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throw back craft

December 30, 2012

i call this a throw back craft because it was based from something my great aunt Liza hung on her wall at christmas time… i don't know where that ended up.
i forgot about it until christmas.
hers was velvet and was covered in pearls and rhinestones sewn to it…in an antique frame.
she hung it above her fireplace.

IMG_0453-1

we created a modern version of liza's tree…using craft supplies she gave to me.
she always sent me home with a box of supplies that she wasn't going to need any more.
she loved to hand sew, preferably with felt, seqins and beads.
i have thousands.

first we painted a canvas all one color. (this is a 16×20 canvas..we used acrylic craft paint)

she had bags of scraps of this puffy bright colored yarn.
so now i have bags of scraps of puffy yarn.
🙂
i traced a tree shape (cut from paper) on our painted canvas when it dried
and we hot glued the puffy yarn in the shape.

this big bowl of sequins and beads is a teeny fraction of the stash i have from her.

then we poured glue into the tree shape.
like…. we used almost the entire bottle of tacky glue.

i poured it out and spread it with a paint brush.

then we dumped the sequins and beads on the glue until every single bit of glue was covered.

the girls were LOVING it!!

it was messy.

but what fun is making art if you can't get messy?!

it's like a game of I Spy.

the gold star sequins were in their own glass pill bottle.
it was the perfect finishing touch.

i hope that we will hang this up every year too…for a long time….and that my girls will remember making it.

it is pretty awesome.

different from liza's but perfect for us.

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Kathy - Love this! It’s just what I’m looking for. Perfect for grandkids to create together and remember every time they see it hanging at Christmas.
Thank you!

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Holiday Classroom Party Ideas: 10 Christmas Tree Crafts - […] (source: MegDuerksen) […]

10 Christmas Tree Craft ideas - […] (source: MegDuerksen) […]

Catherine Gee - 6 yr old girl to make Christmas crafts and decorations.

Christmas Tree Crafts - bright & colourful - Fun Crafts Kids - […] We adore Christmas Tree Crafts – there is something so very special about a Christmas Tree and how it puts us all in a very festive mood. So when I saw this sparkly, colourful and simply cheerful Christmas Tree Craft, I knew we had to share it with you. A great way to use up all those “bits and bobs” knocking around the bottom of your craft drawer, whilst creating something fun and pretty. […]

Lasso the Moon - O Tannenbaum! 10 Christmas Tree Crafts for Kids - […] Vintage Catch-All Christmas Craft I absolutely adore this beaded yarn Christmas wall hanging. It is a must-do on my holiday list for this year. Pin it for later | See full post […]

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Meredith @ Homegrown Friends - I LOVE this! Too funny I was just looking at an extra canvas we have leftover from a summer project and was wondering what to do with it. PERFECT timing 🙂 Sharing and pinning!

Top 10 Best Preschool Christmas Crafts - Top Inspired - […] DIY Project and Photo credit to megduerksen.com […]

brittany - i will try this craft with my kids when I get all the supplies

25 Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids - hands on : as we grow - […] Christmas Tree Throw Back Craft Whatever […]

Kris - It’s lovely, what a wonderful idea. What a wonderful memory!

Antonette - This is so beautiful. I love the contrasting turquoise. Really makes the tree pop.
You could bag up some of the beads/sequins and sell them on etsy. I’d buy some. 🙂

Mary - totally rad!
i love it!
what a treasure.
🙂

MissKathy - Very clever use of all those prettys that just can’t be thrown away. I like large scale but I feel inspired to go smaller – would make great personalised cards for family and friends. Sure they would get an extra glow to recieve art made with love.

Lisa - I love this times a TRILLION! Favorite craft you’ve ever posted.

Laura - gotta admit, when i saw this on IG, i thought, “Well now THAT will be a huge mess!”
I grew up the daughter of two artists…two artists who are CRAZY CLEAN AND NEAT
when I got spin art for my 8th birthday, my father took it…and I NEVER SAW IT AGAIN
why?
because it would make a mess
i try really hard to allow mess in my home
and this week, i have succeeded
sadly, not because of crafts
just grief and chaos 🙂
anyway…i do love this
i think it is beautiful
worth the mess!

Leslie - I’ve been blog-hopping and “Pinterest-ing” today and came to your site. I love this tree. What a sweet memory for you and your girls of your aunt. It’s so pretty! I love all the sequins. 🙂

kristina - Fabulous! Funny thing is that I saw one of these at an antique store yesterday and stared at it forever and thought it was awesome. And look at you making one… I think I have to do this for next year. Thanks for sharing!

Abaker71605@gmail.com - Love this Idea, I did it with my kids tonight and they turned out adorable!

Danielle - I was hoping you would post this tutorial after I saw it on Instagram! Thank you! Happy New Year!

Jackie - Definitely a memory maker!

dee - hi-love this idea and i love that this will be a family heirloom one day with wonderful memories-love dee x

Gina - Gorgeous!! I want one! Best wishes for a very happy New Year Meg. Thanks for all the inspiration and fun stories!! I always enjoy checking in on your blog!

Carol S. - Sweet! Awesome homemade Christmas ARTwork. You will love pulling that out each year. Happy New Year! Just the four of us, board games, tv ball games, movies and munchies…more of same tomorrow. That’s a happy holiday to me. Enjoy.

Georgia - Ohhh my god… i had to scroll to the end straight away to see the finished product… its so spangly and amazing… im going to collect buttons etc this year to make it next xmas!
awesome craft! 🙂

Prairie Jenn - Love! My girls would flip! We’ve got to make one next year:)

Lynn - I SPY a jingle bell 🙂 I love this – maybe will try to make one with my boys before they completely lose interest with crafting with me (sigh). Happy New Year.

Janelle - Love this and I already have a canvas painted just like this! Do you add anything once the glue is dry to preserve it?

Heather - So cute. I wish I had seen this before Christmas. It will be on the mandatory list for next year. Thanks for sharing!!

Kerrin Norman - Love it! We are totally going to do this with hearts for Valentines Day! So excited!

lorel - I think Liza would love your adaptation. beautiful!

Lisa - This is so fun!!! You will never get tired of looking at it. I wish I had wonderful bowls full of prettiness like that. Maybe I’ll start keeping a jar to drop in leftovers and found pretties, and by next Christmas I can make my own sparkling Christmas tree! Happy New Year!

Jen - P.S. Once again my 8-year-old daughter is dressed just like your 8-year-old daughter. Same red sweater dress. She loves it! I hope you’re having a great day, Meg!

Amber - Oh my gosh! Perfect! Pinning it for us to revisit next Christmas!

Sarah H. - I love it! I was hoping after I saw this on instagram that you would give us all the details! How fun! I think we will do this for Valentines Day. My daughter would love it! Thanks for sharing!

Amanda - I love this!!!!!

