: Nature Wall Hanging Made with Cartons, Boxes, and Knick Knacks :

We live tucked away on the edge of the forest up here in the mountains. Our family loves nature hikes, listening to the array of local birds, smelling the flowers.... So, I thought I would create a cute collection of naturey things we love for the boys to enjoy in their own space. My idea originally was inspired by Giddy Giddy, but as always, I decided to create something quite a bit different. :)

I utilized milk cartons (1/2 gallon and quart sized), a tea box, granola bar boxes, tape, glue, scrap fabric, and various knick knacks mainly from the thrift store.

I cut each box and carton down to about 2 inches tall.

I laid out how I was going to put the wall hanging together.

I picked out different fabric for each little "cubby" and cut each to fit in its corresponding box by placing each box on top and marking the corners. Then, I cut right angles to each corner, as shown above.

I brushed each thoroughly with glue and placed each piece of fabric in its place. We let that dry overnight.

I used packaging tape to adhere all the boxes together. Then, I cut long strip of denim fabric, slightly thicker than the depth of the cubbies. I brushed the sides with glue and placed the fabric around the perimeter of the enitre decoration. I allowed that to dry before snipping the corners of the extra fabric and folding it over, gluing it to the inside edge of each nook. I also cut little denim strips to fit over the edges of the inside nooks. We let that dry. Note - if there are trouble spots that refuse to stay glued together while they are drying then use paper clips to clamp down the edges until they are dry. You could apply Mod Podge to seal everything when all is dry, but I skipped that step this project.

This froggie on toadstool figurine was found at the thrift store a day after I finished the boxes. I love the matching pink and green! And we love frogs and toadstools!

I grabbed this frame at the thrift store, as well. The picture was cut out of an old book. "The Littles" are shown dancing in a circle near the roots of a tree and a little stream. The kids like this image quite a bit.

We like owls in this house and I found this little handmade wall hanging at the thrift store, too. It appears to be from the 1970s... I love vintage.

When I was there, I also found this wood portrayal of bird, the bird figurine shown in the middle next to the egg, the 2 little boxes with the plants on the lids, and the wooden vase. At the dollar store, I found some little flowers to put in the vase. I added one of the boys' knitted gnomes and one of our plants. I hot glued everything on, except for the plant so it could be watered and moved when it gets too tall, their picture frame because it fit snugly in place, and their gnome, in case they want to play with it. Design your own structure, pick your own theme...this project is very flexible and very gratifying in the end. It will end up being a special collection that both you and your children will enjoy now and in the future!

: 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.

: We Love Backyard "Weeds" :

The rain comes, the snow comes, the sun comes, then the clouds and the snow come again, then the rain, then the.... The weather here is so wishy washy, but finally I think the snow is gone for good until next time around. We had a few sunny days until it began to rain again today, so I decided to capture the beauty of a couple commonly overlooked beauties of nature out back near our vegetable garden and the kids' play area.

Great Big Meadow of Teeny Weeny Flowers

Magical Energy Burst; soft but tough.

Stretching Sun; Reaching Limbs, Yawning Face

: 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.

: 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.