Hermit Crabs

Well my oldest has been saving his money for some new pets. For months he has been obsessed with African Dwarf Frogs since we saw them a year ago. So we were going to get some of them, but after some sound advice, we decided to get some hermit crabs. I was freaked out but this really has been so much fun.

All week we talked about the crabs, read books and tried to figure out what were the "bear(bare) necessities"** we needed (**NOTE: We also watched Jungle Book this weekend). I will admit I was freaked out and DH was worried about how much work we would be adding. After some more great advise, I took the kids to the pet store where we each got a crab. DS#1 named his General Grievous, DS#2 named his Scooby Doo, and I named mine Sebastian. In less than 24 hours these little guys have dug their way into our hearts. :) DH felt left out without his own crab, so this afternoon we went to get him one and a bigger tank. He named his Cornelius the Crab. LOL You may not be able to cuddle with them but they sure are cute. I am already trying to figure out a a new hermit crab plushie. Maybe I should make it like Eric Carles crab in his "House for a Crab" and really decorate the shell...

Cuttlefish Are Just So... Cuddly

As I said yesterday finding a project(s) for the first month’s “Families, Create” theme, “Cuddle Up,” almost too easy. At Christmas time a friend asked me to make her a cuttlefish for her. Um well, to be honest I had never heard of a cuttlefish let alone seen one. So I did a quick google and found all the information and pictures I needed. A Cuttlefish is such a beautiful Cephalopoda. Well after researching and thinking how I would go about making one, my friend decided she was going to wait. So I put the project to the side to finish up my holiday presents, but I just could not get this little one out of my head. Well once I have something in my head I have to do it or I just obsess about it daily.... And obsessing was what I began to do. I would find myself in a meeting drawing cuddle fish. He is just so cute and I HAD to make him. So when this months theme was cuddle up my project was a no brainer... I had to get this guy out of my brain and into my hands. So I would like to introduce you to Curtis The Cuddle fish, enjoy!



Visit Code Name: Mama and Living Peacefully with Children to find out how you can participate in the next Families, Create! Carnival.

Our February theme is "Heroes and Heroines" - what can your family create this month to celebrate the heroes and heroines in your lives?

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

• What's the perfect way to snuggle up on a cold winter night? Acacia at Fingerpaint & Superheroes knows the answer: make the perfect soup!

• Simply decorated jars by children bring warmth and light to cold Winter's days at Living Peacefully with Children.

• The ArtsyMama teaches us how to create a no sew fleece throw inspired by your favorite snuggle time book.

• Movies made from books are often pretty poor representations, but this family-made movie from Dionna at Code Name: Mama is monster-ific!

• Aunalise at My Sweet Potatoes created a cozy for her Kindle, to protect it from little hands that think they need to cuddle with it.

• What better way to cuddle and get cozy than in new jammies made by Mama G @ Z everyday things?

• Inspired by her family's love of the Harry Potter series, Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children decided to make a series of ornaments based on the theme.

• Laura at Nestled Under Rainbows shared a reflection on and a celebration of snuggies, lovies, cuddlies and specials.

• Little Hedgehog got a wonderful idea when his red hat from Father Christmas didn't fit, and Megan at Purple Dancing Dahlias got a wonderful idea to knit a sweet hedgehog!

• Monster-inspired artwork by a monster-clad kid. Despite the growling, he really is cuddly! Monster love courtesy of Dionna at Code Name: Mama.

• Arpita at Up, Down & Natural shares a quick tutorial on how to make your very own Pippalily inspire pouch sling, with zippered pocket & key ring, and a matching nursing cover to boot!

• Amy at Anktangle finally completed something cuddly and warm for her son Daniel: his very own afghan, crocheted with love by Momma.

• Who'd want to cuddle with a cuttlefish? Aunalise at My Sweet Potatoes thinks you might want to cuddle up with this sweet plush cuttlefish!

• In an attempt to slow down and relax while watching her children, Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children decided to give knitting another chance.

Join us in February to create something with (or for) your own family. Visit Code Name: Mama and Living Peacefully with Children to find out more about February's "Heroes and Heroines" theme.

