Today is the day... get your countdown on

We are trying to teach our 3 year old girl how to say her own prayers... more specifically, expressing her feelings and gratitude. So, being that Thanksgiving is nearing soon, I came up with this gratitude garland.

Starting today, the 6th, my husband and I will discuss with her what we are thankful for that day. Then write it on a long strip of paper, once a day until the end of the month... linking each paper to each other forming a paper chain.

image -pinterest

By the time the month ends we should have 25 links of paper, so on December 1st we will review the first link we made and rip it off... everyday until Christmas! It's like two countdowns in one!!!

So, today is the day to get your countdown on! Grab some scraps of paper and start.

Ombre paint swatch chandelier

Two trends: Paint swatch/chip DIY projects and Ombre. I think that's why I love this.

DIY from The Sweetest Occasion.

;

Welcome home

I thought this sign was pure genius.  Just stick together some light sticks to spell out a message. 

My husband has been gone off the island for about two weeks now and comes home today! Too bad he doesn't get in at night or else I'd be doing this. We'll make a different sign instead. We're all very excited to see him again.

Tissue Paper glass window collage

If you are like me and save up every piece of tissue paper from every gift you have ever received, then this craft is for you.

instructions and images via Filth Wizardry

DIY chalkboard on a wall

I made this little chalkboard last week for my 2 year old daughter and she has put it to good use so far.
She loves to draw circles and people. Even though its hard to make out what is who and who is what... she points to each figure and says, "that's momma, that's dadda, that's grandma, that's baby, that's... etc". I'm glad her creativity is being stretched already.

I just painted a piece of wood (actually it was a piece of thin cupboard backing) with brown chalkboard paint and glued on a strip of molding to the bottom to hold the chalk.

Chalkboard painted Easter Eggs

 I found some wooden eggs at a local craft store and covered them in chocolate brown chalkboard paint. And they have kept my 2 year old entertained all day long (well, at least for a good hour). They look great plain too... like chocolate eggs.

Simple to make- just get yourself some chalkboard paint (it comes in all colors, just like egg dying) and some wooden eggs. Cover them in about 3 coats of paint, let dry, cover the egg in chalk then wipe clean for sealing.

If you don't want to do the work I put up a few in the shop here.

Chalkboard Eggs

I spotted this chalkboard ostrich Easter egg at the Red Thread. 

It comes to you empty, center blown out, and nestled in a handmade nest. Sounds great! and something that can last forever. 

Has anyone tried it on regular hard boiled eggs?

I'm tempted to try them this week, just in case it doesn't work- then I won't bother during Easter time.

A sneak peak at our Master Bedroom

I finally completed this mural on our bedroom wall. I rarely get over 10 minutes to myself each day with a 2 year old and an 8 month old at home. They keep me busy (and I wouldn't want it any other way). So it was quite a challenging (more time consuming) task, but I'm glad I did it.
I guess the reason it took so long was there were just too many steps: paint yellow coat, creating and drawing leaves, painting leaves white and then figuring out that it needed a second coat.. painted leaves again, erasing pencil.... So over 3 months of working on it little by little I finally finished it.
I love it and most importantly, my husband loves it.
I'll post more photos later.

A few Easter crafts I like...

from Martha Stewart, Crepe Paper Carrots with hidden treasures

 

from Martha Stewart, Egg Cozies made from felt

 

An easy "healthy" carrot treat from No Fuss Fabulous

Peeps bunny bunting from Made

 

Party Carrots from Family Fun

Fringe is in!

I came across a pair of shredding scissors (the ones where you shred and cut up important documents- like these), but found a better use for them.... creating party accessories!

 

I use them to cut the tissue on the tops of my hats, recently wrapped a birthday gift and cut the edges with them, made some Valentine treats, created a banner, and now have spotted some in a sneak peak of Martha Weddings Spring 2011 at (100 layer cake), titled Fringe Benefits.

Of course theirs are much prettier. I love that cake!

  images by Con Poulos

Now, go out and grab a pair of shredding scissors.... 

it's party time!

