Find out how to make beeswax candles with kids. A fun and easy project for families, homeschools, and classes to create beautiful gifts and decor.
Inspiration for MAKING a pretty life!
Here’s a fun paracord project for kids – make paracord snakes! This would be a great craft project for a summer camp or nature club. Or make them on a rainy day! The completed snakes are fun to play with. This is an easy project for beginners. It may take a little while to learn […]
There is something about creating. It is calming and enjoyable. While learning about the trinity {We loved the book, 3 in 1.}, I decided to introduce the boys to embroidery, not that I really know how to do it properly. I’ve enjoyed playing around with it when making birthday crowns or bean bags. In keeping […]
I love including craft projects as part of our homeschool education. Luckily, my little girl loves crafts as much as I do and as a result we’ve been able to...
Never be confused about where to make the next stitch! Crochet expert Charles Voth shows you how to make sense of crochet symbols and diagrams for crochet that’s fast and enjoyable. First, learn essential crochet stitch symbols and find out how they relate to each other and indicate your hook’s path. Then, read row diagrams and tackle ripple and wave stitch patterns with ease. Next, discover how symbols make it easy to read stitches that jump rows and involve various insertion points – like star, shell, spike and popcorn stitches. Move on to diagrams worked in the round and create a square motif for your cowl. Then, see how two-dimensional diagrams make sense of three-dimensional crochet, including flowers and popular Amigurumi toys. Plus, take your hook on a tour of the world as you learn how to read charts from France, Russia, Japan, and beyond!
Ever heard of paper sloyd? Yeah, me neither. But hear me out, this is good stuff. Related posts: Easy DIY Paper Flowers Handicrafts for Boys Handicrafts for Homeschoolers: Quilling Recycled Cardboard Spring Nature Craft
The art of homemaking is more than shining floors or ironed shirts, it is a way of life for many men and women. Beyond the daily chores routine, many homemakers teach children, volunteer their time, garden, or create a loving environment enriched by dutiful hands. Texas Homemaking seeks to encourage homemakers through crafts, useful tips, goal setting, organizing charts, daily deals, family issues, homeschooling, and more.
Ever heard of paper sloyd? Yeah, me neither. But hear me out, this is good stuff. Related posts: Easy DIY Paper Flowers Handicrafts for Boys Handicrafts for Homeschoolers: Quilling Recycled Cardboard Spring Nature Craft
If you have been reading the blog for a while now, you will know Teri and I have a great love for all things vintage—especially linens, clothing, or lace. Teri recently shared her story about a special dress in A Vintage Pinafore, Tea, and Friends, and I shared the story of my apron collection in Apron Strings. We even wrote a post together about our quest for vintage treasures in a Hershey, Pennsylvania, antique mall in Vintage Treasures Newly Acquired. We love seeing the handiwork of those who have stitched before us! Long ago, hand work was a required skill for many young women all over the world. Whether it was stitching on everyday items such as bedding, or a skilled craft such as lace-making, creating beauty with one's hands was far more commonplace. Thankfully, my time in Germany has allowed me to find and view some vintage treasures found here in Europe. On our trip to Wales, not only were we able to see the fantastic Welsh quilts in Jen Jones's collection, but there also happened to be a sampler exhibit on display at the same time. It's a challenge to get good pictures of framed items, but here are a few of the wonderful samplers in the exhibit: Sarah Evans, 1866 Sarah Jones, 1875 Mary Evans, estimated 1850 Gwenllian Jenkins, age 14, 1836 Anne Edwards, no date Margaret Davies, 1829 Anne Evans, 1856 M. Reeves, 1883 Anne Williams, age 15, 1861 Recently, I traveled to Brugges, Belgium, which quickly became one of my favorite European cities thus far. We were there for a beer festival, but thankfully, we were able to do a little window shopping. Belgian lace is a beautiful, bobbin-made lace that has been around for centuries. While I wasn't able to bring any home this time around, I was able to take a few pictures of the shop windows. Some beautiful examples I don't know how they keep all those bobbins straight! I still don't know why one of these pendants didn't make it into my suitcase! Fun lace bags Not all my recent travels have been to other countries. Thankfully, there is a wonderful lady here that puts together antique and thrifting adventures. It has been on