Easy Trampoline PVC Sprinkler

  My kids LOVE to jump on our trampoline with the sprinklers on during the summer. But I get tired of setting the sprinkler in the center of the tramp then having to move it to water other parts of the lawn, then resetting it. So we came up with a great plan. This is our original idea and haven't seen it anywhere else.  

This is so simple to make all you need is:

2- 10ft sticks of 3/4" PVC Pipe

1- 3/4" PVC End Cap

1- 3/4" PVC Coupling

1- PVC Hose Connector

PVC All Purpose Glue

10-15 Zip Ties

Drill with 1/8" drill bit

PVC Cutting Tool/Saw

 

You need to connect and glue the 2 long PVC sticks with the coupling. On one end glue on the PVC Hose Connector. From here, find the best place that is closest to the water hose so that you aren't connecting the hose in an awkward area. You will zip tie the hose connector and PVC pipe to the trampoline at that spot. Then move around about 4 ft and put another zip tie there, and so on until you get to the end. Once you have gone around the whole tramp and secured it with zip ties you should be back to the hose connector. Cut the pipe and glue the end cap on here. Next, take the drill and drill holes slightly slanted to the center of the tramp every 2-3 feet. The closer the holes are the lower it will spray, the farther apart the hole the higher the water will spray. Make sure the glue is dry before you turn on the hose. Have fun and always supervise kids when they are jumping on a trampoline and are around water.

 

Happy Summer!! 

Lucky Blocks

Last year I posted my Lucky Blocks that I made at my sister-in-laws house about two years ago.  I remember that it was two years ago because my daughter was about a month old or so and had colic really bad.  It was my first experience having a baby with colic and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone.  

I went to my sister-in-laws house and couldn't even finish making the project because of my crying baby.  So my sister-in-laws came to my rescue and finished them for me.  Otherwise, they would have never got done.  :)  Thank goodness for family! 

My sister-in-law got all the materials ready for us to make them.  She had the wood cut and paper and vinyl available.  We even mod podged glitter on the blocks as a finishing touch.  

Such a fun and cute project!

Valentine Subway Art

Valentine's Day is just few days from now and just sneaking up on me.  Yesterday, one of my boys made his Valentine Box for his school party and addressed all the Valentine's for his class.  He is super excited!

A week or two ago, my friend came over and we used my Silhouette to cut a bunch of vinyl.  She found this really cute Subway art at the Silhouette store, so we downloaded it and cut out three of them.  

 

She was so nice and put it all together for me.  She cut, sanded and painted the board, applied the vinyl and then mod podged over it.  Doesn't it look so cute!  I love the way it turned out.  My board has dark pink vinyl.  She did her's and another friend's in dark red vinyl.  

My house is starting to feel festive and ready for Valentine's Day!  How about yours?

  

Dresser Makeover using Homemade Mod Podge

One of our most viewed posts of all time is our Homemade Mod Podge.  Now this recipe isn't ideal for every crafting project, but it is a cheap and simple alternative.  
Recently, one of our readers emailed us a few pictures that she took of a dresser she redid using the Homemade Mod Podge.  

   I thought that the results were too amazing not to share, so I asked her if I could share her pictures and story with all of you.  And I was so excited when she said yes!

 

This is what Jennifer said:   "I found your mod podge recipe on pinterest recently.  A week later my cousin gave me a colorful and sturdy dresser for my 7 year old, self proclaimed, fashionista...because she keeps outgrowing her dresser!  She asked me to paint her dresser purple ...but I really did not have the room, or money to devote to the project.  I picked up a huge damaged paper pack at Michael's a couple months ago for a sweeeet price that would really make this dresser wild and I thought that it would be a fantastic time to try out that mod podge recipe.  So on a Monday morning after I got the kiddos on the school bus I started measuring drawers and paper and cracked out the ole calculator (I haaaaaate math).  I cut up my paper and layed it out onto the drawers, (to check my measurements....not to shabby) sanded the surface slightly and started mod podging.   I distressed the mirror using some shimmer spray in the color sunflower, that I had in my scrap-booking kit, and added some paper scraps and a light sprinkle of glitter while the mod podge was still wet.  Next I cut out some leopard print shaped and mod podged them to the top of the dresser in a swirl pattern.  My dad painted the knobs and pulls a nice golden metallic hue.  I sanded the edges of everything and this is the end result...My girlie just loves it!  In total I devoted about 8 hours to the project and spent about $10.  I also gained a new addiction to add to my growing list of crafty addictions...decoupaging!"
Here are the before and after pictures:

Didn't Jennifer do an amazing job?  Thank you so much for sharing.  

We had a reader ask if the Homemade Mod Podge can be used as fabric Mod Podge.  I haven't tried it with fabric.  So I thought that I would ask you all.  

Have any of you tried it on fabric?  And how were the results?  

Thanks!  You are all awesome!

 

Carry-Along Truck Yard

For Christmas, I made my daughter a My Little Pony Farm.  I had to make something similar for my son.   So, I made this Truck Yard for him...  

I did the truck yard just like I did the My Little Pony Farm.  The only thing I did different is I only put enough spaces for 5 trucks since they are bigger than the little ponies.

It is really nice having something they can carry to entertain themselves with.  For the trucks, I got him construction trucks so he can haul the dirt, load it, and drive on the roads. He LOVES it!

