I hope everyone is enjoying their August and soaking up every minute of summer they can. I want to share some exciting news with you from IncrediBuilds. They have a new line of 3D wooden models that just launched in July! IncrediBuilds combines crafting with popular characters, animals and monuments to make 3D wood models that are unique and customizable.
There are a variety of model kits to choose from like; Harry Potter’s Dobby, Star Wars’ R2-D2, Finding Nemo’s Dory, the Eiffel Tower, and much more. The kits are eco-friendly and are made of FSC-certified wood that is laser cut along with step-by-step instructions to assemble the model.
There is also a deluxe book that is included with each model that gives young builders a closer look at the characters or figures they are building. These books are full of fun facts and behind-the-scenes information. The models vary in skill level and are intended for children and adults ages 8 and up.
The fun does not end when the IncrediBuilds model is complete, kids can bring it to life with paints, glitter, and any other decorations they choose to personalize their model. Decorating tips and ideas are included with every IncrediBuilds model. This is a way to really allow kids the freedom to let their imagination and creativity soar! Watch the video HERE to learn more.
We had a lot of fun building a Star Wars Ty-Fighter and Dobby from Harry Potter. It was fun to do with our kids and we love how they turned out. What do you think?
Giveaway:
If you would like a chance to win a kit like this, you can enter by clicking HERE. Hurry and enter because he giveaway ends August 26th. Good Luck!!!
I received these kits from IncrediBuilds to facilitate my post. As always my words and views are 100% my own.
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #yougottabekittenme #CollectiveBias
I love DIY projects, I really like the challenge and the end results. Well, usually I love the end results, we all have the fails along the way. Speaking of fails, have you ever used a cat litter that just did not do the job? That is super embarrassing. I found the solution easily strolling the pet aisle at my local Sam’s Club. I recently purchased Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze clumping cat litter.
This product is phenomenal for really tackling ammonia odor because it has Borate Technology which also works to stop the growth of odor-causing bacteria. The lemongrass citrus scent has a fresher aroma than any cat litter we have used in the past.
I was glad to see it was available in a 42lb bag that is so easy to carry and it’s resealable. This litter is featured in the May Instant Savings Book and Sam’s Club Members get $3.50 off from 5/22 thru 6/5. The offer is already loaded onto member’s cards and offered in the Instant Savings Book.
Max even seems to appreciate the change to Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze litter and we always love to show our appreciation for Max. Max is a loyal and true feline member of our family. Even though Max is an adult cat, he is still as playful as a kitten. I know that having fun toys and places to hide and sleep are fun for Max.
We got a great idea to make him a cozy little tent type bed and hideout. It was really easy and I wanted to share for our readers who may want to replicate this project for their own feline family members.
The cozy cat bed is very easy to make. You start with a base of 15” by 15”. You can use a thick corrugated cardboard or other similar material. You need to be able to make 4 holes in the corners, so keep that in mind when choosing your base.
For this project you will need:
Get your 15″ x 15″ corrugated cardboard base. You can glue two pieces of cardboard together for extra strength for your base. Then cover with the vinyl adhesive. It does not need to be perfect as you are not going to see this and it will be covered.
You need to take the wire hangers and untwist the top. The trim the wire so you have two equal size pieces. You will shape each piece to form an arch. Then you will poke each end in a corner of the base and allow a half inch to poke through. You then take your pliers and bend that and then tape it flat against the under side of the base. Repeat with the other 3 corners.
Where the wire pieces intersect on the top you want to place some duct tape around that to hold it together.
Once all that is secure, take your t-shirt and with the open end place it over the structure so that the opening for he head is situated in the lower center of the front to create the entrance.
You then use the safety pins to secure the sleeves and bottom of the shirt to the bottom of the cat bed. This will give it a tidy, finished appearance.
Last but not least add a nice cozy blanket or thick towel for kitty’s comfort.
The nice thing is you can take the t-shirt off to wash or to switch it out if it becomes worn or you want a new look. Max just loves his new cozy hang out.