a few of these adventures that I have picked up some vintage linens to add to my collection. I fell in love with this apron and am excited to add it to my collection! Maybe they had laundry fairies long ago! "Good Weather" I think this might have been a table runner at one time. A bread bag from the past Dutch themes must have been popular. While I do enjoy finding old linens, I love old trims and laces as well. My collection is accumulating, and sometimes it is nice to create with some of them. Last week, I was invited to a brunch with a few of my German quilting friends. They often give little gifts at these brunches, and I have been on the receiving end many times, so I thought I would make something for them. As Valentine's Day was approaching, hearts seemed like a good choice. I ransacked my collection of trims and scraps and came up with a little heart bag that would be able to carry a piece of chocolate. My ladies enjoyed them, and they were very easy to make. I was also happy to use some of my antique trims. A little bit of vintage trim, an antique button, and some wool A rosette made with the trim topped by the button Stitched together with an opening at the top A little bit more trim for a handle and they are ready to carry their piece of chocolate! Hopefully, you have enjoyed a little view of the stitching prowess of European stitchers of the past. From samplers to bread bags, needlework (and bobbin work) is such a wonderful way to add beauty to everyday. Do you enjoy collecting vintage linens or trims? Pinterest is full of ideas for ways to use them creatively. Now, if I just had a few more hours in the day... Happy Valentines Day!
We've been busy getting our girls ready for Girls' Camp this summer! We head out the second week of June. One of the new things that was implemented this year was having the girls bring their own Mess Kit. This might seem strange to some of you long-time campers that our girls have never brought mess kits, but for some reason that's just the way they did it here. Typically they used paper goods (which yes, is very wasteful). Anyways, they decided this year to have all the girls (and leaders!) bring mess kits to cut down on waste and allow the girls to learn more about reusing and recycling. We decided we would do this as an activity before camp and use some of our budget to help provide the girls with their mess kits! Of course you can buy an actual mess kit, which I recommend if you plan on using it for cooking, however our girls will simply be using theirs to hold their food at each meal so we don't need anything fancy! I think they turned out absolutely adorable! They're colorful, inexpensive, and can be used clear until the girls are done with camp. Plus, everything is dishwasher safe! If I were only making one or two, I might buy the slightly more expensive melamine dishes you can buy at Target or Wal-Mart (they usually go for about $1.99 a plate) but because I was buying for about 10 of us, it was more cost efficient to buy plain dishes. I also love that with these dishes the girls can each individualize what they want. They can do all one color...(except for the silverware, which is all green)... Or they can mix and match with what colors they like... It really opens up some creativity with each set! Each Mess Kit costs about $3. So even if you can't afford this in your budget, it would still be easy to have each girl pay for her own set and then buy all the pieces to compile them! The cost breakdown is as follows- Plate...$0.70 (four plates for $2.79 at King Soopers) Bowl...$0.70 (four bowls for $2.79 at King Soopers) Cup...$0.70 (four cups for $2.79 at King Soopers) Knife, Fork, & Spoon set...$0.61 (eight sets for $4.89 from Vitacost) Mesh bag for holding...$0.33 (three pack for $1.00 at Dollar Tree) I got really lucky finding all the dishware (plates, bowls, and cups) matching at my local King Soopers (part of the Kroger family of stores). They worked perfectly and with my membership discount they were very inexpensive! I think they girls are super excited to use these at camp! Happy Eating!
Ever heard of paper sloyd? Yeah, me neither. But hear me out, this is good stuff. Related posts: Easy DIY Paper Flowers Handicrafts for Boys Handicrafts for Homeschoolers: Quilling Recycled Cardboard Spring Nature Craft
Have you considered adding handicrafts into your homeschool days?I think that every homeschool should incorporate some type of handicraft time into their days. Charlotte Mason wrote a lot about her children taking the time to make handicrafts during their school days. Handicrafts are not just paper and glue crafts that you would make in a preschool or kindergarten class. Charlotte Mason speaks of handicrafts in her book Home Education.
