Archive for the ‘DIY’ Category

How to Make Car S’mores

Friday, August 10th, 2012

Did you know that today is National S’mores Day? Who knew? I thought it would be fun to share with you a fun activity we did this summer that my kids absolutely flipped for. Have you ever ate a car s’more? No? Well, in my opinion, you haven’t lived until you have tried this fun food activity together. I guarantee that your kids will flip for this and I am betting that years from now my kids will be talking about that one time when their crazy mom let them make s’mores in the car.

Today Emily is demonstrating for us one of two ways that you can make your car s’mores. We have tried two different versions and both of them turn out wonderfully. With this version, kids can help assemble foil packets to be placed on a cookie sheet. Simply assemble your s’more ingredients (whatever your favorite ingredients might be)  on a small piece of foil. Once your s’more is full assembled, wrap it up in the foil tightly, and place it on a cookie sheet.

For a simpler version, you can simply line a cookie sheet with foil and plop your s’mores right on them (as demonstrated below).

A really hot summer day, like this one, is the perfect place to cook your s’mores. Slide your cookie sheet onto the dash of your car and shut your car. Set your kitchen timer for 15-20 minutes. I highly recommend sipping some lemonade and enjoying the AC while they are cooking.

Retrieve your cookie sheet and show your kids their perfectly cooked s’mores.

Marvel in the fact that you completely blew their minds with your awesomeness. Remember, these are the stories they will tell their kids someday.

Happy S’mores Day, friends!

I am a part of the Walmart Moms program, and Walmart has provided me with compensation for these posts. My participation is voluntary and opinions are always my own.

Pin It

Fun Ways to Celebrate the Olympics

Tuesday, July 24th, 2012

Are you as excited as I am for the Olympic games to start?

In our family, the Olympics is something to watch and celebrate together through fun crafts and activities.

It is an opportunity to learn about other countries, to admire amazing athletes, and a time of celebration for our country.

The Olympic games are fast approaching and I am so excited to share a few fun ideas for craft and activities you can do to celebrate this exciting time.

Today I wanted to share with you seven fun activities you can try together as a family to make the Olympics extra special for your kids.

 

 

 

Olympic Medal Cookies

What could be sweeter than receiving an Olympic medal?

How about an Olympic Medal filled with a cookie?

AlphaMom offers this sweet little Olympic craft to do with your little ones.

Stumped for a cookie idea?

I highly recommend an Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Sea Salt Cookie for your medal filling!

 

 

Olympic T-Shirts

With a simple painted ring pattern on an inexpensive thrift store shirt, this is a craft that is easy enough to do with kids of all ages.

Kate’s Creative Space offers this fun craft idea to her readers and we think it pairs perfectly with a great t-shirt your probably already own!

 

 

 

 

DIY Olympic Torch

What child doesn’t dream of carrying around their very own Olympic torch?

Hoosier Homemade showcases a fun craft that you can do to create your very own Olympic torch made from some commonly found items at your local craft store.

 

 

Olympics Party Fun

Why not throw a party for your family or for a group of families to celebrate the Olympics?

A Small Snippet has you covered with everything from patriotic foods to great Olympic game ideas to play together, to fun ideas for decorations that don’t cost a lot.

Before heading to your local superstore, check your favorite thrift store for creative games and prop ideas for your very own mini-Olympics.

 

 

Olympic Torches Made From Recyclables

If hitting your craft store for supplies to make an Olympic torch isn’t in your budget, this Olympic Torch from The Idea Room is made from common items you have in your home and recyclables.

These torches are made from a paper plate, a paper towel roll, and red & gold tissue paper.

This is one that even the smallest child can do.

Be sure to lift these high and participate in your own round of fun family Olympic games.

 

 

Olympic Rings Necklace

Even moms can jump in on the Olympic excitement with this cute craft, from Remarkably Domestic, for an Olympic Rings Necklace.

This necklace is made from simple rings covered in Chinese knotting cord to create those Olympic rings everyone loves so much.

This would be a fun craft to do while watching your favorite games this year!

 

 

Discus Throw Frisbee

Are your kids excited about the Discus Throw?

This craft from My Sister’s Suitcase is a fun one for kids of all ages.

Print a design for the front of your Frisbee and then have your child decorate it to their heart’s delight.

What are some ideas you have for celebrating the Olympic games with your family?

