Craft at Your Own Risk

This week I finally convinced myself to do a crafting project that I have been wanting to do for a long time, but never got around to. I read This Blog a few months ago and thought I would try to etch our name into our Pyrex baking dishes using the same method. So I went to Hobby Lobby (i.e. greatest store on earth) and got some Armor Etch. Glad I brought my coupon, because the stuff is not cheap! $8.99 for the little bottle.

When I got home, I read the back of the Armor Etch thinking it might tell me what to do, but it didn't. All that was written on the back was a lengthy warning about how it can cause severe burns, blindness, possible death, and that it should not be sold to anyone under the age of 18. Yikes! Okay...a little scared now... but I re-read the blog about it and looked at the Armor Etch Website. I decided that I would probably survive if I followed the steps correctly. I mean, they sell the stuff at Hobby Lobby just right there on the shelf, not locked up in a safety vault! If so many people use it to make beautiful crafts, it is probably worth the risk.

I started by designing the logo in MS Word on our computer and printing it (mirror image setting) directly onto some contact paper. Then I waited awhile for the ink to dry (a few hours). Next, I began the painstaking process of cutting out the lettering, leaving the negative space in tact so as to use it as a stencil for the Armor Etch. The first time I used scissors, then stuck my cut pieces onto the Pyrex. The second one I did, I stuck the contact paper on first, then used a sharp paring knife (for lack of an exacto knife) to cut out the design right on the Pyrex. Both worked equally well. The contact paper I used was left over from lining the drawers in my nursery, so it was green and white floral print rather than clear, and I was glad. It was much easier to see the design and where I needed to cut.

Once I had it all cut out, I made sure it was just as I wanted it. Armor Etch is permanent! I also used a credit card to rub down the contact paper and make sure it was stuck very well onto the Pyrex, then I used rubbing alcohol to clean the glass within my stencil.

Now it was time for the scary part! I donned my thick rubber gloves, apron, and protective eye wear. I lined the counter with newsprint so as to protect the surface. I got out a foam craft brush that I could just toss it after use, rather than having to clean a nice brush. I shook up the bottle of Armor Etch really well. I took a deep breath, unscrewed the lid, and began to cover my design in a thick layer of the cream.

Turns out it was not so scary after all. I got it all set in place, rinsed and tossed the brush, and waited.  The Armor Etch site said to only leave it on for 1 minute, which I did at first, but when I rinsed it off there was hardly any sign of etching. So I left my stencil in place, dried off the dish, and re-applied the Armor Etch. This time I sat down and waited a good 15 minutes (and at a popsicle) before rinsing, and it was perfect. I guess Pyrex is pretty heavy duty glass, maybe it just takes longer than other things (like a wine glass or something) might take.


I took off my stencil and washed and dried my pans. Beautiful! I just love them! Now I know just what to do next time I am looking for a wedding gift. Thanks Armor Etch for being so cool!

The finished products:

New Toddler Sensory Bin Idea

I am always looking for new ideas of things to put into a sensory bin/box for my 2 year old. Some things we have already done: beans, rice, pasta, pipe cleaners and pom poms, oatmeal, shaving cream, pop corn kernels, straws, and Styrofoam peanuts. The other day on Facebook I posted some pictures of my big girl playing with shaving cream, which is one of her favorite sensory games. My good friend's mom (who now happens to be a super fun and fantastic Grandma!) posted about a new item for a sensory bin that she uses with her 3 year old granddaughter and I thought I had better give it a try. Turned out to be totally awesome and worthy of a blog post!

She called them "waterbeads" so I went with that name, but found that they actually are called many things. The name brand that I found (at Hobby Lobby) is "Deco Beads" and they are found in the floral department near the marbles and other vase filler items. They come in several colors: purple, blue, orange, clear, pink, red.  I even found them in different shapes: cubes, spheres, and gems. We bought all spheres, in orange, blue, clear, and pink. Here is a picture of the blue package so you'll know what to look for if you want to join in the fun!

These amazing little things come in what looks like a seed packet. Just a packet of tiny little beads. To make them fun, put some of them in a big bowl or tub of water and let them sit for 4-6 hours. When you come back they will be the size of marbles!

