Cupcake Liner Spring Flowers

This fun Spring craft idea came from "Buggy's" Storytime program at our local library. This project is GREAT for "Littles"! Buggy was able to do it ALL by her 3-year-old self after creating the first one together. It's super easy, quick, and almost mess free.
The only thing I did differently than the library was use pompoms in place of the paper punch circles. You can see examples of both in this picture.


Supplies needed for this quick and easy project:

Cupcake liners
Pompoms or paper punch circles; you could also use sequins or beads - I opted for the pompoms as they were less likely to get swallowed by "Mister" if dropped on the floor :)
Paper for leaves - cut out leaf shapes
Popsicle sticks
Markers
Glue stick - I would use regular old Elmers glue if using sequins and beads

Steps:
1) Decorate the popsicle stick (flower stem) with markers.
2) Glue pompoms (or whatever you choose to use for the flower center) into cupcake liner (flower petals)
3) Glue liner onto popsicle stick
4) Glue on paper leaves
That's it! Pretty easy, right?!?

Here's how they look hanging on one of our "Art Show" walls.


Until next time...



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Hair Bow/Clip/Headband Organizer

So, does anyone else out there have a little girl who comes with a zillion hair bows that end up ALL over the house and in deep dark baskets and you find yourself spending all of your precious time in the morning searching the entire house or digging through deep, dark baskets hunting for the perfect bow to compliment the perfect outfit all while trying to make breakfast, get everyone dressed, brush everyone's hair & teeth, change diapers, slap on some deoderant and lipgloss and make it to Preschool, gymnastics, playdates, and library programs on time?!?

If you said "YES", then this is the project for you!
And if you said "NO", then this is still the project for you because who doesn't love making something cute & practical for their "Little(s)" : )

Here it is... My Hair Bow/Clip/Headband Organizer (below the "dream" sign)


I LOVE it!!! It has been a HUGE time saver! I find what I'm looking for with just a glance.
Now, every time a bow/clip comes off of "Buggy" it goes here. (I still need to hang the headbands.)

I hung it on the backside of "Buggy's" bedroom door (see below) - there was already a hook for the "dream" sign. I have visions of hanging it on the wall near the vanity area that I want to make for her room - someday : )

Here's what you'll need to make your own:
Supplies
Painting canvas - I used a 16 x 20 size canvas. I purchased a 5-pack at Michael's for $15 awhile back for some other projects I made and hope to post soon.
Paint (optional) - I chose to paint my canvas a yellow color to match the color of "Buggy's" room. I was going to use the leftover paint from her room but it had spoiled. I ended up using acrylic craft paint. You could easily skip this part and keep your canvas white as the ribbon will/can add a lot of color.
Paint brush (if you choose to paint your canvas)
Ribbon - I used ribbon of different widths and coordinating colors (I used what I had on hand). By the way, did you know you can iron extremely wrinkled ribbon and make it look good as new?!? I gave it a go and it worked wonderfully!
Masking/Painters Tape
Staple gun

Here's what you'll need to do:
Steps
1) Paint your canvas (if you choose to do so) and let it dry. (I let mine dry for about an hour.)
2) Lay out and play around with ribbon to create desired pattern. (I stacked some ribbon - wide on bottom, skinny on top - to give it a little more oomph as the majority of the ribbon I used was solid colored.
3) Once the desired pattern is created, use a pencil to mark ribbon placement on the outer edge of the canvas. This will create a helpful guide for the stapling part of the project.
4) Cut ribbon into strips making sure they are long enough to both cover the front AND wrap around to the back side far enough to cover the canvas frame.
5) Set canvas upright on your work surface - using one of your hands to hold the TOP and with the bottom propped on your work surface (as it would hang on the wall). Use your other hand to line up a piece of ribbon to the corresponding ribbon placement guide mark on the canvas. Align ribbon so that it begins at/covers the back side of the canvas frame. Tape to canvas frame.
6) Lay canvas back-side up on a flat work surface. Staple ribbon to canvas frame using a staple gun. Leave other end loose for now.
7) Repeat steps 5 & 6 until all of the ribbon has been attached to the TOP back-side only.
8) Pull/smooth stapled, loose ribbon over front of canvas (until taught if just for bows and clips; just slightly loose if you plan to hang headbands) and wrap around to the BOTTOM back-side of the canvas frame. Tape to secure. Staple. Repeat until all ribbon is secure.
9) To add a ribbon hanger, cut ribbon of choice to appropriate length and secure to the TOP back-side corners of the canvas with staple gun.
YOUR DONE!



