Giant Pretzel Jar - Ideas Wanted

Any Ideas?

Well, we just finished our gigantic jar of pretzels and now as I sit here staring at the empty container I can't bring myself to throw it out. I keep looking at it, thinking that there has to be something I can use it for...

Something crafty for this kids or myself, a toy for the dog, a giant "ocean in the bottle" or a giant "I Spy Bottle"??!?!?

Any ideas?

Fish In A Bag Soap

After some (a whole lot) of hesitation I finally made the "Fish-In-A-Bag Soap" as favors for my son's pirate themed 4th birthday!

Thanks to the awesome tutorial from Little Birdie Secrets they are all done! A few had to be re-made at the time since it was very late at night and I kept making the same mistakes but the tutorial has lots of great pictures and great directions so I did not feel like I was a fish out of water (sorry, I could not help myself).

Here is a picture of one that I made-

I also made tags to hang from each one, which I folded in half, punched a hole in and hung from the tops. One side has a picture of a little pirate bear and has my son's birthday info and info on the soap such as ingredients, etc and the other side has a picture of a pirate parrot and I put the following little poem:

I like pirates, can't you see,

and pirates swim with the fish of the sea

That is why my mom made this soap for you and me!

Here is the finished favor!!

Cheap, Easy, SUPER GREAT "EASTER WREATH"

The main reason that I follow people's blogs to to find creative ideas for myself and children. Well, Cindi over at cindis.blogspot.com had a great idea for a beautiful Easter wreath that I just had to try. Click on this link for her wonderful tutorial on how to make your own:

http://cindis.blogspot.com/2009/03/moms-do-some-grass-this-month.html

Here is another pic of my wreath -The only thing that I did differently than Cindi was glue my cardboard to a wire wreath ring for more stability. Here is a picture of the type of wreath ring that I used. I do not suggest doing that although the end product was very sturdy and easy to slip on the a wreath hanger, it also pushed the whole thing out to far so I was not able to hang it on my front door because there was not enough room between the regular door and storm door. Live and learn.
Although this was not an original idea (Thanks, Cindi), I am entering my creation in Lindsay's over at Living with Lindsay's $5.00 challenge. For more information on the challenge, click the button on my sidebar - there is still some time to enter if you are interested or simply click on this link http://www.livingwithlindsay.com/2009/03/are-you-ready-for-challenge.html.

For the sake of Lindsay's contest here is what I spent:

4 packages of Easter eggs from local discount store - $2.00 (they were 2 for a $1.00)
Spool of Ribbon - $1.00
Easter Grass - $1.00
For a grand total of $4.00....(I had my wreath frame, cardboard and glue sticks at home already so they do not count!)

Movie Gift Basket - Kid Party Ideas

Okay, so this is not my idea for throwing a kid's party but it an idea for a unique, personalized, fairly inexpensive gift!

It is stuffed with a movie, little pink throw blanket and pillow, 2 packages of Jiffy Pop (the fun kind), box of animal crackers, box of Teddy Grahams) and two movie theatre style boxes of candy.

All I did was put on the bowl "Movie Night at _______'s House), drew pretzels, M&M's, popcorn and a little fun decorations, sealed it, stuffed it, shrunk wrapped it and ta-da!!!

I Spy With My Little Eye...

Here is a picture of my most recent project. My 80 square, I Spy Rag Quilt for my two little boys. We have been having so much fun this last week playing with our new blanket. There are so many ways to play with this not to mention how cuddly it is. It is also a great way to get my hyper-active one to settle down. I give myself "two-thumbs up" for this one!