They are soft, a little squishy, they bounce just a little bit, and are SO much fun to play with! We left ours in a tub with a little bit of water, and I let my daughter play with them on a towel on the kitchen floor. She could leave them in the tub or play with them on a cookie sheet to see them bounce. We can use these things to practice sorting , making patterns, and counting.

The really neat part about Deco Beads is that you can lay them out on a cookie sheet for a few days and they will eventually dry out and return to their original seed-like shape. You can save them to re-use over and over again. They are non-toxic, have no odor, don't make a mess, and are super fun for toddlers. I even have a hard time resisting the urge to grab a handful while walking past the bin!

I hope you'll help me spread the word about Deco Beads, they are so worth the $3!

Ribbons and Bows

As soon as I found out that my first baby was a girl, I set right to work making hair bows for her. Mostly because, I am in Texas, and little girls in Texas just wear bows. It's part of the culture. Also because I took one look at "boutique bow" prices and ran away as fast as I could! Buying bows hat run between $4 and $12 each was going to get very expensive. After all, this girl had a lot of outfits in her closet and we needed a bow to match perfectly with each and every one! (Sounds just like a first time mom, eh?)

So I started to make bows, but in all truthfulness, they didn't look that great. It took me a lot of time and practice before I finally made a bow that I actually liked enough to put on her in public. When I say a lot of time, I am talking about 6 months to a year here, not a few hours. I made about 50 ugly bows before I finally got the hang of it. I say this because every time someone asks me about making bows, they are frustrated that theirs are not turning out very well. Take heart girls! You are not alone! Keep practicing, you'll get it eventually.

No, I am not going to leave it at those choice words of encouragement. I know, you really would rather I just explain to you step by step how to make a good looking bow today, and not after 6 months of practice. So, here is the link to the best video tutorial that I have been able to find on the step by step of a basic bow (thanks again Pinterest...did I mention that I love Pinterest?). This is the first of many bow making tutorials that this blogger has. So wonderful!

Now, the point of this whole post is to show you how to make cute, curly, corker ribbons to use in hair bows and pony-o's. They can also be used to sew onto a dress (like on an applique) to add some fun. If you use the right ribbon and follow these steps, they will not come uncurled when washed! Bows are also rain/sprinkler safe, no ribbons uncurled!

Before you begin, you will need: wooden dowel rods cut to fit the length of a baking sheet (I got mine pre-cut in a package in the cake decorating isle at my Hobby Lobby), wooden clothespins, spray starch, a spray bottle of tap water, baking sheet lined with foil, your oven, and ribbon. I have found that the best ribbon for this is 3/8" grosgrain. It seems to hold up better than satin or organza and is a really good size for curling. I have also seen 1/4" grosgrain and it works too, but personally, I like the look of the 3/8" better.

First, preheat your oven to 300 degrees and line your baking sheet with foil. Then, clip the loose end of your ribbon (still on the spool, don't cut a length of it) to the very top of a dowel rod with a clothespin.

Begin twisting the dowel rod around so that the ribbon spirals down the dowel. Be sure not to overlap the ribbon or leave large gaps between rows. Wrap it all the way to the bottom of the dowel rod, then cut the ribbon and secure the end with another clothespin.

Repeat this with as many colors as you want and lay your dowel rods on the baking sheet. Don't let them overlap, usually I can fit about 6 dowels at the most on my baking sheet.

Spray them until they are damp on both sides with the water, then lightly coat both sides with a spray of starch. You don't have to load it on, just a little bit works well. Put your baking sheet in the preheated oven for 25 minutes, then take them out and let them cool on the tray.

When they are cooled, remove the clothespins and gently slide the curled ribbons off of the dowels. Now they are ready to make into bows or use in sewing projects! You can cut them apart into little pieces or leave them long, but be sure to heat seal the ends of the ribbons (like usual) along each raw edge. They should stay nice and curly! 

I used corker ribbons to make this cute flip flop dress and matching bow for my little girl! Easy applique on a cotton tank dress (from Hobby Lobby for $7). I'd love to see what you make!