DIY Haute Couture Eco-Friendly Bag & Scotch Tape Craft GIVEAWAY Contest


Thanks to Scotch(R) Double Sided Tape for sponsoring my writing about crafts.  Add your comment below to be entered for a chance to win free sample rolls to help with your upcoming holiday needs.

I love arts and crafts as a hobby, but unfortunately I haven't had much time to do it since I had four children, all born within a year, including triplets plus one more.
Recycled Shopping Bag - Before
Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com


In fact, I haven't spent more than 15 minutes here and there to unleash my artistic side since I started mommy blogging full-time, while also homeschooling my four teens (including three 13 year-olds).  I guess you could say that I'm just slightly busy all the time.  Really -- what mom with kids isn't?

Now, I must confess.  Last week I played hooky from blogging for several hours to have some fun and make something beautiful out of an assortment of odds and ends I happen to have on hand at home.  At first, I actually felt guilty for taking time away from MommyBlogExpert to work on this DIY craft project, but shortly after beginning to create what I'd thought of in my mind over the several weeks prior, I'd completely forgotten about my blog!

Recycled Shopping Bag - After It's Been Accessorized
Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

Since I enjoy sharing creative ideas with this blog's readers, I had to pass this on to you.  Here are the easy directions so that you too can steal away for a few hours to make a beautiful eco-friendly fashion statement kind of bag either for yourself or for someone else as a gift bag or as a gift in itself.  My teen girls went wild over this bag, so now I'm working on another one because like most siblings, they're not very good at sharing and each must have their own.

Eco Designer Original
Embellished Bag
All The Odds & Ends Used to Make This Gorgeous Bag
Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert

Materials Needed:
  • Shopping Bag from your favorite store
  • Assorted, already read fashion magazines
  • A store catalog or two that you received in the mail
  • Odds & ends such as broken costume jewelry & baubles
  • Your choice of recycled ribbons, lace edgings, and/or trims
Tools Needed:
  • Scotch Double Sided Tape
  • Glue Dots
  • Scissors
Easy Directions:

1.  First choose a color scheme, either several complementary colors or monochromatic ones (different shades of one color); neutral colors, black and white will look good with either
2.  Choose a shopping bag from your favorite story, any size you want but in good condition
3.  Gather a few old fashion magazines and store catalogs and from these use scissors to cut out an assortment of fashion accessories, brand labels, cosmetics, models, or whatever you like that looks pretty and fits the color scheme you selected in step #1
4.  Next, go into your jewelry box or junk drawer and look for light weight pretty items such broken pieces of costume jewelry in your colors as well as in gold and/or silver that you've been saving for years for no reason
Detail showing magazine/catalog cutouts, ribbon & jewels on bag
Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

5.  Lastly -- again, keeping your main color scheme in mind -- check your daughter's hair ribbon box, Grandma's old button tin, and look inside your closet (and your kids') for clothes that are no longer worn that might have some fun lace, edging, or some other accents that you can steal from it to use for this craft
6.  Lay everything out on your the front of your bag without attaching anything so you can move things around till you're happy with the arrangement
7.  Then, use Scotch Double Sided Tape to attach larger pieces such as wide ribbons and bigger cutout pictures to the bag and Glue Dots to attach smaller pieces and tiny rhinestones and faux jewels
8.  That's it. Your bag is done, ready for you to add to your own accessories collection or to use as a one-of-a-kind gift or gift bag for a fashionable family member or friend
So, go ahead and take a break from whatever you have to do and get crafty.  If anyone asks, say that MommyBlogExpert encouraged you to take a little time off to create something eco-friendly, inexpensive, and fun.  

I hope you enjoy making this fun project as much as enjoyed developing the idea.  I look forward to hearing how your own bags turns out.  In fact, I'd love to add your projects to this post, so if you have a JPG to send, leave me a comment with your Twitter or email info so I can contact you.

Eco Designer Original Embellished Bag
Finished Project

3M's Scotch Tape
Crafty GIVEAWAY Contest 
Scroll down for Easy Entry Details
10 winners will each receive a roll of Double-Sided Scotch Tape

ENTER this Giveaway NOW by leaving one or more comments below this post.
Contest ends November 21, 2010 at 12 midnite PST and is open to legal residents of the U.S. only.  One prize per person.
For the Required (Mandatory) Entry
Simply leave a comment below this blog post with your email address, Facebook or Twitter contact info so we may contact the winner.  In the event that you are one of the 10 winners of this prize, MommyBlogExpert will contact you via DM or email for your shipping address.

Optional Extra Entries
Get extra entries for following MommyBlogExpert on Twitter and/or Facebook.  Remember: Be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert to leave an additional comment after each individual action you do to confirm them so we can record all your extra chances to win.

