: Fairy/Gnome Home :

Today is National Fairy Day. So, Jared and I decided we were going to make a fairy/gnome home. There are countless ways of doing it and numerous tutorials, but we decided to simply go outside and let the outdoors lead us.

We started by clearing a spot at the base of a tree in front of our house and gathering some leftover wood pieces and moss for the house/porch itself. We also gathered several acorns because we started out having a tough time finding rocks for our pathway. We liked the results anyway.

We then gathered pinecones and built a fence around the yard.

We used a shell for a pond, Jared found a "bench" in the wood scraps, and we successfully found little rocks, which now lined the garden.

The garden was filled in by freshly fallen pine needles and freshly pulled weeds. We also built a table by stacking a fairly flat rock on top of a hollow acorn and surrounding it with little comfy stools. Jared is shown here building a campfire.

So, that is all there is to it! Basically, use your imagination and the resources you have around you to create as simple or as elaborate a fairy/gnome house and property that you and your child would like. In fact, we would love to see what you come up with. So, if you have a link to your fairy/gnome home, please add it to the comments below. Enjoy!

: Rock Creatures and Magical Stones :

When we went on our neighborhood walk yesterday after dinner, we picked up a few larger rounded stones we spotted along the way. We have been collecting different rocks, the kids and I, and this time I decided to do something a little different this time. I decided to bring them to life by turning them into familiar creatures.

I painted each with acryilic paint after rinsing them and they each dried quickly. The ladybug was a necessary creation and a favorite between the boys, the frog was perfect for the shape of rock, and the bee was made with painted wax paper wings.

I was stumped and mometarily uninspired when I looked at this rock, so I decided to create a magical wishing stone...or whatever the kids come up with. I will soon create a magical stone set for the kids.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to painting rocks. It is so easy to make them come alive as all sort of insects or animals. Ask your child to use their imagination when deciding what to paint, whether it is a creature, an enchanted stone, or a natural surface for which to paint a picture. If you have any rock creations you would like to share, add your link to the comments below.

: Earthworms :

Earthworms are one of nature's wiggly wonders. Kids love to hold them in their hands.

They love to watch them move around and disappear magically into the dirt.

And kids love to discover the unseen; what goes on beneath the soil.

We filled a large jar (one that does not have ripples works better) full of moist soil. We gathered several earthworms from around our house and put them in the soil. We covered the jar and wrapped it tightly with a towel, safety pinning it. After a day or so, we unwrapped it and looked at all the trails and earthworms themselves. The boys thoroughly enjoyed watching what happens underground in the earthworm community.

Then Jared decided to take it a step further and sew a felt earthworm...it was his idea. So, I cut out two earthworm peices and he stitched away.

: Carrot Bread :

We love food. We love to cook. We love to bake. Our oldest had an itch to bake this last Sunday, so we decided to find something a little different than what we have made in the past (we love trying new things). We have made all sorts of bread creations and different carrot cake recipes in the past, but never have we tried carrot bread. He liked the idea, so we proceded with this recipe.

We changed the recipe a bit. We used almost half the amount of sugar, sliced almonds intead of pecans (it was all we had on hand), and vegetable oil instead of sesame oil (again, we just improvised). Well, actually, I should not be saying "we" when Luke did all of the work himself. I barely even helped him. We ate the whole loaf that day because it was so yummy! Thank you, Lukey!

There is nothing like warm bread fresh out of the oven. Try this recipe with your child. Or make a tradition of baking with your kids once a week. Children even under the age of 2 can pitch in with pouring, stirring, getting things for you, helping with clean up. So, get baking and don't be afraid to try new things. You just might discover something you really like and your kids will benefit in so many ways. Enjoy!

: No-Sew Cloth Tissues :

I thought the season for runny noses and coughs was past us, but apparently I was wrong. I swear, there is always a little one at preschool that gets everyone else sick. It is viscious cycle of their little bodies toughening up and building a strong immune system, which is not always fun when they are going through it. Nor is it fun for mommies and daddies who are going through it with their children. The only thing we can do is be as nurturing as possible and try to meet their needs the best we possibly can. So, last night I was looking to make a hankie for Jared, but I came across this article, Make Your Own No-Sew Eco-Friendly T-Shirt Tissues by Fun in the Making, and decided this was exactly what we needed. I followed her tutorial and Jared awoke this morning sniffling and delighted that he had his very own Mommy-made collection of colorful, soft tissues. His eyes lit up when he got to blow his nose for the first time.

I have kept several clothes from my own wardrobe that I was going to get rid of at the time, but I realized I could eventually figure out some good uses for these reusable fabrics. I found a few shirts and a pair of old flannel pajama bottoms. I measured 7 inch squares and came out with about 30 tissues that can easily be washed and quickly line or machine dried. There is no sewing necessary. I stacked the tissues up and placed them next to a recycled container (for discarding the used tissues).

