DIY: Trick or Treat Bag/Decor

I stopped by the art store the other day to pick up some canvas totes so that I could make Halloween candy bags for our kiddos. I grabbed a bunch to feed my tote obsession and bonus...they were on sale.  I wanted to keep the design for their bags simple and timeless (two of my favorite words) - so here is an easy ($3) tutorial for you:

Step One:

I printed out “Trick or Treat” and a/b transferred the image on the tote using a pencil.

Step Two:

I dry brushed black acrylic paint over the pencil lettering to give it a weathered look.

Step Three:

I hung it up to dry and WOOHOO! Just like that…my son’s trick or treat bag turned into my new “wreath.”

I’m in love. If you need me…I’ll be up to my ears making totes tonight. :)

Check out our spider project  from last year here.



I am sharing this project and getting inspired at:

Craftberry Bush 
Crafty, Scrappy, Happy
Design, Dining & Diapers

eighteen25
Six Sisters' Stuff 

SNAP!  
Tatertots & Jello  
30 Handmade Days

The 36th Avenue 
Today's Creative Blog  
WhipperBerry

Ketchup

Hi there!  We’ve been up to our ears in summer.  We’ve been creating things, making things, eating things, playing things, swimming in things, chalking things, riding things, singing things, watching things, collecting things, catching things, climbing  things, building things...so, let’s catch up (in random photos), shall we?  Sorry, if you thought this was a post about ketchup. I like Heinz by the way.

Our 4th of July Menu.

 Our festive fruit salad.

My little one decided that brown was just not a good color for our deck...so she went all Caribbean on it. Yahhh Mon. I like it. :) 

 ...collected sea shells by the seashore.

sweet corn...a summer staple.

...coolest drawing/painting of the summer...so far.  :)

So...what have you been up to?

Happy 4th of July!

Patriotic Flapjacks :)

Happy 4th of July !!!  :)

Patriotic Accessories

We spent this week swimming, playing, eating buckets of blueberries and making our accessories for the holiday week...

I love summertime. :)

Patriotic Can Clunkers

The 4th of July is just a month away...so we are loving all things red, white and blue.
After seeing some way cool recycled can wind socks and wind chimes on Pinterest (here and here), we were inspired to make some patriotic chimes (clunkers) to hang in our backyard.  Here is how we made ours: 

First, gather these materials:

Cans (different sizes)

White primer (gesso is my go to)

Red, white and blue acrylic paint
Blue Sharpie

White string

Hammer & nail

Step One

Prime your cans white and set aside to dry.

Step Two

Paint cans as desired. We added stars, stripes and added a portion of the Star Spangled Banner to one using a blue sharpie.

Step Three

When the cans are dry, seal them with mod podge or whatever sealer you have.

Step Four

Using your hammer and nail, poke holes through cans and string them together. Sorry, I don't have pictures of this step - my little guy kept trying to steal my hammer (multi-tasking was not an option).

There is something silly about the sound of the cans hitting each other. Kinda get the mixed vibe of a “just married” couple driving off with cans attached to their car and a windy scene in the movie, Twister. Clunk-it-y, clunk, clunk.

So there you have it.  Save your cans and make some wind clunkers. :)



I am sharing this project and getting super inspired over at:

WhipperBerry
30 Handmade Days
Tatertots & Jello
Six Sisters' Stuff
Itsy Bitsy Paper

Patriotic Ribbon Sticks

Excited for the holiday weekend??  We are!  To add to our excitement, we spent a good portion of our day splattering things (and ourselves) up with some festive red, white and blue paint.  Today’s project:  scrap fabric patriotic ribbon sticks.

Materials:

White scrap fabric cut into strips (various lengths) …you can even use an old white shirt.

Red, white and blue acrylic paint

Brushes

Pencil eraser

Step One

Cut fabric into strips (1" x 12-24"...roughly)

Step Two

Paint strips as desired.

polkadots

 stars and stripes

Step Three (optional)

I made a simple star stamp to make things more interesting. Draw a star, cut out shape using an exacto. Hello, cute little stamp.

Step Four

Attach dried fabric strips to dowel or some kind of stick. I stacked a few strips, poked a hole, threaded some string through and tied it to a slightly notched dowel. I tied/wrapped the string around the dowel numerous times and secured the string with hot glue.

My kids loved making these and they giggled and squealed as they sprinted around the yard flying them.  It’s great how a stick and some fabric can add a little excitement to an ordinary afternoon.  These would be great for 4^th of July parades, for topping off a giant sand castle, birthdays...and they kind of remind me of sparklers too - just a safer, toddler friendly alternative. :)

Have a super weekend!