Max has it pretty good but we know a lot of cats don’t and that is due to overpopulation. That is why we donated $100 to The Animal Rights Alliance Inc., T.A.R.A. They are a not-for-profit organization providing low cost spay and neuter services. They serve Sullivan, Orange, Rockland, Putnam and Dutchess counties in NY state. T.A.R.A is able to help animals only through generous contributions. Their fees do not cover the cost for our program services. They rely on grants and public donations to subsidize the amount needed in order to make spaying and neutering affordable to everyone. If you would like to learn more about T.A.R.A. you can visit their website HERE.
Max is having a blast with his new bed. I hope you will let me know what you think of this easy way to spoil your four-legged family member and if you are using or plan to try Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze litter. Please let me know in the comments.
I guess I would consider myself a pretty creative person. I love trying my hand at new things, enjoy art projects, crafts, DIY and more. I would say it has rubbed off on just about all of my 5 kids in some way, shape or form. We love painting river rocks, making ornaments, tackling a new DIY project together and making all kids of things. My daughter is a champion knitter as well. My husband joins in too and so I think all 7 of us are a creative bunch.
If you have a creative child or maybe you want to do your best to inspire some creativity, I have something great to share. Smart Art Box is a month subscription art box. Every month it arrives filled with the instruments and supplies to inspire the artist in us all!
Each month, your box will feature a range of top-shelf FULL SIZED art supplies – from acrylic paint to polymer clay – plus a project to go along with it to help teach and inspire your inner artist.
PROJECTS FOR EVERYONE
The project’s are unique and cultural. We create projects that give a quick step by step to help those who are new, and guide those that are seasoned. We also provide tips to help new and old artists gain invaluable new skills.
THE TOOLS YOU NEED
With each medium come the tools to manipulate it and bring out the strength that each style can achieve.
Smart Art was created by a small group of friends, driven by the desire to see the world and experience the culture created by historical visionaries. Along the way, they found inspiration in the many mediums found everywhere, from the poorest of villages, to the most prestigious of cities. Each medium expressed the artist’s individual communities, heritage and personality. For this reason, inspired by the passion portrayed in their art, a new determination was born to pursue and discover the many exciting art mediums across the world.
Together, they are committed to ensuring artists understand art and it’s many mediums throughout time in order to create a better understanding of the world around us. Their mission is to deliver products that kindle creativity, stimulate exciting new techniques and establish a deeper connection with art for everyone.
We received our Smart Art Box and were so impressed with everything inside, full size products, everything we need and instruction to guide and inspire us. I will be updating very soon with our masterpieces. This is certainly “Happy Mail“ for a family like ours and I would bet it would be for yours too!
You can visit Smart Art on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. Let me know if you do try Smart Art Box of if you are already receiving monthly creativity delivered to your doorstep.
I was provided with a Smart Art Box to facilitate this post as a blogger working with @SocialBttrflyCo. As always my words and views are always 100% my own.
The other day I received a very special basket in them mail. It is a festive red and white and fits right into the current Christmas season. I can imagine it filled with some colorful Christmas ball ornaments or filled with Christmas cards. It would also be a nice centerpiece for a entry table or coffee table. You may see this in my home and think it is pretty, but you would probably be surprised to learn there is so much more to this basket.
It is actually the Rwanda 10th Anniversary Medium Woven Star Basket. It is sold online and in Macy’s stores as part of the Rwanda Path to Peace program. These baskets, every single one of them represents a journey that they and the women who weave them have been on. The journey is one toward reconciliation.
Macy’s has carried the Rwandan Path to Peace baskets in store and at Macys.com for 10 years. It’s an amazing commitment for an American retailer to make to women in another country. Back in 1994, the tiny nation, no bigger than Rhode Island saw a genocidal mass slaughter. In three short months, nearly 1 million Rwandans were brutally murdered in a fury of ethic violence that is hard to even fathom.
