This was my gift to J for last year’s Valentine’s Day. Here are the cool things about this gift:
It’s FREE.
It lasts all year long.
It is also a gift for me.
You really learn to show love for each other better.
I covered some canisters with paper and stickers. I used decoupage, but you could use double sided tape, too.
Here are the rules:
His & Hers Requests (aka Love Bucket)
-Write 46 things (since there are 46 weeks left in the year) that we want our spouse to do with us or with us.
-Put those sheets of paper in your canister, and then we will swap canisters.
-On Sundays, we will each pull a strip of paper out of each other’s jar, and we’ll have to do whatever the spouse asked for.
-We will have the whole week to do the request.
-We will put the papers (with the writing hidden) on our bathroom mirror as a reminder.
On Sunday, J and I each drew one strip of paper (his were blue; mine were pink). Some of his said things like: Create a new meal without a recipe; compose a rap song for me; invite 3 couples over for games; iron 4 shirts for me. Mine were requests like: Bring me a candy bar home from work; rub my feet; take care of Abs on Saturday morning so I can sleep in; write me love notes around the house.
I got this idea from an article I read, and I was happy that J was super excited about this project. Yea for a good, free gift!
I’ve made up a video to describe the process for you. One thing though, at about 50 seconds into the video, I gave the wrong info. . . . You actually put the middle sheet of paper waxy side UP (not down, as said in video).
Some extra information . . .
****I’ve been told by one person that she had a problem with printing her image (the paper got really stuck). Sooo, you might wanna be on the safe side and trace your image onto the paper side of the freezer paper.
Freezer paper is rolled up like wrapping paper. I like to cut mine in 8.5×11 inch sheets, so they can go directly in the printer. If you don’t want to print onto the freezer paper, you can print onto a normal sheet of paper and then trace the image onto freezer paper. Regardless of how you print, you want your design on the freezer paper to be on the paper side because you want the waxy side to be ironed onto your fabric.
Also, cut the image with an exacto knife on top of cardboard, cutting board, or a rotary board.
I open the shirt and insert a cardboard in the middle, so the paint won’t bleed.
You can use tweezers to remove the small bits of freezer paper after you’re finished painting.
I was going to write about this prior to Vday to give y’all a free gift idea, but I didn’t want to spoil the surprise to J. Sorry, I guess I love him more.
Anyway, here’s a gift you can do at any time, not just Vday:
I covered some canisters with paper and stickers.
Here are the rules:
His & Hers Requests
-Write 46 things (since there are 46 weeks left in the year) that we want the other spouse to do with us or with us.
-Put those sheets of paper in your canister, and then we will swap canisters.
-On Sundays, we will each pull a strip of paper out of each other’s jar, and we’ll have to do whatever the spouse asked for. -We will have the whole week to do the request.
-We will put the papers (with the writing hidden) on our bathroom mirror as a reminder.
On Sunday, J and I each drew one strip of paper (his were blue; mine were pink).
I don’t know what he’ll be doing for me or when, but I’m pretty nervous about what I’m supposed to do for him. I’ll update you after I do his request.
I got this idea from an article I read, and I was happy that J was super excited about this project. Yea for a good, free gift! This way, we can work on showing love in the ways we want to receive it.
Here’s the tutorial for how to make a crinkle square mini blanket with taggies like the one below for a baby. It’s super easy, quick, and doesn’t cost much. If you don’t have ribbon on hand, that might be your biggest expense.
Supplies
thread
2 squares of flannel (I used 9×9 inches)
ribbons cut to about 4 inches long and folded in half (I used 4 big pieces, 4 medium pieces, and 4 skinny pieces)
crinkly sheet/package, the same size as your flannel (I used a wrapper from a sample diaper I got in the mail). Some other options: wipes package, microwave popcorn wrappers, chips bag, clear gift wrap . . . Just make sure that you cut your flannel pieces to whatever size your crinkle sheet ends up being
Directions
Put one piece of flannel right side up and pin ribbons along the edges with the cut sides off of the flannel. between the two pieces of material (wrong sides together).
Put the second flannel sheet on top of the ribbons right side down.
Put the crinkle sheet on top of the flannel and pin all layers together.
Sew along all the edges– except, make sure to leave a big enough section not sewn so that you can turn the blanket right side out. Take the pins out.
After sewing, turn the blanket right side out.
Then, sew all the way around the square, and you’re done!
Back in November, we decided to grow my daughters hair out, but her hair kept getting in her eyes. Bows come in and out easily, so I decided I’d try to make her some headbands. You could make some for yourself, too, and your daughter might be extra excited about wearing headbands, just like Mommy.
Measure around your toddler’s head to the nape of her neck.
Cut your material to the appropriate size and iron flat. [Cut a rectangle that is double the width of what you want your headband to end up, plus about 1/2 in for seam allowance and 3 inches less than measurement you got from step 1. I think I cut mine 3.5 x 15.5inches. If you want it to be reversible with two different patterns, cut accordingly.]
Measure in on the bottom ends in about 1/2 “ on each side and mark, draw a line up to the top corners and you will have a tapered rectangle.
Fold right sides together “hot dog style” and iron flat.
Then pin together and sew around, but leave a “U shape” opening in the bottom, as if you were sewing a pillow.
Turn tube of fabric inside out and iron flat. Also, fold a 1/4 inch or so on each end and iron down.
Put elastic pony tail on one end inside the flap created in step 6. Fold the 1/4 over the pony tail, and sew straight down.
Do the same with the other side.
And you’re all done.
I made the headband in the pictures and a pink one. I also made a reversible one: one side black and one side red. Abs loves them. Let me know if you have any questions.
Just a little note to say that I have done a few crafty projects that I thought I’d share with you . . . sometime. I just need to write up some tutorials. So, you can look forward to learning how to make:
I love these soaps from Bath and Body Works. Not only do they smell great, but they’re soft on your hands, and it’s so much easier for Abs to wash her hands with the “bubble soap.”
I had even put them on my wish list for Christmas this year because we just ran out of the bottles in our kitchen and guest bathroom. Then, I discovered there might be a way to make the foaming soap with regular soap and save lots of money. Easy and super quick.
Ingredients
An empty bottle of Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand soap
Any liquid antibacterial soap (I used Bath & Body Works)
Directions
Put about an inch of the liquid soap into the empty foaming bottle.
Pour water into the bottle pretty slowly.
Screw the lid on, and turn the bottle upside down slowly several times. Try not to shake it up because it’ll get too soapy. And you’re finished!
Also, you could just keep pouring a little water into your regular Bath & Body works Foamy Soap whenever it gets a low.
*In these pictures I used a creamy hand soap, which didn’t work as well as when I used a liquid hand soap.
Put the crinkle sheet on top of the flannel and pin all layers together.
Then, sew all the way around the square, and you’re done!
Turn tube of fabric inside out and iron flat. Also, fold a 1/4 inch or so on each end and iron down.
Put elastic pony tail on one end inside the flap created in step 6. Fold the 1/4 over the pony tail, and sew straight down.
Do the same with the other side.
And you’re all done.
