We made all kinds of fun shapes and I photographed a few of our favorites for you. The project reminded me a little bit of making shapes out of balloons in that the possibilities are as endless as your imagination! This project is also the perfect afternoon craft and a fantastic (and super inexpensive) thing to make for friends and teachers at school. Make a bunch and have your kids pass them out to their new classmates....
So I need to let that other stuff go. I need to remember my mindfulness word of this year, reframe the belief that I need to be seen, that I’m better than. Because I truly don’t feel that way. If anything, deep down I feel worthless and have so much self-doubt and fear. Am I good enough? Do people like me and what I do? Is what I created from the heart?...
Do you want to make some too? Great! To get started, you’ll need just a few simple supplies. DIY: Paper Roll Bracelets Supplies for Paper Roll Bracelets: a few paper rolls scissors a hole puncher paint yarn Instructions: Step 1 Cut the paper roll in half down the center and then into cuff sized pieces. Step 2 Punch holes with a hole puncher creating any design you wish. You can trim the cuff size down if your hole puncher won’t reach where you want it....
How about we make something that can change with each of those holidays with very little effort?! I had a brilliant idea about doing a chalkboard wreath, but it’s been done before by No. 2 Pencil and The Home Depot. Both great ideas you must check out. I love how Melissa made a little American flag and hung her wreath with 3m hooks. I also love how the Home Depot’s tutorial doesn’t require any power tools, just purchase a medallion (I would probably paint the trim, though)....
How-to: DIY Ombre Napkins We stopped using paper napkins in my home about 8 years ago. Both my husband and I felt like it was not only a “greener” move but also, cloth napkins work so much better. Plus, they are prettier too… especially with our DIY Ombre Napkins tutorial! Sometimes though, my napkins (as they are getting a little older) start to look a little sad. A cool, quick and easy “facelift” for them is to dye them in ombre style....
Supplies: red, yellow, green, and orange paint brown construction paper white cardstock paper glue stick scissors Instructions: Trace the kid’s hands and arm on the brown construction paper. Cut out the handprints. Glue the handprint/arm down on the white cardstock. Add red, green, yellow, and orange paint to a paper plate. Let the kids dip their finger in the paint and make fingerprint leaves. We had a few wet wipes close by to clean the finger off before going on to the next color....
Fresh Summer Panzanella Salad What I love most about this recipe is the versatility. A true panzanella does not have roasted vegetables, but a quick search will show you there are endless possibilities for roasted and fresh versions. Don’t like an ingredient? Omit it. This recipe can stand additions and subtractions without much fuss. The key here is a fresh loaf of bread and the ripest tomatoes you can find....
Supplies for Googly Eye Rings: googly eyes, all sizes and colors blank rings – buy some here, or you could use twisted pipe cleaners. glue – I prefer E-6000 Decide on the googly eye you’d like to use. You can even place two small eyes on one ring. Add a drop of glue onto your blank ring and place your eye on top. Press and hold for a few seconds....
Each crochet hook is assigned a letter depending on it’s size in millimeters. When beginning, I suggest picking a hook with letter H or I, they are a good size to start with for most basic projects. It’s large enough to get your hook through each chain, yet not too bulky to handle. Boye is a great brand. I’ve picked up this 8 pack above with most main sizes, just in case I need something different for a project....
Healthy Halloween snacks food tray You can make a delicious and healthy Halloween charcuterie board that’s perfect for all ages in just a few minutes. What we love about this Halloween grazing board is that it’s gluten-free too. What you need Dips – we have some delicious ideas below Garden Veggie Chips – ghosts and bats Vegetables – carrots, peppers, celery, sugar snap peas, broccoli, cauliflower, snow peas, cucumber Candy eyeballs...
Getting us where we need to go, I’m happy to have partnered with Subaru for our next family adventure. To make things a little more fun, I’ve had Juliann Law whip up this fantastic Hiking Scavenger Hunt printable for kids to mark off as we adventure. We’ll be on the hunt for all kinds of nature items, checking them off as we go. From logs and moss to animal holes and insects....
I’ve been doing it for my kids now too and they love it. They try their best to crack the nuts on their own, they can do some of them. But I always add a bag of peanuts into the mix as well, so they have something they can crack themselves. Since the holidays tend to have some sort of variety of nuts involved in making and baking, here are a few holiday recipes with nuts:...
How to make a burlap Christmas tree I love our homemade burlap Christmas trees that are made using green burlap, a stick, and wood slice. They are the perfect addition to our Christmas decor this year. Supplies Burlap – green or natural Stick Wood slice Sewing machine (optional if you want to hand-sew yours) Needle and thread Drill Wood glue – clear Polyfill Decorations for your Christmas tree – we used beads and natural moss Our printable Christmas tree template Scissors...
Keep in mind, I’ve only done this once and I’ve only done it with roma tomatoes. And I’ve yet to use my beautiful roasted tomatoes in anything…I’ve just eaten them straight up, which was divine. But I am planning to use them on homemade pizza or in a pasta dish, which should taste pretty fabulous. They might even be good in a salsa…just thinking out loud here. (I’m totally open to any suggestions you have for using roasted tomatoes, by the way!...
Supplies for Quote Wall Plaque Tutorial: Wood plaque (I found mine in the craft section at WalMart, and most craft stores carry something similar in their wood sections) Acrylic paints in two colors (I used white and gray) Foam brush Painter’s tape Ruler and pencil Picture frame (I used a $1 frame, also from WalMart) Printed quote or photo, same size as your frame’s opening Hot glue gun or other strong glue...
I am all about the beach cover-ups. I like to have something that can go from the beach to grabbing a quick bite to eat without having to get completely changed, plus, who wants to drive to the beach or a pool party in just a swimsuit, or multiple pieces of clothing that you need to keep track of? You want something that’s easy on, and easy off. As you can see from my kaftan, I went with a slightly sheer fabric, it is stretchy and doesn’t fray, which means, no sewing of edges....
My oldest son used to work late at night as a valet for a hotel. If there wasn’t a full plate of leftovers when he came home at 1am he would boil an egg and use leftover meat from dinner to make himself a gourmet ramen bowl. That was always one of my favorite snacks many, many years ago when I lived in Australia. I would heat up 2-minute noodles (instant ramen) and throw in ham or chicken with frozen peas, corn, and carrot....
Supplies to Make Dreamcatchers: A ring shape – mine is a piece of cardboard I have been holding on to. Other ideas are: an embroidery hoop, or a metal ring from a lamp shade Baker’s Twine in brown Four colors of yarn Thin twine Wooden beads Instructions Start by wrapping the baker’s twine around the ring I went around the entire ring, leaving three gaps where I would later wrap the yarn....
Get the kids involved and everyone pick their favorite must-do items on the checklist. Then be sure to check them off as you get to them on your list! To get this all started, download and print out our FREE printable for a Disney Vacation Checklist. Download in color or in black/white for printing. BIG thanks to our designer Amy of The Mom Bot and Nuts & Bolts for creating our Disney printable....
Supplies for Miniature Flower Pots: Foam cups (8.5 oz size) acrylic craft paint (we used several brown tones) chenille stems in various colors green tissue paper 4 pennies white craft glue scissors Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Place foam cups upside down on a dark coated cookie sheet. Place cookie sheet in preheated oven and watch carefully. Cups should have begun shrinking at the 2 minute mark and should be done at the 3 minute mark....