After the massacre, a few women came together and did what women in Rwanda do. They talked, they cried and they wove baskets. These were women of both sides of the ethnic divide, practicing the skills of weaving they all learn from their mothers and grandmothers. When Macy’s began carrying the baskets in 1995, it was the first example of a major American retailer committing to a Trade-not-Aid product line in a substantial way. Macy’s has kept that commitment alive, despite the fact that Rwanda has largely disappeared from the news.
The baskets are available online and in stores and retail for $30-$50. Macy’s offers many 20% off coupons and the wonderful thing is, if you get this item for a discount it does not affect the price the weaver earns for the basket. I hope you take a look at the baskets HERE.
I have to admit I had never heard of this great commitment Macy’s has made to the women of this tiny nation. We are so blessed to live in America and it can be hard to imagine the plight of these women and what they lived through. I am sure they have very deep scars but what Macy’s has done and continues to do gives them a sense of hope, hope for the future, hope to women in Africa.
If you are looking for a gift that carries with it great meaning, these baskets would definitely fit that to a T. It truly is a gift that represents the wish and hope for Peace on Earth and Good Will Toward Women. Do you realize that every basket that is sold will not only provide hope but economic sustenance for a woman in Rwanda. She will use the money to pay her children’s school fees, feed her children and perhaps buy a goat that will help improve her life. Can you imagine the kind of impact the purchase of a red and white basket can make?
Below I hope you will take a few minutes to view a video that shows the history of the Rwanda program.
Rwanda Path to Peace is now the longest-lasting program of its kind, impacting thousands of women throughout Rwanda, their families and communities. With their earnings, women can now send their children to school. They can buy everything from soap to land, malaria nets to health insurance. The income they earn from their handiwork has helped rebuild their communities. One of the first things a weaver does when she sells her first basket is buy soap. The next thing she does is buy shoes and pay school fees. Many weavers today have seen huge improvements in their lives. Below are powerful videos featuring such stories, click on the woman’s name to see a video about her life now.
Every Red and White Basket is the result of a weaving process that has been practiced for centuries in Rwanda. Each basket design is unique and they are painstakingly crafted from sisal and grass by women who learned to weave from their mothers, grandmothers and aunts. If you would like to see how the baskets are made in a special video, click HERE!
Ten years ago many of the thousands of children were malnourished and sick but through this program that has provided food, medicine and education they are now thriving young adults. Many of these young adults have completed school and are entering university. Macy’s commitment to the women of Rwanda means they can have hope for a future.
You will find the Rwanda 10th Anniversary Medium Star Basket on Mommy Ramblings’ 2015 Holiday Gift Guide.
“This post is sponsored by Everywhere Agency; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.“
Last Saturday my daughter and I embarked on a day trip to Rhinebeck, NY to attend our first ever New York Sheep & Wool Festival. This 2 Day Day Extravaganza of Fiber is a yearly pilgrimage for many. Held at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds it is full of workshops, book signings, lectures, livestock, fleece sales, competitions, shows, parades, demonstrations, food, music, kids’ activities and more!
I have so many more photos but you can check out our Instagram for some more. Did anyone go this year? If so let me know. I am going to try my hand at felting this year after seeing so many of the whimsical creations at the festival.
My kids are on spring break this week and we are still experiencing single digit temperatures at night! It sure doesn’t feel anything close to spring. Believe me when I say, we’re looking for all of the spring crafts we can do to hopefully bring spring our way. Easter is next Sunday and I want to share some cute burlap bunny crafts you can sew and your kids can help decorate and paint. Below is a supply list of what you need to make the bunnies.
I purchased a roll of burlap, cut two pieces and folded them in half
The pieces are folded in half and look deceivingly smaller in these photos than the actual size.
Next you cut a V in the middle.
Then I trimmed the tops to look more like rabbit ears.
Next, I just took it to my sewing machine and sewed each side up to right under the ear.
Turned it right side out.