 

Don’t miss these other great ideas from MomAdvice.com:

 

 

S’more Toppings Bar Party

 

 

 

4th of July Block Party Tips

 

 

 

Minecraft Costume Ideas

 

 

 

No-Sew, No-Glue, No-Cut Burlap Wreath

 

 

 

Sign up for the MomAdvice newsletter

Pin It

DIY Salad Bar For Summer

Tuesday, June 12th, 2012

Healthy eating should always be a priority, but making it a priority in the summer seems to be more challenging because we seem to always be eating on the go. I decided to create an easy DIY salad bar that you can create on your grocery day and enjoy all week long. This DIY salad bar can be on hand in your fridge and I wanted to show off an easy way you can enjoy this DIY salad bar on the go too!

All of the supplies can be found at your local Walmart store. You will need a Freezer Storage Basket (found in the same aisle as the plastic containers in the housewares section of the store, $5.97), three Fresh Take Arm & Hammer 5 cup containers ($2.87), and 1 Sterlite Ultra Latch 12.5 cups container ($5.47).

Chop up your favorite salad ingredients and organize them in your containers like this. The largest container does not sit firmly flat, but it still wedges in there nicely so that you can place all of these neatly in this wire organizer.

Don’t you just love summer? I love having such fresh ingredients on hand to choose form and creating a salad bar couldn’t be easier with the fantastic selection we have of fresh fruits and vegetables. Pictured here are just a few of the basics I love in my salad. You could definitely fill your produce drawer up with a few other great salad add-ins!

Ingredients for a Great Salad Bar

Lettuce
Spinach
Kale
Egg
Tomato
Cucumber
Bell pepper
Sunflower Seeds
Croutons
Cheese
Mushrooms
Carrots
Corn Kernels
Onions (none for me please!)
Beans
Artichoke Hearts
Apples
Avocado
Broccoli
Shrimp
Steak
Homemade Dressings

One ingredient I always have on hand in the summer for quick summer salads and wraps is roasted chicken. I don’t keep a lot of fresh chicken around and prefer to buy the frozen chicken breasts instead. There is money to be saved in buying and preparing whole chickens, but my family only likes white meat  so for convenience sake (and to get them to eat it), we stick to the chicken breasts.

I buy the 3 pound bag of chicken  cook and slice all of the chicken for the week. The chicken is then ready to go to be made into wrap sandwiches, fast paninis, a protein addition to my salads for lunch, and it helps me save a step for our dinners for the week.

It is a matter of preference how you like to cook your chicken, but I will share my favorite way that I do weekly!

Roasted Chicken Breasts for Bulk Cooking

Preheat the oven for 375 degrees. Spread the frozen chicken breasts out over one or two cookie sheets. Drizzle a little olive oil over the chicken breasts and then sprinkle with kosher salt and fresh black pepper. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Allow the chicken to rest ten to fifteen minutes (to allow the juices to redistribute within the meat). Dice, slice, or shred for your recipes for the week.

Here is my beautiful salad bar on full display! Isn’t she pretty? It makes me really happy to have all of our fruit and vegetables chopped and ready to go for our week. It is something I vow to try to do regularly for our family so that we can, literally, enjoy the fruits of our labor all summer long.

Since we are a family on the go, I wanted to show you a fun way to enjoy your salads while you are out and about.

Over by the other food storage containers were these cute Salad Break Bowls. The set came with two complete sets and cost $3.97 total! I picked up this collapsible basket (in the same aisle) for $6.97. Inside I placed our outdoor blanket, salads, fresh cut fruit, and homemade iced tea for an afternoon picnic. I plan to use these a lot this summer and think it will be a great way to encourage healthy eating wherever we might be.

I am a part of the Walmart Moms program, and Walmart has provided me with compensation for these posts. My participation is voluntary and opinions are always my own.

 

I hope this inspires you to make healthy eating a family priority this summer and would love to hear what summer shortcuts you use to achieve healthy in the summer months in your house?

Pin It

Creative Father’s Day Gifts Your Dad is Sure to Love

Friday, June 8th, 2012

t’s no secret that I love my dad like crazy!  Last year we got the opportunity to celebrate him at a dinner in honor of his 35 years of employment with Bayer. This picture of my sister & me with him is one of my favorites from that evening together.  Sadly, for us, our brother has moved to New Orleans so one piece of our puzzle was missing in this picture. He actually has three kids that are so proud of him and adore him!

