Montessori ish Trays

So as you know I have two little geeklings: Lil'C and Lil'K. :) One of our major parenting philosophies is to teach our children to longer need us. To make them self-sufficient. With Lil'C also having physical issues we find that even more important. We want him to be able to learn to do everything on his own and we push him to do so. We think that is part of why he is walking and doing all of the things he is now. So when we stumbled upon the Montessori Philosophy it fit right in "Teach them to do it themselves." With Montessori the activities/lessons/work are placed on trays to keep them organized and help the students learn to care for their workspace. Montessori also pushes natural materials from what I understand and have read thus far, which is where these trays differ from the philosophy, but I think they are pretty which follows the philosophy :P Here is how they work..



Supplies needed:  Empty Cereal Box, Duck Tape and Scissors.


Cut box all the way down each side

Tape the tops closed and THEN cut the tops in half

This will give you two halves

To make a smaller Tray cut one of the halves in half

Lay over each other to desired size

Tape into place

Cover in tape



Now to create handles:


Pull off a strip (double your desired length plus 4 inches) of Tape and lay sticky side up

Fold in Third

Fold over the other Third

Cut in half

Attach one half to strip just short of the length of the side of tray

Attach to tray facing DOWNWARDS


Fold handle up and attach another strip over the bottom part

Secure tape strip

Repeat with other handle and TAH DAH!
What have you made with Duck Tape lately?

Ugly Patterns

Hi ya!
Have ya'll seen the "You can't judge a pattern by it's cover" Series that Simple Simon & Co are doing?  Hillarious and SHOCKING!
Seriously the Tulip swim suit bra??

You have got to see what she did with that one... I actually have the pattern she used to fix it... a project I have been meaning to do for my sister's youngest for a year now... oops... sorry sis.

To go along with their post I decided to post some of the patterns I can get to... Most of my lovies are packed as we are moving..... again...
But I managed to root out a few.
Is it me or does she look like she is doped up?

Unisex... with embroidery patterns included... plaid.  Best part... my Grandmother has notes on the back of this envelope...

The giant flowers. the unflattering drape oh and that neckline... elastic.

I swear on the package this material looks like terry...

Got any ugly patterns in your stash? Share them on Simple Simon and Co with me! :)