The Jones Family Adventure

Organizing Your Home and Childs Room

2011-09-28T19:56:00.000-04:00

I know that it has been a while since I have posted but we have been in the middle of a military move. With that being said we have been running into some issues on how to reorganize our childrens rooms and make it more efficient for them. If any of you out there are like me ten the lack of organization and mess drives you absolutely crazy. So over the last few months I havefound ways to maximize their space and keep their toys organized. I figured I would share them with you and maybe they will help you too.

Top 10 Tips for Organizing their Rooms and Keeping your home clear of the toys:

Tip 1: Setting up seperate stations or areas in their rooms so that they can play in different areas and stay concentrated on just they type of toys they would like to play with.

Example: My son has a lot of different intrests right now and and sometimes it is hard for him to only play with one of those at a time. That being said if I just throw all of it in a toy box then he will pull all of them out at once. So we split things up and put them in differnt areas, kind of the way they do at school/day care. We have superheros together in one area, blocks seperasted in another, trains in another, and so on nd so forth. This helps him to realize he needs to put away his toys before he moves onto another area. This will help you and them to stay clean and organized.

Tip 2: Using bins either clear or ones with no lids. This allows them to see what is in there are and they can choose the on they are looking to play with. This will stop them from ripping everything out to find one toy.

Tip 3: When you believe your space is limited in square footage then use all of your surfaces. Just because you have a small room does not mean you do not have the room for organization. Build some shelves, or you can use over the door shoe organizers for toys.

Example: We use shoe organizers for our sons cars or our daughters barbies. This needs no square footage and still helps keep them organized.

Tips 4: Label all of your storage areas and add a picture with the label. It allows them to see what is supposed to be stored in that bin or area and they will be able to help clean up and stay organized.

Tip 5: Make cleaning up fun. We like to make cleaning up our rooms a game and see who could put the most toys away in a 5 minutes. I help but mostly allow them to do it and then at the end they have a sense of pride for what they accomplished.

Tip 6: Keep a basket or bin downstairs to catch all of their toys and belongings. Each child has a bin kept in the livingroom and at the end of the night we go around and pick up our toys. Makes taking the toys to their room much easier and makes for a quick clean up.

Tip 7: My children love puzzles but sometimes it is hard to keep their peices together in their right box. So what we do it put a shape such as a triangle on the back of all the pieces for that puzzle. So we know if it has a triangle it goes in that box.

Tip 8: It is never to early to teach yourchild about charity. When we moved I noticed how many toys we held onto that neither of them played with in over a year. So I sat my son down and explained that Santa is coming soon and he would be recieving new toys. I also explained that their are some kids who did not have as many toy as he had and that it would be nice of him to donate those toys to the kids in need. Once he understood we went through his toy and he got to choose which toys he would like to donate. I was very proud of him for being so generous.

Tip 9: Our children love to dress themselves and sometimes there are a few misses with their outfits. So to help them out we have a days of the week closet organizer. It allows them to stay independent and allows me to make sure they don't look like rainbow brite when leaving the house.

Tip 10: Stay calm and remember organization is something that does not happen overnight. It is something you must stay on top of but it will not just happen quickly. By keeping up with the mess and clutter it will stay small. It is when you let it go that it becomes overwhelming.

I know that organization can seem overwhelming at times and yu just want it over with. But there are some easy things you can implemnt in your own home that will help you and your children become orgainzed. After a few weeks it will become like second nature to keep thngs in their place, pick up as you go, and do a quick pick up before bed

Last Minute Valentine's gift idea...

2011-02-12T23:28:00.001-05:00

Well Valentine's day is upon us and as we get closer I have had to come up with a personal yet inexpensive teacher gift for my children. My Son is in Pre-K and has 2 teachers and my Daughter is in day care and has 3 teachers, plus a favorite teacher from another classroom and because they are such nice women the director and the women who works at the desk. So for all of you that is a total of 8 gifts that I need which can get expensive if you let it. However I found an inexpensive gift that I really love and hope that they do as well.

They were so easy and they turned out adorable. I got these mailboxes in the dollar aisle at target. I used my cricut (still one of my all time favorite gifts) and some pink vinyl that I already had. I cut out the different shapes and the first letter of the teachers name to put on front. I filled with candy and wrapped them up.

Hope you have a great valentine's day....

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First step in my bedroom makeover...

2011-02-12T19:40:00.000-05:00

I have decided to update some of my bedroom linens. I have started a duvet cover but have not finished so I will show that later. However, I decided to try some new throw pillows and this is my first attempt so please be gentle in judgement.... Well Without making you wait any longer here it is....

