No More Chalk!

My girls are both fans of sidewalk chalk.  The second the weather gets good it's the first thing they dive into.  I quite frankly am not a lover of chalk.  I don't like the way it feels in my hands or the way it feels when I write on the ground.   Maybe it's the memories of my fingernails accidentally scratching the chalkboard when I was younger.  I know as a stay at home mom, I'll never be able to escape my distaste in chalk but I can always put other options out there for my daughters.  This week I did that.

There was a 'pin' for sidewalk paint and I had to try it.  Instead of letting my 3.5 year old use a paintbrush, I had her search for items outside that could be used to paint.  I honestly think she had more fun seeking out these items than the actual painting herself.  We had a lot of fun with this 'pin' and it turned into a long activity from searching for items to painting.  Perfect for a warm weather activity.

Pinterst Inspiration:

http://stayathomenation.blogspot.com/2011/06/crafting-kiddies-summer-1-sidewalk.html

My Results:
Water
Cornstarch
Food Coloring
Disposable Cups
Painting Tools

1. In individual cups add 1/4 cup of warm water to 1/4 cup of cornstarch.  If making one large batch it would be 1 cup of water to 1 cup of cornstarch.

2. Mix until the mixture is smooth.

3. Add 1-2 drops of food coloring to each mixture and stir.  I didn't use anymore than 2 drops for fear it would stain our driveway which it didn't.  

Note:  The mixture will separate quickly so you may need to stir occasionally. 

 

4. Get ready to find natures paintbrushes and paint!

  

My girls are both fans of sidewalk chalk.  The second the weather gets good it's the first thing they dive into.  I quite frankly am not a lover of chalk.  I don't like the way it feels in my hands or the way it feels when I write on the ground.   Maybe it's the memories of my fingernails accidentally scratching the chalkboard when I was younger.  I know as a stay at home mom, I'll never be able to escape my distaste in chalk but I can always put other options out there for my daughters.  This week I did that.

There was a 'pin' for sidewalk paint and I had to try it.  Instead of letting my 3.5 year old use a paintbrush, I had her search for items outside that could be used to paint.  I honestly think she had more fun seeking out these items than the actual painting herself.  We had a lot of fun with this 'pin' and it turned into a long activity from searching for items to painting.  Perfect for a warm weather activity.

Pinterst Inspiration:

http://stayathomenation.blogspot.com/2011/06/crafting-kiddies-summer-1-sidewalk.html

My Results:
Water
Cornstarch
Food Coloring
Disposable Cups
Painting Tools

1. In individual cups add 1/4 cup of warm water to 1/4 cup of cornstarch.  If making one large batch it would be 1 cup of water to 1 cup of cornstarch.

2. Mix until the mixture is smooth.

3. Add 1-2 drops of food coloring to each mixture and stir.  I didn't use anymore than 2 drops for fear it would stain our driveway which it didn't.  

Note:  The mixture will separate quickly so you may need to stir occasionally. 

 

4. Get ready to find natures paintbrushes and paint!

  

Butterfinger Cream Pie

I love dessert.  So much that I come up with every excuse/occasion to make one.  A birthday, friends coming over, the end of a long week you name it; I'm making a sweet for it.  I think there is nothing better than having dinner and knowing a great new dessert is waiting at the end of the meal.  It's the perfect way to end a meal even if I'm stuffed.  Often times, the occasions that drive me to make a dessert come with short notice. When I found a 'pin' that claimed to take only 10 minutes to make with 4 ingredients, I 'pinned' away.  I followed the 'pin' by making it with Butterfingers but you could substitute any candy that can easily be chopped.  What was nice about this dessert was the no bake factor.  Any dessert I can whip up without an oven is a bonus especially on short notice.
Note: It took me about 20 minutes since I decided to make my own graham cracker crust but if you used store bought, you'd be down to 10 minutes :)

Pinterest Inspiration:

  http://dessert.food.com/recipe/butterfinger-pie-29478

My Results:
6 (2 1/8 ounce) Butterfinger candy bars , crushed
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese at room temp
1 (12 ounce) carton Cool Whip
1 store bought graham cracker crust  or see homemade directions below
Optional Graham Cracker Crust:
1 ½ c. graham crackers – 1 package of 9-10 crackers
1/3 c. sugar
6 Tbs. butter, melted
½ tsp. cinnamon

1. Crush your graham crackers until really fine. I used my Cuisinart.

2. Mix the graham cracker mixture with the sugar, butter and cinnamon. 

3.  Using a the back of a spoon, press your mix into a pie pan. Make sure to press it up the edges as well, making it nice and even all across.

4. Bake your pie crust for 7 minutes in a per-heated oven of 375°.

5. Crush the candy bars.

6. If you decided to make your own pie crust, mix the crushed candy bars, cream cheese and cool whip together until blended while it's baking.  I mixed by hand.

7. Fold mixture into cooled pie crust.

 
8. Chill until ready to serve.  It's served best chill

I love dessert.  So much that I come up with every excuse/occasion to make one.  A birthday, friends coming over, the end of a long week you name it; I'm making a sweet for it.  I think there is nothing better than having dinner and knowing a great new dessert is waiting at the end of the meal.  It's the perfect way to end a meal even if I'm stuffed.  Often times, the occasions that drive me to make a dessert come with short notice. When I found a 'pin' that claimed to take only 10 minutes to make with 4 ingredients, I 'pinned' away.  I followed the 'pin' by making it with Butterfingers but you could substitute any candy that can easily be chopped.  What was nice about this dessert was the no bake factor.  Any dessert I can whip up without an oven is a bonus especially on short notice.
Note: It took me about 20 minutes since I decided to make my own graham cracker crust but if you used store bought, you'd be down to 10 minutes :)

Pinterest Inspiration:

  http://dessert.food.com/recipe/butterfinger-pie-29478

My Results:
6 (2 1/8 ounce) Butterfinger candy bars , crushed
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese at room temp
1 (12 ounce) carton Cool Whip
1 store bought graham cracker crust  or see homemade directions below
Optional Graham Cracker Crust:
1 ½ c. graham crackers – 1 package of 9-10 crackers
1/3 c. sugar
6 Tbs. butter, melted
½ tsp. cinnamon

1. Crush your graham crackers until really fine. I used my Cuisinart.

2. Mix the graham cracker mixture with the sugar, butter and cinnamon. 

3.  Using a the back of a spoon, press your mix into a pie pan. Make sure to press it up the edges as well, making it nice and even all across.

