Easy, Cheap Baby Leg Warmers

Baby Leg Warmers!  What could be cuter?!

They are super cute paired with cloth diapers, skirts and even just onsies.  I've been a fan since my oldest was a baby. 

This tutorial is how to create super easy, super cheap baby leg warmers for your toddler/baby.

You will need: knee high socks (all these were $1 each pair at the Dollar Tree), scissors, thread, sewing machine.

First, cut above the ankle, below the heel and above the toe.

Toss the toes and heels.  Fold the foot portion of the sock with wrong sides together, line up the raw edges.  This will be the cuff.

Now slide this cuff over the top portion of the sock.  Line up all the raw edges.

 

Open the bottom and sew together, you will be sewing 3 layers all around.  I stretch a little as I sew and use a straight stitch. 

Turn the cuff down (the way it will be wore) and check for any funky lines or missed layers.  If there are any resew that area.  The cuff can be made shorter, that won't hurt anything.  My first pair have a small cuff. ;)

Once it looks good turn the cuff back up and trim off the excess.  I've never had any issues with freying.

And now you have created some super cute leg warmers.  Enjoy!

 

 

These are great for your own baby or toddler and make great gifts.

Please share and repin!

Dry Erase Activity Book

My kiddos just love tracing letters and shapes and scribbling on paper.  After a while that paper adds up.  How many trees have to die?!

My alternative is dry erase.  Cheap and easy clean up, win win.

I found some laminated books at the Dollar Tree for tracing letters and numbers.  My girls LOVED them....then got bored.

So I got the thinking, if there was a variety to trace, pictures to color, games to play, matches to make that would likely last longer.  So I thought that a binder with laminated pages in it would be great.  However, I do not own a lamination machine.  Then it hit me....sheet protectors!! 

Here's what I used to start two of these books:

(2) 1" binders, (4) or so workbooks (I found these at the Dollar Tree), (1) pack of 50 sheet protectors ($3 at Walmart), (2) pencil bags (.99 @ Walmart) and (2) packs of Crayola Dry Erase Markers.

Start by cutting/tearing out the workbook pages and sorting into piles for the appropriate child.  I made these for a 2 year old and a 4 year old.  So shapes, matching, colors and alphabet for the 2 year old and alphabet, words and numbers for the 4 year old.



Now put the sheets into the sheet protectors in the appropriate order.  There were some pages I didn't care for so I paired those "wrong sides" in in a sheet protector.  Be sure your numbers and alphabet are in order if applicable. Staple or tape the tops shut (my 2 year old would pull every page out if I didn't do this.  Plus, they are cheap enough to buy more of when it comes time to switch them up).

Now put onto the binder rings.  Place markers in bag and place it inside as well.  I will be making an eraser for the board as well as adding some items and pages.



The possibilities are endless with this and I have many ideas.  More posts to come on this!

Please comment, share and pin.  :)

Homemade Mannequin

How many times have you found yourself with creativity and motivation to sew something for one of your kiddos after everyone else has gone to bed/school/friend's house/where ever??

And then you find yourself wishing you had a mannequin Kiddo's size.....but have you priced those things?!?!  Geesh!  I don't know about you but I'd rather shell out those bucks for fabric and other fun items....not the mannequin....though it really would come in handy....

Well, I have a solution!  AND it's CHEAP!!!

Here's what you need:
Cute Kiddo, Plastic Wrap, Duck Tape, Scissors and Newspaper/Plastic Sacks

First and foremost, you know your kiddo better than I do.  If you don't think your child will hold still long enough (20 minutes) or will get upset by being all wrapped up and unable to move then DO NOT do this!  Honestly, my 2 year old did better than my 4 year old, so it's not really an age thing.  Again, you know your child, only do this if YOU feel HE/SHE can handle it and DO NOT do this with babies.

Also, please please please, do this in a COOL room.  It was 73 degrees F in our house and my kiddos broke a sweat in the very short time it was on them.

First Step:  Put Kiddo's hair up in a pony tail, wouldn't want to get that stuck in the tape!  Undress Kiddo down to undies.

Then you are going to wrap your kiddo in the plastic wrap.  Be sure to wrap beyond the areas you will be duct-taping so as to avoid any tape on the skin.  Also be sure to get the under arm area and thighs.  Don't wrap too tight, the goal is to cover and protect from the tape.

Now you are ready for the Duck Tape! 

Right about now your kiddo will probably have to pee.

Now, pull the tape away from the plastic wrap and cut using BLUNT scissors (I'd love to get my hands on a pair like the ones used to cut gauze and what not at the Dr's office).  I highly suggest first cutting the tape and then the wrap.

The result will be a mangled looking sheet of duct tape.

Match up the pieces and tape them back together.  Then you will stuff the empty shell with newspaper and plastic bags and tape up the leg, arm and neck holes.

The result is a homemade mannequin that won't complain.  Mark your child's size on it with a Sharpie and get sewing!

Imagine how neat it would be to keep these body forms for years.  Making new ones as our children grow.  If you have the storage space it would make an awesome and unique growth chart!

If you enjoyed this post and found it useful please pin it.  :)