The Toils of Toilet Training

My daughter has just started to use the toilet. Yes, as she is now 4... she is a late bloomer. It's been quite the drama (for me) trying to get her interested. I tried my best to not let know just how much I wanted it to happen as she's not the kind of child that would do it for me.

But something happened a few days ago that just switched in her. She has been dry (aside from our #2s - she's not quite there yet) for 3 days. Yahoo!

So, I made this incentive box many moons ago (it's been so long, I can't even remember). It's just a photo box. It has her name on the front and 15 buttons velcro'd all the way around the box. I have opposite side of the velcro on top. Each time she uses the toilet, she moves a button to the top (she also gets one for each dry day she has). When she fills the top, she gets to choose a small prize from inside and move the buttons back to the sides. It's working. She loves the buttons (I'm sure she gets that from me) and it's easy for her to see how many more before she gets a reward.

I know some people use stickers... but I liked this idea because I could reuse it over and over. She also knows exactly what she's working toward. The items inside range in price from $1-$3 but she seems happy with them. I'm also making sure there is a decent selection for her to choose from and so that she has others that she can look forward to.

I'm not sure if she's going to just stop doing it once she gets bored of it (this is her personality) - but I'm hopeful that we have finally moved on from diapers. Keeping my fingers crossed!

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Product Review - Spray Adhesive

I LOVE this product! I received this as a gift from a friend that surely must understand the pain that I can sometimes put myself through when I sew appliques onto the dresses. I don't use an iron on adhesive because I don't like how it feels - too stiff. And I don't like the gumminess some of the spray adhesives leave on my machine. Sulky Temporary Spray Adhesive is great... it is sticky enough that it stays in place when I bunch it up under my machine... but it isn't so sticky that you can't pick it up and move it (without the stickiness remaining). The fact that it's safer for me than the other spray adhesives is also an added bonus.

Here's the mess I had when I pinned them. I can tell you, when I do it this way I get stabbed by pins no fewer than ten times. I avoid using pins whenever possible... but sometimes positioning is really important to me. This was the case with the Butterfly dress (sorry, it already sold).

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A little this... and a little that

It's been a while since I've updated my blog... and I'm not talking about Muffin Tin Mondays. I've actually been doing things other than just muffin tins. So, I thought I'd just share a little bit of what I've been up to (other than being under the weather :))

This is my newest screen print. Isn't she cute! I'm starting to use the services of Tomato Tomato who is making my drawings nice and clean and ready for screen printing. She's awesome! I can't wait to start making dresses with this print on it. Oh, and it's big! Yay!

I also took part in a fabric swap. So I am now the proud owner of over 100 new fabric squares! I haven't had much time to think about what I'm going to do with them... but for now, they are fun to just flip through and admire.

And with that said, I'm also going to participate in Dollar Store Craft's Stash Bust! Hoping this helps me put more tutorials on the blog. I can't tell you the number of tutorials I have done... but they've never made it on to the blog.

And a bento. I haven't shared any bentos in a while. This one I packed as a snack bento for my daughter. She's going through that wonderful phase where she'll only eat certain foods. During meals, I still offer everything... but when she's spending the day at a friends, I like to be sure she's got food that she will eat so that her tummy doesn't get hungry. This one has cheese, cheese and more cheese!

I have lots of fun things to share that I'm still working on... like the reorganization of my workspace (again), some great thrift store finds that I'm converting into new and fabulous creations, and a wall hanging that I'm working on for someone at my daughter's school (this one may not be posted until the end of school as it is a surprise).

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Muffin Tin Monday

I believe that today was supposed to be Blue and Purple... but I didn't really plan ahead, so I went with my own thing. Which happened to be left overs :) My son is home from school this week so we are excited to share this routine with him once again. Oh - and we have done Blue and Purple in the past.

Contents: Banana, edamame, sweet potatoes, cheese crackers, sliced turkey and cheese (or flat cheese as my daughter calls it).

Last week was a decent week for me... so I'm hoping that this week with either be the same or better. Finally feeling like I might be on an upswing (now going to go knock on wood).

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Muffin Tin Monday - Spring!

I'm so happy Spring is here (and it even feels a little like spring). This week's Muffin Tin meal didn't have a theme, so I made my own (after seeing a few other people did).

