Tutorial: Handmade Cubes

This is one quick and easy project that even most novice crafters will achieve. This was one of the very first things I have ever made as an adult crafter, approximately 5 or 6 years ago. It is quite a flexible project too as you can decide on the size, the materials used (felt is very hassle free and is easy to hand-stitch but you can also make it with some durable fabrics too instead), pattern for the felt/fabric placement, the stuffing used (hobby-fill, shredded fabric scraps etc) and so on. 

Materials needed: 
- 6 pieces of same sized (eg 10cm) felt pieces (in this particular one, I have used 4 of the same and 2 of a contrasting colour for two opposite sides)
- Stuffing (I used hobbyfill for this cube)
- Two small bells (optional)
- A needle (or a sewing machine)
- Some thread

You can choose to sew the pieces together using a sewing machine or just settle on the couch in front of a TV and simply hand-stitch (blanket stitch works the best) while watching your favourite show. Sew or stitch all sides and corners except for half of one as you need it open to put the stuffing in. I recommend securing the bells to each other and also to the filling you use or a piece of fabric leave in the middle of the cube and put more stuffing all around for safety purposes before closing the open side.

You can use this idea to make letter or number cubes for educational or decorative purposes or you can simply make it and give it to a loved little one as a handmade toy. Just be mindful of the materials used and any open ends or stitches if you give it to a baby as they tend to put things in their mouth more often than not. However, toddlers are more likely to use these cubes as balls or stacking items.

Have a fulfilling day!

ROOMING-IN

Some of the most important benefits of rooming-in after the birth are as follows;

* Allows the mother to respond to baby quickly,

* More likely to successfully breastfeed, 

* Better connection between the mother and the baby,

* The risk of jaundice for the baby is decreased,

* More sleep for the mother.

HANDMADE BOOKS

Source: http://homegrownhappy.blogspot.com.au/2009/10/babys-soft-book-of-colors.html

What a wonderful idea to make something special for your little one (or as a gift) with your small pieces of fabric scraps! Waste not, want not!

Source: http://www.craftinessisnotoptional.com/2009/10/soft-color-book.html

Source: http://www.craftinessisnotoptional.com/2009/10/soft-color-book.html

Click here for a free tutorial on how to make a handmade colour book from fabric scraps.

RECIPE FOR CONSTIPATION

This recipe best works for infants and babies. If your little angel is suffering from hard stool, don't just sit down and cry with her or give her medicated laxatives. This recipe is a natural remedy for constipation in babies.

Ingredients:
1/2 teaspoon of brown sugar
30ml warm water

Method:
Mix the brown sugar and water well and give it to your baby.

Use this mixture only in 24 hours and only 3-4 times.

There are also some other things you can do to help your child regardless of the age of her overcome constipation:

• Massage the belly (you can use olive oil to massage with)
• Prunes are great laxatives. Depending on your child's age and readiness, you can give her the fruit itself or the juice of it.
• High in fiber foods 
• Plenty of liquid (especially water)
• Excercise (especially the types that involve abdominal muscles). 

Note: The recommendations here are not to replace any doctor's advice. Seek professional help when the symptoms resist. 

A NAPPY CHANGE TRICK

As a mother of two, I know how challenging it can get to change a baby's nappy. If you are a mother or a father of a young child, there is no doubt you'd (or will in the near future) know what I am talking about. Here is one of the tricks that I use which does not fail me in most cases.

Have a colourful pair of baby or kids socks (or with an attractive pattern like a monkey face) on your baby's hands (no, there is no typo here. I do mean 'hands', not feet). In my case, Miss Junior mastered taking off her socks from her tiny feet in a few seconds a while back and it is not a 'long term' distraction anymore. So, at this stage, I generally cover her hands with a pair of socks and it often amazes her and keeps her busy for a while whilst I change her nappy. You may need to do it a few times until the operation (!) is complete but as long as your bubba is happy and it allows you the time to finish off the change, there is no problem with that!

Small bells

Here is my favourite for you: You can make your own silly pair of socks particularly for nappy change times. You don't need to be a great tailor or a dress maker for this. As long as you know how to sew a button roughly, you are professional enough for this project. Just sew up a few buttons randomly or a face like details, small pieces of ribbons, one or two little bells that you can easily find at craft stores etc onto an old sock and during nappy change, put it on over your baby's hand. This will be a great distraction as well as a stimulant for your baby's development. If you like, you can make a few of different ones and alternate as your baby gets used to one.

