Lori Seaborg

Photobook Winner! And a Coupon

 

We have a PhotoBook winner!  Samantha, congratulations! 

I put all six of the names in a jar and had our 10yo daughter pick one out.  No cheating, I promise!  :) 

It was really fun having a drawing.  I think I'll do another one soon, after I find some more stuff you all might like.  

Hewlitt Packard gave me a coupon code just for my blog readers.   The coupon is good until December 31st.

Thank you for joining the drawing!   Watch for the next one; you just never know when I'll be so inspired.

by Lori Seaborg 2007

A Fun Project & A Drawing for a FREE HP PhotoBook!

I was recently introduced to a fun way to create a photo album that looks like a scrapbook without the mess of scrapbooking or the time it takes.  The trick? 

A PhotoBook from HP (Hewlitt Packard)!

What's super cool is that the HP PhotoBook comes with the software needed.  It's fun to work with, and really easy.  I do wish the program provided even more templates (it comes with about 20), but on the other hand, because of its simplicity and limited choices, you can create a photobook quickly.

Also included in the kit along with the software:  a hardbound PhotoBook cover (sizes available:  8-1/2"x11" and 5"x7"), directions and 12 sheets of photo paper.  In other words, you'll get everything you need except the computer and the printer (you can't expect that, too, can you?).

I'm making one for Christmas for Tim's grandmother, who is 94 years old, so I've been playing around with the program for the past few days. 

To make a PhotoBook,  you open the program (provided) in your computer, then simply choose a template, choose which photos to use, and write some text if you'd like. 

Then, you simply print out the pages on the provided paper, or you have a print service do the printing, and then...insert the printed pages into the PhotoBook! That's it!

If you don't feel like you're a creative person, this is really great for you.  You'll look like a Creative Queen! 

If you are someone who loves creativity and always wants to do more to every project (I totally understand), you'll like knowing that the photobook expands beyond the 12 provided pages, so you can also insert traditional scrapbook pages into the hardbound covers. 

I think Tim's Grandma is going to be so pleased!  And I'm pleased to have a gift for her that is so meaningful yet quick to make.

Soon, I will blog my final product to you.  I'm pretty sure Grandma doesn't get on the Internet.  She doesn't even own a computer (why bother, when you're 94?!).

One of you will be pleased as well, because I have a

spare PhotoBook to give away!  

You'll get a 5"x7" pink or green photobook, mailed to you, for free!  

Put a comment below by Friday midnight (December 7th).  On Saturday, I'll put your names in a sock and have our 4yo pick one out.  She won't have a clue how to cheat! 

Please be sure that I know how to contact you.  You don't have to put your email address in the comment box, if your comment links back to your blog or another place where I can email you. 

I can't wait to see who wins! 

by Lori Seaborg 2007

A Month of Sewing Tutorials

If you like crafts at all, you absolutely must pay this site a visit:    Sew, Mama, Sew

Imagine!  A full month of sewing tutorials!  Each day in November (2007), a new set of craft tutorials is posted. 

Today:  Lunch Bags!  How fun is that?! 

by Lori Seaborg 2007

Crafty Blog: Me and My Girl

I've been surfing the crafty blogs again - this time of year makes me do that - and wanted to share this new one with you:  http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/meandmygirl/ .  The author of the blog created Me and My Girl to encourage mothers and daughters to create things together.  Recent posts include Lollipop Cookies and a darling tote created from a child's crayon drawing. 

The author comes from this blog:  http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/ , which is well worth exploring.

Enjoy!

by Lori Seaborg 2007

Crafty Blog Tutorials

Many of you have enjoyed the Crafty Blogs that I posted recently, so I thought I'd give you a little more inspiration by posting some of my favorite tutorials from those blogs.  I haven't created any of the projects yet, but I'm sure going to do so!  I think.  Maybe.  If the weather stays yucky.  If I remember to buy thread.  If.....  No more excuses; I just WILL finish a project! 

How to Make a Yo Yo
these little darlings on cute on anything from a quilt to blue jean pockets

Criss-Cross Coasters
a pretty way to use up fabric scraps, these also make great gifts

An Easy and Quick Shoulder Bag to Make
this is first on my list of projects to do.  I already have the material!