Contents: Daffodil cheese on pasta stems, string cheese eggs (with a chicken toothpick), carrots, cheese crackers (because she requested them), jelly sandwich egg on a bed of leaves and raisins (these are our lady bugs... I know, not so ladybugish). Oh - and a jelly sandwich bunny in the middle.

Thank you to everyone for their kind words after my last depressing post. While my health isn't a whole lot better, I am feeling a little better now that the sun is out and I have a few new ideas brewing.

I also had a very successful trip to the Goodwill this morning (I know, I should be taking things in, but buying things... but I'm just doing my part anyway I can :)). I bought a huge frame that I've got some great plans for... hoping to have that done by the weekend... could be wishful thinking, but watch for it!

Remember to stop by Muffin Tin Mom (formerly Her Cup Overfloweth) for more Muffin Tin Meals!

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Trying to work through it.

I've been complaining a lot about my health... and I really try not to. But it seems to be consuming me this past month or so. It's starting to get frustrating as it's not only affecting how I feel, but it has zapped all my creative energy. Those days where I'm feeling like I could stand for more than 10 minutes at a time, I don't feel like creating... and that's unusual for me. It's been a while since my husband has come home from work and I've made ten random projects. It's been a while since I've wanted to even attempt one.

So I'm wondering, am I the only one that goes through this? I recently received my acceptance letter to the Mill Creek Festival in July... and EtsyRAIN is organizing a show for May. This means that I need to get started beefing up my inventory. Even my shops are looking dismal. I haven't had a sale in a few weeks, not surprising since I've been unmotivated to promote them, list new items or even renew older ones. Sad, sad, sad. I need to work through this. I know it's just a matter of time - I'd just like that time to be now.

I'm open to suggestions because my ideas aren't working as I sit here on the computer complaining once again about how I feel. Perhaps not an appropriate blog topic... but it's one that has been consuming me a lot lately.

On the positive side, this past weekend my husband and I took the kids to the Emerald City ComiCon. The kids decided to wear their costumes and they got lots of positive feedback (which made me feel good). They even made the Seattle PI. It was nice to do something for my husband for a change. It had been many years since we have attended a comic convention... I think we are hoping to get him back in to it and maybe even vend at the next one. He's been back at doing his panels for a good month now. Perhaps he took all my creative energy :)

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Unanimous Craft

I just wanted to point out a special new website that I'll be listing in my links. It's awesome and you should check it out. There is a wealth of information there - and it's new, so it's only going to grow! Click the image and it'll take you to Unanimous Craft!

Oh... and the genius behind this site can be seen at the Handmade Comedy event hosted by EtsyRAIN and benefiting Friends of the Orphans. I blogged about it here... you should go. It's going to be fun!

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Mushroom Crepes

Yep, my husband bought me mushrooms again... and again, I'm the only one that eats them. That means I needed to come up with more ways to eat them. While the fritatta came out okay, I was ready to try something new. I've been wanting to try making crepes for a while. I've only had crepes once and I honestly don't remember much about them.

As usual, I researched a little (read a few recipes) and then just went for it. I used the basic recipe at Allrecipes.com. But for the filling, I just winged it. I am most comfortable cooking without a recipe, measurements or rules. I take a risk since I really have no idea what I'm doing... but it's even more rewarding when it comes out right.

First I sauteed some onions and mushrooms. I sliced them fairly large since I wanted it to be a nice substantial filling. The second time I made these (yep, they were so good I made them again!), I cut the pieces smaller and was happier with each bite.

My original idea was to just do onions and mushrooms... but then it just looked really dry after I wrapped it in the crepe. So... I made a cheese sauce since I had both feta and cream cheese in the fridge. I made a rue and added the two cheeses along with some salt and pepper.

It turned out yummy! I apologize about my plating... I really just wanted to eat it. I was soooo hungry and it smelled so good. The sauce took the majority of the time and that was mainly because the cheese needed to melt to blend well.

Yum, yum, yum! I made an extra crepe for my daughter and spread jelly on it. She ate it up too! I'll definitely be making more crepes in the future. I think I like them a little more than pancakes because they aren't as dense... and they are more flexible. I could have these for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

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Wordless Wednesday

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Greeting Cards for Preschoolers - Tutorial

This is a two for one tutorial... making easy thank you cards with preschoolers. And homemade watercolors! Yay! We'll start with the cards... then you can skip to the bottom for the watercolor.


