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Squeezed many times after two coats of Soft'n Slo paint markers completely dried over two days.
My 11 year old daughter has been on the crazy-for-squishies train for a couple of years now. She may even consider herself somewhat of a squishy expert. That being said, she and her twin brother own several Soft'n Slo squishies, and have been very pleased with them. They have held up for months before beginning to show signs of being lovingly squeezed over and over again daily. Since this brand of squishies has been pretty dependable overall, I was excited to see DIY Soft'n Slo squishies and paint markers at our local craft store. I purchased one of every style of blank squishy I could find, plus both packs of paint markers (regular colors and brights) as a gift for my daughter. Our daughter is a crafter at heart, and was so excited to receive this gift bag full of DIY squishies supplies.
Did the Soft'n Slo DIY Squishies & Paint Markers Meet Our Expectations? . . .
The blank squishies felt like the same great quality my children have come to expect from Soft'n Slo. Unfortunately, the paint markers did not perform as well as we would have liked. The freshly painted squishies looked amazing with very good coverage. After we allowed the paint to dry for a few days, however, there appeared to be spots where the paint did not adhere to the surface of the squishy.
Squeezed twice after single coat of Soft'n Slo paint markers dried for 4 days.
I suggested to my daughter that she try adding a second coat of paint. After allowing the second coat to dry for two days, we found that there were still spots where the white showed through.
Unsqueezed after two coats of Soft'n Slo paint markers dried over course of two days.
Next came the squeeze test. When we squeezed the squishy several times, the paint began to crackle and flake off. What would have been a beautiful one-of-a-kind squishy, did not end up being the masterpiece my daughter had hoped for.
What will we do with the remaining blank squishies?
We still love Soft'n Slo squishies, but the markers were just not the same quality we have come to expect from this brand. The blank squishies are great though, so what we will likely do is to try painting them with puffy fabric paint. This type of paint comes in a wide variety of colors and is made to be flexible. If that goes well, maybe my daughter can try to salvage her cake squishy or perhaps repaint other squishies to give them a makeover.
Two Soft'n Slo squishies our children received as stocking stuffers.
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Our children are now 11, 11, and 14. If you have older kids like us, that means you might be running out of ideas for ways to make the annual tradition of an advent calendar a fresh and fun experience. We have done everything from puzzle pieces to Lego minifigure parts, from Christmas books to dollar scratch tickets.
Since all 3 of our children are gamers, I thought it would be fun this year to give them a way to earn in-game currency. Usually, I am not a huge fan of spending real life money on virtual items, so I think this will be a real treat for them. Since we have three children, I'll give each child one guess at the answer to one 'game show' question each day. Only one child needs to answer correctly for all three to win the prize, which I have decided to be one dollar per child to go towards in-game currency or a gaming membership. DIY Game Show Advent Calendar Activity . . .
Step 1. Download the PDF below. Then either print out four copies of the blank cards or digitally add text and save four versions with six different game cards on each version. Do not include the answers to the game show questions on the card, but rather keep a list of them in a safe place.
TIP 1:I found age-appropriate Christmas-themed riddles online and used one riddle per card. Other ideas would be trivia questions, math problems, brain twisters, tongue twisters they'd need to say 3 times quickly, etc . . . If this activity is a hit this year, next year I might try Star Wars trivia questions.
TIP #2:If you don't have the dexterity (or the desire) to roll and secure 24 tiny scrolls, other options would be to merely fold the cards in half or into thirds, or to put them in business card sized envelopes.
Step 3. Put one scroll into each day of your advent calendar. I also always include one small piece of candy for each child, but that is certainly not required.
What ideas do you have for making an advent calendar more fun and interesting?
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This past July, our oldest son competed in the USA Taekwondo National Championships for the third year in a row, and brought home a bronze medal for poomsae. I was so proud of him because, although he had earned a medal in sparring in the past, he had yet to medal in poomsae, which is his true passion.
While at Nationals, we picked up some patches for his competition uniform and for his competition team jacket. We had the patch sewn onto his uniform by a local tailor for $5. Easy! Attaching the patch for his team jacket was not so easy. Since the jacket has a polyester nylon shell, I was told that puncturing it with a needle could cause damage down the road, and that it cannot withstand an iron hotter than 300 degrees.