Enjoy a day when you can change your baby's nappies easily :-)

Note: Make a silly sock and put it in your nappy change bag that you use out and about. This will make diaper change much less stressful when at the shops, in the car, at cafes/restaurants etc.

GUEST POST: HOW TO MAKE FELT BALLS

This tutorial comes from Belinda Connelly of Fairythread. A big thank you to Belinda for the tutorial as well as the special offer for the readers of this blog (see note below). 

Make your own felt balls - great for the kids to try!

"the ball is the first toy a child should have, for it is the symbol of the whole" Froebel

This soft and simple ball is made from 100% pure wool which is then hand felted. It is warm and comforting to touch and provides a wonderful means for your baby to become aware of movement as well as stimulating the senses and imagination. 

You will need: 

•unspun wool 

•large bowl or kitchen sink

•dishwashing detergent

•warm & cold water

•towel

(I find it easiest to work over the kitchen sink)

1. Wind very thin strands of the wool round and round in a random pattern to form a ball shape. Make it a third bigger than the intended size as it will shrink in the process.

2. Submerge the ball in warm water until it is soaked. Squirt generously with washing up liquid.

3. Now work the ball as though you are making a snowball 'cupping' and 'packing' it with your hands. Rub the ball, making sure to keep its round form. You need to work quickly: rubbing, cupping and packing so that the outer fibres begin to lock together. This will take about 7 minutes.

4. While rinsing the ball in cold water now, continue the above actions. This helps to firm the locking of the fibres.

5. Resubmerge the ball in warm water, add a little more detergent and work for a further 5 minutes.

6. Rinse thoroughly in cold water, making sure to squeeze out all of the soap.

7. Rub in a towel to dry. I like to leave mine on top of my hot water service overnight to dry thoroughly.

Note: You can buy your own felt ball kits from Fairythread (www.facebook.com/fairythread). Mention this blog to receive 10% off normal price!

BRINGING UP ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY BABIES

There are many ways that can help us bring up our babies as environmentally friendly as possible. Below is a list of suggestions most of which are quite easy to do. Please feel free to add to this list your tips in the comments section below.

1. Breastfeed: There are many reasons why it is best to breastfeed babies in general but here, lets look at it from the environmental perspective. By not using packaged foods, you will be supporting a healthy environment (no factory carbon footprints caused during production of foods)
2. Make your own baby foods at home: When your child is ready for solids, cook his foods yourself at home. It is cheaper and healthier (and pretty easy too). 
3. Re-usable nappies vs disposable nappies: It takes 200-500 years for a disposable nappy to dissolve. It is arguable that the amount of energy and water used for washing the cloth nappies may be less harmful to the environment than the modern single use nappies.
4. Use cloth and water instead of wet wipes: Some cotton cloth  and water is so much better for your baby and the environment than the wet wipes. However, if you have a convenience issue with that, you may try to use the cloth/water at home and the wet tissues when out and about.
5. Share: Re-use baby/kids clothes and toys. Share them with others (with other family members' or friends' kids or you could choose the pre-owned ones when shopping and then pass them on to others when done with them) as opposed to buying new at all times. 
6. Choose environmentally friendly toys: Plastic is bad for your child's health as well as our planet. Choose the toys that are made using natural materials such as wood and cotton. You could even give a go at making a toy at home or choose the handmade ones when shopping.
7. Go for cotton baby clothes: Good for your baby, good for the environment, and more durable than many other materials/fabrics!
8. Read tags: Read the ingredients used in baby shampoos, soaps and other products and try to buy the ones that have natural ingredients. It may be more expensive but it would definitely be worth it. At least try to swap the one that you use the most with a natural one even if you can't afford to purchase all of your baby's products from the natural/organic range. Alternatively, make your own! Many products that we/our kids use on a regular basis can be home-made. (Let me know if there is a particular product that you would like me to write about or share a tutorial of)
9. Use natural disinfectants: Instead of using chemicals like bleach, use natural options such as bicarbonate and vinegar when cleaning baby products (toys, pacifiers etc). You can use them in general house cleaning purposes too. (I have already written about a few options such as homemade cleaning products for babies, homemade hand sanitizers, homemade laundry detergents, homemade all-purpose cleaning products, and more but If you need more information, stay tuned! I will be posting more about homemade disinfectants in the future.)
10. Be an example: Teach them how to love and protect our planet/world/environment not only verbally but by being a good example too. They are likely to be more interested and passionate about it if they see you as a caring person and if it is a part of your lifestyle. 

