Monday, February 1, 2010

Growing Like A Weed Heat Pack


My son is going through a growth spurt. I remember when I would get growing pains as a child and how awful it was. Hot baths late at night, mentholatum lotion, but my favorite remedy was a nice warm heating pad. So, I needed to make some up for little J. But, I thought I would try to make them a bit more fun than a regular heating pad. So, I found these great prints in snug fleece and designed some "growing like a weed" tags. This way, it seems like a gift and hopefully my kiddo will be excited to give them a try.

1. First "marinate" your uncooked rice. Fill a bowl with an airtight lid (or ziplock bag) with uncooked rice and your choice of scent. You could drop in some scented oils, such as lavender, or use what's in your spice cupboard such as ground cloves and cinnamon. It's up to you. I like to let my rice sit for about a day so it's nice and smelly... in a good way.

If you wanna get real fancy, you could even make different rice packs for different stuff. My bestie from high school, Melissa, knows all about these things and told me certain oils can be remedies for different ailments. For example:

Lavender: good for leg cramps, anxiety, great for calming and can help with sleep.
Wild Orange: good for colds, anxiety, flu, and to calm.
Breathe: respiratory system problems, coughs, colds, asthma.
DigestZen: Can help balance the digestive system, flu, stomach aches, gas, and colic.

If you want to check out some of these oils, visit Melissa here. She's super.

2. There are two options. There's a SUPER easy version and a little more complicated version. For the super easy version (pictured above), just cut out the fabric to the dimensions of your choice. Simply sew around the edges (kind of in a "U" shape), leaving the top open. Fill it with your rice, fold the rough edges under, and stitch it up. SUPER EASY, right?

3. If you prefer your bag to have sections, it's not much more difficult. I did multiple bags in hope to achieve this look and think I found the quickest way to do it. Sew around the edges of your bag, right sides together, leaving one side open. Be sure the side you leave open is the longest side. See here?

4. Divvy up your bag into sections, the measurements are up to your liking, and sew ALMOST to the top, toward the rough edges. Don't forget to backstitch.

5. Fill the sections up with rice, stopping just about 1/2" short of where your stitching ends.

6. Fold the rough edges under about 1/2" and pin in place. Sew it up. I put a folded ribbon at the corner so little hands can carry the hot bag around without touching the hot part. But, that's really it. SO simple, right? Done.

Now, pop it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes and sooth those aches and pains. Although the tag says 1-2 minutes, big boys and girls (aka us adults) can heat it up to 3 minutes. Want to download a pdf of these "because you are growing like a weed" tags and print them out? Go here.

I love comments... wink, wink.

35 comments:

  1. I love the printable tag, thanks so much! I'll be linking.

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  2. How cute and creative! I may have to make a manly one for my husband's back pains :)

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  3. So cute! My cousin made something kind of like that for my oldest son when he was a baby. She said it was good to sit on their tummies when they were having gas pains!

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  4. Just found your site... LOVE'N IT!!! I get a free second hand sewing machine today and my first 2 projects are from you. :) I am first going to do the teething owl and then the growing like a weed bags. Thank you!!!!

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  5. Super cute Em! I love them! I definately need to make some of these...it has been a cold winter and I have been freezing. Thanks for the tut.

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  6. SO So cute! Love it! I need to make me some! I think they would do wonders on my back! ;) Thanks for the feature! Your the best! loves

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  7. What a great idea for the kids! Really a cute idea! I'm thinking those growing pains will travel along the way to AGING pains too! haha! Know I'm feeling some this morning! Gonna round up some fabrics today to make the grand kids some of these tho! Thanks for sharing the idea!

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  8. So cute!
    I have one of these, but it is made from a handtowel. These are much cuter. My oldest daughter actually has leg aches a lot. I've been meaning to make her one, but wanted it to be cute. Thanks!

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  9. Oh my... i love this... was looking for a new present to give at b'day parties... And this is it!!! Thanx also for the labels!

