Create-Celebrate-Explore

Spring Flower Fairy Bread

I wouldn't be a good little Aussie girl if I didn't occasionally whip up some fairy bread for the kids.

Only this time I went a little crazy with the cookie cutters.

What you need:

• Bread
• Flower Cookie Cutter
• Circle Cookie Cutter
• Sprinkles - I used a Spring mix
• Sandwich spread - we prefer Earth Balance, but you could use cream cheese, nutella, or your favorite butter.

Use the flower cookie cutter to cut the slices of bread before assembling. 

Switch to the circle cookie cutter to cut out the center of half the bread flowers.

Place the sprinkles into a bowl.

Spread a thin layer of butter (or whatever you are using) onto the flowers without the hole in them.  Turn the bread face down onto the spinkles to attach them.

Apply a smidgen of the sandwich spread you are using to each of the petals of the flower with the hole and then turn it face down onto the flower with sprinkles.

Enjoy!

 

This post linked to:

How to Make a Bird Feeder

Christmas Day was spent with my husband's uncle.  It was snowing, and the kids were thrilled to wake up to a white Christmas.  Aunt Melinda put together a fun project for the kids to do while they were visiting (and taking breaks from throwing snowballs at one another).

PINE CONE BIRD FEEDERS

What you need:

• Pine Cones
• Peanut Butter
• Bird Seed
• Rope, string or ribbon

Spread peanut butter onto the pine cone.  We found that using a small knife (that wasn't sharp such as a butter or pate knife) was perfect for this.

Roll or sprinkle assorted bird seed over the peanut butter so that it sticks.

Now tie your string, ribbon, or rope around the bird feeder and hang it up outside.

Birds are going to love this.  By the following day one of the pine cones was stripped of bird seeds and they had started on the second one.  What a lovely Christmas treat for them.

This would make a great project for an outdoor themed party.   Just don't go making them at a campground and leave them out overnight, you might attract an unwanted critter.

Give the Gift of S'mores

When we moved into a new home a few years ago, one of the neighbors stopped by to introduce themselves and brought with them a housewarming gift - a big tub for popcorn, filled with everything we would need for a family movie night.  It was something I will always remember because a lot of thought had gone into this gift.  It wasn't just a plant, a box of chocolates, or a bottle of wine.  It was something that we could use as a family to spend time together bonding in our new home.  It also made us feel very welcome in our new neighborhood, and we ended up spending many a night sitting in the middle of our cul-de-sac with a fire-pit bonding with our neighbors.

So I decided to put together a new neighbor gift with the same thoughts, something that would bring a family together, to bond, to spend time together, and something that would make them feel welcomed into the neighborhood.

Sitting around a fire, toasting marshmallows, and spending time with friends and family is something that we love to do, so I wanted to share that.

This gift pack is very easy to make.   Simply place a piece of tissue paper inside a box, leaving enough hanging over the sides to fold it over your gift.   Fill a couple of small clear plastic gift bags with marshmallows, and tie them with a ribbon.  They look so much nicer than the big marshmallow bags, don't you think?  Carefully place the marshmallows, along with a couple of packets of Graham Crackers, and Hershey's chocolate into the box.  Fold the tissue paper over the top, pop the lid on, and tie with a piece of Jute cord or baker's twine. 

Hershey's are hosting a virtual summer camp HERSHEY'S CAMP BONDFIRE on their Facebook page, so head on over for loads of great ideas for entertaining, and bonding with your family and friends.

 

Disclosure: This post is part of my participation in the HERSHEY’S CAMP BONDFIRE campaign from The Motherhood.

This post linked to:

 

The Odd Life of Timothy Green

Whilst in New York recently I was invited to an advance screening of The Odd Life of Timothy Green. 

What a beautiful, heart-warming movie.  My little ones are too young to really understand it, or sit through it, and it's not the type of movie my teenager would watch (unfortunately), but gosh I just loved it.  If I'd not been invited, I would have had to see it with girlfriends.  There are beautiful messages to children that they really should hear before heading back to school this fall, especially if you have a child who struggles with feeling different.  I cried through the entire screening.  Blubbering, make-up running down my face kind of crying.  Pack tissues, you will need them.

