10 Things to Make with Your Kid That Won't Look Like Crap: Mother's/Father's/Grandparent's Day Crafts for the Craft Challenged

Okay, so maybe it is the thought that counts....especially when it comes to kids and crafts.  I personally love seeing the things that my son creates.  But when we start moving from the things that we stick on the fridge to the things we wrap up and give, I want more.  I want a craft that will last for years....something the recipient will love and use, or at the very least keep for years.  So when macaroni necklaces and egg carton jewelry boxes just won't cut it, here are 10 adult assisted kid crafts family will love and cherish for years:


1) Photo Books
I am wretched at scrap booking....most of what I create ends up looking like the cat made it.  Fortunately that all changed with companies like Shuttefly and Snapfish.  I created my son's baby book this way (my handwriting is wretched as well).  I've also found this is a great way to create "handmade" family gifts from kids.  Currently my six year old is writing a "book."  He dictates stories to me, which I type up.  He then draws pictures to accompany the stories and I photograph him telling me the stories or drawing. Not only do the grandparents get a mini photo album of him, they get a little time capsule of sorts in his stories and drawings.

Exclusive artwork from the man child's latest book.

2) Painted picture frames.
This time of year, millions of mothers are going to find themselves the recipient of picture frames made of all kinds of materials....Popsicle sticks, round plastic lids, construction paper.....pretty much anything but real picture frames.  I know it's crazy but cheap, plain picture frames abound and can be found everywhere from IKEA to your local dollar store.  I found these at IKEA and had my son paint them:

The man child goes for coverage above all else....

I took one to Iraq with me and gave him the second with the same picture in it of the two of us.

3) Iron On Tote Bags
From the mistress of perfection comes an idea that is both practical, inexpensive, and will immortalize a few of those million drawings papering the fridge...Iron On Tote Bag

4) Hand Prints
What better way to remember just how little your little ones were than with hand prints.  There are numerous ways to use hand prints in pretty, useful crafts.  Two cute, useful gifts:  Hand Print Mug& Hand Print Apron

5)  Casts
With a little help from Mom or Dad, kids can make this cool and useful paperweight/catch all perfect for that special someone's desk:  Casts

6) Shrinky Dink Pendants
Silly name, but lots of fun, Shrinky Dinks provide another cool way to use a child's art work.  Pictures can be shrunk down into pendants, rings or charms for an easy jewelry project that won't attract the bugs:  Shrinky Dink Pendants

7) Magnets
Always useful and appropriate for both male and female relatives, kids can create magnets and recycle all at the same time:  Magnets

8) Coasters
This craft requires a little more help from mom or dad, but produces great results.  Use kid's drawings in place of napkins for a personal touch:  Coasters

9) Bath Fizzies
Perfect for mom, grandma or aunts, these bath fizzies from Martha Stewart are colorful and fun.  Have kids help combining ingredients and decorating containers for the special ladies in their life:  Bath Fizzies

10)  Cookie Mix in a Jar
And finally......what could be easier and more appreciated than food?  Cookie Mix in a Jar

Asking the Tarot

For a lot of people, Tarot Card Readings are rare....sometimes even once-in-a-lifetime events.  So it's a pretty safe bet that when someone sits down with me, they have never sought guidance from the Tarot..  I find that a lot of people want to "test" their reader by being vague, leaving details out or outright lying.  In the end it is my client's reading, and what they choose to disclose or keep to themselves is up to them, but a lot of these things are counter-productive to a good Tarot reading.  Now don't get me wrong, readers don't always have the time for the reader's life story, and if your reading has to fit in a short period of time, then disclosure of a great amount of personal info may be unnecessary and wasteful.  Here is what I like to tell my clients:

1.  Keep your question or issue in your mind during the entire reading.  Focusing on the issue at hand can be difficult, but keeping it in the front of your mind during the reading keeps the reading from rambling off in different directions and can give you a clearer picture of what lies ahead.


2.  Keep follow up questions directly related to your original question.  Maintaining the original energy of the reading builds on the momentum already built by the original reading.