Follow MommyBlogExpert (2 extra entries)
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In ADDITION to doing any or all of the extra entries above, you can also earn one extra entry each time you Tweet the message exactly in the paragraph immediately below (Tweets are unlimited, so Tweet as much as you like).  Don't forget to return to leave a comment on MommyBlogExpert with the direct link to each Tweet right after every Tweet you do so you'll receive credit for the extra entries from all your RTs.
Haute Couture Craft + @ScotchProducts GIVEAWAY http://tinyurl.com/2dtt7fu #clevercrafts #kids #craft #contest #eco #fashion RT 2 WIN

Remember, for each of the above entries to count, be sure to return to MommyBlogExpert to leave an additional comment after each of the above actions to confirm them so your extra chances to win will be tabulated.

About Scotch Brands
Please learn more about Scotch Double Sided Tape and other Scotch Products and join the conversation on the Scotch Brand Facebook Page and via Twitter. 

FTC Disclosure:  I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.

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Live Ustream Event TODAY With Q&A by actor Noah Ringer - Marks DVD Release of The Last Airbender

In a little more than 2 hours (4 pm PST) my 13 year-old son, a purple belt Karate student here in L.A., and I will be arriving to cover a special event that celebrates the DVD release of the film The Last Airbender from Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon Movies.

The Last Airbender with 13 year-old star Noah Ringer
Photo from Paramount via MNRWire.com

Fans of all ages around the globe are invited to attend this event virtually as it happens via http://www.ustream.tv/lastairbender live from Hollywood.  On the off chance that you miss the live stream, not to worry -- you'll be able to access the recorded version of this later at your leisure at the same link through 2/16/2011.

The Last Airbender star Noah Ringer, now 13, will address Los Angeles American Taekwondo Association (ATA) students in person, while connecting online with ATA schools across the country in Dallas, Chicago, Philadelphia and Miami Areas.  Special cameras and monitors set up with Ustream will enable ATA schools in these major cities to link up with Noah directly to ask questions about his martial arts background and his action-packed role in The Last Airbender.  Additionally, ATA schools across the country will be setting up themed “watch parties” for the online event to mark the film’s home entertainment debut.   

The Last Airbender Now Available on DVD
Photo from Paramount via MNRWire.com 
 
More About the Event, the Movie and Noah Ringer
The Last Airbender actor Noah Ringer, who stars as Aang, the lone Avatar, will team up with the American Taekwondo Association (ATA) and Paramount Home Entertainment to participate in this live streaming video event.  From Los Angeles, joined by distinguished event moderators Taekwon Lee and Mike Chat along with local ATA students, Noah will connect with ATA schools nationwide to talk about his experience on the film as well as demo some of his favorite Taekwondo moves.

Two years after he began studying Taekwondo at age 10, Noah earned his 1st degree black belt, and utilized his martial arts experience to land the lead role in the live-action family adventure The Last Airbender, now on DVD.  Ringer is a 2nd degree black belt instructor and holds the 2009–2010 title of Texas State Champion in his age group in five different categories.

Highlights and other content from today's The Last Airbender Ustream event -- including a VNR and featurette previews of the film -- will be available for viewing and downloading on Wednesday, November 17th at www.MNRwire.com/lastairbender.

Watch for another blogpost on MommyBlogExpert.com after the event with a photographic and written report of the event today.

FTC Disclosure:  At the invitation of Paramount Studios, MommyBlogExpert and her son are attending and covering this event in person.  I did not receive any payment for this blogpost. See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.
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Some Novel Ideas for Fighting Cabin Fever With Preschoolers and School Age Kids This Winter


Kids





This is a sponsored post

Even before the holidays -- it always seems -- cabin fever begins setting in for just about everyone who has kids.  As a mom of four born within a year, including triplets, I can definitely relate to that.  


It's getting dark outside a lot earlier, so the days are noticeably shorter and the weather is cooler.  This all adds up to our children spending much more time indoors in late fall and winter than during the rest of the year.   This couldn't be truer than in places like Minnesota and other northernly states that have already had quite a bit of snow this year.

Parents: have no fear because this blog post has been written specifically to help you and your children make the best of the chilly months ahead.  With hope, you'll find a few ideas here for creatively carving out family quality time by looking at such basic quiet indoor pastimes as reading books and playing games together as a family in a whole new way.


 Winter Reading
Can you imagine anything better than reading together with your child?  I know I can't.  My kids may all be teens now, but each still looks forward to the required hour before bedtime at our house called "Free Read" on school nights where each kid much be in their bed quietly reading the book of their choice. 

