paper eggs

Last year I designed these paper eggs to go along with Easter festivities. My little guy had fun painting some today, so I thought I would bring them back this year. They are a fun addition to Easter baskets, egg hunts, and make a cute accompaniment to place settings, too. 

There are three options for printing, small patterned (above), small blank, and large blank. You can paint/doodle/glitter/washi tape/decorate as much as you and your little ones like, then cut them out, and sew them up. 

I sewed them 3/4 of the way, filled them with candy and trinkets, and then sewed the rest of the egg while holding it shut with my fingers. 

Make sure you print two pages for each set of eggs, one for the front and one for the back. 

I used my sewing machine to quickly sew these, but hand sewing would work just as well. Just make sure the materials you use (paper and thread) aren't so thick that you can't rip the eggs open. 

I used a light-weight cardstock and normal thread, and they ripped easily. No need to back-stitch or do a really careful job of making perfect stitches, (which makes them the perfect project if you are anything like me!).

Here are the links to the templates:

large blank egg

small blank eggs

small patterned eggs

Happy egg-making!

valentine's day card (free printable!)

 

I've been having some fun practicing fauxlligraphy lately (I'm determined to take an actualy calligraphy course someday!), and decided to make some Valentine's Day cards to share. My son has started saying this phrase all the time lately; I like you and I love you has kind of become our thing. I love it, and thought it was the perfect phrase to put on our Valentines this year. 

 

 

 I customized my envelopes using the eraser end of a pencil, an ink pad, and some gold paint. The ink definitely looks more uniform, but the paint is kind of fun and textured, so I'm glad I tried them both. 

I made the card in four colors, just click below and print one for your Valentine!

black

mint

pink

red

Once cut and folded, each card is 5x7. I think I might pop that black one in a little frame when I'm done with it, it kind of makes for some sweet art. 

Enjoy!

paper eggs

I know this is a little late, but maybe my latest project over at Think Crafts can be filed away for next year? I had so much fun making these, and my son loved helping me decorate the blank eggs and making his own creations! Hop on over for the tutorial and free printables! Hope everyone had a great Easter!

some eggs made of string

I've got a new gig as a regular craft contributor over at thinkcrafts.com, the awesome blog for Create For Less! I'm super excited to be contributing crafty ideas with the other great ladies over there. For my latest project I made up some sweet little eggs that can add a little fun to your spring decor. I think they are darling as place cards for Easter brunch, too!  Hop on over for the tutorial! 

xo

watercolor treat bags

Happy Valentine's Day! The other day I was a guest blogger over at thinkcrafts.com, the blog for the awesome craft supply store Create For Less. Head on over to see how I made these fun watercolor treat bags!

Hope you have a happy Valentine's day!
xo

a photo-book valentine

My son isn't at the age yet where I need to make mass Valentine's for him to take to school (though I'm kind of wish he was, there are so many cute ideas out there!), but I still love making little Valentine's to give to grandparents and my husband. This year I decided it might be fun to make a little accordion book with photos that make up the message.

Here's what I came up with:

What you'll need:

paper

some type of adhesive (I used glue and double-sided tape, I liked the tape better)

straight edge

exacto knife/scissors/something to cut the paper (I used my fabric rotary cutter and it worked great)

bone folder

cute photos :)

First, cut your paper to be the same width as your photos. My pictures were 4x6, and I used 8.5x11 inch paper, so after cutting my paper I had 6x11 inch rectangles. 

 Next, use your bone folder to score the paper. My photos are 4 inches tall, so I made score marks every 4 inches.

Depending on how many pictures you are using you might have to glue a few pieces of paper together. For mine I needed to glue two pieces of paper together, and I had to make sure the rectangle where the papers connected measured out to be the same size as the others (4x6).

Next, fold your paper accordion-style, and then glue/tape your photos on.

Pretty easy, right? I think the end result is really fun. Now I just need to stop eating the chocolates I bought to accompany these and get them in the mail!