Michelle from Australia - LOVE it!! I had never crafted until I ‘met’ you Meg. But your Christmas bauble wreath post two years ago has resulted in me making nearly two dozen baubles wreaths since. And the orders for them just keep on rolling in. I wonder if I do a button tree like yours whether I’ll have people wanting them too?? Thank you for sharing and thank you for helping me find the ‘inner crafter’ in me that I still get surprised by each time I finish a wreath.

Meredith - As my kids would say…..totes amazeballs!! As always Meg – fun, imaginative, delightful. Much love and Happy New Year from my family Down Under to yours. Thanks for another year of generously sharing life from your delightful perspective. Meredy xo

Kizzy - What a wonderful creation, I will be tryjng this with the kids next year, thank you fir sharing.

Comfypjs - I like it! I just may have to add this to the craft list.

Kelly - Soo fun!!!! Love it. Kelly

Jen T. - I too know exactly what you mean! Every year I hang up our vintage jewelry tree. It’s made with old vintage earrings and brooches and bracelets and so on placed in a Christmas tree shape. It was created on black velvet in a vintage frame as well. And the finishing touch is my uncle (who made it) drilled holes to string up a short strand of Christmas lights. I love it so very much. Your version is absolutely delightful!

Kate - I love this

Karen - Oh my. That is just awesome!!!!

Jenn - So fun!!!

Jenny - ThAt is gorgeous. Thank you for sharing. Happy new year!

Ella - I know exactly what your Aunt had hanging on her wall. My Grandmother had one too that came out at Christmas time & I always adored it as well. I believe hers was on burgundy velvet with lots of “golden” detailing, pearls & some good old fashioned vintage jewels. Loving your modern spin on it and can see doing this craft next year with our youngest one (she’ll be 3 next Christmas)!

Amy Woods - Uniquelyand wonderfully adorable! Love it!!

Heather - I love it! I have an 8 yr old girl that is going to love it too! I am putting it on next year’s craft list! THanks! Merry Christmas!

Pat - Meg, I love the craft and will have to do that with my niece next year! Can you (or anyone else out there) please tell me where you got the JOY christmas wrapping paper? It is so cute!
Pat

April R - Look at that left handed crafting! Love everything about this craft 🙂
And the gold stars in the star were perfection!
Merry Christmas!

Esther - Meg–love it. I think I will do this with my grandkids next year for Christmas, I have to start collecting beads and such–thank you for sharing with us.

Christy K - Ok, this is seriously the cutest craft EVER! Love the creativity and color involved and I LOVE that you found your inspiration from one of your great aunt’s creations! I hope you and yours had a very Merry Christmas and all the best to you in the new year!! : )

donna - that is just too adorable. i love it.

Sarah{Handbags*N*Pigtails} - How fun! And inheriting bowls and bottles of art supplies? Heavenly! Happy New Year Meg:)

Alicia @ La Famille - ok now that is just plain fun! i love every bit. that bowl of randome sparkly things is amazing!! yeah for aunt liza!!!

Kerstie Pederson - Rad!!!! Got my wheels spinning for next year’s Christmas crafts.

Verna Lantz - This is one of the most wonderful things ever! I adore how it turned out. We might have to steal this idea. 🙂

Jen - I agree. That. is. awesome. Want to make one with my girls next year!

Melissa - That. Is. Awesome.

Kristen - That is so cute! I bet it was a blast making this with your girls. Messy is always more fun.

elma - I love it!!!

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SNOW! and crafts.

December 20, 2012

************************************************

finally.
we haven't had snow for way too long.
even if it knocked out my plans AGAIN today…i am still so happy to have snow.

talby was sick yesterday all day.
so sick.
poor baby…waffle tried his best to keep her happy. :)

she felt well enough in the afternoon to work on a project with me.
she was so bored all day.

step one for our ripped paper tree is to paint a background paper.
we taped annie's down because with only one arm the paper moves around a lot.

also i painted paper the night before for them to make sure it was dry enough to work on it all at once.

i used acrylic craft paint (you know…the .97 little bottles in all crafts stores)
for all of the painted paper and annie's background sheet too.

just green paint painted over the whole thing.

when your green paper is completely dry…then you rip your sheet into strips about 1-2 inches wide.

when your background sheet is dry you begin shaping your tree.
we forgot to make a snowy ground…. but it still worked out fine.
rip the strips into the right size to form a tree shape.
we used ten strips total.

it's FUN to rip the paper into the shapes you want!
i love how the ripped edge shows, the white on some sides and how all the strips are uneven.

we also painted paper with different colors to use for the star, the presents and the ornaments.
we made patterns in the paint by using the pointed end of a paintbrush
and making dots with a pencil eraser dipped in paint.

macaroni and cheese break!

you could use a glue stick but i think school glue would hold better in the long run…the painted paper gets heavy.

add some "snow" with a q-tip or splatter it on.
and some yarn bows on the gifts.
and you have an Eric Carle inspired christmas tree work of art!

talby chose a night scene and used water color for her background.

SO much FUN!!!

i found this idea on Artsonia.

************************************************

How about ONE MORE IDEA FOR A GIFT???

for just $20 you can purchase a stove for a family in Haiti and give the gift of coal efficiency!

you can buy a stove "gift card" to give to someone on your gift list!

how much better is that than another tie?

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY

TO GET A

STOVE CARD

mailed in time for christmas!!

you can give it to your dad.
you can give it to your husband.
you can say "it's a gift to me!" and purchase a gift card.

or two or three or ten.

GO TO The Adventure Project TODAY for information.

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Christine Ishmael - Hey Meg…don’t know if you get time to read all of your comments but I’m wondering if I can buy a print of the chicken coop with snow on it from you? I’m trying so hard to find beauty in all of the snow we’ve had dumped on us…that picture spoke to me…thanks, christine @ christineishmael@gmail.com

Rach - Thanks for the snow pics. I needed that. 🙂

Becki - I LOVE this Eric Carle Craft!

tiffany feger - i just donated. thanks for the idea. i donated to the water cause b/c my dad is really into clean water for the world. my donation will be matched it says. awesome and a great gift for my dad! i’ll forward my email conf Christmas morning!

Kelly - Go to
http://www.featureshoot.com/tag/henry-hargreaves-photography/
for some holiday break rainbow food ideas for your family – or your wall!

kim - Yay!!! I’m glad I’m not the only one 🙂 Merry Christmas!!!

Sarah{Handbags*N*Pigtails} - We just woke up to our first snowfall. Its not much but I’ll take it over the hammering that other parts of our state are getting this weekend.
Merry Christmas, Meg!:)

Jules - Lovely craft Meg! Your girls are adorable, they look so grown up in these pictures! Thank you for all of your bright and happy blog posts throughout the year, I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas together. All the best for the coming year! Jules x

Tanya - LOVE the trees a lot!
Just bought three stoves for Haiti ~ now my shopping is officially done 🙂
Thanks for the link <3

Tracy - I wish I shared your love of snow. I really can’t stand the cold white wet stuff! It would make it a lot easier to make it through these Kansas winters.
Loved this craft! Look forward to the next one!

