Friday, December 21, 2012

Catch Santa at Your House

Imagine the look of wonder and surprise when a child receives a photo of Santa and Rudolph caught in the act in his or her very own home.

iCaughtSanta.com is a unique website that helps visitors create those memorable keepsake photos. 







In three simple steps anyone can upload a holiday photo, add Santa Claus or Rudolph and print it as proof… or share it via Facebook and Twitter. Last-minute shoppers can purchase Gift Cards and eGift Certificates for loved ones with children, making iCaughtSanta.com a great gift idea even if you don't have kids yourself.



And for even more holiday magic, iCaughtSanta.com is giving away 2 iPads! No purchase necessary. Enter here: www.iCaughtSanta.com/Contest






My Readers Get 25% off your entire order at icaughtsanta.com. Use the following Promo Code at checkout SANTA2012 to instantly save: #icaughtsanta 


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Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Crocheted Frog Hat Directions

I've recently picked up my crochet hooks after an almost 20 year hiatus and I've been making hats like a wild woman. GlitterGurl asked me to make a frog hat for her bff's baby shower and I couldn't find one that was as cute as I wanted. So I looked at about 4 different ones on Etsy and Pinterest and combined the features I liked best to make the cutie pie below

I usually crochet by sight and this is my first attempt at writing the directions down legibly, so that someone other than myself can actually read them. Please bear with me. If they don't make sense, I'll try to clarify if you just ask.

 


Hat

Directions are written with dc, but you can use 1/2 dc for a tighter stitch. Use an F or G hook. To make sure the hat fits your little one, measure around head and divide by 3.14 That's the diameter your hat should measure after round 5.

 

With green yarn chain 4, join with slipstitch 

ch 2, 11 dc in ring. join to top of ch 2 (12 sts)


ch2, dc in same dc as ch 2.  2dc in each dc (24 st) join every round


ch 2, dc in same dc as ch 2. (2dc in next dc, dc in next dc) around (36 sts)

ch2, dc in same dc as ch 2 (2dc in next st, dc in next two sts) around (48 sts)

ch2, dc in same dc as ch 2 (2dc in next st, dc in next three sts) around (60 sts)

ch 2,
dc in same st, dc all the way around. (60 sts each row) Continue 9 rows of dc are done, OR until hat is desired height

Optional: Single crochet one row around bottom with contrasting color


Cheeks (make 2)


Chain 4, join with slipstitch 

ch 2, 9 sc in ring. join to top of ch 2 (10 sts)

ch2, sc in same sc as ch 2.  2sc in each sc (20 st)


leave a long tail of yarn for
sewing to hat (about 8")

Eyes (make 2)


With black yarn Chain 4, join with slipstitch


With white yarn
ch2. sc in same sc as ch 2.  2sc in each sc (20 st)

L
eave a long tail of yarn for sewing to hat (about 8")

Tongue (make 1)

Using pink yarn, leave a small tail (used to secure fly) ch 14, sc in second chain from hook and in each chain. (12 st)

ch 2, sc in 2nd sc from hook and then in each sc (11 sc after ch 2, 12 st across.

Leave a tail for sewing to hat

With black yarn twist a little bit to make a fly.

Place fly on tip of tongue (where the small tail from your starting point is) and roll up slightly. Use that short length of yarn to sew the fly to the curl and to keep the curl from unrolling.

 

Mouth (make 1)

Using black yarn, make a double foundation chain (http://crochethub.com/2007/09/21/double-foundation-chain/) about 5" long


Pin all parts onto hat, tongue under mouth and mouth under cheeks. When sewing the eyes on, only sew the bottom to the hat, then take your green yarn and single crochet around one eye, joining in the middle of the two eyes and around other eye.

This pattern is the property of Megryansmom.com and may not be sold in whole or part. When sharing on your blog or website, I request that you link back to this post.  

Linking up to:

 Skip To My Lou

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Friday, December 7, 2012

The Holiday Letter Shop



 
 
Give your child a one-of-a-kind gift that they will treasure from The Holiday Letter Shop

See the joy on your child's face when they open up their personalized letter. Even the most skeptical child will be amazed.  Or send a special message to to the special someone in your life. 

There are a variety of packages starting at just $9.95 all include a Personalized Letter and Nice List Certificate, some also include activity books, stickers, ornaments and other extras. 
 
Get 50% off your entire order at theholidaylettershopcom.  

