Day 18 Stocking Stuffer: Photo Bookmark DIY

October 27, 2015 | Posted by Chelsey

Day 18 of my 50 DIY Days: Photo Bookmark DIY

As my daughter gets older, the books we read get longer and longer. We read to her each night, but sometimes I can’t read a whole book to her (or she’ll never get to bed). SO, that’s where these bookmarks come in. I know I could have bought some from the store for cheap… but these cost me nothing to make since I had all the materials needed, and they are cuter than any store bought bookmark. Look at our little weird dog, ready to hold our spot in last night’s book.

My original plan with this HP Create DIY was to take photos of our dog AND our cats, but it seems cats are cats and they wanted NOTHING to do with sitting still on a piece of white foamcore board. Ha! So, we took photos of a couple of my daughter’s favorite stuffed animals instead. You can check out the full DIY here to see how I made the tassel and I share tips on how to take a photo for the bookmark (using any camera you have on hand).

I think these Photo Bookmarks would make the best stocking stuffers for the kids this Christmas.

Supplies needed to create a Photo Bookmark:

HP Photo Paper
White background for the photos (I used a large white foam core board)
Camera (any camera will work, even your phone)
Double sided scrapbook adhesive
Scissors
Hole punch
Embroidery thread
Fabric glue
Optional: clear acrylic sealing spray

Total cost: $0 (as long as you have a printer and photo paper on hand)

Are you wondering what the 50 DIY Days is? Each year I share a bunch of holiday DIY ideas, recipes, and guides to inspire you during the Fall. Starting now, through early December, you’ll find a ton of great ideas to get you ready for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and any sort of holiday gift giving. You can check out this link to explore past DIY Days.

– Chelsey, The Paper Mama

I am a paid contributor for the HP Create blog. I want to see your creations! Share what your making with me on Instagram. It could be one of my DIY’s, or a project you’re working on. Share with my IG account @thepapermama and use the hashtag #papermamafriends.

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Tags: school

Categories: 50 DIY Days, Crafts and DIYs for the Kids, diy, HP

Day 17 Halloween Costume Idea: She-ra Kids Costume DIY (with free pattern printable)

October 26, 2015 | Posted by Chelsey

Day 17 of my 50 DIY Days: She-ra Kids Costume DIY (with free pattern printable)

Where are my 80’s kids at? The 80’s had the most amazing cartoons and She-ra was definitely at the top of the list for me. Who is She-ra? She-ra is He-man’s twin sister. She’s an amazing super hero that my kid has fallen in love with and it makes me so happy! Last year we discovered that Hulu had all of the episodes available to watch and I thought we could give it a try. I had no idea she’d get so hooked on it. I mean, She-ra does kick ass. For 9 months my daughter has been asking to be She-ra for Halloween (kids really plan ahead for this holiday), but I couldn’t find any store bought kid sized costumes, so I had to make my own. It turned out to be a lot easier than I thought it would be.

If you are totally lost and have no idea who this She-ra chick is, you can get some more info here on the He-man Wiki.

Supplies needed for the She-ra Kids Costume DIY:

white leotard with skirt
sparkle gold foam sheets (I used 3)
1 sparkle blue foam sheet
red gem
hot glue
ribbon
stretchy elastic
Velcro with sticker backing
1 yard of shiny red fabric
suspender clips
She-ra sword (We bought ours here, but it’s sold out. You could always make one out of foam, or spray another sword gold and add a gem.)
My free printable She-ra patterns for the belt, shirt design, and crown (click here to download for personal use only)
gold shoes

Directions:

Step 1: Print out the She-ra patterns I provided. Cut out the shapes, then trace them onto the back of the sparkle gold foam sheets. Cut out the shape with some scissors. For the belt you will need to tape the point together in the center before tracing the pattern onto the foam. Note: you can make the patterns smaller by shrinking the size before you print.

Step 2: Optional: If you want to add more detail to the She-ra crown, cut out the smaller designs on the crown pattern and trace/cut them from the extra gold foam.

Step 3: Assemble the crown with the hot glue. Test it out on your kid’s head to see where the headband should go. Then glue it all together. Use a hole punch to add holes to the sides of the crown and belt. String some of the elastic through (measure the size on your child) and tie the elastic.

Step 4: Cut out a gem shape for the shirt design out of the sparkle blue foam. Use the hot glue to attach it to the design.

Step 5: Add the sticky Velcro to the back of the shoulder designs and shirt design. Add to the leotard. Note: I used Velcro so I could easily remove the foam if I need to clean the leotard.

