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mama’s craft day.

December 13, 2010

the kids' craft week starts today.
but on friday my neighbor amy and i got together to make ornament wreaths for us.
no kids.
we had both been collecting old ornaments for awhile….from the thrift shop…antique store….flea markets.

we started with this.
i tried the straw wreath and amy tried the styrofoam.
mine was 18 inches and amy's was 16 inches…both from michaels.

we ripped our scrap fabric into strips.

we wrapped and hot glued the fabric the wreath.

this is what the straw wreath looked like covered in fabric.

waffle likes crafts.

before we began with the ornaments we tied ribbon onto the wreath for hanging.
(and i had a ginormous cup of coffee….)

we both had LOTS of ornamnents.

amy brought her dog miley over with her for a playdate with the waffler.
but miley could care less about waffle…she liked looking out our big windows.

we began to hot glue the ornaments down.
there was no pattern….we just started gluing them on.

amy tried putting all her big ornaments on first and filling in after with smaller ones.

i put all different sizes on all around as i went.
they both worked.

and we glued.

and GLUED.
we went through A LOT of hot glue sticks…the big big kind.

we finally had to take a lunch break after two hours.
we both had no idea it would take this long.

i finally had to leave and go pick up my kids from school when we were almost FOUR hours into this project.
we must be the slowest crafters in the world.

lauren took some pictures…..

waflle loves amy more than anyone else.
more than me.
more than craig.
she is his most favorite.

this is when we quit.
i still want to add a few more really small silver ornaments throughout….when i can get to target for more.

amy went to the store and got pink for hers and it's so cute!

i will show you mine again when i finish it.

i told craig later that night "it felt really good to just sit and make that….calming"
it was a great day for crafting.

and i found my new favorite lunch….buffalo chicken wrap at karen's kitchen!
double bonus day.

i was inspried by michelle's wreath 2 years ago and so happy that i finally made it.

also we googled "ornament wreath" and there are pages of different wreaths to fill you with ideas.
our favorite was the one that used tinsel around the wreath instead of fabric….but we didn't have any tinsel.

——————————————————————————————————————————–

craft week starts today!
you can see last years craft week HERE

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Angie Brian - featured your tutorial on my blog.
greensubmarinediydesign.blogspot.com
oh and you ARE NOT the slowest crafters, mine also took FOREVER!!
But tured out awesome!
THANKS FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MAKE YOUR TUTORIAL 🙂

Sheldon - Adorable little redminers of Christmases past!In answer to your question on my blog. I have been sublimating for about 5 years. All my prints on the bags (and lots of my other items including the porcelain pendants and ceramic magnets) are of this process. It’s really interesting (and complicated!) to see it in action! Good luck on the giveaway .and I’m glad the bag you bought still looks good!! xoxo Merry Christmas!

Mark - I am just loving these silmpe, yet beautiful craft ideas! I’m going to share on my HappyHooligans facebook page! I’m all about sharing the gorgeous homemade ornament ideas this year! Thanks for the inspiration. I”m looking forward to seeing what else is on parade!

Auth - Hi I am a new follower! Your blog is aoeswme and I am looking forward to reading more. I found your blog through 3 Four and Under’s Follow Me Wednesday. I am actually a very new blogger and thought that was a great idea to find blogs as well as attract readers my blog.

Michelle from Australia - I’ve done it! I’ve done it! I’ve done it! Meg, I saw this last year and VOWED that I would do it. This is a HUGE deal as I have never, ever crafted at all. And yesterday, craft novice moi, did it!! I am so proud of myself. Thanks for the inspiration.

Allison Plott - This looks soooo awesome! And something to do when I the semester is over! Thanks so much!

Kathy - Me again. Just read the post above me. My daughter and I both got to thinking that we could make one for Easter using all sizes of plastic Easter eggs! For Valentines you could get a heart shaped straw wreath and cover it in plastic hearts in red, pink and white. Halloween – small plastic pumpkins, fall leaves, goblins or any other Halloween related plastic objects (witches, Frankensteins, etc)Give me time and I’ll think of more projects.

Kathy - Love this wreath. A friend made it and posted it to share on facebook. After reading your directions my daughter and I both thought we could handle this one. Neither one of us has a creative bone and both very meticulous. So, I have a question. I bought straw wreaths (half the cost of foam). Your directions don’t say whether I should remove the plastic from the wreath. I just don’t know how well it is held together and I thought since it’s being wrapped in fabric it won’t matter one way or the other. Anyway, would like input from a crafty being. Thanks and Happy New Year!

loniann - I made one and LOVE it. It was a lot of fun and took a lot of bulbs! Thanks for sharing all your ideas. I love your blog. Now, what is the next wreath? We need a spring project! Happy New Year!

Heather Crawford - Love these types of wreaths..wondering if you saw this post by Eddie Ross..it looked a little easier than all that gluing? I’m going to try it this way…
http://www.eddieross.com/eddie_ross/2008/12/no-wire-hangers-well-maybe-just-one.html

jennyonthespot - I want to make a wreath with you… Those are gorgeous!

tami - What a great holiday craft!!!

Andrea @ Big Creek Cottage - Meg..the wreath is gorgeous…I have been picking up vintage ornaments but am sure that I don’t yet have enough…I too was inspired by a picture….1 year ago…..could you guess-tamate how many ornaments you used? I don’t know how much longer that I can wait to make my wreath….yours is simply beautiful….thanks for the waffle pic….I love that dog!!!!!

Lisa - L.O.V.E. them! They are gorgeous! Ditto to what Kelly said – store them VERY carefully. I made one several years ago and the next year about 1/3 of my ornaments were broken. I’m inspired by yours – I’m tempted to give it another go – maybe with plastic ornaments this time. 🙂 Merry Christmas!

Kelly - Great job! I made one once and I know the patience it takes!!! Store very, very carefully. 🙂 Lauren’s pics are really fun. Kelly
p.s. also love the pic of waffle with the wreath form around his neck. so glad he likes crafts. 🙂

Jenn - Oh, WOW. Those are awesome! Nice work Meg! I am inspired to start collecting ornaments from thrift shops. That’s the kind of gift that would TOTALLY make my mom cry. SWEET.

Kim - That. Is. Awesome! Love love love those wreaths! Wish I had your craftiness.

Terrie Galle - Megan…I have stumbled upon your blog and can’t tell you how many smiles you put on my face! I LOVE your blog, ideas and your craftiness! 🙂 When I found it, I thought…this can’t be the Megan I know from CM can it? Yep it is!! Love your wreath…and plan to make one! I can’t wait for 3 years though! I’m hoping Target, Hobby Lobby & Michael’s have some great sales soon so I can make mine! You & your family are adorable!

Laura Phelps - Because I love you I can say this…I HATE YOU!
grrrr
I want to make that wreathe!
OK
So on Wednesday I will be posting my shopping spree at SIS BOOM…
and the wreathes..oh my! The wreathes!!! Just like the ones you both made!
beautiful
I love crafts
I love the inspiration
I love how it does calm you
and yes, I love you
even though I said I hate you
I still really do love you

betsy - * Beautiful! Now I want to start collecting, too! Maybe a project for 2011 🙂
* My Minnie loves my friends more than me, too. Maybe because friends don’t yell at my dog for eating MY underwear! 🙁
* I gotta know the scoop. What is in that frame above Amy’s head in the last 2 pictures? Is that another fun, crafty project?
* My friends & I call days like this, “Crafternoons”. Those are the best kinds of days! It energizes me to do the boring, tedious chores in my life.

kristine - they look great! i love them! i can’t believe they took so long though! ha ha at least now i will know ahead if/when i attempt it myself!

Melanie - I love it Meg and I can see why it makes you happy:)

Kristin - Oh my that is amazing. 🙂

Tonya - Those turned out darling! I don’t know if I would have lasted as long as you girls did…kudos!

