A while ago, a good friend of mine forwarded me a Daily Candy Philadelphia e-mail spotlighting her cousin’s super cool “touch” jewelry. Womily Touch Jewelry is basically fingerprints cast in silver or gold and then made into necklaces, earrings and cuff links. I thought I’d give Chris some silver cuff links for his birthday.
Since I tend to get my best ideas at the eleventh hour, I wasn’t able to have the cuff links made in time for his birthday. Instead, I gave him the kit so we could all do it together.
The original plan was to have each of the twins put a fingerprint on one of the two cuff links. There was some talk of how Oliver would be represented, and a gold pinkie ring was discussed…but in the end, we decided that Oliver had top billing on plenty of other occasions. This could be something for just the twins (plus – gold pinkie rings are a bit pricey for us in this economy).
We were all set to break out the kit last weekend, but in reading the directions, we realized that we were missing an important ingredient: baby oil. Now, one would think that a woman with three very young children would have some left over baby oil lying around. But I never used baby oil for anything. And we had to wonder – what ARE you supposed to use baby oil for – and are people really using it? It’s always stocked at the grocery store and pharmacy…so one would think so… But as it turned out, NO ONE in our baby-infested neighborhood had any baby oil on hand. Makes you wonder…
We decided to put it off until we could get to the store. In the meantime, Chris and Eleanor ate some stir fry.
By the way, Eleanor was still in the ballet costume that she had been wearing ALL DAY. Just in case you are wondering why she’s in a bathing suit – it’s actually a leotard.
SO first lesson learned in the Touch Jewelry making experience: own or buy baby oil.
We finally got our act together the following evening after the kids did their version of “eating dinner.” I swept crumbs off the table and moved as much playroom debris as possible out of the area where I’d be taking pictures (I don’t mind telling you that we live in chaos – but it’s another thing to flaunt it on film).
I’m not sure why I thought that I’d have a different photography experience than I usually do – but I didn’t. Everyone moved when I wanted them to stay still and faced in the wrong direction. They arranged limbs so that it was impossible to see the product and insisted on closing their eyes for 90% of the pictures I took. I think it’s safe to say that while I think my children are movie star beautiful, I have no hopes for their future in the modeling industry.
In fact – George refused to participate at all. He was too busy ripping off his pants and chasing Oliver around. I don’t care how that may sound – it’s what happened.
The directions were pretty simple and the kit just involved two brass “tools” (which looked somewhat like little caps), two thin discs of wax and two plastic eggs.
We put a couple of drops of the baby oil in the bottom of each tool.
Then we softened the wax under warm water for a couple of minutes.
I should say at this point that during these tasks we were expending about 95% of our energy on trying to keep the kids from playing with the baby oil and “tools” and overturning the table in the mad rush to see what was going on, as well as putting underwear back on Oliver who had just finished up on the potty. So TRULY the procedure was as easy as it gets.
Once the wax was softened we inserted it in the tools and had Eleanor make an imprint in each. We did try to grab George – but he was having none of it.
We let the wax cool for a few minutes, removed it from the tools, placed each one in an egg and then packed everything up to ship to Womily. All so simple and easy! I’m not particularly crafty – so this is my kind of project. There was only one problem:
Eleanor REALLY wanted to play with those plastic eggs, and had a bit of a hissy fit when we packed them away.
It will take several weeks to get the cuff links back, but when we do, I’ll post pictures. Until then, I will leave you with this:
Okay – so this is the nudity I referred to in my title. Sometimes I resort to false advertising to get attention. What of it?
Anyway – back to my semi-nude son… You know it’s Spring when the Hood kids start running around outside in their underwear. We’re a pretty classy group… But at least George put on some shoes. And look at those skinny white legs! I may need to break out the self tanner for that poor pasty little guy…
Oh my god you have my laughing out loud Kate. Fiona too – she’s on my lap laughing at me laughing! haha! I think it’s cute that cuff links will only have Eleanor’s prints! And I think it would be hysterical if you would spray tan Oliver’s legs. Now that would be a funny post. Love all the photos of the kids – keep ’em coming!
What a great idea for a gift. Very meaningful.
Stopping in from SITS.
Wow I love those cuff links!
If you start tanning your children, then you can be on that show, Toddlers and Tiara’s and be in a pageant.
Then you can write about THAT!
Cool idea for a gift, by the by.
What a lovely gift! And maybe Eleanor could make do with some 75% off post-Easter plastic eggs? Although I’m sure the hissy has long since cleared …
Eleanor is so beautiful! Look at those eyelashes!!! Look at that raging temper!!!! George is a pasty little guy. I think he needs carrots, lots of carrots.