COLOURFUL CATERPILLARS

If you are like me, who love colourful buttons and have a lot of them at home for various projects, and also like doing something simple yet fun and skill building with your children, you are sure to love this activity. You can of course adapt it to your taste or a particular theme or the materials you have at home.

What you need for this craft activity is a set of buttons (a single colour or a set of colours) and a dark green pipe cleaner which you can easily find at most art supplies section of big supermarkets, hardware stores or craft shops. You can either use some small goggly eyes or just skip them and use a piece of round shaped paper as face and just draw eyes etc on it instead. This can be completed with or by your children and then can be used as a decorative purposes unless gifted or used as a figure to accompany a story while reading a book on a  relevant topic.

Have a colourful day!

JACK IN THE CAN

Jack in the can is quite fun for many kids. However, prior to the age of 8 or 10 months, it may still be scary for most babies. This shouldn't disappoint you. You can make one baby friendly version at home using the materials you have around the house. A homemade version will be much more enjoyable for babies before the age of 10-12 months!

This game not only aims to entertain your baby but is also great for object permanence skills which they need to acquire. If your baby has an older sister or a brother, let her/him get involved too both in making it and in playing. It is another great way to make them two siblings enjoy something together and have a bond.

Now, you can use your imagination and materials that you already have at home. What I will list here is only to give you some examples.

Materials needed:

• A little tub (yoghurt/icecream/individual sized cereal), a little box, a can or a large paper cup
• A stick, chopstick or a pencil
• A finger puppet or some sort of a small object (preferably colourful) or a toy
• Glue or tape

 As you might have guessed by now, all you need to do is to make a little hole in the middle of the bottom of the can/tub/cup and insert the stick. Glue or tape the little puppet/toy on top of it and have fun using your hand-operated pop-up toy by pulling the stick up and down. When the stick goes down, the object disappears (or so the baby thinks) and then when you quickly push it up, it is there again!

You may use your by-now-well practiced skills to make some funny noise to accompany the game or the puppet can greet the baby. You may have one made for your older child as well and in front of the baby, the two jack-in-the-can toys can interact if you like. Just go crazy with your imagination and use it the way you like. After all, it is all about what makes you and your baby happy. Any variation that works for you is great!

HANDMADE BABY MARACAS

This is a nice little project that is sure to please your baby! I found it online and fell in love with it. It is so easy that even kids can do it. The instructions in the video are extremely easy to follow. The only thing I am uncomfortable with is the decoration of them as I am concerned with the idea of using especially beads for baby products especially if they are only stuck using glue. They can pose a choking hazard! I can imagine Miss Junior getting excited about the stars and the beads and start exploring them as soon as she gets her hands on them. She would try pulling them and I wouldn't be surprised if she can successfully remove them after some attempts and she is extremely likely to put them in her mouth right away. I believe that these particular decorative materials aren't suitable for babies even though they do look awesome. I strongly recommend finding other types of decorative ideas (using colourful fabric strips perhaps?) for this project.

In my opinion, this project is great because;

• handmade
• very easy to make
• not costly 
• made with recycled materials
• unique
• even older siblings can do it or if you don't have a baby, your child can do it and can gift it to a baby or can use it for her own entertainment (making music?)
• if the older sibling is involved in making it, it may help with the bonding between the younger sibling and him/her
• improves creativity and imagination skills
• stimulates baby visually and audibly

HOW TO MAKE A BOW TIE

Here in Australia, it is summer and therefore is the party season (yayy!). I am sure we are not the only people who have many occasions to keep up with these days.

Party means fun for most people, a lot of fun, but it also means dressing up too. If you are looking for some easy to make, inexpensive, and stylish ideas; I would suggest, first decide what you want and then go online and look for tutorials that can help you achieve something similar to what you have in mind at home.

For kids, by using a different accessory, say a bow tie, you can actually achieve a different look while using the same pieces of main clothing each time. For instance, for boys, use the same trousers, shoes and the shirt over and over as long as you make a few changes in the accessories such as bow ties, ties, suspenders, vest (if you are into it), different flowers on the shirt, and/or belts.

The pictures are from here. Go to the original site for step by step instructions and more pictures. It is a very easy and fun project. You can experiment with different sizes and materials such as ribbons and various fabric types. You can also use a simple soft elastic for the neck piece as opposed to making a fabric tube with velcro on it.

Handmade bow ties won't only save you money, but they will also please you better and you can easily make a matching bow tie according to the theme, the colours of the occasion or the clothes that are being worn.

