LINK IT UP THURSDAY #59

Welcome back to PAR-TAY day!  We are having some wonderful spring weather and is has been nice to be outside.  The spring cleaning bug has bit me we have been doing some serous cleaning.  If you have been bit by the spring cleaning bug as well I have some tips and tricks here.

I also shared a really fun Rhyming Words Game played with our No-Sew Bean Bags.

Now lets look at a few BELLES of the ball from last weeks party.

Creatively Living ~ Place mats To Table Runner

Cherished Bliss ~ Vintage Inspired Baby Headband

Semi Homemade Mom ~ Irish Potato Candy

Love Bakes Good Cakes ~ Asian-Baked Salmon with Veggie Fried Rice

Brighton Park ~ Make your own sparkly playdough.

Our most viewed link from last week was:
Redhead Can Decorate ~ White Master Bedroom Reveal  {I just love this! I had picked it as a feature before I looked at the clicks.  Click though to see the before and afters.}

Y'all totally knock my sock off!

go ahead and grab yourself a Featured Button!

<center> <a href="http://www.seven-alive.com/"><img src="http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/loulou711/NewFeaturedButton-1.jpg" /></a></center>

I want to see everything you have to link up! 

Old projects, new posts, giveaways, recipes, crocheting, any and everything.  However please no shops. 

 If you have more than one thing to link up, even better.  

Here are the very simple rules.

1.  Please keep it family friendly.

2. Please link back or grab a button so others can share in the fun.

3. Have fun, be inspired. Try to visit the 2 links ahead of you.

If you would like an e-mail reminder about the party let me know in the comments. Make sure you leave your e-mail address with your comment. I will happily add you to the list.  

Rhyming Words Game

I wanted to share with you all the Rhyming Words Game we came up with using the No-Sew Bean Bags I made last week.

First you need the bean bags.  You can find the post and easy tutorial here  to make your own, or buy some.

With your left over felt sheets and some Glitter Glue make the letters. (we used the glitter glue given to us by CraftProjectideas.com, thank you CraftProjectideas) I just freehand wrote the letters on the felt.  Also with the Glitter Glue, I wrote the end of the words on some brown paper lunch bags.

Let that dry VERY well.  I left mine over night, you don't need to leave it that long but several hours at least.

Once all the letters are dry cut the felt letters into squares.  I used double sided tape to add them to the bean bags.  You could use Velcro or something else more permanent, however I wanted to take the letters off when we weren't using them.

Now line up the bags, and the kids, and let them throw the bean bag at the paper bag that will spell a word.  (Help them figure out the word if the need it) 

Then look at your other bean bag letters, which one will make a word that will rhyme with the word you made with the first bean bag?  

This is great for helping them learn that it is the ending sound of rhyming words that stay the same. It's also great for helping them learn to read.

If you have really little ones that aren't ready to start to read, they can pick out the bean bag by color and throw it at the bag that they want.

All the kids, young and old, had a really good time playing the game.  We finished up our night by reading Green Eggs and Ham and Fox in Sox.  Both fantastic rhyming books by Dr. Suess.

Do you have any tips for helping your kids learn how to rhyme?  I'd love to hear them!

Spring Cleaning Tips

I have been bitten by the spring cleaning bug this week!  I swear I can't get enough.  I'm rearangeing funiture, cleaning the blinds, vaccuming EVERY nook and cranny I can find, and throwing away so many broken old toys it's embarassing!

How about the rest of you?  It is that time of year that spring cleaning fever hits.  Could you use a few tips and trick of how to make the most out of your spring cleaning time?  I thought so, I love these tips.

I

Source: keephomesimple.blogspot.com via Seven Alive all Livin' in a Double Wide {Kadie} on Pinterest

Source: askannamoseley.com via Seven Alive all Livin' in a Double Wide {Kadie} on Pinterest

Source: onegoodthingbyjillee.com via Seven Alive all Livin' in a Double Wide {Kadie} on Pinterest

I think the bathroom tips are my favorite.  Such a detailed list of what  to do to make your bathroom clean every day.

You may not need tips on cleaning smarter.  After the house is all clean how about we paint and rearrange something.  I am in LOVE with these kitchens.

Source: bhg.com via Seven Alive all Livin' in a Double Wide {Kadie} on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Seven Alive all Livin' in a Double Wide {Kadie} on Pinterest

Ahh a girl can dream right?  I love the light colors that are so popular right now.  What trends are you loving this spring?