I researched the issue online multiple times, watched many tutorials, and even reached out to Sport-Tek, the manufacturer of the jacket. Still, I could not find a definitive answer about how to effectively and safely attach this patch, which has an iron-on coating on the back, to this polyester nylon jacket. I did not want to experiment with any iffy methods, and risk ruining my son's jacket.
Then one day, in a last ditch effort, I tried to Google the issue again. I came across quotes from reviews on Amazon for a product that did not show up in my searches before, so I clicked through. The product was called Badge Magic. I read the reviews, and they looked very promising. Still, I did not see any that stated that this product would work on a nylon jacket using an iron-on type patch, so I asked the question. Several past purchasers replied that it should, but one finally replied with a definite "Yes!". That was what I was waiting for, so I ordered one sheet to give it a try. It worked GREAT!!! Since I had so much trouble finding the information I needed for attaching our patch, I wanted to share how easy this process turned out to be . . .
TIP #1:Be sure the fabric item to which you will be attaching the patch is clean and wrinkle-free, if possible.
Step 1. Place your regular or iron-on patch right-side up on the printed side of the Badge Magic sheet. While holding the badge in place with one hand, trace the shape of the badge using a pencil with the other.
TIP #2: Using an automatic pencil worked well for me because it gave me a fine line, and I was able to trace as close to the patch as possible without making any marks on the edges of the patch.
Step 2. Following the outline you traced, cut out the shape of the patch from the Badge Magic sheet.
Step 3. Peel off the printed backing from the shape you cut out, exposing the sticky surface.
Step 4. Carefully position the patch right-side up on the sticky surface, trying to line up the edges exactly. Press down firmly to adhere the Badge Magic shape to the backside of the patch.
TIP #3:The adhesive is extremely sticky, so try to be precise when attaching the Badge Magic to the back of your patch. It would be best to have an adult complete this step.
Step 5. If the Badge Magic shape is larger than your patch on any of the edges, trim the Badge Magic shape with scissors until its edges match up with those of your patch.
Step 6. Using a ruler, determine and take note of the desired position for the patch. (For example, I measured how far down from the shoulder seam the patch should be while my son was wearing the jacket. I also noted that the top right corner of the patch should hit the edge of the red stripe. Then I used those same guidelines to position the patch with the jacket sleeve laying flat.)
Step 7. Carefully remove the plain white backing from the back of the patch, exposing the second sticky surface.
TIP #4:According to the Badge Magic instructions, at this point you should fold back any extra adhesive seen around the edges of the patch, however, if you had trimmed the Badge Magic shape (Step 5), then this should be unnecessary.
Step 8. Position the badge in the desired position. When the position looks correct, press down firmly on the badge. Rub the handle of your scissors over the entire badge, especially the edges, to make sure there is a strong bond.
TIP #5:Since my son's jacket has a nylon shell, like a windbreaker, it was shipped to us with creases all over. I did not have a way to remove these creases, so I used both hands to put tension on the area where the patch was to be placed to flatten the material while placing the patch on the jacket.
That's it! The process was super-quick. The Badge Magic is said to be washable, but I have not tested that yet. My son's jacket is new and has barely been worn due to the warm weather.
Below is the Badge Magic instructional video. According to the reviews on Amazon, this product works great for Boy Scout and Girl Scout badges too.
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This Disney Road Trip Kit project was sponsored by Oriental Trading Company. All opinions expressed are my own.
Last month, our family of 5 took a family road trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida for the very first time! Not knowing when we'd have the chance to make this trip again, I knew I wanted to make it as fun and memorable as possible for my children. The ride was two days in the car each way, so a Disney Road Trip Kit for each child seemed like just the thing to make the ride more enjoyable. Before I got started, I checked out some Mickey Mouse party supplies for inspiration.
Are you planning on hitting the road to Disney? Here's what you'll need to make some Disney Road Trip Kits of your very own . . .
Step 1. Get your hang tags ready. With the hole at the top, place one monogrammed sticker centered on the front of a round hang tag. Then repeat with another sticker (same monogram) on the back.