Darcie L. - Just watched the movie “Date Night” with some girl friends, and one of the quotes in it is, ” I just want to sit and eat my lunch alone with no one touching me, and sip my Diet Sprite.” I totally agreed… It is fun to sit and do your own craft for hours, isn’t it? 🙂

Jen - Lovely! Do you answer questions? Can you hang your wreath outside? Also- do you have any idea of the dimensions of your sweet kitchen sitting area? We’re building and considering a room like yours!
Thanks!
Jen

kat - I love ornament wreaths and have been wanting to make one for a while now. I probably should just go ahead and do it already. Yours turned out super cute!

Lucylu ~ - Awesome i LOVE the wreaths! soooooo cute! <3 <3

Janet - Great wreath! I love it.. its so happy!

Georgia - Christmas crafts!!! ♥ ♥ ♥
Yay! im so excited for the crafty 12 days ahead!
xxx

Sandy - Love the wreaths! My mother in law made a huge one several years ago with pine cones…took her forever but it was beautiful.
Can I please see a close up of the white framed tags above the bookshelf behind Amy & Waffle? Curious to know what those are in the frame??? Thanks 🙂

dawn - LOVE*LOVE*LOVE!!! They look fabulous!!! So much better than some I’ve seen in stores… Yours are more full and unique. Good job!

Courtney Walsh - awww, these are super fun!! We are going to do crafts at home when we go. I have a big long list, but this one just moved up to the tippy top!! FUN! 🙂

taralee - these are GORGEOUS! thanks for sharing…
saw these RAINBOW soaps and thought of you — “rainbow meg” is the name i use when i’m telling my husband about your blog, so he know who i’m talking about.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/62408290/rainbow-soap-sticks

Tracy Fisher - love. love. love it!!! i hope you don’t mind if i copy you… that is if i get around to it.. haha.
-Tracy (www.tfisherart.com)

Bluebell - I made an ornament wreath last year…and like you thought it wouldn’t be a timely craft…..I sat through 3 movies before I finished mine! But I absolutely love it and it’s the first thing I brought out this year!

Crystal - ABSOLUTELY gorgeous and on my list of things to do for next year. I need to start collecting ornaments now:) How many would you say are on each one?

eva - I so want to do this.. even if it will take me 4 + hours – it looks fab.. and I think it would be calming for me too hehe:)

Michelle - oh my goodness. . .i must make one. i love wreaths. . .they are all over the house year round- my husband says it’s out of control. i better make this one when he isn’t home . . . he will like it more if he doesn’t know it’s coming!

virginia - so pretty!

Lora - LOVE*LOVE*LOVE
I’ve been wanting to make a christmas wreath. I see so many pretty ones on blogs. Maybe I should get up from the computer and do it!

Kathryn - LOVE IT! I had just posted on my facebook status yesterday that “a lil bit of creativity is like therapy for me” and it is SO true.

Grace - Meg—
Thanks for the beautiful idea! I’ve coveted these when I see them new in the stores, but I haven’t bought one because I’m too cheap. I LOVE the fact that you reused older ornaments on your version!
p.s. I also love that you are wearing your sunglasses in the photo. I wear mine year-round, and they are such a good headband when you don’t want hair in your eyes. 🙂

Kim - I bought a similar wreath (not nearly as big and full as yours) at a craft show for $20. I’m thinking it was a steal b/c I never would have had the patience to sit and glue for 4+ hours. : ) It is beautiful! Can’t wait to see what your crafts are. Kim

BriBedell - They both look amazing! Cant wait to see your finished!

amber - neat! it looks easy enough for a non-crafter to make. thanks for sharing. i am very excited to see all the fun projects this week

jodi @ back40life - love it – I keep thinking I need to pick up some ornaments when I see them on sale…know you’ll super enjoy it, and the time looked priceless too!

Amanda-ThriceBlessed - I’ve been collecting vintage ornaments to do this very thing too! My mom says its a waste of good Shiny Brites?!
Have you seen this blog? She makes amazing wreaths and the cutest shadow boxes from the leftover boxes…
http://www.georgiapeachez.typepad.com/

Jerusalem Greer - oh that is so great! I have a ton of vintage ornaments and I always want to buy more when I come across them. Maybe I need to make a wreath to….

Isabel - awesome wreath…something I’d like to do if only I knew where my glue gun is!

Annie - these turned out wonderfully! i want to host a craft night with my girlfriends in january… to ward off the after-christmas blues. wreathes would be fun to make!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - I would really like to do that. I have lots of old ornaments that would work perfectly. Thanks for the inspiration girls. Wish I was there with ya!

Lisa @ Shine Your Light - Isn’t it great to just sit and chat while you do something crafty? I do not do that often enough anymore. I love Miley sitting on that pillow – that was the cutest photo!

Carol S - Super cool. I’ve seen these pop up here and there, and had no idea it would take all day. Looks fantastic! What a joyful, blessed week you will have crafting. Enjoy and we’ll all live vicariuosly through you, lol.

Anna Marie - Oh I really like that Meg! You will have to tell us if the ornaments stay on good or if you have to deal with them falling off a lot. Is it super heavy? I can’t believe how big it is!

Juliann - HI Megan – great craft :-)) I love it! I’d love to make one, and I bet as soon as I hung it up it would fall and they’d smash and I’d cry and…well, maybe next year! 🙂 Its good to see your blog and watch your kiddos get so big. Can’t believe Annie and Olivia are in KG this year!

Katy - Ooh, that DOES look calming! And I doubt your are the slowest crafters in the world. It just takes time to make pretty things. 🙂

Sharla - those are so fun and pretty! Now I have to start collecting ornaments. . . .

Biz - So pretty! I’m a rag wreath kinda girl, but that takes the better part of a day too….your kids might have fun making small ones though 🙂
http://busybizblogs.blogspot.com/2010/09/boo-tiful-rag-wreath-tutorial.html
http://busybizblogs.blogspot.com/2010/11/buried.html

Shana - Hmmm…I’m tempted.
But, it takes the two things I am short on – 4 hours & focus.
Maybe next year.
Turned out super cute.

pam - I made those last year…it is stunning how long it took and how much glue. They are both gorgeous. In my basement I have enough to cover a 5 ft. wire tree my husband made me last year. I saw one in a luxury hotel…got the brilliant idea I could do it too….OH GLORY. Attaching them to wire has proven difficult…looking for a new way. I might be 90 before I get it figured out and finished.

Kimberlee J. - Gorgeous! I am completely inspired by this. I guess I better buy a glue gun, first. 🙂

Lori - That’s a lot of hot glue! End result is gorgeous and I know what you mean about sitting and working on something like that. It’s very therapeutic. Waffle is adorable.

deb meyers - Beautiful! I appreciate learning how much time it too, too.
In a fit of frustration last week I began decorating/poking whole cloves into a batch of too-sour clementines–instead of eating too many carbs, or composting the clementines. VERY calming. VERY pretty, very quick results: like little pumpkins without the seedy guts. Yet not Halloween-y.

Michelle - Australia - Beautiful. And not just beautiful but BEAUTIFUL!!!! I am Accountant. I don’t have a crafting bone in my body. But oh wow you are tempting me to try 🙂 Now if I craft, it will be nothing short of a miracle!

Gemma @ Musings of a gem - Hi Meg!
Wow they look great!! They are very funky : )
Gemma xXx

Heather @Cookie Mondays - I absolutely love it! LOVE old ornaments!! My whole tree is glass balls. What a fun project!

sue - You are so great at these sort of things.I now know what to do with left over Xmas balls.Now if only i could find a crafting partner,that would be nice.!

