MAM Pacifier & Pacifier Wipes {Review & Giveaway}

Last week I shared with you my love for my son's crib.  If you missed it, I showed two decorating tips that transformed the space and talked about how much I love watching my little babe sleep.

Seriously though...

Do you notice a trend in these photos?  Adorable baby, sweet little snoozes... and MAM pacifiers!

We have been a MAM family since day one.  Before my son was born I was a crazy lady well informed and did a lot of research.  Everything said to register for a variety of pacifiers, bottles and nipples.  Then I went to Target to set up our baby registry.  In our free products bundle there was a MAM pacifier and MAM bottle.  My son loved both from the start and the rest is history.  Here and there we have tried other brands (after all, I did register for them!) and none of them have stood up to their MAM counterpart.

{Different sizes of MAM pacifiers through the months.  That bunny on the left was his first love from our Target bundle!}

Here's why I like them.  MAM pacifiers:
- Are shaped to fit comfortably around baby's face.
- Have ventilation holes in the design to help the skin breathe under the pacifier (love this!)
- The nipple is designed to be similar to mother's nipple, making this the perfect choice for nursing mamas (this was a huge concern when we introduced the pacifier.  He never had any trouble going back and forth between the two.)
- Come in a SELF STERILIZING container.  You heard me right.  Most people don't realize this and throw it away.  Check out the instructions on the packaging.  It's so easy to use!
- Are super cute!  Some moms love shopping for cute outfits, fun cloth diaper prints or hair accessories.  I love getting new pacifiers.  Every time we need more I find myself digging through the pacifiers at the store trying to decide between all the cute designs!

{This was my favorite design we've had.  It's currently gone missing but I know the little stinker has just hidden it behind something somewhere in this house! It's upside down here but it's a little sailboat!}

Have you heard of the  MAM "Perfect" Pacifier? 

I hadn't until recently and am bummed that I didn't find it sooner.  Here's what makes it so special:

- It's 60% thinner and 4x softer than regular silicone pacifiers.
- Was developed by Orthodontists & Pediatric Dentists.
- It's lightweight & designed with ventilation holes to let babe's skin breathe underneath it.

{MAM Perfect. Love those little fish!}

So what does this all mean? 
It means that this pacifier is better for your little one's teeth!  As a mama of a 12-toother (and counting!) this is the BEST. NEWS. EVER. I'm sure you have heard from "well-meaning people" that pacifiers can cause problems for your little one's teeth.  Because of it's design, this pacifier is made to reduce the risk of misaligned teeth.  LOVE it.  All MAM pacifiers are "ahead of the game" when it comes to teeth & jaw concerns, this product just goes above and beyond!

I'll be honest, it took my little guy some time to get used to the Perfect (because it feels different I'm sure) but because of it's benefits I wanted him to use it.  He still prefers his others but is getting used to it slowly.  This is my only "complaint" about the product and it's only happening because my son loves his regular ones so much!  I do still recommend the product and this advice:  Just keep giving it to them!  It's similar enough to the other MAM pacifiers that they are likely to like it but just different enough that they aren't quite sure at first.  The benefits of this pacifier are worth it.

Are you starting to understand why I love these pacifiers so much?

A new product I tried recently was MAM Pacifier Wipes.

I'll admit:  I'm not much of a stereotypical "first-time mama".  We've all seen the memes about first time parents sanitizing a pacifier every time it falls and then second/third/fourth time parents wiping it clean on their pants.  Yep... the latter is totally me.  I would never have thought to purchase this item but when I was asked to revue it I found out how helpful it can be!

Dirt is good for the immune system- right?  Baby's pacifier falling on the floor in your garage, a dirty public restroom or under the table at a restaurant (wait, are those fries?  We didn't have any fries.) is just gross.  That is where these wipes come in.

MAM Pacifier Wipes:
- Are Non-Toxic
- Use No harsh chemicals
- Are made in the USA (this is a biggie for my husband. We don't even buy dog toys made in China)
- Come in a re-usable package that's small and easy to carry with you.

- Contains Xylitol (a natural plant-based ingredient) that actually discourages harmful bacteria from growing which could lead to tooth decay.
- Can be used for pacifiers, toys, teethers or really anything!
- Are super affordable.  They retail for only $3.99 for a package of 40.

I found them really easy to bring along and they are perfect for those times when you don't have a sink available (or baby needs the pacifier and you don't have time to go find a sink!)

Can't get any better, right?  Wrong! 

