Easter Jelly Bean Necklace and Bracelet

I saw these adorable jelly bean bracelets from Sarah J. My {Heart} Documented and I decided I had to make some for my granddaughters. I then thought, "Well, why not make a cute necklace too." So I did. They're super easy and I love the way they turned out!

If you'd like to make some, here's what you'll need:

• Jelly Beans - I used Wonka Sweetarts jelly beans. (I tried Wonka Spree jelly beans but they were harder and broke more easily. Sarah used Jelly Belly jelly beans because they went on easier)
• One Peep marshmallow bunny
• Stretch Magic bead and jewelry cord
• A thimble
• A tapestry needle - I used size 18. It's important to use a blunt tapestry needle because I started with a regular "sharp" needle and the tip of the needle is too small so it slides off of the hard jelly bean and right into your finger - ouch!
• A wet washcloth

These are probably not safe for children under 3 years of age.
Necklace:
Step 1. - Cut a piece of Stretch Magic to about 40 in. long (It may seem long, but you need a little extra to hold on to). Thread it onto the tapestry needle.
Step 2. - Thread the Peep bunny onto the elastic cord. Stick the needle right through the middle of his wittow head and slide him down to the middle of the cord.
Step 3. - You'll need your thimble on your finger now. Lay a jelly bean on the table and hold it steady. With the thimbled finger, push the needle into the jelly bean and slide it down to the bunny.
Step 4. - Wipe off the needle with your wet cloth and continue stringing the jelly beans on the one side.
Step 5. - Take the needle off and thread it onto the other side of the cord and string the jelly beans onto that side. I used 26 jelly beans per side.
Step 6. - Tie a good knot and it's ready to wear!

Bracelet:
Cut a piece of cording about 15 in. long. Do the same as with the necklace excluding the bunny, of course.  I used 16 jelly beans for the bracelet.

I've added this on the following Linky Parties, check them out to see lots of cute springtime ideas!

Craft Junkie Too

DIY Easter Wreaths

I decided since April's almost here I'd better "spring" into action and start posting some Easter craft ideas. We'll begin with some darling Easter wreaths.

If you're like me you don't have oodles of time for crafting, but it's always fun to look at all the creative ideas out there, and maybe you'll find something that you just can't resist making. I hope you enjoy all of these fun ideas!

For some fun kid's Easter craft ideas hop on over to Kids Love Holidays.

Jordan Almond Wreath

from Country Living

Malted Egg Wreath

from Delish

Foil Egg Wreath

from Hershey's

Feathered Wreath

from Embellished Bayou

Easter Egg Wreath

from Family Fun

Glittered Easter Egg Wreath

from The Freckled Bug

Spring Baby Grass Wreath

from Capture the Details

Fabric Flower Wreath

from Hot Mess in a Lil Black Dress

Spring Flowers Easter Wreath

from Moda Bake Shop

Yarn Egg Wreath

from The Sweet Survival

Easter Ribbon Wreath

from She's {Kinda} Crafty

Adorable DIY Valentine's Day Crafts

I've scoured the web looking for cute Valentine's Day ideas, and believe me, there are a lot of them out there! I've chosen a few of my favorite finds. Hopefully, you'll fall in love with them too.

• Lollipop Flowers from allyou.com and Lisa Loves Holidays :0)
• Felt Bracelets by Holiday-Crafts-and-Creations.com
• Valentine Banner by Holiday-Crafts-and-Creations.com
• Happy Hearts Peppermint Patties from starlightstamper.com
• Valentine Favor Boxes from AHappyMommyBlog.wordpress
• Foxy Valentine favors from blog.Paper-Source.com
• Valentine Pennie Pockets from ModaBakeshop.com. Created by Monica from Happy Zombie.com
• Sweetheart Mailbag from ModaBakeshop.com. Created by Kim from bitty bits and pieces.blogspot 
• No Sew Heart Garland from Scraps-In-Progress.blogspot
• Valentine Chair Backers from OurScoop.blogspot

My favorites from Martha Stewart.com:

• Heart Covered Cookie Wrapper
• Mini Valentine's Day Gift Bags
• Bonbon-Filled Hearts
• Heart Shaped Pot Holders
• Crayon Hearts
• Candy and Tulip Bouquet ~ Very pretty!
• Pistachio Wreath
• Knot Bracelet

December 27 is ~ Make Cutout Snowflakes Day

I love snow. I love to sit at my front window, with a cup of hot chocolate, and watch the snowflakes fall. I love the way the snow flocks the pine trees in our neighbors yard, and there's something magical on a still night, when the blanket of freshly fallen snow on our front lawn sparkles in the glow of the streetlight. 

