Here are superhero note cards that I made from my child’s drawings. No need to spend a lot of time on making these. The images come from your child’s imagination and you can embellish it just a bit. These multi-purpose cards come in handy. It’s also a fun way to share your child’s work.
These are the materials I used: Superhero Drawing by KAT * Card Stock * Decorative Paper * Colored Pencils * Glue Stick * Glitter Glue * Fun and Imagination
Are you still looking for your child’s Halloween costume? I am! The kids have a costume parade at their school every year and it’s great to see the creative costume ideas. I especially like the handmade costumes. I like looking at blogs and web sites for pattern ideas. You Can Make This has costume patterns and accessory patterns to download. I have a witch to dress this year and a lion and while it would be easier to go to the store and pick up a costume, maybe this year I’ll put my sewing machine to work and come up with something a little more unique.
Here are mini photo albums that I embellished using
Photos and Friends Party PackThe party pack is a party favor kit that kids (or adults) can decorate and it includes the following mini photo albums and key chains, stickers and thank you postcards. 
The kids decorated the photo albums in the “traditional” way using the foam stickers provided in the party pack but I wanted to cover my entire plastic album.
To decorate the photo album I used the same steps as I would to cover a composition book. Here is a tutorial I found that can guide you: How to Decorate a Composition Book.
When I need a lei, I don’t have one to give and I would prefer not to go the store to purchase one especially when I know I could have made one myself. I wanted to learn how to make leis in different styles so I purchased a book called Making Ribbon Leis & Other Gifts of Aloha by Coryn Tanaka and May Masaki.
The book provides clear directions, stitching instructions, a list of supplies with photos so you clearly know what you need before you start the project and very nice images that allow you to follow along.
There are instructions to make several different type of leis including Lantern Ilima, Lehua Choker, Plumeria, Stephanotis, Naupaka, White Ginger and many more. You can also learn to make a basic bow, money rose and fairy. This book is chock full of information!
Here is my “liberated” version of the Lehua Choker. Using the materials I had at home that were similar to the supplies recommended by the book, I came up with this purple adaptation of the Lehua Choker. I am happy with the result and will keep this lei, that will never wilt, for a future gift giving opportunity. Now that I know that I can accomplish making a Lehua Choker, I will pick up the “real” supplies and materials to make more pretty leis.
General supplies needed to make leis from this book comprise of needles, thread, wooden clothespin, marking pens, double sided tape, scissors, measuring tape, table clamps, ribbons, beads and a marking grid contained in the book. There are specific suggestions to make each type of lei. You’ll also need a little time to complete a project - with all the interruptions with my keiki, it took me a few days to complete one lei but it was simple to make and I love the end result.
Come visit me at Piggie’s Everyday! I love piggies and I love flowers and what “funner” way to get these two things together but in an Etsy shop called Piggie’s Everyday. Dedicated to sunshine and flowers handcrafted in Piggie’s garden. Oink.
Flower links on Keiki Gifts:
Everyone in our household loves Banana Bread. Here is an easy, moist recipe that I hope you too will enjoy.
You will need:
What to do:
Combine all ingredients. Pour into 2 loaf pans and bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes. Enjoy!
Yesterday our electricity was turned off and I had a chance to work on some crafts. It was nice just to sit down and craft without the distraction of chores, noise, TV and everything else that comes with the convenience of electricity.
I worked on and completed the above projects that were sitting around. I was pondering whether or not to put it in my stash of crafts that I have already made and may have use for in the future or place it up for sale. In the end decided to give it a go on Etsy before my kids got to it.
Both of these have images I created on my picture graphics program. I made a set of flat gift bags, top, and a set of post cards, bottom photo. Please visit my etsy shop at http://keikigifts.etsy.com. I haven’t sold much lately but I’m hoping to get into making and selling again.
There is a pot of shoyu chicken simmering on the stove and it smells yummy. Shoyu chicken is such an easy, one pot meal to make and kids love it. Many times when I am not up to cooking, shoyu chicken comes to my rescue.
Shoyu - A dark, salty sauce made from fermenting boiled soybeans and roasted wheat or barley. Extremely popular in the Orient; used to flavor fish, meat, marinades, sauces, soups, and vegetables. Better known in U.S. as “soy sauce.”
Everyone seems to have their own special recipe for shoyu chicken dishes, some people add orange juice or tomato sauce while others prefer to bake the chicken. No matter how it’s made, the chicken is usually very tender and delicious. Here is the easy way to do it.
Easy Shoyu Chicken
Combine ingredients in a large pot and cook on low for 2 hours. Chicken will be tender and fall off the bone.
Notes: I usually use skinless chicken to cut down on the fat. I like to add fresh ginger and garlic to the sauce while its simmering. Chunky chopped Chinese cabbage can be placed in the pot just before the cooking is done so the cabbage is soft but not mushy. Garnish your dish with fresh chopped green onions.
My mornings usually start off with a cup of coffee that is later followed by a bowl of cereal. As I age, so does my taste in cereal. Yeah, I still eat the good for you stuff like the bran cereals, “spoonful of fruit” cereals and low sugar (tasteless) cereals but my current favorite is Captain Crunch Peanut Butter cereal.
I had to do something with all the empty Captain Crunch cereal boxes so I decided to make them into gift tags.
This would make a fun gift tag to add to any keiki gift.
Yes, I’m a Fly Lady Flunkie. I couldn’t “shine the sink” every day. I’ve lost control! Cleaning the house is so overwhelming! I’ve decided it’s time to take itty bitty steps to help me through the process of cleaning the clutter so I can feel good about having guests over for Thanksgiving. My technique includes tossing or giving away 1 or 2 items from each room every day. This is best done when the kids are not around because, to them, EVERYTHING is worth saving. So far, I’ve given away clothing and tossed toys with broken or missing pieces. I don’t see any improvement but hopefully, it’ll soon be noticeable.
In my “throw away” pile today is a door plaque that I made with my kids using scrap wood and some artificial flowers. It’s out-lived it usefulness and looks looks quite tacky even morbid - like it belongs in a funeral parlor. I can’t believe this was a welcome sign on my door!
If you have cleaning hints for me, that does not include shining the sink every day, I’d love to hear from you.
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