We don't keep those things in the kids rooms. We have a "craft supply" drawer in the kitchen. It's actually a set of rubbermaid storage drawers that fit under the cabinet. That way I know when those things are out. That limits the incidents. When they do happen, coloring of any kind is forbidden for a couple days. To make sure, the box gets put up in a high place. We haven't had too many incidents, but arts and crafts, even coloring, is just something I don't let my kids do undersupervised at age 3. Meanwhile, if you have plans to paint any walls in the near future, I suggest semi-gloss. I know a lot of people prefer the look of flat paint, but you can't wash fingerprints much less marker off of it. Semi-gloss, though, a baby wipe will clean off just about anything. We painted everything in semi-gloss in our old house, now the new house is entirely flat and the fingerprints are showing up already! Semi-gloss paint job is on our to do list!

Thanks for the compliments. It was really easy. I did buy the pattern, it was less than $10. I'll bring the pattern down and post whose it is, I think it was clothworks, but I'm not sure that might be the purse for the 21 year old niece that I'm working on now. Dragongoddess - 2 1/2 hrs is about right. The pattern had you quilt the fabric first, then attach the crayon pockets and assemble the bag. I took this as an opportunity to practice my free motion quilting (which stinks but what 5 year old cares). BBL- Tech

I'm so excited to have my kitties! I'd love to know who made what. I know RED'S are the ones "doing things" with the words, (The last two on the Top row). DOROTHY'S (IrishDancer'sGram) had her name pinned to hers, they are the last two on the second to the top row, below Red's. Mine (LAURA) are the "quilted" ones -- the "crazy kitty" looking over his shoulder in the first pic, and the top left one with his back to us in the second pic. One set is signed DB -- is that DeannaBSD? Those are the two in the flower garden -- last two on the bottom row of the first pic. Which leaves us ... Faye and Doris. Whose are whose?!

If you paint them a lighter color, they will look as incongruous as if you painted an antique horse and buggy chrome yellow. Please don't. they will look ridiculous. Work with them as they are or store them in a closet.