Each autumn, I can never get enough of these beautiful colorful leaves.  This fun craft is simple and brings together nature and fall color!  And makes for a cute table centerpiece for Thanksgiving or other holiday dinners.

I hadn’t ever seen a turkey in person before I moved to California and I would never have guessed I would find them here!  Palm trees and wild turkey’s, who knew.  That is northern California for you.  I did learn that wild turkey’s can be rather mean and will come right after you, so if you ever meet one, keep your distance!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm5H7bPVgGmGAJkZG05YCKg

What you’ll need

• Pinecones

//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=upandaway0a-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B004BPXWWI&asins=B004BPXWWI&linkId=dbd73e3bc58aae88c7f49579dd1db82e&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff

• Vibrant Leaves (best found in damp cold conditions near the base of it’s recently changing tree) If you are not in a place where real leaves are available use artificial ones.

//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=upandaway0a-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0043567XM&asins=B0043567XM&linkId=4ea6af83fbf7854b802c4baaf7ded4ef&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff

//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=upandaway0a-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B000Q3KHCM&asins=B000Q3KHCM&linkId=a8e0a4babaeafdfc951df0b095a4c265&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff
//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=upandaway0a-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B005O9FZ8Y&asins=B005O9FZ8Y&linkId=1159cb3c5217c007e3829d8f17ba4ac9&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff

//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=upandaway0a-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B0054G5K6E&asins=B0054G5K6E&linkId=fd06c0348bd8f18b47c54be81d14f2d5&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff

//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=upandaway0a-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B002PNR102&asins=B002PNR102&linkId=9ba26259030b695fb53cb64ddcae466d&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff
//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=upandaway0a-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B002PNS2QE&asins=B002PNS2QE&linkId=08ce80953676c5e798de3faeedc21760&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff
//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=upandaway0a-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=B001BKFTB8&asins=B001BKFTB8&linkId=189a3b62b09f856f0bd38161c0173d8f&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=true&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff

May your house be filled with cheer and a little gobble gobble!

Happy Crafting!

I have been wanting to make these for some time now!  Mushroom and toadstools for a nursery or playroom.  These adorable furniture pieces are perfect for the kids to sit and read their books on.  But as a photographer, they also happen to be the cutest photo prop too or this woodland styled photoshoot!  This shoot has Madeline in the cutest fairy costume from Princess Paradise. I love all things fairy and fairy tale themed.

Here is the complete list of things you will need for these adorable mushrooms:

Supplies:

• 18″ or 23″  wood round
• 8 in diameter cement mold cut down to 11″ high
• Hand Saw
• Measuring Tape
• Marker
• Heavy Duty Packaging Packaging Tape and Duck Brand 1265013 Color Duct Tape, Black, 1.88 Inches x 20 Yards, Single Roll
• Scissors
• Stanley 84-055 Bi-Material Slip Joint Plier, 6 Inch or a small wrench
• Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
• 2 yds Spandex Jersey Knit Fabric
• 1.5 yard Muslin Fabric or light ivory cotton for the under gill of the mushroom
• Varying scraps of fabric for your “dots” Enough for 20 dots (ranging from 2-6″ in diameter)
• Circular objects to help trace perfect circles
• Safety Pins and Pins
• Sewing Machine and Thread of your choice to match
• Non – Roll Flat Elastic 1″ Wide 2.5 Yards
• Craft Glue
• 2 bags Moss Matt Peel and Stick
• Sponge Neoprene 1/8″ Thick X 54″ Wide X 1′, flat foam scraps or old grocery bags + 1 large trash bag
• 9 standard 1/2 inch 9 nuts and bolts
• Flat Head Screwdriver
• 9 1/2 inch screws
• Screw Driver/ Drill with drillbit and screw head
• 3   90 Degree Metal Corner Brackets
• Small bag of Concrete Mix
• 1 grocery bag
• tarp or cardboard box to rest cement mold on
• Bucket of water
• small Trowel or small shovel
• Gloves
• Bucket for mixing cement

Don’t forget to subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more regular motherhood fun! Homemaking, DIY, Shake it off with a little laughter and more.

 

I have always been big into scrap booking since I like to save everything but lately Madeline and I have enjoyed sharing this hobby and it is a great way to encourage your toddler to practice writing!

Just like Zumba takes the work our of workout, activities such as this one take the humdrum out of repetitive letter writing and make it a fun activity that not only brings back fun memories but also showcases that adorable developing penmanship alongside the pictures of that same age.

While digital scrap booking may be faster and cheaper, it cannot replace the fun of hands on crafting and mommy daughter bonding time!

 

Scrapbooking on a budget.