Christina - You are amazing, as are the wreaths! You have the patience of Job, as my Grandma used to say. Or maybe my mom said that about my Grandma. Whatever.
(Ha. I love it when I accidentally use that word in my comments here.)
(Yes, I’m a dork.)

michelle - haha! you were talking about the ornament wreath! DUH! i thought you were talking about the toy wreath. haha.
they turned out GORGEOUS!!! those are some huge wreaths. 🙂

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stuff.

December 11, 2010

*holiday crafts ——————————————————–

i am signing up for this….crafty class with morgan and em.…..it's ONLINE.
it's going to be fun. :)
recipes, decorating ideas, crafts, gifts to give…
you should sign up too!
let's get crafty together.

*lisa leonard ———————————————————-

makes EASY beautiful gifts.
i love her.
i love ALL my jewelry i have from her…..her shop is a happy place.

and i hope some other people on my gift list like her too. (wink wink)

*out of eden soap co. ————————————————-

i have this and it's adorable….love the slices of soap.
but they had me at the polka dot box.
and i have the soap for dogs….LOVE it.
i am a convert.
or i should say waffle is a convert.

*made4adoption —————————————–

i love, love, LOVE this flower.
each flower sold goes toward the family's adoption fund.
i think they are fabulous!
her shop is full of sweet colorful flowers.
maybe every woman in your family needs one for christmas……just an idea.
**update….i just ordered four for christmas gifts….and within the hour she'd shipped them!!
she is READY and prepared.
that is AWESOME.
go get some for you!!

*water idea ——————————————————————–

jennifer of princessthreads.com is donating her decemeber sales to water4christmas.
how cool is that?
her shop is FULL of 200+ princess gowns for little girls…for tea parties, dress up and FUN.
these are not your ordinary dress up clothes…..they are NICE…the real deal.

*craft week 2010 ————————————————————-

i am going to spend my weekend planning my craft WEEK for my kids….starting monday.
i asked if they wanted to do that again and they were super excited.

so….it's ON.
you will be able to follow along each day starting tuesday to see what we made the day before.

i want to wrap some gifts this weekend too.

and take a nap.

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

THANK YOU for the blog support group in the previous post's comment section.
i am so grateful for all of you ladies.
kind words go a long way don't they?

thank you.
you know how to make a girl feel good!

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emily - I am also wondering what lipcolor or brand you are wearing in that LOVELY picture. I LOVE it! Thank you for being one amazing, inspirational mom.

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Looking forward to craft week. (Will you be linking to last year’s week? I still think about those darned soup can robots…)
You rule the school, Megsie.

deb meyers - meg…what lipcolor/brand wearing here? Such a nice neutral! You look great!
deb meyers

steph - ooooh… i can’t wait to see what crafts you have in store. my girls will be so excited!!! 🙂
hey, do you realize your gingerbread house kinda looks like a mcdonald’s?!?! ha ha! the golden arches on top! 😉

Kristen - Love your blog! Any way you could give us a craft list before the week? I would think most of us don’t have all of that stuff on hand (-:
Thanks for the inspiration!
Kristen in Texas

Kat - Wowee Meg, GORGEOUS pic of you with the flower!!
Your eyes are just stunning.
Looking good!! 🙂

Rachel - Wow what a beautiful picture of you!!

Jenni Carlisle - Oh how I love your kids craft week! I totally copied you last year and thought of you as we hung our Meg inspired lovelies!

meg - meg—thanks for the kind words about my flowers! got a good chunk of business today, thanks to your post! 🙂

Georgia - I love love love your blog! im in love im in love and i dont care who knows it!
haha xxxx

Gemma @ Musings of a gem - OOhh yay!! I’ve been looking forward to your Christmas Craft week : ) : )
Gemma x

Tanya @ Life in 3D - I am SO following along this week! I love crafts and need some ideas for the kiddos 🙂

Holly - Cant wait to see your Christmas crafts!

Lisa - Love that picture of you!! Beautiful! Thanks for the great ideas too!

Melissa - I love lisa leonard. I ordered the heartstrings necklace from her to give to my daughter on our wedding day to symbolized our new family. everyone loved it. she has a fabulous blog and great items.

aimee - whee! can’t wait to see what groovy crafts you come up with this week!

Suzette - I love, love, love your make-up in your flower picture. What do you wear? Oooooo, maybe you can contact the companies for compensation and do a whole make-up post/giveaway!!!

Michelle - Yay for craft week. . . so much fun last year. . . can’t wait to see this years fun projects.

mel - I am SOOOO looking forward to your craft week! I used SO many of your ideas last year and it was SO fun. Last week my 3.5 year old asked me if we could make more ornaments again this year. Since I am a teacher, I dont have Christmas break until December 18th, so I will be starting craft week with my girls then. Can’t wait to be inspired by your crafts again!!!! Thanks Meg & Merry Christmas!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - okay i just figured out what you should do to raise money for those kiddos for college. a craft book! you would rock a craft book. i’d totally buy it. you could practically do it from old posts. something to think on. lovin’ ya girlie…it’s a winter blizzard up here.

Gina - Craft week! What a fun idea-we’ll be totally following along, I love the pompom balls-cute!

amber - sounds like you are going to be one busy lady. can’t wait to see what crafty awesomeness you come up with next! where do you buy your fabric? etsy fabric stores?

Cass M - Gotta say … you look so, so pretty in that close up photo, wearing the flower …
Just sayin’.

ali - I was going to comment yesterday on you always having to defend yourself. Don’t do it anymore!!!! You have the right to write what you want and if people have a problem with it, they don’t have to read your blog. It still boggles my mind that people have negative opinions about you.
-Really people? REALLY? (In my Amy Poehler SNL skit voice).

Danielle - I just ordered a flower from her shop! They are so pretty!!!! Thanks for sharing… her shop is reasonable and it’s for a good cause! Also, I have been following your blog for the past year and love it! I saw your post yesterday, everything you post is awesome. Your blog has been my favorite since day 1 of reading it!

jennibell - I love all your craftiness. I work in childcare at our YMCA and use a ton of your craft ideas for the 6+ age group. The craft stick Christmas tree just went on my list!!!
Make that nap this weekend a PRIORITY!!!

Carrie - I love this blog! About the ads – honestly, never really noticed them. The thing is, it’s not really my business anyhow. Coming to your blog and reading about your life is a choice, and if the change bothers people, they should make the choice to move on. Not to make you feel guilty or bad. With or without the ads I always feel connected and like a part of your world and family.
I am excited for craft week. We don’t have kids, but I use some of the ideas with my nieces.
by the way…You look absolutely gorgeous in that picture of you with the flower pin on.

MommaH - Ohho! There’s that beautiful woman with a beautiful flower in the blog post again. Love seeing your here!
BTW – What HAS Waffle been up to?

Irene - Meg – you look seriously GORGEOUS in that photo with the flower!

sharron - just read the post below.
i have to admit some blogs are so ad ridden that they are overwhelming but i have not even noticed your ads..they are not taking over….too busy reading inspiration and looking at the fab photos!
love that you have 5 children and always make everything fun!!
even your dirty laundry is colorful!!
have fun at your craft class and looking forward to your craftiness with the kiddos next week!
blessings~

Katy Stone - your christmas class looks like so much fun! i cant wait to hear what you learn! 🙂

sue - Any chance after you have planned your craft week you could share your ideas.I would love to see what you come up with.

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craft thursday #15

November 23, 2010

of course….since i shouted to the world how much i loooooove being a mom…
my kids gave me the hardest day they have in a long time.
crying.
no dessert.
drive me nuts kind of day.
starting immediately at 6:50 AM with a full blown temper tantrum about a shower ending with tears at dinner.
it's like they knew i had written that yesterday and they wanted me to prove that i love it.
i proved it by giving myself a time-out.
after a frustrating dinner that took me 45 minutes to make never leaving the stove top….
which was met with tears and complaining to no end….i cleared my plate and took a super long hot bath.
daddy put them to bed.
and i watched Oprah's Favorite Things on dvr.
and you know…after watching that show how could anyone be unhappy?
everyone is so excited and crying and hugging.
i made it through another day.

and i still love being a mom.

