With our family, church, and school commitments; and with our ever-growing to-do lists, the focused time we are able to spend with our children is so important. It is true that much more is “caught” by our children than is taught.  In order for them to catch our values, they need to be able to observe us living our values. 

Whether you are a grandparent, relative, Mom, or Dad, there are precious teachable moments that happen in our children’s lives.  Each month, we will look at several projects you can do with children of all ages.  These projects will take less than an hour to complete, use minimal supplies, and be a way to share some teachable moments.

Since this month’s cover story is about dressing appropriately, here are several ways to update girls’ clothing to be fun, stylish, and have parent approval for children and teenagers to wear.

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Updating a “plain old t-shirt” for a girl

This is courtesy of my daughter who does this often with t-shirts to make them more fitting and feminine.

What you need:

• Two 12” strips of thin ribbon
• T-shirt

1. Take the t-shirt - roll up the sleeves a couple of turns on each sleeve
2. Feed the ribbon through the opening for the head and then back through the arm hole
3. Tie a pretty bow so it gathers shirt; center bow
4. Repeat on the other side

Variation: Use ponytail holders that have decorations on each end and substitute for ribbon. Clip one end of ponytail holder over the other end and it will stay put.

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Updating old jeans with a hole or two worn in them

This will help salvage jeans and make them fashionable.

What you need:

• Jeans
• Pieces of lace or fabric in different shapes and sizes
• Beads or appliqués
• Fabric Glue
• Optional: fabric paint

1. Lay jeans out on table
2. Find where holes are worn in them
3. Put piece of cardboard in leg of pants so glue won’t soak thru to other side
4. Glue a piece of lace or pretty piece of contrasting fabric over hole
5. Continue to decorate jeans with buttons, beads, appliqués, fabric paint, etc. so they are unique.
6. Let dry and then wear your creation.

Note: If bottom of jeans are worn and frayed, roll them up to make cute capris.

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For more Teachable MOMents craft ideas, visit our past issues!

© 2008 Good News Tucson™

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