In fact, make a few of these to take with you.

I wish I'd thought to make these before I went instead of cramming a handful of tissues at the check-in desk into my bag as I walked in - although I'm extremely thankful they'd placed a box of tissues out for us.  

All you need to make these is:

• Felt
• Embroidery Thread
• Sewing Machine

Cut a piece of felt approximately 6.5" x 6".  This was the size I needed for a purse pack of Kleenex tissues.  The best way to get your accurate measurements though is to place your pack of tissues on a piece of paper, fold so that the ends meet on top of tissue packet and then cut to use as a template.

Once you've cut your felt, fold the longest sides in toward the middle, then sew the ends (see below).

I didn't like that the opening was so large so using a piece of embroidery thread that matched the felt I hand-sewed a few stitches about 1cm in from each side.

Using some of the excess felt, cut out a leaf in a different color.  Hand-stitch it to the back side of the tissue holder using embroidery thread, then using a dark brown add the detail for the leaf.

 

I just love these crafts on Spoonful too.

Make these sweet leaf notes and pencil toppers for the kids (or for leaving little lunch notes in your kids lunchboxes when they return to school).

 

Download the free wish box template and make a shrink charms bracelet.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green will be in theaters on August 15th.  That gives you plenty of time to whip up a few of these fun crafts to take with you.

You will love the movie!

 

AS SEEN ON:

Craft

S'mores in Jars

The blogosphere is filled with s'mores today.  There's s'mores on sticks, on cupcakes, in cookies, over the fire, and any which way you can think to enjoy them.  Why you ask!  It's National S'mores Day!

Not to miss out an opportunity to celebrate such a wonderful day, I bring to you s'mores in jars.  It's all about portion control.  Unless of course you indulge in two.  Not that I would do that of course.

 

These are super simple to make, and I'd been wanting an excuse to use the last two bags of Hershey's Simple Pleasures I brought home from New York.  Okay, let's get real for a moment, I had received a few bags of these from Getting Gorgeous, and I finished off one bag while at BlogHer, then polished off a second when I got home.  Yes I hid them in the pantry and snuck them into my mouth when the kids weren't looking, mainly after they were in bed, or in the bath, or busy playing.  I ate a lot of them.

Apparently I needed to learn to share, so I made these yummy s'mores in jars with them for the kids to enjoy for dessert tonight.

Ingredients:

• Pre-made brownies (I used brownies with almonds) - of course you can make your own.
• 2 packets Hershey's Simple Pleasures - dark chocolate
• 1 package of Graham Crackers
• 2 tbs butter (melted)
• Approx 1 cup of mini marshmallows
• Chocolate sugar

Turn the oven onto 275 F.

Place about an inch of water in a baking pan with a high side.  Pop the canning jars into the water.

In the food processor combine the graham crackers and melted butter.

Using a pestle or grinder with a rounded edge press the graham cracker mixture into the bottom of each jar.  Warm the brownies a little in the microwave.  Alternate layers of brownies, and the Hershey's Simple Pleasures chocolates.  Pop into the oven for approximately 10-15 minutes until the chocolates begin to melt.  Pop a handful of mini marshmallows on top and pop the tray back into the oven for another 10 minutes until the marshmallows are melted a little.

Once your ingredients are melted, move the tray to the top shelf in the oven.  Turn off the oven and turn on the broiler to high.  Stare at your jars until you see the marshmallows browning.  Then remove so they don't burn too much, or worse, start a fire.

Enjoy!

 

AS SEEN ON:

Recipe Lion ... Spoonful

Multiples and More: Nature Crafts

We are still doing lots of nature themed crafts and activities this summer.  We may not switch topics, the kids are having a great time with it.

I'm over at Multiples and More sharing a fun way to take nature home with you after visiting state parks, camping, or visiting nature centers.  We are talking about leaf and bark rubbings, and I've got great tips on what you can do with them once you get home too.

These ideas would also be great if you are hosting a camping, or great outdoors themed party for kids.