tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70112639396855407292024-03-05T10:46:21.784-08:00The Whole Kit n' CaboodleA place to share crafty and creative ideas and inspiration.Kithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589116919991794224noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011263939685540729.post-61771621235193732492014-07-01T20:08:00.000-07:002016-04-18T17:05:46.440-07:00Earning our Ears - Turning "Me" into "We"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBj7dJ3-cVfNejrM2UbP4He25EDWpQo5yTzQhYhrfjqRfVPd-AaW7BYCliqq-ab-LymZGjt7iOps7sFsHFB062n06ijMdb_UKNpvoZ-Wcc1nMZTUDXhMPAW8n_5a0VDCYKHmRVRq8vO4/s1600/2013-09-24+22.33.31+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRBj7dJ3-cVfNejrM2UbP4He25EDWpQo5yTzQhYhrfjqRfVPd-AaW7BYCliqq-ab-LymZGjt7iOps7sFsHFB062n06ijMdb_UKNpvoZ-Wcc1nMZTUDXhMPAW8n_5a0VDCYKHmRVRq8vO4/s200/2013-09-24+22.33.31+%25282%2529.jpg" width="181" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">One of the more common challenges on a trip to Disney can be the “me” syndrome. It’s all about “me”!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i style="color: #cc0000;">I want to ride this; I don’t want to ride that. I don’t want to wait in line; I don’t want to sit next to my sister. I want to buy that, and that and that. I want to do it all and have it all now!</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is easy to get caught up in the “me” syndrome in our immediate gratification society. But, here is a secret…. A trip to Disney can be a valuable lesson in compromise, respect and selfless behavior. Yes, it is true. It’s a little thing called sharing the Disney Magic, or what my family calls <em>Earning our Ears</em>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><em>Earning our Ears</em> is similar to the positive reinforcement method used by teachers called <em>Caught Being Good</em>. The concept is fairly easy. When someone is caught doing something selfless, considerate, and from the heart, they are sharing the Disney Magic. They are acting like our Pal Mickey, and that is why we call it <em>Earning our Ears</em>.</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What are examples of <em>Earning our Ears</em>? </span></strong></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We go on a ride our mom and dad want to ride (but we don’t want to) without complaining.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We share a bite of our Mickey bar with our brother.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We don’t whine when we have to wait in line. Instead we find games to entertain ourselves.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We let a shorter child stand in front of us so they can see the parade.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">You get the idea.</span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How do you recognize these acts and reinforce this behavior? </span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">First, it is up to your parenting style. For some, a kind word and simple acknowledgement of the act will work. “Way to go for Earning your Ears!” For others, a special item used to recognize the good deed can help. Here are a few ideas:</span></div>
<ul style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX41kfO7kdyk56Js8f0j2FVEocX2kxn34hdTFNww_yEJL5TZRmXdVPOq3tQdZr_6NgSAxrNv0-dsR7n5GqjZc0QwuhzAoZJ7rkm7TZKiKMeqMSXRwEkbIDMzpTPgKVSNwXIEMdLIC9KtU/s1600/2014-07-01+18.30.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX41kfO7kdyk56Js8f0j2FVEocX2kxn34hdTFNww_yEJL5TZRmXdVPOq3tQdZr_6NgSAxrNv0-dsR7n5GqjZc0QwuhzAoZJ7rkm7TZKiKMeqMSXRwEkbIDMzpTPgKVSNwXIEMdLIC9KtU/s400/2014-07-01+18.30.48.jpg" width="225" /></a></ul>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px;">Need something inexpensive and easy? Stickers are a way to say “good job!” Buy them at the store or save the extras you get from Cast Members during your stay. When someone is caught </span><em style="font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', serif; line-height: 19px;">Earning their Ears</em><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px;">, pull out a sticker, talk about what they did and how great it feels to make someone else smile.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px;">Are you crafty? Consider a craft where you can add beads to a necklace or a pin. The beads can spell out something or be used to earn their way up to a special treat like a set of Mouse Ears. Then they literally have “Earned their Ears.” </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 19px;">Do your kids have an interest in lanyards and pins? Buy a lanyard and some pins either before the trip online, in the store or once you get to the parks. Give them the lanyard and explain that they might earn a pin if they are caught doing something selfless to show they know what the Disney Magic is all about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The key is to discuss what being selfless is, what respect is and how the feeling inside of us is the best gift of all. That is what <em>Earning your Ears</em> is all about. Villains may try to come along and steal the Disney Magic. They may try to keep us from <em>Earning our Ears</em>. But it is up to us to keep those Villains at bay and keep the Magic going, just like Mickey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">And don’t forget that the best way to teach Disney Magic is by showing it in our own actions. The pins, the beads, the stickers are all just ways to help reinforce the behavior if you feel you need something extra. But soon, the reward for everyone will be the feeling deep down inside, the Disney Magic that builds up in the heart and can’t help but burst out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the words of Samuel Johnson,</span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Love and magic have a great deal in common. They enrich the soul, delight the heart. And they both take practice.</i></span></blockquote>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now go <em>Earn your Ears</em>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">PS - If the villains still show up, it might just be time for a nap.</span></div>
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Kithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589116919991794224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011263939685540729.post-9177012449620980792014-07-01T19:56:00.000-07:002016-04-18T17:03:38.932-07:00Making Magical Accessories - Pin It!<div style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', 'Bitstream Charter', Times, serif; line-height: 19px;">
Part 2 of Making Magical Accessories!</div>
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While searching the jewelry section of our local Michaels, hubby and I brainstormed this cute little craft. It can be a fun way for children to Earn their Ears <a data-mce-href="http://mouseducation.com/earning-our-ears/" href="http://mouseducation.com/earning-our-ears/" title="Earning our Ears blog poast">(see post)</a>, a handy way to pin important information to your child in case they get lost (phone number, name) or a one of a kind accessory for your park tote or diaper bag.</div>
