Photography Tip – Tungsten Light

~:: While Wearing Heels ::~

Want to get to know your camera better? Don’t be intimidated, take it off of automatic and let your camera do all the work for you. In an ideal setting, we’d all love to take pictures using natural light but what happens when that’s not possible? By taking your camera off of automatic and changing a few settings, you can get the results of shooting pictures in natural lighting…need some proof, come see the difference changing 3 settings make.

ABOUT AMY: Amy, from While Wearing Heels, suffers from a severe form of Crafter Attention Deficit Disorder SO does her blog. She finds herself doing a lot of tutorials. What sort of a tutorial really depends on the week (crafts, hair, home decor, how to extract a bento box cup from your dog after she has eaten one). She likes to share things she thinks are interesting or helpful and hopes to get that across with a few laughs thrown in.

Join the good times and ideas with Amy on Pinterest, Facebook or Twitter.

CONTINUE READING IN THE MOM CAVE

The post Photography Tip – Tungsten Light by While Wearing Heels first appeared on BonBon Break.

  Turn Your Child’s Artwork into a Keepsake Pillow

~:: by Amy of While Wearing Heels ::~

Fall is in the air and school has begun, again.

I just sent my daughter off to preschool, for the first time…

And the art, she so lovingly has created, during her hours away from me, is already stacking up.

Sure, I’ll hang most of it up and at the end of the year I’ll store it away in a box labeled preschool.

But the problem with storing it away in a box is just that…it is stored away in a box.

Out of sight, out of mind.

So, instead, I’ll appreciate it.  I’ll use it.  I’ll decorate with it.  Sure, I could frame it but why not turn some of that art into a custom pillow. [EXPAND CLICK TO CONTINUE READING>>>]

Don’t worry, if you don’t sew, you can use a pre-made pillow {as long as the case is removable from the pillow}.

To get started, you and your little Picasso can pick your favorite masterpieces.  Set up a photo shoot and take some crisp clear pictures of the artwork you want to use.

Next import your photographed art into PicMonkey, a free photo editing website, and create a collage.  Have fun figuring out the design and arrangement.  If you want to add a quote, or the grade the collection of art was created, pull your newly created collage into PicMonkey’s ‘edit a photo’ tab.

If you decide to add a quote, or if the art work itself uses words or numbers, you will need to transpose your image.  This can also be done with PicMonkey, in the basic edits section under rotate.

Pull your image into a word document to determine the size you want.  Print a test page on copier paper to check the size.  When you have the size you want, print it on the transfer paper.

Center the transfer paper, face down, onto the fabric source you want to adhere it to and iron it on. White fabric will work best since the transfer paper does have a transparent quality to it.

*If applying it to a pillow, make sure you remove the pillow prior to ironing.

When the paper has cooled, gently peel the backing of the transfer paper off.  The image is now permanently affixed to the fabric.

And, a custom pillow is ready to be proudly displayed.

The possibilities are endless.  Using this transfer paper technique you could add the collage to a tote bag, a T-shirt, or even a quilt.

I love the idea of creating different squares of treasured artwork, one for each year of school, and displaying them in a quilt that will certainly never be forgotten.

Picasso was right, every child is an artist, so why not display their artwork in a way that can be appreciated and used and not tucked away in a box.

ABOUT AMY: Amy, from While Wearing Heels, suffers from a severe form of Crafter Attention Deficit Disorder SO does her blog. She finds herself doing a lot of tutorials. What sort of a tutorial really depends on the week (crafts, hair, home decor, how to extract a bento box cup from your dog after she has eaten one). She likes to share things she thinks are interesting or helpful and hopes to get that across with a few laughs thrown in.

Join the good times and ideas with Amy on Pinterest, Twitter, or Facebook.

This piece was written by Amy of While Wearing Heels exclusively for Bonbon Break Media, LLC

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The post Turn Your Child’s Artwork into a Keepsake Pillow by Amy of While Wearing Heels first appeared on BonBon Break.