I had a blast sharing with you my gift ideas for Mother’s Day, over on the Kenmore Genius blog,  and I can’t wait to showcase some of my favorite Father’s Day gifts that I have given my dad over the years. I hope you will find these ideas inspiring for this gift-giving season.

Head on over to my article on, “Creative Gifts Your Dad is Sure to Love,” to learn about my favorite gifts that I have given my dad(s) over the years!

Don’t forget that this year I also have an awesome DIY Chalkboard Conversation Bubble Cookie Jar that you can make and fill with your dad’s favorite cookies. I highly recommend these Oatmeal Chocolate Chip & Sea Salt Cookies for the perfect sweet and salty combination!

Pin It

The World’s Greatest Homemade Bubbles Recipe

Monday, June 4th, 2012

Three years ago I decided to make our family a batch of homemade bubbles after discovering how easy it was to make these at home. Our homemade bubbles, literally, attracted the neighbors due to their sheer volume and and staying power that they had. Ever since that day, making the first batch of bubbles just screams, “IT’S SUMMER!” to me.

The trick to creating the world’s greatest bubbles is the addition of a little glycerin to every batch. You can find the glycerin over by the first aid supplies or you can ask the pharmacist if they have a bottle of it behind the counter. It is a small bottle of liquid that helps give your bubbles real staying power. After reading up on the science of it, I discovered that glycerin added to the soap solution slows evaporation so the soap film stays intact longer. I can’t argue with the science behind it and neither will you after you make these.

This year we put our bubbles in an iced tea container that I found over in the summer housewares, to help make pouring and filling our bubbles easier. The very first day, my daughter refilled it forty-five times then tipped the entire thing over and dumped all the bubbles out. You have been warned. Pouring bubbles out of a dispenser like this allows for unlimited refills and that spout happens to be irresistible.

We made pipe cleaner bubble wands together and spelled out our name and phrases with wooden beads I found in the craft department. Such a simple idea, but endless possibilities for shapes and designs.

Our school ends on Thursday and we can’t wait to start sharing our summer with you! We are looking forward to our carefree summer days and sharing those with you through the blog.

Have you joined in on our 100 days of summer fun? I am still adding daily to our 2012 board ideas, inspiration, and even ways to craft out that summer list as a family.

If you are on Instagram, you can join in on the fun by taking pictures and sharing all of your summer adventures through there. Let’s use the hashtag #100summerdays. Unfortunately, the hashtag that sounds like the event has been taken by Yelp so this is the best I could do!  My username is momadvice and I am happy to have you follow our adventures and follow along with yours!  

By tagging your photos, it will make it easy to find each other in the group and share the projects we are tackling together. You can add the tags to your caption or you can add them as a comment later. In either scenario, the tag will pull it into our summer group.

Looking forward to spending the summer with you, friends!

 

The World’s Greatest Homemade Bubbles Recipe
Recipe Type: Kid’s Craft
Prep time: 3 mins
Total time: 3 mins
Serves: 1 busy toddler
Make a batch of what we like to call, “the world’s greatest bubbles.” You be the judge!
Ingredients
  • 1 gallon water
  • 2/3 cup dishwashing soap
  • 2-3 tbsp. glycerin
Instructions
  1. Mix all of the ingredients in a container.
Pin It

Father’s Day Craft: DIY Chalkboard Conversation Bubble Cookie Jars

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012

 DIY Chalkboard Conversation Bubble Cookie Jars

I am so excited to share with you a fun craft today that you can do to spoil the dads in your life this year for Father’s Day. Today I am showcasing this EASY DIY Chalkboard Conversation Bubble Cookie Jar that you can create using some inexpensive supplies and fill with your dad’s favorite treat.

Before I get started, I want you to know that crafting is not easy for me. I really do think I was born lacking a natural crafting gene. I actually did this craft twice and failed at it the first time. I made a huge craftastrophe in my kitchen, dripped paint all over the place, and was about to give up. This craft took me THREE trips to the store and an entire day to execute. Once I figured out the best way to do it though, I felt like a craft rock star and tackled this project in less than an hour with amazing results. I just think it is nice to hear the behind-the-scenes stuff once in awhile. I have complete confidence that with this tutorial you are going to get to enjoy all of the rock star status without the drippy paint all over your kitchen.

 DIY Chalkboard Conversation Bubble Cookie Jars DIY Chalkboard Conversation Bubble Cookie JarsLet’s get started with our picture of supplies and the (approximate) cost of the materials for you to recreate this craft.

