Hi folks! First of all, let me apologize for my long absence. I took on a new role over the summer which left me with less time to devote to One Crafty Place. I had always intended on finding a balance and coming back, but I honestly don’t think I’m going to be able to do it. During OCP’s short run (about 6 months) I added hundreds of new blogs to my reader and received many submissions. The problem I ran into was that I loved it all!  You are all so inspiring that I found myself reading all of your posts, not just the crafty ones…which ended up taking me a VERY long time to go through my reader :).  Plus, I had originally only intended on posting 2-3 posts per day. That also wound up being a huge challenge, because there was truly just too much goodness out there. I felt a need to share all of the wonderful things that I found, and not just a few here and there.

At this point, I am sorry to say that I do not think I will be able to continue with this blog. As for what will become of it, I’m still not sure. Some of the options I’ve been rolling around are passing it on to someone else, shutting it down completely, or leaving it as is since the archives are full of great ideas. Any thoughts? I will be removing the submissions page for now and I apologize to all of those who have left submissions over the past few months. Thank you all for your understanding.

Chrissy

Seriously, does it get any better? I have an ongoing list of baking recipes that I’ve been making with my girls. I’m not sure if we’ll be making these, but they look so yummy I had to share. Go see Gotta Little Space for the recipe!

The Wonder Years shares many Montessori-inspired activities that can be made at home. This lacing board is simple to make and is perfect to help your preschooler practice his lacing skills. Click here to learn how to make one AND how to introduce the activity to your child!

Peixinhos No Sotao shares a simple play mat idea for playing cars. She offers a basic template, so you can keep it simple or jazz it up as you wish! See it here!

Here’s a fun and easy way to add custom stamps to your child’s art supplies! Go check out Mel’s Own Place for a tutorial on making these stamps using bottle caps!

Love this toy dump truck made from recyclables! See Origami Mommy for the details!

I love making skirts for my girls and now I have another to add to my list! Treasures for Tots made this adorable skirt for her little girl and has put together a great tutorial for those interested in making one. Hop on over here to check it out!

This super-fun homemade toy from Julie K in Taiwan is a fabulous way to let your little ones practice screwing the tops on and off of bottles without losing the caps. Perfect for car rides! Check it out here!

One Inch World has discovered that juice tops are sturdy enough to make excellent custom sewing cards for your little crafters! Click here for more!

The Thrifty Chick shows how to make this handy car seat tent for sleeping babes, or to keep the bright sun out of tiny eyes. Lovely! Here’s the link!

These rag quilt letters from Happy Together are so bright and colorful…I think any child would be instantly attracted to them! Click here for the tut!

You can make a fun and relaxing retreat for your littles with the help of a bed sheet! Craft Addictions explains how she created hers here!

Here’s a simple way to help your kiddos practice their counting skills (with a little fine motor thrown in for good measure)! It’s a cinch to make and you probably already have everything you need! Check out Naptime Journal for the details!

LOVE this simple idea for making homemade lollipops! So many possibilities! See The Decorated Cookie for the details! (via The Crafty Crow)

Don’t have a bib pattern? No worries! The Object Project shows how you can use a cereal box to make a sewing template! Totally genius and very cute. Go here to see more!

Just for Fun With Sandy shares a super-simple way to make bathtub paints…so simple you may wonder why you haven’t tried it before! Click here for the details!

Craftster user agrafikartist shows step-by-step how to make a soft, snuggly, eco-friendly diaper for newborns. I LOVED using cloth on my girls, but the initial investment can be steep and often turns people off. If you’ve got the skills, you should definitely give this one a try! You can find the tutorial here!

I drool over pretty much everything that Joy the Baker makes, but these sugar cookies look totally do-able! I think I may even have all of the ingredients on hand. Yes…I will definitely be making these in the coming weeks. Find the recipe here!

The Magic Onions shares a how-to for making a worm garden using a glass jar. I love this idea and I know my 3yo will, too! In the past we’ve simply explored worms in our yard, but being able to watch them digging in the dirt whenever we want would be a wonderful treat! Click here to learn how!

Here’s a clever way to gain some more miles from those baby britches you’ve been hanging on to. Blueprints shows how to turn them into underwear for your preschooler! They also make great underwear cover-ups for little girls in skirts and dresses. Click here for the tutorial!

Lil Blue Boo shares how she repurposed an adult-sized t-shirt to make this adorable outfit for her daughter! I love how she made use of the shirt’s image as appliqué for the tank and skirt. Such a fabulous redo, I just love it! You can find the how-to here!

All-American Tutu from Joy’s Hope:

Edible rockets and sparklers from This Little Project:

4th of July bean bag toss from Chica and Jo:

Edible star cupcake toppers from Inchmark:

Festive red, white, and blue soap from Make It Soap:

(via Craft Gossip)

Star ice cream sandwiches from No Fuss Fabulous:

4th of July printables from Twig and Thistle:

4th of July mobile from Grown in My Heart”

4th of July tarts from Ramblings of a Crazy Woman:

Bowling game (plus a ton of other games!) from Roots and Wings Co.:

Have you noticed that posts have been rather inconsistent around here lately? I have. I get enormous satisfaction out of finding projects that I want to make for my kiddos and sharing them with you folks. I have a ton of items starred in my reader, a few submissions waiting to be posted, and another Independence Day crafty round-up in the works. Unfortunately, I have a backlog of my own projects that I’d really like to finish (because you people are an endless source of inspiration!)…plus…its SUMMER! I’m finding myself busier than ever with my toddler and preschooler. I have no doubt that you can relate to everything I’m talking about here. So…for the next month or so my presence here will be spotty. I’ll be in and out, but I don’t think I’ll be able to maintain any sort of consistency until these warm summer months start winding down. Thanks to everyone for coming by every day and for keeping this blog fun for me! And don’t worry…I’ll see you soon!

I love that Jenny makes it a point to create a homemade dessert for her family every week. Most recently she made this delicious-looking pie from fresh peaches and berries! Are you salivating yet? Check out Through Jenny’s Lens for the recipe! Love the special touch of the cut-out hearts!

Crayon stars from The Long Thread

Stars and stripes gift pack from 4 Crazy Kings

Boys patriotic t-shirt embellishment from My Little Gems

Live Savor Firecrackers from An Altered State of Mind

(via Ucreate)

Star-shaped pinwheel from Cheeky Magpie

Jiffy Pop 4th of July Party invite from Chica and Jo

Red, white, and blue sun hat from The Purl Bee

Firecracker cake topper from Wisdom of the Moon

(via Craft Gossip)

Party popper from Homespun Threads

Bandana Top from Naptime Journal

Festive baton from Elle’s Studio (via Craft Gossip)

4th of July Ring Toss from Roots and Wings Co.