 Without a doubt, whether you read to your child or he/she reads to you, the rewards will always be the same.  You'll not only be maximizing the chances that your kid will build strong verbal reading skills that will serve him/her well as she moves into the school years, you will also be fueling their growth as a full-fledged reader who will always love books.


 It's not difficult to get children excited about books if you start when your kids are babies and always remember to
  • Choose books that appeal to your child and that are age-appropriate, such as board books and sturdy pop-up books for babies and, for older toddlers and preschoolers, illustrated picture books with increasing amounts of text as they reach school-age 
  • Encourage your child to answer and ask questions about the pictures in the books they read as this is a great way to build both vocabulary and verbal skills, even with children who are not ready to read by themselves
  • Stimulate your soon-to-be kindergartner's imagination by asking them not only why they think things happened in a book, but by encouraging them to create their own sequel ideas if they were writing a new book
Certainly, infants, toddlers and preschoolers all have different reading abilities and needs and as parents we need to pay attention to these.  To get started download and read this FREE Comprehensive Reading Guide, courtesy of Kindercare.com, which outlines these variables and how you as a parent can help your child blossom through exposure to reading books at every stage.

Family Game Night
Set aside one night per week to get together and play games as a family.  This may be easier said than done unless you follow a few ground rules.  To make it work make sure you
  • Require all family members (dads and older siblings included) to plan ahead so they can always participate each week
  • Turn on the phone answering machine and turn off all electronic distractions in the house (except for appropriate music), including cell phones, computers, video game devices, television, battery-operated games and toys, etc.
  • Select games for younger children that are age appropriate and that are naturals for you to play along with them, such as building with blocks or large Legos side by side with your child for toddlers or playing a game like I Spy with letters and sounds for preschoolers
  • Play simple, but fun board games with school age children that are fun for everyone such as classics like Monopoly or Scrabble
About KinderCare
Kindercare Learning Centers operates year-round and is currently accepting registrations for their Winter Science Camp that runs from Dec. 20-23 and Dec 27-30.  During these sessions fun and educational activities will include learning about gravity, creating balloon rockets and simulating volcanic eruptions, among other fun things to do that teach through doing about science.  With approximately 1,600 centers located in 39 states and the District of Columbia, KinderCare Learning Centers, an accredited early childhood provider, offer a range of educational programs and after-school care for infants as young as six weeks old to school aged children through age 12.  For general information about childcare and educational programs visit Kindercare.com  or to sign up for this year's Winter Science Camp here.


 What are your favorite ways of spending quality time with your children during the long winter months?  Please leave a comment below and share.

 FTC Disclosure:  This story featuring KinderCare makes MommyBlogExpert eligible to receive a gift card.  However, this did not influence the content of this post.  See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one. 
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Teen Girls Trending Into Fall & Winter in Style - A Post Written by a Teen for Other Teen Girls

by Guest Columnist
Mini MommyBlogExpert, age 13
Daughter of MommyBlogExpert

Mini MommyBlogExpert, in the Know About Fashion for Fall & Winter
On location at The Grove in Los Angeles
Photo by Janis Brett-Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

There’s a new trend out there in the world of fashion for Fall/Winter 2010/2011 -- it's all about COZY sweaters and long skirts.

Since fall is already here and winter will arrive before you know it, make sure you’re all warm and toasty as the leaves change color and the snow begins to fall.  That means you: teens and tweens! 

Fall does mean that school is now in session.  But, not to worry, there’s more relaxation ahead because it’s about to get chilly outside.  That calls for much more time indoors to indulge in steaming hot chocolate with whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry on top to celebrate the season.  It also means doubling up the blankets, watching more rented movies, and eating extra popcorn.

I consider it pre-winter right now.  Though winter is still more than a month away it's a kind of time to warm up fashion-wise before the temperatures drop to their coldest of the year.  Your fave stores are already stocked up with this season’s trends, so it’s a great time to be snapping up the best warm and fuzzy skirts and sweaters on the racks right now at your favorite boutiques, department stores, and outlets.  Don't overlook shopping online, either, as there are great deals on sites like Zulily which specializes in trendy up and coming designs for moms and youth at incredibly discounted prices.

My Mom & Her Garden's Harvest in 1960s Fall "Fashion"
Photo by Mini MommyBlogExpert's Grandfather


Now, on to the FUN part!  I love fashion -- what teenage girl doesn't?  Mostly it’s because you don’t have to wear the same thing all year-round.  Each season has it’s own style and things are constantly changing to keep it up-to-date and interesting.  

Spring is for flowery dresses and floppy hats, summer is for cute bikinis and trendy flop-flops, winter is for overcoats and mittens, and, of course, fall this year is all about snuggly sweaters and the most sophisticated and feminine skirts.  I just love talking about this because it makes me feel so happy and cozy, too.  Also, since I have always been a modest dresser I am thrilled that this season’s must-buys are in line with my lifestyle.

