Summer Crafttime, Part 3

Ever had one of those days? Today was one of those. But it reminded me why I wanted to make lots of preparations for the summer. When the kids and I don't leave the house all day, we all go a little BONKERS. So here is Part 3 (parts 1 & parts 2 here). Even more to come!!
Cardboard Tube Crafts - Supplies Needed (for kazoo, you will need a short cardboard tube, paint or paper, glue (if you’re decorating with paper), scissors, ruler, waxed paper, rubber band, pencil
Kaleidoscope - Supplies Needed: paper, card, crayons, glue stick, model glue, tinfoil, plastic bags, glitter and sequins, tapePinwheels - Supplies Needed: Paper, Wax crayons, Watercolor paints, Lick and stick paper, A wooden Skewer, A thumbtackRed White & Blue Necklace - Supplies Needed: Paper Towel Roll, Paint, StringSunprints - Supplies Needed: Sun Art Paper
Mod Podge Hand Trees - Supplies Needed: Canvas, Wood Picture Boards (or Cardboard if you aren't trying to make a keepsake), Burlap, Scrap Paper, Scissors, Mod PodgeScavenger Hunt - Supplies Needed: Free Downloadable Nature Hunt Sheet, Laminator (optional), StickersAre the dandelions still around? Here are lots of cute dandelion projects. We might make some dandelion tea! Supplies Needed: 2 Quarts of Dandelions, Juice of 4 lemons, honey, water. Rumor has it that dandelion blossoms steeped as tea can help relieve headaches, menstrual cramps, backaches, stomach aches and even depression. We'll see how that goes.Handprint Butterflies - Supplies Needed: Construction paper (yellow and black), paint, brush, glue, scissors, a chenille stem and wiggly eyes.

Roasted Chickpeas

For the last 2 years (or what feels like it), I've been trying to cook up my freezer & pantry goods. I'm read for a clean slate!!! This week, we made Roasted Chickpeas for a little snack.

Here's the real question though: But did they eat it? Katie Belle loved them, Ethan...not so much. I liked them. Lance thought they were okay. And there's the whole story. But at the end of the afternoon, they were all gone!!!

Happy Easter!

I hope you had a wonderful Easter, filled with the joy of loved ones. We had a great day of church and family.Here are the kids with their cousins & 2nd cousins on Lance's side. What beautiful memories the kids are making!

Cloth Napkins

You might remember when I made these cocktail napkins and these regular cloth napkins. They remain one of my favorite projects, because I use them quite frequently. Well, way back then, I had a request from my mother for some cocktail sized napkins. I finally got around to making them for her!

If you'd like to make some of your very own, here are some instructions. For regular-size, try Chez Beeper Bebe (although I used instructions from Lotta Jansdotter's "Simple Sewing".) For cocktail-size, here are some instructions for cocktail sized napkins. (I used this tutorial as a guideline, but used a straight stitch, and cut 10 1/2 inch squares, instead of 9" squares).

Katie Belle's Easter Party

I was one of four party moms for Katie Belle's Easter party at her preschool. I had such fun with my parts of the party! I made crepe paper carrots with small little treats inside (Martha's tutorial right here.) And then I made some more little carrots using scrap fabric and filled them with Annie's Organic crackers (they are bunnies!)Kristen B. made these napkins, using this tutorial. Here's another cute version of this concept.
Kristen made the placemats using little plastic squares of grass (found on sale at Joann's! I'm sure they will be used for future parties for the girls!) She added little flowers and a chocolate bunny in the grass.I'm sure the 2 year olds could care less about the 'tablescape,' but it was so much fun to put together!!!

Summer Crafttime, Part 2

Still making some plans for summer! Trying to stock the craft closet full of our our summer craft supplies. Let me know if you give any of these a try.Under the Sea Muffin Tin - Supplies Needed: Pretzel Sticks, Peanut Butter, Sprinkles, Blue M&M's, GoldfishDIY Catapult - Supplies Needed: Pom Pom, Popsicle Stick, Glue, Cardboard, SpringLove Rocks - Supplies Needed: Rocks, Fabric or Paper, Mod Podge
Treasure Stones - Supplies Needed: used coffee grounds, flour, salt, sand, water & Stuff to dig up (toys, faux jewels, coins, etc.)
Shaving Cream Cards - Supplies Needed: shaving cream, food coloring, photo frame cards, small reclosable bags, duct tape, Q-tipsCabbage Trees - Supplies Needed: cabbage, paint, paperScrap Paper Pictures for "Hattie & The Fox" - Supplies Needed: Paper, Pencil, Glue

Outside Art - Various Ideas for fun outside art projects here.
Supplies Needed: Depending on the project...sheet, cookie sheets, baby food jars, trash bags, aprons, craft paint, paintbrush, cardboard, clothesline, sponges, spray bottle, cardboard. Marble Painting - Supplies Needed: Marbles, Canvas, Cardboard, Staple gun, PaintCoffee Filter Flowers - Supplies Needed: basket coffee filters, chenille stems (red, white, blue, gold and/or silver), red and blue watercolor paint, paintbrush, scissors, 2 pieces of paper towel or a kitchen towelCelery Experiment - Supplies Needed: Celery with leafy tops, Clear glasses, Water, Food coloringBathtub Puffy Paint - Supplies Needed: Grated Soap, Dye (food color or watercolor paint), Hot Water

