April Challenge

So, I guess April is going to BE something!  I've signed up for a blog challenge of blogging everyday in April, except Sundays, with each day starting with a lettered topic A on the first, B on the next and so on and so forth. I guess M and J will get a full month of crafts and cakes!  Wish me luck!  If you blog and want to sign-up, go here.

"Mess Art" magnets

Sunday morning....slow day, happy kids, and the ever present question... "Mommy, can I make something?".  So, not wanting to create another huge mess in the craft room, i gave him a little cup and access to my supply wall.  He picked out a few items and "ta-da!"  a wooden disk, some random items, and glue gun, and a magnet dot.  Easy and satisfied that artsy need!

Paraprosdokian Sentence

I have to give credit to Mimi (my mom) for these.  I may put them randomly in my FB status updates, but they're too funny not share all at once.  Enjoy!

A paraprosdokian sentence consists of two parts where the first is a figure of speech and the second an intriguing variation of the first. They are used typically for humorous or dramatic effect.

1. Going to church does not make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

2.  Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

3. If I agreed with you we'd both be wrong.

4. The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

5. Some cause happiness wherever they go, others whenever they go.

6. There's a fine line between cuddling and holding someone down so they can't get away.

7. The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.

8. We never really grow up; we only learn how to act in public.

9. Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.

10. How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?

11. Dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand at the edge of a pool and throw fish.

12. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.

13. Women will never be equal to men until they can walk down the street with a baldhead and a beer gut and still think they're sexy.

14. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.

15. You don't need a parachute to skydive, but you do need one to skydive again.

16. The voices in my head may be fake, but they have good ideas!

17. Hospitality is making your guests feel like they're at home, even if you wish they were.

18. I scream the same way whether I'm about to be eaten by a shark or seaweed touches my foot.

19. You're never too old to learn something stupid.

Homemade Valentines

It all started with standing in the holiday aisle at Walmart.  Since Christmas, it has been stocked with Valentines! So, the four of us were standing there looking at them.  M is in preschool and we know the valentine party is coming.  However, the selection was overwhelming and underwhelming all at the same time.  Do you know what i mean?  Well, M chose some, but i offered him an option.  I said, let's see if we can't find some cool valentines to make and if we can't then we will come back and you buy some.  Deal!  So, we went on Pintrest, Family Fun, and Etsy....perused the ideas and M chose a craft based on making your own heart crayons.  Awesome!  Found it on Pintrest btw.  I've not had luck before with making crayons, but i never had specific degrees or times either.  this time i was ready!  I asked my sister to pick up a silicone ice tray from Ikea.......they have almost every shape you can imagine.  She, of course, found hearts.  Mikey picked through and found his broken crayons.....like that was hard.....and we set to work.  Success!!  I would especially like to point out that the ice molds (which say "for water only") worked just fine!  No melting/burning issues at all!  Certainly cheaper than going to Michael's for molds!  Hope you are inspired to do your own!  BTW, 230 degrees for 15-20 minutes!  I'll update when we put the Valentines together!

Picking out the broken crayons....the small amount in front of him is what isn't broken!

Broken Crayons

naked crayons

Awesome mold from Ikea

Melted crayons!

Success!

Seasonal Hands!

I saw this craft on Pintrest and Mike and I gave it a try!  I think it came out pretty good!

     

We hung them up above Mikey's desk

Nothing to Report

Wow!  I just realized it has been over 2 months since my last post!  It's funny how you start a blog because you have so much on your mind, so many ideas, so many inspirations at the time.  You are really good about blogging for, well, the first week or so in my case and then you either get bored with your own thoughts because they are the same thoughts......unfulfilled.....or, on a happier note, you get so wrapped up in seeing them through that you totally forget the passing of time.

Well, sorry to disappoint, but i don't really have anything new going on to entertain others with.  I have a new sewing machine, I am planning my husband's Mexican Fiesta Birthday party, I completed a special gift for my parents 35th, and I have recently determined a Storybook Birthday party theme for my youngest son's 2nd birthday coming up in June.  These are the ideas, plans, and news, but I haven't really produced anything yet that could be shared........however, I do have a weekend free and a new machine and plans for a few gifts, so maybe I'll surprise you all with a few pictures this weekend of nifty things.  It's been rough at work, so perhaps a weekend in front of my machine, just me and the fabric (and 4 tiny hands wanting to help mommy at all times) will inspire me to think grand things and share grand ideas!  Hope you are feeling more inspired than I!

Truth-Telling Toy Catalogs

Wouldn't it be nice to get a little truth out of a toy catalog.  I mean tell me what i'm getting into so I can make a more informed decision.  Go ahead and give me a nice picture of how the thing would look if all the directions are in English and the parts are ALL there.  But then bring in the "targeted child" let them play, then tell me how long they actually played with it, what they were able to tear apart first, and what was the main thing they wanted to put in their mouth and then show me a picture of the destruction.  Yes, show me the mess!!!  It probably won't deter me from buying the million piece toy, but then I can't bitch about how many parts there are and how it's always everywhere!  Also, wouldn't this be a nice tool for selecting toys for say....oh.. nieces and nephews! (payback, sis!).  Don't give me a description of the "educational value".  I'm sorry, just because something has been decorated with the alphabet does not qualify it as a dictionary!  Just saying...