Crafts
Lion and Lamb Children’s Art
With Easter rapidly approaching, I thought it would be the perfect time to share some ideas for lion and lamb artwork. These were both made by my daughter in preschool, which was *sob* way too long ago. I can’t take credit for the artwork, unless you count growing the artist in my belly, birthing the artist and then meticulously selecting a preschool to cultivate the artist’s intellect and artistic talents. So, yeah. When you think about it that way, I can totally take credit for this artwork. I say this with all sincerity, the lion artwork demonstrates the best combined use of a paper plate and a tongue depressor that I’ve…
Leather Wrapped Basket Handle
I may have to ditch my felt obsession and move on to leather cording. Kidding, kidding. Felt, I will always love you. I have a large, but plain, black basket that is currently pulling duty as the keeper of random books in our living room. I’d say the basket dates back to approximately 2 B.C. That’s 2 years Before Children. I have a vague recollection of that time in my life. I believe it involved power lunches and sleeping in on Saturdays…and Sundays. Anyway, one day last week, the basket really started to bug me. I think it’s the brain’s way of saying you can’t control the twists and turns of life, but you can makeover…
LEGO Valentine’s Day Cards – Free Printable
On Wednesday, I shared the writing-themed Valentine’s Day Cards my daughter is handing out this year. Now, it’s time to share my son’s Valentine’s Day cards. The day I was working on this post, this picture popped up in my Facebook feed from 3 years ago when my son was 2 years old. I left it in all of its unedited glory. Did you laugh out loud and spit tea on your computer screen too? It took me three years, but I am finally able to look back on that clean-up and laugh! My favorite Facebook comment on that picture was from my friend Christine who said, “it’s not easy being…
Write This Way Valentine Card Printable
Last weekend my husband, daughter and son were bonding over some sort of computer game. It’s what they do. Picture them all sitting in a row, almost shoulder to shoulder, each playing the same game on their own computers. All of the sudden, my daughter realizes there is instant messaging “chat” functionality on this game. “Oh!” she exclaimed. “Now we don’t have to talk to each other!” I just…I can’t even…I… Let’s just say it is a little ironic that she picked a communication-themed Valentine’s Day card. My brain is still processing all the hope we are hanging on this next generation, so I can’t remember if the idea or the trinket came…
Gold and Turquoise Wood Arrows
Now, I don’t want you guys to take this the wrong way, but I’ve been mulling an idea over. I really think that instead of streets of gold, Heaven should be filled with the aisles of Hobby Lobby. Furthermore, the 40% off coupons could be replaced with 100% off coupons. Imagine it… The last time I was there (Hobby Lobby, not Heaven), I was on a mission to find something that could pass as a Valentine’s Day decoration, but wouldn’t actually BE a Valentine’s decoration. Do you get what I mean? Yeah, me neither. But I knew it would all become crystal clear the minute I saw the thing that I didn’t know…
Printable Valentine’s Cards for Kids
I’m working on Valentine’s Day cards for the kiddos to hand out to their classmates. It’s quite a process in deciding what type of card each child wants to hand out. It reminds me of my most favorite time of year when my kids go about picking their Halloween costumes. Without fail that process goes something like this… Child: I want to be a (insert any random character here). 5 seconds later… Child: No, I want to be (insert a combination of random characters here). Me: So, you want to be a Storm Trooper My Little Pony Ghost? Child: YES! That’s exactly what I want! 5 seconds later… Child: No, I just want…
Paper Arrows
I’m on a Valentine craft roll! If you call two similar crafts a roll. On Friday I showed you my Valentine plant stakes. In that same crafty surge I also made some arrows. These came about as a result of my weekly sojourn to Target. I always walk through their dollar section and decide I need EVERYTHING. Then I decide that would be a little excessive, so I walk away with nothing. I’m all about balance. This time I took away an idea. Those, my friend, are free. I thought these clothespins were cute. Probably because they were embellished with felt. Felt is a close second on my list of things I’m…
Heart Plant Stakes
Valentine’s Day is a month away. In truth, it’s not my most favorite holiday. I like the sentiment, I just think we should let people know we love them a little more regularly than when Hallmark tells us to. That said, if my husband wants to shower me with gifts, I won’t turn them down! Also, my kids love Valentine’s Day, so I’m getting into the spirit of things – on my terms. First up, flowers. I treated myself to some happy yellow roses from Trader Joe’s. $5 in that cute little tin! Don’t mind if I do! Yellow roses remind me of sunshine and definitely brighten up a dreary winter day.…
Felt Wreath
Some people decorate with oil paintings, animal head sculptures, found objects and let’s not forget that chevron trend. I think I’ve found my decorating “thing” though. Felt. That’s right, felt. I’m a little enamored with these 25 cent sheets of crafty possibilities. Either that or I’m reliving my childhood. No matter! When this trend gets a rollin’, be sure and remind HGTV it started here. 😉 I already showed you my yarn and felt wreath and now I made whatever this is called. How about a stick-it-in-a-frame wreath? I sure am on top of the technical jargon today. To make the felt wreath I first cut out a piece of card stock…
Kid Craft: Tree Artwork
After Thanksgiving the kids helped me with a little holiday decorating project – painted tree artwork. Usually I keep sketches my mom made in fashion design school in the 1970s in these frames (shown below in our last house), but I wanted to switch them out with something more festive for the holidays. My two little artists-in-residence would be perfect for this job. I covered our dining room table in a plastic tablecloth – always necessary when paint is involved – and let the kids go to work painting trees on regular computer paper. It was easier for them (or me) to sketch a tree first and then for them to…