Tiffany - I was thinking Eric Carle the whole post, and then you said it! Super cute! I think I’ll have to make one with Olivia soon. She’d love it! Thanks for the idea!

Jen - Beautiful snow, Christmas trees, and girls! I hope Talby is feeling all the way better now. Finally got some flurries here at home last night – southwest Ohio. Happy Weekend!

Ashley - Oh I really like this one…adding to the list…hopefully it won’t stay on the list, but I’ll actually do it with the kids 🙂

lisa - Very cute! I would totally frame those and pull them out every Christmas. They are bright and colorful. Really cute.

erin - The picture of the sun coming through the tree is so pretty!

alicia @ la famille - love this craft and SNOW!! yeah for you guys!!

Patti - Love your craft ideas! Also wanted to say that thanks to a post of yours a week or so ago, I went searching for, found and ordered the Memory Challenge Holiday Edition Game. It arrived a few days ago and we’ve been playing it nonstop in the evenings at our house. Its so much fun!! Thanks for enabling. 😉

happygirl - Great tree idea. I love your snow shots. Kansas and snow just go together. 🙂

Lisa H. - Love this!
Will definitely save in my files to make with my Art students next Christmas.
Thanks so much for sharing your family’s creations.
We love to craft at our house too.
Lisa

Shannon - I love the craft idea! The colors are so bright and beautiful. I’m a whole lot jealous you guys have so much snow, I’m hoping for some this weekend!!
Merry Christmas 🙂

Amy - Awesome craft! Time to break out the paints and gather the kiddos!!!

Eva Scott - Really pretty idea! And fun!

Stephanie Talty - So stinkin cute!!!
I may have to try this craft with my son over Christmas break.
The storm is moving into out area (Ohio) tonight.
It is going to be a white Christmas!!
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Stephanie

Kim - Made our donation today!!! My youngest daughter & her boyfriend travel to Haiti for mission trips. For a small $20 donation you can help a family 🙂 Great cause & I hope more people donate!!!

Holly - cute idea! Love it!

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snowflakes

December 18, 2012

***********************************************

this first holiday craft was super duper easy but looks really cool.
we made 3D snowflakes!

you will need only pipe cleaners and beads.
we choose silver pipe cleaners and clear beads.
(but you could do white pipe cleaners with rainbow colored beads and it would be adorable!)

clear beads from the plastic crafty bead section at the craft store.
they are like $1.99 a bag or so.

take 10 pipe cleaners and lay one the opposite direction of the other 9.

wrap the 9 together tightly a few times with the one pipe cleaner…twisting to make it stay.

then fan out the pipe cleaners as evenly as you can in all directions.

then we snipped off a few inches from all the sides EXCEPT ONE.

on the ONE tall pipe cleaner…place one bead and the wrap the end into a loop.

next place one bead or more on every pipe cleaner.
they stay on whereever you place them…they don't slide around.
i like that.

we took some of the small pieces that we snipped off and wrapped them
around the ends of a few of the points…to give it that "snowflake" look.

and that's it!

my kids each made several.
and argued over whose was the best.
of course.

happy crafting!

(idea for this craft was found here)

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Beth - So cute, meg! I am really looking forward to the days when my kiddos are old enough to do crafts like this – they’re 3 and 1 now.

emily hope - really love this – so simple & pretty. I think we’ll continue making Christmas crafts all month too 🙂

Tracy Fisher - thank you for this “happy” blog today. much needed. love love love the trees and ornaments. cherished items for sure. -tracy

Tammy - Love this idea! I just saw that the Sandy Hook PTA is asking for snowflakes to decorate the school the kids will be going to in January. http://www.ctpta.org/SANDY-HOOK-FUND.html We’ll definitely be making some over our Christmas break!

Amber - I love all your crafts. I really need to step up my crafting lifestyle. 😉

tara - amazing craft idea….
talby looks so grown up. 🙂

Kimberlymccoy@mac.com - oh perfect! Thanks for this. I’ll be doing this with my girl scout troop on Saturday. Beautiful!

Jennifer - Great idea 🙂

Ashley - Woah black and white photos! I am not used to that here 🙂 I like them…just like I do the color ones. Miss you.

laurenrger@yahoo.com - Loved this too! The first thing I thought was they would be great to send to CT! So glad someone alrwady provided the dets.

Lisa - I saw on Facebook they PTA at Sandybrook was looking for snowflakes for the children/school…these would be perfect to send if you have extra:
Connecticut PTSA is deeply saddened by the tragedy that has struck our Newtown community. We have met with the PTA and community leaders in Newtown and Sandy Hook Elementary to offer our assistance at this very difficult time. They have asked us to spearhead the following efforts on their behalf:
Snowflakes for Sandy Hook
Please help the students of Sandy Hook have a winter wonderland at their new school! Get Creative!! No two snowflakes are alike. Make and send snowflakes to Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103, Hamden, CT 06514, by January 12, 2013.
Mail snowflakes or donations to: Connecticut PTSA, 60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103, Hamden, CT 06514. Phone: 203-281-6617
For questions or to reach anyone at Sandy Hook PTA, please email us at sandyhook@ctpta.org. The Newtown community has requested monetary contributions, but we do know there may be service and product donations that will be offered. For service or product inquiries, please contact

Michelle from Australia - Maybe we could do yellow ones for the hot Australian sun? Oh for a white Christmas…..

jen - we are so making these this weekend!! thank you!

Tanya H - This might be my favorite craft you’ve ever shared, and we’ve done several of yours in our house! 🙂 Thanks so much!! 🙂

Lori Austin - So pretty and so simple. Thank you for sharing. These supplies are on my shopping list.
Btw, are you aware Katie Brown has a pic of yours on her blog? Wowza!!

Kim - You made my day with this post!! I am in charge of my daughter’s Christmas party at school on Thursday and she really wanted a craft as part of it…but I am just not naturally good at that and couldn’t find anything online that thrilled me. Until this. Perfect! Yeah!!!

Carrie D. - I think this is going to make a great last minute addition to my daughter’s preschool Christmas party!

Kirsten J - Bah!!! How do you make these look so good???? I’ve tried them and they looked like they were done by a two year old in the dark.

alimoll - I love this idea! So simple, but they are soooo beautiful!