A Fairy Figure from Angora, Wool or Mohair
I have an Angora goat who needs shearing.  This is what I'm making with her "lesser quality" mohair.

A Really Cute Dog Leash
I have an Angora goat who needs this....just kidding!  I don't have a dog, but this leash is so cute I might make it even without one!

Patchwork Notebook Cover Tutorial
A handy thing for a homeschooler

and for Valentine's Day... Toffee Fondue 

That ought to keep you busy for the rest of the month! 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Crafty Blogs

I'm sorry I've been so quiet lately.  I have been obsessed with 2 things:  Decluttering and Crafty Blogs. 

Our garage is getting more and more empty by the decluttering day.  I moved a changing table and an old desk to the far corner and said to dh, "This is my studio."  I'm hoping that calling it that will:  1.) Keep it more clear of clutter, and 2.) Entice me to use the space.  The kids were fascinated with the idea that a corner of the garage can be a studio, so took them only hours to pull out acrylic paints and wooden objects. 

Now they all want a studio of their own. 

Crafty blogs have been a second obsession of mine lately, and that is where I've been spending the majority of my online time.  Here are a few of the blogs you can blame for me not blogging to you: 

Kiddley - This is a great one for homeschoolers!  Kids' crafts abound on this blog, which is written by many designers.

Craft Apple- Craft Apple is one of my favorites.  Lots of sewing and lately beginner knitting ideas (I'm a beginner knitter, too). 

Heather Bailey:  I love her recent Yo Yo posts. 

All Sorts :  If you want to make last minute Christmas gifts, these criss-cross coasters look easy - and very cute!

Anna Maria:  This blog by a craft designer is another favorite.

I could send many more, but that's enough for you to visit for now.  If you are likewise inspired to craft (even if only in thought, not in action - I can understand that!!!), visit other crafty blogs by clicking on the links on the above blogs.  You will soon find yourself surfing away through crafty blogs that you'll wish you'd known of at least in time to make something for the holiday season. 

Merry Christmas!

Creating a Nature Journal or an Art Journal

Nature journaling is the art of drawing and painting what you see in nature.  I'm going to write more about it soon, but wanted to give you a few ideas on creating a nature journal or, if you don't nature journal (you may be like us, and have to basically stay indoors most of the summer!), you can use these ideas to create a book full of your child's artwork.

At Big Lots, of all places, I found Drawing Pads (9"x12" - 50 sheets - 70 lb. paper) and Watercolor Pads (9"x12" - 12 sheets - 150 lb. coldpress watercolor paper) for I think $1.99.  You can also buy similar pads of paper at Hobby Lobby or Michaels.

 

On nature hikes, our children carry a drawing pad each.  It has a nice thick cardboard backing, so they are able to use it "out in the field." 

 

To give them the freedom to try and occasionally fail, I told the children that they don't need to worry about messing up in this book.  We are going to take out the pages that are really good, and create a book out of the drawing pages and the watercolor pages. 

 

IDEA #1: A Handmade Book: 

To create a book like we often make, go to:  http://www.dickblick.com/lessonplans/2006twigbooks/Default.asp (in the directions, the paper is folded.  You can create your book without folding the pages by ommitting just that part of the directions. 

 

If your drawing or painting is not as big as the book's pages, simply cut your drawing or painting out to size and glue it (or use one of the adhesive options from scrapbooking) onto a new piece of paper or cardstock.  Bind that page into the book. 

 

IDEA #2:  A Quicker Way: 

Buy a scrapbook with page covers (or purchase the covers separately).  Cut the children's drawings/paintings out of the drawing/painting pad and paste the drawing (or use any choice of scrapbooking adhesive) onto the paper in the scrapbook.  Cover the painting with a plastic page cover (if desired).

 

Lori Seaborg

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/KeepingtheHome

Turning Your Child ' s Art Into Embroidery

I think it's important for children to learn "handicrafts" - those crafts such as sewing and embroidery and wood-working that may prove useful in adult life. 

