Spring in a Bottle

Here's a nice little crafting project to promote greenery!

If it feels like spring's taking too long to sprout, liven up a winter windowsill by making this mini greenhouse -- a recycled take on a cloche, traditionally used outdoors to protect early plantings. CRAFT MATERIALS:
Clear 2-liter soda bottle
Small flowerpot
Potting soil
Seeds
Saucer
Craft stick marker

Time needed: Under 1 Hour
1. Cut the top from a clear 2-liter soda bottle.

2. Find a flowerpot that fits inside the dome. Fill the pot with potting soil, then plant the seeds according to the packet directions.

Tip: Consider planting herbs, such as parsley and basil, that can be transplanted outside once the weather warms, or grass, which grows fast and is fun to trim with scissors.

3. Place the pot on a saucer and poke in a craft stick marker. Slip the dome over the pot. Be sure to water the soil when it looks dry.

From FamilyFun: Spring Crafts

Spring is Here!

I hope everyone had a great Easter. Spring has come and it doesn't quite feel like it here yet in Atlanta. It was nice and warm on Friday, and then it started getting wet and cold again. I just can't believe how time is flying! Look out for some great spring crafting ideas...

Michaels' Easter Crafting

Michaels.com has over 80 easter project ideas. The projects have their own difficulty levels with full instructions. Have fun!

Easter Crafting Ideas from Michaels

Traditional Easter Egg Dye Project

Here's three traditional ways to dye your Easter eggs:

Natural
Ingredients:
Various coloured food and plant items e.g. beetroot, coffee, saffron, grass, berries.
Saucepan for each colour
Cooking oil

For each colour, pour 1/2 - 1 cup of water into a saucepan and add the chopped up fruit or plant products. Bring to the boil and then let simmer until the desired colour is obtained. Let the dyed water cool and then add the eggs (already hard-boiled or blown). Let the eggs sit until they turn the colour that you want. Remove them from the dye and when fully dry, polish then with a soft cloth and a little cooking oil.

Food Coloring
Ingredients:
Food colouring
Hot water
White vinegar
Cooking oil

For each colour, place 1/4 teaspoon of food colouring in a small bowl. Add 3/4 cup of hot water and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar. Add the eggs (hard-boiled or blown) and let them sit until they turn the colour that you want. Remove from the dye and when fully dry, polish then with a soft cloth and a little cooking oil.

Crepe paper dye
Ingredients:
Different coloured crepe paper
Hot water
Cooking oil

Tear up large pieces/strips of crepe paper and soak each colour in individual bowls of hot water. Add the eggs (hard-boiled or blown) and let them sit until they turn the colour that you want. Remove from the dye and when fully dry, polish then with a soft cloth and a little cooking oil.

More Easy Easter Crafting

Easter Crafts!

Plushy Easter Bunny


Easter Wreath Directions

It's sooo nice out today. It's starting to feel like spring - yay! Have you guys found any nice Easter crafts?

Free $100 Give Away!

Yay, Jennifer posted about this cool new contest that kidazy.com is promoting. You can win $100 to Toys R Us! I hope I win:
"Our very first gift certificate giveaway begins today (Monday, February 18, 2008) and the winner will receive a $100 USD gift certificate to Toys R Us!For the next four weeks (until March 18, 2008) "
http://www.kidazy.com/news/gift-certificate-giveaway

Usher in the New Spring Season

I love Easter and Spring - the flowers blossom, the sun stays out longer, and the warmth reaches out further and longer. It is a time of new beginnings. To usher in Easter and my favorite season, Good Housekeeping displays some great Easter centerpieces and crafting ideas. So classy and inviting~!

The All-in-One Basket

Get Carried Away

Pour on the Charm

More Good Housekeeping Easy Easter Crafting

Back! After 3 Long Weeks~

Hey guys, it's been hectic over here! First I was sick for about a week. There was a nasty flu going around and every other person I knew was getting it. Even my friends who claim they "never" get sick got it! It kicked our butts. But now we're all stronger than ever! I hope everyone had a great Valentines Day and is doing well. Back to crafting, since Easter is coming, I'll scour the net for some cool ideas and bring it back here to share!

Valentines Day Crafting

Lovely Valentines Day Card Idea

Valentines Day DIY Postings

This blog has some very nice Valentines crafting ideas!

Family Fun Valentines Crafts

Comprehensive Crafts Guide with Great Tutorial Videos

Valentines Day Crafts

It's just around the corner - love day, vday, saints day, Valentines Day is the perfect occasion to craft for. Before we get to crafting ideas for Valentines, I just wanted to point out a couple of cool blog for this upcoming special occasion:

Valentines Day For All

Valentines Craft Ideas

Below are great Valentines crafts. Let me know if you guys uncover some more crafty Valentine projects! More to come...

"Dear Valentine..." Scrolls

"I'm Yours" Picture Magnets

MLK Day Crafting

MLK (Martin Luther King, Jr.) Day is on Monday, January 21, 2008. So the kids will be home hungry for some crafting :) This is a great time to engage them in some history learning with some fun crafting.

MLK Day History Facts and Resources

Celebrating MLK Day with Kids

Great Ideas for Children on MLK Day

Freedom Friends

Martin Luther King Jr. Rainbow Pin

Happy Hat Day!

Happy Hat Day everyone! Today is National Hat Day (every Jan. 15 is), well not officially "National" since it isn't a government holiday. But it is cold in most parts of the US, and hats are worn to keep in the warmth. Much of our body heat is lost through the head and hats help to protect us from the chilly weather. So in recognition of hat day and hats of all sizes, color, shapes, and styles, here are some crafty hats:

"Lucky Hat" Craft Project from "Lucky the Leprechaun"

Tigger's "Circle Hat"

the "Ultimate Sun Hat"

How to Make a Marukai Hat


How to Make a Paper Hat

Kitty Critters Crafting

My last post was for the dogs, so I thought it would be appropriate to post for my cat, too :) I normally don't like to buy toys for Elmo, as he loves to play with anything. But this crafting project was just too cute and Elmo will love it for sure. I love the idea of maybe slipping in some cat nip in these!

Look What the Cat Dragged In!

Cute and Unique Crafting Idea - Origami Dog

Recommended through a friend, here's a nice lil and easy crafting project anyone can do and you don't have to worry about the kids making a mess! There's only about 10 easy to follow steps.

Winter Crafting Out of the Cold

Soapy Snowmen

Burrr~ It is freezing down here in Atlanta! Well, probably not to you Northerners, but 20 degrees is almost unbearable to some of us Southern folks :) This is the perfect time to get the fire going in the fireplace and enjoy crafting, of course! Winter Crafting Ideas from familyfun.com:

Snowman Pin

SugarCube Igloo - Watch the kids on this one! :P

Ice Crystal Lantern