Liz - This is so neat – love this craft!
Did you hear about the snowflake drive for Sandy Hook Elementary? Just wanted to pass this on in case you’d like to send some there (c&p from a friend’s Facebook feed):
* * *
So many friends near and far have asked how to help. There is a Snowflake Drive for the students of Sandy Hook Elementary to turn their new school into a winter wonderland being sponsored by the PTA.
Like our children, no two snowflakes are alike. We invite you to
create snowflakes to decorate Sandy Hook School’s new home. Be creative! All colors and designs are welcome. You can mail your snowflakes to
Connecticut PTSA,
60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12, Suite 103,
Hamden, CT 06514
by January 12, 2013.
Please feel free to share this with others.

Jamie M. - So cute!! Thanks for sharing this, I pinned it so I would remember to make it with my kids over winter break.

Kate - Cute! Thank you!

Kimberlee Jost - Those are beautiful!
And seem so easy…even I could do it. 😉
Talby always looks so serious when she is crafting, and I KNOW she’s loving every minute of it.
I wonder if that’s how I look when I’m into my craft.
Ha.

Penny - I agree, so well rounded. He will make someone a wonderful husband!

Tracy - Love this simple craft! And love that there is very little clean-up 😉

Melissa Kojima - Oh, they’re beautiful. I’ve never really like pipe cleaners, but this is perfect for them. I bet your place looks really wonderful with all your crafting decorations!

Molly - Also, my daughter needs scissor practicing, do you have any crafts for that?

Molly - I love this idea. I have these beads in green, red and white left over from a craft I did on my own and I think I have pipecleaners too. Thanks, we are off next week, so I appreciate the crafts you are posting. 🙂
My friend did the ice cream cones with frosting and sprinkles with her kids yesterday, have you tried that one?

Linda - WOW My 12 year old son saw this post this morning and said”MOM we have to make those” I was blown away, lately he has been too cool for crafts! Thanks for the great idea!

alicia @ la famille - sooo fun! i love the clear beads with the sparkly pipecleaners.

Seriously Sassy Mama - Love it. Too bad my house is already overflowing with Christmas. This will make a great craft for next year. Love the black and white take.

Debbie Hargadon - Loved This! So simple but so nice, as Jaimie said. Merry Christmas to you and your family, Meg! Thanks for exposing me to so much great stuff on the internet that I do not have time to find myself. Your blog is my guilty pleasure. I’ve found so much great stuff at your direction. And I LOVE Sean! How lucky his friends will be in his adult life with his grounded background of crafts, sports, God, Kansas living – I love how he is not too cool for these things. He seems to be comfortable in his own skin, which is so fabulous for a middle school boy. Bravo to him!

jaimie - Thanks for sharing…what a great craft! Love the simplicity but great impact! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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we heart ART.

September 6, 2012

we have a new favorite….kiwi crate.
have you heard of it?

it's a box of craft projects that comes in the mail once a month….it's awesome!

i surprised my girls with it and they were crazy thrilled.

the boxes have everything…a paint brush…a pencil…small scissors!!
they are full service.

IMG_4828-4
(mcdonalds not included…ha ha ha)

all the instructions are easy to read…kid friendly with pictures.
on this day i was busy with craft weekend projects so i was able to let them go crazy with the box and not need me to walk them through every step.
that was cool!
i love to do crafts with them too but sometimes independence is good too.

and these are Cuuuuute crafts!

seriously adorable right?? a firefly that hangs from the ceiling with a glowstick inside it!

so much fun.

the other project in this box was using stamps to make a bug painting.
it was messy but super fun.

we have had several boxes from kiwi crate now and i LOVE them.
it won't replace our regular everyday art but it's a fun extra!
and they seem to always arrive on the perfect day when we need something to do.

what a great gift it would make!
if someone had sent this to my kids i would have hugged them forever.

they have a referal program too.
so if you decide to sign up YOU GET $10 off and i get $10 OFF.
🙂

i like that.

so….click HERE if you want some KIWI CRATE for yourself!

your kids will LOVE it.

(not a paid advertisement..i just really love it)

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Wanda Phillips - Bring those art materials in and we are ready to have the fun that nobody can forget! I love the idea of the project box. Maybe I can avail also of it.

Mining Recruitment - Nice photos! This is really a very cool post. I love it so much! Really amazing.

Becki Smythe - So disappointing! I had every intention of using this for Christmas gifts and they don’t ship to Canada. I thought all my problems were solved. Bummer!

elizabeth beesley - Signed up under your name! xo

Julia - I heard about kiwi crate earlier this year and have Been wondering if it’s as awesome as it sounded on their site.thanks for the first-hand review.

Sunny Haynes - Thanks Meg! Signed up yesterday and added the sibiling add on! This will be great for myself and the little ones to do this winter when we are forced to stay inside! Waiting on my box coming later this month!

Rebecca Torzewski - Cute kit! My child would love this. However, I have the same questions as all the others. What age range did you get for your girls? Or is there just one age range. Thanks!

Carrie - Thanks for your blog, Megan. I love to see another Christian mom just living life and raising her family. Keep up the good work. 🙂

Kelly Henderson - You make art messes look absolutely beautiful… fun stuff!

Kimberlee Jost - “I do. I do like …”
crafts.
Julia never said that, but I can heard you being Meryl being Julia in this post.
😉

Susannah - Wow, that looks so neat! Such a great find!! 🙂

Rebecca Coolidge - I signed up, my daughter will love it 🙂

Amy@littleforalittlewhile - Meg! How fun! Just signed up 🙂 Man, you’re gonna get some good credit by sharing this, lucky gal!

jen - Meg, thanks so much for positing this!!!! Another $10 headed your way-such a fun way to spice things up in the creative department! Can’t wait!!

Lindy - Such a great link Meg, thanks! Doubly good: mail + art = kid heaven!

Flower Patch Farmgirl - You make me want to get my craft on.

Shannon - OMG!! How exciting, I love this. I’m gonna have to cancel my birchbox subscription because this is way better 😉

Tiffany - The price is actually not terrible! That was honestly the biggest surprise for me. I seriously was anticipating it to be more..

Holly Lesenko - Too bad they don’t ship to Canada 🙁 Does anyone know of a company that will??

Michelle Whitlow - That was my question, too! I noticed the age range on the website but it seemed like both of your younger daughters enjoyed it. My oldest is 10 but I think she would still like it.

Carrie - $10 coming your way!! My Charley will LOVE THIS! Thanks for sharing Meg! Hope all is well!

Laine - Quick question…is one crate enough for several kids to do a project or do you do the sibling add on kit? Also, is it just one craft for them to do or several with the same theme?

Christina - This looks wonderful!! And using the cupcakes cups for paint? Such a great idea!!

Ashley Jones - I just ordered one as a gift! Love this!!!

Jocelyn Pascall - WOW!!! I would have LOOOOOVED this as a child. Just such a perfect idea, and your kids look like they had a lot of fun.

Karlye - On their website it says ages 3-7…is that the kit that you received or is there one for older kids? Your kit looks like it’s crafty enough for my older kids to enjoy. How fun!!

