Fine Feathered Friends Celebration

This time of year we always like to think of our fine feathered friends living out in the cold.

Mary, at Home Is Where the Boat Is, inspired our plans for National Bird Day on Sunday, January 5th, 2020. Our bird neighbors will be getting this Gingerbread House built especially for them to celebrate the new year in style. Pop on over to her blog for the blueprints.

Mary is also the architect of bird cottages. Pop on over and get the plans including the edible glue, the essenntial ingredient for sturdy construction.

A few years back we surprised the birds with these easy to create treats. Join us Celebrate Celebrate with Your Fine Feathered Friends

Learn more about National Bird Day and what you can do to help!

Sock It To Me

Easy to make…easy to love!

If your house is anything like ours you probably have a “Department of Missing Socks”. Do not mourn the sad loss a mate. Look what you can do with some of your favorite mateless socks.

Step-by-step illustrations and instructions can be found in the Sock and Glove book by Miyako Kanamori.  There are thirteen delightful projects that are quick to make-and certain to amuse and delight.  You can have new menagerie, including monkeys, elephants, piglets, bunnies, and even an insouciant fish.

These whimsical creatures make perfect gifts and inspiring companions.

Yesterday’s Sweater

The term UpCycle is generally a reinvestment in the environment. In the simplest terms, UpCycling is the practice of taking something that is throwaway and repurposing it into something of greater utilization and intrinsic worth, in its second life.

White Dandelion Works introduced me to what yesterday’s sweater can become. Just look at the soft cashmere hats that are still a necessary wardrobe item here in Minnesota.

Happy  Birthday (day before) yesterday)  Dr. Seuss! White Dandelion Work’s soft hot pink and light pink striped elfin baby hat by was inspired by Dr. Seuss. Made from an upcycled felted sweater it is eco friendly. Cute, cute and it stands up on its own like a pixie’s.

Loneweever UpCycles sweaters into “re-originals” like this pin cushion or brooch cushion.

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Heather from Dollar Store Crafts felts sweaters to create stunning mittens. She has a picture tutorial so you too can give it a try.

 

 

Put your arms around this idea. The Green Kitchen knows how to turn sweater sleeves into little pants and has a step by step DIY.

Unravel a couple of your no longer favorite sweaters and send the yarn off with dimensions to Biscuit Scout and get a Fisherman style sweater custom knit for your chair. Yesterday’s sweater – do you have one to Upcycle?

A Message From Santa

If you have not used this FREE message service before, you must give it a try! Santa Claus and his amazing PNP (Portable North Pole) console is online during the entire holiday season. With just a few clicks, this technological marvel will let your little loved ones receive a personalized message from Santa Claus himself, sent directly from his village in the North Pole. It is not only very cute, but FREE.  We started using it years ago and has now become a tradition.  You can create a fun little personalized video message to your child from Santa.

PLEASE HELP.

Help Santa out and keep him jolly. Be sure that he gets cookies at every stop. Share this jar with your friends and neighbors. Make It Do will show you how to craft the cheery covered jar and Bakerella has the recipe with the ingredients to fill the jar.

In a crafty mood?

Popsicle Stick Reindeer to make and hang on your tree or gift away. Expat Mom has the steps, one, two, three.

You’re Framed

You fill in the blanks!

The possibilities are endless for what you can frame on your walls with this wallpaper aptly named “Frames”.

Go right ahead, put a photo, drawing, hang your blue ribbons,  paste on a little bling or use your creative skills and attempt to paint something in one of the frames. It’s simply up to you! You’ll love how interactive it is.

“Frames”  by Taylor & Wood for Graham & Brown  is only $50 per roll, so you’ll still have some cash left over for markers and paints.

What do you think? You’re Framed?

