Crafts for Boys

Tooth Monster GRRRRRR!!!!

posted by Cara

A few weeks ago, I saw this tooth pillow on Celebrate the Boy and thought it would be perfect for Philippe who had his first wiggly tooth.  I didn't get around to finishing it until yesterday and just in time because his tooth fell out tonight and it's now under his pillow waiting for the tooth mouse...  yeah, the fairy doesn't do France.

I embellished the pillow a bit more, but that's my style.  I guess it's why I like Catimini so much :D  The teeth are a pocket and I sewed the insides of the outer teeth so that there would be no risk of the tooth falling out.  The pocket is just big enough for a few coins. :D

Here it is peeking out from under P's pillow:  heehee

He's so proud... here's the before picture, stay tuned for the after ;)

all that glitters isn't necessarily girly

posted by Helen

Ok, so most boy projects are pretty devoid of flowers and frills, but when you're four and a half, glittery shiny jewels have universal appeal!

A couple of weeks back Cara and I took some well earned kid-free time to make a fab calendar project from LollyChops with Live at Prima  Here's a quick sneak at mine, as it IS relevant (honest!) 

 

 

Poor Tom was so sad that I was going to make mine without him, that I had to promise we'd make his own version with any left-overs I had. 

Tom LOVED the image transfer technique - as far as he was concerned that was really magic.  The drawing and cutting was started with enthusiasm, but after a couple of months that was left mainly to mummy, but with the insistance that Tom was still chief jewel sticker!!

So here it is, slightly less flowery, but still pretty sparkly, and still managing to be 100% boy.  The hi-lights of Tom's calendar 2011...

Mummy's paisley fish:

 

... and Yellow submarine:

Tommy's racing car with flames coming out of the exhaust:

 ... and his favourite dinosaur (Ruby from Land Before Time!)

 

a sparkly whale:

 

and Mummy's alien planet:

 
 
 
 
 

Boogey Man

posted by Cara

In an effort to continue in my 'going green' process.  I decided to switch to handkerchiefs instead of Kleenex.  Apparently, paper tissues are the worst offenders when it comes to deforestation and bleaching, etc.  To make the transition more appealing for the boys, I remembered some monster tissuesthat I had seen on esty.  Only these were fleece and even though that would make Helen happy, fleece just doesn't seem too absorbent.  As well, I just happened to have an abundance of flannel receiving blankets left over from my babies (even after keeping some for this coming baby).  I liked the idea of flannel rather than the traditional woven cotton of hankies because I wouldn't have to iron them :D

I couldn't decide how to make them at first.  I liked these monsters from Danger crafts 

and their ferocious but oh soooo adorable underbite, but their shape was a bit complicated for tissues.  I could have used pinking shears to cut out the monster shape from the flannel, but I know myself and every time I looked at them I'd beat myself up for not making them prettier; yes, I have issues with perfectionism ;)  So I decided on a less complicated shape and turning and topstitching and I used fleece for those teeth and embroidered the eyes.  I made up 12, one for each boy for each school day, they use regular hankies at home.  they measure about 10x15cm, which is a good size for kids, though not ideal for full out colds.  They can use full size hankies for colds.  

 

Green Note :D

The only disposable product in our house beside the odd disposable diaper is toilet paper, and that's not going anywhere ;)