Amanda Angert - This was just the push I needed to sign up 🙂 Thanks Meg!

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pretty.

August 22, 2012

i was working on some projects over at the craft house yesterday.
i love being in my sunny craft room.

i have been hoarding embroidery hoops.

that is my favorite photo of craig.
when i make him laugh that is the face i see.
i love that face.

a rainbow gift from craft weekenders.

you've got mail…again.
because why not?
sometimes its better than music.

thift store birds spray painted yellow.
i need to find a place to hang them up.

i love my glass star from Piggie&Dirt. i want to buy them all and hang them all over the ceiling!

hello new fabric i ordered from Hawthorne Threads.
please tell me you smiled really big with that combo like i did!

my grandma's flower frogs.

hankies.

more hoarding.

mr. duerksen….i love your shirt.

ummm….yeah.
this is… by far… the best fabric ever to exist in all of time…past….present….future.
the farm will get curtains with BIG rainbow chevron.
and if i could i would just wrap up everything around me in the other.
my furniture, my kids, my dog..all wrapped up in rainbow chevron.

it's by riley blake and i ordered it from hawthorne threads also.

a lot of it. :)

doiles.

sparkles.

happy maps from elizabeth st.

wire rack from the barn….i love rust.

i need to start decorating my gloves!
ha.

and whatever i can't drape with rainbow chevron….i will cover in vintage quilts.

vintage sparkles.

here is the other fabric i ordered….

i am determined to create more now that the kids are in school all day.
i NEED to be using my hands.
i need to work my mind that way much more often than i am.
it's calming and helps me think clearly.
so i am making a schedule and at least one day i AM creating.
no matter what.

do you make time for something like that in your life?
what is that important part of you that you don't want to miss out on?

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Karen - I know that lamp well and am glad you enjoy it 🙂 love, love, love the chevron fabric….just made the Hello Sunshine from the kit that was a weekend craft and the painted peacocks….love all your ideas…thanks for sharing your gift of crafting…

Natalie - While ths post made me happy it also made me so so jealous 🙂 gorgeous fabric. Where do you find all those fantastic quilts
I swear I have the worst luck in that department, yours are fab.

teresa - I love all your colorful piles….
Happy day! Love the name of your blog ;}

Julie Tiu - Oh my gosh. Just found your blog through Pinterest… so lovely “meeting” crafty, artful people… so much happiness here. Thank you for sharing!

Doris - I don’t know if you read comments you get here, but I wonder if you ever see my blog? Since year and few months ago I’m checking your blog and loving it 🙂
“You’ve got mail” is one of my all time favorites. 🙂
and I can’t live without being creative, it’s always something about pictures, or editing music videos, making stuff for family, making photo albums/scrapbooks… and-making music (I’m a singer-songwriter, engineer.)

Lisa Perry - Love when you post your creative stuff! I am aching to find the time to create, I have been so busy the past couple months, I’ve barely had time and my hands are itching for it too…hoping next weekend I will find the time! My soul needs it!

Lauren - I feel exactly the same. Posted something similar just the other day! The artist in me is sad to see summer go…but I gotta keep creating. LOVE the hankies by the way…and that children’s book. *gulp* What a lovely studio…enjoy it!

lola - hi eg! love your blog so much, your positivity is sometimes just what i need! also, I just wanted to let you know, if you didn’t know already, that I linked to your blog for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award, check it out at, http://www.bearandlionmama.com/2012/08/its-honour-just-to-be-nominated.html

Sarah Russell - This post is the epitome of eye candy. I love your blog so much and look forward to seeing the lastest scoop in my inbox each morning. God bless ya sistah!

Tracy - Where did you find the glass star? Is Piggie&Dirt on Etsy?

Lindsey - I saw the squirrel fabric on Hawthorne also! LOVE IT! Everything in this post is wonderful! Can’t wait to see what you made!!!!

Sharilyn - Your photos make me smile so BIG! I love the happiness that oozes from them. 🙂

Randi-Dukes and Duchesses - Love all those photos! This summer I set aside some creative time – an hour a week to sew, an hour a week to scrapbook, and an hour a week to knit. Sometimes I did more but it’s amazing what you can do in one hour. I even scheduled it in my planner. I’m definitely keeping it up during the school year.

Su@TheIntentionalHome - oh what fun inspiration. I pinned the embroidery hoop art from the Craft Weekend post and now love to see more in this post. . that will be a fun craft for me to do with my girls. I love the Chevron rainbow fabric. . love that they skipped out on purple (my least favorite color). . .all the others make me happy but not purple for some reason. I have all the colors in my house. . but purple. Happy Post. . love it. . .such inspirataion. And yes, one day a week. . I make time to read, blog, create, shop fun stores. . rest and inspire my soul. . but I tell you 9am-2pm goes very quickly.

Allison - Love your blog!
What is the title of the children’s book with the beautiful illustrations?
Thanks!

Bernice - Thank you for this post! I am so jealous of all your fabric purchases!! Man I’d love to be able to sit and make stuff all day. But for now an active toddler occupies my days. Enjoy your time!!

Amy @littleforalittlewhile - Fabric makes me happy. How will I ever choose at craft weekend?!

Mandy Draper - your post made me smile today 🙂 will you be making more pillows for your etsy shop again this year? i missed it last yr, and was super bummed.

Donna R - Love all the happy fabric, but especially the rainbow chevron. B U tiful! Now to come up with a project so I can order some.
Totally relate to needing to make time for creative projects. I have a million projects pinned and don’t nearly take the time I need to have fun with them!

Jenna@CallHerHappy - I love this post. It is really what I have been feeling lately. I have been in such a rut and I need to create! It is easier for me to create when I am with people I love. That is what makes living far away from home so hard 🙁 One day, I will have lots of time, but my baby will be grown by then. So I am enjoying her now!

Carolyn - That is FABULOUS fabric! And yes- I’ve been thinking that I MUST set aside time to be creative. I love to make things but I’m also a musician and did some acting in high school and I MISS performing. That creative outlet has been pretty dead for me since college. I signed up for an adult tap class for this year and I’m pretty excited about it! Now to find time to play my instruments…:)

Tracey - I need help!! I have been hoarding vintage napkins and hankies with embroidery that I want to make something with but I am struggling with what to make. I was thinking about a valance/curtain for the window above my kitchen sink but I am skeered to do anything to them until I have a plan. What have you made out of your vintage hankies in the past?

Brittany McKenna - Meg- I was at a thrift store in Colorado just yesterday and I saw the EXACT SAME thrift store birds (just one though) and thought about what they would look like spray painted! I had never seen anything like it until yesterday! I didn’t end up getting it, but I love how yours looks! I also love flower frogs! This whole post also made me happy!!

shannon - Your posts are always so bright and happy!
School started for us as well and I was really looking forward to crafting up a storm but instead I’ve been fighting ants daily 🙁
Hoping next week I have more time to craft and create!!!