These are great in preventing red, raw skin around the nose. Our skin always prefers natural cloth to disposable products. Your kids will love these and they are a great way to make them feel special and look forward to blowing their little noses. So, instead of sending off all of your garments to the thrift store, think about making some reusable tissues with quickness and ease. Your kids will thank you.

: Milk Jug Flower Pot :

There seems to be a theme here at Busy Hands..we keep making flower pots! 'Tis the season for flowers and pots and Moms...... We have also been on a reusing recycleables kick lately. We utilized half of a milk jug, scrap fabric, glue, a paint brush, a strip of felt, and some Mod Podge.

We cut pieces of fabric and brushed glue all over the sides of the jug. Then, my young one created a fabric collage.

He helped me put on the felt strip around the edges after we brushed the area generously with our glue. Then, we allowed everything to dry completely.

We brushed on a coat of Mod Podge to seal our pot decor and let that dry. He went to the garden and filled the pot with dirt and planted some lettuce seeds for me. Thanks, Jared. :)

Enjoy this project. It is a great way to reuse, create a colorful collage, and give a lovely gift to someone you really love. Happy Mother's Day!

: Gem Flower Pot :

Mother's Day is right around the corner. What better way to celebrate the love of Mom than by making her a special gift. Your little ones can help you make an inexpensive, festive gem flower pot to give Mom something to celebrate spring and gardening with.

My preschooler picked out the colors of gems and I grabbed a white pot, all from the dollar store. I applied hot glue and Jared applied them onto the pot, gem by gem. Instant drying, instant gratification. These colors actually make the pot feel very oceanic. Use any colors you like. Plant tomatos, flowers, herbs, or anything you can think of, and give Mom a beautiful sprouting plant in her new stylish pot.

: Toilet Paper Roll Centerpiece :

Though Earth Day was last week, Earth day truly should be every day. Recycling and finding creative ways to reuse materials is always an eco-friendly choice. I actually got this toilet paper roll centerpiece idea a couple weeks ago and I cannot trace back to where it originated. I will keep searching. Either way, it was fun for my kids to make and they now have a decoration they can be proud of.

We just used 8 toilet paper rolls, a paper plate, glue, and some acrylic paint (doesn't really matter what type of paint you use). I cut the rolls at an angle at varying heights. Meanwhile, Jared painted the plate black. Then he chose different colors and painted each roll. I told him it would be a good idea to paint the insides rather than just the outsides of the rolls, but he insisted on leaving them as they are. You could certainly paint the insides to add to the colorful effect of the centerpiece. After everything was dry (it didn't take very long), he glued them to the plate in sequence and let that dry.

This centerpiece reminds me of a colorful choir..people clad in bright cloaks as they all sing in unison. Ask your child what it looks like to them. Use your imagination, as well, and enjoy making this project with your little ones.

: Fresh-Squeezed Orange Juice :

Squeezing fresh juice from oranges in the morning has been a long-time tradition that has been somewhat lost with the convenience of store-bought O.J. We are guilty of this, as well. But there have been these organic oranges in our fruit bowl beckoning me to use them and I happened to spot a little juicer at the store for about $3.00. So, I thought it was meant to be.

A gratifying activity, juicing oranges can be done almost entirely by your preschooler or even your toddler (you will likely have to finish because they may not have the strength to get all the juice out).

: More Flowers For Little Ones :

Flowers are things of Spring. They are things of beauty. They are things of life and of color. Flower are great for awakening your child's mind and imagination, both boys and girls. Here a couple simple, thrifty ways to make flower art with your toddlers and preschoolers.

Field of Flowers

Cost: Not even 2 bucks

Materials:

Various colors of paper streamers or tissue paper

Green pipe cleaners

Green construction paper

Scissors

Glue

Tape 

Directions:

1. 
   
   Draw zigzags horizontally across the center of your construction paper. Have your young one cut along the lines. Mount your grass in a long row.
2. 
   
   Tuck and bend your pipe cleaners where you want your flowers to be. Tape at the top of each (they will be covered by the flowers themselves).
3. 
   
   To make your flowers, take a pretty long strand of streamer from your roll. Your kids will have fun crumpling these up and spinning a little, then gluing the loose parts. Also, make sure they make little centers for their flowers by pulling off 6-inch pieces and crumpling really tightly. Glue them on the flowers.
4. 
   
   Allow to dry for several hours (we waited til the next day). Use double stick tape or fold tape onto itself so that it is sticky on both sides and mount each flower to its stem, making sure to cover the tape at the top of your pipe cleaners.
5. 
   
   Additionally, you can create leaves with pipe cleaners, construction paper, etc... 

