LOVEZILLA

Up, Up and Away! Bubble Stabilizer

Apr
25

It’s finally Spring. The kids want to be out. You WANT the kids to be out. It’s perfect “bubble weather”. This is the best bubble solution recipe I’ve found. If you make it the night before it’s even better. Scoot your kiddies out the door.

  • 1/2 cup liquid dish soap (Dawn or Joy work best, but anything will do)
  • 1 tsp glycerin
  • 1/2 water

Glycerin added to bubbles makes them more “hearty”. They will blow bigger and float longer without breaking. You can purchase glycerin in the pharmacy section of the grocery store. It’s only a couple of dollars and will last forever. Glycerine is used in the making of some soaps, skin products and even food. It’s slimy, sweet and safe.

When my children were small, our favorite way to blow bubbles was with a set of paper or plastic disposable cups. Cut the bottom inch or two off the bottom of one of the cups. Do it as neatly as possible so there aren’t any jagged edges. Fill the other cup about 1/3 of the way up with bubble solution. Dip the bottomless cup into the cup of solution, pull it out and blow through the wide end into the cup. TaDa. If you blow slowly the bubbles get really big.

It’s fun to make a big batch of bubbles and pour it into a serve yourself drink container with a spout. That way the kids can refill their own cup when they need more.

Try it, you’ll be blown away!

 

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POW! BANG! BAM!

Apr
17

BOOM, BOOM, POW! How do you like me now? We were first introduced to the marshmallow gun in Jackson Hole, Wyoming where we paid $12.00 only to realize, that even anti-crafties could make one. We took it apart, measured the pieces of PVC sprinkler pipe and made twenty, (not a typo), twenty more. My oldest daughters had all out wars with the neighborhood boys who soon learned that a girl wearing a hoodie sweatshirt (to protect their hair from the dreaded “moistmallow”), could beat them anytime, anyplace. I have fond memories of them coming in the house breathless from a neighborhood chase, their sweatshirts speckled with circles of marshmallow dust.

Although a grass full of marshmallows isn’t always my favorite thing, they do disappear when your sprinklers go on. I shudder to think of the sheer number of marshmallows my dogs have consumed via the M-Gun.

If you’re up to the challenge, you will need:

  • One 17 inch long piece of 3/4″ pvc pipe. (Sprinkler section of a Home Improvement store)
  • One “t” shaped 2 1/2″ connector
  • One end cap
  • Two elbow shaped connectors (our say D2466 on the side)

Using a small saw or sprinkler cutter, mark and cut the pipe into the following pieces:

  • One 3″ piece
  • One 8″ piece
  • One 3 1/2″ piece
  • One 2″ piece

Hook them together as shown. We decorated them with colored duct tape, but spray paint would be great because the fit would be tighter. Make two different colors and have teams for a fun summer night activity, birthday party or youth activity. We’ve lent ours to friends a hundred times. Make one and try it out. Hard short breaths are the best!

Get your hoodie on.

 

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Party For Three

Apr
09

Easter is over.  Have you tripped over any of the stuffed Easter toys yet?If you have, your problems are officially over! Those stuffed bunnies and beanie animals just need a place to be.

Sometimes when I‘m breaking up a box to be recycled I wonder if there’s something else that box could be.  I found an old clementine box that was part cardboard and part wood.  It had to be made into something right?  It wasn’t garbage or recycling and it was pretty sturdy.  My girls always used cardboard boxes or shoeboxes as beds or cars for their babies.  When my son came along he did the same thing, (in a manly way) with his Power Rangers and super heroes

This crate looked like a table or a bed to me, so why not both?  If you want to make one, first you’ll need to find an old tangerine or clementine crate. ( When this bed/table was finished, I found great tangerine boxes at the grocery store that were curvy and cool and probably much easier to paint).  When you have your crate, put it flat side down on a piece of cardboard, trace it and cut it out. Once you have the table top cut, you can paint the crate.  It will take about two coats of acrylic or spray paint.

While your crate is drying you can cover the table top.  Using scrapbook paper, wrap the table top just like a gift so the ends are folded over and they look more finished.  Next, Mod Podge the table top to make it more sturdy.  We used two coats. When the Mod Podge is dry, use a hot glue gun to glue the table top to the crate. We had some Valentine’s Day floral picks that we glued to the inside of the table legs. It made the table stand up a bit higher.  You could use beads or blocks or leave it “as is”.

We know this is a “girly” post, but a crate could be painted in black,blue,purple or red and become a crime fighting table for all your boy’s super heroes with a car on the flip side.  Anything goes!

Before.

And after.  Goodnight.