This little cute guy reminds me of the “Guess How Much I Love You” bunny. If you think it’s cute too and have a lone glove laying around that you are saving for a project pop on o…
A blog about sewing, quilting & crafting by a busy mom.
Paper plate weaving is a fun kids' craft activity that's perfect for practicing fine motor skills and keeping hands busy!
Put together your own set and add some of these unusual items for lots of creativity and start woodworking with your kids
The past two weeks have been a bit busy with the two back-to-back Martingale-Moda retreats - ReStore for shop owners and Quiltstock for folks-like-us. A few of the ReStore ladies were treated to a tour of Moda and the most-photographed item in my office was this bag - the one with the yellow button.
Do you ever find something you can’t wait to make and then misplace the directions only to find them at a later date and think – “Wow, I haven’t made these yet?” Well, that is exactly what I did with the Treasure Stones recipe. I reorganized my school closet Sunday afternoon and found this long-lost idea. In fact, I discovered this little project several years ago! Last night, while the boys were enjoying their time with Dad (watching Top Gear), I put together the Treasure Stones without anyone knowing. Here’s what you’ll need: 1 cup flour 1 cup coffee grounds (used preferably) ½ cup salt ¼ cup sand 1 cup water 1 tablespoon powdered tempera paint (optional) Toys or trinkets Let's begin! First, I mixed all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Then, I added the water, mixing well. At this point, you can also add the tempera paint, but I did not have the dry variety on hand. Break off a base-ball sized amount of the dough mixture and roll it into a ball. Make a hole in the center big enough for the treasure. For the bigger treasures, it was easier to plop the dough on the foil, place the item inside, and then cover accordingly. Fill the hole with the toy or trinket and seal with the dough mixture. Allow the stones to air dry for a day or two. Mine were ready to go this morning! I must say, when wet, the natural stones do not look very pleasant, but once they have dried they really do resemble a rock. These would be a fun addition at a birthday party. If the theme revolved around dinosaurs you could fill them with little plastic dinos; a pirate party could have them filled with gems and gold coins. My boys enjoyed these this morning. It was a welcome break and a surprise treat during our school day. They also make for a great sensory tool for those children needing an outlet to explore messy things as well as strong smells, since the stones do smell like coffee.
I have been wanting to take a stab at needlepoint for the longest time and what better day than today? During Ella's afternoon nap I sa...
Sneak peek at one of the Muppet projects for an upcoming party! Blogged over here: aliciapolicia.blogspot.com/2011/09/petite-puppet-peek.html
About The Product: Show off! Bring the finishing touch to your culinary creations with these cupcake picks from Graphics and More. The featured design is 1.5\" (3.8cm) in diameter and is printed on food-safe acrylic. Including the zany, squiggle-shaped pick, each topper is 3.5\" (8.9cm) in total height - the perfect size to make your cupcakes stand out, without stealing the spotlight from your handiwork. Sold as a set of six (6). About The Design: This adorable guy is... well...busy as a beaver! He's chomping on tree branches with his cute teeth and we expect he'll finish building his dam very soon.
Gnomes are the perfect way to spark you and your child’s imagination. The stories that can come out of the playful gnome characters you dream up are endless. These gnomes are hand crocheted and made to fit in the palm of your hand. Bring these gnomes with you the next time your family goes out to dinner to help keep your child’s mind busy. They also make a great gift. These playful gnomes are something you and your child will cherish. Having fallen in love with the art of amigurumi I have developed my own patterns to embrace the charming, lovable and cute stuffies that are created by this style of crochet. Because each gnome is handmade there are slight variations to each. Check out my girl gnomes: https://jfphandmadecrafts.etsy.com/listing/1676495515 Materials: Paintbox Yarn, 100% cotton, DK Classic Fiber Fill, 100% polyester and hypoallergenic LISTING PRICE IS FOR ONE GNOME Measurement 4”x1.5” Care Instructions Ideal to spot clean with a mild soap and warm water. However, it can go in the washer and dryer on a gentle setting. Do not bleach. Follow me on INSTAGRAM @jfphandmadecrafts
10 awesome Robot crafts for kids. Reuse , recycle and make thse paper robots
This fire station project will be a full stand-alone quiet book, just like the dollhouse book, but using full size 9″ x 12″ sheets of felt for each page. The fire fighters are made from the same pa…
Because you don't want to hear them whine about being bored.
