Archive | November, 2011

DIY Fabric Circle Wreath

28 Nov

Last summer I saw a picture of a wreath online and for the life of me I can’t find it again, boo…  Someone had linked it up as a fourth of July wreath and I thought it was adorable.  I remembered the general concept and altered it a bit to make a Christmas wreath.   I started by buying a grapevine wreath at the craft store… For me, that was Walmart :).  I then gathered up some fabric in holiday colors, burlap, and scrapbooking brads (notice the hearts left from a Valentines Day shower I hosted).  I used measuring cups (one cup, half cup and fourth cup) to trace different circles from different fabric scraps.  I used the metal brads to combine one circle of each size in different fabrics…  I left the brads open in the back so they would stick into the wreath.  I put a dash of hot glue on the pointy end of the brad and stuck it into the grapevine wreath… I continued this all over the wreath until it was mostly covered.  I did not cover the back and even some spots on the sides are showing… That was just me being lazy and feeling it wasn’t needed.  Obviously if you chose to do this it would look even better :)!  You could do all sorts of variations on color, size, even shape… The burlap “flower” at the top is just made by fan folding the fabric and gluing it together.  I just made a ribbon tie at the back and slipped it over my door hanger.  I am not sure I really like it there, so I might move it.  I always seem to change things up after I take the pic!  This wreath took me about 2 hours to make and I think it’s fun and different.  You could make one for each holiday :).  I hope you are starting to get in the holiday spirit around your house, I know we are!

Tip Junkie handmade projects

Snow Globes…

15 Nov

There is something fascinating about snow globes, no matter your age.   Every year around this time they come out and it’s hard to resist shaking them up!  We had snow on Sunday and we felt a little like we were living inside one of these special glass balls..  Huge snowflakes falling all around us made us glow with excitement for the season.  Somehow the first snowfall is magical and the last snowfall is disgusting, I’m going to relish in the first for a few days, because it really was OH SO BEAUTIFUL!

I know I know, it’s not even Thanksgiving yet, but I figured that most of the cold climates will be experiencing the first snow of the year very soon, if they have not already, and this is a great way to “celebrate” it!

Super easy, super fun…

You’ll need….  

Black and blue construction paper

white paint

ribbon for a scarf

glue

markers

Q-Tips

Toothpicks

HOW TO:  

I traced the lid off of a sauce pan for a perfect circle and then cut them out.  I used blue paper, but grey or even black might look cute too… Older kids can do this themselves…  I then let the boys paint their own snowman and snowflakes with q-tips.  I instructed them to use them like snowballs and paint up and down versus side to side.  I also gave them toothpicks for the smaller snowflakes.  Once they were dry we glued on hats (that we cut from black paper), scarves ( I used curly ribbon), and drew eyes, nose and mouths with markers…  I drew a base for the snow globe and let the boys “name” their snowman.  Sutton chose the name “Rosie” for his snowgal…  Some of you who know him might know why :)!  We added a name plate and TADA…  Cute little paper snow globe!   I’ve made REAL snow globes before out of baby food jars, maybe we’ll do that once we find more of our craft supplies that are still hidden in boxes!  For now, I’m going to go outside and enjoy this day!

A little Blurb….

7 Nov

A little blurb in the Minneapolis Star and Tribune:  http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/133355008.html

 

A few weeks ago I got an email asking me to comment on my experience at SKYZONE, an indoor trampoline park we’ve frequented.  The Star and Tribune writer had seen my mommyapolis post on our experience there and asked me for a quote…  For those wondering,  Skyzone is a franchise located all over the country and it sounds like it’s spreading fast!  The concept is awesome and as the article says, it’s great for all ages!  To check to see if there is a SKYZONE in your area, click here!  THANKS Aimee for contacting me!

Happy Birthday Mr. ONE-DERFUL

6 Nov

Thanksgiving Squash or Pumpkin

4 Nov

This is a project I like to do every year with my boys… It lasts a long time and looks adorable as a Thanksgiving decoration!  It also helps them think about everything they are thankful for…

To start you need to cut some feather out. You could use white paper and let them decorate the feathers or you could use different colors of construction paper, either will work! Then ask your children to write (or write it for them)one thing they are thankful for on each feather. I got everything from bananas, horses, and toys to family, friends, and our home.  This year I jotted their answers down on paper “feathers” and let them use crayons to decorate them.  

After they were done decorating their feathers, I taped each feather to a bamboo skewer.  My idea was to push the feathers into a pie sized pumpkin that we had leftover from Halloween, but sadly they were a little softer than I liked.  So instead I poked them into a squash (I would have gone out and bought another pumpkin but my thrifty husband suggested the squash)…  I quickly cut out a face, eyes and beak from construction paper and attached them to the bottom of the squash and we have the cutest little Thanksgiving Centerpiece.  Depending on the age of your kids, they could do the drawing and cutting, as well. It was very easy and very quick.  

I just love that it got them thinking about being thankful.  On Thanksgiving I hope they will be just as excited to ask our relatives what they are thankful for!

Gobble Gobble!

Design a site like this with WordPress.com
Get started