10 ways to reuse baby food jars as party favors

After raising a 1 year old, you quickly notice how many jars of baby food you go through (up to 3 a day for me). So why not save those cute little jars and reuse them for a party!!

We did it with my 2 year old for her 1st birthday and we are now. again, collecting jars to figure out something fun for my 7 month old on his birthday.

Here are a few neat examples:

1. Hot chocolate in a jar-. Turns out to be a perfect size for a fun serving of hot cocoa.

2. Candle holders- I'm not sure where I got this photo but I love the fabric used here to dress up each candle/jar.

 

 3. Fill it with a coordinating food/snack with your party for guests to take home.
These are "caterpillar food" jars I made for my daughters 1st birthday with the theme The Very Hungry Caterpillar. I pained the tops, filled them with cereal, then placed personalized stickers on the tops and sides.

4. Plant starter seeds/plants and hand them out to take home.
A friend of mine made these with her son's owl themed birthday party.

5. You can't go wrong handing jars out filled with candy at a baby shower. It's a perfect combo.
Clever idea from Katherine Marie Photography

6.  Halloween party? ... dress them up as mummies or tea light holders to hold candy.

credit

7. With Valentines Day coming up these are perfect!

8.  Terrariums and tea kits 

 

 9. Advent Calendar. I know this isn't really a party favor, but it was good of an idea not to post up. You could adjust the holiday from "25 days of Christmas" to "25 days of Birthday" (an activity or treat count down to your child's birthday???). Possibilities are endless. 

 10. Tangerine Vanilla Bean Marmalade

At prudent baby, Jaime shows how to sterilized the jars, sealed them, and make your own tangerine marmalade. Yum! Makes me wish I had a Tangerine tree in my back yard. 

Paper Poppies

These flowers are too pretty not to make. Find the tutorial at the sweetest occasion.

Vintage Paper Valentine Chandelier

I'll be making one of these this coming week.

I've got a few old books from college that need to be put to good use.

Find out how to make it with the crafting chicks.

Felt Christmas Stockings

I finally did it! I made our own Christmas Stockings.

I took this, this, this, and this idea 

and created something for our family of 4. 

I get all my wool felt from prairiepointjuction.com -they have really nice felt and tons of colors to choose from. 

Their 12"x18" pieces are a perfect size for stockings.

Christmas Activity Advent Calendar

I love countdowns, if you didn't know.
I've been searching for a while now for a good advent calendar for Christmas.

I like these, but they aren't offered anymore:

(pottery barn, from ohhappyday)

from Ali Edwards:

Although very cute, the two above seem time consuming

So I settled on making this one below.

I wanted each compartment/day to be big enough to hold a small treat for my daughter and a note for the holiday activity we will do for that day.

You can purchase the kit here, It's called the Kaiser Craft advent calendar

(I say kit because it was a little time consuming than I thought it would be- a lot of sanding and filing down the boards). But it comes as plain as can be so you can add your own personal style. 

I'll post my advent activities soon.

More ideas I like:

An adorable "giving" advent calendar from Katherine Marie Photography
You have to check it out! She and her kids do a selfless act of kindness each day.


Magnetic Advent Calendar from Martha Stewart
another magnetic calendar from Twig and Thistle

A few more simple ideas
via ohdeedoh

Happy Counting-down!

Turkey!!!!

If you don't already have enough things to do before Thanksgiving (or if you are going to someone else's and you don't have to cook much) you could make a crafting table for the kids/adults. I like these ideas:

Gobbling turkey apples
with Make and Takes






Rice Krispie Turkeys
from Make and Takes by family fun
 

Popcorn Turkey
from OneCharmingParty
 

Thankful Turkey Plate
from Simply Modern Mom
 

Felt Turkey Pops
by Parents






Turkey Crayon Holder
by Parents
 

 I know this isn't turkey related, but too clever not to add...
A Mayflower Placecard
from Parents again




Have fun crafting!