P.S Printable, ready to color Valentine cards.

diy clay gift tags

the last few weeks before christmas are always some of the most fun (and stressful, let's be honest!). i love picking out the perfect gift for my near and dear, and i love wrapping those presents almost as much as i do picking them out. and it's present wrapping time! this year i thought it would be fun to make some clay gift tags to top my gifts.

i bought white clay at michaels (this stuff), rolled it out 1/4 inch thick, and cut out my shapes. using a straw i poked holes in the top (for string to go through when they are done), then baked them in the oven at 275* for 15 minutes. (oven temperature and cooking times may vary, so make sure to follow the directions that comes with your clay).

after they hardened and cooled, my son and i whipped out our paintbrushes and sharpies and had some fun. i love that they add a really personal element to our gifts, as well as the fact that they can be reused every year.

after a few minutes on pinterest i was able to find some more great ideas using clay to make gift tags and ornaments, too,  here, here, and here.

with the leftover clay we made a little imprint of my son's hand. it's hard to see it in the picture, but now i have his sweet little hand to display on my tree year after year. we did this with this kit when he was a newborn, too. it's crazy to see how much those hands have grown in two years!

happy present wrapping!
xo

pretty wreaths

 

this week i have wreaths on the brain. i'm searching for some pretty boxwood wreaths to hang in my living room windows, and couldn't help but fall in love with each of these wreaths as well. not only do i love how effortless and cozy these images are, but each one gives a little twist on the traditional wreath and some great ideas for holiday decorating this year.

 

1. strength in numbers: hang a collection of wreaths to make a bigger impact

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2. less is more: with some wire and branches this wreath could easily be made at home. so simple and cozy.

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3. unique shape: gather branches from your backyard or on a winter drive with your family (or steal it from your christmas tree!) and make a wreath with a sweet shape.

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4. keep it simple: a single strand of garland or flowers hung in a circle makes any door look more festive. i love how nontraditional this wreath is, and really, it could be up year round and you would hear no complaints from this girl :)

(image source)

 

 

5. hanging vertically: i love this look. it keeps with the traditional look of a wreath but punches it up just a bit.

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6. hang it horizontally: this might be my favorite idea of them all. such a good idea to switch things up a bit. how cute would this be over a table or kitchen island?

(image source)

 

a simple advent

i can't tell you how excited i am for the holiday season this year. i think it's because my son is old enough to get excited, but i couldn't wait to rush through october and november so we could enjoy december. weird, huh? normally i am all about fall.
to celebrate december and count down to christmas, i put together a simple advent calendar full of fun activities and little treasures for my little one. it is a simple project that can easily be done in time for december first, so listen up all you last-minute-adventers!

supplies:
-25 (or 24, depending on when you end your countdown) small white paper bags. i found mine at michaels, they are 3.5x6.75 inches and the perfect size.
-ribbon
-25 clothespins
-decorative tape
-numerical stamps (you could also print the numbers from your home printer or handwrite them)
-activities or treats to fill your bags

i didn't take pictures of the process, but it's very simple:
stamp numbers on the bags, 1-25
come up with 25 activities, treats, or crafts (michaels and hobby lobby have great crafts and toys for just a dollar or two a piece) and place them in the bags.
cover clothespins with decorative tape (found at michals, etsy, or here)
secure ribbon to the wall, and hang bags from the ribbon

most of my bags are filled with a slip of paper and a m&m or two. there are a few little presents, like a holiday cup with a cool straw, silly putty, and a few new books, but other than that it's crafts and activities. most of the presents, books and crafts didn't fit in the bags, so the paper instructs him to either pick a craft or unwrap a little present. these are stored up high in a basket until we need them :)

here's our list if you are looking for some ideas (keep in mind, he is two, so most of these are simple):

read a new book (that he gets to unwrap)
pick a craft from the craft basket (all of these were a dollar or two)
color a picture for grandparents
hot chocolate by the fire with mom and dad
sing christmas songs while shaking jingle bells
decorate gingerbread houses
visit the botanical garden of lights
make cinnamon ornaments
decorate sugar cookies
make a snowman out of cotton balls
paint with evergreen branches and pinecones
decorate gingerbread men
take treats to neighbors
drive around and see christmas lights
take treats to nursery teachers
color a picture of baby Jesus
pick a present to donate
family holiday movie night
new jammies and the nativity story

enjoy!

happy halloween!

