Felt Friends

I have been going a little felt crazy lately... I made about a 100 flowers this Christmas and gave away as gifts as hair clips, broaches, shoe clips, etc.

I found a little bunny in a book and decided to try my hand at making one myself on Sunday afternoon. 
I did it all by hand, I tried to make one with the machine but it didn't turn out so well, I think my tension was too tight and it didn't work well with the felt... at least that's what I think.
It didn't take long to make and then I began receiving requests from my nieces :)

My niece's little monster!  Up next a kitty cat!

I think these little critters would be great made out of an old sweater, what do you think??
Have you ever chopped up a sweater?  I may be raiding the $1 bin at Salvation Army soon....
Happy Monday!

7 things to recycle into art & craft projects

We all know I'm currently living in Grenada, but did you know that Grenada has NO form of recycling other than re-using glass beer bottles?  Sad but true.
I cringe every single time I throw something away.

I decided to compile a list of some easy, cheap, recyclable projects you can do with the stuff sitting in your trash can [in Grenada] right this very minute.

1. Paper - magazines, newspaper, medical school notes, etc

• Magazine Rosettes - my version
• Magazine Basket   - my version
• Magazine Beads
• Rolled Paper Frame 
• Newsprint Art
• Paper Ornaments  - see mine here & learn how to make them here 
• Paper Feathers 
• and you can always make a collage!

2.  Cardboard - cereal boxes, shoe boxes, packaging

• Shoe box shelves - my version
• Jute Ampersand (or any letter/symbol) my version
• Bunting / Banner - my version
• Toilet Paper Art - my version here & millions of more versions here 
• Toilet Paper Photo Trick - my version
• Cereal Box Shadow Box - my version
• Oatmeal Container Headband holder 
• Can also be used to press leaves & flowers!

3. Glass - pop bottles & jars

• Food Storage - much better than using plastic!  Use for leftovers in the fridge & to store candy or anything vulnerable to humidity
• Beach memory jars 
• Pop bottle halloween decor - my version
• Bottle vignette - my version
• painted glass jars 
• also use them to drink out of!

4. Tin Cans 

• Planters
• Pencil Cups 
• Luminaries 
• Hanging tin can decor

5. Plastic

• Empty Sunscreen bottle turned secret beach storage 
• Plastic spoon wreath 
• Plastic spoon rose
• Plastic bottle flowers
• Purses and jewelry from plastic food wrappers 
• I always use my iga bags as trash bags so I'm not purchasing additional plastic bags & always use my reusable bags when possible!

6. Wood

• Subway Sign Art - my version
• Sea Shell Art - my version
• Merry Christmas Sign - my version

7. Fabric

• Fabric scrap necklace 
• t-shirt re-design  - my version
• Yo-yos
• Dish rags 

Anyone have a good idea of how to reuse styrofoam for art or crafting?? Or do you have a another great recycling project to add to my list?

Source: etsy.com via Sandie on Pinterest

Jute ampersand

If you've been around my blog much you know that I have developed a love of jute twine.
It's beachy and cheap! 2 of my favorites

Most of my inspiration comes out of the blue and fast, if I have something in my head I must do it NOW.
I woke up with the crafting bug eating away at me and soon decided I wanted to make a 3-D letter.
My 1st thought was of making a letter 'C' and to glue EC coins all over it, like those I made the earrings out of.  I quickly changed my mind to doing the ampersand instead... and after playing around with the coins I decided that it wouldn't look quite as sleek as I wanted so I scratched that and turned to my reliable twine.

I sketched out an ampersand on the cardboard which was leftover from some packaging

cut it out

and started wrapping the twine around

the back is messy, but no one is going to see it.  I tied a knot when I started and used hot glue to secure it down.

the angles made it hard to continuously wrap the twine around... so I had to leave some bare spots which I later when back and filled in.

I decided to dress it up with a couple sand dollars I had laying around and add to it's beachy-ness
It is photographed hanging from our shutters outside because the lighting was much better than inside.

I made this ampersand mostly as another souvenir to take back to America with me in December.  I am running out of space in this tiny apartment to keep up with all my crafting!  I can't stop!