Step 6: Cut out a strip of gold foam for the necklace, hole punch the ends and string some ribbon through (size depends on the kid). Cut out two fat rectangles for the arm bands, use the hole punch and ribbon to string it together (size depends on kid).

Step 7: Use a sewing machine to sew up the edges of the red fabric to create the She-ra cape (the size depends on your kid). Hand stitch the top corners of the cape onto the suspender clips. Note: I used suspender clips so I could easily remove the cape if I need to clean the leotard.

Step 8: Put the whole outfit together, and you’re done!

The best part about this costume is my kiddo wants to also have a She-ra birthday party, so she gets to wear it again in a month. Yay!

Are you wondering what the 50 DIY Days is? Each year I share a bunch of holiday DIY ideas, recipes, and guides to inspire you during the Fall. Starting now, through early December, you’ll find a ton of great ideas to get you ready for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and any sort of holiday gift giving. You can check out this link to explore past DIY Days.

– Chelsey

P.S. If you create this project, I’d love to see it! You can share a link in the comments below, or tag me in Instagram with a photo, @thepapermama, and use the #papermamafriends hashtag. I use Amazon affiliate links.

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Tags: halloween, printable

Categories: 50 DIY Days, diy, Holiday - Halloween

Day 16 Halloween Decoration: Spooky Spiders Wall Decor (with free printable)

October 23, 2015 | Posted by Chelsey

Day 16 of my 50 DIY Days: Spooky Spiders Wall Decor

This DIY is so creepy gross, but I made it and I accept it’s creepiness. The hardest part of this HP Create project was looking up the tarantulas to make the Spooky Spiders Wall Decor printables. Have you figured out that I’m not a fan of spiders? Even though I don’t really like spiders, this is the perfect Halloween decoration. You can put these spiders anywhere in the home like a wall, your front door, or make them into scary silhouettes by placing on your window. Want to make these in time for your trick or treaters?

Supplies needed to create the Spooky Spiders Wall Decor:

Scissors
Tac Removable Adhesive Putty Tabs
Black yarn
Tape
Spider Printable (grab the spider downloads on the original post)

Total cost for this project: Under $2 (I only had to the wall tac adhesive).

To check out the full DIY, head on over to the HP Create blog.

– Chelsey

P.S. I am a paid contributor for the HP Create blog. If you create this project, I’d love to see it! You can share a link in the comments below, or tag me in Instagram with a photo, @thepapermama, and use the #papermamafriends hashtag.

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Tags: halloween

Categories: 50 DIY Days, diy, Holiday - Halloween

Mentally Prepping Myself for Baby + Free Printable Weekly Belly Pages

October 22, 2015 | Posted by Chelsey

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Nutrimom. All opinions are 100% mine.

It’s been a while since the last time I was pregnant and had an actual newborn baby (there will be a 6 year age difference between these two girls) and I sort of feel like I have no idea what I’m doing. I can only seem to think about how freakin’ tired I will be when this little baby is born in December. I know there is more to it, but that’s what my scared brain is focusing on. So, this past month I was introduced to the Nutrimom site. They work with moms from the first day of pregnancy to toddler-hood, or the first 1,000 days, with a goal to help moms make informed choices about wellness and nutrition. I’ve been connected to a personal Coach to support and guide me through any issues and concerns I might have with my pregnant, and soon to be newborn, mom life. I have to tell you, this is like a huge weight off my shoulders. I’ve been worrying and thinking way TOO much about what could go wrong and if I can handle a newborn again. Deep down I know I can, but there’s still that worry way in the back of my head (I’m also 6 years older than when I did this last time) Some perks from this program are having access to a Coach through email and being able schedule calls to chat and work through any concerns with them. For my first coaching call we focused on the things I wanted to work on (based on my personal history and needs) and we discussed Nutrimom’s 7 Pillars of Early Life Nutrition. How to alleviate stress:

Working on healthy sleeping patterns now, before baby gets here. I don’t do well without sleep.
Prepping my business for a break for when baby gets here. So I can have a mini maternity leave.

Getting enough exercise while I’m pregnant:

I was recently put on limited movement, so I need to rest after about 30 minutes of movement quite often during the day. No strenuous activity means no more gym time until after baby. How can I get exercise while on limited movement? My Coach has provided me with light workouts ladies can do while on bed rest in the Nutrimom app.