Gnomes are the perfect way to spark you and your child’s imagination. The stories that can come out of the playful gnome characters you dream up are endless. These gnomes are hand crocheted and made to fit in the palm of your hand. Bring these gnomes with you the next time your family goes out to dinner to help keep your child’s mind busy. They also make a great gift. These playful gnomes are something you and your child will cherish. Having fallen in love with the art of amigurumi I have developed my own patterns to embrace the charming, lovable and cute stuffies that are created by this style of crochet. Because each gnome is handmade there are slight variations to each. Check out my girl gnomes: https://jfphandmadecrafts.etsy.com/listing/1676495515 Materials: Paintbox Yarn, 100% cotton, DK Classic Fiber Fill, 100% polyester and hypoallergenic LISTING PRICE IS FOR ONE GNOME Measurement 4”x1.5” Care Instructions Ideal to spot clean with a mild soap and warm water. However, it can go in the washer and dryer on a gentle setting. Do not bleach. Follow me on INSTAGRAM @jfphandmadecrafts
i have a new layout up on the pebbles blog today. i decided to use the new mid-release floral lane collection for my layout. i know i have scrapped this main photo of alyssa before. but i wanted to get...
Oh gee, where did that holiday weekend go? Did everyone (here in the U.S.) enjoy their Memorial Day yesterday? (A big thank you to past/present service men/woman who fight for and honor our country!) Holidays that fall on Mondays, confuse me. Because it makes me think it’s a Saturday. So, naturally, today should be Sunday. …
Get 20% off of your first purchase by signing up at bit.ly/etsysignup Snap practice for small children plus hand and eye coordination while dressing the bears. Quiet book page with pocket in the back to hold the pieces Boy bear Girl bear 4 pull on outfits 4 hats Bears measures approx 5"X 7" and is made of 2 layers of soft felt and a very heavy stabilizer in the middle. Dolls will stand the heavy wear and tear that a child can put them thru. Great for quiet books or busy bags, perfect for long car rides, airplane trips, anywhere children need to have quiet time. ATTENTION: Some of my products contain small parts that could pose as a choking hazard to young children. Never leave small children unattended when handling our products. **** Please visit our new store at www.etsy.com/shop/SmallThingsandGifts. We have coloring t shirts, pocket pillows, chore boards, and lots of other fun ideas for kids and adults.*****
A blog about crafting and sewing
Get 20% off of your first purchase by signing up at bit.ly/etsysignup Boy Felt puzzle quiet book which includes 4 puzzles, template page with a pocket on the back to hold all of the pieces for each puzzle- Red car, blue train, green dinosaur, and baseball. We have a lot of other puzzles in the store and they are all double sided which means there is one color felt on one side and another color on the opposite side. This will help make it easier for children to put it together and twice the fun because they can do whichever side/color they like. Template case measures 5"X 7" with a pocket on the back to hold the pieces. The back of the puzzle will be the same color as the template case, this helps children to match the right side of the puzzle to the outline on the case. You can mix and match with other puzzles in our store just email with your choices. Convo if you would like to order a larger quantity and I can set up a reserved listing. All of our felt foods and games are made with Eco-Felt and polyfill. Eco-Felt is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, making it an environmentally friendly choice. It is also more durable that typical craft or fabric store acrylic felt, while being less expensive than wool felt. **** Please visit our new store at www.etsy.com/shop/SmallThingsandGifts. We have coloring t shirts, pocket pillows, chore boards, and lots of other fun ideas for kids and adults.*****
Read Aloud Time. It has the potential for being some of the best moments of the school day. But, on the other hand, the promise of disaster if too many children are made to sit sedately for too long. Although we have amassed a large assortment of fiction books, we typically save this time for reading library books. My usual pattern is to read two board books for The Newbie, two picture books mostly for the middle boys (Pre-K and Kindergarten), and one chapter from a chapter book for everyone to enjoy. After a morning of going in many different directions doing mostly independent, core studies, our read-aloud time is our way of regrouping together. (This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for full details.) I'm sure right about now you have Norman Rockwell-esque visions of my family gathered around a warm fire, snuggled under a blanket together, wearing wistful grins as "Ma" reads from a hard-back classic. Nothing could be further from the truth! Let's be honest...I have five children under the age of eight...three of whom are rambunctious boys...with a little baby brother soon to follow in their footsteps. Most of the time, my living room feels more like the chaos of a Rembrandt