Ashley E - Firstly, let me tell you what I would GIVE for that pile of doilies….I am so envious! 🙂 I’m on a mission to find all of Tulsa’s doilies for a project. I always try to make time for reading or crafting, which is probably once every two weeks due to being a working mama of two! Whew! LOOOOOVE your craft room and want to have Scotty “Beam me up!” to it!

Angela Atkins - I love your craft room and those stacks of fabric. I’ve been making my own Fall List, now that my big part time job is almost over and I’ll have two whole days to work on stuff while the kids are in school. I make time to do quilts now and will also add in some updating around the house–some furniture painting, new lampshades, that kind of stuff. And just some inspiration trips that I couldn’t do this summer with my kids.

Katie - how cute is tha b/w pic of your kiddos!!!

rachel - i think we could be twinsies….my craft closet very closely resembles your craft room, i adore your yellow owl, i, too, seem to hoard embroidery hoops and i drool over vintage fabrics and quilts. 🙂 if i don’t have a project to work on i get anxious. happy crafting! 🙂

Jodi - Antique shopping, You’ve Got Mail, painted yellow birds, lovely fabric, antique quilts, thread spools, and the hankie collection…..we love so many of the same things! I’ve read your blog for the past 3 years, but never really commented. But today I felt like you were reading my mind. I can just imagine how you feel when you walk into your craft/sewing room…pure happiness.

Jenny B. - I saw those too! I have boys, so they wouldn’t go for it. I briefly considered getting one for myself. 🙂

Jenny B. - Oh, such a happy post! That rainbow chevron makes me giddy! Giddy, I tell you! 🙂 I see ball fringe… are you planning to make more pillows? The one I bought last year is the star of my sofa, and I’m thinking he needs a friend. Hint, hint. 🙂 Also – LOVE the rainbow button lamp shade. I think I might need to do that. So many ideas… so little time… 🙂 Thanks for brightening my day!

Chrissie Grace - Yummy. Makes me want to create

Lisa B - I LOVE that rainbow chevron! I think my son needs that for curtains in his new room when we move.

Jennifer wood - My boys are ages 11, 7, and 4, so I kind of feel like I have recently stepped out of a fog of diapers, potty training, etc. Because of that (and because I’ve been intentional about creating time for it), I’ve been creating more for our home…making something out of nothing, making fun things out of ordinary things. My oldest son recently said, “I love how you decorate our house with things most people give away to the Food and Clothing Bank (our town’s “goodwill”)” This was such a compliment to me! haha!! 😉 LOVE your blog…it inspires me.

melissa lorenz - Completely inspiring post today Meg! BTW – Lands End has rainbow chevron backpacks for kids this year!

Gina - Love all your beautiful photos! Especially the quilts…hope I can score some one day. I love to make things, too, whether it is a paper craft or sewing. Have a great week!

Jacci in Ohio - I just LOVED all these pictures from your craft room. Craft Weekend pics are fun, but I love these even more. More personal, maybe? Happy fun.
Time in the Word. And in prayer. My five kids are home all day, everyday… that time has to be protected like mad. Or it slips away. And it’s not something I can just give up on.

beth - You are absolutely right about creating and I have decided to follow in your footsteps and create while the kids are in school–yea for school! ha!
How do you clean your vintage quilts? I have a beautiful old quilt I just got from my mom that my grandma made and I’m not sure how to go about getting it clean. It’s not stained, but just that old musty smell from being in my parents basement. Any ideas?
Happy school days to you, Meg!
Beth

Darcie L. - Kindred spirits. We were doing premarital counseling with some younger friends of ours. Hubby asked the guy, “What are your fiancee’s needs? Like, for my wife, she NEEDS to be creative. She NEEDS to make things.” He was totally right. 🙂

Ami - This happy post is exactly why you are the first blog I check everyday! Love, love, love all that color!

Jen Brandt - I so love your pictures. What an awesome rainbow button lamp shade. So happy! I need time to exercise and thank God I have a husband who understands that. 🙂

Jolene (Homespun Heritage) - I miss quilting, to be honest. My sewing machine (dumb Brother) finally gave up the ghost and it will be months before I can replace it and months before my life settles down enough to even consider crafting/sewing. We’re going from 4 to 7 children and that’s going to be a bit chaotic around here.

Christy K - This is, by far, THE happiest blog post I have read in, well… EVER. All of the bright, beautiful colours make my heart SO very happy! Thank you for inspiring me today and happy creating!! : )

stephany - Happy photos.
Creating makes me happy, too!
I have tons of cleaning to do before my in-laws get to town and I have been creating, moving furniture, and changing things around in our house instead.
You’ve Got Mail is one of my favorites, too. Really, anything with Meg Ryan.
And, I have a table full of thrifted embroidery hoops and fabric right at this moment.
I think we would get along well. 🙂

becky - i thought you’d appreciate this – we were doing a cross country road trip with the kids (well, to ohio and back) and i had this big binder with all the things we were going to do at every stop. and on the way home we had an over-nighter in salina and my one and only goal was to go out to the barn and shop and i had it all marked and the address in the gps and everything…AND…the one day we were there – was the day they were closed. sigh. and to think i passed up one amazing antique shop after another with the mantra going through my head, “just make it to kansas…just make it to kansas…” hah! that’ll teach me. hopefully next time i’m in your neck of the woods – i will make it to the barn.
thanks for all the wonderful pics today. it’s funny – i see rainbow things all the time and think of you – which is weird, i know…but funny at the same time. oh, this funny blogging world.

Lennie Jackson - My kids are small 1 yr and almost 3 so it is very hard for me to get any craft-mommy-I need it to keep my sanity time, but I try really hard to do that. It is all a juggle and you seem to do so well. Thanks for the pretty post!!! Someday I’ll get to that craft house!!

Juli - So funny! I just ordered the rainbow chevron from Hawthorne after they sent their e-mail! I told my husband I’m just going to wrap the outside of the house with it :)! I haven’t received mine yet. Do you think its heavy enough for a shower curtain? (there would be a plastic liner too). Love your blog so much. Hoping to meet you in sometime at a craft weekend!
-Julie

Kate - What inspiration this morning! My oldest is just starting preschool this fall, and I am hoping to spend more time in my craft room. I also just signed up on the CW waiting list, so I’m hoping to see your craft room sometime soon, too. 😉 Happy Wednesday!

kelly - I stayed home from work today and was feeling kinda blah… your post lifted my spirits and made me want to create. I have a not so craft room that has been in the making since we built the house 2 years ago–bot as big as yours but I would love for it ot have the same feel of yours… Thanks for the inspiration–I can tell yours has all the things you love…. THanks Meg!!!

Dara - I love the rainbow chevron!

annie - Can I just come and LIVE at the craft house?!?!?!?!!? HOLY COW! I LOVE EVERYTHING!!!!!