Cozying Up With A Good Book

Coming up for a challenge for our first month’s “Families, Create” theme, “Cuddle Up,” was pretty easy. The hard part was to find the motivation, that seemed to leave me at the beginning of 2011. Since my husband bought me a Kindle for Christmas I have been cuddling up to it, reading book after book and crafting has just been out of my mind. I found myself needing to find something to put my Kindle in to protect it from little hands that think they need to cuddle with it. ;)

So early in this months challenge I began thinking about the many different types of cozies I wanted to try to make. You see I just can't make one... it is part of my personality. I have to find the "perfect" one that works for me. I drew up many different designs. I then thought about the supplies I would need. And of course a girl can never have enough fabric, right? So I went shopping. I wanted to try out a fabric I had never tried before and that was linen. Well... I did not realize how pricey that stuff is!! Wozzers! I got just a little and I revised my plans on how much I would use with each cozy.

I came up with many different "types" of cozies but limited myself to just do 5 cozies. I ended up with 3 styles but different techniques applied to each.


The first was a flap with jute "rope" that is wrapped around a poppy flower button to keep it closed. I LOVE this one, it is by far my favorite. I just love how the poppy looks and how the linen looks next to the orange fabric. So pretty!



My second had a flap too but I used the rope to make something that the flap can be tucked into to keep it closed. I added a heart applique to the front and finished it off with a simple stitch. Simple and sweet.


My third style is just a sleeve that is made in some cool guitar fabric. I love this fabric and had it for a while just looking for the right project to use it on.


I used the sleeve style to try using appliques on linen to see how I like it. Isn't this little fox so cute? I made her a while ago but just could not bring myself to put her on a shirt... she was special and I wanted her on something special. She makes me smile every time I see her.


The last one I did was with the sleeve style and I had wanted to do some quilting on the front. However with two boys running around here, I just ran out of time. So I just added a simple band of different fabric on the front. I got a really bad picture of this one though. :(

I have one felt one left to finish, but I may not do that one... I am just so in love with the orange one, and how it works. I will probably do a few different cozies with more closure options others, but right now I can't stop thinking my phone needs a matching orange cozy and of course I should make myself a matching coffee cozy. ;)



Visit Code Name: Mama and Living Peacefully with Children to find out how you can participate in the next Families, Create! Carnival.

Our February theme is "Heroes and Heroines" - what can your family create this month to celebrate the heroes and heroines in your lives?

Please take time to read the submissions by the other carnival participants:

• What's the perfect way to snuggle up on a cold winter night? Acacia at Fingerpaint & Superheroes knows the answer: make the perfect soup!

• Simply decorated jars by children bring warmth and light to cold Winter's days at Living Peacefully with Children.

• The ArtsyMama teaches us how to create a no sew fleece throw inspired by your favorite snuggle time book.

• Movies made from books are often pretty poor representations, but this family-made movie from Dionna at Code Name: Mama is monster-ific!

• Aunalise at My Sweet Potatoes created a cozy for her Kindle, to protect it from little hands that think they need to cuddle with it.

• What better way to cuddle and get cozy than in new jammies made by Mama G @ Z everyday things?

• Inspired by her family's love of the Harry Potter series, Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children decided to make a series of ornaments based on the theme.

• Laura at Nestled Under Rainbows shared a reflection on and a celebration of snuggies, lovies, cuddlies and specials.

• Little Hedgehog got a wonderful idea when his red hat from Father Christmas didn't fit, and Megan at Purple Dancing Dahlias got a wonderful idea to knit a sweet hedgehog!

• Monster-inspired artwork by a monster-clad kid. Despite the growling, he really is cuddly! Monster love courtesy of Dionna at Code Name: Mama.

• Arpita at Up, Down & Natural shares a quick tutorial on how to make your very own Pippalily inspire pouch sling, with zippered pocket & key ring, and a matching nursing cover to boot!

• Amy at Anktangle finally completed something cuddly and warm for her son Daniel: his very own afghan, crocheted with love by Momma.

• Who'd want to cuddle with a cuttlefish? Aunalise at My Sweet Potatoes thinks you might want to cuddle up with this sweet plush cuttlefish!

• In an attempt to slow down and relax while watching her children, Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children decided to give knitting another chance.

Join us in February to create something with (or for) your own family. Visit Code Name: Mama and Living Peacefully with Children to find out more about February's "Heroes and Heroines" theme.