Recycled Leapster or DVD Case

This year, my son needed to complete a recycled project.  I didn't want to just make a piggy bank from an old container or some other thing I would just throw away later.  So thanks to wonderful Pinterest, I found this great solution.  She used a DVD case.  I used a Leapster case because it was a little wider and could fit more colored pencils.

This project wasn't as fast as I thought it would be but part of that is because I probably took some unnecessary steps.  Here is the tutorial of how I did it!

 Take out the cover and save it.

 Remove anything from inside.

 Cut out anything that isn't flat.

 

 Be careful not to cut the outer sleeve. 

Pick out two coordinating fabrics and cut them out.

 Find a piece of something hard and flat.  This was a thick clear sheet.  You could use chip board, cardboard, etc.  Cut it down to fit inside the case.

This is where I could've made this simpler.  I tacked it down with tape.

 I did it with the other fabric as well.

Then I sewed around the edges.

To make the front a little more taught, I sewed a dividing line.  You may not need to do this if you make your fabric tight enough, but I left enough room to do it because it would keep the colored pencils from moving around so much.

 Then I super clued the back down.  BAD IDEA.  It didn't work very well.  Use hot glue!

Then I weighed it down so that it would adhere properly.

Then we took the leftover case and drew on the back of it. 

 

We slip it back in and this was the end result.

Place in the colored pencils and paper on the opposite side.

Let the kids color!

I loved this project because now I have something that is portable and fun for the kids to do.  I want to make one for all my kids now.  It's perfect for church, for the doctors office, road trips, etc.  You could also make one as gifts.  It would be great for Christmas, for Easter baskets, etc.

This one is a lot of fun.  Hope you enjoyed!

Friday's Feature {Garden Life} and Link Party

Today I am featuring from last week's Link Party entry from Jellyfish Jelly - Creative Kids.  I thought that this was so adorable and would be a fun project for Easter/Spring.  Spring Break means having all the kids home from school and it's nice to have something for them to do.

Rules:

• Any creative idea will do
• No selling or promoting, so no etsy stores
• Giveaways are now permissible ONLY if they are a handmade object
• Grab a button to link back to this blog
• Start sharing!
• And don't forget to check out other link party projects.

<br /><center><a href="http://cookienut.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i709.photobucket.com/albums/ww91/pleasantsunday/Cookie%20Nut%20Creations/LinkParty.jpg" /></a><center><br /><br /></center></center>

Socks & Shoes NOT Required {Giveaway}

We are so excited to introduce all of you to Leah's new and improved Homeschooling blog...

Socks & Shoes NOT Required

Leah is currently holding three different giveaways.  Yep, you read that right...3 different giveaways.  Here are some of the fun things you can enter to win.

Giveaway #1-

Giveaway #2-

Giveaway #3-

Each of these giveaways will close Sunday the 15th at Midnight (EST for Leah).  So, head on over to Socks & Shoes NOT Required and check out her new blog and enter win some fun loot for you kiddies.

About Leah and her blog

Well, I'm Leah, I have 4 boys, a dog... that's a boy, and a wonderful husband who has taken me on many great adventures. Not adventures to foreign lands but just life in general. Currently we are in Florida while he goes to Chiropractic school, but it was a long road getting here.

I've decided to resurrect this blog and do something different.

I've decided that I am going to review things that I am using, things I have used, and things that I have looked at and decided not to use and why. I am skeptical sometimes of "testimonial" on the websites, I mean really who are these people? But I know that I am more likely to buy something or even look that way if someone I know says something about it, or recommends it.

This won't be just curriculum and products but magazines, books, and internet sites as well and why I like them or.... don't like them.

I will also share some things that work for us and tricks that I have learned along the way.

I will also be posting a "Question of the Week" I would love it if you would email me your answer. I know I have so much to learn from others and I know that your knowledge will help others as well. I will post all the answers the following week so you can see what others have done or what works for them.

I don't consider myself an expert at all, and I have only been doing homeschooling for 3 years but I feel like I have something to offer and new ideas are always good.... right??

I'll post as often as I can, and I look forward to meeting and learning from all of you.

Creative Learning Activities

I'm still trying to decided whether or not I'm going to homeshcool.  In the meantime, I've found a couple of cute ideas that would be great for homeschooling, preschoolers, or just for giving your kids some fun learning activities.

The Snail's Trail - Handmade Word Family Game

 

Smart Bottom Kids (Etsy) - Fish Aquarium Kid Kit

Homeschool Creations - Preschool Packs

Play at Home Mom - Homemade Geoboard

 

Science Bob - Oreo Cookie Moon Phases

Crate Paper Blog - A Lesson in Geography

Forty-two Roads - Close Your Clothes

Play Create Explore - Homemade Puzzles

Natalme - Map into Magnets

Make Your Own Handwriting Practice Sheets

Wow, I still haven't recovered from the summer break.  I'm still getting used to the kids schedule and the best way to manage my time.  Having my two oldest gone for 6 hours of the day is a great time to get things done, but when they come home...time is out of my hands.  With all their homework and reading assignments there's not a lot of time to get anything done.  My Kindergartener is starting to get homework, but we've also been asked to work with them on their writing skills with their names, the alphabet, and letters.  So his teacher led me to this website, Amazing Handwriting Worksheets.

In a matter of minutes I was able to create alphabet sheets, number sheets, and some with his name.  They have both print and cursive, you can choose the size of the lettering (e.g. larger for beginners) and how many times it repeats, and it's extremely easy to use.  This would be a great tool for homeschoolers (I'm starting to consider this option myself).  If you have a child who's learning to write, starting cursive, or needs to work on their penmanship, this is the site to use.

Turn Your Photo into a Coloring Page with PSE

Photoshop Elements is awesome. There are so many things you can do to your photos to make them even more fun, and turning them into coloring pages is one of the easiest. 

Step 1: Open your image in PSE
Step 2: Click on Enhance, select Convert to Black and White
Step 3: Choose your preferred Black and White style, click OK
Step 4: Click on Filter, scroll to Sketch, select Photocopy
Step 5: Add a outlined font to create a title

From this...

To this...

To These...

The kids had so much fun with this, and they can't wait for me to make more.

Friday's Feature {M&M Fun}

Since the summer began, I, as well as many other mothers out there, have been searching blogs and sites for ideas to keep kids busy and keep their minds active.  I came across this idea from Sweet Peas and Bumblebees and thought it was cute, educational, and YUMMY!

She has this wonderful graph on her blog, ready for printing.  Then get each child their own bag of M&Ms and enjoy the smiles!