Free Personalized Message from Santa

You must try this! Santa Claus and his amazing PNP (Portable North Pole) console will be online during the entire holiday season. With just a few clicks, this technological marvel will let your loved ones receive a personalized message from Santa Claus himself, sent directly from his village in the North Pole. It is not only very cute, but FREE. Give it a try, we have been using it every year and must say it was a fun little video message that Oliver receives from Santa.
Welcome Santa to your house with the important cookies.  Share a jar with your friends and neighbors. Make It Do will show you how to craft the cheery covered jar and Bakerella has the recipe with the ingredients to fill the jar.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>    Remember Rudolph too. A fun craft for the family to make together: Popsicle Stick Reindeer to make and hang on your tree or gift away. Expat Mom has the steps, one, two, three.

Sock It To Me

Easy to make…easy to love!

If your house is anything like ours you probably have a “Department of Missing Socks” also. Do not mourn the sad loss a mate. Look what you can do with some of your favorite mateless socks.

Step-by-step illustrations and instructions can be found in the Sock and Glove book by Miyako Kanamori.  There are thirteen delightful projects that are quick to make-and certain to amuse and delight.  You can have new menagerie, including monkeys, elephants, piglets, bunnies, and even an insouciant fish.

These whimsical creatures make perfect gifts and inspiring companions.

 

Pallet Love

Hello, I am Brooke from Start at Home.

I am a self professed DIY addict! Nothing makes me happier than finding something old and worn and turning into a treasure. Well, I may have to take that back, nothing makes me happier than finding something FREE that can be turned into treasure. So, on that note let’s jump right in.

Who doesn’t love a good pallet project, or at least enjoy admiring them from afar? I know I do. If you’re anything like me “FREE” pallets are always a little enticing and stirs up that creative energy which needs an escape.

Look how much fun this pallet table is I made for my 2 daughters. The pallet top was left raw rood with a dark stain to show off the character of the old worn wood. Since pallet wood is already worn it is great for kids, a few more dings and scratches can’t hurt it! If you are worried about splinters use a Polyacrylic to seal it up!

I know many of us don’t need a reminder of what to do in the kitchen, but just in case you do, I have created these large letters. These too are stained, to bring out the grain and imperfections, after all aren’t imperfections the root of character?

Painting your pallets is also a great alternative. Since pallet wood is usually pretty rough, painting it perfect is not necessary, just get that pain on there and sand it off a bit in places to let the wood show through. These worn frames make the perfect display for my energetic girls!

The possibilities with pallets are endless, so next time you find that old sad looking pallet don’t be afraid to pick it up and experiment, after all it is probably FREE!

Post by Brooke from Start at Home.

Minnesota’s Got Talent

Totally Kids fun furniture & toys is proudly featuring the art of Studio Dog Star for the month of June.  Stop in and see the colorful paintings by local artist, Jenn Nicholson Paskus.

Look, our Erin has totally gone to the dogs!

Jen received an art degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 1995, with a concentration in painting and printmaking.  Her love of dogs continued with her dog walking business from 1995 to 2003, where most of the inspiration for her work came from.

Jen uses vibrant colors to reflect the emotion and joy that animals bring to our lives.  Her abstract palette and stylized forms capture their character and represent the connection that people feel with their pets.

Along with Jenn’s collection, she is able to create custom paintings for people and their pets.

Visit www.studiodogstar.com to learn more about Jenn’s work.

Minnesota’s Got Talent!  If you know of other local artists interested in displaying their work at Totally Kids fun furniture & toys, have them contact Kate, our marketing coordinator.  She can be reached at 952-881-2425 or kate@shoptotallykids.com.

 

 

How About This?

How About This?

What do you think about a training dresser? The drawers are cleverly shaped like the appropriate clothing items. Even your youngest helper should be able to find the sock drawer.

It comes in two gender specific designs made from all kid-friendly components that are  hand crafted and packaged with care in Eastern Washington by the crew Mountain View Cabinetry.

Hats off, well shorts, shirts, socks and pants to designer Peter Bristol.

The Minimalist  Mom suggests “stop folding laundry!” She says

“with many loads of laundry washed every day, not folding t-shirts, jeans and underwear saved her hours a week.” With that concept and this dresser, children could be given freshly washed laundry that was never folded but  just sorted  right  into the drawers.