Do It Your Freaking Self - Crafts Archives - Page 15 of 16

Coffee Filter Butterflies

on March 28, 2016

As a nanny, I’m always looking for a craft that is going to keep the kiddos engaged. Here’s my rule, if the set up and clean up take longer than the craft itself, I’m not doing it. Sorry, I’m sure they’re cute, but if it makes my life harder, its not worth my time when I can be spending it with the kiddos. These Coffee Filter Butterflies had one 5 year old busy for 1.5 hours. Yep… HOURS. Who doesn’t love that?

Recently I’ve been having a love affair with coffee filters. Seriously, I have a keurig, so I don’t really need them, but OMG they make great craft supplies! And just in time for spring, I have been making butterflies with the kids! They’re pretty amazing because they turn out great no matter what. Even if your child uses a million colors and scribbles in zero decipherable pattern.

ByChelsea

Fabric Decoupage Easter Eggs

on March 24, 2016

Spring is in the air! Full of flowers and sunshine and allergies. Ugh.

I’ve been working on a lot lately and honestly, I feel like I’m spinning my wheels? Anyone else feel like they just overcommit without any really payoff? On top of that I haven’t really made time to craft. And non-crafting Chelsea = a stressed out Chelsea. Funny how that works.

So, in an effort to be festive, cause I LOVE Easter, get rid of some fabric scraps and work on a craft that I can really spend some time on I’ve been decoupaging like a mad woman. Go me!

ByChelsea

DIY Spin Art Easter Banner

on March 21, 2016

Does anyone remember spin art as a kid? I’m pretty sure we used everything the kit gave us and more on the first day, sorry mom! I just remember hours of fun experimenting with colors, patterns and the like to make some pretty awesome art work. However, I also remember the ridiculous amount of clean up that went with all the tiny parts… guess you win some, you lose some.

While those days may be gone, I still like to do my fair share DIY Spin Art and I adore doing it with the little ones. I come over an they ask for it! They can experiment with colors and using the salad spinner method helps the toddlers work on fine motor skills. Win Win! Honestly though, even though there is a some clean up with this (parts) it is relatively mess free when it comes to kids and hands.

ByChelsea

Marbled Shaving Cream Easter Eggs

on March 15, 2016

One of my favorite Easter memories is dying eggs with my family. We’d pick an evening, stay up late, get one of those old school tablet dye kits and have at it. Sometimes my mom would write little messages on them in a white crayon for us to discover while we dyed them later.

Well, times have certainly changed. There’s dye kits for everything. You want Sparkle Eggs? Find them here. Metallic eggs? Here. 3D eggs? Oh yeah, they have those too. But even though the egg kits are fun, I wanted to do something with the kiddos that could also double as sensory play, so we made these Marbled Shaving Cream Easter Eggs. This is best done outside or in the bottom of the bathtub (trust me). If you want to eat your eggs (I always HATED hard boiled eggs, but whatever) use Cool Whip instead.

ByChelsea

No Mess Splatter Painting Shamrocks

on March 9, 2016

St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner and it’s time to make some crafts… well past time actually. I’ve been obsessed with Splatter Painting recently. You never really know how its going to turn out except for the colors you use so I’ve been using the method to make some unique cards for birthdays and holidays.

I’ve also been getting the kiddos involved to help them be creative AND get their energy out as well as make some festive art! The best part is that you can make these with things found around the house or for super cheap!

ByChelsea

DIY: Watercolor Coffee Mug Tutorial

on March 2, 2016

I took a huge step this week in my journey. I quit a part time job that I’d had for almost 2 years… but it was time. Anyone else have experience with this? Quitting a job to pursue something else? Creatively or otherwise? Leave me a comment! I’d love to know!

For those of you that know, I took a break from the social media agency world to work with kids. It has been insanely rewarding and I’ve made so many friends. Some that I now consider family.

But it was time. I knew that if I kept this job, I’d always be scared to move forward. I would keep burning myself out. I would become resentful of everything that I was doing, and that’s the last thing I want. So I took the step. I’m not sure how everything will work out, but I feel like this was the best decision for me.

So, when I left I wanted to thank all of the wonderful women I worked with. I wanted to give them something special to tell them how amazing they had made my last few years and how much I appreciated the work that we all did (and they continue to do).

ByChelsea

End of the Rainbow Paper Plate Craft

on February 29, 2016

The kids have been asking a lot of questions about St. Patrick’s day recently. My favorite story to tell them is about when I had braces. I would get green rubber bands and not wear any green on my person. Then if someone tried to pinch me, I’d smile at them. It was all kinds of hilarious to me at the time.

Anyhoo, we’ve been reading The Night Before Saint Patrick’s Day and the kiddos have been asking lots of questions about leprechauns and rainbows and pots of gold and the like so I’ve been trying to incorporate some fun St. Patrick’s day crafts into our days.

My favorite thing about this paper plate craft was that it kept Peyton (2.5) busy for more than 10 minutes at a time! Babysitter win!

ByChelsea

Animal Butt DIY Magnets

on February 25, 2016

A large part of this blog is about trying new things and creating things that make me happy. Its really been an amazing journey so far… just living in a creative space.

A few years ago I was trolling Mod Cloth and became obsessed with these Animal Butt Magnets… Why, I have no clue. Its not like I used magnets for anything anyway! I realized that I could probably just do it my freaking self. And so I did. And they made me happy. Its always hilarious when people come over and see them. A lot of times they do a double take, not expecting butts.

Want to make your own? Check it out!

ByChelsea

Make your Own Watercolor Paints

on February 22, 2016

And STEM lesson!

I’ve been working with some older kids recently and realized that some of the crafts I usually plan just won’t cut it. Its kind of exciting because it means I can create projects that are a bit more involved than usual.

J has been really into art. So much art! And while he has a ton of art supplies around the house, I thought it would be more fulfilling to make his own. Enter DIY WaterColor Paints! I know you can get them for super cheap at the dollar store, but this kills two birds with one stone… It is an activity for you to do together and can be used as a teaching tool.

ByChelsea

How to Knit a Beanie on Straight Needles

on February 17, 2016

Sometimes I get bored and make things. Hence the reason I started a blog!

Okay, so recently I tried to KonMari my house, or at least my craft stash, because at this point it was taking over my house. I got rid of some fabric, notions, random odds and ends, projects that I was never going to finish, etc. But I just couldn’t part with my yarn knowing that I could do a few stash busters and make a ton of small projects. Yarn tends to spark joy. There’s just so many possibilities!

Do you have any project supplies that you just can’t part with?

ByChelsea

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