Infinite Fun with Legos - A Cruise Ship

I had to share these pics of the Lego Cruise Ship my daughters created one day while I was working on my book. They actually started this masterpiece around 6:30 in the morning before I woke up, and took them about 3 hours. They wouldn't even stop for breakfast.

All aboard....the passengers leave the dock and board the ship prior to a prompt departure.

This is the ships wheel. The little pole on the bottom near the right is the anchors attachment.

This pink frog (squinkie) is one proud Captain.

The Cruise Ship leaves the dock and travels the charted waters with all passengers on board.

Below deck there is lots to see and explore. Not sure where the potty pic went...but here's the opposite side - the Sleeping Quarters, fully furnished with night tables! The beds are under the Captain's Office.

This is the ships garden, where they harvest all their flowers for the ship and the Chefs harvest veggies for the kitchen.

What will you make next with your Lego's?

I will have a fun wintery tutorial up next week - so keep your eyes peeled! Have a wonderful weekend!

Beat the Heat This Summer Frozen Washcloths Craft - DCC Blog Hop

The heat waves are upon us folks...or they are coming soon, and I've got a great way to beat the heat this summer. Get your craft on with me, and make some awesome, freezing cold washcloths to keep you as cool as a cucumber!

I don't remember everything from when I was little. My memories are spotty at best, as if I took one photo out of an entire album to keep, and lost all the rest. One of the fondest memories I do have though, of my Grandma Pratt was of her packing up wash clothes for a day on the golf course.

The night before her golf day, she would get her stash of washcloths, dunk them in cool water, wring them out and package them in small sandwich baggies (or maybe it was just saran wrap?), then pop them in the freezer. The next morning, she would grab all the washclothes from the freezer and pack them in the cooler with a couple of ice packs on top.

She was a confident woman. I always felt that way about her. That she knew who she was and didn't let anyone walk all over her. She was also brilliant. She explained to us that she used these washclothes on really hot days on the golf course to keep her cool. She said when she got hot, she'd lay one on the back of her neck or wrap it around her wrist and that would help cool her body temp down. Or she would simply 'dab' (because ladies didn't 'wipe') the sweat from her brow. lol! I've never forgotten these washcloths.

They are really easy and fun to make for all ages!

Here's what you need:

A pack of (inexpensive) plain washcloths - I used white (as did my grandmother, you can use any color you'd like)
Fabric Markers - I used Marvvy Uchida Fine Tip Fabric Markers
Embossing Heat Tool - I used the Marvvy Uchida model #2500 (this will help set each color so it doesn't bled through or blend with each color. It also sets it prior to washing)
Cardboard to lean on

Here's what you do:

1. Set your cardboard on your table top.
2. Place the corner of a washcloth in the center of the board.
3. With an idea already in mind, begin your design by dotting with the Fine Tip fabric marker as you go along. I found dotting to be easier and more effective on terry cloth than drawing, as it helps get further down, and gives you a richer color.
4. After each color, set with the Embossing heat tool. Be sure to read all the manufacturers instructions prior to using. It can get very hot and should be used with care.
5. Once your design is completed, finish it with the embossing heat tool again to set the design prior to washing. You can also throw it in the dryer.
6. Once they are set, you can give them a quick wash.
7. Don't dry them, but add a little more water too them (not dripping) and place them in the freezer folded in 3's or in quarters, in separate baggies. Do not put them in touching the side of the freezer or an ice cream maker bowl. Certain things will cause it to stick and not release. (may also depend on how much water is in the washcloth).

My girls made their own too and had a lot of fun! My only recommendation when deciding what design to put on your washcloths, is to only outline. Trying to fill it all in can use up your marker quickly and again it's difficult on terry cloth. On the thermometer design, I dotted it a little to looked filled in, but when you look closely at it, it's really not.

Here are some ways you can use them:

• On any hot summer day - This may be at home, or at the beach, during the day or at night - no matter when - it's a great way to cool off!

• Lunch Surprise - for a little refresher after lunch or recess - pack a frozen washcloth in your child's lunch bag, with a small ice pack to keep it really cold! My girls love this, and their friends are jealous! I've wanted to bring in tons for the classroom - but I wasn't allowed.

• Sick Days - when the girls get really sick, it helps keep their core temp down to avoid tons of meds when it's just not that bad! It also helps with the stomach bug and they heat up quickly!

• I Workout - no matter what sport you play (for my Grandmother it was Golf, for me it's Karate and Insanity workouts, for my husband it's Tennis) we can all use them to stay cool while we get our workouts done!