Grass Withers & Flowers Fade

It's not often I have an original idea. But this one is mine. It's a pretty easy craft project, and easy way to reinforce scripture. I came across this scripture during my reading, and the kids helped me pick out some flowers and add it to our grass. (Plastic grass square purchased at Joann's).
“All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever." 1 Peter 1
And guess what? The next day the flowers faded, but that sign was still standing! (The plastic grass didn't wither, but we still got the point across, I think.) :)

Summer Crafttime, Part 1

The past week, I have been trying to find a few minutes here and there to research craft projects for our summer. We love crafts, and it's our last summer before Ethan is in Kindergarten, and away from me every day!!! I have more projects planned, but I thought I'd share my plans with you. More to come!
Chunky Crayons (picture from here) Supplies Needed: Broken Crayons, Silicone Ice Cube Tray (or Muffin Tin)

Gumdrop Sculptures
Supplies Needed: Gumdrops, Toothpicks

Handprint Flowers - (picture from here) Supplies Needed: Paper, Paint, Black Tissue Paper, Paper Plate, Stapler

Lacing Cards - Supplies Needed: A printer, Colored Cardstock, Hole punch, Wool, Blunt Needle, Button or Bead

Finger Paint Bags - Supplies Needed: Finger Paint, Ziploc BagStyrofoam Prints - Supplies Needed
Meat/Veggie tray or Styrofoam plate. You can also buy a 12-pack of scratch-foam for about $6.
Ball point pen or sharpened pencil — for engraving, Scissors, Brayer (roller thingie), Water-based printing ink, PaperHammer & Nails - Supplies Needed: Hammer, Nails, Board, Rubber bandsColander Sculpture - Supplies Needed: Colander, Pipecleaners

Jewell's Embroidery

I recently received a gift from my aunt Glenda. It was a hand-embroidered linen from her mother (and my grandmother), Jewell. I have always loved hand embroidery. In fact, I frequent this embroidery blog, which offers a modern perspective on embroidery. It's so interesting to think about the women who spent hours and hours on these types of crafts, which now linger at garage sales everywhere. I can't seem to pass them up when I come across a beautiful hand-embroidered linen at a garage sale. This one will top them all though. I'm so glad our baby Jewell will have this to remind her of her great-grandmother, for whom she was named.

Do you remember that I embroidered this sign for Katie Belle's room? I need to do this again soon!

6 Months

Within minutes, the "6 Month" sticker was a big gooey mess, with her drooling all over the place.

Baby Updates

Yesterday, the baby started sitting up all by herself. And for long, long periods of time! With my other 2, I remember them quickly toppling over, but she seems like she has known how to do this for quite a while. It's probably because she's a giant compared to the other 2, so those big chunky thighs provide quite a support. Jewell is 6 months old today. While we haven't done our sticker photos yet, I know from here on out they will be more & more difficult. She's wiggling and scooting all over the place!

In Season: Peas

It is almost time for fresh pea season! I love this time of year. I hope I can get Ethan & Katie Belle to help me shell peas again this year. I keep hearing that if you can't eat peas immediately after they are picked, you should go with frozen peas. They apparently lose their flavor & nutrients very quickly.
Simple is Best! I love my veggies easy and unfussy. Here's how to make the peas.

SIMPLE PEAS: Bring a saucepan of water to a boil. While the water is heating, remove the peas from their pods and place in a bowl. When the water reaches a boil, add some salt and the peas. You are just going to cook them for a very short time. Don't leave the stove. Somewhere between ten and thirty seconds. You want them just barely tender, so they still pop in your - mouth, no mushy overcooked peas please. Quickly drain. Return the peas to a bowl with a dollop of butter and a sprinkling of salt.

Here are some others worth trying:Pea & Mint Soup (there are lots of minor variations of this recipe online), Carla's Peas, And from Martha Stewart Kids: Roasted Pea Puree, Pea Gnocchi, Pea Fritters, B.L. Pea Sandwich, & Pepperoni Pea-zzas

Here's the rundown on why you should love peas.

Gotcha

When I try to take a picture of my sweet kids, this is usually the kind of thing that I end up with instead.

Put a Lime in the Coconut

Well, it looks like Ethan is allergic to coconuts. Bummer. Remember when we had coconut milk? He was totally fine. But this time, we decided to crack open a coconut and eat the meat. It was fun. We watched this little video and things were going swimmingly until Ethan's eye and ear got red and itchy. Rats. But we took a little Benadryl and he was all better. Could've been worse.

Company Visits!

Our good friends, the Caldwells, came to visit (the kids were in their wedding, remember?) What do we do when good friends come to visit? Make them watch our kids, do our dishes, play "sisters" and Trouble, get in lots of workouts and cook.
Tommy and Becca made stuffed chicken, and then Becca & I made this Sage-Flavored Gratin Dauphinois with Potato, Sweet Potato and Pink Turnips. I've been wanting to make it since I saw it, because the photos were so beautiful!!! I finally broke in my mandolin slicer. And guess what? It was yummy too!