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<span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><span data-mce-style="color: #808080; text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Magical Pin:</span></span></strong></span></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://mouseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Pin-Craft.jpg" href="http://mouseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Pin-Craft.jpg"><img alt="Pin Craft" class="aligncenter wp-image-260 size-large" data-mce-src="http://mouseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Pin-Craft-e1404254752889-966x1024.jpg" height="400" src="http://mouseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Pin-Craft-e1404254752889-966x1024.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="377" /></a></div>
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<strong><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;"><em><span style="color: blue;">Supplies: </span></em></span></strong></div>
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<li><u>Bead Landing, 2.25 inch pins</u> – These pins are nickel free and come in a 5 pack for $2.99 at Michaels.</li>
<li><u>Bead Avenue, Square Black Alpha Blocks</u> – The black alphabet letters are from Bead Avenue and were on Clearance for $.79 at Michaels, what a bargain! For the white heart beads see Part 1 of the Making Magical Accessories.</li>
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Decide if you want just a single pin with letters or multiple pins to form a phrase or several words (like above). Plan out your beads first, then place them on the pins. If you are making a phrase (like above), string the pins onto a single pin and place beads in between.</div>
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As is, your creation can be pinned to a strap of a diaper bag or purse. If you want to pin it to clothing or a flat surface, securely attach a Bead Landing Bar Pin. Bar Pins are sold in variety packs and can be attached to anything to make them a pin. I attached the heart beads on my creation to the Bar Pin and made sure it was securely attached. Feel free to use hot glue if you are nervous it will fall off. The pack of Bar Pins ran be $2.99 at Michaels and included over 26 different pin backs.</div>
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As a side note, my bag is from a company called Initials, Inc. I love that their personalization is Free. The only thing you have to beware of is that you can't personalize with anything trademarked. But you can get creative with phrases like "WDW 1971" or "Got Ears?" as I did above.</div>
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<strong><span data-mce-style="color: #808080; text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Make Your Own Bead:</span></span></strong></div>
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Want to make your own beads for your pin or necklace? It is so easy to do with Polymer Clay.</div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://mouseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Create-you-own-bead-e1404255733658.jpg" href="http://mouseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Create-you-own-bead-e1404255733658.jpg"><img alt="Create you own bead" class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-261" data-mce-src="http://mouseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Create-you-own-bead-e1404255733658-1006x1024.jpg" height="400" src="http://mouseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Create-you-own-bead-e1404255733658-1006x1024.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="392" /></a></div>
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<strong><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;"><em><span style="color: blue;">Supplies: </span></em></span></strong></div>
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<li><u>Craft Smart, Polymer Clay</u> – The 2 oz packages of Craft Smart Polymer Clay come in a variety of colors. I selected black and red and purchased them for $1.49 each at Michaels.</li>
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To make the Mickey Ears:</div>
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<li>Roll 3 separate balls of clay, one large (the head) and two small (the ears).</li>
<li>Push a pin or toothpick through the head to create the hole for the bead (so it can be strung on a necklace or a pin).</li>
<li>Place the two small ears on top of the head to see how they look. Be sure they align right with the hole you created. If the ears do not look quite right, try making them larger or smaller until they look like Mickey.</li>
<li>Be sure the ears are pushed securely onto the head or add a small amount of clay between the ears and head to help. This may take a little trial and error. If the ears are not secure, they may fall off after baking.</li>
<li>For Minnie's bow, flatten a piece of red clay. Use a toothpick to trace a bow out of the clay (cutting all the way through). Mold your bow until it looks just right.</li>
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Don't forget that it shouldn't look perfect. Handmade is not perfect and the imperfections add character to your piece. Also, don't be afraid to test and try and retry and try again. You will need to get use to the clay and different methods may work for you.</div>
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Follow the directions on the Polymer Clay for baking and let the items cool before touching.</div>
Kithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589116919991794224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011263939685540729.post-78107022118119885512014-07-01T19:55:00.000-07:002016-04-18T16:46:21.199-07:00Making Magical Accessories - Necklaces!<div style="color: #333333; line-height: 19px;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hubby and I made a trip to Michaels and our creative wheels were turning! Whether you are Earning Your Ears or just want some magical bling, here a few fun and easy necklaces you can make on your own. Don't forget to check out Part 2 of Making Magical Accessories - Pin It!</span></div>
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<span data-mce-style="text-decoration: underline;" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span data-mce-style="color: #808080;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000;">Beaded Necklace</span></strong></span></span></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://mouseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Bead-Necklace.jpg" href="http://mouseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Bead-Necklace.jpg"><img alt="Bead Necklace" class="aligncenter wp-image-251 size-large" data-mce-src="http://mouseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Bead-Necklace-e1404250798442-1024x988.jpg" src="http://mouseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Bead-Necklace-e1404250798442-1024x988.jpg" height="385" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;"><em><span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Supplies: </span></em></span></strong></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Silkies Necklaces</u> - Silkies makes inexpensive stretchable necklaces perfect for this craft. The pack I purchase came with 6 black plastic necklaces and cost $4.99 at Michaels. They are fairly easy to open and close and secure around the neck.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Bead Landing, Alpha Blocks</u> – I found a large pack of white alphabet block beads for $7.99 at Michaels. You can buy smaller packs just make sure they have holes large enough to put the necklace through.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><u>Pony Beads</u> – For my project, I purchased a mix pack of black, white and grey pony beads for $3.99 at Michael’s.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This craft is so simple once you have the supplies. Select a pattern and a word, name or phrase. Layout your design before putting it on the necklace to ensure letters face the correct way and the pattern is what you want. Add the beads to the necklace and you are done!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Don't forget to look for coupons or shop and compare online. I found a coupon for 30% off my entire purchase of Michaels jewelry (all of these items were considered jewelry)!</span></div>