than the serenity of a Rockwell. But, over the years, I have learned that most of the mayhem can be controlled by keeping little hands busy with some CONSTRUCTIVE activity. By providing some simple hand-work projects for the kids to do during our read-aloud time, I am creating an outlet for all their pent-up energy. Their minds are free to concentrate on the story when their bodies have been "paused"...if only for a little while. ENTER THE HANDWORK BASKET I have gathered a variety of inexpensive "hand-work" projects for the children to grab just before we sit down together. This is not something we do every day, but rather, pull out whenever I sense it is needed. Since picture books are naturally compelling, we save our projects for our chapter book. The children know to spread out and find a sitting place large enough for their chosen "hand-work". Sometimes I allow the middle boys to work together on an activity as long as they remain quiet. I limit these activities to skill-oriented projects...no toys. I want the "fun" to be found in the reading of the book, not in playing with a flashy toy. In addition, I typically reserve this time to be for activities that my children are already well-familiar with. Nothing spoils a good story more than having to pause a million times to give directions for a sewing or building project. My children must be fully comfortable and confident with a particular hand-work item before they may work on it during read-aloud time. One might wonder whether the children can even listen and comprehend the story while working on something else. Amazingly enough, it usually helps them engage in the story even more. They often ask questions about the plot, laugh at humorous dialogue, and share thoughtful discussions afterward. It is helpful to have projects that can be easily "set up" and "torn down". Hand work is designed to assist during the read-aloud time, not create more work for the mom. I have had to "outlaw" certain activities at times because they tend to explode all over the room. My rule of thumb is...if you can't set it up, complete it, and put it away all by yourself, then it is not suitable "hand-work." As I mentioned, some activities have been more successful than others. Here is a list of some of the items that have made it into our basket. lace and trace cards Magic Mosaic kits coloring books large color mats legos puzzles friendship bracelet kits Joann Fabric craft kits pot holder weaving kits crochet materials knitting materials spirographs flipbook kits snap circuits doodle books origami paper with idea books Perler beads Knot-a-Quilt kits Sweetie Pea is an auditory learner and has never needed to be "occupied". But, I insert items in the basket for her as well, so that she doesn't feel left out. Sometimes she opts to just lounge and listen. With so many little ones, nothing is ever a silver bullet, but handwork has certainly helped to control most of the commotion while I am reading. Does your family do "hand-work?" What have been your most successful activities?
A friend of mine recently set up a Busy Bag Exchange for the little tots in our life. While my boys are, for the most part, way beyond Busy Bags, I have a new niece who will need a few in the future. I was pleased the Mommies with littles let me take part; in fact, I had a really great time making my Busy Bags and playing with all the ones they made! For those new to the Busy Bag concept - A Busy Bag is a small project, puzzle, craft, etc. which captures the attention and fosters learning and creativity of a child. They can be made for any age range, however, I've mainly seen them for the 5 and under group. These items are kept in a gallon sized plastic bag and are brought out throughout the day or on special occasions to help keep a child busy while the caregiver is focused on housework or schooling older children. How do you host a Busy Bag Exchange? It's simple, really! First, ask a group of Moms, Aunts, Grandmothers, Sisters, etc. to be a part. My friend used our Church Facebook play group as her inviting forum. She gave us about two weeks to get our bags in order, which was plenty of time. Have each attendee decide on what kind of Busy Bag they will be making and bringing to the exchange. It's a good idea to let the group know exactly what you are making to reduce duplication. Keep your group to under 10 people. You can always have another exchange and incorporate new participants, as well as bag ideas. If you don't have any ideas for Busy Bags, check out Pinterest or Simple Organized Living. The Busy Bag I created was about cupcake decorating. The template for it can be found at Money Saving Mom. We each made 8 bags for this exchange, with one going to the Church welcome desk for new families to use during the ceremony. We traded out bags with one another one morning at the church. I came home with some super adorable things - Pop the Popsicle, Stuff it In, Felt Fishing, Eye Spy Bottles, and a wonderfully bound and laminated Play-Doh mat set. I can't wait to see my niece play with all these items. My youngest has enjoyed giving them the initial playability test! If you've made a Busy Bag in the past - which has been your child's favorite?