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

ok….it's turkey time.

this craft was really fun.
the first part was nice…we went for a walk and filled a grocery bag with colorful leaves.

then we turned the leaves in to turkey feathers.
we started with large circles cut from cardboard.
i just took stuff out of our recycle box and traced around a plate.
you can also use paper plates….but i wanted them to be bigger than that.

i covered annie's with glue.
talby used the glue gun.

we covered the circle completely with leaves.
it was so pretty watching them.

the glue was being used generously.

we had to cut the stems off with scissors because when they tried to break them off with their hands
the leaves would rip.

and i admit that about now in this project a fight broke out about….glue? markers? who knows.
but i yelled "NO. we are NOT doing this! GET CRAFTING NOW!"
because i know that when your hands and mind are busy with art…the fighting ends.

the head was cut from a grocery bag.
the beak and feet were orange painted cardboard.
but construction paper would be fine.

googley eyes!
all kids love googley eyes.

talby made some glasses.

sean's has the mustache.

annie came up with the idea for making clothes, arms and writing "Don' eat me for thanksgiving" – so cute!

if you live somewhere that doesn't have all these pretty leaves on the ground…you could use paper.
or fake leaves.

i found this craft through the crafty crow.

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

some of you have asked me what i do with all their art projects.
i hang them up!

some of them.
talby has hung most of hers in on her closet door.
and we pass them out to friends or family who visit.

and i am ok with throwing projects away after time.
i am not a saver.
i can throw stuff out without the guilt.

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The Best Thanksgiving Activities for Kids - Joy in the Works - […] Nature Collage Happy Thanksgiving Banner from Joy in the Works Zentangle Turkeys from Play Dr. Mom Leaf Turkey Craft by Meg Duerksen of Whatever […]

alice mendoza - Hi!
I loved your continuous drawing owl project but cannot find it when I click on your website from Pinterest. I looked it kids projects too. Thanks for any hints! Alice

Kristin Hayne - Love the art wall.
Love the turkey art (made placecards like that for the kids this year and everyone thought it was genius. Gave full credit to you!
Congrats on the COKE trip. Well deserved!!
You are awesome and you do plant the seeds in a lot of minds out there. This world needs more Moms like YOU!!

jennyonthespot - those are Cuuuuuuuute! I LOVE the googly eyes!

Cassi - Your turkeys look adorable! Thanks so much for linking to The Crafty Crow 🙂

Jen - love the turkeys, how cute! we hang up kid artwork too, then I feel like we really get to enjoy it and I don’t mind tossing them after a few months 🙂

Mary - I wonder what each turkey’s name would be ~ they have such distinct personalities.
i proved it by giving myself a time-out . . .
A perfect solution.

Ky - Meg, can I be one of your kids? I promise not to fight or eat too much.

Jennifer - man we had to look high and low for leaves in So. Cal but we found some, and just made our turkeys, thanks! love it!!

Kristin S - I love my family but… would you adopt me? 🙂

Jeannie - If your testimony for God was not so strong, satan would not have had any reason to mess with you! bless you for boldly sharing your faith and guiding many of us to say out loud that we, too, choose to give honor to God in our days of dirty dishes, laundry, and children squabbling. thank you from the bottom of my heart!

The Fairy's Apprentice - I loved your post because I’m feeling so guilty when I’m upset with my 3 kids! It makes me feel I’m not alone and this is not a battle.
This craft project is such a good idea! You’re such an inspiration!

Leslie P. - Hm…I like what you said about how doing art together makes the arguing disappear. Insightful. I adore those turkeys. Wish we had better and more fall leaves in Socal. Mostly I love the way you regularly demonstrate that beauty in a family is FOUND in the mixture of personalities and emotions, not just in the happy parts.

Casey - Love all their artwork hanging up! Can’t wait to have kiddies of my own to do things like this! I have taken a few pieces of my old artwork/schoolwork and few of my husband’s and plan to frame it for a playroom one day. :]

amy jupin - love talby’s turkey’s glasses.
love the art wall.
love that my kids aren’t the only ones acting wild and crazy. 🙂
and i loved reading about your coke trip. you are awesome.
you really are!

Vicki - So do we call it karma when that happens…when we say, “oh ya, he is a really good dog, never messes in the house.” And then you come home from dropping the kids off from school the next day and the darn dog has just pooped all over the play room. How do they know is my question!

Kori - Things I love about this post:
1. You yelled. Makes me feel normal although I know there are moms yelling at their kiddos all over the world even as I type this.
2. Daddy put the kids to bed while you took time for yourself. My son is 13 and still likes to be tucked in by me, which I have no problem with, but sometimes it’s nice for dad to do it while I read.
3. (my favorite thing) You are capable of throwing away projects. I sooooo need to learn how to do that! I recently tossed a cereal box/paper towel roll robot my son made when he was three and I STILL have guilt over it even though I’ve kept TONS of other stuff!
Your honesty and kindness is such kind gift you give to us blog readers daily that I really appreciate. Makes me wish we were neighbors. 😉

crystal - I give myself time-outs all the time! I’ll say to my daughter: “Mommy needs a time-out,” then I’ll stomp up the stairs and close the door. When I come out, I’m a much nicer Mommy! I think all of the time, how does Megan do it with 5 kids??? How did she survive when all of them were so little! My kids are so demanding, and I only have 2!!!!

Rach - Have you ever thought about being a referee? I can imagine that you come highly qualified after keeping the peace with 5 children in the house.

Tracy - Am off to get some google eyes – my daughter saw these and we now have to make them!! Great idea!! Love it!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Jen R - I love reading your blog…it is so honest & real! What a great craft too. If I can find some leaves(I live in California!) we are making those turkeys. Thank you for sharing Meg! Happy Thanksgiving!

april - those are super cute and colorful….

candace - i will have to save this idea next year for my classroom. too cute! and your art wall makes me happy, dreaming of the day i can do that with my own kids!

Ali Richardson - I love them, they look GREAT!!!! I posted on my blog about the Water4Christmas Etsy shop and linked back your blog and to the shop. Hope it helps 🙂 My ornament is on my way to Del Mar as we speak. Thanks again for doing what you do 🙂

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - I love the gallery. I used to hang them on my bedroom window before we moved… I need to get back to that! Have a very happy Thanksgiving sweet Meg!

a pocket full of posies - Too cute!!! and I LOOOVE them all hanging together- a little art gallery!! (we have several of those around here- cause I can’t seem to throw anything they do away- wish I could!- we are running out of walls!)
Happy Thanksgiving!
Many Blessings!
Jill

Beth - so cute! Glad you showed what you do with crafts, I’ve often wondered. You’re not the only mom out there throwing away old projects ( I do feel guilty, but NO MORE!)
beth

Four Flights - we have tons of leaves in our house right now. this is a great project to do with them!

Toni :O) - Such cute turkeys! Sorry to hear about cranky kids…I’m cranky because I have to work tomorrow and my whole family is off…sigh…I DESPISE new jobs…blech! Here’s a suggestion, before you throw them away, just take a picture of them since you’re such a great photographer! I usually do that before I recycle art projects…then I don’t feel so bad when I do it.

Staci - Love it!!!!! This is what my kids can do while I”m chopping and dicing and chiffoning for 35 people that will invade our house on Thursday 🙂 But I love it! Thanks Megan!

Laura Phelps - SO TRUE! Just wrote how good I am with children, and ALREADY TODAY I wish I had none around me!!!!!
I throw everything away. My kids must think we have a hidden gallery somewhere…they think I have it all…
home, out of the backpack, in the garbage, the end.
can’t save it all.

