Crafty Betties

Monday, February 27, 2012

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

"Do you know where I found him? You know where he was? He was eating a cake in the tub! Yes he was!"

-from The Cat in the Hat Comes Back

Theodor Seuss Geisel (March 2, 1904 – September 24, 1991) was an American writer, poet, and cartoonist most widely known for his children's books written under the pen names Dr. Seuss, Theo LeSieg and, in one case, Rosetta Stone

This Crafty Bettie post is devoted to providing a number of different activities you can do together as a family in celebration of Dr. Suess's birthday on FRIDAY, March 2nd.

Why celebrate Dr. Suess's birthday, you ask?

Well, Dr. Suess showed us that reading and learning can be fun. By using rhymes, children are able to develop foundational tools needed to sound out words, then make sentences, and eventually create stories of their own.

So... Let the Celebration Begin!

"You're never too old, too wacky, too wild, to pick up a book and read to a child."

Here are four (4) FREE printable lesson plans for your kids from Seussville.

FREE Dr. Suess Read-n-Color Word Search from Read Across America.

Make simple gold stars to wear on your belly, like the Sneeches'!

Give children a variety of cratf supplies and recycling items (ie: glue, toilet paper rolls, egg cartons, pipe cleaners, felt, yarn, pom-poms, wiggle eyes, etc.) and challenge them to create their own unique character or creature like those found in Dr. Suess's books. Then encourage them to write a story about their creature.

Make cupcakes with red, white or aqua/ turquoise frosting.

FREE Cat In the Hate Birthday Cake Maze from Suessville.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Framed Pages

Hi, everyone!

Sorry I'm posting a little tardy today - I'm in the middle of a FABULOUS paint job in my kitchen (it looks AMAZING) and haven't been near the computer to blog....but enough of that because I am here now! (I don't hear cheering....trying not to take that personally.... sob)

So, YES, I'm currently up to my eyeballs in paint and NOT so crafty at the moment, but with Valentine's coming up and my head on gifting - even though my hubs and I don't really recognize or care about Valentine's Day (I'm having a hard time shifting back into 'celebrating' it for my four-year-old! Whoops!) - I thought I'd show you some of my favourite ever gifts that will perhaps give you some ideas, if not for Valentine's Day then for some other special event in the future!!

I LOVE to give framed scrapbook pages.

What says "I love you" better than a personalized, handmade, BEAUTIFUL gift that the receiver can personalize even more by adding their favourite photo(s) than a gorgeously papercrafted piece of artwork for her home??

Here are a few I've done over the years:

This one was for my cousin's baby shower. She was expecting wee baby Emma to debut shortly thereafter!

A friend at church had a darling little girl after starting their family with two boys! Don't you just love the name: Shorleigh?

A wedding present for a girlfriend. I LOVE this one. It was so simple but came out so wonderfully (in my very biased opinion)

This is a horrid photo, sorry, but I made this one for my parents for Christmas a year or so ago. I LOVE this one in the large frame. It's hanging in their family room. :-)

Aaaand....this one wasn't a gift. This is on the wall in my living room. hahaha But I LOVE it...which is why it's on the wall.

All you need is a killer scrapbook page, a 12X12 frame - Michaels, Ikea, www.feelingscrappy.com has some beautiful frames for a mere $15!!

So next event you have, try thinking INSIDE the box (I know, that was pretty bad. I couldn't help myself!) and prepare for some serious WOW.

I'll finish painting my kitchen and then get back into crafty stuff. Promise! Cheers for now!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

14 Days of Valentines

Every year for the last three years I do what we have come to call, "The 14 Days of Valentines". Each day from February 1 to February 14 I create a reason I love my husband of 8 years (I know, we're still newbies!).

I got this idea while living in Holladay, Utah where fourteen neighborhood women would get together for a Pre-Valentines Day Party. Each party-goer made fourteen identical valentines to share with the other party-goers. We each took a turn explaining what we made and why we made it, and then had a good laugh enjoying one another's creativity.

I have since moved and although many of my new neighbors aren't interested in doing a Pre- Valentines Day Party with a Valentine Exchange, that doesn't mean my husband has to go without, right?

Hopefully my husband doesn't read today's post because I am sharing with you my 14 Days of Valentines that it may give you a few ideas for you to shower your special someone(s) with a creative I Love You.

Now, all you have to do is go buy the goodies and secretly lay them about the house, car, backpack, lunch sack, office, whatever! for your special someone to find.

Also don't forget to check out these other great posts by Crafty Betties Joana and Tamie.