I saw something at a yarn shop a couple of weeks ago that I just had to come home and make.  They had these pattern markers (I think that’s what they were called)… to be used to keep track of the line you’re on in knitting patterns.  (Forgive me if I’m not saying that right… I’m not really a knitter.)  Anyway, they were basically just a long ribbon with magnets on the inside.  

Do you ever lose your bookmark from a book you’re reading, because it falls out on the floor when you go to pick it up (or your child is playing with the book, or or or…)?  

So we decided to make some.  And I think we had about 10 of them done lickety split.  Super easy.  Here’s the process (not that you couldn’t figure it out on your own.. but in case you like a visual, here you go:

Start with some ribbon.

And some magnetic tape.  Ours was in strips.. you can also get it on a roll.

Cut desired length of ribbon.

Then fold it in half and make a crease.

Next, adhere the magnetic tape to either side of the crease.

Fold over and you have yourself a bookmark!

Here it is in action.  The book I’m reading, by the way, is All I Need is Jesus and a Good Pair of Jeans by Susanna Foth Aughtmon.  Excellent read.  To get an idea of her humor and writing style, you can visit her blog.  Seriously, get her book.  You’ll be so glad you did!

My son also discovered that if you need to put your book down for a minute, you can spread the bookmark over the pages like a paperweight to hold your spot.

Copy that!

I have been so inspired the last few months by iHanna’s daily art cards.  She made art cards every day of last year, and you can see some of them here.  I love that they are all so different.  Some drawn, some painted, some using mixed media.  Some simple, some extravagant.  

For years I’ve had things in my mind that I’d like to create, but because I don’t really know how to make it come out, I’ve just sat back and watched what others do with their talent.  I’m now inspired to just do it anyway.  I’m not striving to make something new each day, but I have started an art journal and will add to it often (I hope).  

This morning I did my first page.

Another great idea is to have a family sketch book, where all members of the family can draw and add to it whenever they please.  Cakies has a post about it here.  I think that’s an idea any family can use.  And what a great thing to look back on at the end of the year, or whenever the book is full.  My suggestion:  date the pages and put initials next to drawings so you can remember who did what.

I’m so excited!  I just made this super sweet cupcake pincushion from my new favorite book, Warm Fuzzies, by Betz White.  This book has lots of great projects based on things you can make from felted wool sweaters.  I love love love felt, and making things from sweaters is my new favorite.  The swirls and the cupcake wrapper are from sweaters.  The cherry on top is a felt ball that I made myself from roving (instructions found here).  I needle felted the green decoration on the wrapper using some wool yarn that my daughter graciously let me use from a scarf she’s working on.  

Next project from the book:  a sweet jumper dress for Mercy, as soon as my sewing machine is fixed.  For now, I’m going to take the arms off of the orange sweater (her favorite color, and it’s oh-so-soft), to make her some leg warmers.

I’m so excited to have found this idea this morning!  I needed to make a gift for my three year old but my sewing machine is not working, so I can’t make what I was planning.  Then I found this:

It’s a sweet elf glove that you can use with toddlers/ preschoolers.  More details and the rhyme that goes with it found here.  Thanks Chrissy!

Next, I measured and marked down the sides at six inch intervals. (I started at 3 1/2 inches from the top, so there’d be some of the canvas showing at the top and bottom once cards are hung.) After measuring and marking on both sides, I stretched ribbon across and secured them into the sides of the canvas using red thumbtacks.
Next, I turned the canvas over and stapled the excess ribbon onto the frame in the back, and then trimmed off any extra ribbon that remained.
Here’s the finished product, ready to be hung when little ones wake up from their naps.
First card hung.
Side detail.
Super easy! You can do it too! If you make one, take a photo and let me know! Enjoy!