Craft happens

 I am looking forward to finishing my colored pencil cases!!  But, Varsity baseball in full swing right now!



For the love of a child!! DeniseMarie

Oldest boys are 10-14

I am passionate about the oldest boys category!!  10-14  

People forget to think about them but I can't!!  

As soon as my boys were that age, I had to pack those boxes every year!!  I love to give them tools, fishing kits, tool boxes! 

They have to start prepping for a Trade and some of them are already working and/or providing for their families.

See my plentiful Pins:
 here (Home Depot work apron for 77 cents) and here (rain ponchos, I find at Dollar Tree 2/$1)
 here (Dollar Tree colorful rope) and here  (sample of collected items for the boys)
 here (zip ties) and here (mini tool kit in a pencil box)
 here (hand crank flash lights, Amazon) and here (Amazon bulk clippers)

 Tool box at Lowe's is Pinned here.  tray is here.

 Fishing kit ideas:
 Pinned here (coke can tab as hook) and here (mint container as mini tackle box)
 here (pill bottle and recycled wine corks) here (cork w/hooks and line)
here (pvc compact tackle box)

I am guilty of just putting fishing items into the box that I have found on clearance at Wal-Mart.
But, this yr. I'll make sure to do kits.

I have always gone to Dollar Tree and loaded up there for these tool items.  This year I am adding a new tool to my work apron...Harbor Freight!!  I use a 20% off coupon to buy an item and use a FREE coupon to get an item.  The catch is...only 1 free item per store per day!!  I thought I could match item/free item.  But, I guess I'll be going in more than I thought.  I have 2 Harbor Freights in my area so depending on my energy level and errands, I have a shot at popping in a few times each month.  I have gathered some great things this way.  I also hope their $7 tool boxes go on special some time during the year so I can snag some up!  They look to be comparable to the Lowe's box.  Here is 1/3 of what I have stashed so far for 2015 boxes.

I have not even begun to mess with packaging in this category.  I think I'll have the boys help me on Mother's Day to process and prep.  I figure I'll just keep collecting and split it all up later.

P. S. - I got $$ from my Hubby &oldest to pay for 6 boxes to ship as my Val. gift!

For the love of a child!!

DeniseMarie

A skirt/dress out of what??

Upcycle a WHAT??  

Up-cycle a bed-skirt into a dress!!  See Pin here.  

I was hooked as soon as I saw this!!  I love to look at the linens in Goodwill stores.  I sometimes get some amazing bargains there!  A bed-skirt is $3.99!  You can make quite a few little girl dresses with a bed skirt!!  I was smitten recently when I found a Laura Ashley bed-skirt!!  I felt like I was skipping up to the checker!!  I was probably running! lol
I could have  gotten another 1 at Salvation Army that was cyan blue sateen AND 1/2 price.  But, I couldn't tell if it was too sheer or not and erred on the side of caution. 

All Mom and I need now is to coordinate my ribbon hoard so we can sew a channel for the cinching of the top.  I had it in the breeze today on my back patio...smells SO fresh!!

Up-cycle a T-shirt into a skirt!  See Pin here. 

I bought 3 brand new t-shirts to use.  The bottom hem becomes the ribbon cinched waist band.  Now...this is my kind of project!!  The bottom "hem" is created when you cut the arm-pits all the way across.  It may curl a bit but that is quite all right.
This delightful idea has a bonus project!  See Pin here.  Create 2 drawstring bags out of the sleeves of the t-shirt.  I can use these bags for marbles or puzzles or hair accessories.

 I hope I can create an accessory for her hair with what is left of the shirt after these 2 projects.  That way, 3 oldest girls will match to the T! lol

For the love of a child!!

 DeniseMarie