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<strong data-mce-style="color: #808080;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><u>Bottlecap Necklace:</u></span></strong></div>
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<a data-mce-href="http://mouseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Bottle-Cap-Necklace.jpg" href="http://mouseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Bottle-Cap-Necklace.jpg"><img alt="Bottle Cap Necklace" class="aligncenter wp-image-256 size-large" data-mce-src="http://mouseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Bottle-Cap-Necklace-e1404251614554-1024x992.jpg" src="http://mouseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Bottle-Cap-Necklace-e1404251614554-1024x992.jpg" height="387" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></a></div>
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<strong><span data-mce-style="color: #000000;"><em><span style="color: blue;">Supplies: </span></em></span></strong></div>
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<li><u>Silkies Necklaces</u> - This time I used a 2 pack of Silkies black velvet necklaces that I found for $2.99 at Michaels.</li>
<li><u>Fashion Caps</u> - The Fashion Caps came in a pack of 24 with different colors or 48 in only silver. I purchased the 48 silver at Michaels for $7.99 (and used a 40% off one item coupon). These caps have holes in each side already so a necklace can slide through.</li>
<li><u>Pony Beads</u> – Pony Beads can be used if you want to add some extra flare.</li>
<li><u>Stickers</u> - Select any stickers you like as long as they fit on the bottle cap.</li>
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Another simple craft! I am an avid scrapbooker, so I had several Disney stickers already on hand. I tried several different stickers until I found the black circle above and placed some red Mickey ears on top. Or be super creative and create your own sticker on the computer. If you've been to Disney before, consider a picture of you and your favorite character. The great thing about printing your own sticker is it can be whatever you want!</div>
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<strong>Happy crafting and go show your Disney style! </strong></div>
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* Note that prices listed are what I paid at the time of purchase and may not reflect current pricing. Also be sure to pay attention to the warnings on any and all of these products. Some are not suitable for certain ages due to small parts causing a choking hazard.</div>
Kithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589116919991794224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011263939685540729.post-24317680190109430422014-06-17T13:56:00.000-07:002016-04-18T16:55:11.252-07:00Power of the Puzzle<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On our 3<sup>rd</sup> trip to Disney we started the puzzle tradition. Each time we visit The Mouse, we bring along a Disney puzzle (or two). The puzzle is placed on a desk or table or any place we have a little room. We open it and walk away. Then slowly, little by little, day by day, piece by piece, the puzzle comes together. First the edges then the middle until our masterpiece is complete. Okay, it’s a puzzle. So, what is this “power” I speak of?</div>
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Sometimes a day full of Disney magic can end on a less than magical note. After all, we go from 50 miles an hour to 0, from a huge park to a very cozy space we all share. Family overload and boredom often get the better of the situation. Let the games begin.</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">I don’t want to watch that TV show... I’m too excited to sleep... I didn’t mean to draw a picture over my entire right arm with markers, I was bored.</span></blockquote>
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Okay, that last one is a long story. I will just say my daughter has mad drawing skills if she ever wants to be a tattoo artist. But, this is where the puzzle comes in. Still don’t get it? Let me explain.</div>
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This past trip we were fortunate to have condo with a lovely dining room table. My children scoffed “again?” as I unloaded the puzzle and opened the box. Then they gave me that look only an embarrassed teen can master.</div>
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At the end of our first busy day at the parks, I grabbed a glass of wine and started working on the puzzle. The kids watched TV for a bit, and I suspected I would be working on the puzzle alone this trip. But then, curiosity crept in. First, the 15 year old came over and took a look. I offered him a seat and he started working on the top edge. The 12 year old peered over his shoulder and took a seat on the other side. Then hubby joined our merry crew. We sat there working away and began to talk.</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">Do you have a piece that looks like this?... Oooh, I know where that goes!... Here is part of Dory... That reminds me of the park today.</span></blockquote>
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And so on. We worked for about 20 minutes or so and then all decided to call it a night.</div>
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Each evening as we returned from the parks, some of us would work on the puzzle. In fact we finished one (1000 pieces I might add), and then began another. The best part was that everyone was still together, not arguing, not complaining, and just enjoying the puzzle and relaxing after a long and busy day. THAT is the “power of the puzzle.”</div>
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So next time you take a trip to The Mouse. If you find that time in the room is less than magical, try a puzzle. Yes, Disney puts magic in those too. And hopefully you will find a “piece” of family fun you never expected.</div>
Kithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589116919991794224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011263939685540729.post-11366467301894169592014-06-12T14:20:00.000-07:002016-04-10T14:29:49.565-07:00Understanding Disney Addiction for my Non-Disney Friends<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As an adult Disney fan, I’ve had to explain my addiction to friends and co-workers time and time again. This is a difficult task. How do you explain as a person over the age of (cough, cough) that you love going to Disney World as much as your kids, if not more? And this is especially hard when you run into people that have had less then fun Disney experiences. I’ve heard all the Disney woes. “I hate the crowds!” “I hate waiting in line.” “That place is just too crazy.” So, how do you explain Disney to these people?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On our trip a week ago, I took some time to really think about why I love visiting with The Mouse. I love that when you step inside a park, the outside world melts away. There is no work to think about, no housecleaning, and no homework or carpool. The everyday world disappears and you are in Disney World. But, it is more than that, much more than that.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sitting in Tomorrowland, it came to me. What I enjoy about Disney is not completely disappearing from my life, but seeing all the life going on around me. It’s the memories being made around me as I walk down Main Street or step onto a ride. The ones that make me stop, smile and appreciate that moment in time. And last week I wrote down a few to share.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There was the 3 year old girl in the bathroom outside Crystal Palace singing “Let It Go” at the top of her lungs as she washed her hands and waited for her mom. I think everyone in or out of a stall at that moment couldn’t help but smile. And yes, in the bathroom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There was the couple in their 60’s on the Tea Cups. The husband was laughing away as he spun them in circles. The wife had a sly smile on her face and a playful look. They spent the entire ride staring at each other, laughing, flirting and just being young again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My favorite moment, though, had to be a group of teenagers riding Dinosaur with their grandpa. They were excitedly telling him about the ride and nudging him along. He playfully joked with a Cast Member “Is it too late to leave” while giving a wink. The teenagers roared, “Oh no grandpa! You have to go!” He laughed and got on board. The entire ride the teens called out to their grandpa to look here and look there and “here we go grandpa!” They were more excited to be riding with him than anything else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Those moments are why I love Disney. Seeing a young child’s imagination come to life while they sing at the top of their lungs. Watching grown adults become kids again and experience true love. And seeing generations, old and young, sharing time together and making memories. So next time someone asks you to explain your Disney addiction, I hope this will help. And I challenge you next time you are at Disney to take a few moments and look around. See the memories being made, feel the excitement in the air, and smile. That’s what it is all about.</span></div>
Kithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589116919991794224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011263939685540729.post-35412821472145116842014-06-08T13:29:00.000-07:002016-04-09T13:32:26.208-07:00The Mane Event - Harambe Nights at Animal Kingdom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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For a month, we kept a secret from my Lion King FANATIC daughter. And when I say FANATIC, I mean FANATIC! She can quote lines from all three Lion King movies. She can tell you the names of Simba and Nala’s two children and the real name of Scar. If there was a Lion King Trivia competition, this girl would win hands down! So what was the big secret? We had tickets to <em><strong>Harambe Nights</strong></em>, the after-hours celebration at Animal Kingdom marking the 20<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the Lion King.</div>
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We arrived at the park around 5:15pm. Disney Daughter (DD) thought we were there to buy something for her birthday. As we walked in, cast members held signs announcing the entrance to Harambe Nights. Our acting skills were spot on. We asked a cast member what the event was all about . “Hmmm, wish we had tickets,” hubby said. Wasn’t until they put the special band on DD’s wrist and gave us our event booklet that she realized we were going and that was her present. </div>
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Harambe Nights started at 7pm, so we had a little time on our hands and headed straight to Expedition Everest. A 5-minute wait, WHAT?!?! Yes, we hopped on it twice before meandering over to Africa around 6:10. Guests gathered around the Dawa bar waiting for the night’s festivities to begin. And, yes, the early bird catches the worm - or in this case, early entry. Around 6:40, guests were led into the area in front of the newly constructed home of the Festival of the Lion King.</div>
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We were greeted by the music of an Afro-Pop band as the MC welcomed us to the evening’s festivities. Cocktail tables topped with African-themed décor filled the area along with food and beverage stations serving drinks and appetizers. It was a party atmosphere and excitement filled the air.</div>
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The Spicy Durban Chicken, Pickled Fennel Paneer Cheese and Moroccan Beef Kefta were delicious and seemed authentic. However, the big hit was the Safari Cheeseburger Roll. Hubby had 9. No joke, 9. The beverage stands offered a variety of beer, wine, soda, water, and Jungle Juice. On its own, the Jungle Juice was non-alcoholic and had a mango and citrus flavor. And on request, bartenders would add a splash of rum. Yum!</div>
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Our MC encouraged guests to talk to the Cultural Representatives stationed throughout the venue. We spoke with a lovely young lady from South Africa. She said that people usually think Africa looks like the Pride Lands in the Lion King and are surprised to learn that she is from a big city. Another Cultural Representative taught us how to play Mancala, an African game.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Adding to the atmosphere were painters brushing neon tribal prints onto the faces of willing guests. A splash of bright orange and green </span>markings,<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and DD was ready to go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We had plenty of time to mingle, eat, a</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "bitstream charter" , "times" , serif;">nd drink before we were asked to enter the show. Entrances were divided into the four animals we recognized from the Festival of the Lion King. We were Giraffes and headed to our designated area where greeters handed out wooden tubes containing “Lion Chow”. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">DD and DS (Disney Son) weren’t too big on the Lion Chow spices. Hubby enjoyed the candied pecans while I “Lion Chowed down” on the Sea Salted Toasted Pretzel Chips. And yes, we kept the wood container as a souvenir.</span></div>