4. Bake your pie crust for 7 minutes in a per-heated oven of 375°.

5. Crush the candy bars.

6. If you decided to make your own pie crust, mix the crushed candy bars, cream cheese and cool whip together until blended while it's baking.  I mixed by hand.

7. Fold mixture into cooled pie crust.

 
8. Chill until ready to serve.  It's served best chill

Easy Peasy Fabric Poufs (No Sew)

My 3.5 year old is very into being fancy.  Fancy shoes, fancy dresses, fancy nails you name it.  Mornings usually start out with her asking me 'do I look fancy' or 'I'm not wearing that. It's not fancy enough'.  People who know me know I'm not one for makeup, manicures or bling but she's caught the fancy bug.  Whether it's her peers or books like Fancy Nancy my daughter likes all things that glitter, shine or make a statement.  This would include hair accessories.  For a little 3.5 year old she loves BIG bows.  The more room it takes up on her head the better. Instead of buying her bows at $6 a pop, I've taken on the hobby of making them. It's actually been a lot of fun for us.  I take her to the store and she can help pick out fabric, flowers or ribbon.  Lately, I was wanting to broaden my hair accessory portfolio :) and came upon the next 'pin'.  The blogger warned that making these flowers would be addictive....she was right I've made them with every material and can't stop. The look so expensive and are very cheap to make.

Pinterest Inspiration:

 http://www.rufflesandstuff.com/2011/05/no-sew-fabric-flower-tutorial.html

My Results:
fabric
scissors
hot glue gun
felt circle for a base (a 2" or 3" will work)
circle guide
hair clips, headbands, or pins
paper stock

1. Using a circular object (I used a wine glass base) trace the circle onto a heavy paper stock for your pattern. Choose a circle that is the same size that you want your finished flower to be.

2. Trace the circle on your fabric.  Be creative with the fabric used.  I used my husbands old dress shirts, the new felt I made and a basic cotton print I had from an old craft. I learned the hard way and traced with pen which showed up.  Use a pencil instead to trace. 

TIP: I use my husbands old dress shirts for fabric instead of throwing them out.

3. Use your pattern to cut 7 circles of your desired fabric.

4. Fold your circles in half, then in half again. 

5. Snip off the tips of 4 of the circles.

6. Hot glue four of the folded circles to the felt piece. They should fit together snugly, with a small open square in the center.

7. Fold, snip and glue the last three in the center of the flower. 

8. Now it's time to get creative.  Glue the flower poufs onto headbands, hair clips or pins.  Add a button, bead or broach to the center or leave it as is. 

I've attached images of some of the one's I've done the past couple of days both for my daughter and I.

 

Made from a sweater I felted

Also made from a sweater I felted!

 

 

My 3.5 year old is very into being fancy.  Fancy shoes, fancy dresses, fancy nails you name it.  Mornings usually start out with her asking me 'do I look fancy' or 'I'm not wearing that. It's not fancy enough'.  People who know me know I'm not one for makeup, manicures or bling but she's caught the fancy bug.  Whether it's her peers or books like Fancy Nancy my daughter likes all things that glitter, shine or make a statement.  This would include hair accessories.  For a little 3.5 year old she loves BIG bows.  The more room it takes up on her head the better. Instead of buying her bows at $6 a pop, I've taken on the hobby of making them. It's actually been a lot of fun for us.  I take her to the store and she can help pick out fabric, flowers or ribbon.  Lately, I was wanting to broaden my hair accessory portfolio :) and came upon the next 'pin'.  The blogger warned that making these flowers would be addictive....she was right I've made them with every material and can't stop. The look so expensive and are very cheap to make.

Pinterest Inspiration:

 http://www.rufflesandstuff.com/2011/05/no-sew-fabric-flower-tutorial.html

My Results:
fabric
scissors
hot glue gun
felt circle for a base (a 2" or 3" will work)
circle guide
hair clips, headbands, or pins
paper stock

1. Using a circular object (I used a wine glass base) trace the circle onto a heavy paper stock for your pattern. Choose a circle that is the same size that you want your finished flower to be.

2. Trace the circle on your fabric.  Be creative with the fabric used.  I used my husbands old dress shirts, the new felt I made and a basic cotton print I had from an old craft. I learned the hard way and traced with pen which showed up.  Use a pencil instead to trace. 

TIP: I use my husbands old dress shirts for fabric instead of throwing them out.

3. Use your pattern to cut 7 circles of your desired fabric.

4. Fold your circles in half, then in half again. 

5. Snip off the tips of 4 of the circles.

6. Hot glue four of the folded circles to the felt piece. They should fit together snugly, with a small open square in the center.

7. Fold, snip and glue the last three in the center of the flower. 

8. Now it's time to get creative.  Glue the flower poufs onto headbands, hair clips or pins.  Add a button, bead or broach to the center or leave it as is. 

I've attached images of some of the one's I've done the past couple of days both for my daughter and I.

 

Made from a sweater I felted

Also made from a sweater I felted!