Materials:

Watercolor paper
White Crayon
Blank Greeting Cards
Glue
Watercolors (see recipe below)
brush
water bowl
rag (I used tshirt scraps)

Step 1: Cut watercolor paper into smaller rectangles/squares to fit on the front of the greeting cards. I made ours 3" x 3.75" only because that's how the paper evenly split to make 9 cards.

Step 2: Write with white crayon whatever message you want - ours was Thank You since these were for her friends after her birthday party. I also did this without my daughter so that she would be surprised when a message appeared in her painting.

Step 3: Set up a painting area with a large water bowl, drying rag right next to the bowl, water colors all set on top of some newsprint (optional).

Step 4: Let them paint! I did it with my daughter so that I could help her learn how to use the brush correctly (for example, no smashing of the bristles). I know - let them do what they will... but it's really important to me that she start learning how to take care of her things.

Step 5: The more paint they put on, the better the message will appear... so encourage lots of paint. I told her to cover the whole piece of paper. We also did them all at once since she has a short attention span. Worked great!

Step 6: Wait for the paint to dry (the homemade watercolors dry quickly). Glue the painting onto the front of the greeting card... and you're done! (See picture at the top of the post)

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Homemade Watercolors (from Associated Content)

Materials:

Light Corn Syrup

White Vinegar

Corn Starch

Baking Soda

Food Coloring

Bowl for mixing

Step 1: Mix 3tsp Corn Syrup, 6 tbsp Vinegar, 6 tbsp Corn Starch and 6 tbsp Baking Soda into a bowl. After doing this, I realized that there was going to be watercolors left over... so I put them into small disposable containers.

Step 2: Divide the mixture by the number of colors you are making. We made 6.

Step 3: Add food coloring to make each color. I had my son do this part. And mix (I did this part so it didn't get all over him).

Step 4: Paint with them! It's that simple. We found that a little paint went a long way.

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Wonderland

I don't know about you... but I'm really looking forward to the Alice in Wonderland movie. Of course, I'm not sure when I'll get a chance to see it... but I love everything Alice in Wonderland. So, I thought I'd share some fun Alice in Wonderland inspired items on Etsy.


1. Daddy & Child Mushrooms - GeorgiaGriegoFineArt's
2. Curiouser - UntamedMenagerie
3. Crochet Pattern - Alice and White Rabbit - Seaandlighthouse
4. Queen of Hearts Scrabble Tile Pendant - HomeStudio
5. Teapot Favor Boxes - favormakers
6. Queen of Hearts Fabric Button Necklace - SerendipityLicious
7. Couture Lace Mouse Ears - iggyfrankiecab
8. Teacup Necklace - ABoxForMyTreasure
9. F is for Flamingo - JKLee

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Handmade Comedy

If you aren't local... you're going to wish you were! Check out EtsyRAIN's newest event! March 16th, we'll be hosting a benefit for Friends of Orphans... and we're going to be crafting and laughing all the while! You can get more details on the EtsyRAIN website or Yelp and Facebook.

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Tackle it Tuesday

It's been a while since I've done a Tackle it Tuesday... mainly because it's been a while since I've done anything :) But the other day I was getting ready to go to an Etsy Branding workshop (by Ryan of Littleput Books) and I was inspired. I'm always looking for ways to use my tshirt scraps. And I'm always looking for things to do that don't take hours to complete. You know, instant gratification.
So, I came up with these tshirt flowers... and of course, I had to use some buttons to make them even more colorful! I'm sort of addicted to making them right now. But I do have plans of listing them in the NueToMe shop.

I'll also be posting some new dresses for the shop. I've had to limit some of the things I do during the day (time in front of the computer, time at the sewing machine, etc) - so it's slow going. Oh... and there's the lack of motivation thing. But I'm determined to get some new designs in the shop. I'm getting sick of looking at the same things... even if I think those things are pretty great.

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Muffin Tin Monday

This week is a no theme week... and it was done by my husband. Yay husband! He's been taking over a lot of things for me this past week as I continue to have back problems and I'm very limited in what I can do. I think he did a great job...


Contents: chicken strips, barbeque sauce, carrots, wheat thins and cheese.

Muffin tins have been great for us when we can't really find enough of one food to feed the kids. The muffin tins make it less obvious that we are stretching :) Besides, they've been a great way to use left overs... and I'm all about using up left overs!

Check out other muffin tins by clicking the icon on the right ------>

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