Check out this project and get inspired at:
Tatertots & Jello
Whipperberry

30 Handmade Days

Happy Easter :)

our eggs :)

I got a little carried away with my Easter pancake creations this morning. Yes, pancake art is a normal thing in our house- Mickey Mouse heads usually take the (pan)cake. They were all made with a spoon...I think I am in need of some pancake drawing utensils/squirty things. This might be my new obsession. Pancakes anyone?

(bunny with eggs)

(basket with eggs)

(little chick)

:)

 

I might have to make this an ongoing series. Stay tuned for my adventures in pancake art. ;)

HAPPY EASTER!

DIY Easter Grass

Confession: I am not a fan of old school plastic Easter grass (thanks Mom!). So instead of searching for the perfect basket filler, we made our own.  First, we painted a few sheets of white computer paper (both sides) with springy green craft paint. I used a dry brush method to exaggerate the streaks to give it a grass-like look.

Then, we ripped the paper into long strips to create our grass. I love the torn paper look.

If this stuff ends up scattered all over our house on Easter morning I don’t think I will mind so much. :)

Check out this project and more over at:
30 Handmade Days
Tatertots & Jello

Painted Easter Eggs

These adorable cardboard/paper mache-ish eggs grabbed my attention a few years ago while combing through the Easter goodies at Michael’s.

Since then, it has become a tradition to paint eggs each year. First, we coat them with white gesso and let them dry. Then we mix up some spring colors with craft paint and go to town. 

 

To help with the drying process, I cut up a few handy dandy tp rolls to hold the freshly painted eggs. 

Polka dots, stripes, scallops, you name it.  Add personal designs/text and give them to grandparents, family, friends, etc. for a sweet keepsake/gift.

Pretty little eggs.  :)

 

See this project and more over at Tatertots & Jello!



Irish Potato Stamping

I love potatoes. Baked, mashed, smashed, whipped, scalloped, French fried, roasted, twice baked, in soup, as a salad...you name it.  

Anyway...instead of eating potatoes today, we made Irish potato stamps. I’ve always wanted to try this type of printing so I thought that this would be fun with St. Patrick’s Day approaching.

Here is what you will need:

Potatoes

Carving tools

Various shades of green paint

Paper for printing

Here is how we made them: 

Step One

Grab some potatoes and slice as desired.

Step Two

Using printmaking tools, we carved out some festive shapes and words. Remember if you use words - carve them backwards.  

Step Three

We plated up some green paint and stamped away for over an hour.  

WARNING: this is extremely addicting.

I love how imperfectly perfect these turned out. Now I have to come up with some fun ways to use all of the paper that we printed. Banner, cards, wreath, wrapping paper...hmm.

I have a new obsession. Thank you, potatoes.

Slainte!




See this project and more over at:
WhipperBerry
30 Handmade Days
Tatertots & Jello
Six Sisters Stuff

Happy Valentine's Day!

Guest Post: Valentine Doily Banner from Mess for Less

I am super excited to introduce our very first guest...drum roll...Vicky from Mess for Less!  Vicky is here today to share an adorable Valentine project that she made with her daughters (I can't wait to make this!). Be sure to stop over to Mess for Less for more inspiration!


Hi, I'm Vicky from Mess For Less and I am so excited to be guest posting here at mk inspired today. Thanks to Krista for the invitation!  I love to come up with fun activities for my kids that don't cost a fortune. I blog about these adventures, along with family friendly kids food, mommy crafts and money saving tips. Please stop by and say hi!

The project I am sharing today is a Valentine's Doily Banner that will brighten up your home. My favorite things about it? The fact that it was cheap (the whole thing cost me $1) and that I was able to incorporate my kids artwork in it.

Supplies you will need:

• Kids artwork
• Doilies
• Glue
• Scissors
• Ribbon

Previously, I had the kids do some Golf Ball Painting. It was a fun activity and I was so happy with results that I thought I could use their artwork to create a banner.

I bought some red doilies at the dollar store and cut the center solid heart out of one of them. I used that heart as a template and then traced hearts onto the dried golf ball paintings. I then cut out the painted hearts and glued them to the middle of the doilies. Next, I strung the doilies on some red polka dot ribbon that I had leftover from Christmas. 

Then I hung them on the mantle. These would look great in an entry way too.

The kids loved seeing their artwork as part of the banner.

I hope you enjoy making this Valentine's banner with your kids. No one will believe it just cost you $1.

Thank you, Vicky, for sharing this GREAT project with us! I love how you incorporated the girls' paintings! We can't wait to see what you come up with next!  

Ok...now head on over and say hello!  :)