Repurposing Your Kids' Art

Have I ever mentioned that there is no shortage of art work around here? Stacks of papers upon stacks of papers. Most of it is just too precious to let go of. (Mommy goes through it in secret though, and recycles it if possible.) I save what is super cute and file it away and I use some of it for grocery lists and send notes to people on others. Still, there is more paper. So here's a fun idea: planting "wishes"! Gift idea? Party favors? A child's flower garden? You name it. We're going to try it.
We've turned our drawings into wrapping paper and clip boards and we also plan to make the paper mache bowls found in Handmade Home, using more of our treasured art.

How do you re-use art by your children?

Re Purposing Your Morning Coffee

One morning last week I had made the perfect cup of coffee , but due to circumstances beyond my control, I did not end up drinking it. I think it may have been reheated at one point, but still to no avail. Never fear! Waste not, want not! Reduce, Reuse Recycle, blah blah blah. I would not be deterred. After lunch, I filled up a glass with lots of ice and poured that baby down over it. Then I retreated to the living room with a brownie, an iced coffee and had a much deserved treat. Try it sometime! I might just have to do it again on purpose...

While we're talking about re purposing things, I just can't tear myself away from a new book I just received for my birthday. Don't worry, you didn't miss it. I turned 30 in March and was given a sweet surprise this past weekend when a friend hand delivered my gift, upon it's release. You can find just one of the delightful projects from said book here today.

Easy-Peasy, Lemon Squeezy

We love to say that in our house. I think my mother in law started it way back. Not that particular one, but phrases like, "hustle, Russel!" when you're in a hurry. Or, "hicc-up, snick-up!" when some one has the hiccups. Silly words that rhyme make us smile. That's just an explanation for the title of this post. The real reason for the post is a couple of recyclable craft ideas that are, you guessed it, "easy-peasy!"

First, there's the oatmeal canister--so many uses. This time, we made containers for collecting outdoor treasures. I simply cannot remember where I saw this idea, but it stuck in my memory and we did it. The buckets are already getting full of bits of this and that from the great outdoors. Simply cover and decorate your canister, cut slits in the sides and insert strips of fabric for a strap.


As we go about our days, homeschooling, making up games and crafts, we can quickly get lost in a sea of crafts, homemade games and other projects that seem to have no place to be. I'm forever looking for storage ideas and ways to organize. I'm sure you never could have guessed that.Here is a cute way to store some such game or activity that the kids can take pride in, and practice dexterity and sewing basics in the process. I think when we finish our strawberries, (which won't take long!) we'll give it a go.

And, here are some great ways to organize crafts and artwork for and from your kids.

As for Mrs. Robin...she sits. She waits. And Papa Robin watches over and protects her. Also, we are doing a lot of apologizing to her. Every time anyone opens the door and she chirps and flees her perch, you can hear whoever it is say, "Sorry, Mama." Also, she has FLIPPED OUT on us a couple of times at night when we're coming in late. It's a little dangerous out there. I guess she gets startled and is disoriented, but it's more than a little scary. Anyway, we are patiently waiting with her. We know what it's like. Pictured below is Papa.

The Ants Go Marching One by One

Onward! Forward! We're at war and it's intense. I'm trying this as a remedy, all the while my daughter is trying to count to one thousand. Perhaps she has been inspired by their presence? Who knows, but at least I am not required to be a witness to the entirety of her mathematical prowess at this time. I'm just in charge of making them GO AWAY!

Meanwhile, I've been enjoying this in my spare time. Hurry, it's available for online viewing through Sunday. (As things slowly find their way back to normalcy around here, I'm finding ways to get things done and still have time for extras! occasionally.) Anyway, all this Dickens exposure is causing me to mumble things to myself in a British accent. SO FUN. Some words and phrases just sound so much better pronounced that way.

Since I last posted, the cherry blossoms have come and gone, the yard has been mowed and already needs it again, I've done school with the kids everyday, caught up on laundry only to be swallowed up in it again, begun planning fun economical ways to enjoy our first ever beach vacay together this year, made homemade playdough, and the list goes on. So much to do, so little time to blog about it if I'm ever going to get ahead. Life is good.

Now, back to my ant problem...and what's for dinner? I think this (thanks Rebecca) and this tonight.

If You're Looking for Creative Inspiration

In between sick spells this summer, we have been making small improvements here and there around the house. The main project was painting our downstairs living area. We did one whole wall in chalk board paint for the kiddos, and I have to say I am very pleased with the outcome...



That being said, this project was brought to my attention and I'm not sure I would want to tackle it at this point, but it's kind of cool and definitely cost efficient. I think I'll stick with the chalkboard wall for now. Go ahead and take a quick peek. You'll be impressed!


One more thing...here is a lovely site with lovely art and a lovely blog, all from the talented Kyle Buttram. If you're ever in the Greenville, SC area, you should make an effort to see it first hand.

Signs of Life

Then...

Now...
This week, it is safe for us to plant our little seedlings outside with all the rest of our greenery. How fun. We are all looking forward to it.

On a different note...How was your Mother's Day? Mine was full and unpredictable, but very good. I spent the weekend with people I dearly love in many different settings. We came home after a full day on Sunday only to find that our electricity was out, so we spent more time with family and finally made it home today. Here are a couple of the treasures we were able to hand deliver to our mothers/grandmothers.

Below are some little gifts called joy jars. Since the kids have started talking, we like to write down funny and sweet things they say and when we make cards for each other, we have included these little sayings. This year, after some inspiration from the Creative Family, we decorated jars and filled them with special greetings from the kids to their grandmothers. My Anthropologie catalogue came in very handy for pretty cutout pictures which we modge podged onto our little jars. Little fingers love smearing glue on things, don't they?

Yet another project from the Creative Family is the idea of transferring your kids' art to fabric, using embroidery to preserve it in a new way. I tried my hand and came out pretty successfully. This one was for my own mother, who probably thought I would never learn to sew or work with my hands in any capacity. Even when my frustration brought me to tears and I quit time and time again, I think her gentle instruction is finally paying off. I made a pillow for her and used some scraps of material from a dress that she made for me when I was little. I do believe it was well received.


Here is the original picture:

I moved the sunshine to a more central location to balance everything out and...

3 Rs

We're doing our part...

Thanks to this book, I am finding all kinds of uses for all sorts of things in my house...

First, when you come to the end of a roll of aluminum foil or plastic wrap, you can use the roll as a storage solution for the art in your home that needs to be treasured. I know we can't keep them all, but the especially sweet ones need to be preserved, right? You can use paper towel rolls, but they are kind of flimsy compared to the other.


Then, a recent purchase of a rotary cutting mat for myself turned into this fabulous little town for the kiddies. Grab some markers and a few matchbox cars and you are all set for hours of fun!



*** Here are some other thoughts...

from Bella Dia on how to make drawer organizers

there's nostalgia in being resourceful