Elizabeth Gleason - I don’t know what it is. I don’t even know you. . . but just reading your blog makes a bad day not so bad. So Happy Thanksgiving! I’m thankful you brightened my day:)

Heather R. - Love the turkeys. One wiggly eye big,one small…ha! And Annie’s clothes on her’s(reminds me of Chick Fil A). 🙂
Hope you have a better day. Bickering is great, huh?(ugh.)

Stephanie@Geezees - Love this Thanksgiving Day craft!

Katy - Ooh, I think I will make some turkey art with my girls. 🙂 Hope today is a better day for you (and you get dessert)! PS: I love Oprah!

carols - I usually smile at the artwork, but these are so dang cute I even laughed. Ah yes, I also had some monster mommy moments yesterday with my 12 yr old son. Yup, my kids get my highs and my lows. Their darn good kids though, so I gotta believe in the end, it is all working. Enjoy all your little turkeys this week!

Kimberlee J. - I don’t keep all our treasures either. I put them up on our back door and when the door is full, I take a picture. I then throw all but anything with hands or footprints away.

Suzanne - What treasures! I’m working on the “throwing things away” deal-it’s just so hard.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your lovely family!
Suzanne

Penny - Sorry about the cranky kids! I get so angry when I work hard on a meal and no one appreciates it. Glad you were able to relax with Oprah. I love how you have the kids artwork hung up like that! It looks so happy and cheerful. You are a great mom!

Amy Lynne - I love those turkeys! It is so cool to see the art wall! Thanks for sharing the good and the bad, it keeps it real!

Gemma - Hi Meg.
The Turkeys are so funny!!!!
Love that you can throw them away after a while…I need that kinda attitude!!
Gemma x

Katy Stone - i love how each personality came out in these! i also love how you display their work- i’m sure it makes them so proud and encourages their creativity.
yay for craft thursday! 🙂

Holly - so cute!

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craft thursday #14

November 10, 2010

ok….no judgement today.
it's just an art project.

we made another from Deep Space Sparkle.

I showed my kids her post and photos.
we talked about it not being scary skeletons but using skeletons as a another place to make art.
we even looked at this image on google.

it is happy right…in a weird kind of way?

we started with drawing skulls on white paper.
we used oil pastels.
do you have them? if you keep them away from your dog….they are really cool.

then we just colored designs all over.

we also made flowers on a different sheet of white construction paper.
annie used watercolor paint on hers also.

then after the coloring or painting is finished we cut out our skulls and flowers.

then glued it all to black construction paper.
they are really fun!

my dad got me a Dia De los Muertos t-shirt when i was a kid with dancing skeletons on the front.
i loved it.
or wait….maybe it was his shirt and i would wear it?
either way it was colorful and i liked it.
this project reminded me of it.

sean didn't get to finish his.
we were crafting and craig walked in from work and said "what are you doing? sean has football in 5 minutes."
we just got busy being artsy that we forgot all about our schedule.

******************************************************************************************
some people asked what kind of watercolor paint we use because the color is so vivid.
it's just the Crayola pack you can buy at any store…even the grocery store.
we just use very little water.
just enough to make it go from a solid to a liquid.
less water means more concentrated color.
hope that helps.

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Shawnene Woodall - I started reading your blog because Ashley of “Under the Sycamore” always spoke so highly of you in her posts. I was instantly hooked. You are a delight to follow. I love your “craft Thursday”. In this post you mentioned “Deep Space Sparkle” as your inspiration. So I followed the link. Much to my surprise the author of the blog just happens to be my daughter’s 1st grade art teacher here in CA! Suddenly I felt just how small the world really is. That I could be brought all the home when so far away in the blog-o-sphere.
Amazing

michelle - haha! “no judgment today”! love it.
you are such a good momma.

Ashley B. - That skull pic is my profile pic on facebook! (before I saw it on your site lol) I love it! 🙂 It made me very happy to come on here and see it. I was at a chalk festival (Sarasota, FL Chalk Festival Oct. 30th 2010) a little bit ago and saw someone drawing that pic in chalk. She wasn’t finished with it, but it was by far my favorite of them all. I love Dia de Los Muertos, even though it’s morbid…the bold colors make me so happy. Awesome craft! And again…I LOVE IT! 🙂

Nichole - We didn’t really learn about the day of the dead until I was in college. Then we decorated sugar skulls – it was rather awesome.

the domestic fringe - I love these! My kids and I just made something from Deep Space Sparkle too. It was SO MUCH fun. I had as much fun as my kids. You guys did an awesome. Those are the best skulls I’ve seen in a long time. 😉
Here’s the link to our project…
http://thedomesticfringe.wordpress.com/2010/11/10/artsy-chics/
Come visit!
-FringeGirl

Julie - When I was in high school, our art class “stole” the skeleton from the science dept. ~ we not only enjoyed sketching this skeleton, we’d “dress” him in funny hats and scarves and such and put him at the door for the kids going to lunch to enjoy each day. Those were fun times. I like this craft ~ you guys always do fun stuff!

Stacy - Makes me wish I was still an elementary art teacher!!!(They cut the jobs in our elementary schools.) 🙁 I taught Kahlo and O’Keefe too! I even had some real animal skulls to use for inspiration.

Vicki - I LOVE that your son is all foot ball and boy in one instance and all craft and artsy with his sisters in the next. Awesome. Craft on you crafty crafters!

Beth - I love dia de los muertos. I’ve been kind of leery about doing it at school because I didn’t want parents to freak out. But, really, it’s a very cool way of celebrating those who have come before us. I did an activity at our church once, we went to visit some graves in the cemetery and had family memeber share about the person, we sang some songs there, then we went back to church and decorated sugar skulls. And we had a family from latin America share about what the day means to them. It was very cool. Your skulls/calaveras are awesome!!!

Rebekah Jean - It’s not creepy! It’s a really cute craft. I love how you put them on black paper and added the flowers. Really, really cute!

Karen Gerstenberger - I love the fact that you were all so into your art project that you forgot the time – a sure sign of success! You are giving everyone a gift, by encouraging them to use their imagination and relax. Good job, Mom!

*LuLu* - Good Job Everyone!

sandy toe - I love watercolors…they are fun and not too messy!
sandy toe

Whitney - Not creepy! It’s sort of like Spanish people celebrating the day of the day- bright and cheery! Love it!

Courtney Walsh - football shmootball! 🙂
Love the crazy skulls!

elisa - Oh I love day of the dead stuff. So fun!

Maria - love it. When ds9 was in third grade, they did world themed turkeys…we picked Mexico and turned our turkey into a Dia de los Muertos turkey, marigold and all!
thanks for sharing!

Christy Pair - You might also try liquid watercolors. They are beautiful!

ashley - When I first started reading, Dia de los Muertos was exactly my thought! And honestly, if you think about what it means, you’re just remembering lives past. Makes the skulls a little less scary. 🙂 Thank you for sharing your crafty days!

kristine - i love them! and i don’t think a skeleton could be any more cute! way to go!

Beth Iversen - I did this project at my elementary school with 2nd grade and taught some background about Day of the Dead. It was very successful and all the other grades wanted to do it. Very Fun!! Love Deep Space Sparkle!

april - Looks great…so colorful…glad to see craft Thursay is going strong…have a great day!

Tracy - Meg – I love your art projects…and no, skulls are not scary. I have your art posts tucked away into a special folder for when I actually find the time to do something with my kiddos. Question for you…because I love your ideas…do you display their artwork or tuck it away? I would love to do some of these projects with the kids, but wouldn’t know what to do with them when they were finished (the projects…not the kids).

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Those were so good! I love your art days. I need to be better and do that more with my girlies.