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  10. Super cute!!! My mum would love it I think!!!

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  11. Fun idea. Thanks for sharing. Love your blog!

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  12. How cute and original! Love looking at your blog, I check it EVERY day!

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  13. I love the ones I have made in the past. Instead of leaving the long side open I leave the small side open, fill, sew a section, fill again, sew section again and on and on until I get to the end.

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  14. These are adorable! such a good idea for my 4 year old who often wakes up with growing pains. Thanks for sharing!
    Hannah @ Poppies at Play

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  15. I just made one similar to this today with beans instead of rice and I really have to say I greatly prefer your idea of adding good smelling things to the filling and using rice. The beans smell kinda funny... This is too cute!

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  16. These are super cute. I like the idea of using rice, we've always made them with wheat. Can you also use them as freezer pads for the bumps and scrapes?
    We also use a magnesium supplement for two of our children for growing pains - our one is a powder you mix into a glass and drink before bedtime... seems to help too :)

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  17. Oh this is wonderful Emily! Thank you so much for sharing!

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  18. sew cute!!!!
    I have to make a couple for my kids and then a couple for myself!
    Thank you for sharing and inspiring.

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  19. What a fantastic idea! My daughter just started having growing pains, and I will make up one of these for her for the next time she cries! Thanks so much for your ingenuous idea!

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  20. I am so happy to have come across this post. My just turned 8 yo son has been coming to me with growing pains recently. I hate, hate, hate giving my kiddos medicine. I so love this idea. I have a sewing machine but dont know how to use it.... good thing you have tutorials for that too!

    Thank you so much for a wonderul post
    Aimee

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  21. These are super adorable. I was given something similar to your sectioned one, however, it's made from cute kitchen fabric and the rice had been soaked in an apple cinnamon scent. It's used as a replacement for a trivet or hot plate. As soon as a hot pan is placed on it, the scent is released.

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  22. thanks for sharing, I will try it very soon !!

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  23. My 11 yo has been on a tear making these! She puts corn (as in grain like you feed animals) inside and man do they smell great when you heat them up...like fresh popcorn! Someone told us the corn holds the heat longer too! Great tute! Love your blog!

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  24. I LOVE the the little tag you made to go with them! I was already going to make a few of these to sell at my upcoming craft fair. Would it be okay if I used the tags too? I also love all that fun fabric you used!

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  25. Love this! I so want to make some for my nieces! thank you!

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  26. Hi, I found your site from MoneySaving Mom. Just have a question. We recently decided not to replace our old microwave when it died a few months ago, and I don't really miss it, except when it comes to something like this! I know it would take much longer, but can these be heated safely in the oven, or would the material melt or something? Just trying to find an alternative to the electric hot pad, which doesn't "travel" well, and can only be used by one person.

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  27. Thank you so much for this idea! I made one in a "U" shape for my mother to fit over her shoulders. She is a piano teacher and has a lot of trouble with her shoulders. Happy Mother's Day!
    Thanks again!

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  28. I am a fitness instructor and am sore almost daily. I am also learning how to sew, so this will be a super useful project. Thanks so much for the idea!

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  29. This is so great! I do a Customer Service week in Oct and I had a Spa theme in mind,I will make these in fun colors, hopefully with material that has upbeat sayings on them....
    Thank you for the instructions,
    Kat
    http://scrapnhappykat.blogspot.com

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  30. Such a great idea��, thanks for postin a simple version for us sewing inclined lol.

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  31. What wonderful stocking stuffers!!! Thank you for sharing!!

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  32. I have made these as bit warmers (for riding horses in the winter). If I microwave them for 2 to 2.5 minutes, after about the 3rd or 4th use, I burn a hole in the fabric (fleece, flannel) and the rice inside is scorched. Any ideas? Do you think that because they're stored in an unheated place that they build moisture when they heat and then they don't really dry out enough in between?

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