Project: Picture Frames and Bath Salts

The girls and I have been making presents to give out this year (act surprised if you receive one). I found a few projects which were simple enough that we could complete them together. You still have time to make these if you are searching for a few homemade ideas.

First up 

Lavender Bath Salts

 Supplies

• 3/4 c Epsom Salt

• 1/2 c sea salt

• 2 Tbs safflower oil

•1/8 tsp vitamin E

•10 drops lavender essential oil

• 2 Tbs dried lavender, we used some that we had gathered from the garden this summer

•containers, I purchased special containers for a couple of dollars each, but any container will do. You will have 1 1/4c bath salts when done

*optional gift tags, explaining to add some to a hot bath.

Directions

1) Add salts to a large bowl. Mix

2) Add oils and mix.

3) Add lavender and mix.

4) Place in containers.

The girls enjoyed measuring, mixing, pouring and smelling. Since this isn't a precise recipe I didn't mind much if they over poured.

Our next project was soooo easy!

Decorated Frames

Supplies

• Cheap frame from store, just make sure it has a flat edge to adhere your bits and bobs. Our frames were $0.99

• Bits and bobs- we used these glass stone things, but anything goes.

•Strong adhesive that will maintain a bond.

•Cute photo

Directions

1) Remove the glass and backing from the frame and set aside.

2) Adhere bits and bobs to the exterior of the frame. Since we were using a strong adhesive I applied the adhesive one section at a time while the girls worked.

3) When adhesive is dry, check to make sure the whole deal is structurally sound. Return the glass and backing. Add a picture and you are all set.

Cordelia made a pattern while Elise was happy to attack it haphazardly.

I also had the girls sign the back of the frame. Elise can write her name now!!!

There you have it!

Project: Make a Mushroom

For many years I have had an aversion to cute little mushrooms. Not eating them, I am totally fine with that. Something about the image of mushrooms themselves took me back to high school and those annoying dudes that wore mushroom necklaces and said, "SHROOOOOMS." Ugh, my skin crawls with annoyance just thinking of it again. Anyway, it was time to reclaim the mushroom, they are super adorable and that is the whole story.

So you may recall the insane storm we had last fall. We are still dealing with some large branches and bits of log that are laying around. I happened to have three little logs that looked like they might want to be mushrooms. So I have been on the lookout at thrift stores for nicely rounded bowls. Unfortunately there were none in my price range of under $2. Then, a couple of days ago, I spotted a bowl clearance at the supermarket. $1.68 each, sold! I took them home and prepared to turn those bowls and logs into adorable whimsical mushrooms.



Here is how you too can create these very charming and super easy mushrooms.

You will need
Logs, short and squat
Round bowls, one for each log
Nails and hammer
paint, my bowls were already in satisfactory colors but if yours are not you will want red and green spray paint as well as white acrylic paint
sponge
scissors
paper plate
pen




1. First you will trace a circle on your sponge. I used the base of a cup. Cut it out. If your bowls base color needs to be painted, do so now.



2. Dab the sponge in the white paint and apply to your bowl. Press firmly and then rotate. I wanted kind of loose circles, if you are fussy about precision then you should probably stop reading my blog as I am sure to annoy you. Put circles all over the bowl as you see fit, just make sure that they are kind of randomly placed. This is a good job for older kids!



3. Once the bowls are dry place them on top of your log. Hammer the nail through the bowl and into the log. Done.



4. When I placed them outside I dug a little hole and then piled up some stones around the base for extra support.





Now a wild and dull corner of the yard has a little point of interest.

Project: A Gown for the Ball (Bonus WY Rose discount)

A few days ago Cordelia made this drawing

I am sure you can tell what it is, but let me just explain. Pinkie Pie, the My Little Pony, is wearing a dress designed by Cordelia. You see Cordelia was trying her hand at design and who was I to tell her no when she asked if we could make the dress.

We took a trip to Hobby Lobby and she chose something that isn't quite fabric, but not quite paper either. I decided we could probably work with it.


The gown is really just a rectangle with ties


Cordelia drew a flower for embellishment


She glued it on





Together we made a gown for Pinkie Pie. Cordelia drew, cut with grown up scissors, used a needle and thread, glued, all of it. Together we assembled something that passes as a dress (and a fancy hat "because there's gonna be rain at the ball"). The end result was a very happy girl who made a drawing come to life, or to three dimensions, I hope those ponies aren't alive....or we are all doomed.

BONUS
My mother and I decided to offer a discount that is available only to the readers of our blogs.

If you are making a purchase at Wyoming Rose Boutique use the coupon code:

ROSIE

This code will automatically give you a 15% discount on any of our items, 

including the brand new ones.  

Maybe you will find some good ideas for Christmas Gifts!

Halloween

 

I don't think I have ever really decorated for Halloween. It's just not my thing. This year Cordelia wanted to put up decorations and I decided that we could go ahead and do a little decorating. Mostly I just focused on seasonal things like gourds and pumpkins that can be decorative elements for the next month. I did choose a few pieces that we can stash away and bring out annually.



We also made a couple things during some crafternoon fun.





Do you decorate?

Projects: Update on Current Sewing Projects

I have mentioned a few times that I have been very busy with a variety of projects. Currently I am trying to start no new projects until I work my way through several half completed projects. I am making astonishing progress and I will soon be able to start all new projects (to leave half finished-wink).

