Cut out a 10″ Square. Serge all the way around the edges. I used the rolled edge stitch on my serger.
No serger instructions: Cut out 2 – 10 1/2″ squares and sew them right sides together using a 1/4″ seam, leaving a hole for turning. Turn it right side out, iron and whip stitch the hole.

Sew a 1″ piece of velcro into the corner. Flip it over and sew the other side of the velcro onto the opposite corner on the opposite side of the fabric.

Fold in the corners without velcro first, then fold in the velcro corners. It is like an envelope.

You can also use it as a little tablecloth when you picnic.

Cowardly Lion
To create the cowardly lion, I traced around a hooded sweatshirt for a pattern for the hood. I cut it out of some tan fabric I already had. After sewing the right sides together and turning, I sewed some brown bias tape onto the bottom to encase the raw edges, leaving enough to tie the hood under the neck. Then, I looped some brown yarn around my fingers to use for the mane. I had to do the mane in small sections. I took the looped yarn and sewed the center to the edge of the hood. To make the ears, I cut out rounded triangles (2 for each ear), sewed them right sides together, leaving the bottom open for turning. I cut out of brown felt slightly smaller rounded triangles to glue to the inside of the ears. Then, I cut holes in the hood where I wanted the ears and sewed them in.

To make the tail, I cut 2 1/2″ x 24″ rectangle out of the same fabric. I sewed it up lengthwise, right sides together and turned. I used the same looping method to create the end of the tail.

The lion will also wear a tan shirt and tan pants.

This is the bedspread before dying it.

This is after.  I took the camera to the laundry mat to take pictures, but totally forgot while I was there.  Notice our cat.  She wouldn’t get off for me to take a picture – that is HER spot.  She does look irritated though that I was bothering her.

Items Needed:
Pine Cones – we have an abundance of these on our property
Wax – we use broken ones or the ends of burned down candles
Sawdust – we got a bag of sawdust from a local woodworker

Melt the wax in the top of a double boiler.

Dip the pine cones into the wax, then immediately into the sawdust.

Let Dry.  We store them in a bag I made out of old jeans.

(Edit)
I made the denim bags using the same basic technique as the fabric storage cubes.  I just didn’t add the cardboard and made them smaller to fit the size of the jeans.

I started looking around to see what’s available.  There are to lots of bags you can buy that use velcro, but I am afraid the velcro would get yucky.  So, I decided we’d just make our own fold over style bags using PUL fabric.  PUL fabric is used for making cloth diaper covers, so it is washable and has a moisture barrier.  I don’t think I’d feel comfortable putting hot foods in it, but it should be fine for our purposes.

I ordered some PUL fabric from Very Baby in Candy Pink and Sea Spray.  I was pleased with how thin the fabric is.  It is just right for this project. Here’s how I made mine.  They are just the right size for chips, crackers, or cookies.  They are a little small for sandwiches.  Here’s what we use for sandwiches.

Cut out 7″x15″ rectangles.

Serge all the way around.  I used the rolled edge stitch on my serger.  If you don’t have a serger, don’t fret.  This part is inside the bag.  Just zigzag around the edge or use pinking sheers all the way around.

With the fabric shiny side up, fold over one side 6″.

Fold the other side down 3″ or so until the fold meets up with the end you just folded.  Pin the folded parts just through the top layers.With the pins still in, turn the bag inside out.

Sew up the two sides.  I used 1/4″ seam allowance.

Turn the bag right side out and take out the pins.  Now, just flip the top over and you have a fold over baggie ready to put in someone’s lunch box.

Here’s what you’ll need:

colored papers
blender
large tub
anything that floats (we have used glitter, dried, crushed flower petals, thread) Use your imagination here!!
frame with screen (I asked my Dad to make a frame with an opening the size of the papers I wanted.  Then I went to the local window shop and they found some old screen for me in their trash.  We stapled it together.)

I picked out the papers that didn’t have any writing on them, or just tore off the writing if possible.  I then sorted them by colors.  Then, I got the kids involved.  I had them shred them into small pieces for me.  Next, we soaked the pieces overnight in water.The next day, we drained most of the water off and blended the papers.  It looked like a paper smoothie.

Then we put the paper smootie into a big rubbermaid tub and added some water.

Next, we put the frame into the water mixture and swirled it around a little, then pulled it out.  You might have to do this a few times to get the paper pulp evenly distributed.  Then, just set it outside on a sunny day to dry.  You can peel it off when it is done.

You can keep making paper from the same pulp until the paper produced gets too thin.  You’ll be able to tell what I mean when you get to that point!

I took profile pictures of each child, then made them the size I wanted using a graphics program.  I cut out their faces and used these as a pattern to cut out the silhouettes out of black card stock.  I glued each one onto white cardstock.

Here’s the finished project.

It was easy to quit using paper towels for cleaning.  We just started using rags instead.  I even use rags for cleaning mirrors and glass and it works just fine.   Switching to rags to wipe up spills was also an easy switch.

It was harder to switch for washing dishes.  I like to use a fresh cloth every time I wash dishes and paper towels seemed like the easiest way to do this since I didn’t have very many dishcloths.  But then I realized, it is cheaper to make or buy some new dishcloths than it is to keep buying paper towels!  Why didn’t I realize that earlier?!  Anyway, I found a small ball of yarn in my yarn stash and started double crocheting a new dishcloth.

It works really well!  I simply wash after one use so I don’t have to worry about germs growing on it.  I am looking forward to making some more.  It is a great little project to work on while helping the kids with school.  Now, if I could just figure out a sanitary replacement for dixie cups in the kid’s bathroom!