This week, I decided to turn some of their drawings into embroidery designs.  Our eldest son, age 10 (well, okay, he's turning 11 this week, but I'm in denial) and our eldest daughter, age 8 designed, transferred, and embroidered their own designs.  Our 6yo son designed and transferred his, but I am embroidering it for him.  (I think he could do it, too, but with a plastic needle and on burlap or plastic canvas.)

STEP ONE: 

First, draw a picture.  This is a picture that Britty drew of her new kitten.  She drew it left-handed, even though she is a righty, because her right elbow is broken and in a cast right now.   Pretty good, considering all that!

STEP TWO:

Transfer the design onto any fabric of your choice.  Denim, broadcloth, linen, cross-stitching Aida cloth, burlap, silk, etc.   For the first time, choose a cloth that is light-weight (eg. not denim this time) so the child can insert the needle easily.  Brittany, 8, transferred her design onto a piece of pink linen purchased at the needlework store.  Brenden, 10, transferred his onto inexpensive broadcloth, purchased at the fabric store. 

There are several options for transferring a design.  One idea is to just have the child draw on the fabric in the first place.  If they drew on paper, you may transfer the design via your computer (scan it then print it), use a transfer pencil, or do what we did:  put the drawing under the fabric and simply copy it with a fine-point Sharpie (see Step 4 to view the results).  

 

STEP THREE: 

Choose your thread.  On burlap or plastic canvas, use yarn.  On the other fabric choices, use perle cotton thread or embroidery thread (usually sold for cross-stitch and sold in hundreds of colors).  We used DMC cotton embroidery thread, which our model is displaying below. 

For the needle, use a chenille needle or a tapestry needle.  You may also use a plastic child's needle.

STEP FOUR:

Start embroidering!  Choose from hundreds of stitches.  Back Stitch is the most common stitch used for outlining, and was very easy for my children to master.  For filling in small spaces (like the bunny's carrot in another project), we used Satin Stitch. 

STEP FIVE:

When finished, you have lots of options.  Here are a few: 

• Leave the project in a wooden embroidery frame, such as above, and hang it on the wall
• Mat and frame the embroidery (there's a huge debate amongst needleworkers as to whether or not you should use glass in the frame - you choose)
• Turn the artwork into a small pillow
• Use it as a stool cover
  

My children have all requested small pillows for their embroidery projects.  While I am completing the 6yo's pillow, I will help the 10 and 8 yo's do theirs, and so we continue learning!  :) 

I'll post a photo of our finished project around the first week of July.

Here is proof that boys can embroider, too.....

(he's our just-turned-11-year-old, creating a black and white cartoon character)

If you post your projects, please send me a link!

Lori Seaborg

2006

A Handmade Card

Thought I'd share the handmade card that I designed and created  yesterday.  If you're interested, I'll post step-by-step photos of how to create a card like this one. 

(note: if you're coming in through the portal page, the photo may not display.  Click here to see the entire blog and it should show up)

The short version is that I used a piece of scrapbook paper (patterned), a piece of cardstock over the scrapbook paper, eyelets (the ribbon comes out of those), ribbon, a piece of gold cording with a "thanks" tag attached, and a Thank You stamp on the inside.

I'm working on a website called ScrapJournaling.com (there is nothing there yet) to promote journal writing and creating handmade books and cards.  You'll get a lot of ideas on the site, I hope!  I'll keep you updated on that.

by Lori Seaborg 2006

Rug Hooking

Brittany, 8,  and I are going to make a run up to Hobby Lobby (an arts and crafts store) this afternoon after her doctor appointment (she broke her arm last week in a trampoline accident) to buy some polar fleece so we can try our hand at rug making.  She was given a rug (latch) hooking kit from Nana recently, and was having such fun learning the craft when she broke her right arm and can no longer hook! 

Her rug hooking reminded me that I've been wanting to learn "real" rug hooking, the kind that uses burlap or other cloths like that, and in which you design your own rug.  It's not that I'm an amazing artist - I've never even taking drawing classes -- but if it doesn't work out, I can always say I was purposely trying to create a  Picasso-esque design. 

