Pre-K Big Letter Little Letter Match Up Activity

This project is a super easy one.   It is great for Pre-K kiddos and toddlers.  I made it for my 3 year old son and he loves playing with it.  This activity helps teach kids how to match their upper and lower case letters to one another.  Another benefit of it is that it helps develop fine motor skills too.  This craft can also be used to teach lots of other skills like shapes, colors, and numbers skill.  The possibilities are endless.

For this project you will need:

1. 26 Clothes Pins
2. A Sharpie or other marker
3. 2 4x6 note cards (any size will work really)
4. Scissors (not pictured)

Step 1:

Measure about two fingers from the bottom of the card and write the captiol letter 'A' then place your finger next to the letter 'A' to create a space that is about the width of your finger.  Write the letter 'B' next to your finger.  Continue to use your finger as a spacer and write the uppercase letters all the way across the card.

Step 2:

Once you have written all the letters across fold the card in half and cut down the middle. 

Step 3:

Repeat Steps 1 and 2 until your cards have all the upper case letters of the alphabet on them.

Steps 4:

Now you will label each clothespin with a lower case letter.  You need to place the letter on the top of the clothespin where it will pinch down on the paper.  (See the first photo above).  Label each clothes pin with a lowercase letter.

That's all there is to it!  You can be as creative as you would like with this by using colored markers, paint, etc.  I do recommend laminating the note cards if you can because they will get beat up by little ones.  This is a very easy and fun learning tool for kids.  Simply instruct them to match the little letter to its big letter.  Below is a picture of my son playing with his new activity :)

Happy Crafting!

Diaper Box Upcycle

Living in a small apartment there is always a lack of storage.  Pretty baskets and bins can be very expensive.  My solution to this problem: giving a big diaper box a new life.  Having a little one that is still in diapers leaves me with no shortage of diaper boxes.  They have been invaluable whenever I moved or needed to store things but they are not exactly pretty to look at.

For this craft you will need:

• 1 diaper box (the size is up to you I am using a very large one).
• Enough fabric or paper of your choice to cover the outside of the box
• Modge Podge 
• Paint brush

Optional:

• Trim
• Lettering
• Bows
• Etc.
• Hot Glue Gun

Step 1:

 

If your box has flaps at the top be sure to cut them off.

Also cut off tabs where the handles are (if any)

Step 2:

Wrap the fabric around the box.

Cut fabric leaving about a 1/2"-1" overlay.  You will want the seam in the back of the box where it will be out of view.

Step 3:

Place what will be the front of the box in the middle of the fabric. Then mark where the corners of the box lay on the fabric.  This is so one you Modge Podge it you can place it back in the right place.

Step 4:

Apply a generous coating of Modge Podge to the front of the box.  Once applied you will place the box onto the fabric aligning it with the marks you made.  Press and smooth the fabric onto the box.

Step 5:

Next cover the fabric you just adhered to the box with another generous coating of Modge Podge.  

 

Repeat steps 4 & 5 to all sides of the box.  Be sure to be generous with the Modge Podge so that you get a good adhesion especially when coating the seam.

Step 6:

When folding the fabric over the top, apply the Modge Podge to the box then fold the fabric over and press down.  Then cover the fabric with Modge Podge just as you did to the whole box.  Use a downward stroke and be generous with the Modge Podge to get a good seal.

Step 7:

For the bottom I recommend trimming it down to just a few inches.  As you  can see I didn't do that and it created a lot more work than needed.  You want to fold the edges much like you would when wrapping a present.  Again apply Modge Podge to the box, press the fabric on, then apply Modge Podge to the fabric and seal the edges.

I really should have trimmed the fabric but it still turned out well.

 

Step 8:

Poke a hole where the handle is and trim the fabric.  This can be done with a craft knife and is in fact much easier that way.

From here your box can be complete or you can decorate it however you wish.

Step 9 (Optional):

I hot glued ribbon all around the box beginning at the front so the seam was in the back.  Next I tied a bow and hot glued that to the front on the ribbon.

There you have it!  Now my diaper box has a new life and a new purpose!  It now holds my fabric and will look very nice underneath my desk (which will double as my craft table) once I move it into my place.

 

 

Mittens made from an old sweater

Today I am making mittens from an old sweater.  I absolutely love upcycling old things to make them new.  Not only is it "green" but its fun to do.  I am constantly looking at things and wondering what I can remake them into.  This idea is a "pinspiration" from pinterest.com.

For this project you will need:

• An old sweater
• scissors
• Sharpie or ink pen
• Sewing machine or
• needle and thread. 

I used embroidery floss for thread since it is what I had on hand.

I will be using a needle and thread since the machine I am using is kaput at the moment.  It is not a whole lot of sewing so it can be done either way.

This is an easy project and would be great for a beginner.

Step 1:

Align the bottom edge/hem of the sweater.  This is going to serve as the base for your mittens.


Step 2:

Next, place your hand down on the sweater as seen above.  Spread your thumb away from the rest of your fingers and have your other fingers sit naturally.  You will want a little wiggle room between them.

Step 3:

 Trace around your hand.  TIP: Make sure to trace about a half inch from your hand as seen on the thumb.  (I didn't do that very well in this pic).  This gives you seam allowance when sewing the mittens together.

Step 4:

Repeat steps 2-3 for the other hand.  If you are not very good at tracing with your non-dominant hand have someone else trace for you.  Be sure to remember the seam allowance.


Step 5:

Follow your line that you traced and cut out the mittens.  Be sure to cut through the whole sweater so that you are cutting both the front and back of your mittens.

Step 6:

Make sure the edges are matched up and bind stitch the edge (through and over the fabric edge).

Step 7:

 Flip the mitten inside out once you are done sewing and there ya have it.

Step 8:

Repeat steps 5-7 for the other mitten

Optional Steps:

I chose to stitch a heart onto the left mitten.  I just cut out the shape I wanted placed it on the mitten and stitched it in place.  Feel free to embellish however you would like or not at all.

These were fun and easy to make.  I think they would make cute gifts for friends or loved ones.  It is a great way to transform something you were going to toss or get rid of and there are endless possibilities.


Have fun crafting!

My vow to be crafty

Today I am making a vow to be crafty at least once a week.  I am tired of seeing my crafting to do list get longer and longer and longer.  So once  a week I will be doing something crafty and posting it on here along with tutorials. Some of the things on my blog will be "pinspirations" or rather things I have found on pinterest.com that I am doing.  I will list them and if I can figure out how to the URL of the pin.  If you haven't checked out pinterest.com I HIGHLY suggest you do.  WARNING!!!!  It's addictive!  Very addictive. 

I guess I need to start thinking about my next project :)