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The VIP ticket holders sat center stage on the floor. Our Giraffe area was to the side and still had a fantastic view. The band was located on the left, the choir on the right, and in front was an empty space for performers. The guest narrator and host were elevated on Pride Rock at the center of the stage while large TV screens flanked each side. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , "bitstream charter" , "times" , serif;">T</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">he show took clips from the beloved Lion King movie and intertwined them with live music, live performance, choir accompaniment and narration. We were fortunate to have Viola Davis, star of the movie The Help, as our Guest Narrator. She began with a note about her own connection with the Lion King 20 years ago, how she cried when Mufasa died and felt as though she had lost a member of her own family. I saw my DD connect with her, a kindred spirit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ms. Davis’ performance was passionate and included a cute “Simba” voice for parts as well as a terrifying Scar. Several talented Disney artists emerged from the choir to sing beautiful solo performances including “He Lives In You”, a song my DD identified as not from the 1<sup>st</sup> movie, but from the sequel and Broadway musical. The choreography was beautiful and the performances fantastic. Dancers played the role of jungle animals, cackling hyenas, the beloved Rafiki, and our jungle lovebirds (or lions that is) Simba and Nala. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> The show ended with a well-deserved standing ovation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">After the performance, dinner was served and the Street Party began. We were directed to the central Africa area of Animal Kingdom. The celebration stretched from the Discovery Island Bridge to the Kilimanjaro Safari exit. Food stations filled up quickly both outside and inside the Tusker House. We had to wait a bit in line but found an impressive variety and amount of food once we reached the buffet. There was something to appeal to everyone in our party. </span></div>
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I enjoyed the Watercress, Melon, Feta and Berry Balsamic Onion Salad as well as the Fork Tender BBQ Pork. Oh, and of course, the Papadum Bread and Vegetable Samosas were delish. DS ate 2 helpings of the Seared Lamb Chops with Tamarind Pomegranate Sauce. And for DD, Macaroni and Cheese was the highlight of her dinner.</div>
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The desserts were quite interesting. Pineapple pieces covered in coconut were hubby's favorite. Not as big a hit was the Rice Pudding with Dried Fruit Compote and Pistachio Gremolata. It required several other foods and drinks to clean the taste off of the palate. The Chai Cream with Zebra Stripes reminded me of Egg Nog with a touch of Nutmeg. Just when we thought we were finished, they brought out the Mickey Bar and other ice cream treats. A perfect end to a delicious meal. Did I mention that the St. George and Tusker Lager were refreshing on the hot and humid night?</div>
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There was dancing in the streets with the Afro-pop band and various dancers encouraging party goers to get on the floor and shake it. Mickey and Minnie in African garb floated around the party as well as Timon and Rafiki. The Africa shops were open and offered event specific merchandise and limited edition Lion King Collectables. Costa Alavezos, a Senior Character Artist for Disney was on hand signing Lion King Prints. We purchased a sketch of Simba, Timon and Pumba that he personalized for our DD.</div>
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By 10pm we were partied out, had full bellies, and huge smiles on our faces. As we left the park, the Tree of Life was aglow with twinkling lights, like fireflies dancing in the night. A parade of animals and cast members bid us farewell. It was a night to remember. Was it a huge price tag? Yes. But we felt it was worth it. The performance was a top notch production, the type you would expect from Disney. They spared no expense on the unlimited food and beverages. And the décor and cast members led you into a magical world of fun. When asked to sum up the night in two words, everyone agreed… Hakuna Matata!</div>
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So when I came across this idea on Pinterest, I was in love. What a quick and easy way to make a "To Do" dry erase board each of them can keep on their desk! Brilliant! I would love to put the link for the original site, but I cannot find it. So kuddos to whoever posted the inspiration for this originally. </div>
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I found a simple black frame at the $1 store (glass center). The rock n' roll ribbon was on sale at Michael's for $1.50. The other ribbon I had in my craft supply, gotta love being able to use something already on hand! And the notebook paper I stole out of my daughter's backpack. Shhhh, don't tell!</div>
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After cutting and inserting the notebook paper into the frame, I attached the checker ribbon around the top and bottom of the frame with a glue gun. Next came the rock n' roll ribbon which I tied in a bow, cut off the excess and glued to the corner with the hot glue gun. Voila, that really was it! $2.50 and now my daughter has a fashionable dry erase "To Do" board. Now the trick will be getting her to use it!</div>
Kithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589116919991794224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011263939685540729.post-81333116236036219132012-09-16T21:07:00.000-07:002016-04-09T11:11:54.856-07:00Pinterest Party - Burlap Door DecorI have no idea what got into me this weekend. I was a crafty girl. Maybe it was that I kicked it off with a Pinterest party and the crafting just never stopped. What is a Pinterest Party? I am glad you asked... <br />
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A few of my friends and I decided to try something new for our GNO on Friday. We brought over an appetizer, a beverage of choice and a craft we had found on Pinterest. It was the best GNO ever! <i>(Although, I do have this one word of caution. Make sure the crafting takes place before too many beverages are consumed. Otherwise the results may vary and be rather humorous the next morning. But I digress.) </i><br />
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We created a Facebook Event for our party so we could share some ideas before hand. A few of my friends mentioned creating burlap door decor. The funny thing is that I had just seen this at the Orthodontist's office for the first time that exact day (shaped like a tooth of course). I searched Pinterest and found that I was obviously missing out on one of the latest decor trends. These things are everywhere! <br />
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I jumped on the burlap bandwagon for our Pinterest party and decided to make one for my sister-in-law for her birthday. She is a full tilt Georgia fan, and I had found the perfect Pinterest inspiration. Here is my creation.... <br />
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I learned a few things to do and not to do with this project. First of all, trace the shape you want but do not cut it out until after you have painted it. I cut mine out before I painted and it did make it more difficult than some of my friends who did not. Second, don't feel you have to use brown burlap. I found a great red burlap that cut down the amount of painting I had to do.<br />
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After selecting my shape, I used white paint to do the trim first. This doesn't need to be perfect. As you can tell, the burlap will bunch a bit once it is stuffed, so no one will notice slight imperfections. Plus it is those imperfections that make it look homemade. I went about 2 inches in with the white acrylic paint all the way around. Then I came in with the black paint and traced my G about 1/2 an inch from the border. I kept adding black until I had a width I liked and then filled it in. <br />
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Now here is where the Crispin Apple Cider came in. I did have a black spot that I got "outside" of the lines a bit. But it worked out perfectly because the next day I added a dark red shadow to cover it up and then some gray shading into the G. Mistakes can sometimes be inspiration! <br />