Then I stuffed it with fiberfill. If you want you could also used dried beans.
Off to the sewing machine where I sewed around the ears and in between to securely hold the filling.
You then tie with a ribbon of your choice. Next, you can paint, color with markers or paint pens the inside of the ears and make a face. I added buttons for cuteness, you can really have fun here and the kids love to help! You can add a white cotton ball tail to the back side of the bunnies. These make adorable country inspired decorations or you can make one for everyone with their name as place holders for dinner. There are so many great ways to use them and they are simple to make.
Next, I wanted to make a bunny to hang on the door. This nearly turned to a Pinterest Fail but I turned it around. I just found a basic bunny template online and printed it out. I had to extend it because it was too large for the paper. I pinned and cut the pattern out of the burlap.
Then off to the sewing machine to sew around the bunny. Leave a part open so you stuff it.
After you stuff it, just sew the opening close and trim your threads.
Here is the almost Pinterest fail. We had wanted to put polka dots on the natural burlap with the spouncer brushes but it did not go as planned. LOL
Back to the drawing board and we painted the bunny purple, leaving the edge natural and adding pink polka dots.
Then you want to find a ribbon to hang it with.
We decided to continue the polka dot theme.
I attached the ends of the ribbon to the bunny some machine stitches.
You can add a ribbon around the neck or other embellishments. I chose to keep ours plain country simple for the side door. Let me know if you try some burlap bunnies and how they turn out. If you want to make things really easy they have burlap already printed with polka dots or you could make egg shapes and use with multi color burlap or chevron stripe. Happy Easter! Please if you are in a warm part of the country would you send some spring our way! Let me know what you think and if you tried any of these crafts.
March is National Craft Month and Mommy Ramblings is celebrating! Time to let your creativity shine and Lakeshore Learning has everything you need for painting, stamping, drawing, coloring and craft projects of all kinds. We recently took some time to get our craft on with Lakeshore’s Washable Watercolor Brush Pens, Super Safe Tabletop Paper Center and the Mini Stampers Marker Tub.
The Tabletop Paper Center is made of quality hardwood and is super sturdy. The rubber feet on the bottom of the base keep the unit super secure on the table. There is a paper guide that you thread the paper under and can use to safely cut it to different lengths for projects. The 400 ft paper roll is included and the paper is quality and thick enough that nothing went through to the table, not even the paint! The dowel inserts through the roll and then fits right into the table top base.
We had stamping fun galore with the Mini Stampers Market Tub which includes 50 markers in 10 different designs. Never had to worry about anyone waiting to use the same stamper as there were five in each design. This stamper set would make great party favors too!
The watercolor brush pens were an easy way to have watercolor fun without spilled water cups or constantly having to dip your brush in water and paint. With gentle pressure you can paint with the brush tip of the pen. The colors are vibrant and washable!
We had so much fun with all the great Lakeshore Learning, Arts and Crafts Products we reviewed and we are so happy to let you know that Lakeshore Learning is providing me with the same 3 products to giveaway to one lucky blog reader. Thank you Lakeshore Learning for the review products and for sponsoring this crafty giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
The Lakeshore Learning Arts & Crafts Bundle Includes:
Tabletop Paper Center and 400 ft. Roll of Art Paper
Mini Stampers Market Tub of 50 Mini Stampers in 10 Designs
Set of 8 Washable Watercolor Brush Pens
Lake Shore Learning Arts & Crafts Bundle Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!”
Sentosphere USA has been operating since 1995,
and has supplied hundreds of retailers throughout the US
with artistic and educational games, kits and toys.
My Perfume Maker is a classic among educational kits. Eight natural essences or fragrances from the world’s most beautiful sources allow children seven years or older to create more than 100 different “eau de toilette.”
My Perfume Maker uses the highest quality fragrances available on the market, and many have found that the resulting bouquets are also very enjoyable in the bath. The kit includes a perfume guide that makes creating perfumes a fun and educational activity.