The materials needed for this particular project are written on one of the pictures above or you can find them in the video below. It is all about few little stitches in right spots and then putting them together properly. The video below has very clear audiovisual instructions in it too.

Have fun!

REDUCE ORGANIC FOOD EXPENSES BY 90%!

I have recently learnt that some produces are more important to be bought in their organic version than the others as they tend to have the highest amount of pesticides when conventionally grown. If you can buy everything organic, lucky you, I'd definitely say go for it! However, if you have to choose, whether it is for you, your child or for the whole family, choose the ones that are likely to contain the highest pesticide levels normally organic and buy the ones with relatively less pesticide levels from not necessarily organic produce selling places. By doing so, you can reduce the amount of your pesticides intake by 90%!

Here is the list of the ones that tend to have the highest pesticides levels if not organically grown (so, try to buy these organic):

• celery
• strawberries
• peaches
• blueberries
• spinach
• apples
• nectarines
• bell peppers
• cherries
• potatoes (and more)

Now, lets look at the list of the produces with less pesticide levels:

• Peas
• Corn
• Asparagus
• Pineapple
• Mangoes
• Kiwi
• Honeydew
• Cantaloupe/Rockmelon
• Onion
• Sweet potatoes

I am aware that there are some standards in place especially here in Australia. However, it still doesn't mean that the foods that we consume everyday are pesticide free (unless stated so). There are ways to reduce the amount of pesticides and other chemicals we are exposed to by following some certain strategies. Some of those strategies are listed below:

Buy organic/biodynamic.

Grow your own.

Buy produces that pass particular standards (be extra careful with the imported ones).

Thoroughly wash all fruit and vegetables.

Peel or remove the outer layer whenever possible.

Do not over-consume certain types of foods. Instead, eat a variety of meats, vegies and fruit.

Cook meat/chicken well.

Trim visible fat from meats, as many residues are fat soluble.

There are many online sources available if you would like to do further reading on this topic. You can search for 'dirty dozen and clean fifteen', 'pesticide residue in fresh produce' and 'pesticides and other chemicals in food' and so forth. You can also visit some other reliable websites such as this or this. 

HOMEMADE FRUITY YOGHURT

I must confess. I LOVE my fruity yoghurt! Especially when the weather is hot and I don't quite feel like having anything even though I am hungry due to the heat, some fruity yoghurt would be one of my first rescuers. It is refreshing, healthy, filling and delicious. It is quite flexible too and you can make your own fruit combination depending on your taste buds or the seasonal choices.

In the picture above, you see what Mr. Junior had the other day just before his daytime nap. Nuts and berries are his favourites and he decided on this particular menu by himself. He actually put the yoghurt into the bowl, washed some organic blueberries and blackberries and added them to the yoghurt, and Bob's your uncle!

Since Mr. Junior was able to eat yoghurt as a baby, I have been making him different fruity yoghurt meals and he has been definitely enjoying them. Now that Miss Junior started having yoghurt too, she does as well.

Depending on your child's age, readiness, allergy history, preferences and the fruit available, you can use many types of fruit for this dish. Berries (frozen or fresh), bananas, mangoes and strawberries are some of the best choices. You can also make it with grated (especially for babies) or chopped stone fruit (such as peaches), pears, apples, or grapes. You can even add some nuts (grated/chopped up almonds, for example)You may choose to have a single type of fruit or a combination in it.

It often has a good colour (depending on the fruit you use) and smells really nice. It is so easy to prepare that even your preschooler can make it. You may be surprised if your child wouldn't mind skipping his over-sugary treats and instead, asking for this snack/meal once he tastes it. Not many kids (or adults) would need more than one go to fall in love with it but if you don't get that big effect after the first try, just try it again with another combo. You are very likely to be pleased.

Enjoy!

HANDMADE HANGERS

I found these hangers on this site. I thought they were unique, fun and good looking. If you are interested in learning how to make them, just click here and it will take you to the original page. There, not only will you find the instructions, but you will also be able to access to the patterns that are free and printable. Enjoy!

FIRST AID FOR BURNS

The correct first aid for a burn is cooling immediately with cool running tap water for a minimum of 20 minutes. Do NOT use iced water, ice, butter or oil.

Source: Kidsafe (Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia)

MONKEY PUPPET

Make a Monkey Puppet

I read this on this site here and thought it would be great to share it with you too. It is nice and easy and I am sure your child or students will love it too! You can use the monkey face that you made using the instructions given previously (see my blog entry titled AN EASY ART PROJECT: How to Draw a Monkey Face).