Han - You’ve Got Mail is one of my favourites! I adore Nora Ephron films – I watched YGM most recently the day that she passed away – I watched in like memory of her.
I even quoted YGM on my blog today (here)
“Don’t you just love New York in the fall. It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bunch of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address. On the other hand this not knowing has it’s charms”

Sharla - Rainbow chevron! I am in love

Jen - What a fun place Craft House is!! I love the color, the mix of patterns. It’s all so happy and creative. Mission accomplished.

Verna Lantz - This entire post made me happy. What happy colors and patterns. Now, I believe I need my own craft room to fill it with color and happy. Thanks!!

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craft thursday!!!!

July 12, 2012

what??

craft thursday?!

🙂

finally.

here’s the scoop on WHERE craft thursday has been…
1. we moved (insert delayed exhaustion here)
2. craft weekend has taken LOTS of time this year
3. our house is much smaller than the other one so in order to make a craft we first have to clean the entire area first…just so we can mess it up again…and i haven’t had the energy to do it.
4. my kids are getting older and think my ideas are not as cool as they used to. (can that BE possible??)

BUT…if everything aligns perfectly…craft thursday happens.

it did and they liked it!

i found this Painted Peacock craft through pinterest (of course) and it linked through to smART Class.
watch the cute peacock video…my kids were amazed.

we started by painting paper first.

i had annie help me with this since her siblings had friends over and she was LOOOOONELY.
it was so relaxing.
after we painted several big sheets of paper we used the end of a paint brush and “drew” in designs on the paint.
we discussed how much Eric Carle must LOVE his job.

then we left all the painted paper to dry.

we did this craft outside and you can see why.

i painted their hand and they stamped it onto a sheet of heavy white paper.
then they painted the arm part on with a brush.
then i made them wash it all off.
i only found a tiny bit of blue paint on the bathroom sink afterwards…. not bad for three hands.

while the hand print was drying we cut “feathers” out of the now dry painted paper that annie and i made.
i made them a pattern to trace onto the painted paper in a feather shape….kind of.

we used school glue and gluesticks…just depended on their preference.
they cut out five “feathers” and then cut out the eyes/circle shapes for the feathers next.

aren’t the colors so rad?!

busy bees.

they glued the eye/circles to the feathers.
they made an eyeball with white paper, the orange painted paper & black. (annie begged me to make hers for her)
they glued it to the center of the handprint.
then cut the handprint out and glued it over the feathers.

ANNIE

and a close-up… glitter paint!! i would have them use a bunch more had i known how pretty it would be!

SEAN
his patience had worn thin by the time we were done.
no fancy details on his peacock face.
but i was grateful he stayed as long as he did.

TALBY

and her close up….

this was a FUN craft.
messy.
i like messy.

you can check out our other Craft Thursday projects right here….
we have made some really cute stuff!!
i love looking back at their projects.

if i had to pick a favorite i would choose….this one.

or maybe this one….

i can’t decide.

there is THIS great one too!

happy crafting to you and your littles.

here’s to hoping for many more craft thursdays!
cheers!!
{clink clink clink}
(toasting our Sonic Cranberry Limeades together in awesomeness!)

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Bernice - Love Eric Carle books! The peacocks turned out awesome! Now I’m wondering… how did you paint those painted papers? I know this must be such a dumb question but I love how there’s a bunch of colours all mixed in but not completely mixed in, and the brushed look in the pinkish one. Clearly I havent spent enough time playing with paints.

Heidi Jo the Artist - And I meant, how fun!! A little one distracted me! 😉

Heidi Jo the Artist - How fun!? Love that craft Thursday came/is back. 🙂

Rebecca Forcht - That is stinkin’ ADORABLE!!! Love your blog!!

Amy K. - Oh my goodness!! I had entirely forgotten that Craft Thursday was the reason I started following Whatever… thanks for the trip down memory lane!

Mary - these are so wonderful!
my kiddos would LOVE this! 🙂

joyce - these would look fab on a canvas in a kids room! Thanks for the idea

Mindy Harris - that is so “essence of eric carle” love!

mollie's mom - Love it. What a great project!! We did a peacock project (http://madebymolliesmom.blogspot.com/2011/06/pretty-as-peacock.html) last year at art camp and the kids loved all the colors, glitter glue, etc. but I love this project because I love having their little handprints incorporated in their artwork!! Those are definitely keepers:) Marcie

kerry - Wow, they look amazeballs! I love that Sean joined in too – not too big too craft with mom 🙂
Happy Summer guys xx

Jennifer - I have been missing your craft thursday’s. this is a great one! we did your “giant squid” craft today, very fun. my girls loved it! thanks for all the ideas.

Kristin - I love craft thursdays, great project! Just a heads up you might want to check the comments (or trackback) from the rainbow paper plate…one caught my eye that isn’t family friendly. 🙁

Karina - OK, never mind…I searched and found your explanation in March. I guess I haven’t been following your blog faithfully enough! Congratulations on having TWO houses, at least for the time being! As long as you still own that awesome first house, I guess I can get back to my day. lol

KirstenP - I checked the links for your favorite Craft Thursday projects. Of the three I loved the butterfly craft the best. I’m puzzled why Annie couldn’t also have a turquoise background for her butterflies like Talby did. 🙂

Karina - You MOVED?!?! What did I miss??? I hope you’ll fill us in…

Heather - We did it! They LOVED it. 7year old, 5 year old, and even the 2 year old!

Julieschomacker - When I taught elementary school, the district art teacher came about once a month and one time she did this art project with the kids. I think it would be perfect for your kids. I have even done this with 8th graders and they loved it!
Take fabric squares-I bought a white flat sheet and cut it into 12″x12″ squares. Then you take a mixture of equal parts toothpaste (the paste kind, not gel) and hand lotion. I think I used Aim and the cheapest Great Value hand lotion. Mix it together and then have them paint a scene on their fabric. We did underwater scenes and space scenes, or whatever they wanted scenes. It depended on what we were studying. You let that dry for a day.
The next day paint it with two different colors of Tempera paint-in big stripes. Let the paint dry about 30 minutes, then rinse the paint off. You can feel the slick paint coming off along with the toothpaste/hand lotion, but it will be have stained the fabric. The hand lotion/toothpaste acts as a resist-like batik. When the fabric dries then you can make pillows with the fabric. It really is a cool project. I should show you a picture of the finished project.

Kelly - We checked out a book at the library this week that made me think of something you might do for Craft Thursday. It’s called Roly-Poly Egg by Kali Stileman. We’re definitely going to be recreating it soon!