Step 2. Find a free printable mouse head template online. Print out the template and cut out the mouse head shape with scissors. Then, with the desired pattern facing down, trace the mouse head shape using the template and a thin marker right on the table runner.
Step 3. Cut out the mouse head shape on the patterned paper with scissors. Affix the mouse head with the preferred pattern facing up onto the front of a large red gift bag using a glue stick. Press firmly and allow to to try completely.
Step 4. Tie on a monogrammed tag to each child's bag to help them know whose bag is whose. (Either remove the paper tag that comes on the gift bag or write something fun on it with a thin black permanent marker.)
Step 5. Use the remaining monogrammed stickers to label goodies and water bottles for each each child.
We filled these cake bags with mini homemade chocolate chip cookies, using one monogram sticker to keep each bag closed, and another to identify whose bag it is on the front.
We also labeled one box of savory treats and one box of sweet treats for each child with the monogrammed labels.
TIP #1:If you expect the treats will not be consumed within a day, it would be best to place the treats inside a sandwich bag prior to placing inside the box to maintain freshness.
Now our basic Disney Road Trip Kits are ready to go. What fun items would you add to personalize these kits for your children?
Here are some things we added to our children's Disney Road Trip Kits . . .
I think it's safe to say that my daughter's favorite parts of the road trip kit were the mini chocolate chip cookies and the pin trading pouches. Her two brothers ended up sleeping for quite a bit of the car ride to and from Disney.
TIP #2: It would be extremely helpful to put together a list of free offline (no Wi-Fi required) games together for your children. They can download all the games on their devices prior to leaving on the trip. Then they'll have new games to keep themselves busy while their siblings are napping in the car. (Don't forget to pack fully charged external batteries and cords!)
Like this Disney Road Trip Kit idea? Pin it for later . . .
What kinds of surprises would you include in your children's Disney Road Trip Kits? Tell us in a comment here.
Most 3G2S posts contain commission-yielding affiliate links. When you make a purchase after clicking a link, our family earns a small commission at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting our blog.
Our family will be making our first visit to Walt Disney World in just a few weeks. My husband and I have spent quite a bit of time planning in order to make this a memorable trip for our children. Being in their tweens and early teens, among the many things I thought they would enjoy is Disney pin trading.
How did I get them started? I bought a large lot of pins from a reputable seller on Ebay, and used them to fill their advent calendar this past Christmas. I also bought them lanyards to put their pins on. What I didn't expect was that my co-workers generously sent my children another large lot of pins for the holidays. How awesome was that of them?
Having way more pins than we could fit on their lanyards, I had to come up with a way to store the children's pins for easy trading during our trip, while keeping the ones they want to save for their collections separate. It would have been much easier if they were the sharing type and would be willing to combine all the pins they want to trade away in one container. Alas . . . that is not the case. So, here is what I came up with . . .
Step 1. Use your chalkboard marker to write each child's name on a label (one name per label) as pictured below. We chose to use a white marker, but you can choose almost any light or bright color.
Step 2. After the labels have completely dried, center each self-adhesive name label on the clean exterior front side of your clear pouch. Then press down firmly to apply the label securely.
Step 3. Select one color of foam for each child. Then trim 1-1/4" off the longest side of each foam sheet, resulting in a 4"x4-3/4" sheet. Do this for 3 foam sheets (more can be added later).
Step 4. Place one foam sheet inside the pouch to act as a divider. Then attach all the pins your child would like to KEEP on the remaining foam sheets by pushing the pins through the sheets and securing with the official Mickey pin backs. When done, insert the sheets with the pins into the clear pouches with the pins facing the back of the pouch (the side without the name label).
TIP #1: I ordered some extra Mickey Mouse pin backs because my youngest son already lost one. Disney Parks pins are not tradable unless they have the official Mickey head backings, so it couldn't hurt to have some extras on-hand.
Step 5. On the other side of the divider, fill the front side of the pouch with all the Disney Parks pins your child WANTS TO TRADE away. These pins will remain loose and will be easy for your child to grab one when making a trade.
TIP #2: I took a friend's advice and had my children put the pins they wanted to trade away the MOST on their lanyards. Then they can replenish their lanyards with the loose pins from their pouch anytime.