MAM is giving away a $25 gift package of MAM Pacifiers and MAM Pacifier Wipes to one lucky winner.  *Go ahead... do your happy dance*

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

Unrelated to the giveaway/revue, here are a few of our other favorite MAM products I would recommend you try:

MAM Training Toothbrush

We won this toothbrush on the MAM USA facebook page.  They host giveaways several times a week and this was a #toothytuesday item.  I'll be honest- we already had a couple toothbrushes so I didn't think this one would be any different.  Boy was I wrong! This toothbrush is longer than most baby ones and is designed so that we can BOTH hold it.  Now he gets to brush his own teeth but I get to hold the end and direct it in the correct brushing motion so that he can learn and so all his teeth actually get cleaned.  I never would have guessed how much I love this toothbrush.

We also used only MAM bottles in our home.  We have the Anti-Colic design, but I'm sure they are all great.  My boob-loving baby had no trouble transitioning to the bottle when he needed to and back to breast.  Just like the pacifiers, they also are SELF- STERILIZING!  Just add water to the bottom, put the nipple at the base and microwave!  See the instructions that came with your bottle for details.

Good luck in the contest & let me know if you have any questions.  I am being 100% honest when I say how much I love this company.  There isn't a brand I trust more when it comes to these products.

Disclosure:  I received pacifiers and pacifier wipes to revue from the MAM company.  All opinions are my own and any other product comments were strictly from me because I believe in the products.

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

Decorating Tip #2 and #3 (vinyl wording and light switch DIY)

I absolutely love my son's crib.  I love the shape.  I love the color.  More than anything, I love watching my son sleep (I mean, who doesn't love watching little babes snoozing?)  Decorating the nursery in the area around the crib was hard for me because I wanted it to be as perfect as that perfect crib.  I knew that the images surrounding the crib would be the last things my son would see as he fell asleep each night (and nap) and the first thing he would see when he woke. Whew... No pressure...

{Yea, he loves his stuffed animals. LOVES them.}

I'll be honest, I started making a baby mobile.  I didn't like any of them in the stores and thought I could make one better.  I couldn't.  That project took way too long to complete and I didn't end up liking it anyways.

Onto what I did make- vinyl lettering and a coordinating light switch cover.  I can't believe how easy both of these projects were and how BIG of an impact they made.  Simple and perfect.  Exactly what I wanted!

I cut the vinyl lettering with my Silhouette Cameo using the font "Great Vibes" and added stars in varying sizes.  The walls in the nursery are textured but after pressing the vinyl on with my fingers it has stuck great!  Everything continues to hold strong months and months later!

As for the light switch cover, I followed these basic steps: (Images pictured in tutorial are from a separate project so I could show you step by step!)

1. Print a photo on regular paper (or use a scrapbook paper that you like) large enough to fit on top of your light switch cover.

2. With the paper image side up, place the cover on top and trace the outline and holes with a pencil. Add a little extra to the outside border to account for the extra paper it will take to cover the "curve" on the cover.  You can always cut it off later if you have too much!

3. Cut out the traced piece- be careful with the small holes! (I prefer to only cut the hole for the switch and just poke the screws through their spots but that's up to you)

4. Cover the light switch cover with Mod Podge- enough to make the entire surface sticky without making it too "goopy".

5. Carefully, place the paper cutout on top of the light switch.  Make sure to press the paper down inside the hole for the switch and around the edges.

{See the little divot where I didn't cut the hole for the screw? I think it's easier this way and you aren't left with a "too big" hole.}

6. Let dry for a few minutes and then finish with a final layer of Mod Podge over the entire surface. 

7. (Optional)  If you want to paint the screws to match, do so while they are removed and let dry.  You only need to paint the heads.

I am *so in love* with this Peter Rabbit light switch cover.  Turns out, my little guy has developed quite the interest in turning lights on and off these days.  My husband and I know the day is coming when he will be able to reach this one by his crib and it'll be all over for our electricity bill!

Are you just joining us?  Head over to last week's post to learn how to make any design on a pillow in under 15 minutes!  Don't forget to join us next week for a GIVEAWAY!

Your Turn!
Do you have vinyl wording around your home?  What are your thoughts on the light switch cover?  I'm addicted to this simple transformation and have done it in my craft room as well (those were the step by step photos you saw)!  Share your projects with us in the comments below!

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

Decorating Tip #1 {Personalized Pillow}

As promised, we are rolling forward with new posts and details about the nursery.  But don't start thinking that it won't do you any good to read on if you don't have a baby around.  On the contrary!  Each week design elements, tips and tricks will help you transform any room from "same old, same old" to something special made by you, for you!

This week, I'm showing you how to make a pillow in ANY design you wish... in minutes.  Not 1,465 minutes, like under 15 minutes.  Really. 