For this craft you will need (all found at Walmart):

1 Gallon Cookie Jar (over by the jars in the kitchen section)- $7.44

Krylon Chalkboard Spray Paint (in the home improvement section)- $3.97

Avery Removable Wall & Window Signage Sheets (over by the office supplies)- $9.97 for 5 sheets

16 count chalk (in office supplies)- $.47

Scissors (in your craft supplies)

1 sheet of heavy cardstock (in your craft supplies)

 

 DIY Chalkboard Conversation Bubble Cookie Jars

 DIY Chalkboard Conversation Bubble Cookie Jars

First, pull out your Avery Sheets. These are probably among the most awesome find EVER for creating labels and signs. My brain is buzzing with the possibilities for these. Focus, Amy, focus…

For this craft, we are going to use the Wall Application Side for spraying with chalkboard spray paint. This is the side that has the sticky side that is removable and adjustable… perfect for people who can never get anything on their projects perfectly straight.

In a well-ventilated area covered with newspaper or cardboard, place your Avery sheet. Shake the can vigorously for two minutes. Hold can 10-14 inches away from your project and begin spraying. Spray a thin coat in a sweeping motion beginning off the surface and continuing off the other side. Follow this pattern horizontally and then vertically. Wait fifteen minutes or so and then apply another coat.  They should be dry and ready to cut in about an hour.

 DIY Chalkboard Conversation Bubble Cookie JarsPrint out my FREE Chalkboard Conversation Bubble template on some heavy-duty cardstock. Use this template to cut out your chalkboard conversation bubbles. You should be able to get two labels from each sheet with this size label.

 DIY Chalkboard Conversation Bubble Cookie JarsWrite your chalk message on the conversation bubble and then adhere the message to your cookie jar. These Avery sheets are sticky, but do not leave a residue or tear. They are heavy-duty so if Dad wants to peel it off and give the jar a good wash, he can and then place the label back on.

I filled my jars with Oatmeal Chocolate Chip & Sea Salt Cookies for each of my dads. I can’t wait to give these them and I especially love that this craft cost about $10 in supplies for each one. Not too shabby!

Grab your free conversation bubble template HERE

I am a part of the Walmart Moms program, and Walmart has provided me with compensation for these posts. My participation is voluntary and opinions are always my own.

 

Looking for more Father’s Day gift ideas? Be sure to check out my Power Pack for Your Superhero Dad and my idea for an Easy Movie Gift Basket for a special dad in your life!

Pin It

Teacher School Supplies Cake

Tuesday, April 17th, 2012

Hip, Hip, Hooray for amazing teachers! Teacher Appreciation Week is fast approaching (May 7-11), and it is time to begin thinking of some fun ways to shower your favorite teachers with some appreciation. What says I appreciate you more than a school supplies cake to replenish their school supplies?

Every single day, I count my blessings for the amazing school and the teachers that are in my kid’s lives. We wanted to show our teachers just how much we appreciate them with a special gift this year. Today I wanted to show you how to make a school supplies cake for your favorite teacher. The best part about this is that this project can be accommodated to your own budget. You can stock up on cute fillers at the dollars store, you can add tiers to the ceiling OR you can keep it simple with just a couple of layers. Whatever you budget, this project can fit with this easy craft.

Supplies Needed (if you are replicating my cake):

1 square of sturdy cardboard (I used an old box)
Wrapping Paper
Sterlite 5.5 Quart Clear Storage Container
4 White Glues
2 boxes of 48 count crayons
6 glue sticks
48 No. 2 Pencils (two boxes)
1 package of ballpoint pens (any variety)
1 Ruler
1 square box of tissues
50 count tub of markers (I got the Crayola Pip-Squeaks Telescoping Tower)
Packing Tape
Regular Tape
A picture of your child
A Skewer
Rubber Bands
3 yards of ribbon (I used the Offray Polka Dot Red Ribbon)
Scissors

To begin, we are going to cover our recycled cardboard base with your favorite color of gift wrap.

In the center of your base, securing with tape as you go, stack two glues on each side of your Kleenex square. (Side note: if you see the glue standing up in subsequent pictures, just know that I quickly realized that they needed to be flat for the base to be flush with the cardboard base. This is the right way to do it.)

Slide your plastic container over your glue and tissue paper. This should all fit together really tightly. You can secure your storage container to the cardboard base with more packing tape.

Next, using more packing tape, add your tube of markers on top. I taped the lid on the markers to make sure that everything stayed secure.

