Allowance Chart

Remember our cookie sheet chore chart?  My husband and I decided that it needed something to go along with it, a chart to keep track of chores on a weekly basis.  The cookie sheet chart is perfect for assigning chores, serving as a visual reminder for what needs to be done, and keeping track of which chores have/have not been completed.  It lacks a long term record, though, for what has been done throughout the week.  We are going to be instituting an allowance for our children, something that they can earn for completing all of their daily chores for an entire week.  So I created a new chart that will record when all of the chores from the cookie sheet chart are finished each day, allowing us to know if all chores have been done every day of the week.

I snagged this sign from my son's school rummage sale last spring.  I just covered it with paper and Mod Podge, then used a set of hooks and clips that I had lying around from Ikea.  The two little bees and beehive are stamps from Stampin' Up.

When they reach "HIVE SWEET HIVE, " they get their allowance!

I'm linking up to:

Inspiration Board GIVEAWAY!

It's finally here!  I cannot believe how long this project has taken me to finish.  There was nothing difficult in its making, but I couldn't seem to get the details just perfect.  Lucky for you, though, I did, because now I'm going to give it away!

It's an inspiration board!  You can use the (nicely coordinated) clothespins for magazine clippings, pieces of fabric or paper, pictures, notes, or anything else that might inspire you!  I want to give it to one of you, for your support inspires me greatly, and I want to help to inspire you.

There are five ways to enter.  Please leave me a separate comment for each of your entries.  

1st Entry: Leave me a comment telling me one thing that inspires you.

2nd Entry: Become of follower of this blog.

3rd Entry: Share the link to this giveaway on your blog.

4th Entry: Share the link to this giveaway on Facebook.

5th Entry: Share the link to this giveaway on Twitter.

This giveaway will end in one week, on Saturday May 8.  I will randomly choose one winner the following day.  Giveaway open to anyone living in the United States.

I'm linking up to:

Cookie Sheet Chore Chart

After spending a completely ridiculous and infuriating amount of time two hours cleaning the house this morning, I decided enough was enough.

Now their responsibilities are clear as day.  I wanted something that would be flexible, that I could change as needed.  So I spray painted a cookie sheet and hot glued down some ribbon.  I Mod Podged their names, and the To-Do and Done papers to the painted cookie sheet.  Then I wrote all the chores (I've been adding things all evening) on various pieces of paper from my scraps pile.  Finally I stuck a piece of magnetic tape to the back of each chore.  I added a few buttons on for decoration, then I was done.

The best part of this was that I already had all of the materials I needed.  I just rounded up a bunch of stuff from my crafts supplies, grabbed my least favorite cookie sheet and got to work.  Simple but effective.  The kids really like moving each task from the To-Do area to the Done area.  I guess it's the same as how I like to cross things off of my to-do list.  There's some satisfaction in seeing that it's done.  We'll see if they're as enthusiastic tomorrow, but at least my house is clean tonight...

Placemat to Project Holder Folder

I am one of those people who has to write things down.  If it's not on paper, I will most likely forget about it.  Craft ideas are definitely among the things that float right out my ears into lala land, unless I write them down.  So I have been trying to come up with a good way to keep track of my ideas so that they don't disappear forever.  Post-it notes are a must have because I can stick them to fabric, furniture, paper, etc. when I have an idea for that particular item.  Pens are also important.  Lastly, a place to store all of the pictures and pages that I rip out of magazines.  Let me show you what I came up with!

Supplies:

Placemat

Button

Ribbon

Needle

Thread

Sewing Machine (Although this could definitely be done by hand!)

I got this unbelievable placemat on clearance at Target.  Less than three dollars!

Lay out your placemat, right side down.  Lay all of the items you'd like to store on top of the placemat.  Fold the bottom of the placemat up as high as you'd like it.  Pin the sides closed.

Place a pin between all of the items.

Sew the sides closed.  I just used a short straight stitch

Sew a straight line where you place each pin, between all of your items.  (Just sew as high as the fold, not all the way up the placemat.)

Fold your placemat closed.  I folded the left side in, then the right side over the top.  Place a button on the bottom side (or the side that is not the flap).

Sew the button on.

The smart thing here would be to use a thin piece of ribbon.  I, however, did not have a thin piece of ribbon.  Here's how to create it: Cut a piece of ribbon to the desired length.  Next cut it to the desired width.  Use a lighter to seal the ends and length.  Voila, a thin piece of ribbon.

Create a loop with your ribbon, criss-crossing the ends, large enough to fit over the button that you just sewed on.  Sew it on to the edge of the flap of your folded placemat.

You're done!

Literally a 15 minute project and just perfect for what I needed.  I'm so happy!

Decorative Tray Redo

During the same Goodwill trip that scored me the grapevine hearts for my spring wreath, I picked up this:

 It cost me a whopping $2.50.

Don't you think it's just perfect for my dining room?  Nothing like farm animals and pineapple to add a touch of elegance.  Alright, maybe I made a few adjustments.  Like a coat of white spray paint.  And some fancy paper.  And of course, I covered the entire thing with my trusty old Mod Podge.  Ready for the reveal?  Okay, here's the after:

The photo is of my dad's parents, from 1943.  Isn't it amazing?  Do you recognize the paper lining the tray?  Yes, it's the same as this paper.  I liked the idea of having some consistency across the room.  (And I just loved the paper!)  I was very frustrated by the bubbles under the paper, but now that it's done, I don't really mind them too much.  Although I did go out today to purchase a brayer.  I'm hopeful that it will save me some stress on future projects.  

I'm so happy with the way that this turned out.  The tray was my first real redo and I couldn't have hoped for it to have turned out better.  I'm almost positive that I couldn't purchase this for less than $2.50. Hurray for Goodwill, hurray for Mod Podge, and hurray for fantastic old pictures!

Pretty Clothespins

In a vain attempt to organize the massive piles of artwork that were slowly overtaking every open space in our home, I created an Art Wall.  I strung wire across the wall at three levels and we hang the artwork on the wires using clothespins.  It seemed a little ridiculous, though, to hang such beautiful works of arts from plain old clothespins.  The remedy?  Mod Podge, of course!  I Mod Podged strips of paper onto the clothespins.  Now we have pretty clothespins for pretty art.

10 Minute Sewing Project

Aren't they cute?  One of my pet peeves is having to dig through my bag to find a kleenex for my kids, only to find it all wadded up and nasty at the bottom somewhere.  Solution?  Kleenex holders!  I found this amazing project over at Very Purple Person.  She has a wonderful PDF tutorial for you.  I made the little flower one last night, and seriously, it took me 10 minutes.  I AM NOT A PROFESSIONAL SEWER.  Let's just make sure that's clear.  Then this morning, if you had any doubts, my daughter made the pink flower one.  People, she's 4 years old.  Yup.  She helped cut, pin, and sew.

So hurray!  No more nasty kleenex at the bottom of my bag!