If you are looking for a great gift idea for the little girls on your Holiday Gift List, you should check out My Perfume Maker by Sentosphere. This kit will delight girls who are creative and let them mix their own signature scents of perfume. It will bring out the scientist, inventor and of course please the princess in all of them. The kit is colorful and fun, full of natural essences and fragrances along with droppers that will allow them easily to add the right amount to the empty colorful bottles to create their own line of perfumes.
Mommy Ramblings is adding the Sentosphere My Perfume Maker to our 2014 Holiday Gift Guide.
Sentosphere is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings! One lucky winner will win their own My Perfume Maker! Thank you to Sentosphere for the review kit and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!! Open to US residents.
Sentosphere, My Perfume Maker Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:
Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!
You may remember my tales of woe from learning to sew in my post where I showed how I finished an antique vanity as a sewing table. Aside from an owl pillow I made in 6th grade Home-ec, my attempts at sewing were nothing to write home about. However, I’m not a quitter, so I was ready to give it another go when I wanted to create some cute whimsical holiday shirts for my kids and family.
I bought some long sleeve cotton shirts and then visited the craft department for some fabrics. The first shirt I was going to try to make was a turkey for Thanksgiving. I planned to make the turkey body in brown flannel fabric so I bought a yard of that since I also planned to use it for the Christmas shirts, then I picked several other fabrics for feathers. I also purchased some polka dot fabric for the antlers and solid red, yellow, black and green for various accents. Armed with my array of fabrics and some notions like colorful buttons and embroidery thread, I was ready.
I drew my turkey template free hand onto some card stock and cut it out. I thought I would do feet too but did not end up putting feet on the design.
I washed the shirts and all the fabrics prior to sewing anything. After I ironed the fabric I cut the pattern shapes and laid them out how I wanted, then when my design was the way I liked, I secured the fabric pieces with a sewable heat bond. After that it was off to the sewing machine where I sewed around the pieces with an applique stitch. The first shirts were a bit laughable but my little ones thought they were great and with every shirt I got better.
For the Christmas shirts I did the same thing except I made a moose template which honestly ended up looking more like a reindeer but nevertheless is still cute. I was in a rush because we were using them for a picture but would like to add bows on my daughter’s shirt and mine as well. For all the boys I want to add a bow tie.
This is the light hold heat bond that is sewable, I just wanted to hold it in place so I did not need to use pins for sewing. It worked well.
I made 9 shirts in all (2 turkey shirts and 7 Christmas shirts). It really gave me confidence to make friends with my sewing machine and if I could do this, anyone can. I know they are far from perfect but they are made with love and to me that is what matters the most. If you would like any more specifics please ask.
If you liked our earlier post where we made candy corn out of river rocks, you will love this new river rock project! Let me show you how easy it is to make this Rock Cactus Garden. This is a fun craft for all ages and best yet, this cactus garden will thrive even if you have two brown thumbs.
When I was gathering river rocks, I looked for shapes that resembled cactus plants. Flat oval or round shapes are best. Choose a variety of sizes. I painted the rocks on both sides with craft paint that you can find in any craft store or in the craft aisle of mass retailers. Pick a green you like and get to work. When the green paint dries you can embellish the stones with some accent painting to make them appear more realistic. Seal the rocks with a Mod Podge or similar sealer. After the sealer is dry, choose a container to showcase your cactus garden.
I used clean play sand as my base and packed it tightly in layers. When the sand reached the top, I arranged the rocks and used decorative stones to cover any sand that was showing.
The result was a beautiful, bright, non-prickly cactus garden that I placed on the ledge alongside my whirlpool tub. Now, when I am relaxing in the tub, I can look over and smile at the memory of fun summer days at the river and crafting at home.
So what do you think? If you make one, please share your results.
Hello, I’m Carolyn! I am a PR Savvy, WAH Mom to 5! I love Photography, Baking, DIY Projects, Crafts, Cooking and making memories with my family. I love sharing reviews and giveaways too!