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Once I completed the painting and it had dried, I took a matching piece of burlap (not painted) for the back and began to glue the edge of the two together. The glue gun worked great for sealing around the edge of the two pieces. I left about a 6 inch gap. After the glue dried, I stuffed it with batting then glued up the last little bit. <br />
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For the final touch, I decided to make my hanger out of ribbon. Most of the samples I saw had wire hangers, but I love the look of ribbon. Using two different size ribbons, I glued them on top of each other to give a layered look. Then I used a stapler, yes a stapler, to staple the ribbons onto to the burlap. To hide the staples, I hot glued the matching bows on top. There ya have it! Ready to be placed on the front door. <br />
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I have a feeling this is going to be the beginning of a burlap addiction. And we have already agreed that the Pinterest Party will now be a monthly event. Friends, food, wine and crafting.... life just doesn't get any better. <br />
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<br />Kithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589116919991794224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011263939685540729.post-34446309163484139322012-08-18T13:58:00.001-07:002016-04-09T11:12:37.429-07:00Back to School - Pencil CenterpiecesHere we are at the beginning of the school year and life is crazy! And I know it is even crazier for my teacher husband and friends... organizing their classrooms, starting lessons plans, and doing all those little things that make the first week back so amazing for our kids. So, when our PTSA started planning the back to school teacher Breakfast catered by Waffle House, I quickly offered to take on the challenge of centerpieces. I know centerpieces do not sound that vitally important, but it was just one small way to make the teachers feel welcome and show my appreciation. <br />
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I often think that Middle School teachers kind of get the raw end of the deal. We are so quick to do fun and cutesy things for teachers when our kids are little, but once they get into Middle School we kind of forget to say thanks. And those are teacher working with our kids during the largest growth spurt of their life (except for 0-3 years old). That's right, our kids grow and develop more in Middle School than any other time in their life except for when they are first born. Sorry, I got off on a tangent, but needless to say, I was glad to have a chance to say thanks.<br />
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I scoured Pinterest for cute ideas, but so many of them were a little young for the Middle School theme. Then I came across this website by Lisa Renee that had several cute ideas... <a href="http://nf1andpre-kwhisper.blogspot.com/2010_05_07_archive.html">http://nf1andpre-kwhisper.blogspot.com/2010_05_07_archive.html</a>. The pencil center piece with flowers was a winner!<br />
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And here is my version and how it was made:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxlWiIPUCZ85ZbA6g3AaHZDv1vElknzzoyzoBgB5C2jdyjTe6thj54aCEIIL8bN84yLBL_cenzg-1JsMmr5dHIG8I59fEx3cmhSdhHgqLtgQ-V0f6UQaLoHln5zvl7crm9BDKnOIHXDw/s1600/277986_4543607434920_1427716189_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxlWiIPUCZ85ZbA6g3AaHZDv1vElknzzoyzoBgB5C2jdyjTe6thj54aCEIIL8bN84yLBL_cenzg-1JsMmr5dHIG8I59fEx3cmhSdhHgqLtgQ-V0f6UQaLoHln5zvl7crm9BDKnOIHXDw/s640/277986_4543607434920_1427716189_o.jpg" width="360" /></a></div>
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I purchased canning jars at Target because I could get 12 of them for under $10. The flowers came in bunches from the dollar store along with the Styrofoam balls. The ribbon was laying around from various craft projects. And pencils, sticky tape and rubber bands rounded out the supply list </div>
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Luckily I have this amazing friend named Grace that also loves to craft and share her craft room with me. I want to live in her craft room! So I brought over all the supplies and we went to work. Thank you Grace! </div>
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The sticky tape is the type used for card making, strong stuff (stronger than double sided tape). I decided not to use the glue gun in case the pencils could be used later (my husband says teachers are ALWAYS in need of more pencils). We put three bands of sticky tape, one around at the top, the middle and the bottom of the jar. Then a few more strands were placed going up and down on raised parts of the jar. </div>
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After securing the pencils one by one beside each other, we used a rubber band to secure then from the outside, a little below the middle of the jar. In addition to being decorative, the ribbon helped hide the rubber band, clever and handy. Since I am not the best at tying bows, a few small flowers were used in the middle secured by more sticky tape. Love that stuff!</div>
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Lastly, the Styrofoam balls were placed in the middle, and we began to arrange the flowers. I put a few leaves in some of the arrangements for an added touch. Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture! To complete the arrangement, we sat each flower holder on a book bought at the dollar section at Target and put an apple on the side. </div>
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The centerpieces were a big hit. We decided to include them in a drawing and heard squeals of delight when each teacher won. Several teachers even came up and asked for the instructions or if I'd seen it on Pinterest. My reply being, "of course!" So thank you to all those that inspire us on Pinterest because without you, my creations would never be!</div>
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In the end I was so busy trying to meet and greet teachers arriving that I forgot to take a final picture. But I have called in reinforcements, knowing others did, and hope to have one up soon. In the mean time... remember that crafting is even more fun when you get to give the end result away to someone who really deserves and appreciates it. And few people I know deserve it more than our teachers! </div>
<br />Kithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589116919991794224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011263939685540729.post-90863856105114713282012-04-15T09:18:00.001-07:002016-04-09T10:43:17.838-07:00Count Down to DisneyWe have Disney issues. Okay, to say "issues" is mild, we are addicted to Disney. My favorite trips are when we are able to share the magic with friends. To see Disney through fresh eyes is like experiencing our first visit all over again.<br />
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Over the years we have made several different count down calendars to anticipate the big day when we leave for the happiest place on Earth. Our first year we made a paper chain and tore off a link every day until there were none. A year or two later we made a calendar on the computer with pictures of different characters and crossed off a character each day. </div>
