Crap-Tastic Crafts! Cheap and Fun and That's All That Matters...

Disclaimer: It's like 1 in the morning and I think I'm high on Coke Zero

Ot and I have been enjoying some cheap-errific (aka Crap-Tastic) craft supplies lately and I wanted to share because... Seriously: super cheap and also... Seriously: super good times!

First, I started this lil bag of cut-out letters in case I ever wanted to anonymously harass someone or do a ransom. You can tell I'm a seasoned criminal by the way I say "do a ransom" right? 

Anyways, so far I haven't used them for crime (I think my fingerprints are all over them anyway) but Ot and I enjoy spelling out words and his name with the letters. Pretty often if Otto's entertaining himself coloring or something I'll just sit down with a magazine or catalogue and cut out the larger/cooler letters to add to our collection. I think as he gets older and starts spelling these will be a lot of fun to have around. At some point I might even organize them in one of those bead box things (yeah right - I will never do this but it would be very organized of me if I did).

Second, we started a rubber stamp collection (for free!). We had over $100 in trade at Bookmans, a local used book store, and while we were there book shopping (I'm desperate to find Washington: A Life used - go ahead, judge me) I spotted baskets of used rubber stamps in the craft book section. Most of the stamps were for scrapbooking and kind of lame but we found a few gems that have been so much fun. I totally plan to keep checking back with them because Otto is seriously into his stamp collection and the stamps were between $1 and $5 each so we still have loads of trade left:

Here is a little known fact: You can color on rubber stamps with markers.

I'm sure that blew no one's mind but just thought I'd say it because stamp pads are weirdly expensive. I'm also thinking of homemaking some ink pads with felt scraps and food coloring. I haven't researched this yet but is sounds (in my brain) like a great idea. I'll keep you posted.

So the good times have been rolling... A favorite is to stamp the cupcake by the cow's face so he's eating it. Yup - when it's time to party we will always party hard!

Ps. Otto got 2 stickers this afternoon for peeing in the potty! (Did you just jump out of your chair with excitement?) It was at this moment when I could tell he had to pee (there are signs) but he didn't want to stop playing to go to the potty. I said, "if you potty in the toilet you can have 2 special stickers" and dudes: bribe worked! ps. Is there anyone out there who thinks/knows this was an ungood method? If so, please share.

So there you have it. 2 super cheap (maybe even free) craft ideas. Cut-out letters and used rubber stamps. Whoot!

xo guys,
Lindsey

Thrift Score!

Few things make me happier than scoring something really really super unique and awesome for Otto and paying, like, nothing for it. Twice recently we've gotten some amazing "thrift scores" and I just wanted to share.

We found this Ryan's Room fire station set at the Tucson new/used children's boutique, Lil' Traders.  It's in near-perfect condition and came with a firehouse, firetruck, 8 firefighters, and loads of furniture and accessories. It's almost entirely made of wood!

I looked it up online and had we purchased this new it would have cost about $150! Lil' Traders was selling the whole caboodle for $33 and we used trade credit to buy it so our out of pocket cost was $0.

$0 = Score!

My friend Kate, who is also a contributer to this blog, found this Radio Flyer Retro Rocket at the thrift store. It needed a spit-shine but is now in perfect condition including all the buttons for sounds, nifty thrifty! I looked it up online and had we purchased this new it would have cost about $50-70! Kate thrift scored it for $5 - hot damn!

$5 = Score!

What are your all-time favorite thrift scores? I have so many but these are my most recent triumphs. My all-time fave, though, was a lime green Kurt Cobain-style cardigan I got in the 11th grade for $2!

-Lindsey

#MummyTummy August! The Ab Ripped-ness Continues!

The Mama of Mojo is taking the #MummyTummy reigns for the month of August! Love that Mojo Mama! Click the link below to sign up!

#MummyTummy is a Twitter based ab workout club that I started last month. You get 4 dedicated #mummytummy tweets per day each one a reminder to do a set of 20 crunches, situps, or whatever ab workout you're comfortable with.

Sign up for the August #MummyTummy at The Mama of Mojo website by commenting your Twitter name on this blog post: http://www.mojomamablog.com/2010/07/mummytummy-part-deux.html

I'm all signed up already and hope to see you there too! My mantra for August "No More Muffin Top!"

ps. You can follow Mojo Mama on Twitter here and I'm on Twitter here.

