Totally Bugg'n

So my mom bought a cute little bug catching kit from the $1 store for Jack this past weekend...so cute!

Jack is so excited about it!

 Cool, huh?  A great learning tool for nature and science...not to mention a great activity for the backyard.

Only problem is...

I am NOT having him bringing a bunch of bugs in the house (eew) to hang around until they die or something.

Solution?

We went up to the $1 store to pick up some bugs that will never die (or reproduce), lest they get out of their cute little container.

And there are dozens more where this came from...all hidden under the couch probably.

So now Jack can "hunt" thru the house findings all sorts of little critters!!  And I don't have to worry about a bunch of uninvited "guests" taking up residence!

Have any cool $1 store games or crafts??  Post a comment here and let me know what you got!! I'll be featuring a few later this week!!!

Ginger

SSB

I'm linking:

Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative
Tot Tuesdays at Delicious Ambiguity
Anything Related Tuesdays at All Thingz Related
Creative Flow Tuesdays at These Creative Juices
We Did It Wednesday at Sew Much Ado
Show and Tell Wednesday at Blue Cricket Design
Hoo's Got Talent at Night Owl Crafting
Motivate Me Monday at Keeping It Simple 
What You're Working With Wednesdays at Me and My Bucket 

Mad Skills Monday Link Party #14

Hi folks!  Sorry I've been a little MIA this passed week...a lot going on right now!  Still adjusting to work schedules and kids plus full weekends!  

Mad Skills Monday is in da house!

Here are my favs from last week...the more and more links I'm getting these days...the harder it is to pick!  I have 5 again this week!  And that's pushing it...everyone's projects are just soooo good!

Check out this car window bed rail from Pregnant with Power tools!?  Wicked cool for a little boys room.

I love these little wooden dolls by Service Pink Lemonade...they are just precious!

I really want to try doing some appliques like this birthday shirt from Allie B Dallie.  Very cute!

And I am definitely going to do some wall art like This Present Life, as soon as I can find a fabric I love.

And I wasn't going to do another T-shirt but I really liked the unique way this T-shirt was done at Clean Mama!

Great work everyone!  I am so pleased each and every week to see everyone visiting and linking up solid craft GOLD!   Keep it coming and a round for all your creativity!

If you were featured today...please grab the button below!  Thanks a million!

    <br>        <center><a href="http://www.superstinkyboys.blogspot.com/"><br><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae124/appleseedgifts/toytruck3.jpg" border="0" /></a></center><br>   

Today I am sharing...nothing.  Zilch.  Nada.  Zero.  (sigh)  I sawwy...

Too busy this week to try and come up with anything...but I do have a cool kids craft in the works so check back for that in a few days. 

Now its your turn to share!  Here's what you do:

1. Link up something crafty, creative, or fun that you wanna share!  It can be anything you want!

2. Please link to the blog post and not your main page.

3. It can be a tutorial or a project.  No shopping pages please.  An offer to buy your item at the end of your tut is welcomed!

4. Snag the Mad Skills button and include it on your tut post so others can see where you've linked!(PS- this button was designed from my sons art work....if you are interested in a custom button, please contact me!)

5. Visit other links, leave them comments (we all love comments) and enjoy their blogs!

This link party will end on Friday, July 2nd at midnight.

<center><a href="http://superstinkyboys.blogspot.com/search/label/Mad%20Skills%20Party"><br><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae124/appleseedgifts/madskillsbutton1.jpg" border="0" /></a></center>

Bubble Trubble!

So Jack got this really great bubble kit for his birthday-a SPILL PROOF bubble bottle!

 See the cool little spill proof lips on the cap???

Well, the bubbles are now long gone from hours of outdoor fun...but throw the bottle away?  Forget it!  This is the only bubble bottle that lasted for more than a minute (Jack spills easily!)

Now I know you can get a giant bottle of bubble refill from Walmart or I could go the the Dollar Tree and get a bunch of little bottles...but I am way to thrifty for that.

I decided to make my own...super easy...with (I'm sure you've heard of this) dish soap! 

Super easy steps:

Step1: Clean out the bottle.

Step 2: Add a little bit of dish soap.

Step 3: Fill with water and shake gently.

Step 4:  Enjoy your homemade bubbles!

Easy fix for a thrifty mom!

