Friday, April 12, 2013

(Belated) Fun, Colorful, Make the Kiddos Smile Easter Decor

Here's a follow up to my last post. More pics of what I managed to take a picture of during the 2 weeks of sickness not including my dining room Easter tablescape which I forgot to take a picture of my Easter decor.

Subway Easter art print I made using Google Picasa
+
"Happy Easter" Banner I printed in 2009 from a blog that, sadly, I can't remember the name of nor find by searching the web
+
Thread wrapped eggs I made back in 2007 (or before) following this tutorial that was in the Martha Stewart Living magazine that year.
=
 
The little chicks in the o's make me smile

Fun, Colorful, Make the Kiddos Smile Easter Decor
In the first picture, you can see a number of brightly colored objects lying on the white table runner. Those are Easter eggs that "Sis" made all on her own accord. She sat at the table for hours drawing egg shapes and "decorating" each and every one with a unique design full of brightly colored zigzags, polkadots, stripes, flowers, and anything else her sweet little heart desired. I was one proud crafty mama : )

 Until next time...
~ Brooke  

I'm Late! I'm Late! For a very important date!

Just to be clear... Yes, I totally realize that Easter has come and gone like almost two weeks ago gone :) but I never got around to posting pics of my Easter decor mainly due to two straight weeks of strep and a stomach bug in our house :( I wish it had been a case of "buttosis" like my little guy likes to diagnose me with after watching an episode of "Doc McStuffins" on Disney Jr, but unfortunately, this sickness wasn't one to be cured with a hug and kiss and a jellybean ;) So, now that everyone is healthy and back in action and the house doesn't look like the Tazmanian Devil tore through I can post my pics! There's nothing wrong with being fashionably late, right?!

Yellow planters
White plastic eggs
+
Prints 
yellow & white stripe bunny print made in Microsoft Word 
"Keep Calm and Hop Along" print made in PicMonkey
yellow egg on gray background made with scrapbook paper
=

 Easter "Hoosier"scape
Don't mind the almost empty jar of Reese's Peanut Butter Eggs : ) 
I needed something to keep me going these past couple of weeks! Plus, I swear the eggs are like 100 times more addicting than the original Reese's cups, right?! 

Until next time...
~ Brooke


Monday, April 1, 2013

FUNctional activity for kids: Bowling for Chicks

10 empty mini-raisin box chicks (find tutorial for raisin box chicks here)
+
plastic Easter egg 
+
small rock or bouncy ball
=

Bowling for Chicks Game
Your "littles" will love this game, mine do!

Directions:
Set up empty raisin box chicks like bowling pins. Place a small rock or bouncy ball inside the plastic egg for added weight. Bowl away! This is a great way to show your kids that recycling can be fun!



Until next time...
~ B. Lynn


Tuesday, March 26, 2013

FUNctional holiday: Raisin CHICKS or The Healthy Easter "Peep"

mini box(es) of raisins
+
yellow construction paper
+
scissors. clear tape. markers.
=

Raisin CHICKS 
or 
The Healthy Easter "Peep*"

Cute & healthy** Easter Basket fillers. I'm using mine for our Easter Egg Hunt.
I came up with this idea after realizing that the raisin boxes I bought for the hunt would not fit in my plastic eggs :(
 Not sure if anyone has made these before or not, so I posted a tutorial below.
(SCROLL DOWN FOR TUTORIAL)
You can easily transform your raisin boxes into any animal, not just CHICKS. I have made sheep, rabbits, pigs, and cows.
This would be fun to do any time of the year. Think lunch boxes, snack time, Valentine's Day, Halloween.
The cute and healthy snacking possibilities are (almost) endless!
FUN IDEA FOR AN EASTER EGG HUNT:
"Eggs that Hatched Hunt" - instead of having the "littles" hunt for eggs, have them hunt for raisin box animals that "just hatched" from eggs (i.e. chicks, any type of bird - owls would be cute, dinosaurs) 
 My next post will be about a fun game you & your "little" can play using the empty "CHICKS" and a plastic egg.

*A group of chickens or chicks can be referred to as a Peep.
** Use regular raisins vs. yogurt raisins for a healthy alternative

Raisin CHICKS Tutorial:

1 - Gather supplies: clear tape, mini raisin box, markers (yellow, orange, brown, black), yellow construction paper, pencil (not pictured) and scissors (not pictured)
2 - Line up raisin box in lower left or right corner of construction paper (orientation: portrait), use your pencil to draw a line along the top of the box, slide box up along the long edge of the paper and position bottom of box on line, draw another line along top of box, continue until you run out of room &/or have enough strips for the number of raisin boxes you are going to cover.
3 - Using something straight (ruler, magazine) and a pencil, continue line across to the opposite edge of the paper
4 - Using scissors, cut along the lines on the paper.
5 - Fold paper strips in half.
6 - One at a time, cut strip along folded crease.
7 - Place one raisin box in the middle of one strip of paper, line up the top and bottom edges
8 - Fold one end of the paper strip to the front of the box and secure with tape.
9 - Fold the other end of the paper strip to the front of the box and secure with tape.
10 - Grab your markers and begin drawing your CHICKS.

Until next time...
~ B. Lynn





Wednesday, March 20, 2013

FUNctional gift: "Goodnight Moon" diaper cake

"Goodnight Moon" board book by Margaret Wise Brown
+
diapers (rolled and formed into "cake" rounds)
+
square shaped gift box (filled with baby shower gift) wrapped in tissue/wrapping paper (using the book cover for color inspiration)
+
ribbons (using the book cover for color inspiration)
=

"Goodnight Moon" themed diaper cake

 Perfect gift for: a gender neutral baby shower, book themed baby shower
Fill the box with one or more of these "goodnight" related items: board books to read to baby before bed, blanket(s), pjs, crib sheet(s), bassinet sheet(s), sound machine, monitor, calming baby body wash and lotion, pacifiers

Until next time...
~ B. Lynn

Linked up to:
Someday Crafts 

Monday, March 18, 2013

FUNctional gift: Big bow diaper cake

1 package of diapers
+
2 sleep n play outfits
+
2 baby bow headbands
+ 
rubber bands and ribbon
=


Big Bow Diaper Cake

FUNctional gift tips: Coordinate outfit and ribbon colors with shower theme; this would make a fun centerpiece for a "Little BOW Peep" themed baby shower

Until next time...
~ B. Lynn



Sunday, March 17, 2013

FUNctional décor: St. Patrick’s Day mantlescape



green & white glass accessories and dishes
+
free printed subway art from the How To Nest For Less blog
+
a “LUCKY” clover print I made in Microsoft Word & taped to the front of a black box frame
=


A FUN “Clover’s Day” (as we call it around our house) mantlescape for the Hoosier cabinet. I just can't stand empty shelf space :-)
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!


Until next time…

~ B. Lynn

FUNctional crafts: Rainbow & Leprachauns



a "How to Draw Leprechauns" book by Michael Terry
+
an early riser (a.k.a. a little girl who 99.9% of the time wakes up WAY before her parents)
+
overwhelming excitement for “Clover’s Day” (a.k.a. St. Patrick's Day to the rest of the world)
=

A colorful “Clover’s Day” gift for this FUNctional mama’s keepsake collection.

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

Until next time...
~ B. Lynn

Saturday, March 16, 2013

FUNctional decor: Painted Burlap 4 Leaf Clover Banner


napping kids
an empty hook in the entry way
  +   
a crafty mood
=

A painted burlap shamrock for a little St. Patty’s day flare for the entryway.


Until next time...
~ B. Lynn