LilSugar

Kiddie Soiree: Make Your Own Sign

babysugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:00:48 -0800

It always seems that I go into a store with the intention of buying one thing and walk out with something completely different. Such was the case when I set out to buy party favors for my daughter's birthday. Instead of picking out trinkets, I bought tools to make a birthday sign. A fairly simple project, I was pleased with the results and hope it becomes a birthday heirloom that we will hang every year on her birthday.

To see the whole festive sign and how to make it, read more.

Supplies you will need:

Cardboard tags
Labels and a printer
Cardboard stars
Ribbons - One for hanging the letters and one for the length of the sign. (A wire-trimmed ribbon for the length of the sign works well. It will hold the shape better.)
PVA Glue
Paintbrush
Glitter
Heavy duty double stick tape

The glitter will get everywhere so try to set up a space that can be easily cleaned. I recommend laying out layers of newspaper so you can trash as you go. Once you have all of the supplies, follow these simple steps:

Paint one side of the cardboard tag with the PVA glue.
Sprinkle it with glitter and set aside to dry. Shake the excess glitter onto the paper and then into the jar so you can reuse it. Once you have done all of the tags, paint the stars and sprinkle them with glitter, too.
Print out your message on the labels. Do a test run with regular paper to make sure the letter will print well on the labels.
Apply the double stick tape to the back of the label and press it firmly in the center of the glittered cardboard tag.
Cut each ribbon into six inch pieces. Fold it in half and push the looped end through the hole. Then pull the two loose ends through the loop and pull tight.
Mount the ribbon you want to hang the letters from so you can space out the tags and stars.
Tie the stars to each end and on each side of "Birthday." Then tie each letter and allow them to dangle. Space them evenly.

For party favors, I bought brown paper lunch sacks and did a stripe of glitter across the bottom. After filling them up with goodies, I folded them over twice and punched two holes in the top. Using the leftover gold ribbon, I tied a bow through the holes for a nice polished look. A pack of brown lunch sacks with a sprinkle of glitter is certain to save you some pennies compared to fancy party-favor bags and they look twice as nice!

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Mommy's Lil Helper: Control a Kid Remote

babysugar — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:00:35 -0800

Do you ever wish you could push a button to make your child stop crying? The folks at Worldwide Co. think they have figured out a way to keep some kids under, no pun intended, control. A few simple batteries and a touch of a button will have your wee one doing dishes, kissing "Granny," tackling homework, and tantrum free. Sounds too good to be true? It can even stop them from smoking and getting inked up or pierced in odd places! When they throw attitude your way, just punch "off" and relax.

Perfect for baby showers or even a teacher gag gift, these uproarious Control a Kid remote controls ($9) are sure to get a chuckle from the recipient and other guests.

Tea Party: Invitations

babysugar — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 13:00:00 -0700

If you're on board with the tea party theme, you might want to check out these simple and creative invitations that I crafted with supplies from my favorite paperie, Paper Source.

To see how to make them, read more.

I'm throwing this party for a friend who decorated her nursery in Tiffany blue, citrus orange, and brown. The couple doesn't know the baby's sex so I also wanted to be gender neutral with the invites.

What I need to buy:

5 1/2" orange square cards.
5" white square cards.
5 3/4" turquoise square envelopes. (note postage is $0.50 for square envelopes.)
Brown grosgrain ribbon with white pattern.
Brown pen for labeling.
Standard hole punch (matching the width of your ribbon.)
Decorative hole punch.
Double–stick tape.
Scissors.

Now it's time to get down to business.

First, decide on the text you want to put on the invitation. You might want to print a sample out on regular computer paper first to make sure there are no mistakes and so you don't waste the pretty (and more expensive) card stock. Once perfected, print out all of your invitations on the printer.
Next, place double–stick tape on the back of the invitation and firmly press it onto the center of the orange squares.
Mark two dots where you want to center your ribbon (about an inch apart) and punch holes on the marks.
Take your ribbon and cut it into 5" long pieces. Thread the ribbon through the holes from front to back so the ends are on the backside. Next, pull the ends through the opposite holes and tighten the slack. Cut the edges of the ribbon at an angle to give it a finished touch and to keep it from unraveling.
Use the decorative hole punch (a heart in my case) and punch a hole in the bottom right hand corner of your envelope.
Place the invitation in the envelope, address, stamp, and toss in the mail!

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Kiddie Soirée: Displaying That Baby Face

babysugar — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:00:26 -0800

One of the best ways to add some flair to a baby shower or a baby's birthday party is to print out some pictures of the guest of honor and display them. For a baby shower, take baby pictures of the expectant couple and make photo copies of the originals. For a kid's birthday party, find the tot's best shots and do the same.

Use a corner cutter ($9) to soften the edges. If you want to make them a little fancier, double–stick tape to the photos to scalloped circle note cards ($7 for 20 cards).

Then decide how you want to show off the pretty pics. If you have a chandelier, you can punch holes near the top of the pictures and dangle them from the light fixture using ribbons. Or, you can use an Umbra fotofalls ($20) photo holder. Clip the snapshots to it and use it as a centerpiece for your party.

Your guests will ohhh and ahhh at the lil Martha Stewart you've become.

Pimp Your Crib: Paper in Frames

babysugar — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 09:00:23 -0800

Artwork and murals can be perfect in some baby's rooms. But some spaces are too small for murals and art can get pricey. A friend of mine had a great idea that is simple and cost efficient. Find unique and whimsical papers and frame it in basic frames. It looks stunning and professional.

Paper Source and Two Hands Paperie always have a great selection of fabulous printed paper. Once you pick out your papers, find some picture frames like the ones from Target in different or same sizes and place your paper in them. Next you can plot out where you want to hang the framed beauties, put 'em up and you're done!

