I was looking for something different for my table so, I spray painted some older utensils and wired them to white novena candles (available at Target for under $2.00 each).
I used an 18 guage aluminum wire from OOK to attach painted utensils to glass candle jars.
I wrapped wire around utensil 3 times and tightly twisted it shut in the back.
For OOK hobby wire, check out ooks.com.
I made these place setting nests with an 18 gauge wire - they hold an Easter favor and a place card.
I used an 18 gauge wire from OOK (available at Home Depot or at ooks.com). Pull out about 24" of wire from package and fold the tip over onto itself. Keep going around in a circle - getting larger as you go up. Clip wire with plenty of room left to tuck the end underneath the nest.
Cut out a bird shape from card stock - make a half inch cut into the bottom of your card.
Slip card onto nest and fill with candy eggs.
These are really simple to make and help to add a bit of creative interest to your table. My kids were thrilled when they saw me making these.
Here’s a link to ooks.com if you need a good source for hobby wire.
Santa Claus gets cookies - why not leave some carrots for the Easter bunny? The night before, have your child set out a dish of carrots (my daughter wanted to add carrot juice) and a note.
On Easter morning, have your child check to see if the Easter bunny ate his midnight snack - maybe he left a note?
I love how easy it is to make a child happy. A pack of gum, a game of tag, or even a balloon all have the power to change a child’s mood for the better. Here are a few easy ways to make your child’s day more special in an instant…
Your kids will be thrilled when they receive a letter in the mail from you - out of the blue. Make up your own card with a funny message and add in a stick of gum, a tattoo or a pressed flower - your kids will love it!
Share a good joke with your child and watch it spread - they will happily tell it to all of their friends. I like add a some new one's to the mix every so often. I look online, write a few down and tuck them into my daughter's lunch.
Surprise your child after her bath with a warm towel - straight from the dryer.
Take photos of your child and string them together with a story line and you’ve got a real page turner. My kids love to hear stories about how they were when they were babies – silly things they used to do or say or were fearful of. We can talk about these things over and over again and they never tire of it. I enjoy it too – it helps me to keep these memories fresh in my mind. So, I decided to organize our family photos in book form with a story line. I used an iPhoto program to create the 20 page hardcover book shown in this post (it cost me about $40.00) but you could make your own by printing out photos and inserting them into a blank book.
I chose to write a story about my daughter's bed head - this book has my kids rolling on the floor with laughter.
When Jane wakes up in the morning - her morning hair is really stunning - I had to make this book.
A book like this makes a great birthday gift for a child. I am thinking of making about 3 each year and building a series for our family.
Jane's morning hair never disappoints!
I hate, more than anything, being the target of a practical joke – it makes me cranky. However, and I realize this is strange, I love to play jokes on others – especially my kids and my husband. So, April Fool’s Day is one of my favorite days. My single goal on this day is to make my kids laugh pretty hard and usually at my husband’s expense. I’ve put together a few of my kids’ favorites in case you’d like to pull a few tricks on your unsuspecting loved ones this April 1st…
Dude, where's my car? My girls love this one. The night before, I surreptitiously park my husband's car a few blocks away. In the morning, my girls and I secretly watch the scene unfold from the living room window.
We've secretly replaced this man's sugar with salt... let's see if he notices the difference. This one is so easy - it's self administered. Simply fill your sugar bowl with salt and watch the victim walk right into this prank.
But wait, there's more... try slathering the coffee spoon with vaseline. This makes for a pretty disturbing experience!
Tying the end of a coat sleeve shut with a rubber band - another one of my girls' favorites.
Turn coat sleeve inside out and wrap a rubber band around the cuff, turn right side out and hang it back up on the hook.
Have your kids make a card with an intriguing message on the front - then glue it shut. This one is fun to make and even more fun to give.
A salt shaker that pours pepper is always a hit.
Unscrew the top of the salt shaker and cover with a small sheet of plastic wrap.
Spoon a small amount of pepper onto the plastic wrap.
Screw top back on and trim plastic wrap with scissors or an X-Acto knife. You've just created a salt shaker that looks like it contains salt, but shakes out pepper - perfect for a practical joke.
An awkward corner of our yard was the perfect spot to tuck in a special play area for our girls. When they're in the mood for it - I can easily furnish this area and transform it into a temporary garden room for an afternoon of outdoor play.
A cot purchased at a rummage sale, covers and pillows pulled from the closet, a painting from the basement - all of these items help to give this outdoor space an indoor feel. I can set up this space for the afternoon and then pack it up at the end of the day. A fun space like this can really spark a young child's imagination!
I love to surprise my kids - their reactions are priceless.
I love leaves of all types, but I think fern fronds are my favorite. Ferns have an earthy appeal for me – they remind me of walking in the woods, springtime and greenhouses. In the floral section of the supermarket you can always find fern leaves and usually they are priced at under $4.00 a bunch. Here are a few ways you can decorate with these inexpensive beauties…
A simple glass votive is set in a new light once wrapped with the tip of a fern leaf.
To make these you will need - glass votives, twine and one large fern leaf. Clip off a part of the frond and wrap around votive, secure with a rubber band to hold in place. Tie twine on and remove rubber band.
I love to make something out of nothing - it's a thrill for me. Try making a tray out of a paper grocery bag and a fern frond.
This is a great way to wrap a treat for a friend - they will love it and they can keep it- no need to ask for your dish to be returned!
Cut down a paper grocery bag by two thirds and fold over the top to create a 2 inch depth on the bag and start stapling fern leaves to edge.
To conceal the staples - layer the leaves over each other. At the end, fold down the previous leaf, staple the next one...
... release the leaf and it will fall back onto the other one to cover the staple.
Continue around the entire rim until it is covered with fern leaves. To add stability to the base - add a cardboard insert (I use the cardboard back to sketch pad).
Line with wax or parchment paper and you are done.
A fern garland will set the mood for a spring party of any kind!
To make this garland just clip fern cuttings to twine with a small clip (I bought my clips for $0.29 a piece at Blick). You can also tie fern on or use clothespins if you don't have a metal clip handy.
My 5 year old daughter loves to pretend that she is a shop owner - it keeps her happily occupied for at least an hour or more. The other day, I made some felt fruits and vegetables and we set up an imaginary roadside stand - complete with twine, bags and signs. Now I have to keep an eye peeled at garage sales for a scale!
Tomatoes, carrots, bananas, eggplant, lemons and a pear are available at Jane's produce stand today.
Funny thing - it doesn't matter how much I buy at this stand- the total is always $1.00. What a deal!
To make your own felt produce - cut two pieces of your desired shape from felt and sew together, leave an opening so you can add stuffing.
Turn inside out, add stuffing and fold edges in.
For the carrot, I made simple green leaves by fringing a cut of green fabric.
Add the greenery to the opening of the carrot and stitch closed with a thread of the same color. I use a blind stitch.
I don't make a pattern for each piece - I cut out my shapes freehand - so no two are the same.
The book - Sock and Glove, Creating Charming Softy Friends from Cast-off Socks and Gloves by Miyako Kanamori - inspired me today.
Using a $3.00 pair of white chenille gloves from CVS, Jane and I made this adorable bunny (design by Miyako Kanamori) in less than 25 minutes.
I did the sewing, Jane did the cutting and stuffing.
Here are some glovedogs by Miyako. There are so many charming patterns and ideas in this book - I highly recommend it.
Here is a link to Amazon – Sock and Glove is priced at under $10.00!
I love feathering my nest in unique ways. I hope my ideas inspire you!