First, pick your fabric.  I wish I could tell you exactly what the fabric was that I used but it's just some scrap I have had for years.  Almost any fabric will work for this project unless it's got a lot of texture like a "fur".
Next, measure your pillow form or old pillow you wish to cover.  Add just a shade over 1/2 inch to each side.  Sew along 3 sides with 1/2 inch seam (leaving the fourth side open) and turn right side out.

Now is the fun part.  You can create any design you wish using one of two methods:
(1) Stenciling.  Using a premade stencil or by creating your own (for those of you much more artistic than myself) simply stencil your design onto the pillow with paint. 
--Note:  If you want to be able to wash the pillow- even spot clean, make sure to use fabric paint or acrylic that can be used on fabric!  I would personally recommend this even if you don't plan to ever wash it. 

(2) Heat Transfer Vinyl.  If you have a cutting machine like the Silhouette (or Cricut) simply cut your shape out in HTV and iron it on!  I am more familiar with the Silhouette program but I know that with it you can create ANY design you wish (not just pre-designed shapes).  To create a design that already exists but you don't own (like the Peter Rabbit image on the nursery pillow), in the Silhouette program you can save a photo from the internet and then trace it.  Always make sure to mirror your image if it has words or you want it to face the direction that it was originally.
--Note:  Don't forget to stick your HTV shiny side down on your cutting mat!

 

 

I love, Love, LOVE this Peter Rabbit design.  My son's nursery is Peter Rabbit themed and I wanted this pillow to match without being "too busy".  The crisp black lines look so lovely against the natural look of the fabric.  The sort of "broken sketch" design makes me swoon!

 

To finish it up, slide the pillow form into the case and sew the fourth side up!  I tucked the edges inside and sewed it with a  tight sort of whip stitch (I closed it up while riding in the car!) but you could hide the stitching better or even add a zipper or velcrow if you want to remove the pillow form in the future.

 



Your Turn!
I would love to see what designs you have in mind for your special home décor.  I'm thinking of making some for our living room with repeating shapes (like triangles) in a few coordinating colors!  I would love to see photos of your finished projects!

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

Happy New Year 2016 {and Nursery reveal}

Happy 2016!  Can you believe it's the new year already?  To catch those of you up who are familiar with the blog (or to introduce myself a little for those of you who are new) I have been away from Cut, Craft, Create for quite some time.  I've had a few "here and there" posts but haven't regularly posted since just before my son was born.  Well, he recently celebrated his first birthday and his second Christmas.

This photo makes my heart melt all over the place!

Although I still have trouble getting "computer time" while little man is awake, I've decided to take better advantage of the time I have after I put him to bed.  I miss blogging and sharing my crafty experiences with you.

In the last year I have become a full time stay at home mama (my husband refers to it as being a "Professional Domestic Operations Engineer" ha!) and have been busy trying to make our house a home and raise our son to be as happy and healthy as he can be.  Okay... and mostly just trying to put those STINKING DISHES away.  Seriously, anyone else have this problem? How do 3 people go through so many dishes?  Ugh... anyways, back to the post.

My mama and I have also started our own small business Chubby Bunny, Happy Home.  We're just getting things figured out but specialize in baby/toddler items and home decor.  We have always wanted to do this and are excited to start on our small business journey together.

{That's my beautiful mama and me}

 



My son's nursery was the first room in our home I was able to decorate from scratch.  My husband was older when we got married and already had a fully furnished house.  I've swapped things here and there in other rooms but the nursery was my blank slate.  Being the DIY-gal that I am, I created almost everything in there (minus the crib, dresser and glider) to create exactly the look I wanted (and for less!)

Over the next several weeks, I am going to share with you the details of the nursery.  Whether you are decorating a baby's room, for an older kiddo or just around the house, these ideas and tips will sure to help you along the way.

Please be sure to check back each week.  The photos on this post are snapshots of only a few elements.  Each week will include instructions, detailed photos and tips on how to achieve the look.  Here is a panoramic of the room to get a peek...

Some of the design elements I will be sharing include (but not limited to:)

- Details for a personalized frame display (includes 6 separate decorating ideas!)
- Personalized pillow that you can make yourself in MINUTES!
- Shelving decor that is simple but stunning to fit any room/theme.

- Easy DIY wall decor like collage photos and floating frame items.

- Fast & Easy way to add words/designs to a blank space on the wall.

- Making a themed light switch cover in minutes!

- Building a CUSTOM Changing Table from an old desk (removable top so you can use it for years!)