Use the following Promo Code at checkout: SLUSFG 


Disclaimer: I received product in exchange for sharing this with you.
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Rockford IceHogs

 
Rockford IceHogs Hockey games are not all about hockey, but instead about a great family experience! 



Check out Top Shot, an interactive hockey inspired shooting game located on the main concourse, and test your hockey skills. Join the IceHogs Runts Club and take your little one down to the tunnel to high-five all the players as they walk off the ice, then escort them out on the ice to help pick up chuck-a-pucks. 

Don't want to go down on the ice? You can purchase Chuck-A-Pucks and take part in one of the most exciting intermission activities where you have the opportunity to win $500 Oink Outfitters bucks and other prizes. 

Every IceHogs game offers tons of contest, raffles, and enter to wins for the whole family! 

So come check out the Rockford IceHogs, the proud American Hockey League Affiliate to the Chicago Blackhawks at the BMO Harris Bank Center.

Dec 8th is Teddy Bear Toss and Glass Mug giveaway night (glass mugs are to the first 1,500 fans), everyone brings a teddy bear they would like to donate to charity and throws it out on the ice.  All bears collected, after they have dried, go to less fortunate children.  

Dec 15th is baseball hat giveaway night (to the first 2,500 fans).  

Dec 22nd is Stan Mikita Night and Mini Stick giveaway night (mini sticks to the first 1,000 fans).
 
Tickets start as low as $8!

http://www.ticketmaster.com/venueartist/32969/806697
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Thursday, December 6, 2012

2nd Annual #InappropriateElf on a Shelf Contest

He's baaaaaack! 

That creepy little mischievous elf we call Tank. 

Oh he's all G-rated fun and games when the boys are here.












But when they head home. . . well let's just say Tank is a wild and crazy guy! 







Last year, we caught Tank trying to hitch a ride back to the North Pole via one of our resident beavers. This was my entry last year in Baby Rabies' first ever Inappropriate Elf on a Shelf Contest and sadly I came in just outside the Top Ten with 207 votes.



My consolation prize was 'meeting' the hilariously talented Bearded Iris, whose name isn't even Iris and she doesn't have a beard! Liar, Liar, pants on fire! J/K . . . a little.

Happy Anniversary, Beautiful! Mazel Tov, Salute, Sláinte and Na Zdrowej all rolled into one!

This year, in keeping with the beaver theme, Tank . . . well just have a look yourself.

So many beavers so little time!

It appears that Tank's French is a little rusty, as he misunderstood the meaning of ménage à trois. Alas, all is well, because if a stuffed beaver is a happy beaver, then three stuffed beavers must be ecstasy. They're grinning from ear to ear and Tank looks quite satisfied as well!


Click that there elf up there to vote for me in Baby Rabies' Second Annual Inappropriate Elf Contest.
I'm entry #65.  

Voting begins December 7th and runs through Dec 18th, you can vote once per day!
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Tuesday, December 4, 2012

How Mema Saves the Day or 10 Easy Steps for Stuffed Animal Repair

This weekend we faced a horrible tragedy. TOF's beloved Army Dog was viciously attacked by Grissom, Augie Dawg's big oaf of a dog. The boy was grief stricken to the point of threatening to send Grissom to the Animal Control. Army Dog was grossly disfigured in the attack and TOF was sure he could never be fixed.



Fortunately, this Mema is a highly talented stuffed animal surgeon! Doc McStuffins could take lessons from me.

With the help of some 'Christmas Magic' I was able to repair Army Dog and save the day!

For those times when 'Christmas Magic' won't help, I've included some super easy eye transplant tips below.

  1. Head to your nearest thrift store. Preferably on 1/2 price day.
  2. Proceed directly to the stuffed animal display. DO NOT BE AFRAID! You are immune to germs and disease because this is for a good cause.
  3. Choose a suitable candidate with eyes similar to the one that needs replacing.
  4. If you've planned ahead, the organ removal can be done in the parking lot and the donor animal can be properly buried in the thrift store dumpster. (I did not plan ahead and this step was performed in my driveway.)
  5. After cleaning the eye and removing the little plastic washer behind it, Army Dog was ready for the transplant.
  6. In this case the disfiguring hole was very large, so I started off by stitching it together a bit with matching thread.
  7. I then took the 2 part eye and placed the washer behind a little bit of stuffing to keep it securely in place. I pressed the actual eye on top and snapped it shut.
  8. Next, I tightly stitched the hole closed around and under the replacement eye.
  9. Finally, Army Dog was washed and dried, to remove all dog slobber.
  10. and placed right back where I found him before anyone realized he was gone.
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