Next up, we will add our two boxes of crayons. I secured these on top of the markers with more packing tape.

On each side of your crayon layer, add three glue sticks. I stuck these on with a little regular tape or you can use double-stick tape for this one.

Bundle your pencils up into two bundles of 24 pencils. Wrap each bundle with rubber bands. Slip your ruler between the two boxes of crayons and secure the ruler with tape on the inside of the two boxes. Add each bundle of crayons on each side of the ruler and then secure with masking tape.

With a little tape, add a little package of ballpoint pens to the front of your storage container.

Wrap your layer of pencils, your layer of crayons, and your storage container base in ribbon, with a simple double knot.

For the final touch, add a cute picture of your child with a message to their teacher. I did this in Picnik and it breaks my heart to hear that they will be closing their doors for photo editing. I found that PicMonkey is a great place to upload your photo and add text very quickly and easily. You can choose from a variety of fonts and colors.

Save your image once you have finished it. If you have a photo printer, you can print these out at home. I printed mine on 4×6 Kodak paper with my photo printer. If you don’t have a photo printer, Walmart offers one hour prints (for a 4×6) for $.09.  With a little tape on the back of your image, secure it to a simple skewer and then tuck it in and tape it to your ruler.

I couldn’t resist adding a sweet treat just for our teachers. I am working on making these Easy Felt Fabric Brooches for each of them as a fun little surprise. I can’t wait to make these in a few other colors and I know they will be the perfect accessory to their jackets this year!

Looking for more great teacher gift ideas? Look no further! Here is a round-up of my favorite gifts to give to the amazing teachers in our lives.

1. Raise Your Hand If You Mustache a Question Printable & Mustache Mug

2. Rolled Rosette Pins

3. Light & Fluffy Baked Cake Donuts

4. No-Slip Bookmarks

5. Oatmeal Cookies & Milk Bath Soak

6. Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt Brownies

7. Easy Felt Fabric Brooches

8. Light Snickerdoodle Biscotti

9. Rolled Rosette Ribbon Rings

10. Fabric Flower Pins

11. Oreo Cookie Biscotti

12. Honey Nut Granola

What gifts do you have up your sleeve for you teachers this year? What gift has been the biggest hit? I would love to hear your ideas!

I am a part of the Walmart Moms program, and Walmart has provided me with compensation for these posts. My participation is voluntary and opinions are always my own.

Pin It

10 Unique Ideas for Projects To Do With Goodwill T-Shirts

Friday, April 13th, 2012

If there is one craft material I love, it is t-shirt material.

If you have ever been in a Goodwill store, one thing you will notice is that there is an abundance and plethora of donated t-shirts in every size, style, variety, and color.
The next time you visit your local thrift store, don’t just visit the t-shirts in your own size for ideas.
Look in the Men’s section and in the larger sizes to find t-shirts that will offer you extra and a generous amount of craft material for the same amount of money as your smaller t-shirts.
Try to select t-shirts that are not as faded or that have fabric pills on them for optimal material for your projects.
Today I wanted to share with you ten of my favorite projects that I have found to do with old t-shirts from some very amazing bloggers.
I love that all of these ideas are extremely unique and that most require no sewing skills at all.

T-Shirt Scarves

I have seen lots of varieties of t-shirt scarves on many different blogs, but I absolutely love this DIY Dish episode you can watch to discover three different varieties of scarves you can make from an old t-shirt.
My favorite is the one, pictured above, with a bright pom-pom trim.

T-Shirt Bibs

If you are looking for a fast sewing project that would make a fun baby gift, then these t-shirt bibs are the project for you.
For little boys, you could look for their dad’s favorite sports teams and for little girls you could look for a fun t-shirt with sparkly letters or flowers.
Don’t forget that these could also be embellished with rick-rack, ribbon trim, or an easy t-shirt rolled rosette flower.

T-Shirt Bracelets

There are many varieties of cute bracelets that I have seen using t-shirt materials, but this one has to be one of my favorites.
This twisted knot bracelet can be made from just a single t-shirt or it could be made with a mix of prints or a mix of solid colors.
I can’t wait to make some of these for myself and my daughter this summer.
Nothing could be cozier than a gently worn t-shirt bracelet on your arm!