I'm so excited to share these details with you.  Seriously folks... I love this room so much.  So let's start off 2016 with a BANG!  Join me each week as I share the details of this room and in the weeks following with every day crafts for your home and life.  I love, love, LOVE to hear from you so please comment with your thoughts, questions or stories!

 

 

Your Turn!
Do you make new years resolutions, make some "plans" for the year or just wing it?  This year I sat down and made some goals (with specific details and "due" dates) because (1) I am working to continue our small business and need to have set goals and (2) am very behind on my scrapbook and really need to catch up.  Only a detailed plan is going to fix that problem!  I'm only a few years behind, that's not so bad... yet.

Don't forget to LIKE us on facebook to keep updated on new posts and follow along on our journey!

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

Fun Facts Friday- Seam Ripper

Welcome to our first Fun Facts Friday, where we take a look at something crafty and learn about it's uses, tricks, tips and more!  Today's post, whether you love it or hate it, is a staple in every sewing household... the seam ripper.

What is there to tell you ask? Well my friends, I first want to explain why every seam ripper has that little red ball on it.  It's not just for looks and when used correctly will make the job go 10x faster!  I also wanted to share a list of unexpected uses for this little tool.  Mind boggling, I promise!

First things first... why the little red ball?

If you are anything like me, you will pick each (or at least every other) stitch with the seam ripper to undo a sewing "oops".  But did you know that you can put the ball side down and simply run the seam ripper all the way down the opening of your seam?  It's just like using a rotary cutter except for that little red ball protects your fabric from ripping or catching while the sharp long end quickly cuts through the stitches.

Check out this video from Keeping u n Stitches Quilting for a brief demonstration of this technique.  I can't believe how fast and easy this is.  I also can't believe that I have learned this before and yet keep forgetting!  That's valuable sewing time!

WANT EVEN MORE USES FOR THE SEAM RIPPER?

Obviously it rips out seams (duh) but this handy little tool can also help you in other areas of sewing and in life.

Check out this list of "10 Reasons To Love Your Seam Ripper" put together by ikatbag.  It's a funny (and informative!) article and she's a funny blogger.

[photo credit to ikatbag.com]

My favorites are to cut open button holes, poke holes for prongs/fasteners and... make pleats!  Genius.  I love it.

The seam ripper can also be used in non-sewing areas of life...

[photo credit to www.realsimple.com]

Oh.My.Gosh.  Yes... it can be used to get all those strings, hairs and who knows what else that gets all twisted in the vacuum cleaner.  I repeat... genius!  Check out other "life hacks" from Real Simple.

I hope this Fun Facts Friday was informative and fun!  I've always been grateful for this tiny little tool, but now that I know what all it can do, it might just bump up to one of my favorite sewing tools of all time!

Have you ever used the seam ripper in an unexpected way?  What was it?

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

I'm back to craft!

Hello and thank you for joining me back on this blog.  I'm sorry it's been so long.  During my time away I have prepared for a new baby, welcomed said baby into the world, got used to life as a new mom, went back to work and then a few months later, left work to stay home full time with the little guy.

Meet Thumper (long story short, he thumps his legs so hard you can hear it on another floor of the house!), our perfect little guy.  He will be joining us for many crafty adventures in the future, I am sure.  He has learned to sleep through the sewing machine and the silhouette machine, so he totally understands.  He is one awesome little dude. 

{Our new little family, just a few minutes old}

Now that I am home full time, I also plan to slowly get back to sharing my crafty adventures with you all!  I can't believe how many people are still visiting the page and for those of you who follow us on facebook I can't express enough the gratitude I have for you.  I have appreciated your comments and questions for me during my "time away" and it's got me itching to get back into the swing of things.

{You can see why it's so hard to blog when I get to stare at this sweet face all day, am I right?}

Be patient with me as I get into a new routine.  I would also love to hear what kinds of crafts you would like to see.  I can always post things I am working on, but if you are itching to get involved in a new project but want a little more info, I am happy to help if I can.  I am open to doing video tutorials too- just let me know what YOU want to see!

My plan is to share a new craft on Tuesdays and every Friday to post a short "Fun Facts Friday" where I share a random "tidbit" about something crafty.  It could be a tip or trick, an informational about how to use a material, instrument, etc.  I'm pretty excited about those because I personally LOVE learning new things- especially on something I have been using for ever and never knew about!

{love those colors but I think I'll play around with a new "button" for this awesome day}

Thanks again for joining me back on our crafty adventures.  Please share with me projects you would like to see and as always I love to hear your questions and comments.

Have a great week!

Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann

[all photos posted on this blog are property of Kelsie Sausaman of cut, craft,create.  Please do not share or claim photos as your own, specifically those of people.  Please do not crop, edit or otherwise distort any photos, especially photos of people.  Thank you for your cooperation.]

Big News + Giveaway!

Hello! Hello!  It's my first time back in a while and I wanted to do some explaining as to why I have been gone.  Sure, life is busy (isn't it always?) but there has been a lot bigger stuff going on lately...

Yep... I'm pregnant!  This picture was taken a few weeks ago but I'm a little over 30 weeks now.  Needless to say, my husband and I have been busy working hard to prepare for this new addition.  In our house, that not only means picking out a crib and painting a room. Ooooh no, it meant clearing out an entire room that has served as our "catch all" for everything we own that didn't quite have a place since we moved into the house.  It also meant cleaning and organizing (and attempting to develop a "be better at cleaning and organizing in the future" plan) every other room in the house so that we wouldn't fall into this messy trap again.

It's been busy.  But, it's been good.  We're finally getting things wrapped out nursery wise and I've been going through all the baby stuff that has been given to us already.  I have also gotten started on making some of the baby items that I knew I was able to make and prefer to just make myself.

That's why...

I'm doing a giveaway! 

While I'm over here making baby goods I might as well give some away to share some of this baby love that is just oozing all over the place.

I've been making burp cloths for years but just got started on these pacifier clips.  I'm also going to throw in a top-secret "surprise" gift as well!

Here's what you stand to win:

1. A burp cloth in the fabric of your choice.  My BC's are made with snuggle flannel (super soft), terry cloth (super absorbent) and are cushioned with a thin layer of batting in the middle.  They are finished with a top stitch along the edge and come in a variety of adorable fabrics!

2. A pacifier clip in the fabric of your choice.  These come with a standard mitten clip end and stretch cord elastic to attach to your baby's pacifier.

3. Surprise gift!  If you win, just let me know a few facts about the baby who will be receiving these gifts such as gender (if you know... we're not finding out with ours!) name, nursery theme or other color/patterns that will be common in the nursery.

{Patterns of burp cloth}
I have a variety of snuggle flannel at home that you can choose from if you win.  Here are a few "themes" I have already made:

 
 Seriously, how cute are these little foxes?  Although this is not our theme, I think we have registered for at least half a dozen fox themed items so far.  Plus- they're wearing scarves... adorable!

My husband coaches track and helps out with cross country as well.  Although I'm only a runner if some wild animal is chasing me for food (seriously... no running here), I thought it would be cute for baby S. to sport some runner love while we hang out at meets with daddy.

There's also fun prints (check out the fun colors in this science-y print!) and classic beauty prints.  I love that creme with gold dots so much I bought several yards of it.  I plan to make a blanket for the baby out of it- simple and perfect.

Here's a few more prints that I have that you can choose from as well:

 Some nature love, puppy love or the ever-classic dinosaur!

...ooooor any of these.  We've got woodland critters, bugs in jars, all boy, purple chevron, under the sea, sketch animals, blue and green dino, animal friends and brown animal party.

Each burp cloth has a terry cloth backing.  Depending on the snuggle flannel you choose, the back color may vary.  If you specifically want white over a brighter color (like pink, blue, green, etc), please let me know.

{What about the pacifier clip?}

If you are interested in one of the above snuggle flannel prints, I would be happy to make a pacifier clip out of any of them, just keep in mind that the large prints will be too big to see!  Otherwise, let me know a color or pattern that you like and I will do my best to find a correlating fabric.



Loving that orange leaf fabric? It's the same fabric my mom used when she made some adorable booties for our "pregnancy reveal" photo! Since we don't know the gender and our baby is born in the fall, what better than some orange, creme and brown leaves?!

Excuse the color difference. The reveal photo above was edited with a filter on it. Thanks again mom!

{Enter to WIN!}
Enough of my talking, let's get to the giveaway! Use the widget below to enter the contest. Remember that for every task completed you earn and extra (or 2 extra) entries, so complete them all for the best chance of winning!  A few of the options can be done EACH DAY so don't forget to come back every day this week. Contest ends on Sunday, August 24, 2014 at 12:00 AM EST. The winner will be chosen on Sunday, August 24, 2014 at 5:00 pm EST by the random generator at Rafflecopter.com. I will attempt to contact the winner within 24 hours to claim their prize. If no response is found, a new winner will be chosen on Wednesday August 27, 2014. No purchase necessary and the contest is open to anyone. Personal information will not be sold or shared.




a Rafflecopter giveaway Happy Crafting,
Kelsie Ann