Make Perfect Chalkboard Art

I purchased this great framed chalkboard second hand and instantly knew it needed to go in my kitchen. The kitchen also happens to be the entrance to our home, so I loved the idea of hanging something customizable and to have it where people can see it. 

You have to be a bit computer savvy to create the template for the chalkboard in the way I have. I'm using simple and common software programs that most people should know enough about. If you have Photoshop, you're using more advanced programs than I am and should know what you're doing. I also did also look at stencils in stores and either couldn't find what I wanted, or they were too expensive. You do have the option to shop for one if you wish. My way also allows for customization of the size according to the dimensions of your chalkboard (you can't with a pre-made stencil). You can also reuse the designs with the way I'm going to show you.

Step 1: Preparing the template - create a Word document

First you need to start by measuring your chalkboard area. Create a new Word document and size the document to match the size of your chalkboard. Mine is 19"x19". When designing within the Word document, remember the edge of the Word page is also the edge of your chalkboard - you don't want the design to be too big/too small.

Search the Internet for chalkboard design templates and ideas, making sure to find some fairly large in size and resolution. Some designs come outlined already. The design I liked was filled with black and I needed to print it to a fairly large size, so I didn't want to waste black ink.

Crop any watermarks or borders you don't want and insert your template into Word and stretch it to size, remembering to not get too close to the edge. If you lose quality (lines become pixilated or blurry), you'll need to find a design in a larger resolution. Right click the image and find "Format Picture". You'll want to adjust the Brightness and Contrast until just the outline is left. You can ignore this step if your template already has an outline. Save the Word document as a PDF.

Adjust brightness and contrast so just outlines are left.

Template should look like this after editing.

Step 2: Print the template and tile the pages for large chalkboards

You'll need to print the PDF file and tile the pages if the design is larger than the paper size your printer can print. Arrange the tiled pages and put them together like a puzzle. There will be some cutting and taping involved and I suggest using scotch tape because you'll need to trace over the tape in a later step. Trim any excess paper from around the design and see if it will fit on your chalkboard.

Left: Taping and cutting the template; Right: It fits!

Step 3: Next you'll need to have the design facing down and colour with a stick of chalk on its side, all over the back of the printed design. This is my easy way of making "carbon paper". Coat it really good and if you can, use a dark coloured chalk so you can see what you're doing. Place the design chalk side down, carefully where you want it on the chalkboard, and secure with masking tape or painters tape. With a pencil (not too sharp), you'll need to start tracing the entire design. Hopefully when the tracing is complete, you'll be left with a copy in chalk on the chalkboard. I could just barely make out my design but was able to freehand some missing spots by having a smaller version of the design beside me.

Step 4: Now for the fun part! I bought this (expensive enough) chalk marker at Michaels ($5.79) by Craft Smart and I have to say, I wasn't overly impressed with it. I would compare it to using paint - you need to keep fluid motions and not stop when drawing or it's hard to make end and beginning lines look similar. I'm right handed, and I had to work from left to right and top to bottom because chalk pens do smudge. It did the job fine but maybe a bit more practice and I can get it to look the way I want. I also decided to not fill my design in with this chalk marker because I didn't want to "waste" it. I opted to fill in the words with plain old chalk and used a blow dryer to remove the excess chalk. For colouring the shapes, I tried the very inexpensive chalk crayons I bought from a dollar store ($2.50), and they worked the best of everything and next time I'd like to fill letters with these. The colours came out vibrant and with nice textures. Using my fingers I smeared chalk from my "carbon copy" template around the outside of the chalkboard to finish the look. All the chalk pens and crayons claim to be washable from a chalkboard with a bit of soapy water, so we shall see about that.

I'm sure there are other techniques you can try to create chalkboard art. I had fun doing this anyway and can't wait to change my chalkboard in a few months.

Dealing with Sensitive Skin and Skin Issues

Since cold weather here seems to want to hold on (but not for much longer), I thought I'd share some of my skin care tips that our family has used for dealing with skin irritation in the cold months. Both our kids inherited skin sensitivities and issues from me, which are worsened in the cold weather. I've always had dry skin and usually their problems are just rashes now and then (and it's not always easy to identify what the trigger is - it's usually a sensitivity from something coming in contact with their skin.) Jacob has been diagnosed with eczema and flare ups are usually caused by dry weather, sweating and the type of clothing he's wearing. So I'll start with what I do to help with the eczema.

