07
Feb
by Leigh on February 7, 2012
Welcome! If this is your first time at Spoiled but Rotten, I am glad you are here! To keep up with all the latest deals, I recommend subscribing to our free email newsletter. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter so you never miss a hot deal!
Valentine’s Day is just 1 week away! If you still haven’t picked up any Valentine’s Day Cards at the store (or just want something original), why not consider making them yourself? I have assembled 25+ Do-It-Yourself Valentine’s Day Cards over on my Pinterest board. There are some super-cute ideas and many of them are easy to make. Which ones are your favorites?
28
Dec
by Leigh on December 28, 2011
My kids love to color! Unfortunately, we seem to have tons of broken crayons laying around our house. Being the frugal person that I am, I cringe at the thought of throwing them away. I mean, they are still usable, right?
I recently came across this great tutorial for melting down your crayons, giving them new life! Get creative and mix colors or melt them in shaped muffin tins or silicone molds for fun shapes!
What you will need:
- Broken Crayons
- Muffin Pan
- Knife
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees
- Cut up all broken crayons into small pieces
- Fill your muffin pan with one-inch layer of crayon pieces
- Bake approximately 15 minutes – or until wax is completely melted
- Pull out of the oven (use pot holders!) and let the pan to cool completely (may place in freezer for this step)
- Pop your crayons out of the muffin tin and let the coloring begin!
Pictures Courtesy of Making Art with Children
26
Sep
by Leigh on September 26, 2011
If your child loves LEGOs, you know that finding a dedicated place to build his/her creations is essential. Unfortunately, many of the LEGO tables can be quite pricey, ranging from $80-$250! Luckily, with a little time and very little money, you can make one yourself! My favorite step-by step tutorial is this one by Angry Julie Monday who constructs her LEGO table from a $9.99 end table from IKEA! You can either store loose LEGOs in a storage container underneath the table or use a vertical storage case like this 
or this
beside it.
Looking for something a little different? I have added a few other LEGO table ideas to my Pinterest board.
Photo courtesy of Angry Julie Monday
22
Sep
by Leigh on September 22, 2011
Making your own baby wipes is quick, easy and a great way to save money! I have also heard from many parents that making their own wipes has cleared up repetitive diaper rash issues that their little one has experienced.
Here is what you will need:
- 1 roll of paper towels (I recommend a thick, strong brand like Bounty or Scott)
- 2 1/4 cups of water – boiled and cooled to room temperature
- 2 Tbsp baby bath or shampoo
- 1 Tbsp of baby oil
- A air-tight container to hold your wipes (I recommend an old wipes container or a Rubbermaid type container)
Directions:
- Cut the roll of paper towels in half with a knife and remove the cardboard center.
- Place the towels in the container of your choice. You will only be using half the roll. Save the other half for the next time you make wipes.
- Mix the water, baby wash/shampoo and baby oil together and pour the mixture over the top of the paper towels.
- Let sit for about 10 minutes for the liquid to fully absorb into the towels.
- Use as you would use any store-bought wipes!
19
Sep
by Leigh on September 19, 2011
Let’s face it, Halloween costumes can be expensive! Before you go paying the big bucks for the “perfect costume,” check out these DIY Halloween costumes ideas which are easy on your wallet while winning you points in the originality department.
If you aren’t very crafty (or still can’t come up with an idea) – don’t fret! You still have time to score a deal at your local second-hand store, a yard sale, Ebay, the Spoiled…but Not Rotten Marketplace or even some great clearance sales that I have previously mentioned.
Picture Courtesy of Parents
15
Jun
by Leigh on June 15, 2011
Father’s Day is just four days away. If you are looking to keep the costs down this year, check out these cute do-it-yourself craft ideas that any dad is sure to love!
- Parenting.com features 7 Easy-to-Make Gifts for Father’s Day. They include a Chalkboard Message Center, Alphabet Photo Frame, and Rock Paperweights.
- Print out this beautifully made Father’s Day Coupon Book created by Jen over at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam. Just punch a hole in the corners and tie a ribbon through it to hold it all together !
- Step up your DIY Father’s Day Crafts with some ideas from Martha Stewart! She includes 35 different gift and craft ideas that anyone can do!
- Kaboose.com has a great selection of both Father’s Day craft and card ideas. I love the idea of homemade cards. They mean so much more than the store bought ones, don’t ya think?
- Disney’s FamilyFun has 21 cute & easy Father’s Day gifts. You will also find printables and fun food recipes (check out the BBQ cupcakes – too cute!)
04
Jul
by Leigh on July 4, 2010
To celebrate the Fourth of July, this week’s Weekend Craft project will teach you how to make a Paper Plate Uncle Sam.
What You Need:
- Paper Plate
- 50-60 Cotton Balls
- Crayons: Flesh-toned and pink
- 2 Medium Wiggle Eyes (can also substitute construction paper, craft foam or just draw the eyes on with a marker)
- 1 Medium Pink Pom-Pom
- Black Marker
- Scissors
- Glue Stick
- White Craft Glue
- Pattern 1
- Pattern 2
Instructions:
- Cut out all hat pieces using patterns 1 and 2. When tracing the hat stripes, it’s okay to make them a little longer than the pattern because you will trim the excess after they are glued on. (See photo.)
- Color the center circle of the paper plate with a flesh-toned crayon. (See photo.)
- To assemble the hat, use a glue stick. First, glue the red stripes to the white portion of the hat. (See photo.) Following the pattern, glue on the blue hat band. Add the red hat brim, then glue on the white stars to the band. Finally, trim any excess to make the hat even.
- Using white glue, press cotton balls all around the outside edges of the plate, two layers at the top (hair) and several more for the beard. All that should be visible is peach colored face. (See photo.)