T-Shirt Produce Bag

Nothing could be greener than carrying your groceries in a cloth grocery bag…until you start using recycled materials for your bag.
Even if you are a beginning sewer, this simple produce bag can easily be created for a visit to the grocery store of your local farmer’s market.
I think these would be fun to make in a variety of pastel colors or to give as a gift to someone special in your life.

T-Shirt Pom Poms

Looking for a fun way to dress up your home for the warmer months?
I absolutely love these adorable t-shirt pom poms for a fun way to add a pop of color to your mantle, as a fun adornment to a wreath, or hung in a gathering on a door handle or front door.
The best part about this project is that no sewing skills are required for this one!

Petal Tees

I have seen many, many refashions of old t-shirts, but I think this Petal Tee is simply genius because the petal trim on this t-shirt is made from a variety of t-shirts, adding a cute pop of color for the Spring.
Visit your favorite thrift shop on their half off days and stock-up on a fun mixture of colors for a fun addition of color to your wardrobe.
If you are looking to add a little of the fluorescent color trend to your wardrobe, this would be a great way to do it without having to commit to an entire fluorescent piece!

T-Shirt Yarn

My favorite craft in the world is knitting and I love the idea of using t-shirts to create fun yarn for my projects.
This would be a fun gift to give to a friend that knits or crochets.
If you can use a pair of scissors and cut in a relatively straight line, then you can do this craft and use this yarn for a variety of projects!

T-Shirt Aprons

I have a true affection for aprons and have a little collection of my own thrifted aprons that I have acquired from Goodwill and antique shops.
I had never thought to use t-shirts to create aprons, but I think this t-shirt apron is the cutest thing I have ever seen.
This would be a cute craft to make for yourself or for your helpers in the kitchen.
The best part?
No ironing required and it can handle the messes that you might make in the kitchen.

T-Shirt Necklaces

I love t-shirt necklaces for adding a splash of color to your neckline.
This rolled rosette t-shirt necklace is a fun way to add some feminine details to your outfit very inexpensively.
I think it would be cute to make the t-shirt bracelet in a coordinating color and one t-shirt should more than cover both of these cute projects.

T-Shirt Flower Pin

Our tenth project is actually a fun t-shirt project we did here on the MomAdvice blog.
Be sure to visit my tutorial on creating a cute t-shirt flower pin made from an old t-shirt and spray painted clip-on earrings.
This is so cute and would be a fun addition to a Spring top or jacket.

What are your favorite craft projects to do with old t-shirt?

Don’t miss these craft ideas from MomAdvice.com:

 

8 Fun Sweater Crafts

 

 

Easy DIY Fabric Flower Wreath

 

 

Easy Paint-Dipped Spoon Sets

 

 

DIY No-Sew Reversible Cloth Napkins

 

Sign up for the MomAdvice newsletter

 

Pin It

Easy Felt Fabric Brooch

Monday, April 9th, 2012

If there is one thing I love to do it is spend a little time with my glue gun and create something sweet for someone I love. I wanted to share with you a super cute and fun Spring craft you could create with just a few simple materials. This is a fantastic little craft to have in your back pocket for a sweet teacher gift or a fun Mother’s Day gift for a special mama in your life.

I am sharing this fun craft-a-long for our readers and all supplies can be found at your local Walmart store or can be ordered directly through the suppliers. Let’s get started!

Supplies Needed (Available at Walmart or online)

Dimensions Wool Felt- any color
Cutter Bee Scissors (or any scissors you might have on hand)
Laliberi Pins and Clips Multi-pack
Hot Glue Gun & Glue Sticks
Jolee’s Bumble Bees Cabochons
Cardstock (to print our FREE flower template- see below)
To begin, print out our free flower template to create this felt rose. Our template should be printed on heavy-duty card stock to help make it easy for tracing. We have put the numbers of how many to print in the center of each circle, but here is another picture of what you are doing. One piece of the Dimensions Wool Felt (12×12) will create one of these flowers. Save the scraps to create a center for your rose after you are done cutting all of your circles.

You will find the link for our flower template at the end of this post.


 Set your largest circle aside- this will be the base for your flower.  Now grab your other circles and your glue gun and let’s get gluing. Add a big dab of glue in the center of each of these circles and hold it steady for a minute. Repeat with every single circle, fifteen times in total, until your hands feel crampy and you are feeling the hot glue gun burn from trigger-holding forever. Feel the burn, baby!
If I was an octopus I could have posted better pictures, but I hope that this picture will give you the visual you need for now. Begin placing your five large circles on top of your largest circle, attaching with a strip of hot glue on the back. Repeat this process with another layer on top. Repeat this process again with your baby circles. You will have a small hole in the center of the circle once everything is stacked.