A Thanksgiving Family Tradition Tablecloth

~:: From Glitter to Gumdrops ::~

I’ve known Mary for years, but I didn’t know about this until last year when we were crafting together, and she brought this beauty out to embroider. She can’t remember where she found this idea, because it is 34 years old.

ABOUT CHRISTY: My name is Christy, and I’ve been blogging crafts, cooking, and a side of travel and daily life for the last few years at www.christyrobbins.blogspot.com. I’m an accidental blogger. I began years ago to keep up with friends, who soon wandered away into cyber space and life, and I turned my blog into a living recipe book and craft journal for myself. Who knew when you put your ‘stuff’ out into the world of the internet others could and might want to access it? I’ve had the pleasure of growing organically over the years and love the people I meet the projects they try and report back on, and the ideas they share with me. My full time job is teaching, and I also do live crafting segments on Good Morning, Texas every few weeks. I minor in lots of majors and there’s a bit of every craft genre floating around my site. I love sharing the fun things I find to do, the ideas my friends (both ‘real’ and ‘blog’) share with me, and passing along the old and new crafts with a fun twist.

Pottery Barn for Kids Knockoff Advent Calendar

~:: While Wearing Heels ::~

The days leading up to Christmas can be an exciting time. Make counting down those days even more special by creating your own advent calendar.

This detailed tutorial, inspired by The Pottery Barn for Kids advent calendar, gives you 25 free patterns for each pocket and instruction on how to put it all together. The patterns mainly involve cutting out felt and gluing so it’s easy enough, you can even get the kids involved. Use the patterns as inspiration or create your own pocket(s) that hold special meaning for your family. The possibilities are endless.

ABOUT AMY: Amy, from While Wearing Heels, suffers from a severe form of Crafter Attention Deficit Disorder SO does her blog. She finds herself doing a lot of tutorials. What sort of a tutorial really depends on the week (crafts, hair, home decor, how to extract a bento box cup from your dog after she has eaten one). She likes to share things she thinks are interesting or helpful and hopes to get that across with a few laughs thrown in.

Join the good times and ideas with Amy on Pinterest or Facebook.

Paper Punching Leaves

~:: Grow Creative ::~

Put your paper punches to good use with something other than paper. Punch out fun shapes from brightly colored fall leaves to create unique shapes with unique textures.

ABOUT ELISE: Elise Engh is an artist turned crafter who started her blog, Grow Creative , in 2010 in hopes of documenting her own creative growth and encouraging others in cultivating their own creativity. She is a mother of one rambunctious four-year-old and loves to crochet, paint, take photos, decorate her home on a budget, and experiment with all forms of art.

Follow along with her at Grow Creative, Facebook, and Pinterest .

Hand-stamped wrapping paper

~:: Swoon ::~

There’s something special about a perfectly wrapped gift, isn’t there? It’s the cherry on top of the gift itself. I ran out of pretty gift wrap the other day and decided to improvise by making my own. You’d be surprised at what you can do with a few items you probably already have a home. Click over to Swoon to find out how to make your own hand-stamped wrapping paper, just in time for the Holiday rush!

ABOUT RANDI: Randi is the creator of the blog Swoon!  and resides in the Pacific Northwest. She spends her days wrangling three children under the age of five and making pretty things in between. She also loves reading, cooking, planning parties, and exploring the city. She finds joy in the details of daily living, and loves learning new things. Swoon! is a journal of her life, with plenty of projects and ideas thrown in for fun.

Follow Randi on Twitter and Pinterest.

The post Tablecloths, Advent Calendars, Leaf Art & Wrapping Paper first appeared on BonBon Break.

A few weeks ago, from across a crowded Goodwill, my eyes locked on a beautiful chair. In disbelief, I noticed the $3.99 price tag. This chair’s fate was sealed and I brought her home.