Eating healthy now (not giving into all of my cravings):

Yes, it’s okay for me to give into my SUPER sweet tooth cravings on occasion, but I also need to make sure I eat all my veggies and fruits. I’m doing pretty well already, but I don’t like to cook. Lunchtime is usually when I don’t eat very well. My Coach is providing me with easy to make healthy lunch recipes (the photo above is my favorite easy no-refined sugar granola).
Nutrimom does have a line of nutrition products for each stage of my pregnancy. I wish I had known about their Lemon Ginger Bar (with B6) back in the early days of my pregnancy. This bar seems to be specifically for morning sickness and I was SO sick. Thankfully I’m past that stage and now I’m checking out the Super Fruit Bar (for energy). I’m entering another sleepy stage of pregnancy.

I mean, it gets really hard to find any real accurate info in this huge and crazy internet world! Working with my Coach is so much easier than getting lost in all the info online. How much of that info is actually accurate? I’m excited to continue my journey with them and I’m definitely happy to have support when it comes time to breastfeed (I had such a hard time with my first daughter). I’ll definitely be sure to share more with you guys as I continue on with the coaching. If you’re interested in Nutrimom, check out their site and see if it’s something that might work for you.

Printable belly pages: If you’re pregnant and want to take some weekly photos using my Free Printable Weekly Belly Pages, download the pages right here! There’s a space to write in how you and your baby are doing. The weeks start at 5 and go all the way up to 42.

– Chelsey

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Tags: pregnancy

Categories: about me, family

Day 15: Grapefruit Mouse Pad DIY

October 21, 2015 | Posted by Chelsey

Day 15 of my 50 DIY Days: Grapefruit Mouse Pad DIY

Your mouse pad doesn’t have to be boring, it can be fun! This DIY gift idea is perfect for the techie person in your life (and fruit lover). Maybe this gift is the absolute perfect gift for the fruit farming-computer savvy person in your life? Ha! Anyway, I actually made this DIY for the HP Create blog and gave it to myself. It makes my desktop so much happier.

Grapefruit Mouse Pad DIY:

Heavy cardstock paper
One 5 inch diameter round cork trivet
Free Grapefruit Printable
Scissors
Mod Podge
Creamy orange paint (I used Satin Wild Salmon from Martha Stewart)
Gold paint (I used Metallic Gold from Martha Stewart)
Clear acrylic sealer spray

Directions:

STEP 1: Print out the grapefruit printable (set to the highest print quality) onto the heavy cardstock paper. Cut out the grapefruit just along the fruit’s edge. Then, in a well ventilated space, (preferably outdoors and wearing a mask) apply a layer of clear acrylic spray to the printed paper grapefruit. Let dry completely.

Note: spraying a layer of clear acrylic spray onto a printed paper will keep the Mod Podge from making the ink smear.

STEP 2: Paint a coat of gesso in along the top edge about 2 inches (be sure to also paint the cork trivet side). Let dry completely.

STEP 3: Apply a layer of the creamy orange paint over the gesso. Let dry completely.

STEP 4: Paint a layer of the gold paint on the side of the cork trivet. Let dry completely.

STEP 5: Use the Mod Podge to glue the grapefruit into the center of the cork trivet. Apply a couple layers of Mod Podge over the whole trivet (allowing 30 – 60 minutes of dry time between coats). Let the last coat of Mod Podge dry overnight.

STEP 6: Optional: In a well ventilated space, preferably outdoors and wearing a mask, apply a couple layers of clear acrylic spray to the whole cork trivet. Let dry overnight (preferably a couple days before use). You don’t have to seal the mousepad, but it will extend the life of your creation.

Total cost for this gift: Under $5 (I only had to buy the cork trivet for this project and had everything else).

– Chelsey

P.S. I am a paid contributor for the HP Create blog. If you create this project, I’d love to see it! You can share a link in the comments below, or tag me in Instagram with a photo, @thepapermama, and use the #papermamafriends hashtag.

You can check out this link to explore past DIY Days.

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Tags: office, printable

Categories: 50 DIY Days, diy, For The Home, HP

Day 14 Halloween DIY: 12 Halloween Candy Makeover Ideas

October 21, 2015 | Posted by Chelsey

Day 14 of my 50 DIY Days: 12 Halloween Candy Makeover Ideas

I mean, you don’t have to go crazy with decorating the Halloween goodies you’re handing out, but it might be fun to makeover half the candy bowl? That’s what we tend to do at my house, but we only get about 20 kids trick or treating… Enjoy!