If you use the Dimension Wool, this wool is very thick and you may be able to get away with just three circles on the two smaller circles so you can fit everything nicely on your flower. I would just use your best judgement, depending on the thickness of your felt and how big you like your flower.
Taking a small scrap of felt and wrap it into a circle to create the center of your flower. Secure with a dab of hot glue. Position it in the center of your flower and cut it down (if needed) until it fits nicely in the center of your flower.

Grab your pin and secure it to the back of your felt flower brooch with more…you guessed it… hot glue!

Add a little whimsy to it and glue a little bumblebee to your flower to make it even more Spring-y.

Grab your FREE Easy Felt Flower Brooch Template here!

I am a part of the Walmart Moms program, and Walmart has provided me with compensation for these posts. My participation is voluntary and opinions are always my own.

Pin It

Rolled Ribbon Rosette Hair Accessory Tutorial

Saturday, March 24th, 2012

I love to make hair accessories for my little girl and my little girl loves to wear them. It was a joke, in fact, that when my daughter was born, she was born with a bow on her little head. This little girl never pulled a bow out of her hair and would even sleep in them. I really believe she just thought it was a part of her little head since I put one on the day she was born and never took it off.

Luckily for me, she remains to be my little girly-girl to this day. She still is my little fashionista and always fully accessorized.

Now that she is growing up, I am always looking for big girl ways to accessorize her outfits and this Rolled Ribbon Rosette Hair Bow is the perfect accessory to any Easter outfit. Rolled Ribbon Rosettes are so unbelievably easy to make and require ZERO craft skills to create. No one will believe that you made these yourself, but only you will know just how easy these are to create.

All of the supplies for this project are available at your local Walmart. For this craft you will need your hot glue gun, glue sticks, plain metal barrettes (located by the ribbon section of the craft section of your store), a piece of felt, and one package of Offray Large Trend Flower Ribbon (in your chosen color).

To start your Rolled Ribbon Rosette Hair Bow, you will want to start with one of the roses on the ribbon to create the center of your pretty flower.

Now all you need to do is start twisting your ribbon in between each of the little roses, add a dab of hot glue, and then twist again, glue again, and repeat. If you twist the ribbon tightly, you will have a tighter and flatter flower. If you twist a little looser, you will get more of the petal effect with the frayed edges working their way out more on the ribbon. Either way, it will be beautiful.

Keep twisting until you reach the size of the flower you are looking for. I used almost the entire bolt of ribbon, but you can make your flower smaller, based on your own preferences.

Cut a circle out of felt. You can use a drinking glass to trace your circle on the felt or just freehand it. This felt circle will hold all of that ribbon secure and together underneath your Rolled Ribbon Rosette Hair Bow. Hot glue your felt circle to the back of your flower. Hold this for a couple of seconds to secure it.

Once you have secured your felt circle, you can begin attaching your barrette. Add hot glue to your barrette (left opened, so you don’t glue it together) and secure it to your felt circle. Allow the glue to dry and then close your barrette.

I love this big girl flower for my big girl. She couldn’t wait to try it on and has already been begging to wear this one to school because she loves it so much. Who would ever know that it so simple to create? I will never tell!

Walmart offers beautiful dresses for the Easter season. I found this fluffy pink & white tulle dress for her for $16.47. The cropped ruffled cardigan was only $7.47. For less than $30, she will be accessorized from head to toe in her Easter finery this year. Once we are done wearing this dress for Easter, it will make a fun dress-up dress for those days when a girl just wants to feel fancy.

In our house fanciness happens every day. We should get a lot of wear out of this one.

Looking for other fun Easter projects on MomAdvice? Here are six recommendations for a fun Easter season.

1. Marbleized Easter Eggs

2. Homemade Bunny Bread (in the Bread Machine)

3. Deviled Eggs (to be created from your dyed eggs)

4. DIY Fabric Flower Barrettes (for Easter accessories)

5. Budget-Minded Easter Celebrations

6. Kool-Aid Easter Egg Dying

What is your favorite Easter tradition in your house?  Do you have any ways that you save on your Easter outfits and accessories? I would love to hear your ideas!

I am a part of the Walmart Moms program, and Walmart has provided me with compensation for these posts. My participation is voluntary and opinions are always my own.

Pin It