JCasa BLOG

breakin'

the girls are on Spring Break this week, yippee!  work necessitates blocking out a few hours each morning for them to hang out in their pjs and play while i work on my manuscript (due very soon, oh my).  but come late morning, work will be set aside in favor of swim lessons, libraries + museums, roller skating + bowling, hiking + biking (on new bikes as per Santa's instructions), cooking + baking, treasure hunting, and hopefully a bit more cross-country skiing.

and most definitely there will be crafting, because as the girls would be the first to tell you, "it's our thing."  they've been looking through our book for ideas that might get them started on new creatons of their own - lately it's been paper dolls and painted bead necklaces.  neon is all the rage, yo.  (apparently i am on trend, who knew?)  and of course there is the ongoing list of really cool ideas i've pinned on my summer camp board on Pinterest that the girls might enjoy trying.  i'm just putting it out there... i pity the fool who says, "i'm bored."  xoxo

any new fun crafts you and your kids are into these days?  if you have something special to share, i'd love to hear 'em + pop me an email (jenniferATjcasahandmadeDOTcom).  thanks + happy spring breaking to you!

heart-shaped home run

seriously, these are the best.

as in years past, i'm bringing in heart shaped last-minute beanbags for a class party this afternoon.  we're going to be using them in a few different relay races, but the possibilities for imaginary play and home-made games are endless, so sending each kiddo home with one to keep seems like a perfect extra little valentine.

what's that, you say.  you want to make some for your special people?

but, of course.  my last-minute beanbag how-to is right here and it couldn't be simpler.  you can easily whip up enough for a class in an hour or so.  in fact, i'm headed to the sewing nook to make several dozen of them right now.

happy day to you!  xoxo

snowy citrus cups

the Wiley Crafts blog recently featured a delicious summertime project from my book, Teach Yourself VISUALLY Crafting with Kids - these are such a great way to beat the Summer heat.  (super yummy any day of the year, for that matter)

so... gather your ingredients + make snowy citrus cups + stay cool!  xoxo 

summer o' fun [organized]

some time last month, the girls + i collected all our little scraps of papers and important bits and finally wrote out our summer list for this year.  as in years past, they are very much looking forward to summer camp, but this year they have opted for a variety of a la carte camps leaving us with a summer of ever-changing schedules and more free time here and there to enjoy.

now that a few weeks have passed and we've made a bit of a dent in the list (our tradition of ice cream fridays started on the first of june), i am recognizing that the list is not so user-friendly when we have a bit of time and interest in doing something.  to know me is to know that i love to re-do things - especially lists - if i come up with a better way to manage a list, i am all over it.

all it took was a few of my favorite craft materials - index cards, hole punch, a book ring, and washi tape.  we were able to categorize (love) everything and then it was simply a matter of putting my idea to work.  i cut 3x5 cards into 1x5 strips, punched a hole in one end, wrote each item on a card.  then i wrote the categories on cards and bordered those cards with washi tape* so they would stand out.  then everything is put behind its respective category (along with blank cards at the end because you know there will be additions to the list) and put on the ring.  once we do something on the list, i put a little washi tape over the end of the card so we can see what we've done and what's left on our horizon.

this method would work great for Christmas lists or something like home repair/to-do lists.  it's such a nice small size that fits right in my bag so we have it on hand when the mood strikes, and we can update it at any time.  i love sharing good organizational bits.  enjoy!  xoxo

:

*my love for organizing with washi tape was pushed over the edge when i read molly's post about moleskines + washi tape.  i am all over it, molly.  xo

not your run-of-the-mill paper dolls

a recent collaboration between the girls to create a set of paper dolls for PLC's birthday.  hours and hours were spent creating more than 2 dozen kiddo-made stick puppets complete with shoebox carrying case/portable theater.  i love everything from the planning, the checklist, the individual artistic styles, the cast of characters represented - Marvel and DC, Muppets and Mario.

heart + imagination.  and googly eyes.  love.  xoxo

thanks + happy summer [w/ printables]

the girls raced into summer with squeals of delight and much much excitement.  it's been a terrific year at a terrific school with so many inspiring and motivated people, and they have blossomed so very much.  now that school has been out for a week or so, we've been enjoying days with less structure, even more reading time, crafting indoors and out, cartwheels and croquet, late night dinners on the deck, and even later night bedtimes (and cocktails for the adults).

ahhh, summer.  i don't think i've ever loved you more.