I got my inspiration and some direction from here... I think her pillow turned out way cuter, but I have to give myself props for my first attempt. I plan on making about two more in different styles and hope they turn out this well too... Well Hope you like it and I will keep updating as the process chugs along.

Colorful fun on Etsy

2011-02-06T01:31:00.000-05:00

So I have decided to go out an try etsy and see if I can really have a home based business. I have come up with a facebook page which along with my shop is a work in progress. However in the interest of drumming up some new business I have decided to offer a Coupon to my followers. I have put the coupon on the Facebook website and would love it if you all could go over and check it out. While your there grab the coupon code and check out the shop. I am working on some new things that I hope to have listed early in the week and I am taking requests for special order items. Please head over to Colorful Fun Facebook page and give me a like.

XOXO Tree

2011-02-04T17:33:00.001-05:00

Sorry for the Lack of posts lately my card reader broke and I finally found the time to go out and get a new one.

I have seen a lot of these trees around and decided I wanted to make one for Valentine's Day.

I went to hobby lobby after Christmas when all of their stuff was 75% off and they had the wooden letters in green and red for like 10 cents a piece so I just painted them to the colors I wanted and then added the white polka dots using a dowel.

I cut down the branches from my yard and used a pitcher I already had on my mantle. Then to make it look a little more like Valentine's Day I tied a Heart Doily to it. Total cost was less then 50 cents since I had all of the supplies I needed. I think it adds the perfect touch to the Mantle and to my valentine's decorations.

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Tatertots and Jello

I Heart U

2011-01-14T18:22:00.000-05:00

OK so one of my favorite things that screams Valentine's Day and makes me miss being a kid again is conversation hearts. I have had these frames from the dollar aisle at target for a while and finally saw a craft at My Creative Departure that gave me a little creative inspiration of my own for those frames.

Supplies:
- 3 frames
- candy heart
- glue gun
- cardstock
- doily/ heart stencil

I started by doing a dry run with each of my frames mapping out my I and U. For my heart I used a paper doily for my guide on the heart shape. Once I had it the way I wanted it I glued down my I and U to the glass with my hot glue gun. I put in some bubblegum pink cardstock in the frame to help the hearts pop off from the frame.

Next I glued the hearts to the doily.

Then I glued the doily to the frame and put in some bubblegum pink cardstock in the frame.

In the end it turned out really cute, was super easy, and inexpensive. All of my favorite things.....

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KEEP CALM and SEW ON

2011-01-13T19:32:00.000-05:00

Ok So we have seen these signs all over the internet and I am in absolute love. Well now I found a website where you can totally generate your own. Check out this website and try some out on your own.

Here are a few examples:

Valentine Boxes

2011-01-08T00:32:00.000-05:00

I have seen the block all over the Internet for the holidays and I wanted to try them out. However, I wanted to make mine a little bigger and couldn't find big enough blocks. So while I was shopping at Michael's I saw these Christmas boxes 80% off the idea popped in my head to cover and use them for the blocks.

I took these boxes and

I covered them with Card Stock and trimmed them with different ribbon. I got this ribbon at Michael's for about 1.99 a roll.

I then cut out different hearts and letters with my Cricut. I used the sweethearts cartridge for my hearts and I used the Sure cuts alot program to cut my letters.

Here is another view of the top of the blocks.

This project turned out super cute and it was inexpensive and really easy to make.

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Valentine's Day Garland

2011-01-02T23:34:00.000-05:00

So I was sick over Christmas and still getting over this flu bug, so I did not get to craft very much. Since I did not craft for Christmas I have the crafting itch and decided to start my valentine's decorations. So I set out to find some inspiration at Michael's and discovered a garland. So I went home and began on my garland, and I like mine way more then the one I saw and it was cheaper (which makes me love it even more.)

Supplies:

- Valentine Fabric

- Red Felt

- Scissors

- ribbon

- fishing string

- card stock

- Cricut

- Sweethearts Cartridge

1) Measure out the ribbon for the length of the garland you want

2) Leave about 6 inches at the end of the ribbon and make a knot to hold the fabric on.

3) Take a match/lighter and singe the ends to stop it from fraying

3) cut the fabric into strips

4) Tie the fabric and felt around the ribbon. Alternate between the felt and the fabric.

5) Once done make a knot in the other side and singe the end to stop it fraying.