One day, a few winters ago, I went to pick up my kids from school. It was fairly early so I was the first mom there. There were no cars on the street. It was quiet and peaceful, and it was snowing. As I sat bundled up in my car waiting for the heater to finally warm up, I turned and looked at my window. I noticed that as each snowflake fell and lit on the cold window, it lingered there for a moment, just long enough for me to see each one's beautiful, intricate pattern, like tiny ice doilies dotting the window, and then each one would quickly melt into a drop of water. I was filled with such awe at the beauty of these tiny creations and I felt like I had been given a special gift that day.  

Today, why not sit down with some paper and scissors and create a winter wonderland for your home. Here at Snowflakes.info you'll find some nice, basic instructions on how to make a six sided snowflake. And here at PaperSnowflakes.com you'll find patterns that you can actually print out and cut out to make beautiful snowflakes. Following, there is a video that demonstrates one of the snowflake patterns from PaperSnowflakes.com. You can also go here and here to make virtual snowflakes. Let your creativity shine today and have lots of fun making cut out paper snowflakes!

Image: MarthaStewart.com

Christmas Crafts For Kids ~ a Baker's Dozen

Tissue Paper Wreath from Kaboose.com
Craft Stick Christmas Star from Danielle's Place.
Craft Stick Snowflakes from Craftideas.info

Dangling Snowman from FamilyFun.go 

Cotton Ball Santa from AllKidsNetwork.com

Decorate a Virtual Gingerbread House from JennyBHarris.com

Minnie's Polka Dot Wreath from Family.go.com

Mickey and Friends Color-In Snowflake Ornament from Family.go.com

Currogated Cardboard Star Christmas Tree Ornament from Craftideas.info

Sugar Cone Christmas Tree from AllKidsNetwork.com

How to host a Cookie Decorating Party from ehow.com

Nativity Paper Dolls and Santa Claus Paper Dolls from MakingFriends.com

Here, here, and here you will find more CHRISTMAS COLORING PRINTABLES than you can shake a peppermint stick at!

Ten Favorite DIY Christmas Ornaments

The ladies of my family started a new tradition last year. We are doing an annual ornament exchange. So I thought since I was looking for ideas I would once again share my favorite finds. And here they are:

Vintage Cookie Ornaments from: Country Living

These are Easter decorations 

but I thought they could be adapted for Christmas.

Very pretty!

Peppermint Wreath Ornament from: Martha Stewart

 

Crocheted Christmas Baubles from: Meet Me at Mikes

If you know how to crochet, these would be so cute on a tree!

No-sew Quilt Ornaments from: Curbly

Easy and adorable!

Origami Ornaments from: Design Vagabond and MaReRi

I hope these aren't as difficult as they look!

So Beautiful!

Paper Mache Ornaments from: Blue Cricket Design

Sooo Cute!

Ribbon Candy Ornaments from: Portabellopixie

You'll find the PDF tutorial for these ornaments on the right sidebar of the Portabellopixie site.

Yo-Yo Christmas Trees from: Fiona Carter

Icicle Treat Boxes from: Squidoo

and Mirkwood Designs

 

Paisley Power Stocking from: Sew Mama Sew

I love this!

(It says to enlarge the pattern by 400% for a stocking, so I just enlarged it 200% for an ornament).

BONUS! Check out this fun ornament for the kids from: Alphamom

It's a surprise!

Advent Calendars

Many families use Advent calendars as a fun way of getting children involved in the Advent season. Early Advent calendars usually focused on the birth of Jesus Christ as Advent is a time of anticipation of Christmas Day, the day of Jesus' birth. Modern Advent calendars come in every shape and size and feature various Christmas themes from the Nativity to Santa Claus. Many families use Advent calendars simply as a fun countdown to Christmas.

I've scoured the internet in search of adorable DIY Advent calendars. The following are my favorite top ten finds. There's not a lot of time before December 1st to get one made unless you're, dunt da da da...SUPER CRAFTER GAL! (or SUPER CRAFTER GUY!, whichever the case may be). But I'm thinking, it'd be okay to start your countdown a little bit late, there will still be lots of days of countdown fun for the kiddies to enjoy. So here we go:

#10 Pickles.no

#9 Craftastica

 

#8 Sew Mama Sew.com

#7 Rubber Stamping.about

#6 Fiona Carter

#5 All Things Wonderful

#4 My Little Mochi

(Soooo clever!)