I'll share our attempts with you, if we ever get anywhere with them.  For now, enjoy this website (click here), which will teach you rug hooking the traditional way (but with modern materials such as polar fleece).  If you can't find an antique rug hook, you may use a regular latch hook, but just tape down the latch - you won't need that part of it.  You may also use a crochet hook.  Traditionally, a bent nail was used (the nail was hammered into a piece of wood for a handle). 

by Lori Seaborg 2006

My Favorite Granola

I tend to eat this mostly as a snack, out of hand. Sometimes I'll put a little in a bowl and add milk, for breakfast, or sprinkle it over vanilla yogurt.

Almost every time I make this granola, I change something, using what I have on hand. Feel free to change it around to suit you!

Pour 4 cups old-fashioned oatmeal into a large roasting pan. Heat oats in 350F over for 5 minutes. Remove from oven, stir, heat 5 minutes more.

Heat together:

• 1/3 cup maple syrup OR honey
• 1/4 cup oil (I usually use olive; it's healthiest)

Remove from heat, cool, then add:

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon almond extract (optional; I never seem to have it on hand)

Combine together:

• 1-2 cups chopped nuts (my choices: pecans, almonds - use your favorites)
• 1/2-1 cup seeds (my choices: sunflower seeds; flax seeds - add your fav.)
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• optional: 3/4 cup bran cereal (I've never added this but hear it is good)

Add to heated oats and mix thoroughly. Pour honey-oil mixture over oat mixture. Mix thoroughly.

Add:

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg powder

Return to oven, bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes, stirring about every 5 minutes for even browning.

Remove from oven and add any dried fruits that you like, such as raisins, dates, apricots, cranberries, cherries, etc. I most often use the granola without adding any fruits to it at all.

Mix thoroughly. Cool and store in an airtight container.

by Lori Seaborg

Spring on the Gulf Coast

 

Spring is certainly here on the Gulf Coast!

 

Blooming:

 

Azaleas, Camellias, Bridal's Wreath, Bradford Pear, and so many more that the colors are just dazzling.  Our azaleas on the Gulf Coast are particularly lovely this year.  It is as if the entire county has brightened considerably in the past couple of weeks.

 

Collecting:

 

Eggs, eggs, eggs...in the doghouse, behind the doghouse, in the woods, and in the chicken pen (where they all should be laying!).  Green ones, pink ones, bluish ones, and brown ones.  Wish I could give you some!

 

Buying:

 

Local Alabama Produce:

 

Strawberries, fresh off the local farm -- and at only  $8.99/flat (but I first paid another farmers' market $12.99/flat before I found that better price -- ah, well)

 

Fresh local spinach at $2.49 for a huge bag of it (we use fresh spinach as our lettuce - shh, the kids don't know you're supposed to have anything else)

 

Almost Local Florida produce: 

 

A whole box of "canning tomatoes" (they call it that when they have a slight blemish on them) for just $4.49 for the entire box (just over 20 lbs.)

 

A big bag of slightly blemished pickling cucumbers for $0.99 

 

A big bag of slightly ugly yellow squash for $0.99

 

Almost Local Georgia produce:

 

Vidalia onion greens -- mmm!  $1.49 for a bunch of 4-6 big onions with long greens

 

Ugh....The apples weren't a great price at $1.29/lb.  for Fuji's, but we can't grow everything down here!  And I don't know where the $0.99/lb. green grapes came from.

 

In My Garden:

 

Late-February planting: 

 

The onions are about 6" tall; carrots are about 2"; radishes are doing well; the mustard greens are being eaten by my chickens before they can grow; early peas are about 4" tall; can't remember where the beats are, but I think I planted some!

 

March planting:

 

The watermelons are sprouting; I planted cantaloupe, yellow squash, zucchini, and bush beans a few days ago.

 

From the Burris Farm Market in Loxley, Alabama:

 

A recipe I am going to try tomorrow.

 

Strawberry Bread

 

3 cups all-purpose flour

2 cups sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

4 eggs, beaten

1-1/4 cups vegetable oil

1 cup chopped pecans

2-1/2 cups chopped Burris Grown Strawberries (or, your local ones!)

 

Combine first 5 ingredients and mix.  Combine remaining 4 ingredients and add to dry mixture, stirring well.  Spoon into 2 greased and floured loaf pans.  Bake at 350F for 1 hour.

 

by Lori Seaborg