DIY: Headband Holder

This headband holder  is so easy to make, it will take less than 30 minutes of your time.

Having a girl, is an entirely different story from having a boy for a child. You get so much to do and buy for little girls. Lots of girly stuff from headbands, hair clips, sunglasses, bags, shoes, dress and all those frilly, colorful stuff that scream pretty and cute!

G's headband stocked.

We got quite a selection of hair accessories, it's been my practice to scourge the downtown area and mall sales for hair accessories before the school year starts. That is June in the Philippines. So, our hair accessories easily grow in number.

To celebrate the first day of the end of classes, we just stayed home to rest and decided to do some DIY.

Materials:

1. Milk formula can or any can that could serve the purpose
     - we would want something taller but a regular formula can will do.
     - try putting the headband first on the can to test if it is just the right size,
        i.e. it would not slide down
2. Piece of cloth to wrap the can with
     -you can use anything that would catch your fancy, but a cottony one I guess is better
3. Glue gun, glue stick and scissors
4. Laces and ribbons or anything that could be used to decorate the holder.

*We have everything at home, so this project cost us nothing.


Steps:
 Doing this project is actually self explanatory, you can do it the way you prefer
but here's how I did mine:

1. Wrap the can.

 Heat the glue gun and put a glue on the wider part of the cloth.

     - I didn't start gluing from the edge as it will be folded later.

Start wrapping the can by putting glue on both lid, a little at a time. 

Putting glue a little at a time and wrapping the cloth will prevent the hot glue from drying. 

I just wrapped the can with gluing just on the lids.

Be sure to pull tight the cloth a little (but not too hard) so there will be no movement 

once the can is wrapped. Also glue the extra fabric at the bottom and inside of the can. 

       This could be a little tricky just be patient with it. 

       I didn't bother to make the bottom wrap pretty, it won't be seen, anyway. :)

 

You'll have something like this after. 

The hard part is over. To the next step.

2. Decorate the holder.

To cover the fabric where it met, I used a ribbon. 

Put glue on the ends only. Don't glue the entire ribbon.

The finished holder. You can do so much though. 

G and I just made a very simple one

I also put a purple ribbon inside the lid to cover the fabric's ends.

Now that the project's finished, put on the headband and hair clips. This is the fun part!

We put hair clips on the purple ribbon. 

This is why we glued at the ends only.

With the headbands. It's so pretty.

G was so happy that our DIY turned up pretty!

a bagful of hair bands and clips

We put it inside the can, convenient too!

G decided to put our little project on her bedside table!

Give this DIY a try lovelies, it's so easy to make.

As we still got bagful of hair accessories, I think we'll be doing one or two more holders.

Til then!

XO

DIY Old Shoes, New Look

Lately, G have been wearing lots of Sunday's best dress to school or whenever we go out. This week, for teacher's day celebration, she is required to wear one. G would be happy to wear an old dress but mom refuse. So we bought one and I wanted a matching shoes, but I think our little one is more sensible than I am, she actually asked me to stop wasting money. hahaha! I am not kidding. In a very grown up tone she told me: Mom, you should stop wasting money. We went home but I still want a matching shoes for her dress. So, I think of a simple DIY to make a new look for an old shoe which will cost me zero moolah. 

rummaged through G's shoe closet and found this candidate

have these floral piece on stock and about to be thrown hair tie

I am a hoarder and I keep things that I think will come handy for crafts and DIY. We have tons of beads, floral pieces, fabrics and ribbons saved.  True enough, whenever we wanted to kill time, we would make a little project and find those hoarded stuffs handy.

for this DIY, last thing I needed is my trusted glue gun

beads from the hair tie attached to the flower using the glue gun

Attached the flower to the shoes with the use of glue gun and voila! After less than ten long minutes, here's how G's sort of new shoes look like. Spent absolutely nothing. I'm sure she won't be seeing someone wearing same shoes as her. It took sooo little time to do it too!

So, you think it goes well with the dots dress?

