I feel like I’m sending all you lovely readers off on a fantastic voyage with my friend Lotta Svoboda at the helm. I can tell you that you’re going to have a great trip, but you really might want to buckle your seatbelt and brace yourself against the frame of your car…
In this first installment of Crafting with Lotta, she teaches you the fine art of writing notes to your precious wee ones, and in future episodes, well, I don’t have words. Let’s just say that she’s just getting warmed up, and you might want to get your glue gun all heated up, dial ‘9-1’ and hover over that final ‘1’.
Are there projects you just have to learn to do? Leave Lotta notes in the comments, and she just might come to your rescue. And be sure to check out her hilarious blog and fantastic button jewelry as well.
Dear Reader,
When my sister and I were young our mom would occasionally slip little notes into our lunch boxes. She wrote them onto paper napkins with dark magic markers. And they were a magnificent blend of passive aggressive, 70’s parenting lingo and pure love. “Try not to use your stink’n think’n!” or “We love you even if you only sit with one person at lunch today.”
My sister and I were appropriately mortified when we found these gems. And yet our magic marker stained lips would still smile knowing that our mom took the time to connect with us. If you want your children to feel equal parts loved and confused, then this is the craft project for you.
Passive Aggressive Lunch Notes.
Step 1. Pull out a sheet of pretty paper. A little sugar helps the medicine go down you know. So raid your stash of overpriced scrapbooking supplies.
Step 2: Open up your word processing program and select a handwritten font.
Step 3: If you know how to make tables, then good for you! If not – just hit the enter key a few times after each love note. Start typing! Chances are you’ve got a whole collection of sweet nothings ready to roll. But if you need some inspiration, here are a few ditties to get you started;
I think the ham might be bad. Let me know how it goes.
Love MomI am the only woman that will ever love you.
Love MomI packed your favorite chocolate cake! By the way, do we need to go shopping? I noticed your pants were a little tight.
Love MomYou are my favorite. Shhh.
Love Mom
Hint: If you don’t put a comma between Love and Mom then you get extra passive aggressive bonus points.
Step 4: Print out your words of wisdom. Use some of those fancy edging scissors to cut the notes out. Then place in a pretty basket near your lunch making station. (i.e. by the peanut butter).
It’s ok if you only think of a few things to write. Getting the same note over and over again only reinforces the love. But if you’re really stuck remember that anything with quotations around it is immediately rendered passive aggressive. For example; You look so “pretty” today!
Love Lotta
What a nice introduction! Thanks so much Erica!
LOL, Lotta. I "loved" this. I'll be a regular column reader for sure.
Lotta- That is so laugh out loud funny! Do you think the lunch ladies at school would surrepitiously tuck them onto my kids' trays as they go through? Makes me want to start making lunches for my kids….not! I will be checking in on your very funny stuff indeed!
Enjoy the day!
Erin
Very funny. I am used to the note thing in my kids lunches….but love these quotes better! will give them a try. Off to Lotta's blog now.
Crytal from KIZZ
Adorable Lotta! I think these will work well with the sandwich I make my 56 year old husband every day. :-D
Brilliant. I am so going to do this.
Of course, Hailey can't read yet but I'm sure her teacher will read them out loud to her.
I love it! Will make a set once I settle in after the 29034834534th move!
Thanks for all the nice comments you all!
I wish my puppy could read so I could get in on this action. I guess that means I'll have to have a couple of kids pretty soon!
i <3 you Lotta – for real you are awesome. Can't wait to read more.
Hilarious! Will keep following!
loved this! found you via kirtsy…
OMG, can't wait for the next installment!
The first full day of school starts on September 8, 2010 which is the day this experiment will occur.
Since all three of my kids attend the same school, I can’t wait to see if they compare notes on the ride home.
OH my lands, these are so adorably gorgeous!!!!!! So shabby and french and…..perfect. :D