When my husband came home from work, I proudly showed off my new chair and he responded, ‘oh, you bought a chair’. He obviously was not impressed.

A coat of white furniture paint, some new Tiffany blue fabric and a few weeks later, there is no denying her beauty now.

ABOUT AMY: Amy, from While Wearing Heels, suffers from a severe form of Crafter Attention Deficit Disorder SO does her blog. She finds herself doing a lot of tutorials. What sort of a tutorial really depends on the week (crafts, hair, home decor, how to extract a bento box cup from your dog after she has eaten one). She likes to share things she thinks are interesting or helpful and hopes to get that across with a few laughs thrown in.

Join the good times and ideas with Amy on Pinterest or Facebook.

CONTINUE READING IN THE MOM CAVE

The post The Big Reveal – Goodwill Chair by While Wearing Heels first appeared on BonBon Break.

My newest baby (project) is a cute, little tiger named Daniel. My passion is to create quality shows for kids which are drenched in the very best preschool curriculum. Mister Rogers Neighborhood was a pinnacle of quality and set a standard for what children’s television needs to be.

But a new show based on his curriculum? What would that be like? I started with the three clues that Fred taught me and wrote the first show from there:

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About Angela: Angela has been changing the way children watch TV for over 15 years. She is a Founding Partner & Chief Creative Officer of Out of the Blue Enterprises LLC, overseeing all creative development with the vision to bring educational entertainment to a whole new level.

Angela Santomero is the Lead Creator, Executive Producer and Head Writer for Nick Jr.’s landmark preschool show Blue’s Clues. Malcolm Gladwell referred to it as “One of the stickiest TV shows EVER made” in his book, The Tipping Point. Her ability to integrate education, entertainment & active participation helped make Blue’s Clues a breakthrough program. Currently, Angela is the Creator, Executive Producer & Head Writer of the emmy-nominated and #1 ranked preschool show, Super Why!, which helps build literacy skills through fractured fairytales & interactive games. She is unveiling her latest, (the Mister Rogers’ spin off) Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood this week. She presently hosts PBS’ The Parent Show at PBSparents.org.

Angela is a Peabody Award Winner for Outstanding Children’s Programming, a Gold & Silver Parents Choice Awards recipient & has been nominated for over 35 Emmy Awards. Her blog, AngelasClues.com, approaches Parenting from her vantage point as a successful childrens’ media creator, to assist parents with the most important job of all!

For more information on parenting, kids & media, join Angela over on her blog at or viaTwitter, Facebook or Pinterest.

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About Amy: Amy, from While Wearing Heels, suffers from a severe form of Crafter Attention Deficit Disorder SO does her blog. She finds herself doing a lot of tutorials. What sort of a tutorial really depends on the week (crafts, hair, home decor, how to extract a bento box cup from your dog after she has eaten one). She likes to share things she thinks are interesting or helpful and hopes to get that across with a few laughs thrown in. Join the good times and ideas with Amy on Pinterest or Facebook.

FREE eBOOKS FOR THE KINDLE THE NO TWIDDLE TWADDLE WAY ::: No Twiddle Twaddle

Do you love downloading free eBooks for the kids, but never know quite where to find them or which ones are worth your time? Each day new picture books and novels for kids are available for free for a short period of time and can be downloaded on almost any type of reader or tablet through the free Kindle app. By popular demand, I started posting daily (M-F) lists of my favorite free kids’ books (and I actually read many of them and tell you what I think). Want to know more? Read all about my free kids’ eBook lists here.

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About Bethany:

Bethany started No Twiddle Twaddle in January 2012, to create a kid lit and play blog that combines love for great literature with a down to earth perspective of a mom with small children. When she’s not writing (or folding the never ending stack of laundry), you might find her killing dragons in the backyard, joining a mission to Mars, or if lucky curled up on the couch reading to her kids.

You can subscribe to Bethany’s daily free kids’ eBook lists and activity ideas by email, and you can join her online on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and Google+.

