DIY Diaper Motorcycle!

A few months back, I found a similar project to this on Pinterest. The pin that I found required floral wire and I was just not interested in something that complicated, so I created this diaper motorcycle!  I made on for my friend, Melissa, and then this one, for a co-worker of Jim's.

Here are some basic instructions:

What You Need!

1 Package of receiving blankets (I like to choose a set off of the person's registry.)

Thick sized ribbon (coordinating with blankets)

Diapers! (These are size three. I bought a large package and used approximately 60 diapers.)

1 baby food jar (empty)

1 pair baby socks

3 larger rubber bands

Smaller thin ribbon

1 toilet paper roll

Glue gun with 1 stick

Instructions

1. Take 18 diapers and overlap one another, forming a small round circle to form a wheel. Secure that diaper "wheel" with a rubber band around the whole thing.  Repeat with 18 more diapers. Then, take 24 diapers, and form the larger wheel.

2. Cover rubber bands with chosen ribbon and hot glue the ends together to make it stay.

3. Take one receiving blanket, fold into a triangle and then roll up to form the handlebars. By folding it into a triangle, it will be longer, enabling you to thread it through the largest wheel and joining the two ends up top. Secure with a rubber band.

4. To form the handle bars, I like to cut the toilet paper roll in half and form smaller rolls within the blanket to form stiffer handlebars. Once completed, they should stick out nicer and you can add the baby socks.

5. Take another receiving blanket and thread it through the big wheel and wrap it around the outer part of the other wheels, connect behind the big wheel by knotting.

6. Take one more receiving blanket and form a "seat" by folding. I simply tuck ends into middle hole of front tire where the other two receiving blankets are threaded through.

7. Finally, place baby jar facing outwards to form a "headlight" and tie smaller thin ribbon on handlebars to cover the rubber band.

One final option is to buy a stuffed animal to add to the gift that is "riding" the motorcycle.

This diaper cake is always a hit and actually pretty simple. Once you get the hang of it, you can probably assemble the whole thing within a half hour.

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Fancy Little Things: DIY Amazing Drawer Liners

Hello new friends! This is Aimee from Fancy Little Things. I am so lucky that Lani asked me to share a project with you this week! I have been blogging at FLT since we launched in March 2010. We have 8 authors covering topics from Marriage to Faith to Photography & Fashion. We have such a great time as a Christian Women's Magazine and I get to share DIY projects each Monday! Please stop by!

So, let's get started...

So, how many of you have ever purchased drawer liners for yourself? You know those expensive, scented ones that come rolled up in the long box with a pretty bow & label attached. I know I have certainly purchased them --- but ALWAYS FOR GIFTS, NEVER FOR MYSELF!!! I admire those of you that have spent between $20-$30 on a package of these, trimmed to size and put in your own drawers --- I just can't bring myself to doing it!

While I was flipping through 1 of my many favorite magazines preparing for this month's projects, I came across this page of "Things to do This Month" in March 2011's issue of Better Homes & Gardens. {Pardon the folded mess - but it's been tucked inside an envelope in my "Projects Journal"}

& when I first glanced at this page, I pulled it out thinking it was part of a drawer liner tutorial... this is when I glanced to the bottom left corner of the page and saw this:

Yes, do you see that price? $25 for a set of 6?? Do you know how many rolls of white paper I can buy for $25??!!!

So, onward we must go --- to the very tutorial that will save you lots of money & you'll have plenty of money to purchase a fancy bow to give this project to a friend!!

DISCLAIMER {before we begin}: Make sure you use paper ink only for stamping and let your paper dry overnight before use. I do not claim any responsibility for the ink passing to your clothing or other items!

List of Materials:

• Paper roll... I used the kids Melissa & Doug Easel Paper, but have seen paper rolls for $1 at the Christmas Tree Shoppes!
• Ink {I purchased mine for .60 a piece by using a coupon at AC Moore}
• Stamp {I LOVE this stamp - again, used another coupon and purchased for $6. --- will use for MANY more projects}
• Measuring tape, scissors, pen
  

 If you want to add scent...

• Scented oil
• Cotton swabs

Step 1: Measure the drawer you wish to line --- dresser drawer, utility drawer, closet or desk drawer! Measure the drawer size leaving two inches extra on each end for folding. Mark at the 2 inch march and fold under {this will help the liner from rolling under as you stamp & place in your drawer.

Step 2: Decide on a pattern and begin stamping. Press lightly on the ink pad and have fun...

Step 3: Let the paper liner hang or lay flat to let it dry overnight...

Step 4: Go on to the next drawer...

Step 5: Once the paper has dried overnight, rub your hand over the ink to be sure its set... then, place it in your drawer {or roll it up, add some ribbon & a tag and gift to a friend}.

Step 6: Dab some oil on the cotton swabs and place under the corner of your drawer liner.

