It's easier (and cheaper) to just buy it...

So J.R. is going to preschool one day a week this year and needs a nap-mat...so I go to Ebay (where I buy everything besides groceries) and there are some for $20, but the cute ones are $50-$150...so I think, "I (meaning my mom b/c she can sew anything for me) can make a cute one for cheaper than that." Long story short...this homeade nap mat set was $60 ($6 kindermat, $20 fabric and ribbon, $15 pillow, $15 blanket).
Same story second verse with JR's birthday cake...they are $55 to buy a cute one, so I can make one...but buying all the supplies puts me at the same price, not to mention the time and anxiety I could save myself!! And then when things go wrong and you have to re-buy things...like I painted this cake topper...and J.R. accidentally broke it! Then added a little of his own artistic touch to it since he's been dying to help with painting things for his party...

This is the piston cup I let the kids help paint...

Which brings me to another point...I LOVE being with my kids and I LOVE creative projects (cooking, art, planning parties), BUT on creative projects I like to work solo and be able to run and get supplies on a whim for a new idea and spend hours on little details no one else would ever notice...I'm still trying to come up with a way to combine my passion for perfect projects and my passion for my toddlers? I think every one is really happy when they the two passions stay in their own seperate worlds. But then I can't ever visit my creative project world...I digress.