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WHAT TO DO WITH SAMUEL? ::: No One Has More Fun Than the Adams

There is something very nice about being able to put a baby down and know that they are safe and sound, especially when you have older children and they need your full attention. What do you do when the youngest member in the family is too old to be confined? Turn your head for a minute and you may find your toddler standing on the dining room table like Samuel.

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Being a home-schooling family, Breanna had to come up with engaging activities to keep her youngest happy, safe and occupied while teaching her older children their studies. What do do with Samuel? Discover the clever games this mom created to keep a little boy occupied enough to forget about climbing the furniture!

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About Breanna: An Army wife of an amazing man who is such a blessing to me & homeschooling Mama of 4 beautiful gifts from God. I love all things crafty and creative, and this is my place to share with our family & friends a glimpse of all the fun we Adams’ are having!

You can connect with Breanna on Pinterest.

The post Playroom September 3 2012 first appeared on BonBon Break.

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About Kristina: Born and bred in Australia (with several years also spent living in the mid-west of the US), she now lives on the beautiful island of O’ahu, Hawaii. She is the mother of two beautiful, young children. Kristina is passionate about cooking and teaching her children the importance of healthy eating; from trying to grow things in the garden, to creating simple meals and treats.

Follow Kristina on Facebook.

BOOKSHELF FIRE STATION ::: Repeat Crafter Me

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About Sarah: Sarah is a stay-at-home mom to her two toddler age boys. She is also an artist and graphic designer that loves crafting with her kids, taking on DIY projects, crocheting and attempting to cook with the help of her Crock pot. She blogs at RepeatCrafterMe. Find Sarah on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

KIDS LOVE PLUMBING ::: Outside Mom

Unstructured play is the perfect combination of development and entertainment for a child. Give your child a toy with no end goal and let them 3 Clues to Use When Choosing Educational Children’s Media by Angela Santomero at their own pace, imagining their own scenarios. If you’re looking for a fun way to encourage your offspring to entertain themselves this summer, consider investing in some PVC pipes and a few connector pieces. For less than $20 you can make your own set of building blocks—with the added benefit that you can pour water through them! Fun for ages kindergarten through seventh grade!

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About Olivia: Olivia is currently a PhD student studying bees and flowers in the southwestern U.S. She moonlights as a blogger on 3 Clues to Use When Choosing Educational Children’s Media by Angela Santomero.com , and as an after school enrichment provider for elementary school science labs. She loves teaching children how to ask and answer their own questions, and to appreciate science as much as she does. When not in front of a computer madly typing up her dissertation, she is out exploring the mountains of northern New Mexico.

Follow Outside Mom on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube.

The post Playroom August 13 2012 first appeared on BonBon Break.

Whether your summer travel plans involve a trip across country or a night out in the city, be sure to buy a stack of postcards.

And, while you fill out postcards to your family and friends, why not write one to yourself as well.  Write out the highlights from your trip, the things that made you laugh.  Include the moments you want to capture and remember.

Put a stamp on your postcard and drop it in the mail.  Until we meet again, bon voyage postcard.

Your ‘back to normal life’ self {the one suffering from post vacation blues}, will appreciate getting something in the
mail other than the bills from your latest adventure.

Then, instead of tucking your postcard away in a photo album or a box, proudly display it.  Frame your handwritten postcard alone OR include the front side of another postcard from your vacation or use a favorite picture from your trip.

Those memories, the ones that may have faded, are now preserved and showcased.  The trip or adventure may be over but that doesn’t mean the memories have to be as well.

About Amy: Amy, from While Wearing Heels, suffers from a severe form of Crafter Attention Deficit Disorder SO does her blog. She finds herself doing a lot of tutorials. What sort of a tutorial really depends on the week (crafts, hair, home decor, how to extract a bento box cup from your dog after she has eaten one). She likes to share things she thinks are interesting or helpful and hopes to get that across with a few laughs thrown in. Join the good times and ideas with Amy on Pinterest or Facebook.

