1 to mod podge on some letters for Halloween. Also I need some craft pumpkins while they are 40% off. (thanks Pinterest for all the ideas)

Hobby Lobby: 40% off coupon here . I am going to grab some hurricane glasses to fill with candles and candy corn. They are 50% off.

CVS: Physician's formula makeup is spend $10 get $7 back in extra care bucks and one of my eyeshadows dropped on the floor so I am going to scope out what they have.

Walgreens: I need more candy corn to finish a wreath. It is 2 for $2.00 after register reward. My boys keep eating the bags I buy.