project: an apple a day

Welcome to the first blog post for Learn, Play, Create!  Thank you all for joining me here on the blog.  Toddlers, tweens and even you adults will find this project very fun and super simple.  Kids, please make sure that there is an adult nearby for help with this project.  Let's get started!

Materials:

apple(s)

acrylic paint or finger paint

sponge brush (works best) or paint brush

cardstock or other heavy weight paper/canvas

brown or black marker

Today we will be making a stamped apple print using apples as our stamp.  Pretty simple, huh!  To get started you will need at least one apple, maybe more depending on how many color choices you want.  First, have an adult slice an apple (or apples if you are stamping more than two color) in half.  ~IMPORTANT~  Make sure that you apple is sliced as straight and even as possible through the core.  This will allow the apple to lay flat on the stamped surface.~

You should now have two (or more) apple halves.  Using a sponge brush, apply paint to the open side of the apple in your choice of color(s). 

After you have applied paint to the apple half, place the apple half face down onto the paper or canvas that you want to be stamped.  Press firmly but be sure not to slide or move the apple half around on the paper.  Also, you will need to reapply paint as needed after you stamp your apple.

Younger children may need to have help from an adult due to the apples being a little slippery and oversized for their small hands.

Once you have finished stamping with your apple halves, allow the paper/canvas to dry completely.

When the paint has dried, you can use a brown or black marker to draw on stems and apple seeds.

Your finished apple stamped art work should look similar to this!

~If the apple was not evenly sliced you may notice that the apple stamp is not filled in. Use your sponge brush and carefully fill in around the areas that the apple did not stamp.~

You may also want to try using fabric paint to decorate canvas bags, tshirts, aprons and other items.
Happy stamping!

 

new goodies in the shop

It's been way too long since I have gotten around to putting new goodies in my Etsy shop.  But, after seeing how cute these little summer treat packages turned out, I had to share the love!  I packaged these up for end the year gifts for the kids at school.  They were a hit!  What kid doesn't like these crazy popsicles?  And the juice...they suck it dry! 

So, I've added a few of these over in my Etsy shop, just for kicks.  I plan on creating a few more gift wrap/packaging items and maybe even a few custom order products. 

I've got the crafting itch.  Can you tell?

almost there

As promised, a picture of our renovated master suite (not yet 100% complete)!  The wall behind my bed still needs a little touch of something.  I just can't gain enough courage to poke a hole in my wallpaper.  I've thought about using command strips...eh, not so sure?  I have been patiently waiting on Romeo to hang the ceiling medallion over my fan.  Maybe I can sweet talk him this weekend.

Anyway, while I was in Cinderella mode, I tossed up the bedding and decided to take this quick shot of the left side of the room.   I will post more pictures soon.  For now, off to finish my to-do list!

learn, play, create

If I could pick three words that would describe my goal for the summer, they would be...

 

I am going to start a summer program here on the blog called Learn, Play, Create.  I will post fun activities that you can do with your children that will take away

some of the "Mom, I'm bored" moments.

Join me (and my girls) as we dive into summer with Learn, Play, Create!

summer school

School is almost out and I am signing up for class.  Not to worry, it's a fun class with no homework.  I just signed up for the Happy Go Lucky Stitchalong with Amy Powers over at Big Picture Classes.  I have always loved the look of embroidery.  Perfect or not, it inspires me.  Roxanne has recently become interested in hand stitching with yarn, something I know little about.  I thought this would be the perfect way for the two of us to take a class together (in our jammies, if we want), as beginners and learn a useful and fun way to hand stitch.  I would love for you guys to join us.  We could all share our projects at the end of the class.  It would be so fun!!  Head on over HERE and check it out.  There are lots of other classes offered by Big Picture, art, photography, scrapbooking, you name it.  Even if the stitchalong is not for you, you'll find something you like at Big Picture Classes, I'm sure.

impressed

As I sit her in the AC trying to cool off from an afternoon in the Georgia sun, I am blog strolling.  There are so many post of pretty tables, food that is dreamy, bouquets of flowers, shimmery and glitzy glazed pots, and beautiful decor beyond words.  With each pastel M&M (left over from Easter) that I consume, I can't stream my mind to gather focused thoughts on what to do with all of this feminine goodness.  I suppose if I could physically make these wonderful goodies and monetarily afford to host such a shindig, my guest of honor would be my mother.

