a littLe somethin' for MoM

I've been making more flowers...I can't give it up.  

Actually, I was in need of a quick, easy (and not to mention, cheap) project for my Activity Day girls to do this month and decided that it should probably be something for the Moms...seeing as, Mother's Day is just around the corner.  So of course, the flower was the obvious choice.  What mom wouldn't want a nice flower to wear on her special day? 

Now, if you're thinking "I would love to have a flower to wear on Mother's Day!"  Guess what...I'm giving a few away.  In honor of Mothers Day, my 75th post and my 50 followers (it's something)...I will be giving away 3 flower pins.  All you have to do is leave a comment, tell me you're a mom (or that you have one) and I'll pick 3 winners this week on Thursday.

GIVE AWAY NOW CLOSED!

...But if you'd rather make one on your own, here's a tutorial on how I made mine...I know, I'm feeling generous...don't get used to it :)

First the supplies you will need:

• 
  
   one full piece of the precut felt
• 
  
   a button (any will do)
• 
  
   hot glue gun
• 
  
   a pin (or hair clip would be fun, too!)

I started by finding a cup in my cupboard to use as my template to trace circles on my felt (about 3 inches round).  Then I traced.  You'll need 6 circles per flower for the petals and then one smaller circle for the base of the flower. 

Once you get them all cut out, take your circle and fold it in half.

Then fold one corner up to make a triangle.

Then fold the other corner back to make an 'S'...something like this...

You'll need to put a dab of glue at the pointy ends on each side to hold your 'S' in place. 

Next you will start glueing your 'triangles' to your base, one at a time, making sure to center them on the base.  Also, make sure you squeeze them nice and close together so that there aren't gaps inbetween you petals.

Once you get them all on there fluff up the petals and they should look something like this...

Not bad, ehh?  But to dress them up just a bit further, glue a button right in the center.  I used fabric covered buttons (you can find kits at any craft store).  You can also cut some leaves from felt and glue them to the back it you'd like, but they're cute enough on their own to just leave them if you prefer.

Last I just glued a pin back on.

 

And there you have it.  You've got one fun, fashonable, felt flower.  Fabulous.

We are going to make another small craft for our mom's in the next couple of weeks (more on that to come) and these flowers will be perfect to finish off the packaging...serving a dual purpose.

Secret Service (Activity Days Activity)

Thought I would share another activity I had with my Activity Days girls last week. 

We were on a mission, we went undercover and performed 7 days worth of SecRet SerViCe.  Before we got started we talked a bit about service and the blessings that come when we help others. 

I found some manila envelopes at the dollar store and personalized them with their names on them.

Inside I included a pen and these "forms" that they were to fill out during the activity.

I also included a list of ideas for serving to help get them going.

I was also lucky to find these fun "undercover" glasses to stick inside.

Just to help them really get into the part...AND they would know if anyone sneaking up on them ;) 
(they really did kind of work!)

The girls thought it was great.  Honestly, I was pretty surprised with how excited they were to get going on their challenge.  A lot of them told me they were going to go home and get started right away.  Just goes to show that it doesn't take much (couple of bucks at the dollar store) to get kids excited about doing things for others.  It turned out to be a fun, easy way to teach the important principal of SeRviNg oTheRS...

Another Activity Day Activity...

I'm posting another activity, hope you all don't mind.  Turns out the blog is a good place to "store" my ideas, incase they need to be remembered at a later date.  Anyway, speaking of remembering things...for this activity we made journals and journal jars. The goal: getting these girls (ages 10 & 11) excited about keeping their journals, or as we discussed, thier autobiographies.  Something for them to look back at with thier spouses, children and grandchildren.  Something about them, by them.  I wish I had kept a better journal when I was little.  But that I did not.  It's so fun to go back and read the few entries my hubs wrote in his journal (his parents made him, good on them!) when he was about the same age as these girls...a good LaUGh!

Most pages say something to the effect...

"I had a basketball game today.  We won.  I was the best player." 

It's nice to know that he was just as staight to the point then as he is now :)

Okay on with the journals...

First we took a couple of notebooks.

And covered them with scrapbook paper.

Then we made the jars.

Typed up some questions, printed them up and cut them into strips...

Then we folded those up and stuffed them in our jars.

Added a little fabric, and there you have it...they turned out something like this...

If you're interested in the link for the questions let me know, I'll look it up again and post it.

EdiTed to aDd:  Okay, so I couldn't find where I found the questions...Of cOuRse!  But I did have them saved in Word, so I made a post just for the questions HeRe.  Click it.

QuicK aNd easY OrnaMenTs

Are ya in a pinch for a handmade gift for your neighbors or friends?  Looking for an easy craft for the kids?  Or perhaps you wanna make something handmade for yourself.  If so, I've got the craft for you.

All you need is a bit of this...

Some of these...

MiX, rOll, CuT and let dRy.  Then decorate with some of this...

Add a little ribbon...

 

And voila...AppleY, ciNNomOny, sMeLLy oRnamEnTs.

(Remember making these together Kel?  Almost forever ago. I still have mine AND they still smell!  Thanks for the fun idea.)

And did I mention...CheaP, cHeap, CheaP.  Tie them to your packages to add a little sPiCe :)

Or hang them on the tree.  Let them smell up your house.

I made a few of these with my activity days girls today, they were a hit. It's a great craft to do with the kids quick and easy.

Here's the recipe if you're interested:

1 cup Cinnamon

1 cup Apple Sauce

1 Tbs White Glue

Mix all ingredients until smooth.  Roll dough with rolling pin (use a piece of wax paper on top of the dough if sticky) to 1/4 inch thickness.  Cut with cookie cutters.  Using a straw, make a small hole in ornament.  Place on cookie sheet and let dry 24-48 hours (you can also bake them at 150 degrees for one hour...mine turned out better just letting them air dry).  Decorate with paint, candies, etc.  And you're finished.  Easy peasy.