Teachers Day Celebration

Teachers have an important role. They impart knowledge and values which stays for a lifetime with our children. They mold our future nation builders. In the Philippines, we consider teachers as our children's second parents. After all, most time of the day, five times a week, our kids are with them. Teachers have a great impact on our little ones lives. And it is just fitting that we acknowledge this with a celebration.

G's teachers' day celebration will be a week from now. Two weeks ago, the parents have already met and made contribution to celebrate that one day especially for our children's mentors. G wanted to gift her adviser something which can be used at school. We received this letter though.

This is another thing that I like about G's school. They encourage simplicity and seem to have an understanding of how we can celebrate without all the hoopla and spending spree. Even at school presentations and programs, spending is strongly discouraged, also with school projects. I think this only brings out the creativity of students (and parents) in completing minimal or no cost projects. This also teach kids the value of money.

So for the special day for her teachers, we opted to make quote cards, as suggested by G. She told me it's better than to buy flowers which will wither, hmmm..good thinking.

we made this out of existing school materials and stock, no cost!

The steps, 12 seems a lot but it's really easy!

The steps: 

1.  Gather all materials: special paper (thick ones), puncher,scissors, cutter, cutting mat (if you prefer), pencil, colored writing materials, glue, ribbon, beads (again, if you prefer) and a thicker paper pictured above, we used a carton.

2.  Made this quotes and printed it out.

3.  Cut the quotes. I prefer using a cutter and mat when cutting. You can use the scissors if you like.

4.  Traced each quote to the carton.

5.  Cut the traced sizes.

6.  I punched holes to the special paper and marked the carton of the holes since the carton is thicker, I used scissors to put a hole in it.

7.  Glue the quotes to the carton.

8. Cut and insert 4 ribbons at each quote (cut ribbon at desired length, make sure it is long enough so you can tie it into something like in the picture) 

9.  Time to put beads! 

10. While G is decorating with beads, I cut 4 special papers she can write her greetings on.

11. After G wrote her cards, we glued it at the back of the carton.

12. The final outcome!
Make sure to supervise your kids when using cutting materials

Since we found the hanging quote easy, we decided to make simple cards too so she can thank all her teachers.

we also made this!

The cards were so easy to make. Get a thick special paper, cut it cardlike, have your kids write on it. On our part, I got a free a printable bloom and grow note like this:

printed it out, glued it to the card and added a floral piece we  have in stock.

Simple DIY your kids will like, so easy, so cute!

7th Birthday

Ok, G's 8 now and I am already in the plans for her 9th birthday. But indulge me in sharing her memorable 7th birthday. Which I dare say, inspired other mom friends to give unforgettable birthday celebrations for their kiddos too! Hey, our little princesses turn 7 once!

Of course, we have second thoughts on throwing a grand party, considering that April is G's birthday month and the next month, it will be enrollment time and we are still on the finishing stage of our home. Luckily I charmed DH (again) to a workable budget plus I have some comissions on a sideline I had that time and one of G's generous ninang gifted her a sizable cash. So, off I go running around town. Then again wait! I went to this party planner... They gave me recommendations on the venue, have packages which already include EVERYTHING from the decorations, hosts, entertainment. I barely lifted a finger. But OC as I am, I asked to make the invitations and fill the giveaway bags. Come the big day, we checked in the hotel, came down once to check the party area then hours later, we we're having fun!

The party planner? http://www.personalize-expressions.com/ Ms. Jasmin is the hands on owner. And I rave about her to my mommy friends!

The invitations I made. Bought special papers and ribbon from the bookstore, some tweaks in the computer, printed, rolled and tied a ribbon. DH helped me distribute the invites two weeks before the event.

I gave out save the date cards to G's classmates. School ends a month before her birthday, I have to remind them ahead of time!

...and the happy faces of G's guests...

Up to today, we sometimes sit down and watch the party's video that came with the photography package. We were glad that we hired professionals to document that special day. We still get lots of laughter in watching G's 7th birthday celebration.

How did your little one celebrated his/her big 7?