MGF - Reminds me that my middle was just studying ‘Day of the Dead’ in school. Great project

Suzanne - Thanks for sharing all your art projects – I always look forward to Crafty Thursdays so, my kids can have Crafty Fridays!

sara @ it's good to be queen - so fun! skulls aren’t scary…death has no sting. 🙂

AshleyAnn - In high school I was assigned a Freda Kahlo focus. For 2 months all my work had to be inspired by hers. Other students got Monet, O’Keefe, Picasso….I got Kahlo. Go look her up. It was stretching and I loved it.

Heather R. - My daughter had a teacher that would celebrate Dia De los Muertos in her class. It was a cool celebration. They would do black construction paper and did colored chalk…I thought it was pretty. I love your ideas. 🙂

Penny - This makes me miss my girls being young and doing crafts together. We didn’t have a set day, but every week at least once, we did crafts and I miss that. I do adult crafts with my friends often, but I miss the kids stuff! Thanks for letting me watch you and your little ones enjoy it! Great job. You are a wonderful Mom, even if you forget about football. Who needs to go get beat up. LOL

se7en - Oh your guys are such brilliant artists!!! I love the finished head pictures!!! Very fun!!!

Amy Lynne - I think your projects turned out great! When I saw that picture I immediately thought of Dia De los Muertos. I saw some pajama pants at Target that had the dancing skeletons and bright colors. They were too cute!

Gemma - Hi Meg!
Ooo this craft is very funky..I like it!!!
Hope you’re having a great day : )
Gemma x

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i love fall.

October 25, 2010

this weekend was full of fall goodness.
the leaves finally changed.
the weather changed.
it was so nice to be outside and enjoy it.

the three youngest carved pumpkins with me while craig and the older two were gone.
we started with hot chocolate and homemade whipped cream.

then we got busy with the dirty work.
pumpkins are stinky.
but i am quick….i cleaned out two for lauren and scott if they want to carve one later too.
then helped annie and tably with theirs.
sean cleaned it himself.

ewwwww!!!!

we have them draw the face and then i do the cutting.

i love it….
but i am glad we only have to do it once a year.

and i love seeing them all lit up.

fall is my favorite.

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Mary - I have a post coming on Oct 29th showing grown-up children carving pumpkins. Hopefullly, the tradition will live on and on for your little ones as well.
http://cornersofmylife.blogspot.com/

Caitlin - I hate pumpkin guts, but I do love the roasted seeds! This year I found Mr. Potato Head-esque accessories for my pumpkin, so I don’t have to carve it. He’s a pirate. 🙂

jenni@talkinghairdryer - I love that your little one still has a chocolate and cream mustache while she’s cleaning out the pumpkin.

Shelley - i just adore your life !

carissa... brown eyed fox - fall is my fave TOO!
yes indeedy!
and would you believe… we JUST had snow falling from the sky… just a bit ago! :O)

Lisa - Love this time of year too! We are carving this weekend, or maybe I am carving, lol…with only one teen left in the house we’ll see how that turns out 😉

Valerie - Oh such fun to carve pumpkins. Looks like it was very fun!

mel - Fall rules. Best season ever.
October rules. Best month ever.
I can’t wait to carve our pumpkins (Friday night!!)
There is nothing better than homemade whipped cream. YUM!
Looked like you guys had fun 🙂

linda@limein the coconut - Oh I remember those days with my four little ones carving scooping! Now I’m lucky to get one little one from the four!

Rach - I have to agree with you… Fall is my favorite too and not just because I am an October baby. I just think it smells better and it makes me want to be outside and it is orange and beautiful and I am starting to realize that I really need to live somewhere that actually gets a Fall! For now I will enjoy Fall through your posts so keep it coming.

karen - the squirrels got to 2 out of the 3 pumpkins…totally devoured!!
kinda funny!

Crystal - Looks like you all had loads of fun!! Fall is my favorite time of year too. We are going to carve pumpkins tomorrow night! We are so excited. I enjoy your blog so much.

Suzanne - Looks like fun! We usually wait until the weekend of Halloween otherwise, the deer come up to the front porch and eat them. At least I think its deer! Now I’m SCARED!
Happy Halloween!
Suzanne

julia - I LOVE that last picture!
So jealous that you can drink hot chocolate and not have to turn down the a/c (like I’ve been having to do).

Courtney Walsh - I can’t believe I have never carved pumpkins with my kids!! I think this year I need to change that!!

Tanya @ Life in 3D - I did a cute pumpkin craft today with my toddlers. Take note they ARE 1 and 3…so it’s not glamorous..BUT they had a lot of fun 🙂 Older kids could probably do some really cool things with the idea.
I love Fall too!
http://dreamsdiapersanddilemmas.blogspot.com/2010/10/make-it-monday-pickle-jar-jack-o.html

Heather - so fun! i can’t wait to carve ours. we have to wait until the day of though otherwise ours get all nasty from the az heat. have a happy day!!

Karen Gerstenberger - Love seeing the photos of your beautiful family enjoying an autumn tradition together. Your sunflower craft (below) looks awesome, and the chalkboard/chore chart/inspirational quote is so cheerful!

Julie Weaver - We’ve got a pumpkin waiting to be carved with the help of the husband. I love the classic Jack-O-Lantern!
I also love Fall!

Dawn - I love this time of the year too. I can’t wait to carve our pumpkins. Looks like the kids loved it too.

janet - So happy to see you and many others are keeping that tradition going. We are empty-nesters too, but we’ve also still carved pumpkins. Partly for me, but all those little trick or treaters who show up at the door too.
I imagine I will still carve them as long as I am able.
oh we got the cheap pumpkin carving knives, they are kid safe, and mom safe too.

crystal beutler - I LOVE carving pumpkins. We didn’t do it this year which makes me really sad. They die in about 2 days here, which makes me even sadder. I can’t wait to see your kids’ costumes!!

jen smith - a little FYI to make your carving a little easier…we bought the ‘my safe cutter’ knives from pampered chef. they are $3.50 and by far the best knives we have EVER used to carve pumpkins. we take them to our carving gatherings and have to fight everyone to use our own knives! with these knives the kids can carve their own and i don’t have to worry about them hurting themselves. it’s fabulous!
http://www.pamperedchef.com/ordering/prod_details.tpc?prodId=9761&words=kids

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Fall is so beautiful. The colors are amazing, aren’t they?!

Casey - I love Fall too! I just wish here in FL we actually HAD Fall. I still have my air conditioner running. Supposed to be about 85 today!! YUCK!

Gekakel - Fall is my favourite too; I love your post!

Julie - Whipped cream? Legit.
Pumpkin guts? Creepy.
Happy kids? Totally worth it.
But the pumpkin guts. EWWWWWWWWWW.
I am the degutter here too. No likey.

Lisa - Can I come to your house? I want some of that hot chocolate! 🙂

Dana@Bungalow'56 - I always envy those who celebrate halloween in warmer climates. We have had our first snowfall already, although it has melted, so I’m fairly certain trick or treating will be in winter coats and winter boots… in the dark. Our pumpkins were carved yesterday too, but we did it indoors : )
Dana

*LuLu* - Cute Pumpkins!
*LuLu*

Jennifer De Los Santos - Looks like fun. When we went to buy a pumpkin to carve, Kate insisted on getting a watermelon instead. She’s so stubborn. We’ll see how watermelon carving goes 🙂

Sugar Mama - I make my husband clean out the guts. I shouldn’t say “make”, but he nicely volunteers to clean out the guts because he doesn’t want to watch me dry heave for half an hour.
We still don’t have our pumpkins, guess I better get to that!

Laura Phelps - we were supposed to carve yesterday
too busy
but with good stuff
Halloween party at my parents
football game
I am loving this Fall stuff…last year in LA we went to the pumpkin patch in 90 degree weather!
This is so much better
🙂

Staci - We carved our’s two weeks ago bc I just couldn’t wait any longer….they have rotted completely now ;( I’m just not up for cleaning two more out again 🙁 Sooooo, we are just going to paint and bedazzle two more 🙂 I agree….Fall is the best….football and pumpkins and hot chocolate…DOESN’T get any better than that 😉 Well, except when the Sooners lose to Missouri ;( boooohoooo! But at least I’m not a Longhorn 🙁 Pooooooooooor Texas!

pam - Our nest is empty but this is making me want to carve one….hmmm, something really different…easy but different. Hope your week is grand!