When a child has acquired a new pin to add to their collection, they can either drop it into the backside of their pouch or quickly pin it onto one of the foam sheets.
This little pouch is compact and easy to carry. Each child will have a small daypack with them, so they can each carry their own pin pouch. One less thing for mom or dad to carry, right? If you like this DIY project, Pin It for later . . .
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This 'A Year of Smiles' mason jar craft post has been sponsored by Oriental Trading Company. All opinions expressed are my own.
Years ago, I created another 'Year of Smiles' craft for my own family's use. It was a makeshift craft, using an empty potato chip can. Eventually, it was retired. This year, I feel like many families around me have been struggling with gratitude, including my own. This motivated me to rethink this craft, and to turn it into something gift-worthy.
You could gift these A Year of Smiles Jars for New Years, birthdays, graduations, or any other special day. Recipients just need to write down all the things that made them smile, big or small, along with the date, using the included pen and paper. If participating as a family or group, be sure to have everyone write their name or initial on the paper as well. Then just fold the paper up and drop it in the jar. When that date rolls around again the following year, take all the smiles out of the jar and read them to relive those wonderful memories.
TIP #1: Since the mason jars are rounded, choosing smaller confetti to decorate the outside of the jars helps to ensure that each piece will lay flat against the glass.
Step 1. Using the foam brush, apply an even layer of acrylic sealant to a small section of the outside of the jar. Then place the confetti, sequins, or beads as desired. (For example, I made it so that these leaf confetti pieces were touching and overlapping towards the bottom of the jar, but placed them less densely as I went upward on the jar.)
TIP #2: Avoid applying sealant to the bottom of the jar and to the threaded neck of the jar to ensure the jar does not stick to surfaces while drying and that the lid will sit correctly on the jar when closing it.
Step 2. After the first layer of sealant has dried, inspect your decorated jar to see if you would like to add additional confetti, sequins, or beads. If yes, then apply sealant to those spots and add additional pieces as desired. Drying time of the sealant will depend on your climate.
Step 3. After the sealant has dried, apply a thick even coat of sealant, covering the entire outside wall of the jar from the base of the neck to the base of the jar. Allow to dry completely overnight.
Step 4. Starting at the binding, roll up the small notepads and secure with baker's twine by wrapping the twine around the roll several times, and tying into a bow. Double-knot the bow for added security. I chose to usesilver and gold baker's twine because they work with all color themes.
Step 5. When the sealant has dried completely, screw on the lid of the jar until it is closed completely, but not so tightly that the recipient will have trouble opening the jar. Next, choose which side will be the front of your jar. Then apply the round sticker to the lid so that the words face the front of the jar.
TIP #3:Avoid applying the stickers to the jar lids prior to putting the lids on the jars. This will cause the sticker to face a random direction when the lid is twisted onto the jar.
Step 6. Open the jar. Place 4 rolled notepads and at least one pen into the jar. Then close the lid again.
Step 7. (Optional) Wrap baker's twine around the circumference of the lid 8 to 10 times. Then tie a bow with the two ends on the side that is the front of your jar. Double-knot for added security. For a special touch, tie knots on the two tails of the bow. (You may need to knot the baker's twine in the same spot 2 or 3 times to create a visible knot.) Then trim the tales below the knots with scissors.
You're done! I made the fall-themed jar below for my sister's November birthday. The colors also match her living room. She just loved it, and thought it would be a wonderful activity to do weekly with her husband and grade-school aged son.
I made this ombre beaded jar for my own home. The winter colored beads match my kitchen and dining area. If you have blue in your home, there are all kinds ofwinter craft ideas that include pretty shades of blue.
TIP #4:When making a beaded jar, be sure your final coat of sealant is a thick one. I generously dabbed on acrylic sealant over the beads to be sure the sealant filled the spaces between the beads. Do not brush the sealant over the beads because it may cause beads to fall of the jar.
I made the jar with the confetti stars for friends of ours who like to celebrate New Year's. My daughter is planning on making one just like it for her favorite 5th grade teacher. 'A Year of Smiles' Jars would make a great gift for almost anyone who would like to be (or needs to be) more positive.
