With school just around the corner, we have been looking for the cutest pencil cases, lunch bags, book covers, and more to make for school.

A Lovely Slipcover For A Larger Book – from the team at CraftZine

I love a notebook with a little flair, but hate having to find a new pattern when I have filled one up with sketches, notes, and other ramblings. Create a Notebook cover that you can take from tome to tome. Check out this notebook cover tutorial from CraftBlog

Make Personalized BackPack Tags from Kaboose - Shrink plastic makes it an end of Summer craft the whole family can do!

Make A Cute Pencil Case - Pink PenguinThese are easy and cute and can be used for more than just pencils and pens. Line yours with a waterproof liner and suddenly you have a custom make up bag! (click images to get tutorials)

The Simplest Pencil Case - another pencil case tutorial from crafter Dia on Craftster

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Image Courtesy of TumblingBlocks.net

Everyone I know has spent the last few years on a continual quest to find ways to save money. One super easy way to achieve this is to simply develop the habit of packing your lunch everyday instead of going out to eat.

Hold on to your desk, the average busy professional spends somewhere around $10 or so a day grabbing food on the run. If you grab a latte to go at the ‘bucks every morning then add $4 to that. 5 days a week and you are looking at more than $200 a month you spend on something you probably don’t even notice! Don’t know about you, but I can think of a lot prettier things to do

with $200…8.3 Nars Lipsticks, .24 Pair of Patent Slingback Louboutin Pumps, A sensible yet trendy Fall jacket. (Okay, or slightly more practical things like the electric bill.)

But “brown bagging it ” is just too unglamorous, right? Not so! Craft a little style into your lunch kit and everyone will want to eat with the cool girl (or guy.) It’s also way more earth friendly, and helps you control your consumption as much as your budget. You pick the fabrics, colors, etc. for a lunch look that is all yours.

Here are some absolutely delicious craft ideas and inspiration to help you spice up your lunch life:

The Oil Cloth Lunch Bag

Oil Cloth makes the perfect material for reusable lunch bags and other things that may get a little dirty. Easy to make, easy to wash, and good for you and the planet.

http://tumblingblocks.net/blog/index.cfm/2007/7/31/oilcloth-lunch-bag

The Lunch Bag For Larger Portions Plus Snacks

http://supamb.com/supafine/2007/10/06/how-to-lunch-bag-based-on-plastic-grocery-sack/

Reusable Sandwich Bags - Image Courtesy of RickRackQueen on Etsy

Reusable Sandwich Wrap

http://www.towards-sustainability.com/2008/03/homemade-sandwich-wrap.html

(you can buy them here too) http://www.etsy.com/listing/46957683/the-original-reusable-oilcloth

Knitted Water Bottle Cozy (also works for wine)

http://taras-knits.blogspot.com/2007/11/wine-bottle-cozy.html

Make A Cotton Tea Towel - Image courtesy of SewTakeAHike.com

A Lovely Cotton Tea Towel

Who needs a drab paper napkin when you can set the scene with a beautiful swatch of fabric you love! Learn how to make the prefect cotton tea towel to use as a place mat or reusable napkin!

http://sewtakeahike.typepad.com/sewtakeahike/2008/06/the-perfect-tea.html

Picture from MySweetMuffin.com

Perfectly Portable Portions: Bento Boxes

I am mildly obsessed with these portable wonders and even more so when they are adorned with  adorable designs from Japanese artist Shinzi Katoh. This link is not a tutorial, but a link to something

wonderful nonetheless.

http://www.mysweetmuffin.com

/Detail-Meal-Time.aspx?ID=1079

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The Classic Sock Monkey -  Tutorials With Illustrated Instructions:
http://www.supersockmonkey.com/catalog/howtomake.html
http://hubpages.com/hub/howtomakeasockmonkey

A Funky Sock Monkey From Stripey Socks
http://www.web-goddess.org/writing/tutorial/Image0.html

The Sock Monkey That Can Also Be A Sock Doggie or Cat
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-To-Make-a-Sock-Monkey/

Freestyle: Carol Duvall’s Sock Monkey Tote
http://www.5min.com/Video/Sock-Monkey-Tote-274853107

Maybe Taking It Too Far…LOL
http://www.hgtv.com/crafting/sock-monkey-costume/index.html

So while you can still get the classic sock monkey making instructions on every pair of Rockford Red Heel Socks, some of these tutorials may inspire you to try a little something different and start a crafting revolution of your own . (#SockMonkeyFlashMob!)

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Going completely “unplugged” can be a little difficult for me. I usually disconnect in stages… The first stage is complete panic that I cannot obsessively check work email. Next, acceptance that most things can wait a week or so in the grand scheme of things…especially since we only get to do this once a year.

image credit: sxc.hu

Once the lovely calm of being digitally helpless settles in, my focus completely changes. I become aware for a moment that the sandy beach I’m standing on is made up of thousands of singular grains of sand and try to focus on just one. I think about how if you add a little water, these individual grains of sand can take the form of something else like a bucket or a complete sand castle. Add too much and it turns to mush…then eventually dries into nothing but individual grains of sand, just as they started. How amazing that such a little piece of barely anything can do all that.