Penny - Great pumpkins. This reminds me of when our girls used to do the pumpkins. My husband was the helper with that tradition. I always took them to the apple orchard with my Mom and we got the pumpkins. Then hubby was the carver while I prepared the seeds for roasting. Miss those days! Guess I will wait for grandchildren!

Holly - This is my favorite time of the year! I just love those funny toothless grins!

Gemma - Love it!! Yummy hot chocolates and carving pumpkins…great stuff!!!
Gemma x

visart-dali.com - How very cute! I wish we had that tradition

Keri ~ Forever Folding Laundry - Mine too.
October is the best month.
Do you guys roast the seeds?
I love that.
This year I saw a recipe for cinnamon & sugar seeds that I’m going to try.
Love Annie’s whipped cream mustache! 🙂

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craft thursday #13

October 23, 2010

i have a big file of crafts i think my kids would like but today i found this craft and we did it.
i found davinie through the crafty crow. (can i just say how much i ADORE the crafty crow?!!)

well….first we tried a pumpkin craft that did not go well.
too hard for the girls.
there was crying….and then i yelled…because crafts are supposed to be fun!!!
“THERE”S NO CRYING IN CRAFTING!!”
ha.

so i said “what about this one?” and pointed to the photo on my computer.
and the girls said “ooooohhhhh. yes!”

we changed gears and started again.

all smiles.

while they painted their plates i traced the petals.
i just made a quick template out of some cardboard (from a granola bar box)

the girls wanted colorful centers to their sunflowers….

sean’s was brown….like a REAL sunflower….of course.

talby and sean used the glue gun.
annie used the school glue.

and then we were done.
it was a pretty fast craft considering we didn’t mean to do it in the first place.

i was kind of bummed i didn’t get to make one.
they needed me more….cutting petals and such.

we hung them all on the giant chalkboard so i get to look at them everyday.
yay.

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Debt Advice - This blog is really very nice. I love this art and also love the sunflowers and love the chalk board. It looking so impressive.

Daisy Cottage - I just love you Meg.
xo,
Kim

Robin Sampson - That chalkboard is homeschool dream!! Where did you get it? Great raft, great colors. I made some Bible lapbooks and file folder games you might like. You can download at
http://heartofwisdom.com/homeschool/?cat=201

wendy b. - OMG! I love that chalk board! Do you change your verse each week?

Lisa - OVER THE TOP CHALK BOARD LOVE GOING ON RIGHT HERE!!!
HUGS FROM MAINE

carissa... brown eyed fox - sensational sunflowers yall!
my girlies would love that!
and that orange CHAIR!!!!!!!! :O)

Emily - Today I needed to see the verse on the chalkboard. Thanks.

crystal beutler - LOVE that giant chalk board. I’m so making one of those. The sun flowers turned out way cute!
Hey, have you ever made indians and pilgrims out of walnut shells? I will have to send you a picture. They are fun for Thanksgiving. We glue them on place cards and give everyone at the Thanksgiving table an indian name. You have to guess which name is yours when you sit down to eat. My kids love it. We also make turkeys out of tulle and pipecleaners and fill them with M&Ms it set at everyone’s place setting. Do you do that? If not, let me know and I will send you a picture. Your kids would love making them. 🙂

Kate @ Songs Kate Sang - Oh, these are great! BTW ~ I really love the ‘chore list’. I need to get that done. It would make evenings go so much smoother around our house…

Shar - How much fun these look. Also, the chalk board is so cool. Love the chore list. What wonderful fun you have with your children!

Danielle - That chalk board is great! We made the eye sees you from the Family Fun website over the weekend. the kids could have done them all day! Brian even made more than one. We used tea lights but Braeden said he overheard one of the parents in charge of the fall party say they were going to hang them on Christmas lights. So much FUN!

Dana@Strawberrytart! - I love your giant chalk board!!! Love Love Love!!!

Dana@Bungalow'56 - I haven’t seen your big chalkboard before. I’m so glad you showed it as I’ve been wanting to do almost a whole wall and I wasn’t sure if it would work. The craft was great too : )
Dana

Lisa - Very cute!

nora - Cute craft! Kinda keeps summer around a tad longer 🙂
This is probably a lame question, but do you do with the crafts after awhile? Do you keep a portfolio for each kid? Do you send them to other family members? Just wondering…

Alicia - I SO want a giant chalkboard just like that in my house!! Or even a chalkboard wall like you have in your craft room/studio. SO COOL!

Julie - Love the sunflowers and love the chalk board! You’re a great mom, Meg! Your kids are blessed!

Susan - My boys are in their 20’s and 30’s and i still have all the craft stuff that they made.Do you keep yours and where?

Cassi - Thanks so much for the kind words and link love for The Crafty Crow! I *love* how your sunflowers came out and I’m so happy you were able to find a project to fit the day 🙂

Cari - Love! Definitely going to do this with my girls! Got a question, though…Did you do fun stuff like this with Lauren when she was little? I know I had some, ummm, “issues” I was working through when mine were little. And that makes me sad that I missed out, ya know? Wait. Was this more of a private email question? Probably. I’ll stop now. Happy crafting! 🙂

Heather - they look so fun on your ginormous chalkboard, which i am completely coveting by the way! it’s fantastic.

Jaime @ Queen of the Creek - Very nice! I always love your craft thursday’s…
The kids did a great job with this one!!

Lorie - I have loved looking at all your crafts over the summer! What do you end up doing with them all? I also LOVE the giant chalkboard. Wish I had room for one!

Tracy - Such a great craft! And I had to LOL completely at the “there’s no crying in crafts” – HA! :o)

Terresa Wellborn - Love that craft! We have paper plates on hand, now to find a fabulous giant chalk board! 🙂

shauna reed - You are a treasure. I Wantaa do these!

julia - Great sunflowers! I love your chore chart and verse. Somehow the chores don’t look like work so much as fun when they are put up there! Maybe the kids feel differently though 🙂

Chris H - I know scissors are a skill that is encouraged, but if you’re the one relegated to doing all the cutting out, may I suggest my favorite tool? A Cricut would make really quick work of cutting all of those leaves! I just used mine this week to cut stencils for a couple of cute folk-y signs for my home.
I teach 3 year old class of preschool girls, and I’m always excited when a new craft post comes up on your blog– it’s handy for using at home with my own boys too! Thanks!

Elizabeth - Those are so great. I am wondering what you do with all of these crafts, where you put them, for how long and then what?

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - Love it…colorful and sunflowery. What could be better. And no tears. That’s a very good thing:)

Amanda Fuentes - Very cute! I need to store this idea away for this winter when we need sunshine and flowers!
My girls made “baby ghosties” this week as a craft, they turned out cute! I blogged about it today matter of fact, if you want to see! 🙂

*LuLu* - I Love The Rainbow Colors!
*LuLu*

Gemma - Lovely!!!
Gemma x

Layla - Absolutely delightful!
I love them- and I love your blog.
Can’t wait to read all your archives!
🙂
Layla

Julie Weaver - I really love reading your blog. I love looking at the pictures, and reading about your wonderful (yet real) family. I even used one of your Craft Thursday crafts for my daughter’s birthday party. And listed a few more at my mom’s group yesterday when they were asking for fun ideas for kids.