Pillow Case Dress Drive for a Cause

I look around me every day and feel overwhelmed at the blessing I see in my life.  I can clearly see HIS hand at work, and am so grateful.  

We don't have a lot of extra.  As you can imagine with 7 mouths to feed and bodies to clothe there isn't much left after the necessities.  However my children have never gone to bed hungry, never not had a warm coat to wear, shoes to wear, or had to go without needed medicine.  All blessings to be sure.

Along with those blessing I was given abilities and talents.  I have tried to develop these abilities and talents in a way that can be beneficial to my family.  I have often joked with Joe Paul that if things ever get really bad in the world at least our family will be warm with all the quilts I have sewn and afghans I have crocheted.

There are things we can do to help others. They don't have to cost much or take much time but the impact they can have is huge, not just for the one receiving help but also for the one giving.

I'm so excited to be joining with Amy from One Artsy Mama in getting the word out about a young lady named Mallory and Project Yesu.  This June Mallory will be heading back to Uganda to deliver food, medicine, and hopefully some much needed Pillow Case Dresses for the young girls.

Each of us has talents and abilities we can use to benefit others.  Which is why I will be making and donating as many pillow case dresses as I can.  I have never made a pillow case dress before however they look very easy.

If you would like to join in there is a great tutorial from Sew Like my Mom.

Easiest Pillow Case Dress Ever

Don't worry if you can't sew, you can still participate.  Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom has a great NO SEW tutorial you can use.

Pillow Case Dress Without Sewing

Are you up for sharing your talents with someone else? They will happily take any pillow case dress you make.  Size, color, and fabric don't matter.

You can send your finished dresses to the address below.  The deadline is March 31st, so they have time to pack them before they leave.

Project Yesu

c/o Rory Fundora

1178 Willow Bend Drive

Clarksville, TN 37043

I would love to see if you make some.  You can be sure I'll share mine here when I'm done with them.  

LINK IT UP THURSDAY #58

Thank you all so much for all the kind comments last week and all the well wishes.  This week has seemed to fly by.  Kids have been getting sick and better then sick again.  That's the way it goes at our house around and around. Many of you are noreply commenter's so I couldn't respond to your comments, so I hope you all read this. :)

Thank goodness it's party day.  I could use the inspiration and pick me up.  If y'all  missed it I posted a No-Sew Bean Bag tutorial this morning.

Now lets take a look at a few BELLES of the ball from last week.


Craft Quickies ~ Romantic Stitched Wool Felt Headband

Restyled Junk ~ Paddd Envlope Tutorial

Diana Rambles ~ Abraham Linco Bento

Etcetorize ~ DIY Lacy Top

Pinkie for Pink ~ Cookie Cutter Heart Painting

Our most viewed link from last week was:

Fluster Buster ~ Vick's VapoRub WWII Tips and Trick

Y'all totally knock my sock off!

go ahead and grab yourself a Featured Button!

<center> <a href="http://www.seven-alive.com/"><img src="http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/loulou711/NewFeaturedButton-1.jpg" /></a></center>

I want to see everything you have to link up! 

Old projects, new posts, giveaways, recipes, crocheting, any and everything.  However please no shops. 

 If you have more than one thing to link up, even better.  

Here are the very simple rules.

1.  Please keep it family friendly.

2. Please link back or grab a button so others can share in the fun.

3. Have fun, be inspired. Try to visit the 2 links ahead of you.

If you would like an e-mail reminder about the party let me know in the comments. Make sure you leave your e-mail address with your comment. I will happily add you to the list.  

Easy No-Sew Bean Bags

These bean bags are so easy to make!  You don't even have to get your sewing machine out.

I used the felt sheets, they measure 9x12 inches.  You can get two bean bags out of each sheet.  Fold them in half and cut on the fold.

Then you take your Heavy Duty Heat and Bond strips and iron it on all sides of the felt square.Peel off the paper then  fold it in half and iron {pressing hard} on three sides.  I like to iron just a little on the edges of the open side.  Make sure you leave a small opening.  {follow the directions in the Heat and Bond for the temp to set your iron to.}

Add in your beans or rice.  I used both and think, that I like the rice better.  They seem to lay better and are smoother.

Iron the last side making sure the bond is strong.  

