ladybug magnets

Conner wanted to help make some goodies for Abby's party.  We got busy with Model Magic.  I haven't used it often, but with it's magical drying abilities, I figured it work out well for this project.

So much great fine motor work for him - rolling the balls, smooshing them together.  We made 22!

Then we left them out overnight to dry.

After they were dry, I glued magnets to the back.  Then we paired up a bunch of google eyes out of our stash, and glued the ladybug's eyes on.  It dawned on me then - I wonder what would have happened if I had stuck the eyes in before the Model Magic dried.  Has anyone else tried something like that?  Next project I'll find out!  I also used a Sharpie to draw a line down the middle.  If I had been doing this project myself, obviously the dots would have been a little more consistently sized & placed.  But with Conner helping, each ladybug has "personality".
At the party, they'll be parading on the refrigerator, and everybody will get to pick their favorite to take home.

ladybug wreath

The next wreath in the series!

I took off the ribbon strips & the eggs on the Easter version and added some red felt in the spot without enough twine.  I used black pins to hold it in place - perfect ladybug spots!  Then I used a Model Magic ladybug (more coming up soon!) and stuck it in place with a black pin through its neck.  A little ladybug ribbon to hang it up & we're good to go for the party this weekend!

counting outside

We were sitting out in front of our house playing with the chalk and waiting for Daddy to come home.  And the kids were just LOVING walking on the stones by the garden.  So I made a number line.  Conner could hop back and forth, adding & subtracting as he went.

What a great activity for my little kinesthetic learner!!

I figure when it washes away, we can always write the alphabet and make up some letter games to play too.  I'm just so glad we've been able to be playing outside and moving around more!!!

aren't my kids adorable?

Just a couple random moments I thought I'd share...
Here are the kids on Easter Sunday.  After a major meltdown on Christmas Eve because he didn't have a tie like Daddy, we made sure to have a tie for Easter!  And of course, Abby looked adorable in her dress!

We spent our morning at the Morton Arboretum playing in the daffodils.  It's a huge field (with a beautiful oak tree) that is full of lots of clumps of daffodils all over.  We've made it a spring tradition.  It's such a great place that we go back in the fall and enjoy all the beautiful leaves too.

Then we went to the Children's Garden area to play.  It was there that I had my first random blogger sighting... I saw Maggie from Smashed Peas and Carrots.  I knew we both lived in the Chicagoland area, but had to kind of laugh to myself when I saw her kids and thought, how do I know them?? and then saw her and it clicked. :)  Go check out her blog - she's always up to something fun!

hippity hop! look what else is in my shop!

This collection of four bunnies was also originally illustrated by my friend, Beth, of Buffington Design & Illustrations.  I love them peeking out of the corners!  They just make me smile.

Well - I thought they were in need of some fabric for their borders, backgrounds and eggs.  Here's a couple examples of what I came up with.  The bunny is machine embroidered over the fabric "frame".

They've hopped right into my ArtFire & Etsy shops - and they are listed in the colors & sizes shown.  If you are interested in a bunny of your very own making, please contact me and we'll work out a special color palette for your bunny.  You just specify with bunny is your favorite, pick a color, and I'll send you some choices for your very own bunny onesie, tshirt, sweatshirt, or other item!

Just wanted you to know - I'm showing off at a couple parties...

easter wreath

Well - you might remember my wreath around the year adventure.  Well - here is my gorgeous Easter wreath.  I used a sweet little Easter ribbon and some Dollar Store foam Easter eggs.  Simple.  My big thing this time was to put it out on one of the porch posts, rather than have it hanging by the door.  Well, my great plan lasted about 6 hours before it fell down.  So my official wreath around the year has truly turned into an adventure now.

Time for a new wreath form and a new design.  I grabbed some twine I had laying around and wrapped and hot glued and wrapped some more.  I was a little short on twine and didn't want to go buy more.  So I used the ribbon to cover the remaining space, and then hung the eggs in a bundle up top.

I figure I can just use the twine covered wreath form and change out the ribbon with colorful fabrics and other stuff.  We'll see how this one works out!

skirt for a grown-up

I found a cute little turquoise jacket at the store, and needed something to go with it.  I decided to go with a simple elastic waist... mostly because I was spending time on the girl's dresses, and also *maybe* due to a little mis-measurement on my part.
Here it is!  Simple, but it does the job.

 I LOVE the turquoise and navy blue combo.