-- If you have a woolen glove that has lost its mate, use it (and your art work) to make a simple monkey puppet. Put the glove on your hand, and hold your three middle fingers up together. Glue the monkey face to the front of these three fingers, leaving your baby finger and thumb free to act as the hands and arms of the monkey. Now you have a monkey puppet!

-- You could also make mini monkey puppets by gluing smaller monkey faces to the end of craft sticks or popsicle sticks.

THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY

Play helps babies and toddlers learn new skills, gain knowledge, explore their abilities and develop in many ways. During this age group, they're undergoing heaps of growth and development and playing can aid this significantly. In fact, engaging your baby or toddler in age appropriate play can do wonders for their early childhood education and learning ability and give them a good foundation for future learning.

Baby Play Ideas:

• Babies love songs, especially with repetitive words,
• Books are great for children and getting them into books from a young age is beneficial. Books for babies are often brightly coloured, have touch-and-feel aspects or may be interactive. You can read them stories and engage their attention with the colour and pictures.
• Hand and finger puppets are lots of fun and you can create your own stories to entertain your baby. Use funny voices or accents for an extra degree of entertainment!
• Rattles and other toys that make noises are lots of fun for babies.
• Baby play mats, which have rattles, scrunchy noises or other playful aspects included help gain a baby's attention. 

Toddler Play Ideas: 

• Making towers of building blocks is great fun, but develops key skills too. Children will probably love the part where they get to knock things down too!
• Many toddlers love dressing up boxes and acting out play themes.
• Drawing, colouring and other art and craft activities are loved by many toddlers, plus it can help their fine motor skills.
• Playing with a ball - either playing catch or kicking it around.
• Walking and running around outside or playing in a children's playground.
• For some outdoor activities, older toddlers can help in the garden, by watering plants or planting seeds.
• Singing songs is loved by toddlers too and adding actions adds an extra element. 

The above are some notes from a 'Positive Parenting' course.

HOMEMADE CLEANING PRODUCTS for BABIES

Below, I am sharing with you some safe, easy, cheap, homemade and of course environmentally friendly cleaning tips for your baby products around the house:

• Put the same amount of water and white vinegar into a bottle with a spray head. You can leave your baby's toys in this mixture for about 15 minutes before drying them. When they are dry, they are ready to be used again! 

• Add 4 tablespoonsful of bicarbonate into a litre of warm water. Wash your little charmer's toys or pacifiers etc in this solution and then dry them before giving them to your baby again!

Note: I will be writing more on homemade cleaning products and ideas in the future as I am a bit unsure about and uncomfortable with using those harsh chemicals that are available at supermarkets. So, stay tuned!

HOW TO MAKE CHILDREN FEEL GOOD

As a general rule we need positives to negatives at about a ratio of 9 to 1. So, spend a day noticing everything your child does right and notice the difference!

If we haven't paid much attention to this before, it is never too late, LETS START NOW!

WARNING: NO HONEY FOR BABIES!

Honey is  a great source of energy and also contains protein, vitamins and minerals.  The two types of sugar in it are quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and give the body a quick energy boost. It has less than 2% sodium (almost sodium-free) and has many medicinal properties. One of the most commonly known effects of honey is its antibacterial effect. It literally dehydrates the bacteria that causes the infection until it dies. In addition, enzymatic activities of honey contribute to honey's antibacterial properties too.

Normally, honey is a fabulous healthy, tasty, natural and wholesome food (It is also a part of our homemade remedies at home and I will be posting an entry on that in the near future). HOWEVER, honey is NOT SAFE for INFANTS and therefore should NOT be consumed prior to the age of one at all (many recommend to wait even until the age of two)! (This warning includes dipping pacifiers into the honey too! It is UNSAFE.)

Honey can contain spores of a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum, which can germinate in a baby's immature digestive system and cause infant botulism, a rare but potentially fatal illness.

These spores do not harm adults and older children as our developed digestive system prevents the bacteria from growing.

The symptoms of botulism include muscle weakness (a 'floppy baby'), constipation, slack jaw, sucking issues, crying, lethargy, drooling or swallowing difficulties and occasionally, respiratory arrest.

The baby foods should not contain honey but it is still worthwhile to check ingredients before you feed your precise baby any foods that you haven't cooked at home or aren't totally sure of the content. Don't forget, some baked breads and commercial foods may contain honey in them as well. Never take it for granted and double check if unsure.

Wishing all your babies a honey-free babyhood!