Kindergarten Valentine

We are ready for Sam's Kindergarten Valentines Day Party!

I kept it simple this year, all Sam had to do for his classmate's valentines was sign his name. He seemed okay with that simple task. For his teachers Sam painted his hands and stamped them on some paper which I cut out and wrapped around some hand lotion. I know I never have enough hand lotion around.

All I did was cut out some triangles, wrote a message (yeah, I know it's quick and dirty), Sam signed his name and I used glue dots to secure the triangle flag to the top of the pencil.

For the teacher's valentine first Sam stamped his hands in paint. Next step was to cut out his hands and glue them on to heavier paper. Next I wrote a message and taped around a travel size bottle of lotion. So simple, so easy. That's it, do you have any clever valentines ideas that are simple and quick?

DIY Zinc Letters

I finally dug my cardboard K from the depths of my "craft" room a.k.a. crap room and created a zinc looking letter. Much cheaper than a real zinc letter of course. I already had the letter laying around and the black paint. I purchased pearl essence paint and a couple foam brushes. This is brilliant whomever thought of this technique. It truly looks like zinc. So simple, so easy, so inexpensive.

This is where my K hangs.

Zinc like, yes?

First step, paint your letter with black paint.

Once painted black, cover with the pearl essence paint.

That's it, that's all. I have had this project on my list for at least a year. K letter painted, check!

Preschool Valentine's Day Cards

Happy Valentines Day folks! I hesitated to post this, due to the rudimentary style of these preschool valentines. The cards aren't fancy, there's nothing especially clever about them, and I'm quite certain people won't be clamoring to copy them. But...when Sam said to me "Thanks for helping me with this mom.", my heart melted, my eyes filled with tears and I thought, "I have to post this." These cards had several steps and took a few days of assembly. Sam did all the cutting, gluing, writing and arranging and had so much fun making these cards for his friends and teachers.

Sam's 2011 Valentines

Chalkboard Platter

While I realize that this is not an original idea, I am proud to have finally followed through with the project. This was so incredibly simple and I now have a fun, new menu board for the kitchen. Now when the the Mr. gets home he can glance at the new menu board and either pitch in to help get the menu on the table or at least know what to expect for dinner.
This was $9.99 at Home Depot and can be used for many more chalkboard projects. We painted the back of our front door with this paint and it's super fun to draw and write messages. Pics. to come another day.

I found this on clearance and then more clearance at Fred Meyer. I paid a mere $3.00 for this dinner plate. I taped off the edges with painters tape, used a sponge brush to paint the chalkboard paint on and let dry. Viola, a chalkboard platter. I bought a few extra plates to make as gifts for friends and hostess gifts. Happy platter hunting. Marshall's and Ross have plates on clearance for dirt cheap FYI.

Play Date Kid Project

I found this crafty project on Clover Lane's blog, check her out. She is an inspiring mom. We have been having play dates and the little rascals can qet squirmy, loud and downright crazy! So on our last rainy day play date I put the monkeys to work on a little birdfeeder project. I would say this project ate up about thiry minutes...I'll take it! Breaking the time up for various projects, snacks and play is key to not loosing your mind on a play date. Finished Birdfeeder. Sam and I...okay actually I hung the feeders up the next afternoon. The large pincone was too heavy and fell behind a fence, but...maybe the birds like to snack on the ground. Free birdseed for any critter walking the fence.
Rolling the slathered peanut butter pinecone through the birdseed.

Spreading the peanut butter.

The supplies

Ready to get to work!

This is not only easy, it's cheap. Get it, cheap?

Birdseed, $1.99

Peanut Butter, $1.69

Pincones, backyard. These were in a bag in my garage.

Floral Wire, Stashed in my crap room. I mean craft room.

DIY Utensil Caddy

This is a total knockoff from another blog, "Rocky Bella". She has the best ideas! The only difference between her crafty can and mine is the fabric and font. I have been wanting a new caddy for my kitchen utensils forever. I took some fabric and hot glued it around a coffee can. Next I painted the No. 5 with some craft paint. I simply printed a font I liked and traced it onto black paper. And wa-la, a fresh new look for my counter.

Inspiratonal Project

Isn't this chalkboard platter charming? Found this fun idea at The Creative Maven. I am now on the hunt for inexpensive patters or plates to give this project a try.