So it gets added to the growing pile of souvenirs I have.  Are there support groups for this type of thing??









linking up with:
http://www.creativejewishmom.com/

4th of July Picnic!

this Saturday I am hosting a 4th of July picnic at the beach!!
I'm so excited and have been looking for food and decor ideas!

I know I say it all the time, but it's so annoying to not have access to supplies!
No festive scrapbook paper & strawberries and blueberries are astronomical in the store if they have them at all.
Here are a few things that I think I can do without breaking the bank! 

Cranberry juice, blue gatorade, and diet sprite!
directions here.

paper fireworks from Martha.

Source: emilyhensoninteriors.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

use bananas & grapes instead of strawberries and blueberries maybe??

Source: iammommy.typepad.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

I would make this, but I had a friend volunteer to make red velvet cake, yum!

free printable here

and please check out http://www.bedifferentactnormal.com/ Lorie has had the BEST ideas for the 4th of July over the past couple weeks!!
What are you doing for the 4th of July? or Canada Day? I forgot to mention that it's a combined party & I will also be making maple leaf sugar cookies ;) keeping hubby happy.

Art class with kids: Mother's Day

I did some Mother's Day crafts with my kiddos at the Montessori school this week and these are the pictures I last minute remembered to snap.

One of my all time favorite crafts to make are tissue paper flowers.
They are so easy and turn out beautiful. even 6 year olds can make them.
I learned from the best, Martha of course.

The kids each made 4-5 flowers and then we put them together inside a bottle decorated with ribbon and Happy Mother's Day jargon.

We also made Mother's Day Card Fans.

We live in Grenada and it is HOT HOT HOT so I thought, what better to make Mom than a fan so she can cool herself off while she sitting out in the heat watching another soccer game or waiting in the sweltering car.
I think they turned out great. I let the kids decorate them any way they wanted and some really took off with it.

Amzing Mom. love it & these kids!!

At my after school program we also did a little Mother's Day activity inspired by Martha Stewart.  I saw on her website she had a Mother's Day Newspaper. 

I couldn't get the pdf to work for me, so I just whipped up my own on Microsoft Publisher (easy peasy) and the kids thought it was so cool to have their Mom in a  newspaper! :)

new job!!

I'm going to be teaching arts and crafts at the local Montessori school!
Its only twice a week, but it will be lots of fun, and won't interfere with my volunteer obligations.

Can I now call myself a professional crafter?
I think so!

I have so many ideas... here are a few fun ones for kiddos

Source: familyfun.go.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

water bottle penguins!

Source: meetthedubiens.blogspot.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

lava jar :)

Source: holiday-kids-crafts.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

I'd love to do a parrot or some other kind of bird with leaves so it could be for any time of the year. I'll have to practice.

Source: ucreatewithkids.blogspot.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

 

Source: craftsbyamanda.com via Kelsey on Pinterest

does anyone have any great  ideas for me using cheap and/or recyclable materials??
or websites I should know about??

it ain't easy being green.

I felt like such a child all day.  I dressed up head to toe [k not toe, if I had access to my America closet I'd totally have green shoes] in green!  I love a good holiday and a reason to dress up!

I spent the morning with a friend on the beach, in my green bathing suit
went to the grocery with my green bag
made green snacks and games for the kids at my after school program
may or may not have worn green earrings, necklace, headband, and clothes.
drank 3 glasses of green tea
AND saw 2 rainbows!!

magazine cut outs, all things green.

 

adorable little leprechauns.  hat made out of construction paper

 popcorn cake, again!! I couldn't help it. it's so easy to make green!

cucumbers and celery. the kids HATED celery. haha don't think they'd ever had it.

green juice 

 and my bedroom is green. oh apartment living.

red, white, and blue inspiration

I was asked to make some decorations for the USA booth at an upcoming charity event!
I'm so excited
A. because I love to make decorations
B. It's an honor to represent America to Grenada! so it better be good...

I'm thinking tissue paper poof balls in red, white, and blue.
A cute little banner
paper stars
and some firework looking decor!

It is so difficult to do simple crafts living in Grenada because of my limited resources! I have to get really creative!

inspiration found :

 I love everything about this image...

Stay tuned for pictures from the event this Saturday!!