- Glue on wiggle eyes and the pom-pom nose. Use a pink crayon to color on cheeks. (See photo.)
- Cut the bowtie from red paper, the center tie circle from blue, and a star from white. Assemble the tie using a glue stick.
- Use white glue to add the hat and the bowtie.
- Add eyebrows and a mouth with black marker.
Photo and Instruction provided by Kaboose.
19
Jun
by Leigh on June 19, 2010
Do your kids still need a gift to give their Dad for Father’s Day? If so, why not let them make a trophy to let their Dad know that he is award worthy!
What You Need:
- 2 Foam Cups (paper cups will work as well)
- Small Square Box (about 5 inches works best)
- Chenille Stem (AKA Pipe Cleaner)
- Gold Craft Paint
- Masking Tape
- Construction Paper (cut to fit on side of the box)
- Scissors
- Paintbrush
- White Craft Glue
Instructions:
1. Turn cups upside down and trim bottom lips to make them flush. (see photo)
2. Glue the bottoms of the two cups together.
3. Tape the square box shut by covering the entire box with masking tape.
4. When glue on the cups have dried, wrap a piece of masking tape around the middle where the two cups meet.
5. Cut the chenille stem in half and insert into each side of one of the cups as trophy handles.
6. Cover cups completely with masking tape.
7. Paint masking tape on both the trophy and the box gold. Let dry.
8. Using paint, markers, or even crayons, write “Awarded World’s Best Dad” (or any other message) on the construction paper. Glue to the front of the box.
9. Pipe white glue onto the bottom of the cup that does not have the chenille handles. Press onto the top of the box and let glue dry completely.
Tips:
- Fill the trophy cup with Dad’s favorite candy.
- Often times your pantry is the best place to look for a small box. Boxes from cereal bars, crackers, or fruit snacks will work great for this project!
Photo and instruction provided by Kaboose.
12
Jun
by Leigh on June 12, 2010
Since Father’s Day is next Sunday, I thought that a nice Father’s Day card would be perfect for this week’s Weekend Crafts project.
What You Need:
- Glue
- Scissors
- Decorative Scrapbook Paper
Instructions:
- To start, cut a 4- by 12-inch rectangle from a piece of decorative scrapbook paper and fold it in half to create a double-layer 4- by 6-inch rectangle.
- Form the collar by cutting 2 matching 1-inch-long horizontal slits about 1 inch below the fold.
- Fold over the 2 flaps as shown, then glue them down with a 5-inch-long tie shape cut from another piece of decorative paper glued between them. Glue a pair of small buttons to the collar.
- Once the glue has dried, lift the bottom front of the card and write a Father’s Day greeting inside.
Directions and pictures courtesy of Family Fun.
05
Jun
by Leigh on June 5, 2010
This project, adapted from the well known Paper Plate Aquarium, is a unique and fun way for kids to create their own world under the sea.
What you’ll need:
- 2 paper plates
- Silver craft paint
- 8 pieces of ring shaped cereal
- Fish-shaped crackers
- Silk plant leaves
- Sea shells
- Sand
- White craft glue
- Blue cellophane
- Wax paper
- Scissors
How to make it:
- Take both paper plates and set them on the table. One should be right side up and the other should be upside down.
- On the plate that is right side up, draw your sea floor about 1/3 up the center of the plate.
- Line the floor area with white glue, use an old paintbrush or your finger to spread the glue out evenly.
- Cover the wet glue with sand and set aside to dry.
- On the upside down plate, draw a circle where you will cut out your porthole in the center of the plate.
- Glue ring shaped cereal pieces around the circle; these are the bolts on the porthole. Let dry.
- Paint the cereal pieces and the paper plate from the outer edge to your penciled lines. Don’t worry about painting over the lines a little, as you will be cutting it out. Set aside to dry.
- Take the paper plate with the sand on it and hold it over a sheet of wax paper. Turn the plate sideways and gently tap it to loosen any excess sand. The sand should end up on the wax paper and you can save that for another project.
- Glue sea life onto the plate with the sand floor. Glue on shells, silk leaves, and fish shaped crackers. Let dry.
- Take the silver painted plate and cut out the center circle to create your porthole window. Place it gently over the top of the other plate to see if you are happy with its size and viewing area. Increase size of the hole if you like.
- Turn silver plate upside down.
- Cut a piece of blue cellophane large enough to cover the hole on the plate and glue in place. Let dry.
- Place porthole plate over the top of the sea life plate and glue together. Let dry.
- You can add a hanger to the project if you like, simply glue some string or yarn between the two plates at the top during step 13.
Tips:
You can simplify the supplies in this project by using construction paper to make fish, plants and even shells.
Make your fish scene more cartoonish by adding wiggle eyes to the fish.
If you don’t have blue cellophane, use clear plastic wrap and paint the background of the seal life plate blue before adding sand and sea creatures.
Photo and instruction provided by Kaboose
Instructions:
If your child loves LEGOs, you know that finding a dedicated place to build his/her creations is essential. Unfortunately, many of the LEGO tables can be quite pricey, ranging from $80-$250! Luckily, with a little time and very little money, you can make one yourself! My favorite step-by step tutorial is this one by Angry Julie Monday who constructs her LEGO table from a $9.99 end table from IKEA! You can either store loose LEGOs in a storage container underneath the table or use a vertical storage case like this 
Let’s face it, Halloween costumes can be expensive! Before you go paying the big bucks for the “perfect costume,” check out these DIY Halloween costumes ideas which are easy on your wallet while winning you points in the originality department.
Father’s Day is just four days away. If you are looking to keep the costs down this year, check out these cute do-it-yourself craft ideas that any dad is sure to love!