But in recent seasons, I’ve noticed a big fashion problem.  Many young women feel the only way that they can be up-to-the-minute is if they wear clothes that are itchy, too tight, uncomfortable, or all of the above, just to be classy.  This runs contrary to my own approach.  We spend so much time wearing clothes, that I think fashion should always be equally comfortable and stylish.

My sister (right) and I Before an Expert Ski Run last Winter
On location at Mammoth Mountain, California
Photo by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

This month you can find many things that are comfortable and trendy, like sweaters.  They come in what seems like an endless array of designs and styles and in sizes that will fit everyone. Try on some of the season’s skirts, too, in your size.  Once you do, with a good fit, you’ll feel super comfy in a style you absolutely love and will feel as happy as can be.  Knee-length to ankle-length, these skirts are the height of all fashion.  They’re so cute, and very stylish too.

There are many places to shop for both cute and affordable clothes all year.  But these fall (and soon to be winter) fashion trends are among my favorites.  So, if you’re like me, go out there and earn some money so you can be the trendiest girl you can this season.  You might even consider begging your parents to lend you money.  Tip -- ask your dad, not your mom.  Dad’s are much more likely to give you money to spend on clothes.  It’s the totally quicker way to be fashion-forward, if you ask me.  

So, get ready to go shopping and hit those stores as soon as you can earn or borrow (or keep without paying back) enough money to buy a few new outfits.  From Arden B, H&M, and Nordstrom to Banana Republic and Forever 21, you never know what you'll discover. 

Oh...Did I mention that my Daddy took several of my friends and me shopping at The Grove in Los Angeles yesterday?

Please Leave a Comment
What’s your favorite trend for fall or winter?  How do you pay for your purchases, do you earn the money yourself or do you get a clothing allowance from your parents? Leave a comment and share with me and the other teens that read my mom’s blog MommyBlogExpert.com

FTC Disclosure:  Neither MommyBlogExpert nor Mini MommyBlogExpert received any payment or other compensation associated with this particular post.   See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.     
1 comment:

Oregon Chai Twitter Party - Tuesday November 16th

Join me for
Oregon Chai's Twitter Party
Tuesday, November 16th, 7-8 pm CST
Chocolate Layer Cake Torte Teapot
by Janis Brett Elspas, MommyBlogExpert.com

I absolutely love tea as you might guess from the many unusual teapots I have in my personal collection, including the whimsical chocolate cake teapot pictured above.  So, when I heard the news that Oregon Chai was having their last Twitter party of the year this week I had to share it with all my MommyBlogExpert's readers.

Oregon Chai Tea Products
Photo from the OregonChai.com Website

Helping Oregon Chai to celebrate will be Peggy Hall, host and wellness expert, who is going to be sharing her ideas and strategies for staying calm and collected this holiday season as well as how to share the gift of Me Time with your loved ones.  You’ll also be able to bring your own questions for her to answer.  If you're as stressed out a mom as I am, I'm almost certain you'll also be able to benefit from the advice and tips that Peggy will have to share. 

Don't miss this online get together.  Lots of Chai and other prizes will be given away, too, PLUS one lucky participant will win a $100 grand prize.

Just Three Easy Steps to Do Before You Attend the Party
 
PR Contact
Heather Gjerde
hgjerde@hiebing.com
608.268.4369
Additional Optional Opportunities to Participate

Write a Blogpost
Four bloggers who post will get a sample of The Original™ Chai Tea Latte Concentrate.  One lucky blogger will win a $50 Visa gift card! To enter, email a link to your post to Heather at hgjerde@hiebing.com.  To be eligible, posts must include all the following: the date and time of the event, the #OregonChai hash tag, a call to action to follow @OregonChai and @PeggyHall, a link to oregonchai.com, and a statement that this is a post sponsored by Oregon Chai.

Tweet About the Party for Extra Chances to Win
Increase your chances of winning by sending out the following tweet up to once a day from now until the party:
Oregon Chai is having its last Twitter party of the year 11/16 7-8 CST  Follow @OregonChai & @PeggyHall Use #OregonChai $100 prize Pls RT

Offer Your Readers A Discount or Use it Yourself
Oregon Chai currently has a $1 off any Oregon Chai product coupon available HERE

FTC Disclosure:  MommyBlogExpert has written this post to be eligible for Oregon Chai's blogger contest.  However, I did not receive any payment or other compensation associated with this particular post.   See complete FTC Disclosure information that appears at the bottom of MommyBlogExpert's main page and at the bottom of every individual post on this blog, including this one.     
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