 

 

 

today is one of my favorite holidays, and i'm so happy that my little guy finally gets the magic of dressing up and dancing to spooky music this year. our monster mash pandora station will be playing all day long; we are dancing fools over here!

 

this year my little guy wanted to be an airplane, so we found the cutest little plane we could and i stitched him up a little aviator hat (loosely using this pattern) and some felt goggles. he loves them and especially loves flying around in his little plane.

hope everyone has a spooky and safe holiday!
xo

spooky centerpiece

 

 

my husband and i are in charge of the halloween party at our church tonight, so i had to come up with some cute, yet cheap centerpieces for the tables (we're having a chili potluck, and i'm bringing this yummy white chili!). after seeing this post i remembered making those cute little ghosts as a kid and thought they would be the perfect little centerpiece.

what you need:
fabric or tissue paper
twine
cotton, batting, or candy to make the ghost's head
skewers
empty can or jar
rice
paper
glue
scissors

how to:
1. to make the ghosts, cut a piece of fabric or tissue paper (or just use a tissue! super easy and no cutting needed), about 5 inches x 5 inches (these do not have to be exact!).
2. stick a piece of cotton (batting, candy...) in the center, and tie a little knot around the cotton, creating a little head for your ghost.
3. stick it on a skewer, and then put the skewer in a jar of rice. this helps to anchor the skewers and allows you to make the ghosts different heights.
4. cover the jar with some cute paper and voila! you have a simple, spooky centerpiece.

here's two printables to help you with this project:

boo! printable (the speech bubbles can be double sided if you glue them back-to-back)
polka dot printable (print on any color paper for instant polka dots)

enjoy!

recipe: peanut butter krispies

want to know my new favorite sweet treat?

1 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup honey

1 tsp vanilla

3 cups rice krispies or other cereal

heat peanut butter and honey over the stove until melted together, then remove from heat. add vanilla, then cereal, and press into a 9x9 buttered pan. let cool or eat warm for a delicious sugar-free treat.

i pressed these into some easter eggs for my son to enjoy on easter, and it was by far his favorite thing of the day. i think i've found our first easter tradition, they were so cute and gave him something special and sweet to eat without filling him with sugar, i plan to make them every year!   

and he's not the only one crazy for these, i love them so much that i would eat these over the traditional marshmallow and butter rice krispies treats any day!

enjoy!

xo

here comes peter cottontail

i always like to make a little handmade gift for my son when holidays come around. i had other plans for his easter present but don't think my fabric will be here in time, so i found some felt in my craft supplies and made him a few finger puppets. he's really into putting things on his hands and fingers right now, as well as wiggling his fingers, so i thought these would be perfect in his easter basket.

they were so easy that i don't really have much to say as far as "how to's" go. i just took a pen and drew a little bunny shape, using my finger as the guide for how big to make it (make sure you cut two of these, one for the front and one for the back). i drew the face with sharpies (though the little blue guy has some thread for his nose, the sharpie didn't show up very well on his face), then cut and glued the belly, tail, and ears, and then hand sewed the front and back together. it probably took me about 20-30 minutes to make both.

