Toy Deal

Do you have an Ebates account?  Do you have someone on your list who would love something from The Disney Store?  Have I got a deal for you!  (Have I got a deal for you? I feel like a used car salesman!!) 


I don't do this very often, but this is a great deal!  20% off, free shipping AND 8% back - who wouldn't like this?!


Okay.  Your steps for getting this deal.


*If you don't already have an Ebates account - sign up for one.  This will allow you to get the 8% back on your Disney purchase.  They are also giving gifts to new signups that are received after your first $25 purchase.  Bonus!


*Do a search for Disney and get to The Disney Store.


*Do whatever shopping you want and then go to the checkout.


*In the Promo Code box enter FAMILYFUN20 to get your 20% off one item.


*Enter TOYSHIP in the Promo Code box to get free shipping on your order.  You have to have at least one toy or plush item in your cart for this to work.


*Continue finishing your checkout process and you are done.


Things to keep in mind - The 20% off is only for one item and can only be used one time, so shop wisely.  To use the free shipping code you have to have at least one toy or plush item in your cart.  8% Cash Back is only through Ebates, but the two promo codes can be used regardless.  I think this deal might actually end today.


Hope this helps you to round out or finish up those Christmas lists!


**In the interest of full disclosure - The Ebates links are attached to my account and I will be compensated for any new accounts signed up using said links.  Thanks in advance!

Gift Idea - Tents

Did you ever make tents out of blankets when you were growing up?  My siblings and I did.  All.  The.  Time.  We had some pretty amazing structures made out of card tables, sheets, chairs and clothes pins.  Best of all?  It could be anything we wanted - a castle, a treehouse, a mansion or even a secret cave.  We had so much fun and now have so many memories.

Here are a few tent ideas I've come across to share with you all.

Fire Station Card Table Tent by Utah County Mom

Hoola Hoop Tent by Living With Punks

Kid's Tent/ Reading Nook by Ana White (seriously love this site!)

Playtime Teepee by Baby Lock

Use a little imagination and any of the above tutorials can be modified to make a little one's pretend play much more real.  These are all easy to store and easy to move.  Use them indoors during the cold and/or rainy times of the year and then move them outside when nice weather rolls around.

So, how many of you out there built tents as a kid?

Gift Idea - Handmade Ornaments

Handmade ornaments are such an easy thing to do.  Have you looked at all the tutorials out there?  Just about anything you could want to do is available.  How about this 3D Paper Snowflake?

Last year my family did the 12 Days of Christmas for my parents.  (Had to get it in before babies 13 and 14 showed up this year.)  Since my kids are the oldest, we did the first few.  Larissa had done a partridge and a pear in one of her posts.  These were such a cute idea, I got the kids working on a set.

They had such a good time!  My oldest (who has the attention span of a fish) almost made her ornament in one sitting.  

Were they perfect? No.  But, the grandparents really appreciated the kids' work and effort, and the kids were so proud of the finished products.

Another Idea...

Make the ornament sentimental.  My husband's aunt made snowmen for all the grandkids out of his grandmother's chenille bedspread.

Such a wonderful addition to our Christmas tree this year!

Other ideas...
3D Star from Sawdust and Paperscraps
Icosahedron Ball from The Quilted Turtle
Beaded Snowflake Star from Bead Jewelry Making
Owl Plushie
Or any number of other ideas  (Just click on a picture to be taken to the original site.)

Any other ideas out there?  Let me know in the comments or on Facebook to share what you know!

Telling Time

My oldest daughter is now in public school.  That hasn't put me on the teaching sidelines by any means, though.  The most recent concept that she has needed help in fully grasping has been the 'quarter-to', 'quarter-past', and 'half-past'.  I got tired of constantly having to redraw a clock on the whiteboard or erase the hands on a clock drawn on a piece of paper.  So, while she was at school one day, I sat down and made a template to put contact paper over.  This allows her to use a dry erase marker over and over on the same page.  Now all I have to do is call out whatever time I think up and don't have to help 'reset' the clock while getting supper on the table.

To make it even more appealing to a 6 yr old girl, I trimmed down the edges and put it on a bright pink paper.

If you would like a copy of your own, here is a link to download the pdf.  Please only use it for your private use.  (I know it's not valuable, but it did take some time to create this!)

A New Skirt!!

There is a tutorial for an adorable little skirt here at The Crafty Cupboard. I'm soooo itching to get a piece of fabric out and start working on this right away. Alas, there are already too many projects on my plate in the works right now. (And I wonder why I can't seem to get anything done around here!)

Look around her site. Melanie has some really cute ideas and projects on there. Several things are on my mental to-do list.