Penny - They are wonderful sunflowers! I have to admit I love “craftycrow”, too, and my kids are 23, 20 and 16. Your craft Thursdays remind me of the club my two older daughters had with a group of their friends. They would all come to our house on Mondays after school. We would do crafts, have a snack and then they would all play for a bit till their parents came to pick them up. Once they were a little older we started taking field trips and having camp outs. It was much like Girls Scouts, without having to sell cookies! 🙂 A great bunch of girls. Just last week I ran into one of the older girls and she gave me a hug and said, “Can we have sunshine club!!” Great memories.

Melanie - Very cute craft!

Debby - This is a great idea! I think both my girls will love it. My almost three year old should even be able to do it with a little help. Thank you!! Love your blog!!

Beth @ Dirty Laundry - Thanks for saying you yelled. It’s supposed to be fun! Why are you not having fun? Why are you fighting with your brother THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN! Sometimes I yell too, good to know I’m not the only one! Beautiful sunflowers!

amac - Super cute craft! It’s fun to see the differences in your kids’ personalities being expressed through what they are making! You have a beautiful family, and I just adore your blog 🙂

se7en - Those are stunning!!! But what’s not to love via the Crafty Crow!!! I also feel let down when I don’t get to play and do their craft along side them!!! I really consider it to me my play time too!!!

amanda - I love that Sean has such firm ideas about how his crafts should look and how everything is ‘just so’. He totally reminds me of my oldest little boy.
Yay for craft thursday!

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craft thursday #12

October 15, 2010

this craft was inspired by a little picture in the background of a pic on shauna's blog.

we made gumball machines.

i punched circle shapes out of construction paper while craig and i watched Mad Men the night before.
(that don draper is a real piece of work)

i borrowed the creative memories circle punch from a friend.
i am sure michaels or any craft store has circle punches.
and of course you could cut them out yourself….but this is way easier.

i traced around a plate onto white paper for the top of the machine.
the kids cut that out themselves.

i let them choose from my scrapbook paper for their background.
(quite a treat let me tell ya….i am really stingy with my personal craft supplies)

we made the coin part out of aluminum foil.
and then sean added black construction paper over that for the place where the gumball comes out.

inspiration.

have i ever told you that my grandpa gave me that gumball machine?
he did….when i was about 10.
i had it in my room until i moved out of my parents' house.
i left it there.
then three years ago my mom was getting ready for a garage sale (i think) and said "do you want this?"
and i broke down in tears.
i hadn't seen it for years and it made me miss my grandpa so much.
i am SO GLAD to still have it.
it is really special to me….and it still works.
but my kids just take the lid off the top instead of using money.

always has to add the extra details…..goofy guy.

has to copy her brother at all times……flying gumballs.

both talby and annie made two….because there were plenty of gumballs.

i love craft thursday.
and i really love that they ask for craft thursday.

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carissa... brown eyed fox - no way!
i never knew that about your gumball machine!
such a neat story! imagine all the special hands that have touched that dial!

Melanie - How sweet to have your grandpa’s gumball machine. Doesn’t it make you smile?

sara@augustfields - ooooo meg. this is a super cute one. 🙂

Charlene@Adventures-In-Mommy-Land - LOVE this….might have to “borrow” it cause my kids would love it.

Jenna B - This totally looks like it would work to make Rainbow Fish, too! Talby’s second piece of art reminded me a little of fish scales. Using construction paper and maybe mylar circles and some glitter, I can see my family making a school of fish! Thanks for the inspiration!

allie - you are seriously the best mom and i love your blog! i’m 21 and not even close to having children…but i would love to be the type of mom you are someday! you are awesome.

Christina - I meant to add about your grandpa…that is such a great story, and how neat that you have it now! Again, I love it. A small thing, but with huge impact.

Christina - Love it. So cute…I love Sean’s details! That is so great. He is very creative! 🙂
I think that the fact that you let them choose something from your personal craft stash is a testimony to what a great mom you are…and I bet it made quite an impression on them. I think that’s the kind of thing that kids remember for a long time. Sweet.

Sarah - This is the CUTEST project. I’m thinking of using a lot of your craft Thursday ideas for artwork in my new baby’s nursery (I’m due in January).
Thanks for all your inspiration!

katie w - you have such a cute blog, i’ve been reading for a while but this is my first comment. this is such a cute craft and it would make a great classroom activity too! thanks for the inspiration 🙂

linda - all of your kids are adorable…but i gotta tell you that i just love seeing pics of sean…he seems like a genuinely happy, easy going, fun sweetheart of a kid…his smile and the way he carries himself reminds me of my little guy.

Julie - Those are GREAT Meg! A couple weeks ago, we made the butterflies you guys made. We were just studying about Wayne Thiebaud’s Art ~ LOVE his cakes, but he had painted gum ball machines too! The kids loved them; when they see these they’ll want to make one. Thanks again for always being such an inspiration!!

Heather R. - What a great prezzie your Grandpa gave you! 🙂 That makes me happy. And pictures of them, too. I’m so glad you have that.

april@gingerbreadgirlblog - So cute…You have very artistic kids…wonder where they get it from…lols

jennifer - I love those! All the colors are so fun.

Jessica - This is such a great project. It’s going to be rainy here all weekend, so I think I’m going to have my kids do this. Thanks for the inspiration…as always! 🙂

kathy b - Oh we made this exact craft each year in the preschool where I worked. This brought back warm memories. Love the Annie D.

Jenny - Those are too stinkin’ cute!!

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - those are great meg. love the craftiness of your kids. im a sentimental softie too.

Gemma - That is such a sweet story about your granpa and the gumball machine…!!!
Love the idea!!
Gemma x

Tammy @ The Sabourin Family - Gotta try this one & cleverly use up my scrapbooking scraps for the balls. Thanks! Always love the story you tell through your beautiful pictures.

shauna - i love it!
i want to do it too!
i sometimes really wish i could just be one of your kids…
they are lucky.
i love how talby perfectly layered them.
i new i liked her 😉
now to finish that half done felt one that you spotted by my craft table, eagle eye….
why can’t i finish that baby?
maybe i will now that you guys made a million and three in a day.
nothin’ wrong with a little good healthy competion 🙂
you guys rock.

Jamie - So much fun! My kids would love to do this.

Amber Pamper - I love that your boys will do crafts with smiles on their faces. 🙂

Courtney Walsh - I love that Annie signs her name “Annie D.” lol just in case you get her mixed up with your other Annie. She is adorable…and this is a super cute project!

sara's art house - HOW CUTE!!!!

virginia - that reminded me of the gumball machine halloween costume i saw in a magazine yesterday! also reminded me of this cool picture
http://www.amazon.com/Gumball-Machine-Frame-2d-Blue/dp/B0018Z13GG
i want one

Kerrie - I love your blog!!! I am Jenni Lehman Thomas’ cousin. I just wanted to let you know that I have been peeking at your blog and I love it! I also want to get a necklace from Lisa Leonard- I love her jewelry.
thanks and have a great day
Kerrie Kaufmann

jodi @ back40life - so fun & how awesome to have the real gumball machine! can’t wait til mine are a little older and we could do craft thursday…yea!

Staci - You so totally rock!!!!!!!!! Love it!

Julia - What a cute project. If you are at a loose end, how about taking a road trip to Florida to do a party for a5
5 year old?

Maureen - Love the grandpa story about the gumball machine. What a great keepsake.

Stephanie - So glad to hear that I am not the only mom stingy with her personal craft supplies!!! My 13 yr. old daughter just loves to go into my craft room and use all my best things. It kills me!! I’m sure I sound so mean but she NEVER asks first! I’m seriously considering putting a lock on the craft room door. But jeez, I hate to stifle her creativity!

Leah - Love this idea. Here’s one that my 3-year-old could do too.

laurenjean - such a fun idea 🙂

Suzette - I think i will start craft Thursday just for me. I have 2 teen boys (13 +15) that would balk at doing crafts….but who says I can’t get my craft on? Thanks for the inspiration!

Liv Hochhausler - I remember when gumballs only cost a penny!

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