Look closely at a handful of it, and you just have several itty-bitty pieces of rock or glass. Step back, and you would never notice the beach was anything but an immovable hilly mass.

I try to take these little lessons of perspective back home with me to unpack when I get stressed and need a reality check. Sometimes seemingly immovable problems really are just a beach. Once you become aware of the pieces and possibilities, problems become easier to solve. Sometimes you realize they are not problems at all, but rather opportunities to make something new, something amazing if you add a little creativity and maybe just a dash of bravery.

Perspective is a really powerful thing.

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image - sxc.hu

Summer is the season of road trips. When I was younger, road trips were all about piling in a car and having a wild music and caffeinated beverage-fueled adventure. Drive 15 hours straight? Why not! Teenage American Freedom at its best!
These days road trips are a little different. With two kids, the playlist includes some popular KidzBop tunes and of course the occasional screaming tantrum. Time is definitely added to the trip for several snack and bathroom breaks…there are a few essentials that make the trip a little more fun for everyone. In addition to the things we pack for the car, making each child their own personal “Road Trip Kit” is a special tradition in our family that makes a road trip seem more like a party and keeps the kids interested the whole way there.

Here are our essentials for a Kid’s Road Trip Kit:
1. A pencil or other small box or case – this makes it “theirs” and it is pretty inexpensive to get fun designs with your kids’ favorite characters on them.
2. A small sketch book and new (washable) markers or crayons (or a custom dry erase board and washable dry erase markers)
3. Sunglasses (could be ones they already own)
4. Candy (minis work best!) and healthy single serving snacks like granola bars and natural fruit leather
5. Mix CDs of all their favorite songs…you can even leave them unlabeled and play “guess that song” as they are playing!
6. A Wildcard Surprise – this can be a selection of things from the party supply store and/or a favorite small toy they have wanted. If you have girls, it might be fun to include flavored lip balm, scented hand creme, and candy necklaces, for boys you might choose an action figure or a pretend magic wand or electronic game.
7. Tissues and or a small pack of baby wipes (just trust me, every trip has at least one minor messy disaster in the back seat…)
8. A small paperback board book or game book (depending on the child’s age)
9. A disposable camera to encourage your child to take pictures of his or her trip

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Make A Dry Erase Board (Whiteboard)

Here is a pretty simple tutorial showing how to make personalized, portable dry erase boards. We decorated just a border in the examples pictured, but you could also use a two-toned, light-colored wallpaper or even scrapbook paper to decorate yours using the same basic principles detailed below.

What You’ll Need:

Clear Adhesive Backed Laminate or “Contact” Paper (we used one made by “Duck” available in most stores that sell basic drawer liners.)

A sheet of MDF – Larger, pre-cut sizes are available or you can ask the hardware store to cut a 24 x 48 inch sheet into 8  12 x 12 boards (which is what I have done.)

White Latex Primer ( I used Killz – you don’t need much so the smaller container will do.)

Craft glue

pencils, markers, ink, or paint for decorating (non-washable markers work better here but use what you’ve got!)

Priming the MDF - My son helped!

A sharp craft blade and a self-healing board

Dry Erase Markers

How to do it:

Prime your MDF board and let it dry. If you are decorating a border, measure 1 1/2 inched in from the edge and draw a line or tape it off so you know where your border ends. You will want to keep the center area light colored or blank white so it is usable as a dry erase board when it is finished.

Making it pretty:

Decorate your border or background. If decorating a border, use pencils, markers, etc. (crayons even work!) to create your design. If you are using a full background, choose a light colored one and decoupage it to the board using a Mod Modge type product. Let your board dry completely

Our Family all worked together to decorate this Dry Erase Board

From Art Back To “Blank” Slate:

To turn the design you have just created into a dry erase board, you need to apply the contact paper. Put your (fully dry) decorated board face down onto the contact paper to measure about how much you will need. Cut this amount off of the roll. Remove the backing of the contact paper to expose the sticky side. Carefully place it over your design – use a light touch and you will be able to position it to cover the full face of the board. Once the contact paper is in place, apply firm pressure to make sure it adheres well to the board underneath. For extra security, pull up just the very edges of the contact paper and apply a very thin bead all around the very edge of your design. Press the contact paper back down on the craft glue and let it dry.

Applying the laminate paper to the dry erase board

Finishing Your Board:

At this point in the process, your contact paper is still kind of flopping over the edges a little. To give it a clean, professional finish, put your board face down on your self-healing mat, and use your craft knife to cut right along the edge, removing the excess contact paper and probably a little dried paint and glue that is sticking to it.

At this point you have a lovely, usable dry erase board. To give it an even cleaner finish, paint the back and sides or use spray adhesive to attach fabric to the back, fold over the edges and staple, then glue a thin ribbon border around the exposed stapled edge.

When you are finished, your dry erase board will look smooth and shiny like this.

