Holidays - A Pumpkin And A Princess

Burlap American Flag Frame

May 28, 2013 2 Comments

Hey guys, I hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend! We spent the last four days with family and it was a blast. I’m back today to share with you a tutorial on how I made the no-sew American flag frame decor. Making the framed flag was easy using the Silhouette clean cut interfacing. With an old frame laying around the house, burlap, and fabric from my stash this patriotic decor was made in no time!

Supplies:

fabric

Silhouette clean cut (no-sew) interfacing

burlap

frame

glue

I began by finding the American flag shape in the Silhouette store then downloading the file. I ungrouped the shape so that I could space out the different fabrics on my cutting mat.

I ironed the interfacing to the back on the fabric then removed the backing and placed it on the cutting mat. Make sure you use a fabric blade when cutting fabric as your regular blade may not be sharp enough.

Once the shapes were cut I aligned them on the burlap and glued each fabric in pieces. The white rectangle was ironed on first then the blue square and then the red stripes were aligned against the blue fabric piece.

I used spray adhesive to glue the fabric onto the frame backing, it was quick and easy but also allows me to remove the burlap whenever I’d like to use the frame for something else.

The clean cut interfacing made this project SO easy to make! You could enlarge the size and easily make patriotic pillows with the flag shape or even a patriotic shirt for your little ones.

I’ll be contacting the Silhouette winner this evening! If you’d like to try the Silhouette interfacing there’s still time to take advantage of the awesome deal they have going on. GO HERE and enter PUMPKIN at checkout to receive the discount.

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Filed Under: Crafts, Holidays, Home Decorating, Summer Crafts Tagged With: American flag, burlap, decor, frame

Patriotic Paper Windsock {Summer Activities for Kids}

May 11, 2013 10 Comments

Summer is quickly approaching and you’ve probably started thinking of Summer activities to do with the kids. Last week I started a bucket list of ideas to keep the kids busy while they’re out of school, which I’ll share with you over the Summer. Today I’m sharing a patriotic paper windsock tutorial for kids.

Paper Windsock tutorial for kids

This tutorial is part of my friend McKenzie’s Summer Series. Click on the button below to see all of the fun projects that have been shared!

Patriotic Paper Windsock

Supplies:

Chipboard

Scrapbook paper

border punch or deco scissors

glue

ribbon

twine

*For this project I used the new Silhouette chipboard which is thin and easy to bend, you can read more about it in this paper hot air balloon tutorial.

Step one: Cut the paper and chipboard to 9 inches long (this is optional, you can make them as tall or short as you’d like). Glue the scrapbook paper onto the chipboard sheet. *Note: you could make this with cardstock alone but the chipboard makes the windsock thick and sturdy.

Silhouette chipboard sheets

Step two: create two borders using a punch or decorative scissors which will be easier for small children; glue onto the top and bottom of the windsock.

paper windsock

Step three: glue the ribbon to the inside of the windsock. Glue or staple the ends together.

paper windsock with ribbon

Step four: punch two small holes and string twine to hang the windsock.

paper windsock

I had my daughter rummage my scrap ribbon box and pick out all the patriotic ribbon she could find. She’s learning how to cut so this was a fun step for her. At first she cut a few pieces a little shorter than the others but we ended up liking the different sizes and did that for the rest of the ribbon. We’re also thinking about adding die cut stars to the windsock or maybe foam glitter stars which will make it easy for her to add herself.

patriotic paper windsock

Paper windsocks are so fun and easy to make! It’s a great activity for kids of all ages.

DIY Paper Windsock tutorial

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Filed Under: Crafts, Crafts For Kids, Holidays, Summer Activities Tagged With: Crafts for kids, paper windsock, patriotic crafts, Summer Activities

Sock Bunny (Easter Crafts for Kids)

March 26, 2013 14 Comments

With Easter less than a week away it was time for me to finish preparing the kids Easter baskets. We are keeping their baskets simple, with a few Spring break craft activities and these adorable little sock bunnies. If you’re looking for a cute and easy handmade gift to add to their Easter basket then this tutorial is just for you! This quick and easy sock bunny tutorial is the perfect last minute Easter craft that you can make for the kids or with them.

Easy sock bunny tutorial

Easter approached rather quickly this year, didn’t it? I think that’s what happens with most holidays now though. As a child you wait and wait for a holiday to come, the excitement making it feel as if it never will. But as an adult it seems as if they come right after another all too quickly. Or maybe that’s just me? But I’d like to take the week to really enjoy this holiday with the kids, its perhaps one of the most important for us. I know sock bunnies do not represent the true meaning of Easter but I do like to mix in a little bunny and egg-coloring fun into the holiday.

These little cuties were inspired by the sock bunnies on Spoonful. I actually shared those on here two years ago back when the site was called Family Fun. We are big Family Fun Magazine readers and always enjoy their creative craft ideas for kids. I’ve been receiving the magazine since my oldest was little and every month we try to make at least one craft from the magazine.

