Spring has Sprung

Kira and Nola's Garden

I can't help but smile - they (the pictures and my girls) are so fresh and delicate.

Taken by Holley Maher on her lomography camera.

Felted Wool Cards

I've been making cards with some felted wool left over from the girls' Valentine's kitties. I love how quick and easy it is to make whatever sweet thing that pops into my head.

It all started with my niece's birthday...

And then there was my Mum's birthday...

And some designs that are just waiting for a celebration...

{This Moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. SouleMama

Crafty Birds - Scavanger Hunt

During our scavenger hunt on St. Patrick's day, I couldn't help but think that there was a better way. The hunt was written in small text with about 30 things to find. While the girls had fun, they couldn't fully participate.

As we were running around hunting, I thought of a better way with pictures instead of words and stickers instead of 3 year olds trying to cross off little lines of text...

I drew 9 simple nature finds and laminated the pictures on card stock. Next, I stuck 9 dot stickers to the laminate so the girls could document their finds.

The girls LOVED it!

And they found almost everything on the hunt.

You can download my scavenger hunt here.

Bunny

This cute little bunny is for Nola. But don't worry, tomorrow I will make a purple one for Kira.

The tutorial is from the Purl Bee. It is really hard waiting for Easter to see the girls play.

{This Moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. Soulemama

Green (in so many ways)

We had a very green St. Patrick's day with a nature scavenger hunt at the park. We found animal tracks, mole tunnels, water critters and a very little pot of gold.

A Greener Me: Cleaning Products

Subtle changes to reduce my waste, expose my children to less chemicals, and live a healthier life.

A Green Me:  Cleaning Products
I have replaced all of our expensive, full-of-scary-chemicals-I-can't pronounce cleaning products with non-toxic cleaners made from common ingredients that I mix myself.  Since changing, I can't imagine using a product on our kitchen countertops that I am not comfortable letting my girls touch. Now, the girls help me clean and I am spending way less money on supplies - just a huge tub of vinegar, baking soda and lemon essential oil.

Resources
Clean House, Clean Planet turned me to the green side. This book is full of information and recipes and is generally awesome.

Women's Voices for the Earth has some great recipes (I use the all-purpose cleaner on everything). And, I really want to host a green cleaning party.

Crafty Birds - Making a Fairy House

Today was one of those perfect days when I re-lived my childhood through my girls. We spent the morning making a fariy house - complete with beds and a play area.

We made the house by finding the perfect spot under the tree. We transplanted moss, flowers and pinecones for the floor and walls. We made a little path out of small stones.

To make the beds we used a hot glue gun to attach 4 sticks (cut the same length) to the bottom of a piece of wood. Of course, we needed two beds. Petals and a large leaf were put on the beds for pillows and blankets.

Even I live in hope that a couple of little faries will move in. Golly, these tree-hugging girls of mine are swell.

Lovingly-Made Party Hats

We all know my love of home-made party hats...

I have been lovingly making my girls' party hats for the last three years in my own little crafty bubble. Naively, I had no idea that there was a whole world of parents making pretty party hats. I feel so understood!

Petite Productions

The Middleton Family

Inchmark

Alannah Rose

So many ideas, so few birthday parties a year...

Shades of Purple

There is a new project in the works and here is my sweet, purple girl picking out her very favorite shade of purple. 

More Toilet Roll Fun - Chutes

Today we made a ball chute from toilet paper rolls and removable adhesive putty. It was one of those perfect Saturday afternoons of family fun.

The idea came from this month's Mothering Magazine in an article all about making an indoor playground.

Feeding the Ducks?

{This Moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. SouleMama

Teapots on The Crafty Crow

I am so excited that our teapot craft was featured on The Crafty Crow today - yea!! Check it out - today's theme was England.

I'm A Little Teapot

I'm a little teapot - short and stout

Here's my handle, here's my spout

When you hear the water boil hear me shout

Pick me up and pour me out!

(the audience applauds!!)

how to make your very own teapot

Crafty Birds - Making Cardboard Teapots

Last week The Crafty Crow posted a call for celebrating crafts from around the world. As I'm from England, and the girls have recently learned to sing "I'm a Little Teapot," I thought it would be awfully fun to make teapots...

Materials:
Great, big piece of cardboard - we used foam board, but you could also use a large box
Paint and brush
Ribbon
Colored paper
Glue
Tape
Pen
Exacto knife or scissors

Step 1: Draw teapot on cardboard

 

Step 2: Paint

Step 3: Cut out teapot

Step 4: Cut out decorations for teapot (the girls asked for circles and flowers)

Step 5: When the teapot paint is dry, glue decorations

Step 6: With heavy tape (we used white duct tae) measure and attach ribbon to back

Step 7: Sing "I'm a Little Teapot"

Spring

Spring has officially begun in our house with the long anticipated opening of Bobbie's Dairy Dip. Today was the big day. Nola announced this morning, "Bobbie's is open, so it is warm."

We put on our warm jackets and shivered a bit through our ice cream.

It was fab.

Our celebration was completed with a trip to Eric's office to deliver his ice cream.