3.  Not sure what to ask or how to ask it?  Ask your reader for help. It's their job to help you get the most out of the reading.

4.  Avoid "yes" or "no" questions--ask questions instead that give the "big picture."  Yes/no questions are very limited and leave little for exploration or discussion.


All this said....Tarot readings aren't just limited to those with problems or drama in their lives.....sometimes half the fun is just seeing what your cards have to say.  Simply sitting down with a clear and empty mind and asking for an open reading may be your best bet and just may offer the best insight into your life.

Flat Teddy Bear

While I was deployed to Iraq, mommy guilt was at an all time high, thus my little velociraptor was the recipient of many many things I would not have bought otherwise.  And when I wasn't buying stuff for the the rug rat,  I soon found myself falling into the trap of  buying things just to get mail.  While I love my family dearly, they SUCKED at sending me anything in the way of packages, letters or cards (fortunately I have some really cool friends who picked up the slack).  This, however, gave me ample opportunity to add to my stash, which would have been fine, had I not been sharing a metal shipping container with a roommate.  (She was very understanding, fortunately, about the whole yarn thing).  With very little to distract me after my long shifts, I found myself with a lot of time to crochet.  Here's one of the first things I made--Flat Teddy.  Cheap (the one pictured was made with scrap yarn and cotton balls because that's what I had at the time), safe for all ages and easy to ship.....this would be a good project for charity.  It's been months since I've one of these guys, so please let me know if you run into any errors or typos.

FLAT TEDDY BEAR

Teddy Bear Front (make 2)

Head

Chain 6

1Turn, sc across (5sc)

2Turn, 2sc in 1^st st, 1sc in ea of next 3st, 2sc in last st (7sc)

3Turn, sc across (7sc)

4Turn, 2sc in 1^st st, 1sc in ea of next 5sc, 2sc in last st (9sc)

5Turn, sc across (9sc)

6Turn, 2sc in 1^st st, 1sc in ea of next 7, 2sc in last st (11sc)

7-9Turn, sc across (11sc)

10Turn, sc dec over 1^st 2sc, 1sc in ea of next 7sc, sc dec over last 2st (9sc)

11Turn, sc in ea st across (9sc)

12Turn, sc dec over 1^st 2sc, 1sc in ea of next 5, sc dec over last 2sc (7sc)

13Turn, sc across (7sc), tie off

Begin Arms

14Ch7, with 7^th chain still on hook, connect (with a sc) to 1^st sc of row 13 and sc across (7sc). Chain 7.

15Turn, sc in each ch and sc across (19sc)

16Turn, sc across (19sc)

17Turn, 2sc in 1^st st, 1sc in ea of next 17, 2sc in last st (21sc)

18-19Turn, sc across (21sc)

20Turn, sc dec across 1^st 2sc, 17sc across, sc dec across last 2st (19sc)

21Turn, sc across. Tie off (19sc)

Begin Body

22Turn, join yarn in 4^th sc with sc, 1sc in ea of next 12sc (13sc)

23Turn, sc across (13sc)

24Turn, 2sc in 1^st st, 1sc in ea of next 11sc, 2sc in last sc (15sc)

25Turn, 15sc across (15sc)

26Turn, 2sc in 1^st sc, 1sc in ea of next 13sc, 2sc in last sc (17sc)

27-28SC across (17sc)

29Turn, sc dec over 1^st 2sc, 1sc in ea of next 13sc, sc dec over last 2sc (15sc)

30Turn, sc dec over 1^st 2sc, 1sc in ea of next 11sc, sc dec over last 2sc (13sc)

31Turn, sc dec over 1^st 2sc, 1sc in each of next 9sc, sc dec over last 2sc (11sc)

Begin Leg One

32Turn, 2sc in 1^st sc, sc in ea of next 4sc (6sc)

33Turn, sc dec over 1^st 2sc, sc in ea of next 3sc, 2sc in final sc (6sc)

34Turn, 2sc in 1^st sc, sc in ea of next 3sc, sc dec over next 2sc (6sc)

35-36 Repeat rows 33-34

37-38 Repeat rows 33-34. Tie off.