No more running around the house trying to remember where you put that pink and white polka dot bow : )

Until next time...

My first Fun Food attempt

I am a huge fan of "fun food friday" at Meet the Dubiens! They all look so fun and tasty! I decided to try it out the other day.
Here is my first (unprepared) attempt at creating a playful meal for my 3 year old.

A PB&J house shaped sandwich with carrot accents, a carrot and pretzel tree, and an applesauce cup sun. It's not great but I don't think it turned out too bad for being totally unplanned and rushed. Anywho... "Buggy" LOVED it:) She actually ate ALL of her carrot - a first! So, needless to say, fun food will be part of our mealtimes more often.

Until next time...

Housewarming Gift & Card

My Brother-in-law recently purchased and moved into his first home. We gave him a Welcome mat as a housewarming gift. I wrapped it in a large box and used construction paper, scissors, glue, & a white crayon to create the "gift wrap".

Here is the card I made using Microsoft Word.

Here's how I made the card:
Opened up a new Microsoft Word document.
Started at the beginning of the document and typed the word "Congratulations" until the 1st line was full.
Copy and pasted to create 4 lines.
Applied staggering fonts and font colors to text.
Copy and pasted 4 line paragraph until entire page was full.
Saved document.
Used "Snipping Tool" found in Windows, Accessories tab...

...to select font and saved as JPEG image onto my desktop.
Opened a new document in Microsoft Word.
Inserted shapes - a square and a triangle.
Moved shapes around to create a house shape.
In Format tab, selected shape fill...

Now select "Picture"...

Found and selected my saved "Congratulations font text" JPEG image I saved onto my Desktop.
Added a Congrats & Love message below the house. DONE!

I have used this technique to make a Bridal Shower Card using a "heart" shape and alternating love & wedding text. Ex: "Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Smith's, Jane & John" "Love, Amor, Amore" "Love Birds, Soul Mates, Sweethearts"
I have also used the text, snipping tool, JPEG technique to create a picture print card using Picasa and Picnik to create/edit.

Until next time...

"Carrot" Suckers

Here is another fun treat I made for our in-home Easter Egg Hunt.
Inspiration from Martha Stewart. I didn't read her tutorial. I just winged it.

These were super easy to make and I was able to produce 15 in hardly any time at all - once I figured out my technique : )

Here's what you need:

Orange colored crepe paper
Green construction paper
Scissors
Tape
Suckers

First step, cut/tear off a strip of crepe paper. I didn't measure but I'd say around 12 to 14 inches. Lay your sucker at the end like so:

Now, twist until you create a carrot-like shape. Tape to secure.

Next, cut a longish, thin strip from your green paper. Hold onto the middle of the strip with your thumb and forefinger. Use scissors to cut both sides down the middle stopping at your fingers.

Fold strip in half, at an angle.

Apply to top of "carrot" with tape. I gently crinkle folded my tops but you could leave them as is.

Viola! Your Done!

I'm planning on making more for Easter Basket fillers.
I also made "carrots" out of Baby Biter Biscuits (Teething biscuits) for the Baby Section of the Easter Egg Hunt. Some other "carrot" filler ideas would be to use granola bars, cereal bars, string cheese (keep refrigerated), or fruit roll-ups. Pretty much anything long and skinny should work.
Some paper, tape, and 15 minutes of my time to make something a little healthier than candy fun to eat is worth the extra time in my book!

Until next time...

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Applesauce Easter "Baskets"

Here's a fun and healthy Easter "Basket" that's great for kids!

Applesauce Easter Baskets

Aren't they just TOO CUTE?!?!

These would be perfect for Preschool snack, Easter party snack/favor, &/or an Easter basket filler.
I filled a large basket with these for snacks for our in-home Easter Egg Hunt.

They were a HUGE hit! Both Moms and kiddos LOVED these!

Here's what you need to make your own:

Applesauce cups
Pipe cleaners
12 x 12 Colorful Scrapbook paper - cut to 1 1/4 inch x 12 inch strips (you may want to measure to be sure your applesauce cups are the same height)
Tape
Glue Stick
Party Circles (I found mine here) I also used their "Happy Easter Banner". Too cute!