The Gifted Teacher

babysugar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 10:00:23 -0800

Teachers work hard to educate our children, stimulate their learning skills, and inspire them to read, write, and be creative. We all know that their salaries often don't reflect all of the effort that goes into their job. Teachers make a difference every day for scores of children - now it's our turn to make a difference for them.

Most teachers have to get up at the crack of dawn to meet and greet our lil angels so a piping hot cup of coffee that isn't from the teacher's lounge is a useful gift. Present them with a Starbucks gift card.

To see the rest of the ideas for teacher's gifts, read more

Stereotypically, teachers are said to carry huge canvas bags everywhere they go. While some do, it's nice to change it up a bit. Give your teacher something sassy to carry her papers, laptop or book around in. The silk vibrant laptop bag from Paper Source is sure to be a hit.

And as shocking as it may be, teachers also have fulfilling lives outside of classrooms. Like most adults, they like to have a glass of wine on occasion. Put together a nice package of two wine glasses and a bottle of wine to add to a teacher's holiday cheer.

Starbucks Gift Card	Laptop Bag Paper Source ($49)
Williams-Sonoma Riedel Wine Glasses ($60)	Wente Vineyards Wines

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Lil Tip: What To Do With Holiday Cards

babysugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:00:03 -0800

Every year, millions of holiday cards make their way around the world reaching loved ones. Along with torn wrapping paper, crushed boxes, and burned out candles, trash bags are also full of tossed out holiday cards.

Instead of throwing them to the wind, start filing them away in photo albums so you can watch families grow year after year. My mom, who has been doing this for years, loves to gather the family around and walk down memory lane.

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Rock, Paper, Scissors! Who Takes Care of Baby?

LilSugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:00:00 -0700

It's 3 a.m., the baby's crying and both mom and dad feign sleep in order to avoid getting out of bed. Or there's a stench coming from the infant's bottom and neither mom nor dad admits they smell it. Like marriage, parenting involves a significant amount of compromise and deciding whose turn it is to change the diaper or go out with their friends can lead to bickering and blowouts.

While some couples set up a written schedule based on their work hours, others take a more creative approach to determining whose turn it is for various tasks. Among our favorites are:

Reversible pillowcases like the Who's On Duty ones which let a spouse know that you are “off-duty” for any middle of the night tasks without ever having to open your eyes or mouth.
A Wheel of Responsibility that allows parents to spin the dial to determine who will handle the next task.
For years Rock, Paper, Scissors has been used to decide who will handle a situation.
The age-old coin toss is not a bad way to go in the middle of the night.
The name game - If tot can talk and calls out for one parent in particular, then they go.
In the wee hours of the morn, many parents wouldn't put it past themselves to use a bit of bribery to get their spouse up. A promise of breakfast in bed, an afternoon of an empty home or even a little massage may just do the trick.

How did you determine whose turn it was to care for baby in your home?
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When Wedding Bells Include Kids

babysugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 07:00:57 -0700

While I can appreciate adult only weddings, I do get a kick out of a sweet flower girl tossing petals and a dapper ring bearer scooting down the aisle. If the engaged couple wants to include tots in their nuptial festivities, there are a few things they can do to keep the babes blissful and enjoying the blessed event.

Try these tips to keep kiddos content:

Instead of setting the kiddie table with pristine linens, cover the top with butcher paper and place cups full of crayons on the table. The tots can doodle away whilst the adults toast to the newlyweds.
Bring bottles of bubbles so youngsters can blow spheres till their hearts content.
If it's an outdoor wedding, set out a bucket of chalk so the mini artists can create a work of art or hopscotch game on the sidewalks.

To see the rest of my list, read more.

In addition to the butcher paper, supply the babes with coloring and activity books.
Arm them with loads of books, puzzles and cards.
Stickers can go a long way - adhering them to hands or creating a picture with them.
Set out small pots of playdough for aspiring sculptors!

Keeping within a budget, the engaged couple may ask their mommy friends to help pitch in books, games, and other supplies to lighten the load. And if money is not a concern, hire a sitter to watch the munchkins. I've been to some affairs where a separate tent was set up entirely for wee ones and caretakers. It was a pleasure filled paradise for the tots and it allowed mom and pop to dance the night away while stepping away for the occasional check-in.
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Junior Jetset: Tips For Traveling

babysugar — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:20:27 -0700

Whether by planes, trains or automobiles, traveling families have their work cut out for them. In addition to carrying all the essentials, parents must consider entertainment and comfort before jetting off to their oasis. Make for a pleasant trip and avoid any Griswoldesque disasters by heeding some pointers from a well traveled mama.

Pack an easily accessible carry-all bag that can endure 24-hours of travel. Include: diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, hand sanitizer, water, snacks and a change of clothes.
If flying, have the tot wear easily removable shoes and jackets as they have to deal with TSA just like us!

To see the rest of the tips, read more.

Bring some fun along: travel versions of board games, Crayons and paper, books, a DVD player, an iTouch or iPhone, and chewy bright toys for the babes. New ones are especially helpful as they can distract the tot a while longer.
Bring a special treat or candy for a brewing storm. An M&M for good behavior can go a long way.
If bringing a car seat along for the adventure, invest in a simple apparatus to help wheel the child along. It will keep mom and dad from lugging the seat on their backs through the terminal.
Bring as little as possible. Much easier said than done, just remember a sink and some soap can handle some tough messes and make everything new again.
Carry a small first-aid kit in case of emergencies. Fill it with Tylenol, band-aids, thermometer, motion sickness pills, sunscreen and anti-itch cream.
Lastly, relax. Kids can pick up on the stress from mom and dad so sit back and enjoy the ride!

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