You may recall the second portion of this post, where I received a box full of all kinds of goodies. A large portion of that box of goodies was quilting squares in a variety of sizes, textures and retro patterns.I have been working my way through the enormous stash and I have a couple of new projects to share. I decided that I did not have the time or patience to trim all of the squares into the exact same size. I am just far too free form for that level of tedium, so I did what all lazy great women before me do when they find themselves in that sort of a quilting conundrum; I made a crazy quilt. Well, more precisely I made two crazy playmats. One is for our friends who will be expecting their third child in a matter of days. The second playmat is for our soon to arrive little lady.

For the record the playmates are un-ironed fresh from the wash. I am about as likely to iron, outside of the actual sewing process, as I am likely to eat green beans without theatrically gagging. 









Since I went all free form on the playmats I decided that I should try something that required a little precision. However, my attention span for precision sewing lasts about 30 minutes, up from 20 seconds. I decided that I would tackle one of my more simple projects that needed some attention. I made some new curtains for above the kitchen sink.



I used an uber trendy chevron print and made super simple curtains. What is precision about that you may wonder? I made the chevron pattern match up in the middle---watch out! I know, it boggles the mind...

So what projects have you been tackling lately?

Project: Winter Flowers

I don't know about you, but this is the time of year when I start to think a lot about flowers and gardens and the smell of wet dirt. Winter still powers on for at least another month or two. So one of my solutions is to buy fresh flowers occasionally. Yesterday I was feeling the need for flowers, but I decided to make them myself. I spent all of five minutes making these, a great craft for kids.


Supplies


Fairy not required

Supplies:
Scissors (if working with little ones you will need to do the cutting)
tissue paper
floral wire
a bit of tape or glue or even a rubber band in a matching color

Directions:


Fold your tissue paper over a few times. I made four layers with mine. Then free hand cut some circles. I suppose you could trace circles, but it really isn't necessary, a little imperfection adds to the finished project.


Now take your stack of circles and fold them over a few times.


Unfold them and then wrinkle them up a bit with your hands.



Poke the floral wire through the center and make a little loop at the top. Underneath the flower put your tape, glue or secure a rubber band to keep the petals in place.


Mess it up a bit. I squeezed the paper in my hands and made it look how I wanted.


You can bend the stems or leave them straight. Your call.


Done deal.

Wonder Pets

Have you heard of the Wonder Pets? If you are a parent to a toddler I assume you have, if not---then perhaps this is the first time you are learning of them. They are a team of animals (a guinea pig, a duckling and a turtle) who rescue animals in trouble, from a children's tv program.



We don't allow Cordelia to watch much TV, but she is absolutely crazy about these Wonder Pets so we allow her to watch a bit of Wonder Pets on Netflix. She uses her imagination, playing Wonder Pets, throughout the day. Eric and I are happy that she has turned this into something fun that really fosters her imaginative play and we really love to encourage that kind -o- thing.



Eric had the great idea to make Cordelia her own Wonder Pets cape. So yesterday evening I sewed up a little cape. Eric designed a W logo for the back and put on a snap. When we presented her with the cape she was beyond thrilled. She put it over over her cupcake pajamas and went crazy playing and using her imagination.



Simple project that sure made a big impact. I have no doubt that there will be some public cape wearing in our future. Ahhh, the magic of a cape.

Project: Wreath Enhancement

I was at the store a few days ago and I spotted a solid looking synthetic wreath. The wreath was mighty plain, but at $2.99 who could resist? So I brought it home and decided to jazz it up a bit.



So I grabbed a few different colors of yarn, a small rectangle of paperboard and a pair of scissors for pom pom making. I wrapped the yarn around the width of the paperboard and then tied it off with another piece of yarn (see pic).



Then I flipped the paperboard over and clipped through the yarn.



The bundle of yarn will look like this. Fluff it up to create a pom pom.



Repeat with several different colors. Tie onto your wreath and then admire your work.

Project: Fabric Flower Headband

Cordelia has recently decided that she wants to wear headbands. So naturally I thought that it would be a good idea to make her a few rather than buy them at the store. I made this one for her, but the idea would really work for adults as well. I am thinking it could translate well into a holiday headband for those parties that seem to pop up all throughout the month.

If you want to try and make one yourself you will need:

• scrap fabric, 1/4 yard is more than enough, cut into long strips about 1 1/2 inches thick.
  
• Fabric glue, super glue, or your favorite adherent
• a headband blank, or re-purpose an old one that you have laying around
• Optional: I didn't feel like it, but you could add all kinds of embellishments like beads, sparkles, felt, etc.

Step One: I used this site to guide me in my quest to make rolled flowers. I also kind of made up my own technique as I went, because that's how I roll (pun intended).

Completed fabric flowers and headband blank

Step Two: I used strips of the same fabric, though you could use ribbon, yarn, paint or whatever you like to cover the headband. I used my glue to adhere it periodically so the thing wouldn't come undone in the hands of a toddler. I left the raw edges of the fabric exposed because I liked how it looked, but you could neatly fold the fabric if you wanted to try something different.

Wrapping the headband

Step Three: I adhered the flowers. This is also where you could add the optional embellishments.

With the flowers attached

There you have it, a simple project that could also be a quick and easy holiday gift idea!