Assembly Instuctions
Tape pipe cleaner to applesauce cup like this...

Tape paper strip to cup as close to rim as possible. Wrap strip around the cup and secure with tape. (Be sure not to cover the lid pull tab)
Glue party circle to top of lid.
That's it! Pretty easy, right?!?

You could easily substitute fruit cups in place of the applesauce. Another idea would be to make "Baskets" out of pudding and jello cups, too.

I hope you enjoy these as much as we did!

Until next time...

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Picture Frame Clock

I'm BACK!!!
I can't believe it's been over 2 months since my last post :( I have no excuses other than Life - it happens! Flu's, runny noses, sinus infections, runny noses, wedding showers, runny noses... you get the picture. But don't you worry, I have a few things I worked on during my hiatus that I'm planning to post soon - hopefully:)
OK. Now on to the good stuff...

Here it is! My lovely new clock!

Isn't she pretty?!?

I had SO much fun making it!
I'm still thinking that I may add some numbers to her (the 12, 3, 6, & 9) but I'm not completely sold that I need them. If I decide to use them I'm going to hit up the mailbox/house number section at the hardware store first. Craft store sticker/decal section, second. I'm thinking something in an oil-rubbed bronze tone would look nice if I opt for the numbers, but only time will tell! Sorry, couldn't help myself : )

Supplies I used for this project:

An old IKEA mat & frame - IKEA, I wish so very much that you & I didn't live so far apart : ( You can use any frame and mat that you want. Just be sure the frame has "prongs" that hold in the back as you will need those to hold in the back of your new clock.

An old clock I no longer have a use for (Note - I had already removed the movement from the clock when I took the pic - it's the movement you want for this project)
Burlap (I bought a yard for $3.99 at Hobby Lobby
12 x 12 Scrapbook paper ($0.50 from Hobby Lobby)
Stiff card stock or cardboard, same size as scrapbook paper
Scissors
Painters tape

Total cost for this project was less than $4.50 since I already had most of the items on hand. By the way, I only used about 1/3 of the burlap for this project so you could say that it only cost me around $1.83 - not that I'm keeping track or anything : )

Tutorial for this project:
Remove movement from clock. (You can purchase one from the craft store if you don't have an old clock lying around in your basement.)
Remove backing, mat, and glass from picture frame.
Lay out burlap on large flat surface.
Lay picture mat on burlap and tape down in a few spots to prevent it from slipping around all over the place.

Use scissors to cut the burlap around the mat. I left about 3 inches of overlap.
Use scissors to cut an "X" in burlap within the mat opening. Leave about a 1/4 inch of fabric between corners and "X" as the burlap will fray a bit and you don't want it to show on the other side.

Now "wrap" the mat with the burlap, as if you are wrapping a flat present. I secured mine with blue painters tape.

You could easily use glue for a more permanent hold. Just glue and use tape to hold fabric until glue dries. I chose not to use glue as I have a tendency to change my mind often and I wanted the option of using the non-scarred mat again if I ever felt the need.
Add the burlap covered mat to the picture frame.
Now for the clock movement part...
Take your stiff card stock or cardboard and find the middle by using a ruler.
Mark the middle with a pencil or pen.
Use something sharp like a tack or a nail to make a hole on your mark.
Use a sharpened pencil or pen to make the hole large enough for your clock movement by pushing the point into the hole and twisting.
Now lay your scrapbook paper on top of the card stock or cardboard you've just added a hole to and make sure the edges line up.
Create a hole in the scrapbook paper using the same method as you used for the card stock/cardboard while being careful not to tear the scrapbook paper as you WILL see it when the clock is finished.
Now add the clock movement and secure to cardboard/card stock side (I used tape).

Set picture frame with mat front side down onto two books (or anything you can find to raise it up a few inches) on a flat surface. You need the extra space so you can add the movement & paper sections without squishing the front of the movement.
Add movement & paper piece to picture frame front side down. Be sure to center as much as possible. Tape to mat in a million several areas to secure.
Lastly, push in "prongs" to secure the mat to the frame. YOUR DONE!!!
Now all that is left is to find a place to hang/lean/prop it!
I hung my clock on the frames hanger. I would not advise hanging it from the clock movement's hanger (if there is one) especially if you used tape for all of your securing needs : )

So, there you have it! Now it's your turn to make your own unique and true-to-you clock.

Until next time...

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