This poodle skirt from Beelieve is absolutely fabulous. There’s nothing particularly fancy about the construction of the skirt…in fact she chose some very simple methods (yay!). But the poodle. Good gracious, that poodle is killing me. And I love the significance of the unhooked leash. I’m gushing because I love this skirt! Go see it here and be sure to read the words (yes, I’m talking to you “picture reader” types!), because it really was interesting to read how she made it.

I love, love, love this travel doodle bag from The Long Thread. It’s part crayon roll and part tote bag…perfect for your little artist on the go! I haven’t tried this yet, but you may be able to combine this tutorial for a pencil roll with flap, and this tutorial for a tote bag, and get similar results. If you try it, lemme know if it works out! In the meantime, go check out the original inspiration at The Long Thread!

This compartmented storage box is a great way to present many different textures for little hands to explore. Go see My Little Gems to read what to she put inside!

My toddler hasn’t been interested in her lacing beads lately, and I think this activity might be a great way to add some novelty to her day! The Wonder Years shares how she created this toy for her daughter using items she had around the house. For more of a challenge, you could create separate cards and have your child stack the beads according to a given color sequence (a la this post)

I’m amazed at how quickly my little girls grow out of their clothes. Usually the shirts get handed on down or donated, but for those extra special tees, I think this wardrobe refashion from Julie Kundhi may be perfect keeping them around a little longer. Go to her blog to read about how she added a pretty ruffle to add length to her daughter’s shirt!

I’m completely smitten with this sock owl mobile from Craft Schmaft. The little owls couldn’t be cuter and I love that she chose to hang them from sanded twigs. Check out Craft Schmaft and read about how these little guys came about over the past few weeks.

The Wonder Years has put together some truly wonderful activities to help her children learn about the solar system. I love this little stargazing box that she made using glow-in-the-dark stars. It’s like having a mini-planetarium right in your home! Click over to see more!

Make a ball for some lucky kiddos and get rid of your fabric scraps at the same time! This is such a great idea from Future Craft Collective. In fact, they have many great ideas for crafting with kids and will be teaming up with Craft to bring you great ideas all summer long!

Quiet books are a great way to keep the kids entertained when you need a few minutes of, well, quiet! I can think of several occasions when one of these books would have come in handy! Here are just a few of the pages found at Naptime Journal Creations. Click here to see more of her pages and read about her many sources of inspiration!

Roots and Wings Co. has put together a fabulous post of various sensory integration activities that you can make at home. These activities are often used to help children who have difficulty processing sensory information, but when it comes down to it many of them are worthwhile sensory experiences for all kids. Click over to see what they’ve come up with!

All of these remakes of men’s shirts are just so inspiring! Most recently, Shannon from luvinthemommyhood created this dress and I absolutely love it. Love the colors, love the breezy look about it, love the flower…love everything about it! It’s also encouraging to know that a beginning sewer created it since I’m still a newbie myself. Shannon doesn’t have a tutorial up yet, but she’s working on one so keep an eye out on her blog!

I’m so excited about the new blog from the editors of Small Magazine. The online magazine is a continual source of inspiration and their new blog is sure to be the same. This whimsical dragonfly mobile is their first tutorial and I totally love it. Check out Smaller for the tutorial.

OCP reader MaxxSilly pointed me to a recent redo that she did of her husband’s childhood rocker.

What a fantastic update of a cherished childhood relic. This is also a great reminder to look around at what we already have before running out to the store.

Well done, MaxxSilly!

If you’re just getting started with clothespin dolls, stop by Going Sew Crazy for a wonderful tutorial on making these charming toys.

Once you’ve gotten a few under your belt, you may want to accessorize with a pony! Se7en shares how she and her kids made ponies at a recent party. They’re very clever and look like so much fun to create!

Now share the fun and make a clothespin doll kit for one lucky little person like Mama Urchin did.

Hurrayic has posted about these pillows she’s been making for her children and I absolutely love them. The little pockets are perfect for keeping a small friend close by and I think they’d make great sleep-over pillows. You can read more about them here.

Homemade By Jill is on page 3 of a 10 page quiet book that she’s working on. It’s coming along beautifully and I can’t wait to see the finished product! Here are links to pages 1, 2, and 3.

Kids love secret places and there’s nothing like draping a sheet over table to make an instant fort.  But, I love this idea from Creative Chicks for more of a fitted look. Read how to make one for your little ones here!

A Bit of This and A Bit of That shares how to make this tasty looking snack made from oranges, cinnamon, and honey. Doesn’t that just sound so delicious?! Let the kids help you make it for some extra fun!

I love clever birthday invitations and these circus party invites from Armelle certainly fit the bill. The balloon is my favorite part. What a great way to get party goers in a festive mood before the party even starts! Click here to read more!

Special touches have a way of leaving lasting impressions on our children. I always imagined I’d be the type to send along little handwritten notes along with my child’s lunch, but these lunch bags from Disposable Drawings have me thinking more broadly. There are so many ways to add a little extra something to show you care and it usually only takes a few more minutes on our part.  You can see more these lunch bags here. (found via Twig and Thistle)

Frugal Family Blog has a great idea for field guides that are easy to make and super-handy to take along! Click here for the details!

This easy-to-make activity is a matching game and buttoning exercise all rolled into one! Check out The Wonder Years for this and many more Montessori-inspired activities.

This Very Hungry Caterpillar cake from Coco Cake Cupcakes is so very clever. Click over to check out more photos and to learn how they make the caterpillar’s “furry bits!” (via Craftzine)

Folded napkin bunny from My Paper Crane

Free bunny stitching patterns from Blue Bird Studio

Small bunny knitting pattern from Art & Design by Katie Aaberg

(via Meet Me at Mikes)

Bunny candy topper template from Skip to My Lou

Bunny applique’ template from Lolly Chops

Bunny softie pattern from Yoonie at Home

(via Softies Central)

Have a spare coffee table laying around? With just a few adjustments you can turn it into a kid-sized art table!

Mini Cuties tells how she and her husband transformed this:

into this!

Some modifications include holes for hanging cups that help keep the space organized, and a roll of drawing paper mounted to the side. Click here for more details!