-Lindsey

Stock That Durn Play Kitchen For Free! Upcycle!

Check out Otto's super-stocked play kitchen... 

We've been collecting pics from magazines and grocery/department store ads to cut out and tape into the kitchen. On the lower left we've got a nice amount of colorful pots on the shelf. On the upper shelf, some pantry staples:

Then, so Otto has something to play "with" we super-glued shut empty boxes from our own pantry.

Popcorn, soba noodles, whatever...

Look at that scandalous sink full of dirty dishes. I guess I'm leading by example, haha, because our real kitchen sink seems to look like that all the time (minus the corn).

And an added bonus to the whole "wow, it's free" thing is that it's all recyclable. If a box gets smashed or Otto wants to rip some of the paper pots down (so far he hasn't, knock on wood) well who cares. It can all go in the recycle bin and be replaced when the next annoying batch of junk mail arrives.

-Lindsey

"HandMade by Cole" Giveaway! (This Contest Has Ended)

TidbitsParenting's first giveaway! Whooha! I'm freaking crazy excited and hope you are too about this AWESOME giveaway from the charming Etsy shop HandMade by Cole!

WIN

a Custom, Hand-Knit
Cube Ball Toy for Littles!

Super-Easy to Enter.

We Hope You Win!

Description:

You are vying to win a darling CUSTOM toddler toy (example pictured top right), hand knit by Cole. Choose your colors (1 or 3) from light pink, buttercup yellow, light purple, light teal, dark teal, brown, and raspberry. Measures about 2 1/2 inches tall and wide.

As part of this giveaway, Cole will be sending me one to review (review will come in a separate future post) and I'm still trying to decide which colors my 17 month old, Otto, would like best. I'm thinking dark teal, light teal, and yellow... hmmmm... He loves balls of any kind and I think he'll really enjoy the contrasting colors and soft texture.

So Easy - Mandatory Entry:

Kindly note: before you can do any additional entries, you MUST complete this step:

Visit the Handmade by Cole Etsy shop and pick out your favorite handmade creation by Cole. Then, come back here and comment below stating what item you loved the most.

Bonus Entries:

Just remember to comment below each time, if you do any of these bonus entries:

- Blog about this giveaway with links to this giveaway (3 add'l entries)

- Follow @texasgirlcole and @OttosMomBlogs on Twitter, tweet about this giveaway (up to 3 add'l entries each day)

- Follow "A Call to Higher Places" on Facebook

- Like TidbitsParenting on Facebook

- Post/share this giveaway on your Facebook wall

- Follow this blog

- Grab the TidbitsParenting badge (on the right) and comment below with a link to your freshly badged up homepage (3 add'l entries)

- Comment on any other blog posts on TidbitsParenting (real comments please and only if you want to)

Hey Guys:

Anyone who follows here, on Twitter, or FB. If you have a blog or website you'd like me to follow or "like" or whatever it is I will happily do so in return. Same goes for following you on Twitter. Just let me know in your comment.

Contest Ends @ Midnight on Fri, June 11. We'll use Random.Org to pick a winner.

Prize includes shipping in the US. Outside the US you will be asked to pay the difference between standard US shipping and shipping to wherever in the world you might be.

-Lindsey

Collage Recycled Mags Into a Sign You Can't Ignore

Just started this project this evening. Ever forget to brush your child's teeth, or put on sunscreen, or pack backup snacks, or or or or... over and over and over again? I realized I forget bedtime tooth brushing about twice a week. Hey, unless it's bath night (every other night) bathroom things don't always enter my head at bedtime. Why would they? I'm so focused on winding down, reading stories, cleaning Otto's room, pajamas, desitin, trying to score some cuddles, and on and on and on....

But his pearly whites are so gorgeous! Wouldn't you die for gleaming white brand new teeth like your kids'? (On a side note, if I ever win the lottery I'm immediately getting a full set of veneers.) Otto's beautiful pearls must be protected; being flakey at bedtime is no excuse!

So, I'm making a collage sign to hang over O's crib that says "Brush Teeth". So far it's coming out pretty cute and it'll be free (just using old magazines and glue I had on hand).

The font I use that makes excellent letter outlines for the collage to fit in is called "Milk Cocoa (sRB)". Love it.

We did a larger version of this same idea a few months back for a friend of Otto's and created a laminated placemat with his name collaged. Such a great, free gift - thoughtful, unique, and adorable!

-Lindsey