Sock Bunny Tutorial

To make sock bunnies you will need:

a small sock

felt

large pom pom

moveable eyes

ribbon

clear rubber bands

rice

Step one

Fill your sock with about a cup of rice, depending on the size of your sock. Tie clear rubber bands twice to create a head, one on the neck and one on top of the head.

sock bunny tutorial

Step two

Cut a contrasting piece of felt to create a “belly” for the bunny, glue onto sock using tacky glue or hot glue.

Step three

Glue eyes, teeth (a tiny square piece of felt cut down the middle that resemble teeth), pom pom on the back, and a nose (small rounded triangle piece of felt). Tie a bow around the sock bunny.

sock bunny tutorial

Step four

Cut the top of the sock in half to create ears on the sock bunny. Snip off the corners to make the ears slightly rounded.

sock bunnies

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Filed Under: Crafts, Crafts For Kids, Easter, Holidays, Kids, Spring Tagged With: Easter Crafts, Sock Bunny, Sock Bunny Tutorial

Easter Egg Crafts: Flower Glitter Easter Eggs

March 7, 2013 28 Comments

Making Easter egg crafts with the kids is one of my favorite holiday traditions. Every year we try to create a new Easter egg project along with our normal egg dyeing routine. These pretty Flower Glitter Easter Eggs are a spinoff of our glitter polka dot Easter Eggs we made last year.

Easter Egg Crafts

The kids loved glittering eggs with glue dots last year! Since I’m really enjoying working with double-sided adhesive lately I thought I would have the kids punch out flower shapes to decorate white wooden eggs with. We found the painted wooden eggs at Hobby Lobby and they were perfect for this craft.

Creative Easte Egg Crafts

Supplies:

Wooden eggs

double-sided adhesive sheets

Martha Stewart glitter

brush

Flower Glitter Easter Eggs Tutorial:

1. Punch flower shapes out of double-sided adhesive sheets.

2. Peel backing off of the flower shapes (leave the top layer on until you’re ready to glitter).

3. Once you have all of the flowers in place remove the top layer of the adhesive and pour glitter on each shape. If you are using multiple glitter colors only glitter a few shapes at a time to avoid blending the colors.

4. Use a brush to remove the excess glitter.

This is an easy Easter egg craft that the kids will enjoy and you can use in your decor year after year. However if you simply change your mind you can easily remove the adhesive and start with a blank canvas all over again!

Creative Easter Egg Craft Ideas

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Filed Under: Crafts, Crafts For Kids, Easter, Holidays, Spring Tagged With: Easter Crafts, Glitter Easter Eggs, Spring

Pot of Gold Treats & Silhouette Portrait Giveaway!!!

February 28, 2013 14 Comments

Hey, hey crafty friends! We had such a great month with a lot of fun giveaways and I thought we could end the month with a BIG one! I’m SO excited to be giving away a Silhouette PORTRAIT to one YOU! I use my Silhouette Cameo all the time and I know whoever wins is going to LOVE their new Portrait machine. But before we get to the Silhouette Portrait Giveaway let me show you another cute St. Patrick’s Day craft.

St. Patrick's Day Crafts

Using my the Silhouette Cameo I made these adorable Pot of Gold treat containers. You guys have probably noticed that I love little holiday gift boxes and containers to give to the kids, so when I saw this shape in the Silhouette store I knew I had to try it out.

St. Patrick's Day Crafts

This was actually one of the easiest shapes I’ve worked with..its one simple cut and a few folds.

St. Patrick's Day Crafts

Once you have your shape cut, fold up on the perforated lines, glue the outer tabs to the shape, then embellish with bakers twine. St. Patrick's Day Crafts

This month Silhouette is having an awesome promotion on the Portrait and Cameo as well as the Silhouette Studio Designer Edition.

(1) 1 Silhouette Portrait™ and the Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software for $179.99

(2) 1 Silhouette CAMEO® and the Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software for $269.99

(3) The Silhouette Studio® Designer Edition Software for $24.99

Go HERE and enter the discount code PUMPKIN at checkout to take advantage of this sweet deal!

Silhouette Giveaway

Now who wants to win a Silhouette Portrait? :)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Want an extra chance to win? My friend Amber from Crazy Little Projects is giving away a Portrait as well!

St. Patrick's Day Crafts

Filed Under: Giveaways, Holidays, Kids, Paper Crafts, Spring Tagged With: Pot of Gold Treats, Silhouette, Silhouette Portrait Giveaway, St. Patrick's Day crafts

Mint Brownie Ice Cream Push Up Pops

February 19, 2013 47 Comments

Now that Valentine’s Day has passed its time to start focusing on St. Patrick’s Day crafts and recipes. Last year right before St. Patrick’s Day I shared mint chocolate chip ice cream cupcakes and this year I put a new spin on them by creating mint brownie ice cream push up pops! I love mint brownie ice cream and this recipe is perfect for a St. Patrick’s Day party.