There are so many ways to benefit from these washcloths and beat the heat! Make one, make a ton, either way - it will be fun and cool this summer with your new frozen washcloth! (I will post a pic of my grandmothers cloths later...I can't locate the pics - so I'll take new ones. She did sailboats!)

Thanks for stopping by and crafting with me. If you'd like to see more vacation crafts, please hop around through the Designer Crafts Connection Blog Hop to check out what the other designers have come up with!

This tutorial is shared with you in the hopes that you will learn a new fun craft. Please do not use my tutorials for your own gain. Please do not use my photos without permission and please do not retake any photos to remake the tutorial for your own blog or another company. These photos and the text are copyright protected. If you'd like to "Pin" one of the photos, please credit me by using "#kidgiddy". Thank you for your cooperation. Although I was given Marvvy Uchida products free for my use, the ideas and opinions are my own.

Have A Picnic Even When It Rains "Grass Blanket" Tutorial - DCC Blog Hop

It's been pouring rain here in Maine for the past few days, and all along the east coast. Everything is sopping wet and it feels like we skipped over summer. Luckily that is not true! When trying to come up with a crafty "picnic" themed craft, I was stumped....but not for long.

Here in Maine we have to really get out when the weather is good. We only have a few short months of amazing warm weather, and I know I need all the Vitamin D I can get! So I get out when I can, but when the weather is bad...bring the outdoors in!

I made this "grass blanket" for my 2011 CHA Designer Showcase table, and wanted to put it on my desk during the winter months when I got home. It's really easy to make and your kids will love having their very own indoor picnic when it's pouring rain outside!

Here's what you'll need:
Lots of green fabric. The qty will be based on the size you want to make. If you want to make a smaller blanket, approx. 44" square, you'll need at least 5 yards of 4 or 5 different green patterns. 1 yard will be used for the base, and the others for the strips.

Here's what you do:
Step 1: Cut 3-4 inch strips of fabric. Mine are 4" (if you want the pieces smaller and the blanket "tighter", do 3").
Step 2: Sew down the center of the strips lengthwise.
Step 3: Fold over the first strip and sew the center of the next strip, approx. 1-2" apart from the first. Again this can vary, it's up to you how tight you want to sew them together. It will make it fuller if you sew them closer, and looser, if you spread them further apart.
Step 4: Continue to sew all the strips from one side of the blanket to the other. (TIP: If you want to sew on a backing, which I did not do, leave a 1 inch space on all sides of the base - don't sew to the edges).
Step 5: Cut the strips an inch apart, without cutting the seam. Then stagger the next row 1/2" so they are not cut the same. You can see my Scrappy Owl Tutorial for some photos of the "fluff" - which is the same process here.

My girls had a blast setting up their AG dolls for the photoshoot...and will have a blast playing with it again when they get home from school, since it's STILL raining!

I hope you can bring a little of the outside, inside at your home too! Go for a family picnic when ever you want with the Kid Giddy Grass Blanket! Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by. Be sure to click through the other blogs today to find more picnic and/or Father's Day crafts!

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This tutorial is shared with you in the hopes that you will learn a new fun craft. Please do not use my tutorials for your own gain. Please do not use my photos without permission and please do not retake any photos to remake the tutorial for your own blog or another company. These photos and the text are copyright protected. If you'd like to "Pin" one of the photos, please credit me by using "#kidgiddy". Thank you for your cooperation.

Life Cycle of a Poppy Flower

I have become some what obsessed with this little plant of ours and had to share some pictures to show you this amazing life cycle. I received this poppy plant from my dear sweet friend Amy almost 2 years ago. She loves the color orange (and who can blame her) and thought it was just too pretty to leave at the store and gave it to me.

My husband takes care of the plants better than I do in this family, which is why we almost lost this one. It was dying rather quickly, so I found a rather empty spot in our newly landscaped yard and popped it in a little hole (before it was too late). I watered it frequently during the hot summer, as I watered the rest of the flowers, and nothing happened. Last year, we left it where it was and watered it more. Nothing happened. 

My husband was going to pull it out this year with the weeds, and I said, no just leave it in there. It's not like the leaves had all died and withered, it just wasn't blooming. About a week and a half ago, my husband sent me a message and said "I'm glad you told me not to pull the flower out! There's a bud shooting up". The fact that he was glad I told him not to pull it was so sweet, but the fact that he was checking on it, was cuter than anything else! He kept me up to date on the buds progress and then a few days later the bud and shoot were well above the height of the nearby Daisy plant. One tiny little bud leaning over and dangling on a shoot almost 2 feet tall. Then another day went by and it got taller and slowly stood up a little straighter.