So, for Mother's Day, I am sending my mom a showcase of these items with a side note that says, "IOU".  No, I'm not that tacky, but I am smart enough to know that I could never pull off a Mother's Day gala with all of these fancy homemade goodies.

Check out those cake pops.  I mean, come on!!  This is fancy-schmany folks!

BHG goodness

If you missed the April issue of Better Home and Gardens, you missed THIS.  It was a complete "WOW" moment for me when I saw it.  After working with a sweetheart of a bride the past few months on a backdrop for her reception, this had my attention. 

I've got lots of plans for this little freebie!

celebrate

This totally speaks my language!  I love the mixed textures of this handmade piece.  Mother's Day is in a few weeks.  Don't forget to celebrate Mom. 

Happy Monday!

easy peasy

If you are looking for an easy recipe that is fun for kids to make and a dream to enjoy, THIS is it!

Notice the smudge in the gooey chocolate.  Yep, that's a sign of little fingers getting a taste of the chocolatey goodness.

 (pssst...JIF woks just as well in the mix.  I've also topped these with melted caramel and pecans.)

I hope your week has been a good one...TGIF!!  Enjoy your weekend. 

Earth daily

 

This past Sunday was Earth Day.  It's a time where we reflect on the goodness of Mother Nature and all that she has to offer us and in return we offer her a little something.  Maybe you planted a tree, flowers, cleaned out a pond, picked up trash, or simply manicured your lawn and fertilized plants to help them grow and thrive.

Earth Day is very important and so often overlooked by thousands of people.  I am no "go-green" advocate but I do try my best to take care of the earth and help maintain its balance on my small plot of ground down here in the south. 

If you did not get the chance to do a little something this weekend to make the earth a better place, do it today, tomorrow or even next week.  The important thing is that you take the time to do it.  Here are a couple of links that I found helpful and inspiring.

 

HERE

HERE

Be sure to check out the special savings offers available HERE from Target!

paper pieces and pretty faces

OK, can I brag just a bit??  PLEASE!!!  Just take a look at this beautiful baby girl.  Mine?  Well, kind'a.  My niece Corley was born just a few weeks ago.  She's such a pretty baby.  I love, love, love this sweet little miracle!

Here's one of my favorite pictures of Roxanne holding little Corley, pure love!

I've got lots to share over here on the blog.  We've had a busy couple of weeks with more on the way...a wedding, a birthday, a baby dedication, another birthday, a baptism, and the list of blessings keep growing.

The school year is coming to a close with just a few short weeks to go. Roxanne and I completed her last project for the year last week.  Her class is learning and exploring ways to recycle.  The project was to reuse and re-purpose.  We looked online and found this adorable paper bead project made from magazine paper.  It was an instant "yes"!

It was a simple cut, trace, roll and paste type project.  A little time consuming to younger children but the end result was worth the wait.  Eating a handful of peanut M&M's makes the time go by a little faster!  Enjoy :)

pastel parade

Ahh, Spring is here!  We are surrounded in a rainbow of color both inside and outside of our home.  The birds are singing their beautiful melodies and the very bowels of the earth are breaking ground in all of its beauty.  I love this time of year!

We are in full swing preparing for the Easter Bunny to trot down our bunny trail.  We've decorated the house in a parade of Easter pastels.  We've dyed eggs to satisfy Bryar and her love for hard boiled eggs.  As for me, I just love all of the beautiful colors and I enjoy a hard boiled egg in my salad, too. 

My aunt made these beautiful dyed egg shells years ago that I proudly display on our dinning room table.  They are a treasure and someday I hope to attempt making some of these myself.

We have plastic eggs filled with candy waiting to be hunted, jelly beans being used for bunny bait and Easter dresses hung and ready to celebrate the true meaning of the Easter celebration...Jesus!

I hope that you and your family are celebrating his resurrection as well and enjoying a bit of the candy and hoopla that makes it fun and entertaining for all of us.  Have a great Easter and enjoy your time this holiday with family and friends.  

Much love,