Do It Your Freaking Self - kids crafts Archives

Cupcake Perler Bead Hair Pins

on May 17, 2017

Add some fun to your hairstyle with a nostalgic twist! Learn how to turn mini cupcakes into adorable perler bead hair pins for the kid in all of us!

This post may contain affiliate links, that means I make a few pennies if you purchase through my links….but the price for you stays the same!

Perler bead time friends! I’m feeling a bit nostalgic today and also a little bit introverted so a nice quiet project seemed like a good idea. As a nanny (or you as a parent) or just as a grown up who needs creative quiet time, this is my favorite thing to do to keep myself and the kiddos busy. These Cupcake Perler Bead Hair Pins are also great because they can hold your hair back while you’re feeling yourself in a flirty skater dress outfit (because we all have one). They also make really great gifts that kids can make for Valentines Day, birthday parties, etc.

Cupcake Perler Bead Hair Pins

Supplies:
Perler Beads
Square perler bead peg board
Parchment or Wax paper
Iron
Bobby Pins
E6000 glue
A piece of cardstock or cardboard
Nail polish (optional) to color your hair pins

Time: 30 minutes or less (or more depending on how into it you get)
Cost: $5 or less for a lot
Nostalgia level: A solid 6

ByChelsea

DIY Colorful Pumpkin Plaster Magnets

on November 10, 2016

It’s time for a fall refresh on the old refrigerator… because why can’t it be festive?!? I’ve been playing around with plaster of paris this week and I gotta say, these DIY Colorful Pumpkin Plaster Magnets make me pretty happy. As much as I love traditional fall colors of orange, gold and white (or whatever catches your fancy) I wanted to experiment with colors too. We had so much fun painting these pumpkin plaster magnets and experimenting with different patterns. Full disclosure… there was wine involved.

Helpful hint? Using Q-tips as your paint brushes makes for easier clean up and great polkadots!

ByChelsea

Potato Stamp Matilda Wormwood Hoodie

on October 17, 2016

When most kids were having their “go outside and run around the neighborhood” phase, I was in my “stay inside and read a book” phase. Yes folks, I was not the most active of children. Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t. But before you start worrying about my health just know that I was at dance class a lot. Like 3-4 nights a week a lot. I just wasn’t a big fan of being outside or sweating or things that go with that.

Okay, so that stay inside and read a book phase…. I liked to read a lot. I remember staying up all night to finish books and somehow making it up in time to go to school or church the next day. I still do that in fact. I fell in love with the character of Matilda Wormwood who shared a love of reading and learning. Matilda was magical, mysterious and overall amazing. So of course while I was creating a hoodie based on another Roald Dahl work, I felt like I needed to honor Matilda in the same way.

Time: 1hr
Cost: $15 or less
Literary level: Genius

ByChelsea

Halloween Glow in the Dark Slime

on October 4, 2016

Well, it is officially less than a month away from Halloween, which means a few things.

1 – That I’m no longer looked at weird for already having my livingroom decorated.
2 – That ya’ll are finally preparing for your halloween parties, and
3 – It is totally okay for me to buy and eat an entire package of Reeses Pumpkins…. right?

So let’s talk about one of my favorite kiddo projects shall we? Slime. It’s really amazing as project that kids can make and it doubles as a sensory activity. Kids can get messy (I usually have them work sans shirts) and then wash off. Everything in slime is body safe so I don’t worry about it iritating their skin. Glow in the dark slime is also one of my favorite projects for Halloween time! It keeps the kiddos busy, makes an adorable party favor and everyone likes to pretend they’re a mad scientist right?

How to Make Halloween Glow in the Dark Slime

Time: 10 minutes or less
Kid engagement time: 1 hour+
Cost: $2 or less
Fun level: 10

ByChelsea

DIY Queen of Hearts Magnets

on May 30, 2016

Making Perler Bead magnets are a fun activity for children ages 6+. These DIY Queen of Hearts Magnets are sure to keep them busy and create something fun!

I’ve started writing the intro to the post probably 10 times and kept going down the rabbit hole. How appropriate that this post should be about Alice In Wonderland!

If we’re being honest, which we are, I’ve always been in love with Alice in Wonderland. As a book, it’s beautifully written. As a film (cartoon, movies, etc), it is a classic. I’m also a huge fans of the book re-imaginings. I think it speaks to Carroll’s legacy that his characters keep coming up in various forms and people are still inspired by his works of fantasy today. My favorite book iteration has got to be The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor.

So, with Alice Through the Looking Glass coming out this weekend and Allavelle’s Beautiful Children’s Book DIY, I was inspired to create these DIY Queen of Hearts Magnets!

I especially like working with perler beads with the older kiddos because it keeps them busy, helps them with motor skills, and teaches them about patterns and shapes.

ByChelsea

DIY Galaxy Shoes

on May 23, 2016

One of my littles has been obsessed with space recently. So much so that I’ve been scrambling to find engaging crafts for him that aren’t the super simple “glue piece A onto spot B” and that won’t take up fridge space and make it into the trash on the next clean up. (You know it’s true parents. Just embrace it) So, with him growing like a weed, I thought it only fitting that we make DIY Galaxy Shoes together. It really killed two birds with one stone. It gave us an arts and crafts project to do AND it gave him new shoes. I didn’t take photos of his shoes, but here is the process with mine!

ByChelsea

10 Must Have Items for the Creative Babysitting Bag

on March 30, 2016

As I learned from reading the Baby Sitters Club as a child, having a bag is VERY important. Like, life changing important. As a crafty nanny, its even more important to have things on hand to create an activity at a moments notice. It has become so (need a word for this) that a lot of my kiddos call it my “Mary Poppins” bag, and since I’m still convinced that Mary is a time lord, I take it as the highest compliment.

How does she fit it all in there? Seriously!
Photo (c) Disney

But really folks. Who here that babysits or nanny’s doesn’t try to roll up like Mary Poppins and just blow everyones minds? If only it were as easy and practically perfect as she makes it look. I mean… I want to jump into a chalk painting and hang out with my chimney sweep best friend while I’m playing with someone else’s kids…. moving on.

I want to be practically perfect in every way. © Disney

Now, that being said, these are the craft staples of my nanny and babysitting bag. I buy most, if not all of these things at the dollar tree to cut down on costs. Other things change out from day to day and week to week, depending on what I’ve got going on. These items stay in there though because they’re great for a quick activity in any combination!

Want to survive the summer? Check out the Summer Survival Babysitting Bag too!

UPDATE: I’ve just added this adorable DIY Emoji Pillow Busy Bag to my babysitter bag staples!

ByChelsea