Homemade Crayons

When I asked Logan what he wanted to give his teachers as a thank you, he enthusiastically said "CRAYONS". I couldn't see myself handing the teachers a box of Crayolas, so I had to get creative. 

Why not MAKE crayons? (I said in my head)

Super simple AND super fun!

Peel your old crayons and break them into small pieces.

just pretty

I sprayed both a silicone baking mold (squares) and a metal tart tin (circles) with Pam cooking spray and started dropping in crayons. Logan was serious about creating color combos he liked.

Ready to go in the oven. I put them in at 300 degrees and watched them closely. 7-10 minutes depending on metal vs. silicone.

This pic is about halfway through cooking. Once the lumps are gone and they look melted, pull them out and let them cool completely. I used a toothpick to swirl the colors a bit before they set.

BEAUTIMOUS! Such a fun project that the kiddos can help with.

Thank You...Thank You Very Much

I was trying to come up with something fun for Logan's teachers at the end of the school year...instead of a blank thank you card.

I decided to use the worksheets that they had worked on all year to spell "thank you". I added an adorable little man, snapped the picture, and:

We packaged them up with our gift...HOMEMADE CRAYONS!!! (watch the blog next week for a step-by-step)...and they turned out super cute. You could also do this card in variations: maybe with birthday gifts as a thank you after a party...I just saw one online yesterday with a little girl and boxes of girl scout cookies thanking everyone who ordered from her.

Mother's Day Craft

So if you haven't figured it out yet, I LOVE my kids' hand prints. There is just something so adorably innocent about them. I made these 12x12 pictures for the grandmas last Mother's Day and loved them so much that I made one for myself too. 

I used Crayola Finger Paints, crayons, and some cute 3-D bug stickers I had laying around. I would have wanted this to be more diverse in the color of hand prints (it makes sense for their feet to be green since they are the leaves), but at the time Logan LOVED green and there was no way around it. He was NOT gonna be talked into a red or orange flower! Oh well, I guess I'll always remember how obsessed he was with the color green!

Cast Iron Gingerbread Mold

Side 1: Traditional

Side 2: Contemporary

Just some holiday fluff for the blog this evening.  I borrowed this cast iron gingerbread mold from a friend, who borrowed it from her mom, who has had it forever, and now I'm in love with it.  Must have one.  I've never seen anything like it!  The mold is two sided--one side has a traditional house, and the other has a more contemporary style.  And she passed along the recipe as well.  It was so easy--mix up the dough, press into the mold and bake.  Simple!  The gingerbread houses that result are gorgeous (and edible--yum!)and we had a great time putting them together.  I found several on Ebay for $15-$50 , and you can also buy them from the original maker, the John Wright Company, for $26.50 plus shipping; they have some neat stuff on their website.  I think it would be a great addition to any kitchen and a treasured heirloom for future generations.

Sarah's Favorite Things...

"Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes,

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes,

Silver white winters that melt into springs,

These are a few of my favorite things."

The Cranberry Bliss Bar from Starbucks.  "A blondie cake base, topped with sweet cream cheese icing and tart dried cranberries, garnished with white orange drizzle."  I haven't been able to replicate it yet.  It is...divine.  Take a box of these to your next Christmas get-together!

Yankee Candles, holiday scents in particular.  They burn for a long time and have a very pure smell.
They're having a free shipping deal on their website!

A Recordable Storybook from Hallmark is on my wishlist this year.  They're a little pricey ($29.95, in store only), but what a great idea!



The old school Grinch book and movie.  Hard to top!  The girls take turns being Cindy Lou Who.  You can get the hardcover edition with free shipping on Amazon right now for $9.00!!



Sing-A-Ma-Jigs by Mattel
We'll have quite a chorus with the McCabe boys chiming in.



BabyLegs Soft Dots Footless Tights
Hannah Rose loves soft things--the second I touched these, I knew they had to go in her stocking.



My after-Christmas purchases from two years ago--Pottery Barn Kids stockings and a matching tree skirt.  Find the updated version on their website (and buy them Dec. 26 for 1/2 off :).

Christmas isn't Christmas without board games and I LOVE Scrabble.  Can't wait to get this version!
$28.47 on Amazon with Free Shipping!!



Lindsay's Favorite Things...

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,

bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens,

brown paper packages tied up with strings,

these are a few of my favorite things."

A Very Monkey Christmas DVD
This has quickly become a favorite around here. Carter is in love with George. He points to the TV and says "George peas [please]!" Logan knows the words to the very catchy song and sings it loud and proud all day long! I've even caught my husband humming along.

 

 

Sing a ma jigs by Fisher-Price
Between our house and the Donovan's, we'll have a chorus of five!

Zoku Quick Pop Maker by Williams-Sonoma
Don't own one, but these look delicious.

Eclipse!

No explanation necessary.

Glee Christmas Album
LOVE it! Haven't taken it out of the player since it's purchase.

ABC Family's 25 days of Christmas
Check out the schedule and set your DVR, folks!

Yummy-smelling Candles by Bath and Body Works

Sex and the City complete series on DVD.
Love the packaging of this. All the DVDs and bonus materials in a fancy, girly book!

Christmas Wreaths by Pottery Barn
I love them all...this might be my 'after-Christmas' purchase this year...

Melamine Plates from Jane Jenni

These are adorable! What a cute gift.

Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker

Not a new scent, but one of my favorites.

Starbucks Ornaments
So cute!

Friends complete series on DVD
I own all 10 seasons, but I bought them individually as they came out. This would be a great gift for that Friends lover out there.

Cozy hats & scarves from Gap
They have an adorable white hat with a pom pom on top, too!

Walking Iron Man by Hasbro

This was THE present for Logan's birthday! He saw it at Costco in September and mentioned it daily until he received it at his party this past weekend. If you have boys, I highly recommend it.

Just a couple things I am currently loving...and a couple more that would make great gifts!

Kids' Silhouette Display Gift Idea

The original example from kaboose.com.

My finished product for Mom.  I added metal sticker embellishments to look like flowers in their hair, in coordinating colors.

Looking for an easy, affordable Christmas craft?  These would work for any holiday; I made them for my mom for her birthday and she loved them.  Getting their silhouettes was easy!  Turn on a movie they really like and stand off to the side to photograph their little faces  while they watch.  The website gives tips for the sizes the photos should be.  I finished these in 20 minutes during lunch time, start to finish.  Shopping was easy too--I found the plates at Target for $2.99 each and got cardstock and metal stickers from the local scrapbook store.  Happy crafting!

Full instructions here:
http://crafts.kaboose.com/silhouette-display.html

Uncommon Goods

This catalog makes me happy. SO happy that it has become my mission, come November when it arrives in my mailbox, to find something I MUST buy for someone...ANYONE!

From jewelry to art...from toys to travel goodies...it is filled with unique gifts for everyone on your list. Here are some of my favs from the current catalog:

Mother/Daughter Aprons



Ceramic Compost Containers

 

Feelings Flashcards



Copper Wall Flowers



Lingerie Bag



Tissue Pots

Last year, I purchased the Ticket Stub Diary for my concert-going cousin. It was a big hit. Have fun shopping!