After Braeden's sibling gifts didn't turn out to be quite the project for Braeden as I'd hoped, it kept nagging me that he really hadn't "made" his gifts. I don't think HE minded, but it bothered me. So... I looked and thought and showed him another idea from Design Mom. Funny thing is, with the exception of their use of a Cri*cut machine and vinyl, it's the same technique I used in making the tshirts we have up for sale!

Braeden LOVED the idea and I KNEW it was something he could do, so we began... (I didn't take photos during as it's been a long long day... more in the next post... but Design Mom has great photos of the process if you're interested.

After talking to Braeden last Thursday, he decided to make Olivia a shirt that said "Camp Halfblood" on the front. Design Mom had one that said this and he LOVED this idea! If you're not familiar, this is a reference in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians book series which she loves. She's read the first four, and number five is hopefully soon to be out in paperback. Our pup's name also came from this series as all the kids loved the movie based on the first book.

Using my school's Cri*cut on Friday, I cut out the letters in vinyl, and then placed them on the front of the shirt. We layed it in the bathtub and Braeden used a rag dabbed in bleach over all the area around the words. When we got the look we wanted, we put it into the sink and rinsed the shirt in cold water to stop the bleaching process. Then Braeden peeled off the vinyl stickers and we threw it in the dryer.

For Liam's, we thought and thought and when he saw the beetle looking cut out, we knew what we HAD to do! Last summer I taught (mistakenly???) :) the kids how to play "Slug Bug." Come on, you must know that game, right?! We played it all the time when I was young. You see a VW Bug, yell slug bug (and the color of the car), and slug the person by you. So fun! I did NOT teach the slugging to my crew! :)

Well, Liam's hilarious because as soon as Olivia or Braeden say Slug Bug (color), Liam just repeats what they said and tries to claim it as his own. We get such a kick out of it! So...

the front of Liam's shirt...

and the back...

And, not to be missing out on anything himself, Braeden had to make his just like his "sissy's"...

(Don't mind the two tone blue color, his wasn't quite dry all the way when I took the picture.)

He is thrilled with these results, and I am too! They turned out GREAT! I can't wait for the kids to open them, and for him to see their faces! They are all going to be so excited! And I am going to "finish" the mugs myself and give them as my gift! :)