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Oodles Of Pool Noodles

Apr
06

Pool noodles. I’ve been tripping over one I’ve had a “plan” for since last summer.  I’d tuck it somewhere and it would reappear,(usually at night on my stairs, waiting for me like a ninja).  Anyway, did you know you could cut a pool noodle as easy a cutting through wheat bread?  We cut up several colors of pool noodles and strung them end to end with a big needle and fishing line.

There are such cute shapes and colors!  You could make a garland like  ours for 3-4 dollars.  The possibilities of this garland are endless.  Tie it around your Easter serving table, across a mantle, window or door.  It could be tied to stakes on both sides of the walk leading to your front door as a decoration for a birthday or pool party.  Hang them around the birthday kid’s room.  They can easily be made for a boy or a girl.

How about red and blue for the fourth of July? Orange and black for Halloween or green and red for Christmas?

While we were taking pictures of the garland, one of the girls was stacking them into piles of different colors. Why not?  Put the left overs in a bag to use as blocks.  Also, because they float and stick to tile walls, they’d be fun tub toys too.

   Maybe you can think of other uses!  Use your noodle and see what you come up with.

 

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DIY Tooth Fairy Box

Apr
03

I have to admit I was surprised that my daughter was so fond of this easy DIY Tooth Fairy Box.  Sometimes I forget how simple things can be. Often, we’re the complicators. This easy craft was a pleasant reminder to simplify, because I like simple, it’s so…..simple.  However, if you’re one of those “complicators”  you can easily whip out some cute fabric and embellishments and glam this craft up as much as you like.  If you’re making it for a boy, the box could make to look like a car, toolbox or a super hero. But as for now, I’m going to keep it simple.

This is the reason we made the box today. You can see why it was a total emergency that it be done….by night fall.

 I did this the speediest way possible, ( it was an emergency you know).  I drew a tooth on a piece of printer paper.  Looking back I could have used cardstock because the embossing on the Altoids box is pretty deep.  I traced the tooth with a sharpie and simply colored around it.  I cut the paper to fit the top of the Altoids tin and Mod Podged it on.  The end. Tada.

I don’t know about your Tooth Fairy but ours has a hard time finding those microscopic toothies under heads and poofy pillows. This is a way to fix that little problem.  ALSO I bet she could fit some money in there!

She is one smart fairy!

 

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No Green Thumb Required

Mar
29

Spring has sprung and my kids have loved watching their world (the neighborhood) blossom and grow.  They had an absolute blast making these charming little Easter grass baskets.  Everyday they run downstairs to the kitchen window to check the progress the grass has made.  And just like flowers, bringing the grass indoors adds to any room.

Procrastinators read carefully if your planning this for Easter or you will be enjoying a basket o’ dirt if you don’t start by Saturday. Even if you do it later, it would be a darling addition to your home that could be enjoyed for weeks. The grass pictured above was planted a week ago. If you start today you may need to give your grass a trim by Easter.  My kids are looking forward to giving the grass it’s first haircut.  All you need for a spring grass centerpiece is Hard Red Winter Wheat, small rocks, soil and a container.  You can find the Hard Red Winter Wheat at any health food store. It is also known as wheatgrass and is only about $1.20 lb.

Day 5

Once you’ve gathered all your items you can get started.  First you need to put a small layer of rocks, (about 1/4 of the container),in the bottom of the container. Then add soil leaving about an inch to spare at the top.  Spread a generous layer of seeds along the top of the soil.  Next, cover the seeds with a very thin layer of soil. Water immediately and keep the soil damp daily.  I sprayed mine every morning with a spray bottle.  Put your container in a well-lit window.  You’ll start to see the sprouts moving the dirt around on day 2 or 3.  You could even juice the grass for some health benefits when they’re ready!

Hoppy Easter!

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DIY Easter Egg Piñata

Mar
26

 

Easter Egg Pinata

Want to make the easiest Easter Egg piñata ever? Our family makes a piñata  for Easter that’s so cinchy you could make one tonight.  One trip to the grocery store and you’re set. You only need a punchball, some decorative napkins and liquid starch.  (You’ll also need a few minutes, for the parade thrown in your honor)!

Blow up the punchball and tie it in a knot. Put it in a bowl so it doesn’t roll away.  Place the bowl and punchball on a cookie sheet or tray to catch the drips.  If you’re doing this as a family project, you could do it outside, but it’s not a hard clean up. Pour some liquid starch in a pie plate or large shallow bowl. Open the napkins and dip them in the starch and begin laying them all over the ball. You can start the piñata with plain paper towels and use the decorated napkins for the last layer or two. You’ll need about four or five layers of napkins.

When you’ve finished one side, flip the punchball over and do the other side.  Rest assured your kiddies will slap on some big balls and clumps.  Just keep smoothing them up a little. The last few layers will cover a multitude of  lumps. You can’t really mess it up too much.