A “hissy-fit”… My grandma was right about the technical term for it. And that picture is kinda priceless.
I am one of the people that actually buys Baby Oil on a regular basis so here are some ideas of what you can do with the left overs:
1. Eye makeup remover! Works really well and it is cheap and will never sting.
2. Add to bath water to make a nice moisturizing soak. (Be careful because it makes for a very slippery tub!)
3. And if you do decide to use any self tanner, baby oil is a great product to put on areas where you have thicker or dry skin (like elbows) so that you will not absorb too much tanner and have that icky orange color.
4. Grease up the slip and slide! This is not recommended for young children but my friends and I discovered in high school that it really made the slip and slide fast to add a little baby oil.
Loved the pictures! The nudie one was my fave! It reminded me of both kids on our front step wearing nothing but Jake’s Bob the Builder undies. Serious black mail material.
A) gold pinkie rings are ALWAYS appropriate;
B) I love that you let Eleanor stay in her ballet costume all day! Awesome.
that is a GREAT idea!!!
And I totally ADORE wearing a tutu all day- and would do it myself if it wouldn’t FREAK everyone else the hell out!!
Great gift idea! And your daughter is darling!! Hubby is pretty cute too.
We do not have baby oil in this house because *someone* is into do it yourself beauty treatments and makes a big freakin mess.
I love this gift idea, and wish desperately now that my husband had a job that required he wear suits. I’m prepared to make them, for I’ve had the same (barely used)bottle of baby oil in my house for more than a decade. For real. It’s craziness!
Nothing like a naked baby in a diaper. SO CUTE!! Your art project is kinda like a post that I am making for Sunday. An inexpensive mothers day idea. You may like it.
You ARE the best. Where do I go to vote for thebigpieceofcake for the most humerous and the best blog??????????????
LOL…. Kate. Seriously I was laughing out loud. At the leo (I so get that) and the semi nude son (I so get that)
What a great gift!
My husband would love those fingerprint cuff links. Very cute idea.
Half-naked kids….sure sign of Spring!
Just reread the blog and had to comment on how sweet the candid shots of Chris and the little ones are. Adorable!
Eleanor looks like she just grew up by at least a year since the last picture. What a little cutie. And tutus are appropriate for every day wear, I’m positive. How is Oliver’s hair cut coming along?
OMG, I feel the same way about baby oil! But when I read your comments I did find a few good uses…makeup remover being one an the bath thing for my little one that has dry skin.
And Eleanor!!! WOW, she’s grown up so much! And georgous! Love the pictures.
When are you coming over with the kids? What are you doing this weekend?
OH yeah, I love that gift idea.
so cute :)
and I never make stuff when I can just buy it :)
Phoebe has often worn the same outfit for two days. Now she is into putting on her outfit for school the next day but insists on wearing it to bed so she wakes up and tada she is ready to go
Yup…we’ve had some semi-nudes here as well. Spring in the Hood? Well it must be Spring in the BackWoods here!
I would love to do that for my husband except he has never worn customs in his life. In fact his daily attire is a t-shirt or cycling gear.
that is such a neat idea for a gift, I love it!
ps. the photos made me smile!
I couldn’t read past George chasing Oliver around without his pants.
Your kids are funny.
I totally look at flowers in my underwear, too.
Great post!
The cuff links are a great idea. You have a beautiful family. Kids are adorable!
I have never used baby oil either. My husband used to use it all the time though. Can’t remember why…thought it was odd. :-)
When you said George ripped his pants off and was chasing Oliver around I nodded my head in agreement. Happens here all the time. Although sometimes there could be poop hanging off the bum. Eww I know. Sorry TMI. Just keeping it real.
Much love from NJ,
Sue
xoxo
my mom uses baby oil to remove her makeup. i used to use it as well, until i discovered that there are less oily ways of removing the stuff.
oh! and baby oil was used back in the day in place of sunscreen. my mom says my grandparents used to slather it on them when they went to the beach. sounds wonderful for your skin. haha.
I am very familiar with the baby oil as sunscreen (oxymoron!) use. It was all the rage when I was in college – early 60’s. The most necessary component was a dash of iodine in the baby oil bottle to give extra color. We would go up to the roof of the dorm building, slather it on, and broil ourselves. It was a very naive era.
I am very familiar with the baby oil as sunscreen (oxymoron!) use. It was all the rage when I was in college – early 60’s. The most necessary component was a dash of iodine in the baby oil bottle to give extra color. We would go up to the roof of the dorm building, slather it on, and broil ourselves. It was a very naive era.
OMG…your babies are so beautiful! I love the underwear pic…we used to have a lot of that around here when the kids were younger. I miss it!