Ginger

SSB

I'm linking:

Anything Related Tuesday at All Thingz Related
Tot Tuesdays at Delicious Ambiguity
Creative Juice Tuesday at These Creative Juices
Hoo's Got Talent at Night Owl Crafting
Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design
Creative Therapy at Life in the Pitts
Show us What You're Working With at Me and My Bucket
We Did It Wednesday at Sew Much Ado

Eezy Peezy Wet Wash Frame Re-Do

So I'm showing how to do a super easy "wet wash" stain effect on a wooden frame...very easy and looks just like a stained wood piece!  I used this method for my Fathers Day message frame shown here.

What you need:

an unfinished wood frame, plaque, or whateveh...

craft paint (any color, I chose brown)

1 inch paint brush and a cup of water

I snagged this frame from the Dollar Tree for $1.

Step 1: Take the frame apart, removing the back and glass.

Step 2: Pour about a quarters worth of paint onto a paper plate.  Add more if needed.

I used this paint here:

Step 3: Get your brush completely wet and then coat it in the paint, both sides.  "Wet wash" the wood in a smooth motion going with the grain.  Continue until desired shade.

Step 4: Let dry.

 I tried to get a close up so you could see how the paint appears to be a stain with the wood grain showing thru, but my camera stinks so I didn't get a good pic.  But you get the idea.

*You could go an extra step and give it a layer of clear coat to seal it.

At this time we made a little memory message for daddy for Fathers Day.  We painted Jackie's hand and then I wrote the message.

Step 5: Once everything is dry, re-assemble!

A sweet message and it looks very manly paired with our books, a dark candle, and a horseshoe on a rustic wood bookshelf!  Love it!

Ginger

SSB

I'm linking:

Motivate Me Mondays at Keeping It Simple
Just Something I Whipped Up at The Girl Creative
Tot Tuesdays at Delicious Ambiguity
Anything Related at All Thingz Related
Creative Juices Tuesday at These Creative Juices

Hoo's Got Talent at Night Owl Crafting
Show and Tell at Blue Cricket Design
Creative Therapy at Life in the Pitts
Show us What You're Working With at Me and My Bucket
We Did It Wednesday at Sew Much Ado

Mad Skills Monday Link Party #13

Howdy everyone!!!  Ready to partaaay!

I'm down for Mad Skills Monday #13...sweet.

So with all the birthday party madness over, and I'm thrilled a little bummed, I'm ready for Mad Skills fun! 

I had the worst time trying to nail down my favs from this party...seriously.  So many great projects to pick from...and honestly, how could I pick???  So I cheated a little and asked my husband to help me pick!  Hehe!

Let us pay homage to the awesomeness below...

How about this canister re-do from The Frugal Bug??  Super cute!  Perfect for any little girl!

The most beautiful cacti collection at Be Thou a Knight I've ever seen...

And check out this boys cuff from Nap Time is Craft Time???  So sweet!

I am in LOVE with this table set from Doolittle Things...salt and pepper shakers?  No way!

And last but certainly not least...this gazing ball from Keen Inspirations. 

Wow...5 show stoppers!  

Way to go everyone!  I love each and every one of your projects; they are full of such inspiration!  If you were featured to day, please snag the button below and sport it with pride...you got Mad Skills!

    <br>        <center><a href="http://www.superstinkyboys.blogspot.com/"><br><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae124/appleseedgifts/toytruck3.jpg" border="0" /></a></center><br>   

Today I am sharing my Fathers Day gift that I put together for my husband...the best dad in the world!  Anyhoo, I did a quick re-do on a dollar tree frame (a post on that later) and then framed a piece of Jacks art with a message from him (I wrote it) just for dad.

Michael loved it and the frame looks awesome with the rest of my decor!

Now its your turn to share!  Here's what you do:

1. Link up something crafty, creative, or fun that you wanna share!  It can be anything you want!

2. Please link to the blog post and not your main page.

3. It can be a tutorial or a project.  No shopping pages please.  An offer to buy your item at the end of your tut is welcomed!

4. Snag the Mad Skills button and include it on your tut post so others can see where you've linked!(PS- this button was designed from my sons art work....if you are interested in a custom button, please contact me!)

5. Visit other links, leave them comments (we all love comments) and enjoy their blogs!

This link party will end on Friday, June 25th at midnight.

<center><a href="http://superstinkyboys.blogspot.com/search/label/Mad%20Skills%20Party"><br><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i964.photobucket.com/albums/ae124/appleseedgifts/madskillsbutton1.jpg" border="0" /></a></center>

A Successful Birthday Party

Alright, if you are new to SSB...we have been planning a Sesame Street themed 1st Birthday Party.