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The post POSTCARD KEEPSAKE by While Wearing Heels first appeared on BonBon Break.

I seem to collect cardboard boxes. Once filled with useful things, they become empty and seemingly useless, filling up a corner in the laundry until they are eventually flattened and recycled. Then one day, when I watched my small son playing with his toy dinosaurs – stomping them through an imaginary carpet forest; flying them over a dining table top canopy; dancing them around a soft cushion swamp… while constantly being chased away by two big, bossy fairies – the carpet their meeting ground; the table their castle; the cushion their bed… I realized those cardboard boxes may be useful after all.

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Photo by Li’l Bit Lou Photography

About Kristina: Born and bred in Australia (with several years also spent living in the mid-west of the US),  she now lives on the beautiful island of O’ahu, Hawaii. She is the mother of two beautiful, young children. Kristina is passionate about cooking and teaching her children the importance of healthy eating; from trying to grow things in the garden, to creating simple meals and treats. Follow Kristina on Facebook.

FARMER’S MARKET STAND ::: While Wearing Heels

Off to the market. Don’t forget the lemons. With this market stand, you won’t have to go far. Using the free building plans provided by Ana White, build your own stand and let the kids help. When it’s done let them run a store, lemonade stand, flower shoppe or a farmer’s market filled with the freshest felt fruits and vegetables like While Wearing Heels has done and watch your child’s imagination grow as they take over their own shop.

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About Amy: Amy, from While Wearing Heels, suffers from a severe form of Crafter Attention Deficit Disorder SO does her blog. She finds herself doing a lot of tutorials. What sort of a tutorial really depends on the week (crafts, hair, home decor, how to extract a bento box cup from your dog after she has eaten one). She likes to share things she thinks are interesting or helpful and hopes to get that across with a few laughs thrown in. Join the good times and ideas with Amy on Pinterest or Facebook.

SUMMER FUN CHECKLIST ::: East Coast Mommy

Summer is such a special time when you are a kid, and what better way to celebrate “all things summer” than this super-fun Summer Checklist from East Coast Mommy? The (free printable) list includes 50 great summer activities to do with little ones, and the last item on the list is an “ice cream for supper” celebration. Fun, right?

What child wouldn’t enjoy things like: having a lemonade stand, doing a good deed, and having a bath with glow sticks? There is even space at the end of the list to add your own items. To start making summer memories now, you can check out the full post here:

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About Gina: (aka East Coast Mommy) blogs about her experiences as a SAHM mom of three small boys (which she had in 3 1/2 years!). Her blog provides: craft tutorials, organizational tips, ideas for activities to do with your kids, and more. She calls herself “a REAL mom” who likes things that are fun, easy, and inexpensive. Follow Gina on Facebook for East Coast Mommy, Facebook for Cute as a Button Designs and Twitter.

10 GAMES TO PLAY WHILE WAITING IN A RESTAURANT ::: Repeat Crafter Me

Before we had kids, my husband and I would eat out all the time and enjoyed our time together discovering new foods and restaurants. Now that we have two little boys, eating out isn’t so easy or enjoyable. We are now mostly limited to kid-friendly dining and even at the most kid-friendly restaurants, we are susceptible to melt downs, whining, crying, and restlessness among other things. So I made a list of restaurant table games to play while waiting for your meal, or even during meal time when the kids are done eating but the adults aren’t. These fun little games can be played using items found at your table and have really helped us keep the kids busy and calm while dining out.

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About Sarah:  Sarah is a stay-at-home mom to her two toddler age boys. She is also an artist and graphic designer that loves crafting with her kids, taking on DIY projects, crocheting and attempting to cook with the help of her Crock pot. She blogs at RepeatCrafterMe. Find Sarah on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

The post Playroom July 16 2012 first appeared on BonBon Break.