If you have been reading the blog for a while now, you will know Teri and I have a great love for all things vintage—especially linens, clothing, or lace. Teri recently shared her story about a special dress in A Vintage Pinafore, Tea, and Friends, and I shared the story of my apron collection in Apron Strings. We even wrote a post together about our quest for vintage treasures in a Hershey, Pennsylvania, antique mall in Vintage Treasures Newly Acquired. We love seeing the handiwork of those who have stitched before us! Long ago, hand work was a required skill for many young women all over the world. Whether it was stitching on everyday items such as bedding, or a skilled craft such as lace-making, creating beauty with one's hands was far more commonplace. Thankfully, my time in Germany has allowed me to find and view some vintage treasures found here in Europe. On our trip to Wales, not only were we able to see the fantastic Welsh quilts in Jen Jones's collection, but there also happened to be a sampler exhibit on display at the same time. It's a challenge to get good pictures of framed items, but here are a few of the wonderful samplers in the exhibit: Sarah Evans, 1866 Sarah Jones, 1875 Mary Evans, estimated 1850 Gwenllian Jenkins, age 14, 1836 Anne Edwards, no date Margaret Davies, 1829 Anne Evans, 1856 M. Reeves, 1883 Anne Williams, age 15, 1861 Recently, I traveled to Brugges, Belgium, which quickly became one of my favorite European cities thus far. We were there for a beer festival, but thankfully, we were able to do a little window shopping. Belgian lace is a beautiful, bobbin-made lace that has been around for centuries. While I wasn't able to bring any home this time around, I was able to take a few pictures of the shop windows. Some beautiful examples I don't know how they keep all those bobbins straight! I still don't know why one of these pendants didn't make it into my suitcase! Fun lace bags Not all my recent travels have been to other countries. Thankfully, there is a wonderful lady here that puts together antique and thrifting adventures. It has been on a few of these adventures that I have picked up some vintage linens to add to my collection. I fell in love with this apron and am excited to add it to my collection! Maybe they had laundry fairies long ago! "Good Weather" I think this might have been a table runner at one time. A bread bag from the past Dutch themes must have been popular. While I do enjoy finding old linens, I love old trims and laces as well. My collection is accumulating, and sometimes it is nice to create with some of them. Last week, I was invited to a brunch with a few of my German quilting friends. They often give little gifts at these brunches, and I have been on the receiving end many times, so I thought I would make something for them. As Valentine's Day was approaching, hearts seemed like a good choice. I ransacked my collection of trims and scraps and came up with a little heart bag that would be able to carry a piece of chocolate. My ladies enjoyed them, and they were very easy to make. I was also happy to use some of my antique trims. A little bit of vintage trim, an antique button, and some wool A rosette made with the trim topped by the button Stitched together with an opening at the top A little bit more trim for a handle and they are ready to carry their piece of chocolate! Hopefully, you have enjoyed a little view of the stitching prowess of European stitchers of the past. From samplers to bread bags, needlework (and bobbin work) is such a wonderful way to add beauty to everyday. Do you enjoy collecting vintage linens or trims? Pinterest is full of ideas for ways to use them creatively. Now, if I just had a few more hours in the day... Happy Valentines Day!