Friday morning he told me it was going to bloom soon, and later that day the bud popped open. So I immediately took my camera out and snapped a few pictures. I have not photoshop'd these pics at all. I have not added any filtering effects. These are pure nature at it's best. (And I couldn't be more thrilled if you were wondering!) I wish I had gone out later that afternoon or evening, because by the next morning (Saturday) the poppy was standing straight up, and in full bloom. Isn't it beautiful? It look so soft and fragile, like tissue paper. How does God make such amazing and beautiful things like this? I'm in awe!
 

Today, Monday, I noticed that the flower had already reached it's peak and was quickly fading. Even in death, this amazing flower, was too beautiful to not capture. It was very windy (of course) and I had to lean it over a little to the side, in the hopes of getting the flower to be still. Just one picture was all I was hoping for, that captured the beauty of it fading away. One picture that was crisp and clear, and it worked. It reminded me of Orange Sherbert. So sweet. So delicate.

Flowers are so uplifting and inspiring, and as this little plant began to bloom this year, we awaited it's blooms with baited breath. We did not give up on it. Almost did, but in the end, held out just a little longer. How often do we have to wait a little longer, to enjoy the richness and beauty that life and opportunities have to offer...until of course, the time comes to an end? It's worth it.

While this little flower bloomed, this little friend enjoyed his share of sunshine and sunflower seeds in our back yard. He was too cute and had to be photographed too! (again - no filter - no photoshop)

Thanks for stopping by my blog and I hope that you can stop and enjoy whatever cycle you are in. Every cycle has something wonderful to offer. Even the end, because that only means a new cycle is just beginning.

Flower Pins Tutorial - DCC ImpressArt Blog Hop

Long time no post...right?! Well I'm excited today to share with you all a really sweet gift I made for all the teachers at my daughters Primary school for Teacher Appreciation week!

I received the set of ImpressArt Metal Stamps to use for this blog hop and needed to make something for the teachers this week, since I'm also on the PTA. I thought, why not combine the efforts? When my friend Nora came over to help make the flowers, I decided to they would look really cool with little metal discs in the center! I quickly ran out of metal discs as I was making at least 30, and turned to my box of wooden buttons. I wasn't sure if the ImpressArt Metal stamps would work on the wooden buttons, since I have never used these, but they came out so cute - they worked so well on the metal and wood! It was so much fun to play with everything, that I am now, totally addicted!

I took pictures while I made them, so you can make a few for gifts as lapel pins, hair bands, headbands, bracelets, necklaces, and every other option under the sun!

Here's what you'll need from ImpressArt:

-ImpressArt Alphabet Stamp Set, Set Name, Jeanie (lowercase)

-ImpressArt Design Stamp, Whimsy Flower, Whimsy Heart & Fun Star

-ImpressArt Metal Stamping Blank Discs (with 2 holes)

-ImpressArt Metal Stamping Hammer

-ImpressArt Steel Stamping Block

-ImpressArt Stamp Straight Tape (I didn't want mine straight, but you may, this helps!)

Here's what else you'll need to make the flowers:

- 5" Tulle roll (color is your preference, I used white)

-Linen Fabric

-Scrap Fabrics

-Wooden Buttons (optional)
-Flower Shape (either a machine cutter, your own simple pattern, or a pre-made flower template)
-Needle & Thread
-Scissors

If this is your first time using ImpressArt Metal Stamps, please be sure to check out their website and resources page. They even have a "viewer" so it can help you plan what you want to use and what it will look like!

Here's what you do:

Decide what word and design you are going to use and stamp the discs. They puckered as I hammered, so I just flipped them over after and flattened them out a little. This is before I flattened them out. I used the word "bloom".

On the smaller discs I used the word "grow" (since that has to do with flowers also), and stamped the heart & flower.

When I ran out of discs in the 9th hour, I turned to wood, it worked like a charm! I LOVE these tools!

Cut out all your round circles. The circle should be approx. the same size if not a tiny bit smaller than the flowers. Fold the white round circle in half, 3 times. Cut the all the folded edges (leave a 1/2"- do not cut all the way to the center) 

Next cut 2 straight lines (again leave the 1/2" of the center protected and intact)

Cut all your flowers with your own template, or a purchased template or die cut. I cut one piece of Linen for the base, and 3 pieces of fabric for each flower. I also used one white circle and one tiny center scrap, but know that you can use as many as you want. It all depends on how fluffy you want your flowers to be. Once you have cut all your flowers from your scraps, and your white circles, you can pre-stack them to match them up. Don't they look so pretty? Thanks Nora!