in keeping with our tradition of putting together special treats for the girls' specials teachers, the girls and i once again made special somethings for all the special folks who have made science lab, music, art, library, physical education, and computer classes so much fun for the kids.  these are simple to assemble and great to have on hand throughout the summer - in fact, we're making a few more tomorrow for their teachers + receptionist at the dance studio, and they'll be nice to pop into the neighbor's mailboxes over the summer months, as well.

to make, you need a variety of delicious teas, mason jars with rings + lids, scissors and the two printables (below).  cut the sun tea directions into squares about the same shape + size of the tea bags, then put the instructions along with some tea bags inside each jar.  use one of the jar lids to trace circles for the lid cover and cut them out.  place a lid cover on top of a lid, set it inside the ring and screw onto the jar.  and repeat.  easy peasy happy summer!

click the printables below + print out onto heavy weight paper, then get to making.  enjoy!  xoxo

happy summer, friends.  make it special.  xoxo

studio crafting

our spring break staycation has been filled with wonderful times spent together.  playdates, parties, haircuts (including one very sweet 7-year-old donation to locks of love), hiking and biking, library visits and lots of sweet treats.  we have even spent a tiny bit of time in the studio, although i'll admit we haven't quite found a rhythm yet - but it's been fun nevertheless.  thankfully i set aside a few coaster looms for them, and they've figured out how to work my old iPod, so what needed to get done got done after all.  work can wait until next week.  this is our time.  xoxo

the whimsy of rainbows

oh my, we have never had that much jell-o in the house.  but how fun, right?  i never knew there was blue and purple jello, but the kiddos sure did.  and just like that, it was decided that they would embark on a week-long project of sunshine-happy-day-making.  who doesn't love a rainbow?

remember last year's rainbows filled with gold?  so whimsical and cheery.  makes me smile every time.  xoxo

valentines to share

as is customary in the Casa household, 'twas the weekend before Valentine's Day and all through the house, two little crafters were stirring, creating goodies for their pals.  this year, the girls were once again inspired by the available materials which mama dumped all over the table, saying "have at it!" after the oohing and ahhing subsided, we brainstormed until they each came to a decision as to what their individual valentines be.  and the winners for 2012 are...

BUBBLES!  i picked a bunch of these at target last month and included them in the goody bags at their 7th birthday party.  everybody loves bubbles, so i got a few extra packs.  my girly came up with an idea for a cute message to go on packaging like these cuties on Prudent Baby.  we made her tags in photoshop with a "from" area where she signed her name on each one and then was able to add a few of her favorite stickers.  gotta have stickers.  a quick fold of the cards and we stapled them in place, ensuring each vial of bubbles would make it to the intended recipient.

on the other side of the table, this was going on...

DIY SCRATCH-OFFS!  we made a sheet with 6 cards in photoshop which my girlygirl filled in with different candy heart phrases.  i scanned and printed 5 color copies onto cardstock, giving her 30 to work with - 25 for the class, and a few extra to pop in the mail.  she was to write each person's name as well as sign her own, which she did prior to adhering the contact paper and applying paint to cover the secret messages - we used this method from Come Together Kids.  it was especially cute to see her choose who would receive each message.  (heaven forbid so-and-so would get a "be mine" or something like that.  "awkward!")  once they were dry, she slipped each into a small glassine bag with a penny and sealed 'em with a sticker.  yes, again with the stickers.

now i just need to whip up several dozen last-minute beanbags and cupidesque fruit-kebobs in time for tuesday afternoon's class parties.  happy day to you + yours!  xoxo

:

p.s.  the hub gave me Photoshop Elements for Christmas and although i am just now figuring it out as i go, it is rocking my world with the possibilities.  well done, PLC.

pattern of the week : Coloring Wallet

over three years have passed since i first created my Child's Coloring Wallet pattern, and to this day it remains one of my most popular and top-selling sewing patterns.  this pint-sized on-the-go art studio will keep your little ones happy and entertained whether you are out and about or at home.  great as party favors or simply "just because", these coloring wallets are sure to make your little ones super happy and they are a blast to make.

☀ NEW!  my Coloring Wallet pattern is now available as an instant download so you can get started making these for your kiddos right away.  and it's 25% off* through the weekend!

you can check it out along with all of my other knitting and sewing patterns in the Pattern SHOP.  happy sewing. xoxo

- - -

* 25% discount on this pattern will be automatically applied to your shopping cart.  offer expires Sunday, 29-Jan-2012.  enjoy!