The piñata  will take 24-36 hours to dry depending on the thickness. Flip the piñata over every once in a while so it will dry evenly.

When your piñata is dry, pop the balloon and cut a small “U” shaped flap at the top.  This opening should be just big enough to fill the piñata.  Make  two pencil sized holes across from each other roughly four inches from the top.  Thread a small rope through the two holes and tie them together to help keep the flap closed.  ( If you have the time, you could cover the seam with a few more napkins and starch.)  Leave enough spare rope to hang it.

If you have a large group, use a pool noodle for your first round of  “whacks” so everyone gets a chance.  We advise putting your treats in individual baggies with a few loose candies. You know as well as we do, that the older kids at a party will mow a three-year old over faster than you can slap a tick!

Have fun!

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Cereal Box Car Caddy

Mar
11

Looking for a project to do with your children? A birthday party activity for children who are a little older?  This craft is fun, simple and ends up being quite useful to boot. For younger children they’re fun to have in the car, doctor’s office , airplane , church or even a restaurant.

If you’re a crafty or even a just a “dabbler”  you may  have all the supplies you need at home.   This Car Caddy is made from a simple cracker or cereal box.

What you’ll need:

  • cereal or cracker box
  • sticky backed Velcro
  • scrapbook paper, cute wrapping paper or magazines
  • Mod Podge and brush
  • embellishments (if desired)

 

Choose your box.  with the box in front of you, decide how tall you’d like your kit to be.  Using an X-Acto knife cut a straight line all the way across the front of the box ONLY. NOT the sides or back, just the front of the box. Once the box is cut, fold the back of the box across to the front making a crease in the flap so it will bend and close.  There should be two bends in the flap.  One lined up with the back of the box and another for the front.  Fold each flap several times so it will make a solid closure.  After you have the flap ready, cut the side panels of the box down so they are even with the front of the box.  They can be folded inside the box or you can cut them off.

Now the fun begins.  Find scrapbook paper or wrapping paper.  There are so many great papers and fun prints out there it’s easy to make them specific to a theme or to a gender.  You can simply wrap the box like a present. Fold the paper over edges and flaps and glue them down with the Mod Podge. It doesn’t have to be perfect because Mod Podge will cover a multitude of bloopers.  You can even cut up squares of paper and Mod Podge them all over the box overlapping each other.  You can’t mess this one up.  Another fun option is to cut pictures from a magazine or even photos of family members.  The kids will LOVE them because they made it themselves and they’ll all be unique.

Mod Podge your box with several coats to make the box more sturdy.  When the box is completely dry, glue some Velcro tabs to the flap then line up the lid and put more Velcro on the box so it will stay closed.  Add embellishments if you want.

Fill your box with stickers, paper, markers, treats, photo albums, books….anything that would be fun to have in the car or other “I’m bored” places.  If you make them for an activity day or an older child’s birthday party, they could be filled with a party favor or turned into a pencil box.  You could even add a strap.  Go nuts!

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Can You Hear Me Now?

Feb
14

Yesterday we had our very first “accidental post”. The publish and save buttons are really close.  There is no way to come back from that.  Wait.  I mean… yesterday we sent you a “teaser” for today’s post.  Yea.  We meant to do that.

Today’s post is a fun way to help your child learn their phone number or even  dial 911.  First, take the straw off a juice box and wrap the box in plain colored paper. Next, draw or print off the computer, the numbers as seen on the telephone. Let your child decorate their “cell phone” with markers or stickers and then glue the straw back on the phone. The last step is to print your phone number above the keypad so your child can look  at the numbers and learn to recognize and dial them.  You’ll be surprised how much they love it.

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Hula Hoop Hideout

Feb
07

O.k. I know you can see a hand holding up our hoola hoop hide out.  Still, it’s a great idea.  Made with a hoola hoop and a group of three long draperies or even cloth shower curtains. Hit the clearance aisle and see what you can find.  This hide out is “take downable” which I love.  It can be permanently hung on a beam from the ceiling, from a closet bar, a sturdy tree branch outside or even a stand from some rigged PVC pipe.

The top is a giant swivel eye hook you can purchase from Home Depot or any good hardware store.  The swivel hook is great because it helps the fort to turn around and around instead of getting wound up.

To make a hoola hoop hideout:  Find the end of a hoola hoop where the two pieces connect.  Carefully with a razor blade cut along the seam until the hoop separates.  Pull the seam apart just enough to thread the drapery along the hoop.  Close the hoola hoop back together and re-enforce the slit with some strong duct tape.

The next step is simple. Cut three lengths of 1/8  to 1/4 inch rope.  Tie the three pieces of rope spaced equally on the hoola hoop so they can be gathered at the top, put through the swivel hoop and tie.

TADA!  Portable, picnic-able, hide-outable.

 

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