Wooden Flower Corner

Cost: About $3.25

Materials:

Wooden flowers ready to be painted

Paint

Directions: 

1. Get your wooden decorations (I bought mine from the dollar store) and red, yellow and blue paints.

2. Have your child mix red/yellow, red/blue, blue/yellow to yield orange, violet, and green.

3. Now, simply paint.

  

This makes a great window sill decoration, addition to a nature table, or put these anywhere that will add some personal springtime joy to your child's environment.


There are so many ways to create springtime flower crafts for your little ones. Look around. See what you come up with and let your child's imagination bloom.

: Brown Rice Pudding :

My kids periodically ask me to make rice pudding for them. It has become somewhat of a tradition in our family. We make it a little different every time, but I will share how we made it this time around. Making brown rice pudding is a healthy way to add delicious flavor to your breakfast, snacktime, or dessert.

We simply used about 2 parts water, 1 part brown rice, about 2 parts milk or alternative milk (soy, rice, almond...), brown sugar or honey, cinnamon, and currants or raisins.

Directions

1. Bring water to a boil. Add rice. Bring back to a boil. Turn to low and cover. Cook brown rice for about 45 minutes.
2. Add milk. Cook on medium-low 10 minutes or until thick and creamy, stirring frequently.
3. Add the cinnamon, honey, and raisins.
4. Serve it warm or chill it for snacking on later.

Create your own variation or enjoy the recipe as it is shown here. Include your children in pouring, mixing, measuring, and stirring. Talk about the changes in the milk being a liquid to it turning to a creamy solid. Talk about the initial absorption of water by the rice. There are so many ways to involve your kids. Plus, there is nothing like being able to taste their own work. Brown rice pudding is great for all seasons and an inexpensive way to share delicious creations with the ones you love.

: Wool Felt 'N' Buttons Matching Game :

Time to make an easy game for the little ones to do! There is nothing like a good old-fashioned memory game for kids. Challenging and fun! Easy and quick to make!

I originally got this idea from Andiland, but modified it slightly to my own liking. We had all these cute little buttons, but I didn't know what to use them all for. So, this project was a great way to effectively use them so that the kids would thoroughly enjoy them: trains, rockets, ladybugs, etc...

Materials

2 colors of wool felt

Squiggly scissors (regular will do, too)

An assortment of buttons

Tool for measuring

Pins

Needle

Embroidery Thread

Directions

1. 
   
   Measure 24 2-inch squares on one sheet of felt.
2. 
   
   Line it up with your other color and pin each square to the other felt sheet.
3. 
   
   Now, cut with your fun squiggly scissors on all sides. You should now have 24 pinned squares.
4. 
   
   One at a time, unpin each square, sew a button to the center of your chosen color, then sew the 2 pieces together around the edge. Simple as that!

These can be done in a bigger size, with synthetic felt, with any sort of buttons, in a bigger or smaller set than 24..... The possibilities will be up to you. Enjoy creating this game and I hope your young ones enjoy playing with these 3-dimensional matching game pieces.

: 3 Little Birds ~ Made With Recycled Clothes :

Still an amatuer user of the sewing machine, I attempted to make cute little stuffed birds for the the kids. We were focusing quite a bit on birds and I thought it would be spring-like to have these toys around.

Materials

Old jeans or corduroy

Scrap fabric

Thread

Sewing Machine

Needle

Stuffing

Embroidery thread

Directions

1. 
   
   Draw your pattern, cut it out and trace it on your fabric twice, flipping it once so you get one left and one right side of your bird.
2. 
   
   Make a pattern for your wings and do the same as you did for the body. Do this for the beak, as well.
3. 
   
   Pin your beaks and wings onto the bodies. Sew them on with your sewing machine.
4. 
   
   Then, put the 2 sides of the bird bodies together inside out. Starting from the breast of the bird, sew up and around until you reach about 2 inches from where you began.
5. 
   
   Stuff the bird from the opening at its belly and sew it up when you are finished stuffing.
6. 
   
   Use your dark embroidery thread to make eyes. And now you are finished.

This project is great for young stitchers ages 7 and up, and for parents who want to create a simple handmade gift for their little ones.

: Spring Flowers Garland :

Spring is a time of color, life, gardens, wildflowers.... Why not celebrate the very essense of the season with your little one. This project is a cheap way to entertain your kids and decorate your house for spring.

Materials

Green yarn of choice

3 to 6 bouquets of fake flowers

Needle

Directions

1. 
   
   Pluck each flower and leaves from the bouquets.
2. 
   
   Thread your needle with your yarn and get ready to start stringing.
3. 
   
   Take the center out of each flower individually as you get ready to string them onto the yarn.
4. 
   
   Push your needle through hole in the center and pull about 3 feet or more.
5. 
   
   Do the same with the leaves, alternating between flowers.
6. 
   
   Once you are done, cut the yarn to the desired length and tie both ends each in a loop so it can be easily hung.
7. 
   
   Separate the flowers evenly how ever you like.
8. 
   
   Hang it either verticly hanging or draped horizontally.