Step 7: ENJOY!!! I love how the drawer liners look in my bedroom dresser... off to make some for my desk drawers!!!!

So, what do you think? Come visit us for some more!!

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Freckles & Dirt: Finding My Motivation

Hi y'all! I am so glad to be hanging out here on Lani's blog while she's attending her brother's wedding! If you don't know me, my name is Jessica and I blog over at Freckles & Dirt about business, crafting, motherhood and so much more! I own a blog, web and graphic design business called Southtown Creative and I absolutely l.o.v.e. my job!

Lately I've taken a new turn in my life where my fitness and healthy eating are VERY IMPORTANT. There's not much that I like better than sweating it out at the gym for an hour and I honestly wish I could go more (they only have child care 2 days/week)! Back in High School I was a competitive cheerleader and took weight training and gymnastics as classes every year so I stayed in pretty good shape without really having to try. That all changed after high school, I kept eating like I was before but was ZERO percent as active as I had been, so yeah, the pounds just PILED on. I've lost here and there and have generally kept my weight under control but never where I'd like to be or need to be and add marriage, building a house and having a baby to the equation and, yeah...you get the picture. During my latest obsession though, I've come to realize a few things that have helped me in this journey and I thought I'd share with you guys.

• Accountability, accountability, accountability! For me, I knew I was eating healthy before and I just assumed that I was eating a normal amount of calories. Well, don't assume. Be accountable. I signed up for a MyFitnessPal account (I am in no way an affiliate or anything for myfitnesspal.com, just love the tools!) and plugged in my numbers and it gave me the magic number of calories that I should be consuming each day to lose weight (it will also help you gain or maintain). You log your food that you eat and see how the little things (like 7 string cheeses per day...I don't know who would do that though...nope) add up to WAY more calories than you should be eating. This helps me be accountable for my exercise as well, if I exercise, I get more calories, how would that NOT motivate you to work out, right?
• Motivation :: It's very hard for me to find motivation to workout at home. With a toddler and housework and LOTS of work to do, working out at home ranks pretty low on the to-do list, even though, it really should be first. When I do workout at home, it's usually a bike ride with my neighbor, who motivates me but that's about it at home. Now...the gym, the gym is a WHOLE other story! I am paying for a gym membership, that's motivation enough not to waste it. The gym takes me back to a time (High School) when I was a MUCH slimmer and much more in shape and it helps me realize how much I miss those days. Motivation. There are pictures on the walls of awesome weight-loss stories, etc...motivation.
• Goals & Rewards :: Set realistic goals and give yourself rewards for reaching those goals. By rewards, I mean things like, a new dress, a new pair of running shoes, exercise clothes or maybe even a haircut (my personal 20lb reward I'm working towards) NOT food. DO NOT reward yourself with food. You're not a dog.
• Grab a friend :: Please don't actually grab them, I mean, unless you have that type of friendship, then, do whatever you want I guess, lol. Working out with a friend can help you be motivated (back to motivation here) to get up and go instead of make excuses. Having weekly check-ins with friends or groups provides the same motivation.
• Eating is the most important thing, exercise is 2nd. Seriously, if you're eating like crap (not watching your calories) exercising isn't going to do you a bit of good. MyFitnessPal (there's an app too) really helps me with this. If I'm going to grab a snack, I go for fruit (apples, bananas, grapes, cantaloupe, etc) instead of cookies, it's WAY better for you AND you can have probably 1,000 times more fruit for the calories than you can of cookies.
• Do Research :: If I want cookies, I research and dig for a healthy cookie recipe that changes chocolate chip cookies from like 200 calories/cookie to 70 or something like that. If I want to get rid of a trouble area on my body, I research what needs to be going on in my workout routine to accomplish that.
• Have a cheat day :: I generally have a cheat day on Sundays. I don't login to My Fitness Pal and track anything but I still mentally keep up with it. Now, having a cheat day shouldn't mean eating whatever you want, but if you go over your calories by like 200 or something, don't kick yourself. Have that cake. But just have one piece and try and keep your other food in a healthy range.

I hope all of that makes sense and I REALLY hope that it helps somebody out there trying to embark on a new fitness journey!


Thanks for having me Lani! Pin It

Manic Monday

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That's right....it's Monday! last week it was crazy, I ignored my sweet little blog day after day, but I was thinking about all of you the entire time. 

Tomorrow I am leavin' on a jet plane to KANSAS, my baby brother is puttin' a ring on it come Friday and I gots to be there.

I have a week full of fun posts for you from some of my dear friends and favorite bloggers. These guest posts are crafty, funny, inspirational. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do and show them some love! 

I'll be back next week with your regularly scheduled program and a recap of my week in the K-State!

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P.S. I'm guest posting...

P.S. I'm also guest posting over at I"m A Texas Blogger today. It's all about Austin, the most amazing city I've ever lived in. Check it out!

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