1) Makeover your juiceboxes with these free Halloween printables, from The Crafting Chicks.

2) Mummy Candies can be created with some crepe paper and googly eyes, from The Paper Mama.

3) Ha! These free printable treat bag toppers are cute and funny (poop is funny), from BHG.

4) Give your favorite kids some treats in these Treat Yourself Sewn Paper Treat Bags (comes with the free printables to make your own), from The Paper Mama.

5) You know ornaments are already in the stores, so why not transform them into these cute candy holders? Found on Birds Party.

6) These spooky edible eyeballs would make a perfect party favor, from Fab Fatale.

7) Don’t want to hand out candy this year? How about this cute vampire teeth goodie, from Polka Dot Chair.

8) Transform those boring lollipops with my free printable ghosts, from The Paper Mama.

9) These printable candy wrappers are so cute! Check them out on Handmade Charlotte.

10) Another non-candy idea: hand out these cute play dough goodies, from The Idea Room.

11) My daughter loves popcorn almost as much as she love candy (almost). These little Ghostly Popcorn Bags are so cute, from BHG.

12) These Witches Broomsticks are the best. I think they are so cute and they come with a printable, from Lolly Jane.

Are you ready for Halloween?

– Chelsey

P.S. Are you wondering what the 50 DIY Days is? Each year I share a bunch of holiday DIY ideas, recipes, and guides to inspire you during the Fall. Starting now, through early December, you’ll find a ton of great ideas to get you ready for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and any sort of holiday gift giving. You can check out this link to explore past DIY Days.

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Categories: 50 DIY Days, favorite blogs

Day 13 Gift Guide: 10 Gifts That Give Back!

October 20, 2015 | Posted by Chelsey

Day 13 of my 50 DIY Days: Gifts That Give Back!

I know it may seem a bit early for a gift guide, but trust me: time will fly by and you’ll be Christmas shopping before you know it. Today I’m sharing a list of Gifts That Give Back! You’ll be buying presents for friends and loved ones this year anyway, so why not find gifts that also give something back? I found a lovely collection of gifts that I think are awesome and would be great for almost anyone on your list.

Give the gift of a monthly gift box subscription, from Globe In! Each month your gift recipient will receive beautiful, distinct products from around the world that support remote artisans and farmers. They bring you delightful, useful products that have an impactful social mission behind them. Check out the October “Cozy” box to get a better idea of what you can get in these boxes. Guys, you can save 25% off your first months box when you buy a 3 or 6 months subscription by using this code: PAPERMAMA
We love to give wine for gifts, so I was very happy when I found One Hope. They give to multiple charities, it just depends on what you buy. The Rainbow Glitter Edition Brut I shared above funds one hour of operational costs for The Trevor Project’s lifeline, which provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth (for every four bottles sold).
Anytime you buy a pair of glasses from Warby Parker, a pair is given to someone in need.
You can find soaps, lotions, and other goodies at Noodle & Boo and they are perfect stocking stuffers. A significant portion of Noodle & Boo’s profit is set aside for children’s charities.
Find beautiful jewelry, home goods, and a bunch of handmade items from the Moorea Seal shop and 7% of all proceeds from their store benefits five non profit categories. You can even check out the “Shop by cause” section to choose where your money goes.
I know we probably all know about the TOM’s story, but it can’t hurt to add it to this list. You buy a pair of shoes and a pair is donated to someone in need.
When you purchase something from FEED you provide meals for children in need. Each item has a different amount of meals it can provide.
I know this is based in Portland, but they need to be mentioned. Ex Novo (a non profit brewery) is committed to donating 100% of their net profits to organizations that are working to effect positive social change both in Portland and around the world. So, if you happen to see their brews in the store, grab a bottle! I’m currently pregnant and haven’t had a chance to try it yet, but my husband tells me the beer is delicious.
We love SpiritHoods in my house. My daughter has had one for years now and she still wears it when it’s cold outside. SpiritHoods donates 10% of net profits to the conservation of endangered animals.
Buy something special from Uncommon Goods and they will donate $1 to the non-profit of your choice. There’s so much to find on this site, there’s probably something for all of your friends here.

In case you missed it above, be sure to check out Globe In and save 25% off your first months box when you buy a 3 or 6 month subscription by using this code: PAPERMAMA

– Chelsey

P.S. I was provided with the October “Cozy” box, from Globe In, to check it out then share it with you guys! The Ex Novo image was found on The New School site.

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Categories: 50 DIY Days