#3 Allsorts.com

# 2 The Happy Zombie

and Thimbleanna

#1 Katherine Marie Photography

I love the whole idea behind these darling little advent bags!

Looking Forward to Memorial Day~Part 3

The following is an excerpt taken from usmemorialday.org:

"In 1915 inspired by the poem "In Flanders Field" by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae M.D., Moina Michael replied with her own poem.

We cherish too, the Poppy red

That grows on fields where valor led,

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies.

She then conceived of an idea to wear red poppies on Memorial Day in honor of those who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need. Later a Madame Guerin from France was visiting the United States and learned of this new custom started by Ms. Michael and when she returned to France, made artificial red poppies to raise money for war orphaned children and widowed women. This tradition spread to other countries. In 1921, the Franco-American Children's League sold poppies nationally to benefit war orphans of France and Belgium. The league disbanded a year later and Madame Guerin approached the VFW for help. Shortly before Memorial Day in 1922 the VFW became the first veterans' organization to nationally sell poppies. Two years later their "Buddy" Poppy Program was selling artificial poppies made by disabled veterans. In 1948 the U.S. Post Office honored Ms. Michael for her role in founding the National Poppy movement by issuing a red 3 cent postage stamp with her likeness on it."

If you go to marthastewart.com you can find a video tutorial showing how to make these pretty paper poppies. They're kind of huge so I think when I make them I'm going to shrink the pattern to 75 or 50 percent.

Image: Red Poppy & Purple Sage (Красно-фиолетово)

Originally uploaded by Kate Yasnaya

Frog Jumping Day ~ May 13

I'm certainly "hoppy" to tell you that today is Frog Jumping Day.  It's a great day to jump like a frog, or to jump over a frog, or to watch frogs jumping, or to get your friends together and everyone jump like a frog in a jovial game of leap frog.

Or you may decide to just sit down and read, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" by Mark Twain because Frog Jumping Day was created in honor of this, Mark Twain's first short story. Mark Twain first published this story in 1865 and it was then titled "Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog". It's a funny, odd little story. You may like it.

Here are some other things you may choose to do today:
* Learn how to draw a frog.
* Make a cute fly catching frog.
* Color some frog coloring pages

You can go to Disney family.go.com to find "The Princess and the Frog" crafts, recipes and printables. And here to find "The Princess and the Frog" coloring pages.

You may like to make this classic Frog Eye Salad or this easier version of Frog Eye Salad made with vanilla pudding, or these cute frog cupcakes  from bettycrocker.com.

So, think green, think jumpy, think F-U-N, fun! And have a "hoppy" Frog Jumping Day!

Image: Frog's paradise 

Originally uploaded by citrit1

How to Make a May Basket

May Day is celebrated on May 1st every year. One popular May Day tradition from long ago is the May Basket. People would hang a basket filled with spring flowers or small gifts and treats on a neighbor's doorknob. The idea is to get away without being caught or the neighbor can give you a kiss.

I made this May Basket using patterns and instructions from familyfun.go.com and nestlefamily.com. 

This is what you'll need: 

• Scrapbooking paper or card stock 
• Fine line scrapbooking pen 
• Lollipops (I used Dum Dums) 
• Styrofoam cone 
• Scissors 
• Double-sided tape 
• Tacky glue 
• Standard hole punch 
• Ribbon 
• Trim to decorate cone.

Flowers:  

1. For each, cut three heart-shaped petals (I used the smallest heart), two leaves and one flower center from scrapbook paper or card stock. (I made the leaf pattern by tracing the edge of a cup on the fold of a folded piece of card stock. I made the flower center pattern by tracing around a small medicine cup and then cutting wedges out.)       

2. With a scrapbooking pen draw dashed lines on flower petals, solid lines on leaves, and squiggly lines on flower center. 

3. Punch a small hole in each, crease the heart petals in half, and slide all pieces onto a lollipop stem. Tape the petals together with double-sided tape to secure.

Cone Basket:

1. Print out the cone-shaped template and trace onto a sheet of decorative paper. (Notice the straight sides should be 8 inches, click on the template to enlarge it).
2. Roll the paper into a cone shape and secure lengthwise with double-sided tape. The opening should be about 3 inches in diameter.
3. Punch a hole on each side of the cone about 1 inch from the top edge. Insert each end of a twenty inch ribbon through the holes and tie so the ribbon will not pull through the holes.
4. Embellish basket as desired with rick rack, beads or buttons.
5. Insert Styrofoam cone into basket and stick flowers in it. Voila, you're done!