Mod-Podge and Glass Dried Leaf Lanterns

'Tis the Season for Pressed 

Leaf Lanterns! 

 I've seen these lanterns all over 

the bloggy-sphere lately!

I thought I would share more photos 

and details of our leaf lantern making project

from my 35th Birthday 

Crafty Brunch 

Rainbow Party. 

We collected leaves ahead of time and 

pressed them/dried them in phone books

for several days. 

The thinner, skinnier leaves 

seemed to work the best 

on the glass vases. 

I picked up the glass vases at Walmart

in the craft department but you can also 

find them at the Dollar Tree 

or rummage in your own cabinets for old

flower vases. 

I love this craft because 

children

AND 

adults

can do it!

(Warning: If you're wearing your wedding rings 

while crafting be careful not to get 

any Mod-Podge in the stones!) 

 Coat the OUTside of the glass

container with a generous layer

of Mod-Podge

then carefully press dried leaves/flowers

into the goo...

Carefully paint another layer (or 2 or 3)

on top of the leaf/flower to 

seal it to the outside of the vase. 

"E" made this vase for her desk

with dried flowers 

we saved from the spring/summer.

 Warm candlelight glowing 

on a chilly fall evening -- 

a perfect combination. 

Fondly,

pink and green mama,

Preschool At Home: Button Turkey

 

After seeing these on several  blogs, 

inspired by the original, ADORABLE button turkey

made by My Montessori Journey

for her classroom... I just had to make one.

In fact, 

I actually made three!

Stayed up till the wee hours 

sewing 3 of these little button turkeys

last week. 

One for my daughter.

One for her preschool teacher.

One for my niece. 

Felt, 

buttons, 

and embroidery thread.

I love cute crafts that are educational and fun

and practically free when you have all of the supplies on hand!

Gobble, Gobble, Gobble! 

Fondly,

pink and green mama,

Indian Corn Bubble Wrap Printmaking

The girls and I made these bubble wrap

corn cards last year

to send to family and friends

that wouldn't be with us to celebrate

Thanksgiving. 

I thought I'd re-post this craft

in case you want to recreate it 

with your own children

or in your classroom this year. 

Start with some scraps of plastic bubble wrap.

Paint with layers of orange,

yellow, and red washable tempera or acrylic craft paint.

Press your painted bubble wrap 

onto sheets of brown, orange, yellow

construction paper. 

(Brown paper grocery bags would be cool too!)  

Keep some baby wipes or a wet rag handy

to clean up painty fingers and hands as you work!

After the paint has dried, 

trace your child's feet to make the corn cobs

and let them cut them out. 

Happy Bubble Wrap Printing! 

Fondly,

pink and green mama,

Thanksgiving Traditions

Today, I thought I would share a few of our favorite 

Thanksgiving Day Traditions.

One of our favorite activities

is our annual Turkey Bowl,

a flag football played 

on the street in front of our house.

It's a multi-generational event.

My husband's family always hosted one 

on the street they grew up on...

we've continued the tradition 

with our own daughters. 

 Friends, 

Family,

and Neighbors gather for 

the big game!

I mark the end zones

(and the 50 yard line) 

with white flour.

Fresh cider, doughnuts, and hot coffee

are served on our front yard.

After hot showers/baths, we head over

to Grandma and Grandpa's house

for the yummiest dinner ever

(cooked by my dad the chef)

He's a jack of all trades -- 

he MADE that cute, little, 

glowing pumpkin village

on their sideboard.

Then, we all take turns signing

the cotton table cloth at my mom's house. 

(we use sharpies and put a magazine underneath 

so we don't ruin the table!)

It has notes and drawings

 from each person present at Thanksgiving Dinner

every year. 

First hand prints, 

Hand Turkeys,

Poems, 

Gratitude Lists...

They're all on there. 

Signing the table cloth,

Thanksgiving 2009.

Big sister, "E" adding an elaborate drawing!

Tracing my niece's hand for her 

very FIRST Turkey Day last year. 

That table cloth has first thanksgiving hand prints

from all three little cousins, 

"E", "C", and "A" 

That tablecloth is priceless. 

What are your favorite 

Thanksgiving traditions?

Gobble, Gobble. 

Fondly,

pink and green mama

Nature's (Free!) Art Supplies

During the crisp Fall Season,

while the squirrels and birds are busy

gathering seeds, berries, and nuts for the long Winter ahead,

my girls and I can be found collecting our own

supplies around our neighborhood. 

We are busy 

collecting and gathering

free art supplies! 

Leaves

(pressed and dried in phone books)

Acorns 

(Mostly Acorn Caps)

Walnuts,

Pine Cones,

and

Dry Pine Needles.

With visions of projects like:

Pom-Pom Acorns

(Click Here for a link to the post)

Pine Cone Elves

(Click Here for a link to the post)

Leaf Lanterns

Happy Nature Crafting!

Fondly,

pink and green mama,