Charming Bird Houses

Adorable! This was a last minute Diddle Daddle Day project for the kids. I spotted these wood bird houses tucked away in my closet, grabbed the acrylic paint and scraps and sent my kids loose! And, I promise - my 5 and 3 year olds created these completely on their own! All I did was dab the Hot Glue where they told me to.

1. Allow your child to choose 1 color and paint the bird house (bought at any craft store for $1 each!) (depending on age and patience levels, you may need to help with nook and crannies, but most will be covered anyway)
2. Let dry completely. Paint second coat, if necessary.
3. While letting their houses dry, go for a nature walk. Bring a bag or bucket with you and fill it with pinecones of all sizes, pine straw, small twigs, acorns, etc.
4. Have your child pick out all their decorations: buttons, tulle, ribbon, anything from the nature walk, stickers, felt flowers, butterfly buttons, lady bug buttons, chipboard flowers.
5. Allow them creative control! They each had their own vision, and they turned out beautiful! ** My daughter HAD to have 4 flowers bunched together on top of her house, her buttons had to be pink and form a pattern. She also covered it with Wet Glitter (add wet glue to glitter=less messy), strips of gems and pearls. So cute; so her! **My son demanded his pinecone be on top of his house. (Though my eyebrows raised, I later stood back and giggled as my daughter told him how cute his 'chimney' was! Of course! It's a chimney! LOL) He also stuck yellow star stickers on his roof, well, "because, Mom, that's where the stars go"... Love their creative minds!
6. For the bottom: 1. Stack 4 or 5 Paper or Felt Flowers together with Hot Glue and Hot Glue to the bottom of the bird house. Paint petals with Wet Glitter or a 3D Clear Glue for sparkle, shine, and dew drops. 2. Bunch some tulle, pine straw, small twigs, and string with Hot Glue, and Hot Glue to the bottom of the bird house. (This was the 'water' for a 'Fishing Bird House' ; )
7. Last but not least, purchase a pack of Eggs and a pack of Birds from your local craft store. *Allow your child to make a nest out of scraps of string and yarn. Bunch it all together with a tiny rubber band or Hot Glue. *Hot Glue the Birds and Eggs where your child sees fit. My daughter cut the eggs apart, so the bird would appear to be hatching from the egg.
8. This was probably the most creative-last minute- project I have ever done with my kids. It was really neat to see them be creative individuals. I enjoyed chatting with them as we sat for a bit - Hot Gluing every single button on their houses. The best part - watching them watch their Grandparents open their surprise, and being asked where they found such neat Bird Houses. "We MADE them!"

Cute Christmas Trees

Cute Christmas Trees

1. You'll need Styrofoam Cones of any size (These smaller cones came in a 2 pack. Find ON SALE. Could probably use cardboard cones as well)
2. Patience is a virtue with this step : ) Wrap the cones in yarn (thicker the better). *Note: You need to Hot Glue the yarn to the cone every once in awhile or it will all unravel. **Wrap it tight so the cone doesn't show through. I did 2 layers of yarn.
3. Let the kids run with their imagination. Dig out all your scraps, buttons, brads, puff balls, ribbon, flowers, Christmas decorations etc. My kids decided what, where, when, and how. They pointed and I dabbed the Hot Glue on. I suggest Low Temp Hot Glue, so your finger tips don't peel away... : )
4. The hardest part of this project was stepping back and allowing my children to have their own creative control. I stop myself from asking them, "are you sure you want THAT - THERE?" LOL. They definitely represent each of my children! Most importantly they were so proud (and should be) to make a gift, and their Grandparents LOVE them! Enjoy! CKS

Terracotta Pots

Terracotta Pots - my new fetish! Why pay $$$$$$ for something your kids can do for almost nothing?

You will need:

• Terracotta Pot in your size of choice (price ranges from $1 to $14 for a large pot)
• Acrylic Paint and Paint brushes

Directions:

• Peel the price sticker off
• Slap on some paint until you get the desired effect. (If you truly hate it, paint over it until you love it ; )
• Photos to come.....

Wood Square Art

• Wood Square Art: Fun for the whole family - Fun for all ages ; )
• 1. Cut 3/4"pine 4x4 squares (or bigger), sand edges.
• 2. Paint all squares a solid base color. (stay neutral, I chose black; I might choose a gray or dark brown instead)
• 3. Color time! Get everyone involved! Go wild! Have kids find items that will make cool shapes (lesson time ; ) My 6 year old came up with a square marker, nail, screw, play dough tools, paper cups of many sizes, crayon, sponges, fun stretchy straws. Use acrylic non-toxic paint = washes right off (usually ;) Have fun! If u mess up- paint it black and start over!
• 3. continued....Texture- get the spackle out, too! Dab spackle on a square and let dry white. Leave white or paint over. Add a bit of paint to spackle, apply w a cool tool, dry! (this is when the boys come to play....)
• 4. Cut 1/2" MDF to size of picture. Paint black(same as base of squares ). Arrange squares. Stack some w 2 squares, leave a few negative spaces (will give 3D illusion that the board is 1 square, the 1 squares will seem to be 2, and the 2 squares will look like 3 stacked). Glue with Cinstruction Liquid Nail with cheap paint brush and strong arms!
• 4 continued - Glue Double Squares together first. Then glue all squares to MDF Board.
• 5. Mount sturdy bracket hardware to back (measure once, hang once....). This is VERY heavy!!! It will take at least 2 strong people to hang
• 6. Paint the negative spaces, too. Hang, and admire your very own priceless, virtually free artwork!!!!
• 7. Brag that the artist simply cannot be revealed !!! : ) Have fun, CKS

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