Jacob age 2.5: This photo was taken after a bath and Vaseline had been applied. The redness usually subsided by the morning.

Jacob was about 2 years old when he started getting horrible rashes on his knees and shins, down to his ankles. The physicians diagnosis was eczema. I bought lots of different creams and special soaps and nothing significantly helped. But I needed to figure out first what was triggering the outbreaks. It took a lot of time to research and identify what was causing it and what we could do to effectively prevent and treat it. Looking at where his rash was, and the amount of time he played on the floor sitting on his knees, it made sense to assume it was caused by his clothing. Jenna had a one-time issue with a rash when she was about the same age and it was because the laundry detergent in her clothes didn't rinse properly. I switched her to Tide Free laundry detergent and it worked for her, but this didn't help Jacob. I remember seeing an episode of Dragons Den about a company that sold soap nuts and they started the company for the same reason - they were eczema sufferers. You can read about soap nuts here.

5 whole / 10 half berry husks and cotton sack.

A quick internet search, and I found a local store that sold soap nuts. That was 2 years ago and Jacob's outbreaks have been minimal. The soap nuts are very easy to use: place 5 whole or 10 half berry husks into the small cotton sack (see photo at left) and soak for 1-2 minutes in hot tap water to activate. This is good for up to 4 loads before you need to refill the sack (the berries can go in the compost), and they also work with front loading machines. Additionally, clothes come out clean and with no scent, and seriously, little boys on the farm have stinky dirty clothes. Not only is this product environmentally friendly, but very economical as well. I just bought a second bag of soap nuts for $18. The first bag I bought was 2 years ago for the same price, $18!!

I try to be pro-active and treat his skin before the issues start. When he bathes, it is lukewarm and I wash him with a Polysporin Eczema Care body wash. Pat dry, especially the problem areas, and gently apply plain old Vaseline (petroleum jelly) up and down his legs. I tried once to apply Vaseline on dry skin, and it became very red and painful, so the skin should be damp and better achieved with a bath.

Polysporin wash and petroleum jelly.

In winter on cold days, my hands become so dry, and also with the constant hand washing *germs*, the backs of my hands crack and bleed. It can be very painful. This is one of Jenna's issues as well.

My poor hands.

Aveeno hand cream.

I use Aveeno Intense Relief Overnight Cream (see photo at right,) applying before bed, and usually by the morning my hands have healed. It took me many years to find a product that worked. These brands really need to come together and provide one big sample kit so people like myself can try each one without breaking the bank. And any time my hands are uncovered when the weather is -10 or colder, this is when it gets much worse. I've at least figured out that much - keep hands covered.

I've also struggled, and continue to struggle with acne. I'm 31 and it's still an issue, which seems crazy to me. Aside from going on medication (which I'm not quite ready for yet - mostly because I don't have severe acne), I've started using essential oils to treat my face. I tried Pro-Active many years ago and I think I have now found similar results, but without the harsh chemicals and accidental bleaching of towels and pillow cases (such a small amount is all  it takes to leave a bleach mark.) Has anyone tried Pro-Active? The active ingredient is benzoyl peroxide and it's crazy how many towels I ruined.

Locally grown and produced lavender essential oil.

I received the lavender essential oil bottle for Christmas. The lavender is grown and the products manufactured locally - actually down the road from us and I didn't even know about it! It came with a pamphlet describing the uses and acne treatment was one. It kills the bacteria which in turn reduces acne. You can read more about the uses for lavender here. I never thought I'd be a person to use essential oils. I never saw the use or need after hearing about their popularity over the last few years. My opinion has definitely changed though.

St. Ives scrub.

You cannot apply essential oils directly to skin without a carrier of some kind, so I use it along with St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub (see photo at left.) I've been using it in the shower in the mornings because it's just easier to rinse the scrub away. I apply a dollop of scrub to my fingers, make a divot (indent) with my finger in the scrub and put one drop of lavender essential oil in that indent. I mix it and gently massage into my face for about 30 seconds then rinse. My face feels tingly while I massage it in and when it's rinsed, it feels very clean.

At night when it's time to remove my makeup, I apply coconut oil with a disposable cotton round pad over my face and let that sit for awhile to help moisturize. Then I wash with Spectro gel and apply Aveeno Positively Radiant toner with another cotton round pad. Before bed I usually apply a thin layer of moisturizer or night cream. I've been using Nivea Pure and Natural soothing day care lately and I like it. I just started using a primer under my makeup too, which I think helps protect my skin by creating a barrier under the makeup. It's always good to find a moisturizer with some SPF and I may switch to that soon (when the sun starts to come out more, anyway).

