Let’s all say it together now:  “Awwwwwwww!”  I mean, seriously, how adorable are these hamster hacky sacks?  Instructables user miss_who whipped them up using kids-size socks!  Of course, you caould also use adult-sized socks to make a larger version as well.  Since each hacky sack only takes one sock, this is a great project for odd socks that you may have laying around.  (And who doesn’t?!)  [how to make hamster hacky sacks]

Project estimate:

• Sock, on hand or $1
• Felt scraps, on hand
• Needle and thread, on hand
• Rice, on hand or $1

Total:  Free and up!

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Everyone needs a little “me” time sometimes.  Can’t get away for a spa day?  You can at least pretend!  Over at Happy Hour Projects, Adrianne shares how she made this aromatherapy neck pillow out of a sock, and it’s just the thing you need for a few minutes of relaxation!  It’s a great project for those odd socks, or pick up a colorful pair from the dollar store to make one.  Then kick those feet up and close your eyes for a well-deserved break!   [how to make an aromatherapy neck pillow from a sock]

Project estimate:

• Sock, on hand or $1
• Rice, on hand or $1
• Essential oils, on hand or about $5 and up
• Needle and thread, on hand

Total:  Free and up!

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It’s been an unseasonably warm winter so far here in Northern Michigan.  We’ve only had a dusting of snow, not nearly enough to make a snowman.  If you’re missing that winter-y feeling right now, here’s a project to get you feeling more into the season.  Over at Small Fry & Co. there is a no-sew tutorial for recycling the sleeve of an old sweater into a cute little plush snowman!  If you can’t find a white sweater to chop up for this project, try using a white tube sock as an alternative.  [how to make a no-sew sweater sleeve snowman]

Project estimate:

• Old white sweater, on hand or $1 and up
• T-shirt, on hand or $1 and up
• Brads (or other embellishments for eyes), on hand
• Felt, on hand
• Polyfill, on hand
• Rice, on hand
• Hot glue, on hand

Total:  Free and up

wp-content/uploads/2011/12/no-sew-sweater-sleeve-snowman.jpg

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My son celebrated his first birthday this weekend in Panda style! The color scheme was black and white, and the theme was panda in honor of this stuffed panda E got for Christmas and instantly fell in love with. I got the party supplies (black table cloth, napkins, plates, plastic silverware) at the dollar store.

I like to have a dress-up component to the 1st birthday party (my first son’s 1st bday was a pirate dress up party) and so dress code was black & white and I purchased striped black and white scarves for all the party attendees at the DS too.  We also provided panda badges for party goers to wear.

I wanted to make most of the decorations and try to use what I had on hand, or find what I needed at the dollar store.

My sister and I made the panda badges out of felt. We hot glued the features on, and used fabric paint for the white panda eyes. It cost about $1 to make them all, as felt squares are about 25 cents at the local craft store.

I made some black and white birthday pennant-style flags to hang up as decorations. All the fabric for these was already on hand (the gingham was from a reycled shirt, the white fabric was from old curtains). I sewed the pennants onto a candy garland I crocheted for holiday decorations.

Since my two boys were the only kids attending the party, we made a simple game appropriate for a 2-1/2 and 1 year old to play: Pin the nose on the panda. I used recycled diaper tabs on the back of the noses to make them stick to the felt. Both boys enjoyed the game, but E played it multiple times. We didn’t bother with blindfolds since the boys are so young!

I made panda cupcakes (actually not cake – no bake Oreo dessert) with mini oreos.

And panda rice balls with sushi rice and olives.

There are some more party photos in the gallery:

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