Project #9: Lego ninjago lollipops

I originally found this idea while searching the web for birthday ideas but I can't seem to find it anymore to give credit! These were super easy to make. All you need are Tootsie pops for the dollar store, tissue paper in the right colors (couldn't find black!), and the official lego ninjago eyes printed from the net. Liquid glue works like a charm (I used Glossy Accents)

Project #8: DIY Lego minifig swords

In preparation for my little guy's lego ninjago birthday he decided that weapons for minifigures were a must to go in the favor take-out boxes. Of course like all things Lego these are pretty pricey so we decided to make our own. This project is so easy. One $2.50 container of plastic sword toothpicks (we used the Touch brand) from the grocery store and we were set. To make them minifig size I cut off some of the handle (the plastic cuts surprisingly easy with good scissors). We also trimmed the blade down and reshaped it. So for $2.50 we made 30 new ninja swords that fit perfectly in a minifig hand. They are already great colors but we may spray paint some gold because according to my 6-year this will make them extra powerful. And we are all about that around here. More Lego ninjago posts to come!

Project #7: A pretty scrapbook page

Project #6: Mom, my babies need a bed

Just sharing this easy idea- a $4 wooden cd crate makes the perfect cradle for small dolls. She painted this all by herself so it makes it even more special (and it now has a permanent place on her bed). Her monkey babies also needed food so we took a little doll bowl, printed a clipart picture of banannas, and used epoxy glue and some yellow stickles to make it look extra special.

Anyone remember the monchhichi's? (the biggest draw of course for a 3-year old baby/ princess obsessed little girl is their 'ba-ba's' are permanently attached to their hand) We've been watching a lot of youtube tv epidodes lately. There were only a few (really bad quality) Monchhichi shows but her auntie passed on an old Sailor Moon plush backpack and now we know all the songs....

Fighting evil by moonlight
Winning love by daylight
Never running from a real fight
She is the one named Sailor Moon!

Project #5: princess frames

The plan is to repaint girly girl's room pink (of course). I printed our favorite princess pics from Disneyland and bought some $1.50 frames.

Aren't they pretty?

Project #4: our very own dinosaur suitcase

Yep I am getting very behind on my 52 projects goal- or at least posting them anyways :)

We actually completed this one last month. I stole the original idea for a dinosaur suitcase from this blog. If you want a tutorial check it out!

I had planned on doing this at Christmas but ran out of time but the thrift store suitcase was waiting for us.

We used a hot chocolate container (volcano), 2 boxes from the recycling (caves), and a $6 can of Great Stuff expandable foam.

We prepped the suitcase by painting it brown and once the base was done the kids did all the rest of the grass and lake painting (we were messy a few days in a row!)

The expandable foam was also painted (and to keep it that way we sprayed it with some clear sealant).

The kids also helped with the hot gluing (yes I'm crazy) of the rocks and trees. I started following Teacher Tom's blog and reading more about his projects with hot glue guns and preschoolers. So off to the store we went for some low-temp glue guns.

Most of this stuff we had around the house but we did spend another $10 or so on 'lava' rocks and more trees. So totally cost for this project was about $16.

And of course the best part is it closes together with all the dinos inside!

Project #3- Autograph books

I am so happy to be part of an amazing online community- some of these women I've known for over 5 years now. Lucky for me when Michaels runs out of the supplies I need (lol) other crazy online crafters are there to support my addiction (thanks Dawn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Here are the homemade autograph books for the kids. The cool part is I dusted off my Cricut for this one (you know that cutter that I promised my hubby I'd use all the time because I NEEDED it).

I used a pretty inexpensive 4X6 sketch book and to make the books more durable I laminated each cover and glued it to a piece of cereal box. The cool part is that Alladin commented that "someone did a good job on these" while he was signing (yep I was always a fan of his!)

And guess what, they are now FULL of signatures of all the characters we met!

Thanks Pluto, Mickey, Minnie, Pooh bear, Dora, that guy from Pinnochio that we can't remember the name, all the Princesses, etc.. etc.......................