Making A Beeswax Window Ornament

There is something about this time of year that makes me want to decorate windows.  I just ordered a book for making those beautiful Waldorf window stars, but in the meantime I just couldn't help myself trying my hand at some beeswax window ornaments too.

 In the past I have made small beeswax ornaments using plastic soap molds and melted wax and using our large cookie molds was a similar process.

I had found these shortbread cookie molds at goodwill last year.  We baked with them first, but my girls never really like the cookies we made with them.  Later, we used them for paper molds found here.   Here is a photo of what I needed to make the ornaments, while my daughters watched.  I started by lightly spraying the cookie molds with cooking spray and then wiping off the excess.  I also cut two lengths of string that would be used for hanging.

The beeswax won't come off of utensils and pans used for the process so I was sure not use anything I didn't mind being covered with wax.  I found the best way to melt the wax, in this case, was a tin can in a pan of water with the beeswax inside the can.  When I was finished melting, the can was recycled and the pan remained free of wax.  I used a plastic spoon to stir the wax inside the can.

After the wax melted on the stove, I poured it into the molds and added the string.  They cooled pretty quickly and came out of the molds easily.

I love the glow of the wax and the smell of these ornaments.  And now we are enjoying our beautiful ornaments in many windows of the house!

Recent winter snow, crafting and play

Just when we hoped winter might be winding down, we received 17 inches of new snow. Spring will have to wait and we'll enjoy a little bit more snow play, sledding, and winter walks.

Because winter is still here, and we see the neighborhood horses still wearing their coats, I made some felt horse blankets for our farm horses.

And the peg people are getting dressed for the cold as well. I'm such a fan of these cozy wool covers on the peg people that I knitted a trial one for ours. I'm hoping to make a rainbow set.

Lastly, I made some recycled jeans bean bags. Filled with rice or beans, they have fleece or felt cutouts. I was hoping for a bigger fringe around the edge for something different. I am planning to make some mini bean bags this coming week.

I couldn't resist sharing this photo. I found this while picking up some toys. My daughters enjoy having family sets of animals or people, and now I see why. So, cute.

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.

Making a Watercolor Artwork Frame

This artwork frame was made to hold watercolor paintings that my children create. I wanted something similar to the (very difficult to get and expensive) beautiful traditional Waldorf artwork frames. I purchased the frame unfinished and added a backing so that artwork can be easily slid in and out to rotate each child's paintings.

The unfinished frames were found in the crafts/unfinished wood area of Walmart. First a coat of light stain was added to the wood and after it dried beeswax polish was rubbed over the frame. Hanging hardware was attached for hanging.

For the backing, I cut cardboard and using a staple gun, I stapled the cardboard onto the back of the frame. Depending on the painting's size some required trimming and then easily slid into the back of the frame.

The frames look nice in a play area where we can all admire the watercolor paintings that my children enjoy making so much.

And when we are ready for a change they can be easily changed out and still saved of course for projects and crafts!

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.

Wool Angel and Fairy Marionettes

Marionette angels (or fairies) hang from our playstand. The colors, softness and textures of the marionettes makes them so inviting . The beautiful hues add a bit of cheerfulness and excitement as we wait out these last few weeks of winter. It may be a colorless world outside our windows, but inside the fairies and angels bring us a rainbow of colors.

Rainbow Angel kit ($5.99) from A Child's Dream Come True.

I've had so much fun making these that I made some to hang above my daughters' beds and other as marionettes.

Each of my daughters chose the colors of their angel or fairy that hangs above their bed. For my 5 year old I call it the Sweet Dreams Fairy, who will sprinkle sweet dreams down from above her bed.

I attached a string and tied it to a dowel to make marionettes.

It wasn't until I learned about Waldorf that I discovered the beauty of wool toys and crafts. I've tried my hand at wet felting with no luck but these angels were so easy to make. My daughters were just as excited for the extra roving to add to their scraps basket and to be used for play.

Seasonal Backdrop for Play: Winter

The play stand is now ready for winter and actually this is very much what it looks like outside our house right now.



The backdrop will stay the same for awhile and I will change out the accessories. My daughters' typically play with the play stand individually, but I sometimes use it to tell them a story using the props. Included in this scene are beanbag snowmen, finger puppet birds, fluffy snow and wooden animals.