it's a boo-tiful day!

It all started with a trip to a few stores. We saw these cute little ghosts and SOMEONE got on my good side by saying, "Mama, you could crochet that! I bet we could make crochet ghosts." And, done. I am always up for a challenge. And, yes, I am aware I got duped by a 10 year old playing to my weakness :) 

I stress crochet, crochet for fun, crochet for warmth, crochet for donation, crochet for craft, you get it... I learned how to crochet when I was 10. I have been plugging away ever since. I taught both kids to crochet and it worked out well. 

My little one still needs to learn to crochet on the round. Then she can help me to make more ghosts. She loves her little ghost I whipped up. We even used real blush for the cheeks! We plan to make a whole ghost family to go with this cute little ghost mama. 

Anything to get a smile outta that kid is fine by me. Last year we crocheted a whole pumpkin patch. The year before we crocheted a bunch of mini stockings. We have made capes, specialty items, mermaid tail blankets, you name it. It's a cheap, safe and easy habit/hobby/secret addiction that helps me strengthen my mother-daughter bond :)

All you need is yarn and a needle. Maybe 5 whole dollars. And a little time. You can make memories and a lot of unnecessary trinkets, but it's peaceful and fun :)

the craft room

Some people have a panic room in their home. We have a craft room. It's where we go to unwind, get creative, and avoid the panic. Today the world was our oyster! She finished a painting and I finished sewing her a sundress. You can truly get lost down there with little effort or planning. We have more stuff than I seem to remember.

We made my Grandma a purse with pugs on it last week (her favorite). There are endless possibilities in the craft room! We sewed a new throw pillow for the couch. My daughter wants to learn how to make a throw pillow for her bed as well. According to her, you can never have enough pillows. 

Today we decluttered all the drawers. And, oh my, was it due. Half used coloring books, broken crayons, unsticky stickers... You know what I mean. These drawers are where all the crafts go to die. We spent time sorting things into keep, toss and donate piles. We even peeled old crayons to make new crayons to donate to the children's ward at the hospital. 

The craft room kept us busy for an hour and we now have bright and shiny products to show for it made with love and creativity. Whatever it is that you do to occupy your time, make it count! Read, draw, declutter, knit, crochet, sew, workout, just make it count. Sure we are stuck at home, BUT we get to stay home! We have no pressure to go out, mingle, or get dolled up. We can enjoy our kids, families, husbands the way we want to but never get time to. Appreciate the quality of this time before we go back to the rat race of society. Find a way to smile!

plastic happiness

When your kids are kids, it only takes a little creativity and (sometimes a lot of) patience to keep them entertained. Enter plastic beads. Did you know you can melt them in the oven inside of metal cookie cutters? Just make sure to line the pan with foil first. 10 minutes at 450 degrees and poke a hole in the top as soon as they come out of the oven so you can hang them. Cheap and easy.

Since it doesn't take long to dump beads in a cookie cutter and melt,

you may want to kick it totally old school and buy the pony beads with the plastic trays. We spent all night arranging pony beads in designs and then covering in wax paper and ironing until they melt. It's a classic cold weather,  easy activity. We looked up designs online and that made it more challenging (insert: impossible). 

My kitchen now smells like a plastic factory but the smell will wear out overnight with the help of a plug in air freshener. We had a steady rotation of cookie cutter sun catchers and pony bead magnets or keychains. 

The next craft will be learning how to sew scrunchies. My daughter has been begging. I can pull out my old leg warmers and a crop top for the occasion! Just kidding. Even my 8 year old would roll her eyes at that. The fact that 80's style crafts and accessories are back is pretty amazing and my little divalicious crafter is loving all of it. Who cares about midwest weather when every night can be craft night?!