There you have it fun, colorful, easy no sew bean bags.

Fun Spring Style with Cookie's Kids #CookiesKids

Spring is trying to spring here in the south.  We have had a few days full of sunshine, and it always puts me {and the kids} in the mood for brightly colored clothing and shorts.

Changing from bulky winter clothes can be a bit of a pain.  I'll let you in on a little secret, I don't love clothes shopping. I know it's like a universal rule that women love clothes shopping, but it seems like more of a chore than fun for me.  I find it less and less enjoyable the more children I have to drag to the store with me.  You can forget about trying on clothes in the store, it's not happening with crying, screaming children.

A few of my friends told me about CookiesKids.com. The idea that I can check out sales they have, the adorable clothes, on my own time, and without leaving my home. Sounds great huh, it sure is for me!

I couldn't try the clothes on, but they have a wonderful kids sizing tool called Alva Kids. You can enter your child's measurements, and it will tell you the correct size for your child.  I used it for the outfits I got and they fit perfectly.

I was drawn to the Girls Dresses, and was really temped to buy Lotte this adorable dress.  However she isn't as big into dresses as her older sister so I thought I would wait until closer to Easter.

If you would like to see some of the other clothes I loved you can check out my Google + album.

 This fun outfit caught my eye.  I love the little capri's that go with the top.  We are pretty easy going and I like the kids to be comfortable.  

I couldn't get Lotte an outfit without getting one for Wyatt too. 

I love bright colors and Wyatt was really excited to see his favorite color (orange) in this set. Wyatt and Lotte are the youngest in our family so they usually get hand-me-downs instead of new.  

However, I was able to get each of them an entire outfit for $30.93 that even included the $5.95 shipping {for all packages in the continental US}.  I can handle to splurge $30 for a some new spring clothes!

Also, if you have children in school that need to ware uniforms they have a large selection of boys and girls school uniforms.  Or if you are looking for some springtime dress/church clothes they have plenty of those as well.

If you have or have had a toddler I'm sure you are aware of how hard it is to get a photo of them.  Trying to get two toddlers standing still together is near impossible.

However they did pretty well on their own.  I love that Wyatt's outfit came with two shirts that can be layered together.

You can keep up with Cookie's Kids and the deals they have by following them on Face Book and twitter.  If you are lucky enough to live in NYC there are 7 brick stores in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Jamaica.  

“I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias™ and CookiesKids.com #CBias #SocialFabric”

Crocheted Extra Large Floor Pillow Pattern

I have been wanting to make one of these for the longest time!  I have seen knit versions floating around the web but not a crocheted version.  So I took all of my left over super bulky yarn from the different infinity cowls I have made, and came up with a pattern.

  You could sew a liner and stuff it with fiber fill, but I took the easy/lazy way and used a queen sized quilt to stuff mine.  You are going to be able to see through the stitches to see what is inside so I used a white quilt.  You could use something that matches the color of yarn you use.

I changed color as I ran out of yarn, however if you have enough yarn you could make it all one color.

Materials:
I used a little more that 6 skeins of super bulky #6 yarn.
Size N hook
Large Eye Needle
Queen sized quilt or the equivalent to stuff it with

Abbreviations:
DC -  double crochet
dc2tog - double crochet two together (this is your decreasing stitch you can find a good tutorial for this stitch here)

Crocheted Extra Large Floor Pillow Pattern
By : Kadie ~ Seven Alive all Livin' in a Double Wide

Magic Ring chain 2 10 DC in Ring, close ring and join in 2nd chain, Chain 2

Round 1- 2 DC in each stitch (20 DC) join in first DC, chain 2.

Round 2 - 1 DC into same stitch as join, *2 DC in next stitch 1 DC in next stitch* repeat from * join in first DC chain 2

Round 3 - DC into same stitch as join, DC into next stitch *2 DC in next Stitch DC into next 2 stitches  join into first DC chain 2

Round 4 - DC into same stitch as join, DC into next 2 stitch *2 DC in next Stitch DC into next 3 stitches  join into first DC chain 2

Round 5 - DC into same stitch as join, DC into next 3 stitch *2 DC in next Stitch DC into next 4 stitches  join into first DC chain 2

Round 6 - DC into same stitch as join, DC into next 4 stitch *2 DC in next Stitch DC into next 5 stitches  join into first DC chain 2

