Button Hair Pins

I am sure almost all of you with girls have a bazillion hair clips, bows, headbands, and pony holders floating around your house and after the holiday gift frenzy might not be thinking about procuring more food for your vacuum. But, in case you are a push over for cute hair accessories and are looking for something mindless to do while your kids watch the Star Wars boxed set, you are in luck!

Materials:

• shank buttons (the type with the loop in the back, not the holes drilled in the middle)

• thread

• needle

• bobby pins

Step 1: Go through your button stash and find some cute shank buttons. These are the buttons that have the loop in the back for attaching them to fabrics. I like to buy my buttons in bulk from large craft stores and there are always gobs of cute shank buttons that I have no idea what to do with, but hate to throw out since they are so darn cute!

Step 2: Assemble your needle, thread, and bobby pins along with the shank buttons you chose. Thread your needle and place the shank button between the ends of the bobby pin so that it is lying flat against the button. Sew the thread through the shank.

Step 3: Pull the thread through the ends of the bobby pin and loop back through the shank.

Step 4: Knot the thread each time you pass it through the shank. Make sure to alternate coming up through the shank from both sides, as to ensure a tight adhesion.

That's it!

Cute and unique hair pins that use up some of those buttons you have no idea what to do with.

Flannel Shirt to Juggling Fun!

             In my son's third grade class their juggling kit is a huge hit. Every time there is indoor recess, there is a mad dash for all the "best toys". 


            The problem was that my son really enjoyed learning how to juggle, while some of the other boys liked the juggling sacks for their ease of throwing at each other. 

            Every time the kids had recess inside I heard about how he didn't get to use the juggling kit, and how he was frustrated that the other kids were not using it correctly. 


          One night, while transforming some old flannel shirts into a skirt (tutorial on that to come!), I thought of making him his own juggling sacks with the left over material. It was soft, easy to sew, and not as girlie as much of my other fabric on hand was. I also happened upon a box of barley that I had planned on making soup with, but since it had been over 2 years, I decided that juggling sack stuffing would put this shelf warmer to better use. 


Materials:
*scissors
*old flannel shirt or other scrap fabric
*pins (for holding fabric scraps together)
*sewing machine or needle
*thread
*measuring tape or ruler
*barley, rice, or other dried beans
* 1/2 cup measuring cup
*funnel




1. Start with a nice pre-washed fabric that your child likes. Juggling takes time and practice to learn, and that is a lot more fun to do with sacks that they like looking at. 

2. Measure 5 inch squares and cut out your fabric. I found that folding the shirt in half cut down on the cutting time as this way you can do two at once. A good number to shoot for is six, in order to make three juggling sacks.

3. Putting wrong sides together, pin them closed on three sides. Sew the bags closed on three sides you just pinned. Now, on the fourth side you want to stop about an inch or two from totally closing it, as you need to be able to pull it right side out. 

4. Pull the fabric right side out through the small opening and grab your measuring cup and rice/barley/dried beans. 


5. Take your funnel and place the end in the opening. Measure 1/2 cup of the filling of your choice into the bag. 


6. Remove the funnel and carefully sew the bag shut. Try to stay as close as possible to the edge in order to maintain a clean look. 


              I made my son his own set of three for home, and later in the week decided to make a set for his classroom. His teacher and classmates were thrilled, and my son can practice his juggling at school if he wants :).