GoodyBlog

May Flowers

   

If you haven't yet discovered Kids Craft Weekly, then it's time. Amber Carvan, Australian mom of 2, offers up really accessible, adorable, and kid-friendly craft ideas. You can sign up for her themed newsletters that will give you fantastic ideas for rainy day crafts, birthday party crafts, and  educational crafts.

The most recent edition is about flowers—you can get complete instructions for these precious blooms and step by step photo-illustrations on her site. Kids Craft Weekly is the perfect remedy for the "I'm bored" weekend mantra!

Plug of the Week: Home Improvment Made Easy

When Marni Jameson isn’t writing for Parents, she’s dishing out very practical and funny home-decorating advice in her syndicated column “At Home with Marni Jameson." Her new book, The House Always Wins, is about how you can create your dream home—but a real-world, budget-friendly dream home that actually works for a family, not a spartan, spotless showroom. And the book isn't all how-tos: Marni has two daughters, one of whom wants gorillas and elephants painted on her bedroom walls and a “furry phone,” so she’s also got great tips on finding a sane compromise when your kids make crazy decor requests. You can order a copy here or enter to win one by sending her your most horrific remodeling tale.

Better than an Apple for the Teacher

As you are preparing for Mother's Day, you should also keep in mind that the week prior is Teacher Appreciation Week. I'm of the belief that we should celebrate teachers everyday (and Moms too for that matter), but I guess it can't hurt to have an annual reminder.

 

   

Skip to My Lou posted this ab fab gift idea that just sends me—use a cheap-o drugstore pill box and fill it with a weeks-worth of punny notes and gifts for the teacher. (I know what you're thinking—that in addition, a few muscle-relaxers would make a teacher feel really appreciated.) She has come up with an adorable list of teacher appreciation sayings that you can download straight from her site, along with some how-to's for the little filler gifts. Then you wrap it up in a cute little package, and it's a full 7 days of appreciation. (The cute poem tag is download-able too.)

2-4-6-8...who do we appreciate? (Sorry, I just couldn't resist.)

Cupcakes to DIY for!

Parents food stylist Karen Tack just released a "faaabulous" how-to book called Hello, Cupcake! Irresistibly Playful Creations Anyone Can Make. GoodyBloggers GoodyVloggers Taryn, Amanda K., and I crashed the recent launch party with a camera to check out the book, chat with her about the art of dessert, and learn how to make some of the cutest cupcakes ever–well, everyone's except mine...thanks again, guys.

   

M.Y.O.S (Make Your Own Stamp)

If you are really into scrapbooking and crafting, you'll know that rubber stamps can cost a ton of cash if you are of the type that needs variety. Here are a few super-easy techniques to M.Y.O.S (yes, I have officially coined this term).

Got a collection of great cookie cutters? Sew-Mad came up with this great way to make stamps from a cookie cutter, craft foam, and a piece of scrap wood. Check out her site for the great tutorial (and look at the precious craft she created with this bunny stamp). Thanks to Whip Up for the link.

Kids Craft Weekly uses this classic technique with sponges to make a stamp. I love how she glues the sponge to a jar (yes, we'll all about reusing) as the "handle".

CraftChi went for the all- in-one and carved a shape from a wine cork (parents, this one is strictly for you). I love the simplicity of the designs.

Are you a stamp-master that thinks beyond the potato? We'd love to hear your cool ways to M.Y.O.S.

Happy Birthday!

Ahhhhh, birthday parties! (Do you hear a sigh of joy or perhaps a frazzled, pull-your- hair-out scream?) These events welcome both the joys and the anxieties of being a parent. But don't fret; we're here to help.

Check out the May issue of Parents that hit the news stands yesterday for 87 new birthday party ideas (yes, we actually counted). We give you everything from party themes to party planning do's and don't's to the coolest cake pans you'll ever see, so you won't be left twirling in circles, begging Calgon to take you away. And of course we would never leave you without the ever-important time line that will help keep your candles and cupcakes in a row.

Now you can breathe a sigh of relief. Party planning just got a little easier.

Little Bunny Frou Frou

It's Easter this weekend, and I'm absolutely in love with this little girl's Bunny Costume from FAO Schwarz (found via GiftRap). I think that any little girl in a tutu is probably the cutest thing on earth... but add some bunny ears and a tail and we're reaching cute overload. The FAO Schwarz $105 price tag definitely isn't wallet-friendly, but this costume seems like something you could easily DIY at home. (And if you do—please send us the adorable pictures!) Happy Easter!

Toy Storage Brilliance

As a kid, I had the coolest Lego storage bag ever. When it was open, it was a round piece of denim with cord weaving in and out of grommets along the edge, thus making a drawstring around the circumference (can you picture that?). The Legos would go to the center of the mat, and I'd pull the drawstring and hang the satchel on its proper hook. I never understood why this system went out of style because it's quite brilliant. (If this still exists, please let me know!)

 

When I landed on this project by Soozs, I had a total flashback. Only she's kicked it up a notch. She wanted a place to keep her daughter's barnyard toys, so she created a bag turned play-mat turned backdrop for the animals. Not only does it solve the storage issue, but it also provides an imaginative play world. I heart it! (Check out this talented Aussie's book called Making Stuff for Kids. It looks like a must-have!)

Thanks to Write, Mama, Write for the link!   

This Frame is Sketchy

How fun is this DIY Doodlebook picture frame at Vat19? You (or your kids) get 80 pages to draw your own frame designs.

How-To Gurus

I admit it--I am a "how-to" junkie.  I can't get enough of this D.I.Y. craze sweeping the nation.  So you can imagine how totally thrilled I was to come across Howcast.com, a website that will show me how to basically do anything. The site is broken down into categories, from Kids to Personal Care & Style to Mind & Body. 

Some of my personal faves are How To Pretend You're a Real New Yorker, How to Make Your Girlfriend's Parents Like You, and How to Get Into a Nightclub (the materials needed: appropriate clothing, good shoes, money to burn and optional: an expensive car).  But in all seriousness, the kids section is super-fun, with videos on crafts, games, and even essential how-to's like changing a diaper. 

I love the cute "You Will Need" graphics--they include grown-up as a material needed.  Listed right under scissors.  How perfect.