Year in Review Kid Video

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This is me cheating on my #videoaday thang. But who cares really? You don’t, I know you don’t. I don’t.

I’m cheating because I made this video LAST January. So I thought if I’m going to cheat a bit I would give you guys something in return.

Do you want to know how easy it was to make that video? How about I write a post and do a screencast about it. I can get you to do a Year in Review Video of your kids in no time at all. Wouldn’t you love that? I know you would!

Here’s last year’s video (2012). I am going to do 2013 this weekend. I’ll take notes and make a screencast and give it to YOU!

The Taming of the Art

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I finally broke down and bought the Keepsake Portfolio at Lakeshore yesterday while I was getting a teacher gift.

Why not as mom gift as well? Times 3!

I had been balking for 3 years because of the price thinking that my homemade version would be just fine.

Clearly my current solution in not exactly working.

Heh.

The plan is to keep everything throughout the year. Cull it every month or so by taking pictures and recycling. Keeping only the stuff I, or the kids, reaaaaaaally want.

I’ll let you know how that goes!

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The link above is an affiliate link, justs so you know :-)

DIY Autograph Books for Disney World

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I am not so crafty, but I try. Sometimes I do it because my kids are begging me. Sometimes I do it because the occasion demands it.

Other times, like this one, I just want something special and different. Autograph books for Walt Disney World.

I just wanted something personalized, small enough for their little hands, and inexpensive.  I didn’t want them to have the very same, kind of cheap feeling, one that everyone else had. I wanted a lot of pages, strong pages that wouldn’t bleed through. I searched for a couple days online and finally settled on these.

I ordered them through Dick Blick Art Materials. They are a simple 6″ x 4″ sketchbook. It comes in black and kraft. They were $5.13 each. I got some stickers and scrapbooking notions from Michaels and, well, all done…

Mirage Sketchbook Kraft 6″ x 4″

I really love them. The kids will further personalize them as a craft on the plane with some stickers. When we come home I’ll get some photos printed and stick them in there. There’s even enough pages for me to make some notes for them about the special things they saw and did on their trip. And of course a special love note on the inside back cover from mama to each of them.

I also got them each a clickable sharpie in their favorite colors. They are big enough for the characters to hold and will show up really well on the pages.

So it wasn’t like a real craft, really? But I made it for them, and that’s what matters to me.

Seriously? SO excited.

The not so crafty mama gets her sock puppet on.

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Okay so this one isn’t going to win any awards or anything. But it’s a classic.

I was tired and they were begging for a craft.

If you need directions, well, then you need more help than The Life of Reilly can provide.

Seriously.

Not so crafty mama makes Valentines

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I searched for a bit to try and find a Valentine that both my 5.5 and 3.5 year old could make together. I gave them a couple of choices and they decided on these ones from Martha Stewart.

They were real easy to make. I could have let the 5 yo do some cutting but thought it would be faster if I just did it. Faster, yeah right.

You will need:

Construction paper
scissors
glue
markers
lollipops

Fold the construction paper and cut out hearts about 2 in tall.
You’ll need 4 hearts for each Valentine.
Paste the hearts together to make a flower and let dry.
Punch a hole in the middle and insert lollipop.
Write the names on them.

Done!!

After we decided I found these from Design Mom. Every one of them is so cute. SO cute. Maybe next year.

The non crafty mama get her sailboat on.

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Again, I don’t think I can take credit for this one either. I don’t know if I saw it somewhere or if it just came to me in a vision as I was looking at yet another egg carton in the recylcle bin.

You’ll need:
egg carton
construction paper
markers
scissors
glue

I know most sites would give you detailed directions, but um…

Cut the carton and then cut the paper. Glue the paper onto the carton. Oh have the kids decorate the paper first :-)