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This year, we are going with two other families. One family is surprising their crew the day before, so no count down calendar needed. But the other family has the most precious little 4 year old that apparently squealed in delight when he found out they were going. Crafting is so much more fun when you get to share it with someone, so we made two calendars this year, one for us and one to share.</div>
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My love of Pinterest led me to this adorable count down idea. <a href="http://www.mamaofalltrades.com/2012/03/disney-vacation-countdown-shes-crafty.html">http://www.mamaofalltrades.com/2012/03/disney-vacation-countdown-shes-crafty.html</a></div>
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Here is my version with a few things added to make it all our own. <br />
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PLEASE VISIT my new Blog at www.mousEducation.com for more Disney ideas, crafts and learning. My new Blog is dedicated to learning about Disney but also using Disney as an Educational tool. Your children hopefully won't even realize you are using the "E" word and will think it is all just Disney fun!</div>
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I found the chalk board flower used as the base at Target in the $1 section (discounted to $.50!). The clothes pins were also a Target buy. Ribbons, the Disney in the center, Mickey ears and bow were all from Michaels in the scrapbooking section. For the numbers, I printed them off on the computer using a font called "Minnie". Punches from Stampin Up made the clips an easy craft using a tape runner and then glue dots to attach them to the clothes pins. </div>
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So, here was our added little touch. As the days go by, you turn the pins over to count down. With a little help from my 10 year old Disney fan, we added some fun trivia and activities to the back that were age appropriate for a 4 year old. Here is a sample.</div>
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Other activities include (these were geared toward a boy):</div>
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Jump around like Tigger</div>
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Sing a Disney song</div>
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Dance to the Mickey Mouse song</div>
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Which character is mommy like? (same with daddy)</div>
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Act like you are on a roller coaster</div>
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Read a Disney book</div>
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Laugh like Goofy</div>
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Draw Mickey ears</div>
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What does Pooh like to eat?</div>
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Hide Eeyore's tail and look for it</div>
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Who lives in Radiator Springs?</div>
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Race in a circle Cars</div>
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What kind of animal is Dumbo?</div>
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Act like your favorite safari animal</div>
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Who is Mickey's dog?</div>
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Pack a favorite toy for the car</div>
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Act like your favorite character</div>
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Make fish faces like Nemo</div>
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Who is the meanest Disney villain?</div>
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Watch a Disney movie</div>
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The craft was so fun to make, but I think coming up with activities was the best part of all. So, let the countdown begin!</div>
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Kithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589116919991794224noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011263939685540729.post-79261384207366585052012-04-08T18:49:00.001-07:002016-04-09T11:12:46.439-07:00Water Water Everywhere - Girl Scout Water BottlesMy children must think that I am Wonder Woman, capable of carrying large quantities of items when we are walking around on vacation. Totting the items they get tired of holding like some sort of pack mule. "Mom, can you carry my lip balm? Mom, can you carry my water bottle? Mom can you carry the $2 I have left from shopping?" I pictured what it would be like with 16 Girl Scouts in Savannah, and quickly decided I needed a plan. From that plan hatched my next craft project. <br />
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I had seen a few water bottle holders on Pinterest made from jeans or various pieces of clothing. But I needed something that could hold not just a water bottle but also small items each scout would need while wandering through Savannah. I wanted it to be a fun keepsake the girls could pull out years from now and show their children as they tell stories of the trip. Tall order, I know! </div>
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Brainstorming with my husband, we came up with a similar design to those I had seen but with a pocket and made from some fantastic Girl Scout fabric I found on eBay. The result is what follows.... keep in mind that the last time I sewed anything was YEARS ago. Seamstress I am not. But I gave it the ole Girl Scout try. </div>
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The fabric is Robert Kaufman and comes in a pink with Try-It's for Brownies and the green with patches you see here for Juniors. </div>
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The side border on the fabric had numbers and "My Troop" along with "Girl Scouts of America". However, I decided to use only the numbers for my project. </div>
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I found the water bottles at Target. They are BPA free and very reasonably priced for a 4 pack.</div>
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The holder required two cuts of fabric. The larger piece at the bottom of this picture is 12" wide and 9" tall. This is the water bottle carrier. The second piece above that is 12" wide and only 6" tall. This is the pocket that will wrap around the bottom of the carrier. To the side are the numbers for our troop that I cut out of the border.</div>
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I sewed a nice clean edge at the top of each piece (the large and small). I also sewed on the troop numbers, centering them between the middle of the pocket piece and the right edge. Do all this while the pieces are separate and PRIOR to layering them on top of each other as you see below. </div>
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Pictured to the left are the two pieces layered on top of one another exactly how they will be sewn. Take two pieces and fold them directly in half. The edges of each fabric should line up with the other side. </div>
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Sew about a 1/2 inch in from the edge, down the side, and across the bottom as seen in the picture above to the right. To give a little more strength, I sewed a zig-zag stitch between my first stitch and the edge. </div>