Begin Leg Two

32Attach yarn with sc in 7^th sc of row 31 with sc, sc in ea of next 3, 2sc in last sc (6sc)

33Turn 2sc in 1^st sc, sc in ea of next 3sc, sc dec over next 2 st (6sc)

34Turn, sc dec over 1^st 2sc, sc in each of next 3sc, 2sc in final sc (6sc)

35-36Repeat rows 33-34

37-38Repeat rows 33-34. Tie off.

Begin Ears

In 1st st of row 2, hdc 5.  Sl st across top of head (5sc).  In last st of row 2, hdc 5.  Tie off.

Place the two teddy bear fronts, one on top of the other, right sides out, and stitch together (I single crocheted them together, but any method of sewing together should work), stuffing as you go. Using a yarn needle, create the bear's face.

Signs

     It probably seems counter initiative that someone into Tarot would decide not to know what the gender of their future child was, but that's exactly what I have decided to do.  Much to the annoyance of the crazy old man wielding the ultrasound, the husband and I decided against finding out the sex of the baby.  After all, there are so few surprises left in life.  It sounded like fun, and it's driving my family nuts (which in my book = win).  But I am determined to stay strong (not that I have a choice, the ultrasound ship has sailed).

     It, however, has not stopped me from speculating.

     I'm pretty certain it's a girl.  I never dreamed about little man before he was born, but I knew he was a boy long before we had the twenty week ultrasound.

     I have dreamed about this baby (girl).  My six year old says he's having a sister.  I have read every myth and wives tale I can find (I think we're close to 50/50), checked the Chinese Gender Calculator (girl) , read my cards (girl) and been the subject of speculation by both friends and strangers alike (50/50 there too).
I adore little man and  would love, love, love to have  a little boy.  But I think the universe may be telling me it's time to get over my inability to do hair or makeup properly,  if so many of the signs I keep encountering are true.  I've already gotten in the habit of calling my little womb invader a "she," so much so that I'm afraid I'll be going the way of my mom, who called my youngest sister a "he" her entire pregnancy, only to be surprised by a tiny baby girl a few months early in the end.

     So am I right or wrong?  I guess only time will tell.  But odds are on my side........after all, I've got a 50/50 shot ;)

When the answer you get isn't the one you want

So I seem to keep running into the same situation. Client asks for a reading about the ex, someone they dated for a short time, or someone they're currently with who just isn't that into them and then is incredibly frustrated when the cards reveal that. I always do my best to give the bad news as gently as I can, but it still does nothing to help the client who didn't get the answer they had hoped for. It's hard as a reader to give someone bad news ( I want everyone to leave my presence happy and excited about the future that awaits) but it's also my job to be honest about what the cards reveal. What can you do if you don't get the answer you had hoped for?

1. Remember you have free will....but so does everyone else.
The Tarot is less predictive and more about what's going on now and what may lay ahead if the current path remains unchanged. It's not guaranteed. Don't like what the cards say? Change your path. You have the power. But remember, just as you have free will, so does everyone else in your life. You can affect you, but you can't always affect everyone else.

2. Try to see the cards point of view.
Sometimes we know the answers, but don't want to believe or deal with the truth. Some situations (matters of love especially) are really difficult to see objectively. Take notes of your reading (if they aren't provided for you by the reader) and review them later. Sometimes time and distance help us process information a little more objectively.

3. Ask a friend.
It's a lot easier for outsiders to be objective about your problems and issues, so ask a trusted friend or family member....was the reading right as they see it? Maybe they can see truth where you can't.

4. And there's always the possibility.......Maybe you just got a crappy reading.........
And yes, there is always the possibility that the reading is wrong. Maybe it's as simple as your reader had an off day, maybe he/she just picked up the cards yesterday, or maybe (because it does happen) he or she is just a quack after your money. Make sure you know what your reader provides for his/her fee....does she allow for followup questions? Rare is the reading full of doom and gloom. Be wary of the reader predicting doom and gloom that they can help you prevent with a spell or charm for a fee.

