Baby Photo Toy

I actually saw this on Martha Stewart the other day and thought it was so easy and cute! My cousin just had a baby girl last month so I thought I would try this out on her. I used black and white photos because the baby at this point can only see in black and white. Also, I've read that they are drawn to black and white more then color at this early age.

*Make sure you read the whole post and the notes at the end before you buy everything. I write my good and bad learning experiences at the end and it could change the way you do things.*

Break Down

Total Cost: About $7

Total Time: 20 minutes

Materials:

Baby rings $3 Target

Shower curtain rings $1 Target

Self stick laminating sheets $3 for 5 Target

Hole puncher had

Pictures you want to use

Scissors

White paper

How To:

1.

Cut your pictures out just smaller then the size of the laminating sheets that you are using. You really can use any size. Larger ones, 4x6, might be easier for the baby to hold. I used "wallet size" which I think was about 2 x 3. Make sure you cut the pictures out smaller then the laminating sheets. You want enough room around the picture for the laminate to stick and seal (see picture below. I feel I should of cut the picture smaller. I would've liked a better seal). Also make sure there is enough room that if baby sucks and chews on it, which they will, it will stay sealed and not get the picture wet.

* I used the self stick laminating sheets. I have a laminator but I thought this would be easier and quicker to use. You can get these in a number of sizes, I saw them at Target. If you use your own laminator, you might have to do these steps a little different. I'm not that experienced in using the laminator.*

2.

Cut out a white, or any color you want, paper to the same size as your picture. This will be the backing you can write names or whatever you want on.

3. 

Next, punch a hole in the laminates. I find it easier to poke a hole now and then again once the picture is in it, if needed. Going through all of it once it's puts together is tough and can tear the picture. 

4.

Now using the directions on the laminating sheets, put the picture and the white paper, if used, together. It was pretty easy. Basically, open the sheets, center the picture, peel off the instructions, and seal. Just make sure you take a marker or something to smooth over the sheets to really get a good seal. 

If your picture now covers up the punched hole, use the hole puncher and punch through the picture. 

5.

Now, put the shower curtain ring through the pictures and snap shut. This is why I used the shower curtain rings, they snap shut so you can't loose the pictures. Of course they open pretty easy, with adult muscle, if and when you want to change out the pictures. 

Finally, attach the baby rings and make it as long you want! 

Last thoughts:

*This project was pretty quick and easy! I can't wait to make more! Really you can make anything for your baby to look at. Flash cards, pictures, letters, etc.... These can be attached to almost anything! High chair, stroller, car seat, crib, other toys, and if sealed well, the bath! 

* Martha Stewart used trading card protectors rather then laminating sheets, but I couldn't find those and the babies can chew on these. The trading card protectors are just a sleeve that has an opening where the baby could get the picture wet. 

* The shower curtain rings I used where pretty thick. The hole punch size allowed for the pictures to go on the "snap" part of the ring but then the pictures didn't move much. So, I used the hole puncher to make the holes bigger. I don't know if they have a bigger hole puncher but with my lack of experience, I don't have one. Once I made the hole bigger, the pictures now slide over the shower curtain ring and the baby can see the pictures better. 

* Sorry the pictures are kind of blah. I haven't been feeling great and apparently it affects my creativity! : )

I hope this is something you would like to do! Let me know how your project goes! I would love to hear from you!!

Little Girls Bed Canopy with Lights

I think this was my very first Pinterest project!! I made this Nov 2011 for my 2 year old daughter. I had 2 boys first so my poor daughter is just consumed with everything girly! I don't think she minds! I will tell you how I made it but you can substitute just about any part. Again, I'm not very creative so you might come up with a better idea! Read the whole blog before you buy anything. At the end of the directions, I add "likes, dislikes, problems, improvements". All the after thoughts of the project. And of course add your comments! Tell others your creative notes about this project! Last note: In the future I will include better step by step photos.

HOW TO MAKE:

Details: No sewing needed. Under $30, some items on sale. Check thrift stores!

Materials: Hula Hoop- Wal-mart about $7-$10
                 3 Sheer Curtains- Wal-Mart  about $5-$10
                 short strand of florescent Christmas lights (it was right before Christmas)
                 8 24" strings of strong holding fishing line- Walmart about $3
                 Hook for hanging- Walmart about $3
                 Spool of 1" white satin ribbon- Walmart about $2

Directions:
                 1.  I wrapped the hula hoop with the white satin ribbon. I didn't attach it anywhere except the beginning and end. I secured the ends with scotch tape because it's clear. I didn't wrap it "perfect". Some areas the ribbon is closer together then others but I have never noticed since I put it up.

                
                2.  If you choose to have lights, wrap them around the hula hoop. Remember to leave enough slack to plug them in or just know that you will need an extension cord. I used florescent lights so that they can be left on for long periods of time, they don't get hot to the touch and they aren't very bright. She can sleep with them on or read a book.

                3.  Tie the fishing line around the hula hoop in about 8 spots, trying to evenly space it out. You can make the lengths of the fishing line as long or as short as you need for hanging it above the bed. I knew I didn't want it touching the ground and I didn't want her to be able to reach and hang from the hula hoop!

              4. Gather all the fishing line, pull and hold them up above the hula hoop and tie them together in a knot close the ends of them. Make sure they are all even. Sorry I don't have pictures. I decided to do this blog long after I did this project. This is where I had the hardest time. I couldn't make mine even enough. It took forever! I'm sure there are easier ways to do this but never having done this, this is what I came up with.

             5. My curtains had a sewn seam at the top and bottom. I threaded a piece of fishing line, about 12" long, through the top seams of all the curtains (together on one string), held both ends of the string in one hand and "pushed" all the curtains together. You want the curtains to gather into a "circle". Kind of like if you had a hard shower curtain ring that you had to gather all the curtains on. Tie the line making sure it's tight.

             6. The gathered 8 pieces of tied fishing line from the hula hoop will go up through the center of the gathered curtain. The curtain will now hang and flow over the fishing line, down over the outside of the hoop!
                

             7. Hang from a hook in the ceiling!

** Now this is where I tell you the things I wish I could change about it and what doesn't work for me.**

Problems:
            It moves a lot! If my daughter opens, pulls, closes or touches the curtain, the whole thing moves. Once it moves, the hula hoop hangs crooked. I do have it in the corner of the room up against the wall so I might take some extra fishing line and tie the hoop to the wall in couple of spots so it can't swing so much.
           Wish I had lights with white wire instead of green.

Likes:
            I can keep the curtains open or close. Also I made it long enough to tuck behind her bed so it doesn't swing into her face.

Extras (after thoughts):
          You can always decorate the curtain, get colored sheer curtains. Or put weights in the seams on the bottom so it doesn't move so much. I also bought princess ribbon to sew onto the bottom of the curtain but never made it. There are soooo many things you can do to personalize it!! Have fun!!

This was like the one I saw on pinterest:

And this is what I came up with:



How different and creative can you get?!?!