When I mentioned before that I save everything… ok not everything,  but I think twice about throwing things away, but I would consider myself a green conscious crafter.  For example, when I go to tear a tag off of a new bit of clothing, sometimes they are super cute! And I think… this would be cute with a little picture glued on for our scrap booking, so it goes in a box.  Or perhaps the printed backdrop of a castle from Madeline’s barbie box that is cute but technically trash… I think, hmmm this would be cute when we go to scrap book Disneyland and whala! Another cute addition.

The list goes on! It can be a bit of ribbon off a little present or an old newspaper or our own scrapbook background paper with watercolor and a bit of artistic fun.  Pretty much we are always up to make messes and memories together.

If you are new to scrapbooking and looking for a place to start, we love Becky Higgins!  They make it really easy and doable of a craft.  The full pages, like the one you see below, are just some of what we do, otherwise, we will do these insert pages.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCm5H7bPVgGmGAJkZG05YCKg

Don’t forget to subscribe to our Youtube Channel for more regular motherhood fun! Homemaking, DIY, Shake it off with a little laughter and more.

 

We are celebrating Milo’s 2nd birthday this week!  And for his 2nd year photo shoot, we went with an aviator theme because he is in LOVE with airplanes.  He almost always is holding a little toy in one hand, such as a plan, train, car or dinosaur.  So sweet.  These adorable clouds are very simple to make!  I think they are so fun to hang up in a nursery to add a bit of heaven to the room.

What you’ll need:

• white paper lanterns (we used 12″ lanterns from LIHAO, White Round Paper Lanterns)
• string
• Stuffing (we used 2x Poly-Fil Stuffing, 20 oz bags)
• Hot glue gun and hot glue sticks
• Hooks or other secure and safe system to hang them on the ceiling

To make these cute clouds, simply open the stuffing.  The kids LOVED helping with this part.  We had 2 large bags of stuffing that made about 4-5 large clouds + some for sitting on.  The kids loved jumping in the piles of fluff!

Assemble your paper lanterns

Warm up your hot glue and when ready, glue zig zags in 8 inch areas so you can get the stuffing on before it cools.

Put one hand through the hole of the lantern and the other on the outside to gently clap your hands together to apply the pressure so the stuffing sticks.

Repeat until all the lantern is covered except for the holes.

Tie on your string and hang them at varying heights!

For an additional special effect, add ACPtek LED Part Lights for a unique effect of glowing from the inside. Be sure these lights are secure tied into your lanterns.

Funny side story about these clouds.  I had them hanging in my kitchen after we had done this shoot, and I was babysitting for a friend. Her little 5 year old boy asked me what it was and I said , “a cloud!”  and he asked if it was real.  I held a staight face and told him that I had captured the cloud with a really long rope.  For about 5 minutes he stared at the cloud trying to figure it out and then finally he stands up and puts his hand though the bottom hole of it and says, “It’s not a cloud!  See… I can put my hand through it! You tricked me!”

So funny and sweet, but the best thing was when after that he said,  “you know… if you really wanted to catch a cloud you would need a really really long rope!”

I died!  I love children’s imaginations of how much is possible in their mind.

When my husband was a little boy, about 3, he thought the smoke coming from a factory was a cloud maker.  Sweet young innocence.

Share your results with us! What will you use these cute clouds for?  Props? Nursery decor?  Let us know in the comments below!

It happens daily, if not multiple times a day, your sweetie brings you their masterpiece.  They might even do that shoulder to the cheek moment and that little look of pride on their face as you graciously accept it, listening to what it was and then you display it for a while.   But it builds up fast!  Here are some tips to managing all that artwork clutter without letting go of the sentimental side.

Before you get started, determine your own scale.  1. Direct to trash 2. Cute, let’s hang it up for a while… snap and picture and throw it away when no one is looking and 3. Treasure!  I am never throwing it away!

When your child presents their masterpiece to them, likely, more than anything, they want to see that you are proud of their accomplishment and proud enough to display it.  They will likely forget about it soon enough, but the whole process will build a confidence in them and motivate them to do it again… even better.

But all that artwork stacks up FAST! Especially those cotton ball and feather covered paper plates and other 3D creations.

Tips to clear the clutter!

1. Select a wall and a timetable. Clear, trash or keep and repeat. Snap  a picture of the items as you go, with and/ or without your child.
2. Write is down.  When you receive your child’s masterpiece, write down what they said it was, their age and name.  Even a week later and it will slip your mind.  What you do decide to keep in the long run will have more meaning if you remember what it was they drew, especially if paired with recent family events such as a fun trip to the beach.
3. Use them as scrapbook paper. Cut out the image to size and let it be the backdrop to pictures of the kids at those same ages.
4. Use 12 x 12 and 9 x 12 sized 3 ring Scrapbooks with Clear Sleeves for long term storage. Select a limited number of favorites to keep, take a picture of them, and throw away the undesirables. (We have loved Project Life Three Ring Albums)

Let us know what you like to do to display those masterpieces in the home! Comment below, or share your own child’s masterpieces.