Contact Paper Snowflakes (and indoor play photos)

Did you know that clear contact paper looks frosted on a window?  I didn't until I read it on a home decorating blog.  I had some clear contact paper left over from a long time ago and used it to cut some snowflakes to stick on our playroom door.

Cutting the folded contact paper was too difficult for my children to do, but they do enjoy seeing them on the glass.

One afternoon my daughters spent a long time building with legos and blocks. They were so happily engaged.  My daughters love the Friends Legos and for Christmas got a few sets.   Legos are one of the few plastic toys I don't mind in the house.

They still use the duplo legos as well.  They are great for starting lego play because the pieces are so big and easier to put together and take apart.

                                                           Good Old Block Building "Roads"

                                                              Bridges, roads and houses.

Recent Craftiness

We've tried out some new crafts that I thought I would share. There is just something about the winter that makes one want to stay inside and get creative. It is always fun to try something new too, especially when it works as planned.

The nature stand has newly made beeswax hearts. This was a new try for me, as I've never made beeswax ornaments. I used soap molds for the hearts. It really is so easy that I am on the lookout for some more molds. Any suggestions?

We made these hanging door handle hearts. I planned it for our craft day. It required more one-on-one from me than I had thought it would, but they are lovely to see hanging on doors throughout the house.

Decorative snow people are added to our winter decor. I searched online for a tutorial after a pair of my daughter's tights got a hole. Somehow I've misplaced the buttons, which I planned to use for eyes, but they look just as cute without.

These Hankie Holders are especially handy now that have a round of colds this week. We each made one. A quick, easy and useful craft.

Craft :: Cookie Cutter Wool Wet Felting

We used some colored wool roving to make these star shapes recently.

The materials needed were easily gathered from around the house. A pencil or dowel, very warm soapy water in a small bottle (we used a small spray bottle container), colored wool roving, a cookie cutter, a face cloth and a flat container to work in.

We tried both a heart and star shape but found the star to have a better outcome. A folded face cloth was placed at the bottom of the work surface in the container. The cookie cutter was placed on top.

The cookie cutter was stuffed with roving. With so many color choices we ended up making lots of stars.

The warm soapy water was gently poured on top of the roving until it was well saturated.

Next, it was time to agitate the wool with an up and down motion. The eraser end of the pencil worked well and we sometimes used our fingers to poke the wool too. After a few minutes of poking, I took the wool in the cookie cutter over to the sink and rinsed it in cool water, then they were blotted with a towel and left to dry.

After the stars were dry I trimmed any messy edges and strung them to hang from one of the knitting tower garlands.

Now my daughters have some new bedroom decor that they can enjoy looking at and enjoy knowing they made themselves!

Handmade Gifts

I recently mailed out a gift box for my sister and her six month old baby. Included were a few of the handmade gifts we've been making lately. The frame includes a wet felted picture from my oldest daughter (crocus flowers), some ankle bells for an upcoming walking stage (found here), a rolling wooden car to encourage movement, and mini play silk for playing peek-a-boo.

I also framed our other wet felted pictures my daughters made. On the left is a Sunset (to be given later this year) and on the right is a picture of Daffodils (for another someone special soon).

While my daughters wet felted pictures I needle felted this picture to keep in our home (my first ever). The glass that came with the frame had broke but it came out better not having the glass and being more of a softer three dimensional picture. My daughters love to feel the picture and touch the flowers.

Craft: Snowing Branch Mobile

We made this snowing branch mobile on our craft day. Looking through my list of crafts from last February, I saw that we had made our own pom poms for making pom pom flowers. It was a fun and simple activity.

To make the pom poms, we wrapped a long length of yarn around two fingers, being careful not to wrap tightly. (A younger child may find it easier to wrap the fingers of the adult.) We then carefully slide the yarn off and used a length of yarn to tie the middle of the yarn loops.

(More photos on the process can be found on the pom pom flower post)

The last step was to trim the pom pom. The shorter it is trimmed the fuller it appears.

We used fishing line to hang the falling snow from a branch.

The mobile reflects the snow we seeing falling outside, helping to bring a reflection and attention to nature and an appreciation for simple beauty.

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