To fluff your flowers, cut a piece of the 5 1/2" width Tulle roll (approx 11" in length) and cut in half. Using one strip, thread your needle and at one end of the tulle (lengthwise) gather it with a running stitch 

Before pulling the thread all the way though, loop your needle through the end and pull tight.

Wrap the thread around the gathered center a few times and then tie off with a double knot.

When all the pieces are ready for assembly, here is the order I used. I felt the tulle worked best under the white layer!

Once the pieces are layered, you can sew the pieces together. You can put a small pin in the back for a brooch, or sew an extra piece on the back to make it useful for a hair rubber band, or stitch it onto a headband, or even onto a beautiful ribbon to make a necklace. Make as many flowers as you'd like. But please do not sell them. Give them as gifts!

I really had so much fun using these ImpressArt Metal stamps! Sometimes I am so fearful of trying something new that I tend to shy away from it. But I jumped at the chance to try these out and was not disappointed. This is something I will use time and time again for gift tags, jewelry, and many other fun projects.

If you would like your own set of ImpressArt Metal Stamps, you can head over to the ImpressArt Facebook page to enter to win! The Grand Prize is valued at up to $120.00 and contains:

1- ImpressArt alphabet set of the winner's choice

1- ImpressArt Steel Stamping Block, small

1- ImpressArt Metal Stamping Hammer

1- ImpressArt Stamp Straight Tape

An Assortment of metal discs

After you enter to win your own set, be sure to hop around to see all the other folks that have joined in this hop and the fun projects they created for more ideas!

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I know I have a few more of my own and look forward to making some truly one of a kind metal projects with these ImpressArt metal stamps! My sister wants to borrow them and make a few things too! (we are twins, we love the same stuff)! I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Thanks for hopping over here and adding more giddy to your life!

I did receive the ImpressArt Metal Stamp tools as listed above, to use for this tutorial at no cost to me. It does not have any effect on my opinions as set forth in this tutorial. The opinions here are my own. 

This tutorial is shared with you in the hopes that you will learn a new fun craft. Please do not use my tutorials for your own gain. Please do not use my photos without permission and please do not retake any photos to remake the tutorial for your own blog or another company. These photos and the text are copyright protected. Thank you for your cooperation.

My First 5K Race

 I have been running for a long time. I ran track in High School, got a couple of letters to show for it, and some medals in my closet. I loved running in the rain, or on hot summer nights. I loved running anytime that I wanted to feel free, if only for a moment. Running for me has been a release, not for exercise, not for good health, just to feel free.
When I went to college, I stopped running and instead started dancing in clubs all weekend with friends (doesn't everyone). I ran with music in my ears, and danced just the same. As long as I was moving, I was good.

At some point, I got caught up in life, and developed exercise induced asthma, which felt like a death sentence to a runner. At the same time, I finally learned that I got hives, when I got too cold. I felt like I couldn't run anymore, and it's been troubling me ever since. I'm happy to say, I have gotten back on the running wagon. Here a little, there a little. Although I wasn't not a distance runner at the track meets, I ran very long distances outside of school at least every other day.

Other than my lungs freaking out on me once in a while, straight out the gate...I feel at home running on the road with music blaring in my ears. Since being on the PTA, I felt the need to run my first race and not bail out like I did last year. (last year it was also a blistering 30 something degrees or colder with the wind chill - I would've been itching like crazy!)

I began training with Laura (Brad, & Mike) doing plyometrics in the coldest months, alternated with running as the weather warmed, and finally ran my first road race! My official time was 34:22! I was kicking myself afterwards, because I was slowing down right at the end to wave to Mr. Giddy & our girls, and realized I needed to sprint to the finish line to clock my time. Dork! lol! So I did it - I sprinted to the end, high-fiving along the way (see pic above) and realized I could've shaved at least 22 seconds off my time. Oh well, it's still under my age - but next time I will do better.
And next time is not that far off...I'll be running in the Pine Grove 5K race this June. Want to join me? I hope someday my girls will. But for now, they are enjoying the fun runs. And that is exactly what they are...FUN! All running is fun. For someone that is always on the computer or sewing inside, like me...getting out once in a while to run is still so freeing!
Have a great week everyone! Thanks for stopping by.