So far we have made two of these…My 8 year old make his own “cool” one and the family worked together decorating each side of the border on the one for our soon-to-be 4 year old. Just the perfect thing to keep the children occupied in the car on the way to the lake this Summer.

**Other Whiteboard or Dry Erase Board Craft Ideas:

If what you are looking for is a giant white dry erase drawing board, check out this really cool tutorial : http://chrismetcalf.net/blog/archives/2007/06/16/how-to-dirt-cheap-wall-sized-whiteboards/

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Our Dog Maddie "The Menace" - The Day We Brought Her Home

Shortly after adopting Maddie (now affectionately known as Maddie The Menace,) we started to get a few clues as to why she might have had difficulty finding her forever home. Despite her calm, quiet sweetness, trouble just seems to follow her. Maddie “goes big” when it comes to canine destruction, but often it is totally unintentional – things just sort of crash down around her. Like the time she locked herself in the bathroom, jumped from the toilet to the sink (which she managed to turn on in the process,) and flicked off the light.

By the time we realized what was happening it was literally ‘raining’ in the kitchen. Maddie hadn’t made a peep the whole time, but seemed so glad to see us when we “saved” her from the midnight flood. “Oh Maddie…you are lucky we love you so much!”

Maddie is still my lovable little pup, and I love to make her custom doggy stuff. Here are a few of our favorite DIY dog items you can make yourself. (Dog beds, dog collars and dog treats!)

Dog Collars and Dog Leashes With Your Own Custom Design

Make A Dog Collar - Image courtesy of Dog-Paw-Print.com

http://www.dog-paw-print.com/how-to-make-a-dog-collar.html

Homemade Doggie Treats and Biscuits

Ok, you won’t typically catch me talking a lot about baking, but these are worth mentioning!

http://www.moderndogmagazine.com/articles/diy-eat-biscuits/7085

Make A Dog Bed:

Dog beds are very easy to make and you can save a lot of money by doing it yourself. You can also pick the fabric!

http://prettylittlethings.typepad.com/lori_marie/2007/08/doggie-or-kitty.html

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A sweet, shady place can be made anywhere…a backyard, a beach, even a sandbox. Here are some wonderful tutorials on making sun shades. These projects vary in difficulty, but each has some wonderful ideas that may inspire you to find your perfect shady spot!

Sail Shades

Sail Shades are very simple coverings that block the sun…they are super modern looking and pretty easy to construct.

Here are two tutorials – neither have pictures but they basically look like this:

Sail Shade - Courtesy of Sail-Shade.com

http://www.ehow.com/how_2342384_make-garden-sail-shades.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_2383845_make-triangular-shade-sail.html

Sandboxes With Sun Shades

This one is a serious project that creates a very sturdy, permanent structure.

http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/better-homes-gardens/article/-/5832441/shaded-sandpit/

Sun Shade For A Sandbox - Free Plans

Build A “Vegas Style” Cabana

http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-build-a-cabana/index.html

Use What You Have:

Sun Shade Made From Upcycled Umbrellas - photo courtesy of CRAFTzine

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2008/06/recycled_umbrella_shade.html

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image courtesy of sxc user jivaya

We’ve noticed you ladies love making tutus…we do too – and why wouldn’t we? A tutu (especially a handmade tutu) is the perfect expression of girly, frilly, imaginative fun! When you make them yourself, you can size them to fit just about anyone or anything: a baby, a puppy, a table skirt, a husband that loses a bet….

Here are  some of our favorite simple tutu-torials. If you are an expert tutu maker, please feel free to share your favorite tutu making tutorials and tips in the comments, if this is your first time making a tutu…get ready to have some fun!

This is an easy, stretchy tutu and the tutorial has tons of pictures!

http://www.makethemyourself.com/tutu.html

A Layered Tutu

http://www.sweetnsassygirls.com/2008/11/how-to-make-halter-tutu-dress-version-2.html

Here is a fantastic tutu  tutorial video from silenapo on YouTube – shows the basic technique:

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One of Dad's more recent paintings - "Dangerous Territory"

Dad has watched all of us grow up, get married, have children, deal with sometimes very messy lives, and hardly ever called attention to anything he needed. It was always about his girls, his clients, everyone else. Until one day he felt a tenseness in his neck and pain in his arms and chest.
All of his girls were on the road within hours…for some things, messy lives can wait.”What do you mean Daddy is in the hospital?”
After Dad’s health scare, it was like the universe shifted. Dad started exploring art. He had painted here and there in the past, but suddenly, his art work was passionate.  He started taking risks in his paintings and doing lots of them! It is amazing how your focus can suddenly shift.

On his wonderful art teacher’s website, I saw the first picture ever of my father in his adult lifetime not wearing a button down shirt! LOL – liberation! My amazing father: the artist.

Of all my father has taught me – and that is a lot – one of the most important lessons in recent memory is this: life is too short to not love with all you have, and jump head first into exploring what inspires you.

Dad, You are the greatest.

Brian Fisher - Wave, 2010

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