Create-Celebrate-Explore

Thrift Store Shelf Makeover

Over the years I have been adding to Marisol's kitchen set.  We bought her a sweet Kidcraft pink kitchen when she was 2 (so about 3 years ago).  Each year since I've given her new accessories to build on the basic set so she never tires of it.  And she hasn't.  She loves having tea parties for her dolls, and for us, and is often in her bedroom whipping up something fabulous.

For Christmas I had planned on giving her a small rack with some more wooden food items but time got away from me and although I had picked up a fabulous towel holder with shelf above it for only $1.99 at Goodwill, I didn't seem to have enough time to get it sanded and painted.  So today, she got a belated Christmas gift.

This was the towel rail with shelf that I purchased ... fabulous deal for $1.99.

After a lot of sanding, applying a sealer, and three coats of paint, it was looking lovely, but needed a little something extra.  So I painted the towel rail silver to match the silver on her kitchen and then cut pieces of scrapbook paper and attached them to each section of the shelf using mod podge, you can see the subtle pattern in the second photo below.

She was thrilled with the results.   I loved the addition of the tea towel, which although was a little expensive at $5.99 from Marshalls, was just perfect and I couldn't resist giving it to her.

I can't wait to finish decorating her bedroom and share photographs.  It seems to be a long process though.

This post linked to:

Rusty and Rosy: Pinkalicious Crafts and Activities

Do you have a little girl who loves Pinkalicious? Pack up a copy of the book along with the crafts and activities I have put together over on Rusty and Rosy.  This will make a wonderful holiday gift that she is sure to love.  Don't forget the pink cake mix along wtih an apron and chefs hat too.

Use these ideas for a Pinkalicious birthday party too.

A gift for the grill master

My husband is the grill master.  No really, he is.  Although I must admit, I'm becoming pretty grill savvy on my little George Foreman.

Father's Day is just around the corner, so the kids and I painted a special sign to hang behind dad's grill as his gift.

The full tutorial on how to make this can be found on my post at Multiples and More (where I am the monthly craft contributor).

As seen on:

Momtastic

Simple Hair Accessories

A little while ago I was wandering the aisles of Michaels looking for inspiration for future projects when I found some packets of Recollections floral embellishments on sale for $1.99 each.  I purchased 3 packets - the Mariposa Sheer Rosettes and two packets of the large floral embellishments, I then pulled some bobby pins and hair clips out of our seemingly endless stash, and with my trusty glue gun in hand set to work making more hair accessories for Miss M ... because apparently she doesn't have enough already.

Okay, and there is a chance I may have kept just a couple of these for myself too.

That's 20 pretty flower clips for $5.97.  This is a great way to bring new life to your old plain hair accessories.

These would also make a lovely party favor for a little girls birthday party, just pop a set of hair clips into a little pouch.  This makes a much nicer gift than a bag full of candy and little toys.

 

As seen on:

Modern Parents Messy Kids

Paper Poppy Wall Art

Create lasting memories with your child this Mother's Day and make a wall worthy masterpiece with them.

You will find a complete tutorial for this project on my post over at Multiples and More Crafting with kids: Mother's Day art so please swing by there and say hello.

 

AS SEEN ON:

Make and Takes ... The Long Thread

Easter Checkers

Looking for an Easter craft to do with all of those egg cartons that you hoard?  I have just the thing.

Easter Checkers.

This is what you will need to make this fun Easter game for the kids:

• 1 16x16" thick ply wood
• Paint:  Pink (matte & metallic), Yellow (matte & metallic), green and blue
• Egg cartons (24 egg cups)
• Card stock: orange, yellow glitter, pink glitter (2 shades)
• White pom poms
• Elmer's glue spots: thin mini and pop-up medium
• Wiggly eyes
• Black marker
• X-Acto knife, scissors, ruler and paint brushes.

To make the bunnies:

Paint the egg cups with the matte pink, once dry, paint a second coat using the metallic paint.  Cut out ears from the glitter card stock, attach the center using the mini glue spots. Poke a hole in the top of the egg cup with the X-Acto knife and insert the ears, attach to the inside of the egg cup using the mini glue spots.  Attach the pom pom tail using the medium glue spots and the wiggly eyes using the mini glue spots.  Draw on the rest of the facial features using a permanent marker.

To make the chicks:

As per the instructions for the bunnies.  Substitute pink paint for yellow.  Attach the wings using the medium glue spots and the fuzzy top exactly the same way as you did the bunny ears.  Fold a piece of orange card stock in half, cut out small triangles (beak) and attach using mini glue spots.

Now play, play, PLAY!

AS SEEN ON:

All Free Holiday Crafts

This post linked to:

Disclosure: This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for #collectivebias ( #gluenglitter )

Handmade Yarn Bangle

A while ago I purchased a lovely spring scarf.  The scarf came on a plastic ring and being the hoarder that I am I knew I could make something with it.

It turned out to be the perfect size for a bangle for me.  Yes, that's right Marisol, mummy is making jewelry for herself ... can you see her pouting.

This was super easy to make and I was able to get it finished while supervising Marisol's bath time.  All you need is a plastic ring and yarn.  I used Lion Brand Homespun Windsor which I found in my yarn stash.  This is also a fantastic project for using up those bits and pieces of yarn you have leftover from projects.

To make: put a little glue, I used Elmer's Craft Bond Fabric & Paper Glue, on the inside of the ring, attach the end of the yarn and then very tightly wind the yarn around.  You will need to stop every now and then and push the yarn toward the beginning, this will keep it nice and tight and prevent gaps from appearing.  Put a little glue at the end and wrap the final piece of yarn around.

Friendship Gifts: Preschool

Instead of celebrating Valentine's Day, the twins preschool are celebrating Friendship Day.

Remember the Friendship Bracelets we made for the girls in the class.  Well we made these for the  boys.

These are very simple to make.  I found the train sand molds at Target.  Using the kids crayons I sketched out the picture, scanned it into the computer, added the text, then printed out enough copies for the boys in the class.  Then using a couple of Elmer's glue spots, I attached the train to the picture.

This post linked to:

 

Beaded Bracelets

The twins and I made these beaded bracelets for the girls in their preschool class for their upcoming Friendship Tea on Valentine's Day.

Want to make some too?  Head on over to Multiples and More (where I'm the new monthly craft contributor) for the detailed tutorial.

Now to start crafting a little something for the boys in the class too.

 

This post linked to:

 

Peppermint Bark

Ingredients:

White Chocolate

Peppermint Candy Canes

Dark and milk chocolate

Place your candy canes into a zip lock bag, seal and attack crush into small pieces with a rolling pin.  This is something the kids will love to do while you move onto the next step - or better still, let the kids make the peppermint bark themselves (under supervision of course).

Break white chocolate into small chunks and melt in the microwave, 30 seconds at a time, stirring in-between.

Combine the white chocolate and candy canes in a bowl.  Pour onto parchment paper on a cookie sheet.  Spread until approximately a 1/2 centimeter thick.  Pop it in the refrigerator until set.

Once set, break into pieces, no need to make them perfect.

Melt the dark and milk chocolate in separate microwave safe bowls.   Dip one end of each white chocolate/peppermint piece into either the milk or dark chocolate.  Place carefully on parchment paper and back into the refrigerator to set.

Serve with tea, coffee or hot chocolate after a meal. 

Tip:  You can shave your peppermint bark to use as a topping for hot chocolate.  It also makes a lovely gift bundled up into a pretty package and tied with a ribbon.