Parent Projects

I can’t believe it’s time to start thinking about a new year with new possibilities. New Year’s resolutions can be hard to maintain, so this year I came up with a fun idea for my family. We each contributed four resolutions so that at the beginning of each month we can draw one and help each other complete our resolutions throughout the year. This way we hold each other accountable and spend time together in the process.

Here are the steps to create a family New Year’s Resolutions box:

Happy holidays! Christmas is just around the corner and this year I was inspired to create a special tree for my son to decorate. He loves to help decorate the Christmas tree, but he doesn’t get to hang as many ornaments as he would like because they are so fragile. I decided to make a tree just for him out of durable, kid-proof materials at FedEx Office®.

Now that my son is toddling around, I'm looking for activities that keep him busy but don't make our house look like a toy store showroom.

That's when I got the idea to make a play mat I can roll up to store in a closet or under a bed. The vinyl used to make banners is the ideal material for this craft. It's durable, it's easily wiped clean, and you can make a custom design. Win, win and win!

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The end of summer is near, and soon students will be heading back to the classroom. While they may be groaning all the way to the school bus, many parents are breathing a sigh of relief as the long days of “I’m bored” draw to a close. ...read more

It’s back to school time again (gasp – where DID summer go, anyway?).  ...read more

Father’s Day is fast approaching and that means it’s time to start brainstorming new and exciting ideas to honor the special dads out there. Dads love to grill, but since it’s his day, why not let him hang up the tongs and relax? Instead, pull the kiddos together and start creating a day of backyard fun, complete with customized lawn games and a picnic. Read on for a few tips to get started…

The end of the school year is near and thank you cards come in handy to include with teachers’ gifts. I’ve designed a set that features four different colors and lined pages for younger children that still need guidelines. Get the downloadable template here and get your cards ready before the last day of school arrives! ...read more

Teacher Appreciation Week is coming, and we here at Out of Office are grateful for the teachers we had and those who are inspiring young minds now. To that end, we’ve pulled together some of our favorite projects for teacher appreciation gifts. We hope one of these ideas will be the perfect fit to honor your child’s special teacher for a year of fun and learning. And keep a look out for another great project coming your way next week from guest blogger Patricia! ...read more

There’s nothing worse than losing track of your drink at a party. It happens to me all the time, especially at family gatherings where everyone is milling about and engrossed in conversation. There’s the tried and true permanent marker method, where everyone writes their names or initials on their cup, but let’s be honest – it doesn’t look very polished and sometimes if you don’t have the right kind of marker it rubs right off.

We moved into our house over two years ago, and once I got those last boxes unpacked I was over it. So, I never really got around to any formal decorating. Sure, we have a few pictures out and draperies hung…but overall, I’m just not feeling the “decoration motivation.” Except for one place – my son’s room. I had the best time transforming his tiny space into a cheerful, colorful little nest. Today’s project is one of many that I did for his room – wall art. ...read more