Round 7 - DC into same stitch as join, DC into next 5 stitch *2 DC in next Stitch DC into next 6 stitches  join into first DC chain 2

Round 8 - DC into same stitch as join, DC into next 6 stitch *2 DC in next Stitch DC into next 7 stitches  join into first DC chain 2

Round 9 - DC into same stitch as join, DC into next 7 stitch *2 DC in next Stitch DC into next 8 stitches  join into first DC chain 2

Round 10 - DC into same stitch as join, DC into next 8 stitch *2 DC in next Stitch DC into next 9 stitches  join into first DC chain 2

Round 11 - DC into same stitch as join, DC into next 9 stitch *2 DC in next Stitch DC into next 10 stitches  join into first DC chain 2

Round 12-18 1 DC into each stitch around. Join in first DC, chain 2

Round 19 - DC into same stitch as join, DC into next 9 stitch *dc2tog, 1 DC in next 10 stitches* join into first DC chain 2

Round 20 - DC into same stitch as join, DC into next 8 stitch *dc2tog, 1 DC in next 9 stitches* join into first DC chain 2

Round 21 - DC into same stitch as join, DC into next 7 stitch *dc2tog, 1 DC in next 8 stitches* join into first DC chain 2

Round 22 - DC into same stitch as join, DC into next 6 stitch *dc2tog, 1 DC in next 7 stitches* join into first DC chain 2

Round 23 -  DC into same stitch as join, DC into next 5 stitch *dc2tog, 1 DC in next 6 stitches* join into first DC chain 2

Round 24 - DC into same stitch as join, DC into next 4 stitch *dc2tog, 1 DC in next 5 stitches* join into first DC chain 2

Round 25 - DC into same stitch as join, DC into next 3 stitch *dc2tog, 1 DC in next 4 stitches* join into first DC chain 2

Stuff pillow at this point.  Don't over stuff.

Round 26 - DC into same stitch as join, DC into next 2 stitch *dc2tog, 1 DC in next 3 stitches* join into first DC chain 2

Round 27 - DC into same stitch as join, DC into next 1 stitch *dc2tog, 1 DC in next 2 stitches* join into first DC chain 2

Round 28 -  dc2tog in every stitch join into first DC 

Round 29 - dc2tog in next stitch skip 2 stitches and dc2tog.  Tie off and weave in ends.

You have to man handle it a little at the end, get tough with it.  It is awkward  but worth it.  

The kids love to sit on it, it even makes a fun photo prop.

I hope you enjoy the pattern as much as I did.

LINK IT UP THURSDAY #57

Welcome back to party day my lovely friends!  We are starting party day a little early today because I have a sinus infection that is threatening to make my head explode.  Hopefully it will clear up in a day or two and then I will be able to post about the fun crochet pattern I have for you all.

For now lets have a look at a few of the awesome "LOVE DAY" projects linked up last week.  I'm so excited that Valentines Day is almost here!

Alderberry Hill ~ Valentine's Chalkboard and Cute Mini Bunting

Bird On A Cake ~ Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

One Artsy Mama ~ Valentine Blocks

A Creative Princess ~ Heart Washer Necklace

Here Comes the Sun ~ Melted Crayon Valentine

Petals to Picots ~ Crochet Rose Wreath

Posed Perfection ~ 3D Heart Banner

The most viewed link from last weeks party was:
Crochetapy ~ WIP ADD

Y'all totally knock my sock off!

go ahead and grab yourself a Featured Button!

<center> <a href="http://www.seven-alive.com/"><img src="http://i1117.photobucket.com/albums/k591/loulou711/NewFeaturedButton-1.jpg" /></a></center>

I want to see everything you have to link up! 

Old projects, new posts, giveaways, recipes, crocheting, any and everything.  However please no shops. 

 If you have more than one thing to link up, even better.  

Here are the very simple rules.

1.  Please keep it family friendly.

2. Please link back or grab a button so others can share in the fun.

3. Have fun, be inspired. Try to visit the 2 links ahead of you.

If you would like you can retweet about the party. I would love you forever! 
The more the merrier.

Link up any project {old or new} at the Link It Up Thursday Party @sevenalive1 . seven-alive.com/2013/02/link-i…
— Seven Alive (@SevenAlive1) February 6, 2013

If you would like an e-mail reminder about the party let me know in the comments. Make sure you leave your e-mail address with your comment. I will happily add you to the list.