I was going post about facecloths I crocheted this week, but instead of typing up pattern directions, I spent the morning “recycling” milk cartons into these:
Why? Because my kids can’t be on the computer for two seconds without hitting one of those keys that yanks them out of the program. “MOM, my game is gone! Come fix it!”
Drives me BANANAS.
In my house, you would think that esc, alt, ctrl, and that window thingy are the only keys on the board. But, with my handy-dandy, ugly carton blocks, the toddler can keep banging away at Fisher Price Peek-A-Boo without me hearing, “Mama, it’s gone! It’s gone!” every second.
Now, I may be the only mother in America with this problem, but just in case I’m not–here’s how you to it:
1. Sharpen your favorite knife and cut open one or two milk cartons.
2. Choose what buttons you want to cover. Draw out boxes with the desired dimensions. Bare down on pen and your folding will be a breeze later.
*The number pad cover is just the bottom of the carton. Not really a trouble spot for us, but it fit SO nicely.
3. Box off the corners to be your tabs.
4. Cut the boxes out, snip one side of each tab, crease.
5. Super glue (or staple?) tabs to secure box shape and set on keyboard.
6. Instruct children that anyone who removes the boxes will not have pbskids.org restarted when they jack it up–and instead, will get a time-out from the computer.


{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Ivory–the craziest, meanest, greenest mom on the block
HAHA!!! I think you need to add THAT to your sig line everywhere. Huzzah!
Nice to know I can at least harass you here, even if you are avoiding both writing AND your e-mail….
You are a genius. Now if you can invent sippy cups that automatically refill themselves I will make you my friend and start a blog with you. . . . . oh, wait.
Great idea! I stumbled it.
LOL!! I love it! Is it insanity is the mother of invention?? Oh no wait.. that was necessity is.. well.. I think it should be the other way around… lOL! I love it!
Great job! I was going to say “genius” but someone beat me to it.
Thanks for sharing.
So I guess I’m not the only one with this problem! Thank you all for your kind words.
Maybe one of you can figure out how to decorate them or something. That’s NOT my area. HA!