Some ladies were awesome enough to put out some suggestions and I thank you very much!  The party was a HIT!  Everyone enjoyed themselves...especially Sam!

Christina's Creative Side suggested a candy buffet...the kids weren't the only ones digg'n that...

Making Memories with the McClellen's suggested the Dollar Tree...and yes, I think I purchased everything on their party favor aisle...everything else came from Party City.  I know, I know...not very creative.  But hey!  I've been busy!  Or I waited until the last minute...like 7pm the night before.  Whoops.

But I still got everything plus food for under $100.  Not too shabby.


Here are a few pics...

Here's the birthday boy!

The totally awesome Cookie Monster cookie cake that my dad made...
check out Jack's cake that he made!

Here's Sam with his birthday cake...

What's this?

Found my hat...

Ah, who needs a hat...back to cake.

Ginger

SSB

Father's Day is coming up!

I can't sleep...so I'm blogging.  Figures, huh?

I have a little something in mind for my husband for fathers day (look for that coming soon) but I came across these and HAD to blog about them...found these little beauties at Thoughts and Ideas!  Check out her post on these fathers day keychains!

What a unique way to show daddy you think he's the best!

She's got a great tut too so head on over and say that SSB sent ya!

Ginger

SSB

Family of Nerds!

Alrighty...so remember when I mentioned that we were going to my folks house for swimming fun???

My dad took a bunch of pics of us...and just added a few things.

Don't I look lovely?

How do we look??
Being silly is so much fun...

Ginger

SSB

I'm linking:

We Did it Wednesday at Sew Much Ado
Show and Tell Wednesday at Blue Cricket Design
Creative Flow Tuesday at These Creative Juices
Strut your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple
Show Off Your Stuff Thursday at Fireflies & Jellybeans
Hook'n Up Thursday at House of Hepworths
What You're Work'n With Wednesdays at Me and My Bucket
Tot Tuesdays at Delicious Ambiguity
Hoo's Got Talent at Night Owl Crafting
What Little Boys are Made Of at 733
Plant a Punkin Seed at Punkin Seed Production

Sesame Street birthday coming up...

So...its been a busy week.  Not only is my 2nd week at my new job...and its been busy.

But also!  Its Sam's 1st birthday party this weekend!!   

Woo hoo!

Alright...so we're a little tight on funds and I'm looking for fun yet thrifty decor for his party. 

Ideas?

  Suggestions?

Check out what I got so far...

I snagged these from Wally World the other day (super cute and only a few bucks)...perfect for the kiddo's.

And what's amazing is that we have a few Sesame Street friends living right in our home!  They will make a cute center piece for the table...you think?

And of course there will be yellow, blue and red balloons and streamers...much like Jacks party here.

I think I'm going to have my mom bake a giant cookie cake and have a Cookie Monster cake, but other than that...I'm kinda winging it!?  

Any cool Sesame Street ideas are welcomed!!  

Post a comment with a cool, thrifty Sesame Street party tip!

Ginger

SSB

Summer Lime

So I'm finally getting around to posting about the little painting I did...I mentioned it here for Mad Skills Monday.

Boy, it felt so good to be painting again!  I may have to do a few more...just for fun!

Here are a few close ups...

It's just a small painting on 8.5x11 canvas paper (you can get a pad of this stuff for just a few bucks at the craft store), but it packs a punch at my office!  I took it to work to hang on the wall near my desk!  Everyone loves it!

Here are a few others I did about a year ago.

"In the Beginning"

"The Thorn Bush of Burl Forsythe"

...a tribute to my grandfather, a victim of pancreatic cancer.

Hope you enjoyed!  Step out and paint something today!

Ginger

SSB

I'm linking:

We Did it Wednesday at Sew Much Ado
Show and Tell Wednesday at Blue Cricket Design
Creative Flow Tuesday at These Creative Juices
Strut your Stuff Thursday at Somewhat Simple
Show Off Your Stuff Thursday at Fireflies & Jellybeans
Hook'n Up Thursday at House of Hepworths
What You're Work'n With Wednesdays at Me and My Bucket
Tot Tuesdays at Delicious Ambiguity
Hoo's Got Talent at Night Owl Crafting
Motivate Me Monday at Keeping it Simple