One final piece of advice......readers are just like any other personal service provider....sometimes it takes a few tries before you find someone that you click with. It may be that you and the reader just aren't connecting well enough to get a good reading. Look around, but be wary of those who are simply in the business to get your money.......making a living is one thing......running a con is a whole other kettle of fish.....

Struggling with stuff

Physical Evidence of potential future as a Hoarder who may die alone and not be discovered for weeks, when a pile of yarn falls on me and smooshes me to death.....

I have enough stuff. Seriously. And now with a little one scheduled to arrive this summer the husband, child and I will be taken over by the BABY'S (henceforth referred to by his/her fetal name "Al") MASSIVE AMOUNT OF STUFF. (Our grandmothers' made due with a dresser drawer and cloth diapers.....sometimes I wonder why we don't do the same, but that's a rant for another time.) I live in constant fear of becoming a hoarder and watch the hoarding shows on television just to scare myself (temporarily) straight.



Months ago when I was on the other side of the world, dragging around my M4 and getting four hours of sleep a night, I had no spare time to think and thus kept my spending habits well under control. And while I would not want to go back to that life, I do have to say there is something to be said for not having constant access to anything I could possibly want as well as constant access to means to indebt myself for it. But now that I'm back on the right side of the world and have to time to read once again, I keep coming across things I don't need, but desperately want. (First World Problems much?)

Some of this I know stems from the months of "deprivation," that comes from being stationed in a war zone and my adjustment back to life in the states. But I really want to try to become more independent financially. To me, that means not being fixated upon having stuff, or rather new stuff. This is incredibly difficult for me because I grew up incredibly poor (mustard sandwiches for lunch and a home heated by a wood stove poor) and as a parent, I've now overcompensated, constantly buying toys and clothes for the man child when he is already more than well stocked with both.

All of this is such a waste of money and has led to credit card debt. I abhor credit card debt because it's usually so absurd. That 29% interest I'm paying to Citi could be going to a real charity that does real work for good, or toward man-child's college education. Instead because of my own stupidity it goes to the corporation smart enough to play off my weaknesses.

I recently did a small five card spread about my issues with debt and money.....as you can see from my quick one word association with the cards, it's not all sunshine and roses.

6 of Wands Arrogance
2 of Pentacles Balance
5 of Pentacles Hard times
3 of Swords Being Let down
10 of Wands Struggle


Basically my cards confirmed my past and are warning me that the future is not any easier. I think it's important though to look for the positive side of things when the Tarot tells it like it is (as it has done here), instead of being frustrated that it didn't tell me what I wanted to hear. Unless I win the lottery tomorrow (which wouldn't happen, since I don't play) breaking these bad habits that got me into this mess is not going to be an overnight process. Fixing the mess that I've created isn't going to be easy either. The ten of wands, even with it's message of hardship and struggle, is not all doom and gloom. Yes, the figure struggles to carry his load, but he is doing it....he has not given up or fallen to the ground. He will eventually make it....and so will I.

There is that cliche that goes "when life hands you lemons, make lemonaide." But honestly you don't always have sugar and a pitcher of water laying around. Sometimes you just have to stuff those lemons in your pockets and carry on.

Happy New Year

I'm cheating and finishing this post from the 2nd of January.......the first day of the year was spent on the most painful of all journeys known to mankind......the long road trip with small child. I would kiss the inventor of the portable DVD player if I could track him down....with the exception of the occasional "I'm hungry," and "Mommy can I watch another Scooby Doo?" there was complete silence from the back seat. Priceless.

I have yet to make a resolution.......not out of fear of failure, but merely acceptance that my life is going to be nuts this next year and maybe for once I should not overload my plate quite so much. Let's see if I can actually live up to that. A lot of changes await me this year and if you find yourself in a similar boat, I invite you to give yourself leave to not be everything to everyone. Too many people (especially women) fall into this trap. If you must have a resolution then resolve to give yourself room and time. Learn to say no gracefully when necessary. Overstretching and over-committing are sometimes worse than never stepping in at all. Don't be afraid to be a little selfish......a little self interest never hurt.