Simple "I Spy" Alphebet Quiet Book for Kids

       One of our family's Christmas traditions is that at least one gift per person must be handmade. It's a fun way to make a gift personal, and not just throwing money at more stuff. I decided my handmade gift for the little girls would be a book. The rules for the book were: it must be water (slobber) proof, rip proof, interesting enough for my oldest and simple enough for my youngest, easily transportable, and be somewhat educational.

        I really liked some of the handmade quiet books I found on Etsy. I figured I could come up with my own version that was personalized to my kids. I put each girls picture on the front page so they would always know which book was whose.
       To make the book itself, I used plastic badge holders and book rings. Both of which I found, very inexpensively, in the office section at Walmart.

       For the page fillers I used a small wooden alphabet set, buttons shaped like objects, and random items I had on hand.

       I laid out the alphabet set and then matched up the objects that started with that letter.

       I stuffed each page and then sewed the page shut. I absolutely do not wish for the small objects inside to be accessible in any way, hence the sewing shut of each page.

      After each page is sewn shut, put them in order on the rings. Lastly I sewed a clip clasp on with elastic to the first and last page so that it can be kept shut. Besides, clasps are fascinating to small children so that in and of itself will be a hit I'm sure.

      I think all the little things to look at will fun for them.

       I tried to use real objects whenever possible. "L" for "label"....

...."E" for "earring".

      I used colors on some of the letters that I was just plan stumped on, like "O" for "orange". I mean really, do you have any octopuses laying around your house? Ya, me neither!

       I hope they will like it. Judging from how much attention the little bags of buttons were getting from them when I was buying them at the store, I think they will.
      Do you have any fun family Christmas traditions?

  2 Corinthians 9:15   Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

Wipeable Kids Placemat

     I recently started the baby on regular food, so that meant my toddler was evicted from her highchair. She sits on a dictionary in a big chair at the table...and makes a royal mess. My mister remarked the other day, that we needed a wipeable placement for her. Well of course! Why didn't I think of that?! I pulled out my left over scraps from making these bibs, and got to work. In case you haven't seen that post, this is just cheap vinyl table cloths that you can get on clearance at the end of the year for next to nothing. I cut two squares about the size of a regular placemat.

     I put right sides together, sewed around the edge, leaving a five inch space. I turned them right sides out, and top stitched around the whole thing. Done.

      For five minutes, and a few cents, I have a cleaner table with less laundry to do.

     Thank you hubby dear, for a fantastic idea!
P.S. Happy February first! =)


Psalms 24:5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.