Spooky Ghosts

A few weeks ago, our family made a few spooky ghosts to put on our front porch.  It didn't take very much time and was really easy.  Everyone loved this project!  My 1 and 3 year old even got involved, with the help of Dad. 

Materials:

Cheesecloth

Liquid Starch

Items to form the ghosts, we used plastic cups and foil

Put the liquid starch in a bowl.  Drench the cheesecloth in the liquid starch and wring out.  Form the cheesecloth into desired shape and let dry.  

We did this in the evening and the kids were so excited to run outside and see their ghosts all dried and ready to spook a few people.

Just a note: if the ghosts get wet, they will lose their shape.  A few of our ghosts got hit by a rainstorm and "melted" if you will. :)

Horseshoe Necklace Holder

I have been getting overstocked with necklaces, my personal ones and the ones I make. So I decided to go and create something out of my parent's scrap treasures! So I found this really antique mahogany board that my dad has had for about 12+ years! I cut it over 2 feet long and with horse shoe nails, nailed 3 used horseshoes to it. It costed me $0 cause I have such cool parents! 

 That is really antiqued paint, not new stuff here. :o)

Here is the rake head that I found and posted a few weeks ago. It now holds all the necklaces that I sell in my shop.

 Oh yes, and ALL of these are for sale in my shop called Western Hospitality. In fact I decided to share a coupon code with all of our Babblings And More Followers. Enter ILOVEBLING for 20% off in our Western Hospitality shop.

Grocery Bag Holder

We all have to go grocery shopping every once in a while, but what does one do with all those extra bags?  

Some people just throw them away, some people have cute ways to organize them and some people bring their own bags to the store.  

Well, I admit that I've thrown too many of these bags away and then we I need a bag, I don't have them.  Now, I won't have to worry about that any more!  I will always have these bags in stock and I have a super cute way to store them!

Does anyone recognize what this box is from?  It may look familiar...

It is a CapriSun box!  They have redone they way the package their juice boxes and they are perfect for storing bags!  With some cute paper and mod podge, you can turn this box into a trendy organizing tool!

What do you use to store your grocery bags?

Paper Clip Book Marks

Here is some easy book marks that we made for an Enrichment Night, Paper clip book marks. Some ladies donated a bunch of cloth and ribbon. We cut the fabric 6-8 inches long. You need to fold the fabric in half, stick the folded end through the eye of the jumbo paperclip, the tuck the cut ends of the fabric into the loop and pull. Add a few strands to the paperclip and there you go! 

Looks really cute in books to mark your spot. And the ladies really had fun! 

 

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Flubber

This was so fun to make! Homemade Flubber or it has also been called Gak. 

 All you need is Water, Elmers White Glue, Food Coloring, and Borax.

 Flubber

Mix in 2 separate bowls:

3/4 cup Warm Water

1 cup White Glue

2 drops of Food Coloring

1 1/2 tsp. Borax

1/2 cup Warm Water

Pour the mixtures together. Work it together with your hands or spoon. Once combined, drain off any extra water. It is the chemical reaction that actually makes the flubber. When it is a glob, work it for 2-3 minutes. Initially it feels wet but eventually dries up to the rubbery final product.

                       
                                     

Easter Wreath Tutorial

Here is an easy Wreath Tutorial for $10.

Wicker Wreath-$5

4 Bundles of Flowers-$4

1 Ribbon Spool- $1

This is what you need; wreath, flowers, ribbon, pliers, and glue gun (not pictured, whoops.)

Take the pliers and cut all of the flowers off the stems at the bottom of the bundle. You need the stem long so that you can glue them deep in the wreath.

Now, start with one matching bundle. Here I did the white berries and placed them kinda symmetrical to each other. Place a generous amount of hot glue on the bottom of the stem, then weave it deep in the wreath.

Here is another bundle. These were cute Easter Eggs with little flowers.

Do the next bundle. These were the pink tulips.

Now yellow Tulips...

Then the last bundle.

You can add more or less flowers. There really is no limit on how many you can squeeze in.

Now for the ribbon.

I found the center of my ribbon by folding it in half. Then I made a simple loop knot for hanging it on the wall.

Take the loop knot and place it where you want the top of the wreath to be.

Now take the ends of the ribbon and tie a secure square knot.

Now, to make a bow...take the ribbon and fold each end back and forth, which actually made 3 loops on each side. Hold it there.

Next, take the ends of the ribbon and go Under the bow, each in a different direction. Then meet back at the top and tie it again in a square knot.

You will need to fluff the bow up and shape it the way you like. It was easy with this bow cause it had wire in it. Now you are done.

Now you can take a deep breath and enjoy Spring!

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Burlap Music Picture

I made this picture about 14 years ago at an Enrichment Night Activity before I was married.  It has been hanging up in every house that I have lived in ever since.  Music is a big part of my life, so I have really loved this picture. 

 I haven't done anything to it until about a month ago, I painted the picture black and I love it!  I think it brings out the black in the music. And I think it looks so much better!  The frame was just a natural brown wood before.

So this was really easy to make!  We had this song printed off on a transparency type paper.  This song is found in the LDS Children's Hymn Book.   For the background, behind the song, I used burlap.  I taped the transparency and burlap to the mat and you're done!

I usually hang this up by my piano.  It's easy and beautiful!

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