* The next steps are optional and the garland will still look great if you opt out of doing them*

(I didn't get pictures of these steps)

6) Using your cricut and the sweethearts cartridge cut out the OXO. I used about two sheets of pink card stock.

7) Poke a hole in each O, X, and Heart and tie some fishing string to them.

8) Take these and tie them to your garland.

When all is done it looks really good and I did it for the fraction of the cost.

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Christmas Ornaments

2010-12-22T20:13:00.000-05:00

Each year I like to have an ornament for the kids, just a little something to remember that year and they can have when they get older. I have not had the chance to get out this year and have one made since we have the flu for Christmas. So this year I decided to make our own and I got a great idea from This great little blog.

I think they turned out really cute and they were super easy. I love doing anything that you can use the kids handprints for, you can always look back and remember how tiny they were at that age.

PB inspired Chalkboard Platter

2010-10-23T23:26:00.000-04:00

I always tell my husband that when I grow up I want to be Martha Stewart and my house to look like pottery barn catalog. Well on a military income I can not afford to actually buy it from pottery barn so I get my inspiration from them instead. My latest inspiration is their chalkboard platter and I made it my own.

PB Platters

My Platter

I bought the plate on the clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby and the chalkboard paint at wal-mart.

Supplies:

-Chalkboard Paint

- Platter

- Paint brush

It took about 3 coats of paint to get in completely covered. You must wait 24 hours between coats otherwise you will end up causing yourself more work.

This is a great product I like playing around with and will be using this again very soon......

Go Sharks....

2010-10-18T13:02:00.000-04:00

Well I have not blogged in a while and lately I have been feeling extra crafty. I decided to make t-shirts to support my son's youth soccer team. They sell them but they want $20.00 for one of the jersey's and since I am a stay at home mom/full time student that was not in the budget right now.

I found a great idea here at making baby stuff for some inexpensive shirts and decided to give it a try.They were super easy and turned out pretty cute for my first attempt. I will be trying this out for the kids halloween shirts.

Butterflies take flight

2010-05-21T11:23:00.000-04:00

Still in the process of redecorating my daughters room with all things flowers and butterflies. I originally got my inspiration from some butterflies I found at Joanns 50% off. I decided that they would look adorable hung around the room.

Materials:
6 Butterflies or anything you choose ( these were 50% off 4.99 at Joanns)
Fishing line

Scissors

Hot Glue

Hot Glue Gun

1) Cut line to desired size (hint: make sure to make to make it a little longer because of gluing)

2) Fold the line in half and at the center point of line glue to center of butterfly ( I glues mine under the clip on the back)

3) Hold line taut and glue to each side of the line to its prospective corner

4) tie lines together for desired length and hang.

Pottery Barn Kids Inspired Lamp

2010-05-20T22:55:00.000-04:00

I have decided since my baby girl has turned two that it is time to re-do her room and update it a little. I was inspired to do her room by some butterflies I found at Joann's ( post for a later date). A few days later the pottery barn kids catalog came and has given me even more inspiration. I saw this adorable lampshade with roses all over it, I fell in love with the lamp just not the price. So I decided to make my own, and took some pictures along the way.

Materials needed:

Lamp and Shade ( I already had one)

6 bundles of Flowers ( I used roses but you could use whatever works best for you)

Glue

1) I pulled all of the roses off of the bouqets and trimmed down the back of them to allow them to lay flat

2) Glue flowers to the lamp shade. Start at the bottom and go all the way around and go all the way around the top.Glue a line of flowers connecting the top and the bottom. Allowing youself a template for all other roses to glue on.

3) Fill in the rest of the lamp shade with your flowers

4) Here is what it looks like on the lamp and turned on.

My Lamp Pottery Barn Kids

Long time no blog.

2009-12-29T23:09:00.000-05:00

It has been a long time since I have updated this, and amd still not used to doing it either. We have been very busy the last few months. We went to Disney world in November and then thanksgiving came, finally we had the christmas holidays. I am getting back to sewing which I love doing. For christmas I got a cricut and I saw a tutorial about cutting out fabric with it. So tonight I decided I would give it a try with some valentine fabric I recently got. I mad a dress for Teagan with an old onesie and added on a skirt and heart applique.

I like how it turned out but think the skirt needs to be wider.

It was really easy to make I used a onesie that was getting to small and cut off the bottom portion. But out the heart with my cricut machine, cut out the A line skirt and put some fusing on the back. Sewed them together and it was done.

Halloween is now over...

