This little piggy…helped with chores?

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Maybe having a toddler ask for EVERYTHING at the store, or not wanting to pick up toys, or throwing fits when asked for 300+ time to do something sounds familiar? Well, I was getting tired of it, so I combined a bunch of ideas from Pinterest and came up with a solution, that so far (knock on wood) is working. First off, we had a family meeting to decide on family rules. The kidlets helped come up with them. I printed them up and put them in a thrifted frame.

Then, I came up with chores/jobs that I expect them to do every day, and some extra jobs they can do at their age.

I printed it up, and put it in a matching thrifted frame, and used washi tape to add a little bit of interest to it. Nothing too special, just simple for us. These frames came from the DI with Velcro on the back, so I used these Velcro strips from 3M. So far, I like them.

And hung them where all the family could see them, but it’s not the first thing other people see.

Next, I got a bunch of glass jars (does anyone else save them? No? Well here’s proof to my honey it's not just another hoard) I let the girls pick their colors from my acrylic paints (purple and pink, is anyone really surprised?) and made a few different jars. The first has a chalkboard label and a slit in the top (made a little safer with washi tape) for them to put their tithing in.

The next was just too freakin cute. I saw the idea on Pinterest and just changed it a bit. I cut out vinyl for their first letter of their name, and added cereal box ears, wooden bead legs, pipe cleaner tails, and washi tape snouts.

How adorable are those?!? They don’t have a slit in the top, so they just unscrew the snout to put their money in to save.

Now, all of my hubby’s and mine loose change goes in this jar. I used vinyl and a Cricut to cut out a mustache (from my mom’s cartridge she designed. She’s pretty awesome. It’s called Paper Doll Dress Up), and added the words “my stache” Hee hee, makes me smile whenever I see it

Finally, I got some empty Crystal Light containers, cut slits in the top, and added vinyl with their initial and the words “chore $”. Whenever they do things from the list, they get so much for doing the everyday jobs, and a little bit more for doing the extra jobs. I give them their change as soon as they do the job (from my mustache jar), and then they get to put it in their chore jar. If I have to ask them multiple times to do something, and/or end up doing it myself, they have to pay me the same amount. At the end of the week, we count their money and put some in tithing and the rest in the piggy bank. So far, my oldest has appreciated having a way to get money, and I’m sure once she’s able to buy her first thing, it will come together even more!

Kindle Case & Printable

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Since I’ve already confessed to being a complete and utter nerd, it should come as no surprise to say I love reading (husband is nodding head). Once I start a good book, I have a REALLY hard time putting it down (husband rolling his eyes and nodding even harder). Plus, I read rid-i-cu-lous-ly good looking fast, so I have literally probably read more books just this year month (I mean 2012), then most people do throughout the entire year(husband getting whiplash nodding so hard). Seriously. I don’t know if I can actually count how many I’ve read thus far. It’s in the double digits. Not exaggerating. So what’s the perfect thing for someone like me? Meet Henrietta.

Yep, I’ve been researching these bad boys for awhile (over a year….), and daydreaming, and finally after Christmas, I got my beauty. On New Years Eve, as a matter of fact. As soon as I got her charged and raring to go (with the 30 books I already had for Kindle before I even had one….) I started looking into cases for her. On the one hand, they were costing more than I wanted, and they were all online, so I couldn’t actually look and touch, and make sure it was what I wanted. I went to about 10 stores around the Davis County area to try to find 1 case. Nada. So, what’s a girl to do? You guessed it….Make one.

Supplies:

I used felt for the inside so it didn’t scratch the screen (lucky I happened to have hot pink…hee hee), some 1/4” elastic, Velcro, leftover webbing from my Batman Belt, wide ribbon, and some fabric for the outside.

To start, I measured my Kindle (or iPad, Nook, tablet, etc.) It measures 6 3/4” tall, 4 3/4” across, and about 3/8” deep. I figured I’d want it to have about 1/4-3/8” extra on all edges, and I added just a little more than the depth of it for the fold-over area. I can’t give you the exact measurements I cut out, but the finished product is 7 1/2” tall, 10 1/4” across, laying open; and I did 1/2” seam, so that ends up being about 8 1/2” by 11 1/4”. I had a little extra that I cut off, not sure how I was doing it when I went along. The strap was 4” at the longest, but I cut it to a little half circle shape too (and melted both edges so it didn’t fray).

To hold the kindle, I put on elastic. I sewed the outside of all the elastic, then put the kindle on, pulled the elastic on, and pinned it down where I wanted. Then, move the kindle and sew them down.

For the inside of mine, I wanted to do a sort of pocket to hold a paper if ever needed. I didn’t have extra fabric I wanted to use, so I used 2 wide ribbons. I just cut them to length (always melt the edges just in case), pinned them on the pink felt, and sewed them down.

On the outside, I pinned one Velcro piece in the middle on one side, and pinned the other Velcro piece to the webbing fold-over clasp.

I put the clasp on the other side, and put my Kindle in to make sure things were situated right…Sew everything down.

Now, I pinned the clasp so it wouldn’t get caught as I sewed around the edges.

Sew 1/2” around 3 of the edges, leaving the open edge on the back (mine was where the clasp was.) Turn your cover inside out, press the edges all nice out, and press the open side in 1/2”. I didn’t take pictures of this, but if you have questions, you can comment/email and let me know…

This picture is showing it all turned out, making sure everything fits before sewing the last part. You can see the edge on the right is still open.

Now, sew around what will be your front cover…Meaning around half the top, the edge, and then half the bottom. Because mine was 2 colors, I actually had white on my top thread, and black on the bobbin, but that’s purely your choice. Now, measure 2 pieces of cardboard that will be about 1/4” bigger than your kindle all around. Make sure it fits inside of your case. Stuff in the first one…If you have white fabric like I did, I cut a piece of white paper to fit so you didn’t see cardboard or whatever cereal you used through.

Then, once one piece is shoved in, sew right by the cardboard edge. Move over about 3/8” (that’s what height mine is), and sew another line. Sew the top and bottom edges too, leaving the opening open. Put in your last piece of cardboard, make sure your fabric is pressed in nicely, and sew that edge closed. Now, you’ve got your kindle cover! Put it in and get reading!

To clarify, here’s a little sketch. Obviously your lines will join up, mine are separate just to show the difference…

The back view:

The front view:

Open:

And I always put the Velcro on backwards when I’m reading, like so:

I fully intend on making one of these for our iPad as soon as I find fabric my husband approves of…He wants leather, but after this experience, I’m putting my foot down…

Now, in honor of my new love Henrietta, I re-read my favorite book, Pride and Prejudice. You can highlight quotes as you’re reading, and then they show up as your clippings, without having to search the book again. So I highlighted some favorite quotes, and they seem especially fitting for Valentine’s day, so here’s a printable (my first I’ve made) just for that big day! (although I plan on keeping mine up in my future craft room. Just sayin)

Do you see a theme with colors….hmmm….Anyway, here’s the links to an 8x10 printable, that I haven’t had the chance to print and frame, but fully intend on doing tomorrow. Let me know if they work or if you have any questions! Thanks for stopping by!

JPEG of printable here

PDF of printable here