L to R: coconut oil, Spectro Gel; Aveeno toner; Nivea moisturizer; CoverGirl face primer.

Disclaimer: I do not endorse these products by getting paid to promote them. I'm simply sharing for the fact that they have worked for our family and myself after struggling for a long time to try to find skin care that works. Use caution any time you try a new product on your skin.

I feel like I accomplished something.......some cleaning and general tips

So I was stuck in the house yesterday with the kids all day thanks to freezing rain and bus cancellations. I figured it would be pointless to attempt any sort of paperwork because, kids, (and actually my littlest did lay down and have a bit of a nap and I was able to get through a big chunk of paperwork!) But don't even get me started on how it's easy to feel guilty when nothing gets accomplished in the house. I have days like those and I decided today would not be one of those days.

They were both getting along pretty good for most of the morning so I decided to tackle some of the cleaning jobs that don't get done on a regular basis. Here's some quick cleaning tips that are chemical-free, all natural, and use ingredients you have around the house. My hope is it will help you to remember to clean these things before they get forgotten because they are definitely not a big priority on the daily list of chores.

My main cleaning ingredient is fresh lemon, and you may want to use dish gloves to protect your skin. It stings! (Thanks winter dry skin)

First I started with the microwave. Not too dirty at this point, but doesn't hurt to give it a clean to keep it from smelling bad.

Slice up a lemon and throw it into a shallow dish with 1-2" of water. Microwave for about 3 minutes and let it sit for about 10 minutes. The steam will break up any cooked on food. After 10 minutes, wipe everything down with a warm washcloth and leave door open to air dry. I did use a scrub sponge on the tough spots.

While I was waiting for the 10 minute mark, I did a complete clean out of the toaster. Our poor old girl has been neglected the last while (she's melted on the top and in a bit of rough shape, but we love her!) It's so easy to forget the crumb trays underneath. This is a potential fire hazard if it gets built up too much.

And I thought I'd give a shot at the burnt areas on the top of the toaster. I actually grabbed a slice of lemon from the microwave and squeezed a bit onto a paper towel, dabbed that in some baking soda and rubbed it all over the burnt areas until completely covered. I let it sit for awhile and then using my scrub sponge was able to get it mostly all off. I did the same with the outside plastic areas. Make sure you let it sit to dry completely before using it and give it a good shake to get any additional particles out. And don't forget to unplug it before even attempting to clean!!

Save those lemons! I used them to clean hard water stains off the kitchen sink tap. Rub the lemon all over the hard water stains and sprinkle baking soda over it all. Using a paper towel, gently rub mixture all over and let sit for 5 minutes. Using a scrub brush or sponge, scrub the areas until polished and wipe with a warm cloth.

It didn't get it completely clean but definitely looks a lot better.

While all this was going on I was also doing some laundry. Don't forget to check and empty the lint trap on a regular basis. I emptied mine today. It's a potential fire hazard if the lint trap is left full and the dryer will run more efficiently if you clean it regularly.

Finally, some of my eyeliner pencils needed sharpening. Because the lead is so soft, It's easier to sharpen them after they have been frozen for a few hours. After sharpening, draw on an angle across a paper towel and the tip sharpens just that much more, and you're all set.

So that's what I got accomplished yesterday. And that's what one of my quiet days looks like! I hope you can find some of these tips useful.

Easy Playdough Recipe

The Kindergarten classes at my kids school always asks for volunteer's to make playdough for the class. Of course I try to help out where I can and making playdough takes very little of my time, and besides, the kids enjoy playing with it. Since it's been four years since my oldest child has been in Kindergarten, I discovered this recipe I was given back then has become outdated! To colour the playdough, the recipe calls for the little packets of unsweetened Kool-Aid powder. I've always liked to use it because 1. it's easy and 2. the playdough is scented in the flavour of Kool-Aid you chose. Apparently unsweetened Kool-Aid powder is no longer sold (that I could find in our local grocery store), but it's now sold in a sweetened liquid form and you can add how ever many drops to a big jug of water or a small water bottle. I don't recommend using this to colour the playdough, but rather food colouring.