it would be fun to embroider the face and get really detailed, but i was lazy and just wanted it done fast.
i'm hoping to make a few more animals and a little felt home for them all, maybe something with little pockets or velcro or something. that way we can take them to church and maybe, hopefully, fingers crossed, it will keep my wild boy quiet for a few minutes :)

any other last-minute handmade (or not) easter basket filler ideas? i'd love to hear.
xo

easter eggs

it's easter egg dyeing week! unfortunately, my son is a little young for dyeing eggs, and though this is a tradition that i absolutely love, i don't think it's quite worth the mess for us yet. good thing there are tons of fun alternatives to dyeing the eggs. here are a few of my favorites:

 

1. paint is always a fun and easy decorating medium, and you can get as detailed or abstract as you want. aren't those eggs beautiful? image found here.
2. probably one of the easiest (and funnest?) ideas is to straight up doodle on those eggs. image found here.
3. stickers and tatoos look so good and have pretty much zero mess. this is probably the route we will go! image found here.
4. washi tape is another fun-yet-clean way to jazz up those eggs. i'm loving the gold dots! found here.
5. for all you traditional egg dyeing enthusiasts, these neon eggs would be a trendy way to spruce those babies up. image and directions found here.
6. and here are some natural-dye ideas. i love the muted hues. image and ideas found here.

still want more ideas? well, you're in luck. i was randomly watching martha stewart the other day and she was dyeing eggs and talking about her egg dyeing app. what the? yep. she has an app for 99 cents with 101 egg dyeing ideas and instructions. find it here in all it's goodness.

xo

bright and fun easter table

this year i am dreaming of eating easter dinner surrounded with bright colors and lots of easter whimsy. doesn't that sound nice? if i had it my way, it would look just like that little mash-up up there with:

1. the prettiest easter centerpiece
2. bright, dotted diy napkins
3. this plate and bowl combo
4. the sweetest cookies hiding in festive favor bags
5. and i'd turn this gift tag into a place tag with handwritten names

heart-warmer valentine

remember this project? well, i think these little babies make the cutest little valentines, so i came up with a new little printable to make them more valentine-y. 

since warming time really depends on the size of your warmer i didn't include instructions, but there's plenty of room on the back of each tag to write the heating time for your valentine.

my sewing machine is stuck who-knows-where with the rest of our stuff so i had to hand-sew this heart-warmer, and in the amount of time it took my son to eat his banana and yogurt this morning i was able to cut and sew the warmer. not bad! so all you who don't have sewing machines, you really can do it!

hopefully your loved ones will love having extra cozy hands this valentine's day.
just click here for the tags and here for the simple instructions. enjoy!

a little valentine's day sparkle

i picked up some pretty tulips at the grocery store the other day with hopes they would liven up our home and bring in thoughts of spring. they do, i just love tulips.

then, i realized valentines day is coming up and we have zero pops of pink going on around here, so i promptly fixed that with a few mason jars, some glitter spray paint, and a little painter's tape.

i just taped around one of the jars and cut a little heart out of some tape and stuck it to the other jar. (don't forget to add tape all the way to the top of each jar! i didn't at first and ended up wiping extra paint off the top.)

i had never worked with glitter spray paint before and was a little surprised at how long it took before the glitter starting coming out in a steady stream. at first it was just a clear spray with little bits of glitter here and there, and that was after all the shaking it tells you to do in the instructions. so don't worry if that happens to you. just shake shake shake and try little test sprays until the glitter sprays out in a thick stream. it really is neat once it starts working.

i am definetly a fan of more subtle decorations and pops of color for holidays, so this is probably as festive as i will get this year. though i think the half-painted jar could even work for easter and fun summer flowers, don't you?

 

and here's a little tip i learned about tulips from my mother-in-law: put a few pennies in the bottom of your vase and your tulips won't droop. it's true! the copper in the pennies makes them perk right up and look brand new. this little tip has stretched the life out of many tulip bouquets for me, i love it. 

so has anyone else ever worked with glitter spray paint? what did you make? i would love to see!

p.s. today my paint in a bag project is being featured on ivillage along with a bunch of other great projects to keep your little ones busy. all the ideas are fun and tv free, go check it out! thanks ivillage!