Red, White, and Blue afghan

I am just getting started on this afghan but I can help from sharing it.   I don't know that I have ever completed a pattern quite this tough....and now that I've decided to make it into an afghan...I only have 15 more blocks to make.  The flower block is a pattern that has to be paid for at (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/american-beauty-afghan-block) for $1.99

I was gonna use this pattern for the entire afghan but after realizing the difficulty, I added a sunburst square which can be found here: http://www.crochetville.org/forum/showthread.php?t=126467&highlight=square

I think this is going to turn out to be a beautiful blanket.... I' have so  don't you forget DON'T JUST PIN IT!

Tissue Season

Well, cold season is upon us, and with kids, we always need to have those tissues handy.  This is a clever little pattern to add a little more pizzazz to you tissue package.  This was a quick project.  I used size 3 thread on it and will probably use the size 10 next time.  Was a super easy project!!!!

DON'T JUST PIN that next project.

Eco-Tote

I just loved the look of this little tote when I found it.  I had the perfect (non-pilling) yarn that would work.  It was a fairly simple pattern and worked up very quickly.  I used a dark brown and used some tan to add a little contrast tot he bag.  I also took a few of the dc, ch1 rows out in hope of making it less stretchy springy. You can find the pattern here: http://www.redheart.com/free-patterns/pattern-correction-eco-friendly-tote

I am so glad that I tried this pattern out.   Next time you see something you like, DON'T JUST PIN IT!!

Ping Pong Chores

I wasn't so sure how this idea would work with my kids, but I must say I am pretty impressed. This pin is found on the "Better Homes and Gardens" website (http://www.bhg.com/decorating/storage/organization-basics/declutter-and-stress-less/?sssdmh=dm17.542501&esrc=nwdc081011&email=1239027418#page=20)

Total cost for this was about $5.00 (the cost of an 18 pack of ping pong balls at Target).  I took a marker and wrote toy groups down that the boys could pick up.  Since they are so young, they tend to pour all of the toys out all over the room.  The first time I tried the my oldest (the more difficult child) would not do much to help while the younger two flew through the chores.  The few times since then that we have used the ping pong balls, the oldest child has been more app to help.  The good thing for us is that since our boys are so young and cannot read yet, we can "adapt" the balls as we need.  It's a must that I give this idea TWO THUMBS UP!

You never know what might tickle your fancy until you try it, so remember, DON'T JUST PIN IT!

Curly Q Scarf - Crocheted

Well, folks today I turned the big THREE-FIVE.   LoL!  I spent the morning shopping and found this beautiful yarn.  The pattern on the package looked simple enough until I got home and realize it was meant for knitting....and I only know how to crochet.

I spent some time on Pintrest and Ravelry and found a simple pattern that I tried out.  As you use Ravelry, you can rename patterns to suit your needs and I am calling this one Curly Q Scarf.  The yarn I used is Red Heart's Boutique Sashay.  One skein is 30 yards and I only used 10 yards for my scarf.  The skein cost just under $5.00 at Wal-Mart so one scarf costs less than $2.00 to make.  My first scarf took just over an hour but I had never used a "yarn" like this before.   It's finished length is right about 5 ft (60").  I liked how quickly this worked up and these will be excellent gifts for my ladies group!!!!

The original link from the pin can be found at Ravelry (http://www.ravelry.com/projects/joelynjellybean/francis-crochet-9)

Regardless of if it is a DIY project, recipe, or craft project, remember....DON'T JUST PIN IT!

Car Ride Peacekeepers

We live in a time where sometimes Gas Economy overrules the luxury of space when it comes to choosing an automobile.  Thus it is in out case.  We traded in an SUV that was averaging 12 mpg for a 4 door car that averages 20 mpg.  BUT we gave up lots of space that we used to keep the boys a bit separated, also.  The past few months have found endless bickering, fighting, hitting, and LOUDNESS in our backseat.  I was THRILLED  to stumble an idea found on the "Less Than Perfect Life of Bliss" website. (http://lessthanperfectlifeofbliss.blogspot.com/2011/07/kid-clips-for-road-trips.html)

I had each of the boys pick out a wooden object at Micheal's ($0.59 each) and then glued them to clothespins. I wrote the boys' names on their clip.  I also bought a bag of DumDum's (abt 50/bag)  from Target for about $2.50. As I placed about 15 suckers in the glove box and went to clip the clothespins on the visor when I ran into a small snag.  My visors where to thick to hold the pins. :-(  A temporary fix was close at hand though.   There was a bungee cord in the floor and I wrapped that around the visor and the clips work great.  I am actually planning to staple a could of wooden popsicle sticks to a big rubber band (found around Sunday papers here in my area).  This will wrap around the visor and give me somewhere to clip these.

I have been using these clips for about a week now.  Needless to say, car rides have become MUCH MORE enjoyable!!!  I only use the pin system if all 3 boys are in the car with me.  I also say that their time starts when we pull out of the drive and ends when we pull back in as most of our trips are local errands.  On top of it, the boys LOVE that they helped by picking out there own picture.

Make your life more enjoyable....Don't Just Pin It!!!!!

Ivory Soap Clouds

"Our Best Bites" website is crammed with recipes, but here is something thrown into the mix....Ivory Soap Clouds (more info at... http://www.ourbestbites.com/2012/04/kitchen-craft-soap-clouds-and-homemade-kiddie-tub-soaps/ )

The website given above has TONS of ideas to go along with the basics that I have been given here.  All this takes is a bar of Ivory Soap (MUST BE IVORY), a piece of wax paper (or saran wrap), and a microwave. Now, I've been told, the newer the soap, the better this works.  The Ivory soap I used was bought about 18 months ago.  (Got it for next to nothing using sale prices and coupons.)  Although I have done a full bar at a time, this time I only did a half bar at a time because I do have a smaller microwave.  All you have to do is place the bar of soap on the wax paper on your microwave tray and turn it on.  I find that with my microwave 1 minute and 15 seconds was plenty for a full size bar, and 45 seconds worked great for a half bar.  Just watch it close and you can usually guess when the cloud is done growing.

I have found that kids and adults alike love the feel of mashing the clouds in their hands and fingers.  As you do the "cloud" turns to a dust of sorts.  This can be used for all kinds of things and several ideas are given on the website above.  I've not made anything with mine yet, but I think I might make shaped soaps with it for Christmas.  This is also a great way to get around grating bar soap if you make your own laundry detergent.  I shared this with the teachers of my oldest two boys and both LOVED the idea and have plans on sharing it with their class.

NOTE:  If you live outside of the USA, research the ingredients of Ivory Soap to locate a local brand that will work for you.  One of the keys of Ivory soap is that it contains alot of air (and will float on water) which allows this experiment to work.


Just remember, Don't Just Pin It!