If the Shoe Fits... Fabric Scrap Flip-Flops

It's been more than a year since I snagged this free idea from the craft section at Hobby Lobby. I don't know why it took me so long to do it, because while a bit time-consuming, the hardest part about this activity is picking out flip-flops and coordinating bandanas.

You will need a pair of flip-flops, coordinating bandanas,
and pinking shears.

For small or medium flip-flops, choose 2 bandanas. They can be two coordinating colors, or two of the same color. For large flip-flops, choose 3 bandanas. Again, they can be three coordinating colors, or three of the same. I found our bandanas in the craft section at Hobby Lobby, not far from the flip-flops. The girls loved being able to pick out their own flip-flops and bandanas.

With the pinking shears, cut off the hemmed edges
of each bandana.

Again with pinking shears, cut 1" x 8" strips from the bandanas.

Wrap the pieces around the straps and tie a knot.
I double knotted. Alternate the colors and push
them close together for extra fullness.

My 4-year-old has not yet learned to tie, and she wasn't
grasping the concept today, so I finished hers for her.
She didn't seem to mind and just played with the fabric
while I worked.

My 7-year-old was able to do hers by herself (after I cut
her strips). I did go back in on hers and push them together
and add more strips after she was done. She said
she wanted hers fuller like mine were.

Repeat the process on the other flip-flop,
and you're done!

They will be so fun to wear... but I don't want to get them dirty!
That's the trouble with fancy shoes.

I think you could easily do this project with whatever scrap fabric you might have about, if you don't want to get bandanas. I just counted about 60 strips on ONE flip-flop (the adult one), just to give you an idea.

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. Ephesians 6:15

Make Your Own Bowl of Ice Cream!

We did something really unique and fun tonight at a birthday party for our friends' daughter. We made our own bowls of ice cream! Well, actually bags of ice cream. I don't have a source for this idea, but I'm going to share it anyway.

For each individual, you will need:

• 1 Tbsp. sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1/4 tsp. vanilla
• 1 sandwich size zip lock baggie (we used the thicker freezer kind)
• about 1/4 cup rock salt
• plastic container with lid or a gallon-size zip lock
• enough ice to fill plastic container or gallon bag

Mix the sugar, milk, and vanilla in the small zip lock. Make sure there are no holes or leaks in your baggie. Place the small baggie of ingredients inside the larger container or bag and surround with ice and rock salt. Cover tightly or seal bag and shake it vigorously for about five minutes.

Ice cream! YUM!

I recommend having a dish towel handy, because that bag of ice and rock salt was COLD on the bare hands! It was a really fun party activity. The kids thought it was pretty neat, and my daughter gave the ice cream a thumbs up.

I think we'll try this again on a hot summer day when we need a little ice cream to cool us off.

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.  Matthew 7: 7-12

Craft Review: Family Fun "CD Spinners"

I really wanted to do a Fourth of July craft for you. I guess I have never actually done one with my girls. I found this craft for CD Spinners in the June/July 2010 issue of Family Fun Magazine, but it's also currently at familyfun.com as a Fourth of July craft idea. The CD Spinners they show are red, white, and blue in true patriotic fashion. But, alas, the ones we made tonight are not necessarily patriotic. They're just fun. So this craft can be done anytime, and the way you color it makes it patriotic or not. You could make them for Christmas, or Halloween, or whatever holiday or mood suits you.

You will need old CDs that you do not intend to ever use again
as a CD, large shooter marbles, plastic bottle caps, and glue.

At familyfun.com, you can download templates to use with swirly designs that will look really neat when it's spinning, but I found these templates to be too small. They didn't completely cover whatever was already on the face of our CDs. So we made our own templates by placing the CD on our card stock paper and tracing around the outside as well as the inner circle. Then we drew and colored our own designs, which will probably not look as cool while spinning. Oh well.

Once you have your template, create and/or color
your design.

Then cut it out. Don't forget to cut out
the inside circle, too.

Glue your design to the face of the CD. We just used
a regular glue stick.

Glue your marble to the other side of the CD, in the hole.
We used E-6000 glue. Family Fun recommends
Crafter's Pick The Ultimate. You'll have to let these glues
dry overnight. Or you can hot glue it for
faster results.

Glue your plastic bottle cap on the top center. I used the
E-6000 here, too.

Let your glue dry, how long depends on your glue. Then give it a spin! Mine works great, even after only a couple hours to dry. My girls love to draw, so they enjoyed creating their own design. And they'll love spinning, too, when they get up in the morning.

Gran... the frog one is for you.

"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being" - Revelation 4:11