2009-11-06T09:39:00.000-05:00

We had a very exciting Halloween weekend and it was filled with something to do every day. We went on Friday and got our pumpkins at the Pumpkin pile (as Brittany called it). We did not get to go to the pumpkin patch because they were ridiculously packed.

After the pumpkin pile we went out for dinner and for a friends birthday. It was a lot of fun and many of our friends were in costume. Everyone was so creative but my favorite was our friend dressed as ralphie (christmas story and his wife was the leg lamp. He looks just like ralphie all grown up.

Napoleon, the devil went down to Ga, Ralphie, and the leg lamp.

Saturday came and was time for my Father-in-law flew in from Maryland just in time for Trick-or-Treating. It was great to see him, but I was even more excited to have our bathroom completed when he got here. The kids loved trick-or-treating, even if Lucas wouldn't say it. Teagan loved getting all that candy, and even waled most of it. The kids got a lot of candy and were tuckered out by the time we got home.

Getting ready to go trick or treating

Its Bat Dog

Roooooooar!!!!!!!

We really enjoyed our few days with my Father-in-law, but now its time to get ready for Disney World.... Ready or not here we come......

Busy...

2009-10-25T20:31:00.000-04:00

It has been a busy few days and there is no end in sight. I had two finals last week, went to spooktacular, finishing up Halloween decorating, and today decided to rip apart my guest bathroom. Finals were some of the worst to date, and am still waiting for my grades. I am so glad they are over, but am hating waiting for my grades. I start my new classes on Monday and am ready because that is one step closer to finishing my degree.
We attempted to go to the pumpkin patch yesterday but the line was ridiculous to wait in. So we decided to skip the pumpkin patch. We did however, make it to spooktacular at the zoo and it was a lot of fun. Lucas wore his dinosaur costume, and Teagan wore her witch costume. I think Teagans costume turned out really cute. It only took me two days to sew it.

This is the only one I have with her hat on.

I am Lucas-Rex hear me Roar!

Today I woke up and decided to do some Yard work, which is nothing out of the usual. I prefer to do my yard work in the morning, when it is nice and cool. My husband like he usually does says lets do the bathroom. So he decides that lets tear apart the bathroom on sunday afternoon. This wouldn't be so bad, except for two reasons. First reason is the last time we tore apart the master bath, he got everything out and then left for New Orleans the next day. I was left with no bathroom for almost two weeks. Second My Father in Law will be here next Saturday and will clearly need to use the guest bathroom. Well wish me luck that it actually gets done before he get here.

This is what my guest bathroom looks like right now. I will keep everyone updated and will post pics along the way and when it is done.

Getting ready for Halloween

2009-10-22T01:01:00.000-04:00

Well we have almost finished decorating the house. I just have a few finishing touches and it will be all ready. We have lights everywhere, some blow up figures and even a fog machine I am excited

I love these spider web light, we bought them our first year here at the house

This was my Halloween bargain. I got him for 19.99

Isn't he to cute... He is taller then Jason..

I made sugar cookies for the kids and they seemed to really love them. What kid does not love sugar, decorated with sugar.

This is my favorite.

Here is a sample of all of them.

This was Lucas Favorite he had a black and orange face.

I think he loves it even more because this year I taught him the trick or treat song.

Tomorrow we are going to try our second attempt at making a gingerbread haunted house. Hopefully that one will go better. I will post pics of the good, the bad, and the ugly on that one. Lucas is so excited and can not stop talking about it.

Costumes

2009-10-17T17:04:00.000-04:00

Well this year has been an interesting voyage on trying to figure out what to make the kids for Halloween. Someone said that I should let Lucas choose his own this year, and I figured why not. We started over a month ago trying figure out what he would like to be. I named off every costume i could think of, and he would say yes then as soon as i would put in my shopping cart he would say no. We finally decided on a Dinosaur, which as always has to be the hardest thing to find. This is my luck we can never find the costume he wants or i want. I searched and searched and searched but finally found the costume at a childrens place at Regency mall (side note: I never goto regency I am affraid of getting shot or stabbed). It is a little big but nothinh I can not alter to make fit better. I decided to make Teagans again this year and decided on a cute little witch. I have the costume 90% done and will post pictures soon of both costumes.

Trying out this Blog thing...

2009-10-12T01:15:00.000-04:00

Blogs seems to be so popular, and everyone seems to have one. I figured what the heck I will give it a try. I figured this will be a great way to update on our comings and goings. We seems to have a lot of comings and goings. I hope to be able to add in my crafts and my kids crafts as well. What a way to share it with friends and family. Well Talk to you again soon.