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 cup table salt

4 tsp. cream of tartar or alum (found in the spice/baking aisle)

2 cups water

2 tbsp. vegetable oil

Food colouring or 1 packet Kool-Aid powder (if you can find it)

Instructions:

1. Mix flour, salt, cream of tartar (or alum) and Kool-Aid powder (if you have it) together in a large cooking pot.

2. Mix water and cooking oil together in a separate bowl. Mix in food colouring in this step if you are using it.

3. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Stir to mix.

4. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until it forms a ball-like shape. Do not overcook (about 5-7 minutes).

5. Turn dough onto clean, dry counter surface and finish mixing/kneading by hand. Putting the dough on parchment or waxed paper works really well. For protection if you have sensitive hands, you can wear dish gloves for this step but it's not required.

6. Allow dough to cool. If you can, lightly wrap the parchment paper around the playdough so it doesn't dry while cooling. Store playdough wrapped in parchment paper in a Ziplock bag.

7. Have fun playing! If you don't have playdough toys, kitchen utensils work great and create fun patterns. Just make sure to supervise your kids.

Tips for Raising a Creative Child

It's always nice to receive a special home-made gift or picture from your child, but what do you do with all these creations? My oldest child is always creating and crafting something. Usually it's just with a piece of blank computer paper and some tape. Empty Kleenex boxes become a home for a stuffed animal or a hat for her little brother. Sometimes I find myself hiding the empty boxes or cardboard rolls from toilet paper, so Jenna doesn't see they're available to use. Eventually these creations start to pile up and I just don't know what to do with them. I hate having clutter around and I would really just love to throw them in the burn barrel, but that would hurt her feelings.

An example of what we have around the house at any given time: 1. Mother's Day tissue paper flower; 2. Bulldozer (too big to be in the house);
3. Littlest Pet Shop house; 4. Doctor kit; 5. Bed for a stuffed animal; 6. A shoe box filled with Tim Horton's lid creations; 7. & 8. My Mother's Day gift - a stationary set; 9. School project - diorama of man vs. nature; 10. Bug homes made from tractor light boxes; 11. Robot made at March Break camp;
12. Kites

Some of my tips for dealing with a child
who likes to create a little too much:

1. Ask first:

Mom or dad, grandma or grandpa, babysitter or caregiver should be the first to ok a new project. Keep supplies out of reach and out of sight. Our craft supplies are locked in a cabinet. Set limits: teach your child that he or she shouldn't start a new project if there isn't time to finish it or if there is already another one on the go. Always finish what you start. For the longest time, Jenna would have a pile of papers with one sticker or one crayon mark and notebooks upon notebooks only half-filled. She insisted we had to keep them all.

2. Waste not want not:

As good as it is to recycle unused items to create something with, if you have to use new items for the creation, then it doesn't always make sense to make it. Sometimes Jenna will have gone through an entire roll of tape for one creation before I can stop her. She understands the concept of reusing and recycling, but needs reminded of the reducing aspect.

3. You can't keep it all: 

If you have to start limiting what creations (and especially school projects) you need to keep, I always do a 3:1 ratio. Out of three things, I keep only one. Usually it's the one thing I know she worked hard on, or did the best job at colouring it, etc. At the end of the school year I lay it all out in front of me and do the same again. Then you're left with a manageable amount to put away in storage. For any larger projects you don't have room to keep, you could take a picture of and then dispose of properly. Keep it all labelled by age/grade if you want. Your child may appreciate this in the future, or they may wonder why you kept all that "stuff." My mom kept a small bin of my school papers, and so far in the almost 9 years of my oldest child's life, I've kept a fairly large bin of papers. I might have some work ahead of me.

4. Your supplies:

Buying crafts in kits and limiting your supply stash is a good way to keep your child from getting overwhelmed by all the items they can use. The dollar store is a great place to find reasonably priced craft kits. Then your child can create away with only what comes in the package. You don't really need a pack of construction paper plus scrapbook paper or glitter crayons and regular crayons. One or the other is probably more than enough. I'm all for options, but if it means more clean-up afterward, then less is more. Keep supplies organized so you can see what you have or need or need to get rid of. If you already have a supply problem, it's a good idea to set some things aside to use down the road, or even donate to a daycare or childhood centre. We somehow managed to collect a plastic shopping bag full of toilet paper rolls, so I donated them to a local daycare centre.

Following some of these tips should help you to make, and hold on to, special memories with your creative child (or at the least make the clean-up a little easier when it's all said and done).