Pink and Green Mama MaryLea - Oh Meg — these are SO Beautiful!!
I LOVE making Paste Paper — so very Eric Carle — the peacocks look fabulous and I’ve Pinned it to do with my own girlies.
Haven’t been crafting as much this week here either – we were without power all of last week (ugh!) then the girls have had VBS this week. Getting ready for our dog adoption so I’ve been sewing doggy beds and getting the house puppy proofed. Hoping to do some more crafting in August!
xoxo
Love,
MaryLea

Heather - I might just do this with my kiddos TODAY! Thank you. Those are great!

Eugenia - Can’t wait to try. Looks so amazing.

amy jupin - clever clever.
anna just looked over my shoulder and said “ooooohhh!”
and now she is digging through our paints as i type!

Anna Marie - What is that heavy white paper called? Where do you get it?
I love this craft. Thank you for sharing, lady!

roganne - this is seriously the most adorable craft ever! i can’t wait until my little ones are big enough to do awesome crafts…with MULTIPLE steps! (that last part is key i think 🙂

Nicole Q. - This is a fun one ….
Miss you too !
Did you guys decide to go to the Jost wedding… let me know if you do.
We are making the trip.

Gemma - Wow they look so cool, especially the glittery one! So much fun : )
Still love your blog Meg after so many years!
Gemma xxx
http://musings-of-a-gem.blogspot.co.uk/

Jenna@CallHerHappy - What beautiful art! I was just wondering the other day how Eric Carle does his books. Now I know 🙂

Jenny Joy - LOVE. IT.

Jennifer Dawn - Great craft! I love it! I am glad Craft Thursday happened!

Alicia @ La Famille - these are SOOOO cool! i love them!! what a great project and they DO look just like eric carle’s illustrations 🙂

Jen Brandt - You rock. I don’t know how I’ve found the energy for anything these days. Happy Thursday!

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mess it up…it’s easy to clean it up.

May 30, 2012

when Clorox^Æ asked me to write about making messes with my kids and cleaning them up
i said, "YES! we are GREAT at making messes and coincidentally . . . Clorox Clean-Up^Æ is my favorite cleaning product!"

they directed me to the Clorox Clean-Up Recipes for Fun–Where Mess Doesn't Matter!
have you been there?
it is FULL of ideas for crafts or cooking or even science experiments to get messy with kids!

i make crafts with my kids quite often and i LOVE to see them get really into their project no matter how messy it gets!
at the Recipe for Fun site i found an idea for using collage and color together to make a color wheel!
we got busy on the mess making.

i got out our stack of old magazines and began ripping out anything that was mostly one color.
we made a big pile of magazine pictures.
i cut a large circle from a piece of poster board and drew lines diving the circle into six equal sections.
i wrote the names of the colors in rainbow order on the wheel to know where to put each scrap.
then we started gluing down our pictures.

i came across rubber cement at the grocery store and wondered if my girls had ever used it.
i knew i had never purchased it, so i got some.
my daughter was very curious!
"WHAT is this?!" she asked in a doubtful tone.
then i showed her how it had a brush INSIDE, and she was excited to use it.

we also used a paint brush dipped in the glue bottle so we could all work at the same time.
it's just like painting but you paint with glue.

layering and layering . . . picture after picture . . . overlapping until there are no white spaces at all.

Rrrrip!

snip! snip! snip!

we almost always make our crafts at this table.
i painted it white almost 10 years ago.
my kids use everything on it!
and it always comes back to white with Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner.

i was out of town recently, and when i came home i noticed my 10 year old had organized this coca-cola crate
with our art supplies by color!
how cute is that?! i love it! we like to do lots of things around here in rainbow order.

it was coming along quite nicely at this point.
there was glue all over our hands and the table!

they finished their color wheel collage but the mess still remained.

well…every Recipe For Fun needs a Recipe For Clean.
Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner combines a cleaner and the disinfecting power of Clorox Bleach letting you spray away messy play. It removes tough stains as well as the germs you can't see, leaving your home sparkling clean and ready for the next recipe.

usually after craft time my kids quickly scatter leaving the mess for me to clean up.
but today my youngest surprised me by helping out!
she loves to use spray bottles and paper towels.

when she saw the marker and glue wipe right off she said, "this is going great!"

with my daughter's help, a trash bag & Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner, the room was cleaner than when we started!

find the perfect activity for you and your kids to live it up, mess it up and then clean it up at Clorox Clean-Up Recipes for Fun ñ Where Mess Doesnít Matter!

do you like getting messy and creative with your kids?

tell me about it in the comments and be entered to win one of ten $100 Visa gift card s!

Rules:

No duplicate comments.

You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:

a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post

b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post*

c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post*

d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.

Entries from all participating blogs will be pooled for winner selection; only two entries per household. This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.

*Entrant is receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for the tweet/blog post.

The Official Rules are available here.

This sweepstakes runs from 5/30/2012-6/24/2012.

Clorox^Æ and Clean-Up^Æ are registered trademarks of The Clorox Company.

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Trae Kendrick - A mess has never deterred my boys and me. The messier the better! They’ve grown up quite a bit, and now our messes come from gutting a deer or breasting out dove. Still tons of fun!

mollie - love the color wheel

katie - Hey Meg! Great post. It makes me want to go clean something. ( I don’t have that feeling too often…)
What r u using for photo editing now that picasa shut down?
I love your blog!!

Jenna@CallHerHappy - My daughter is 10 months old, and we love to make messes. I give her avocados, prunes and sweet potatoes in her high chair and let her paint with them! It mostly goes in her hair 🙂
Jenna
callherhappy.com

Carolyn W - I like to move my kids’ table outside when we do art, so we can get as messy as we want without me worrying that they will drop something on the carpet! And I actually do use Clorox wipes when we’re done to clean off the table. 🙂

Heather D - I don’t have kids, but I like to play and get messy with my nieces and nephews. And I learned from my mama that Clorox Clean-up is the best!

Lindsay - we painted with shaving cream and that was pretty messy…i actually used another type of clorox product to clean it all up (the one that you can spray even on a baby’s highchair and not have to wipe it off with water…). thanks for the chance!

tiffany gardner - Yes! I’m a big fan too! My mom always said…mess was my middle name. I have now passed that on to my children!!!!

Amber - We love this stuff! Thanks for the opportunity Clorox and Meg!

Diane Hutchings - I am a pretty messy crafter myself!

Bethany - It hasn’t been a day if we haven’t made at least one huge mess!

Kimmie - My kiddos love to get messy. We recently painted flower pots and little bird houses at teacher gifts. They loved it!

Kattastik.wordpress.com - I do love messy crafts with my kids! But my kids, all boys, can’t stand to get their hands messy! Makes no sense, but it’s true.

Annie - My 6 year old daughter is always begging to do a messy craft! The messier the better!

Courtne Huffman - We also love to craft and create at our house. And, of course, clean-up usually ends up with just me. 🙂

Holly - We love to create at our house also and I use a ton of the clorox clean up!

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