DIY Nursing Tank {Pintrest Craft Success}

I saw these on Pinterest and immediately added them to my sewing to-do list!!! Such a fabulous idea --- when worn as an undershirt the tank top provides coverage for your side and stomach so your top shirt can be lifted without your whole side hanging out.

To nurse your baby just leave a small gap between your shirts for your baby to latch on. With practice it is able to nurse uncovered (GASP!) without the entire world seeing your chest. :)

 

1. With spaghetti strapped tanks, start by clipping the strap from the back of the shirt. Leave the front of the strap intact. 

 

2. Sew a small loop 3/4"-1" where the front straps start just over the chest of the shirt. Trim the strap. DONE! 

TO WEAR: 

Hook the loop over the flap of your nursing bra before clipping closed.

If you haven't seen the Luv's Breastfeeding Commercial --- its worth it! Love breastfeeding my babies and strongly believe every mom has the right to nurse her child however she feels comfortable wherever she feels comfortable. Can't say I am bold enough to show as much skin as this mom though. These tanks give me a sense of modesty even when I choose not to use a cover.

 

Pintrest Inspired {Zebra Pretzel Sandwiches}

Ingredients:
Mini Waffle Cut Pretzels
Hershey's Hugs

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Unwrap all of the chocolates in the bag, set aside. Place unbroken pretzels in rows on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Top each one with a chocolate. Bake for 1-2 minutes or just until chocolate is slightly melted. Top with another unbroken pretzel, pressing slightly (if necessary) to set pretzel into the chocolate. Cool completely in a cool place until chocolate hardens.

{Beware: these are REALLY YUMMY!! As a self-proclaimed chocholic, you may want to only serve these when LOTS of people are around so you won't be tempted to eat the entire batch yourslef. Don't say I didn't warn you}

Bird's Nest Charm

These are easy to make and completely adorable --- perfect for mom or grandma :)

Supplies:
Thin jewlers wire
Small beads (birthstone colors??)

Directions:
1. Thread your first bead onto the wire leaving a 2 inch tail.
2. Add any additional beads.
3. Wrap the wire several times around the beads to create a "nest" appearance.
4. Secrure the beads by wraping it around the outside to hold the nest in place. Clip wire and tuck in loose end.
5. Use the 2 inch tail to create a loop at the top of your nest, then clip and hide the end.
6. Wear it on a neacklace, bracelet or keychain.

Monogrammed Magnet Board

A perfect place for recipes, notes or pictures!!

Supplies:
Baking sheet
Scrapbook paper
Modge Podge
Acrylic Paint
Ribbon
Circle magnets
Clear flat-bottomed glass stones
(Cricut)

Directions:
1. Paint the baking sheet and allow to dry completely.
2. Trim coordinating scrapbook papers to fit on the top of the baking sheet. Glue the paper to the baking sheet with a layer of Modge Podge.
3. Cut initials and embellishments out using your Cricut. And glue onto the baking sheet.
4. Apply a top coat of Modge Podge.
5. With a hammer and nail, make two holes at the top of the cookie sheet and string through a piece of ribbon to hang.
6. To make coordinating magnets, cut 1 inch circles from scrapbook paper and glue to the flat side of clear stones print facing against the stone using Modge Podge then unto the magnet with hot glue. Hold done firmly for 30 seconds to a minute to ensure hold.

Embellished Notebook

This is such a cute craft plus it is super quick and super affordable!! Often times at Back-To-School time you can find compositions notebooks for $1 or less and most if not all of the others in your craft stash! ;) How about giving one of these cutom journals as a gift to a grad, new mom, or as teacher gifts!

Supplies:
-2 sheets 12x12 scrapbook paper for outside cover
-2 sheets 12x12 scrapbook paper for inside covers
-1 composition notebook
-Ribbon
-Embellishments
-Mod Podge & hot glue

Instructions:

-Hot glue two strips of ribbon to the inside of both covers

-Cut the paper for the inner covers to fit. Then apply with Mod Podge.

-Cut the paper for the outside of the notebook to fit the height but leave both sheets 12 inches in length. Starting on the back, mod podge the first sheet of cover paper to the notebook trimming it to leave a small lip in the front. Apply the second sheet starting at the outer edge trimming the meet the edge if the first sheet.

-Use ribbon to conceal the seem where the two cover sheets meet and finish with embellishments. :)

GIFT IDEAS: graduation, pregnancy announcement, baby shower gift for mom who already has kids, teacher gift.

Embellished Gift "Baggies"

I serve as the advancement coordinator in my oldest son's Cub Scout troop and part of what I do is present awards and badges the boys have earned each month. I thought it might be fun to embellish their award baggies with some fun scrapbook paper.

I used this idea over the summer as well to gift the boys' VBS teachers with some yummy goodies as well. I love that it is so versatile and simple to do.

More ideas:
-party favors
-lunch box surprise
-new neighbor gifts
-individual portions of bath salts in a gift basket

Dollar Store Frame Craft

I am the creative activities coordinator for a local Teen MOPS group. Here is a super cute craft we did recently! You can use glue dots or small paper clips to attach picture and/or words if inspirations to each of the tags!!

SUPPLIES:
8x10 frame (glass removed)
1 sheet main color scrapbook paper
2 sheets coordinating scrapbook paper
Twine or ribbon
Mini clothespins
Embellishments (ribbon, paper flowers, bling, stickers)
Hot glue

DIRECTIONS:
Cut two pieces of twine or ribbon that are about 1 inch longer than the frames inside border. Hot glue each side to the back of the frames inside border to create a suspended line to hang your tags from.

Cut the main paper to fit the frame. Place on frame behind the twine and replace the back.

Cut several tags and hang from the line with the mini clothespins. Finish with cute embellishment.

Finally crop photos to fit on the tags and attach with small paper clips.