Here’s an original free apron sewing pattern with two built-in potholders and secret iPhone pocket. Aprons have been glued to my body ever since I started feeding Elise – I find it’s just easier to wipe my hands on my stomach than find a dish towel. I need something that would work for me as …

Try this delicious sweet potato crackers recipe! I’ve been making this sweet potato crackers recipe again and again since Thanksgiving’s sweet potato leftovers and I think it’s high time I passed along this yummy kid-friendly recipe. A sweet potato crackers recipe that kids love to eat Elise has become my official cracker-making helper and #1 …

Elise loved her 1st birthday gifts and wanted to say thanks in style! I designed pink monkey thank you cards with a ‘1st birthday’ bananas birthday party hat and yellow polka dots cards. Then I used pink and burgundy fine-point Sharpie markers to write on them. This free pink monkey 1st birthday thank you card …

Here are free printable bubble labels in yellow and pink. Just download, print, cut, and stick for easy DIY birthday party bubble favors. I made these yellow and pink free printable bubble labels to coordinate with Elise’s 1st birthday party theme – Pink Monkey and Bananas. Elise just loves bubbles – she has a little …

I made this pink monkey birthday hat for Elise to wear on her 1st birthday. She was a good sport about it and I think she looked adorable especially when she dug into her matching monkey birthday cake. It’s really easy to put together and attach the white ribbon ties. The free printable PDF below …

I made this “Happy 1st Birthday Elise” pink and yellow hanging birthday banner for Elise’s pink monkey and bananas birthday party. I hung it over our living room curtains using three kinds of ribbon – vintage yellow ric-rac, yellow solid ribbon and yellow and white polka-dot ribbon, then I added pink and yellow balloons on …

I was totally stumped trying to think of birthday party theme ideas for Elise’s 1st birthday. And then Shane suggested having a Pink Monkey and Bananas 1st birthday party theme and it just felt perfect. Elise has snuggled with her adorable Pink Monkey Security Blankie (by Angel Dear) since she was just a few months …

My DJ friend Chad creates free compilation music mixes for anyone who asks. Being the lucky recipient of many said mixes, I wanted to make Chad something to thank him for the tunes. Chad collects bird-related art and of course loves music so I thought that birds from vintage linen calendars framed by old 45 …

Here’s a woodsy pair of friends to adorn your holiday gifts. I made these free gift tags from vintage owl and deer Christmas tree ornaments that I found at a local antique store. Last year I gave these ornaments to my friend Heather to add to her collection. I shot a couple photos on my …

As a crafter like me you are probably doing one or more of the following things right about now: (1) making handmade holiday gifts for friends and family, (2) looking to buy creative and budget-friendly gifts, or (3) making your own list to give to your family. Well, the MerrimentDesign.com Crafty Holiday Guide is here …

Make these cute DIY Halloween luminaries out of recycled supplies that you probably already have in your home. These cute Halloween decorations riff off the traditional Halloween paper lanterns, luminary bags and mason jar luminaries — but mine recycle baby formula cans. It’s well-documented that I’m a pack rat when it comes to items I …

My daughter Elise is my little ray of sunshine, without a doubt. So when it came to making my delightful girl her first proper Halloween costume, I came up with this cheery fleece and felt “Sunshine and Rainbows” Halloween baby costume with sun on the front, sun hat, and colorful rainbow on the back. It’s …

Here’s a free baby bonnet pattern just in time for summer. It’s a really nice baby sun hat free pattern that you can make with our without the ruffle. My super cute baby hat free sewing pattern is below! Elise looks adorable in hats. I just can’t get enough of them. So I decided to …

Elise is eating solid foods now so I’ve entered the Land of Frozen and Leftover Baby Food. With my brain still set on ‘sleep deprived,’ I put my chalkboard obsession to good use with these recycled, reusable baby food jar lids to help me track it all. Hooray for re-writable lids and Chalk Ink food-safe …

UPDATE: Congratulations to Liz! According to Random.org, she is our lucky winner of the box of Velcro. Thanks everyone for entering …and be sure to make your Velcro kid’s blanket! Did you see the free tutorial for my kid’s travel blanket with Velcro loops, Velcro pockets and ribbon tags? Well, the VELCRO® brand fasteners company …