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Place a bottle inside the carrier, being sure that the bottle is in the center of the inside pocket. You will notice that there are little "ears" that hang over on each side. These will be sewn to help create the bottle carrier shape. Pin both ears while they are on the bottle so you know where to sew. <br />
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Sew the ears as shown in the picture to the right. Again, I did a basic stitch and a zig-zag to provide additional strength.</div>
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Turn the bottle holder inside out and you should have something that looks like this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzF1nc8hFynbkM4GlIrA-yYYNAzVmcGDBf1-1LBRN6_LFh2PuS1Bn5ouZCPOTv_2wKrSFj2az8YHovIxlCmuAK27VCiirpj6JrybMxsm7IhsLmpvatdxSpPS_-gEJv7R_fJ_Zzo810oGw/s1600/DSC02907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzF1nc8hFynbkM4GlIrA-yYYNAzVmcGDBf1-1LBRN6_LFh2PuS1Bn5ouZCPOTv_2wKrSFj2az8YHovIxlCmuAK27VCiirpj6JrybMxsm7IhsLmpvatdxSpPS_-gEJv7R_fJ_Zzo810oGw/s320/DSC02907.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
I purchased some 1" Nylon webbing in Gold on eBay. Cut a piece to match the exact inside of the carrier and another piece 3 1/2 feet long to serve as the shoulder strap. Pin the pieces. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3u13HYu88yFwwerffQHoUVWQlQwkrZCz6d9jIT95zxtiMX5wl-1xRF7Wa0tubKY_djV6Dc2epXrR5SFnvhTgzITR7rPkdmFStu0Xyj9m3-A-TBJMazrCzNCPqBldd1VRUXZ0HC6n0ebQ/s1600/DSC02906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3u13HYu88yFwwerffQHoUVWQlQwkrZCz6d9jIT95zxtiMX5wl-1xRF7Wa0tubKY_djV6Dc2epXrR5SFnvhTgzITR7rPkdmFStu0Xyj9m3-A-TBJMazrCzNCPqBldd1VRUXZ0HC6n0ebQ/s320/DSC02906.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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To sew the nylon, you need to be sure to have a thicker needle that can handle thinker fabrics. Also be sure you use all purpose thread.</div>
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Sew once about 1/4 inch from the top and again about a 1/4 inch from the bottom around to attach the nylon to the carrier. You will also want to do a criss-cross stitch shown below to make sure the shoulder strap is securely attached.<br />
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And there you have your water bottle carrier as shown below and my little scout with her own. People raved about our carriers while visiting the Juliette Low house in Savannah and the girls loved to show them off. <br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">As a side note, one of the best things about this project was that I thought of my grandmother every time I sat down to sew.... my grandmother after whom my little scout is named ... my grandmother that was also a scout leader once upon a time and who's leader book I still have to this day and treasure. This project came to mean so much to me, and I hope it means a lot to these girls. </span></div>
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Kithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589116919991794224noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7011263939685540729.post-59732260862149232782012-03-28T21:39:00.000-07:002016-04-09T11:12:59.883-07:00Peace, Love, Girl Scouts - Reverse Tie Dye ShirtsWith my introduction to Pinterest, the CRAFTY me has come out of hiding and experienced a rebirth of creativity and fun. Now combine Pinterest with an upcoming Girl Scout trip and let's just say I've been humming the Beastie Boys quite a bit lately... "She's Crafty - and she's just my type." Okay, different kind of crafty but any excuse to hum classic Beastie Boys is a good one, right? So, if you are not into crafts, my next few blogs will be a bit boring. But for my kindred crafty spirits, enjoy!<br />
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<b>PEACE, LOVE, GIRL SCOUTS!</b><br />
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My troop of 5th grade girls decided that uniforms just weren't quite hip for a trip to Savannah. And the t-shirts you are asked to buy are quite pricey. A friend of mine suggested tie dye shirts for our 100 year anniversary visit to the birthplace of Girl Scouts. But I must be honest and say that dye scares me. I picture myself with fingers, hand and 1/2 way up my arm dyed in a array of vibrant colors that are great for shirts but not so much for skin color. After some internet research, I found an amazing YouTube video by an artist called ArJeiEmSi on how to reverse dye a shirt. If you have a moment, check it out. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eid7r5sSXhM&feature=fvsr">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eid7r5sSXhM&feature=fvsr</a><br />
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So, here is the recap of my attempt to recreate this technique. I purchased shirts online that were a forest green. My recommendation after that experience is to make sure that you use the same brand if you buy both adult and youth shirts. My greens were a bit different because my adult shirts were a different brand than the youth.<br />
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My husband purchased some Mylar at Blick art store in a large sheet so we could make it any size we wanted. After finding a font we liked, we sketched out a design on white paper. The white paper was then placed under the Mylar and an exacto knife used to cut the patterns out of the Mylar. We had a little fun and used some punches I have from stamping to create extra designs on the edges and in between.
Once we had our stencil, we went outside to begin reverse tie dying the shirts. Here was the process:
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First we laid out the shirt on a cardboard box. Then the stencil was laid on top. Our stencil had several pieces since our letters required some inserts and so did our design. Once the stencil was laid out, crunch up the edges of the shirt but not too close to your design. Then begin spraying. Using a mixture of 1/2 bleach and 1/2 water in a spray bottle (bought from Target for $1), we sprayed several times over the design then around the edges. For a spotty effect, spray slowly the last few sprays so that big drops are released.
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Right away you will begin to see the shirt change color. I noticed that our forest green shirts left a brownish/red bleach spot while our lighter green shirts were more white/pink. So, in other words, think about the colors that went into the color dye of your shirt originally because those will effect the hue of the bleached area.<br />
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After spraying the front, we turned the shirt over and did a Spider twist to create the back design. Once again, we just sprayed the bleach solution. However, on the back, don't be afraid to spray quite a bit with the spider design. Once we unraveled the shirt, we sprayed a bit more creating a splattered look on top.<br />
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After letting the shirt dry just a bit (don't let it sit too long), we submerged it in a solution of vinegar and water to neutralize the bleach. I let the shirts soak for about 45 minutes to an hour, but some sites recommend longer. Be sure to rinse the shirts in plain water before washing.
And here is the finished product.
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<b>Let's just hope the girls think they are as cute as I do! </b></div>
Kithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06589116919991794224noreply@blogger.com3