Ice Cream Push Up Pops

Speaking of ice cream cupcakes, with the help of a few good friends I have a fun new series starting this month where I will share a new ice cream cupcake recipe once a month for the next year, so that it will end on the anniversary of when my first recipe was published.You’re probably thinking “umm how many times can you switch out the ice cream?” but rest assure there will be some fun new creative ways to make ice cream cupcakes for every holiday/season/celebration imaginable! A few of my favorite bloggers have given me some ideas for this series that I think you’re going to like! Ice cream cupcakes are perfect for parties and they’re so easy to make that I hope you enjoy this series as much I’m looking forward to it, especially for what I have in store for you at the end of it. :)

Ice Cream Cupcakes

Now back to the St. Patrick’s Day Push-Up Pops…

Mint Brownie Ice Cream Push Up Pops

Push-up pops have been all the rage for a couple of years now so I’ve been wanting to make them for awhile. A few weeks ago I came across a Wilton pack of push up pop containers at Michaels and I knew it was time to finally make some. They also had a Wilton pan that creates mini cakes shaped small enough for the push up pop containers but I didn’t pick that up. So here’s what I did..I baked a sheet layer of brownies then used the container to cut out circles that were a perfect fit!

Brownie push up pop tutorial

My baking pan collection is getting out of hand but I may just have to add the push up pop one soon for a post I’m working on for next month. More deets on that soon. ;)

Mint Brownie Ice Cream Push Up Pops

Ingredients

Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Brownie Mix
1/4 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
Mint Brownie Ice Cream
Whipped Cream (optional)
Sprinkles (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix water, oil, and egg together; add brownie mix. Stir until well blended.
Bake brownies for 26-28 minutes.
Allow brownies to cool completely.
>>>To assemble ice cream brownie push up pops:
Cut brownie bites small enough to fit into the container (tip: use the top of the container to cut perfectly sized brownie bites).
Add one brownie bite then spoon in ice cream layer. Repeat with another layer of brownie bite and ice cream.
Top with whipped cream and sprinkles if desired.
Enjoy!

http://apumpkinandaprincess.com/2013/02/mint-brownie-ice-cream-push-up-pops.html

Ice Cream Push Up Pops

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Filed Under: Desserts, Holidays, Kids, Recipes, Spring Tagged With: ice cream push up pops, mint brownie ice cream, push-up pops, St. Patrick's Day

Mini Paper Pocket Valentines

January 31, 2013 27 Comments

A mini paper pocket is great for adding candy or Valentine cards in. Pair the paper pocket with washi tape shapes and bakers twine to create an easy Valentine gift for classmates and friends.

Lifestyle Crafts mini pocket

The Lifestyle Crafts mini pocket provides endless possibilities whether you love paper crafting or want to create an easy personalized gift. I received this die the day before CHA and immediately considered making 25 business card holders with it. Planning a Disneyland trip for a family of 5 + preparing for CHA + 25 embellished paper business card holders is NOT ideal in my book. I think I ended up with 3 mini pockets to give companies my business card to. But I’m ok with that because I know this die will be put to use in other ways, especially for holiday treats and gift tags.

Lifestyle Crafts mini pocket

Now you know how much I LOVE washi tape, right? I’m kinda sort obsessed with the stuff. I may or may not have over 60 rolls with a few more on the way. Its a problem..I know! If you’re a washi tape fan like me then you’re going to love the new Shape N’ Tape washi tape sheets from Lifestyle Crafts. Not surprisingly they sold out almost immediately after they were released but I’m keeping an eye out for them to be restocked. Imagine the possibilities with the washi tape sheets..you can create any shape you want instead of being limited with a washi tape roll.

washi tape crafts

To make the candy paper pockets I used my die to cut the paper and folded on the perforated line.

Lifestyle Crafts mini pocket

If you look closely you can see thin “tabs” that are folded which is where you apply the glue to close the die.

Lifestyle Crafts mini pocket

Now its time to embellish the mini pocket. I used the Tape It Kit to cut a few shapes out. This kit has 18 shapes that are great for small craft projects or scrapbook layouts. But don’t worry you don’t need a die cutting machine to use the washi tape sheets! You can trace a shape on the back and cut it out with scissors or an xacto knife.

Lifestyle Crafts mini pocket

I added various washi tape shapes and bakers twine from The Twinery to embellish my valentines, then filled them with mini M&M bags.

Lifestyle Crafts mini pocket

You can save 20% off all Lifestyle Crafts products by entering the discount code: PUMPKIN at checkout

Thanks for stopping by!

Linking up here, TCB

Disclosure: I received Lifestyle Crafts products to review. As always all opinions are my own and I highly recommend the Shape N’ Tape sheets, they’re awesome! :)

Filed Under: Crafts, Gift Ideas, Holidays, Lifestyle Crafts, Paper Crafts, Valentine's Day Tagged With: Lifestyle Crafts, paper mini pocket, paper Valentines, papercrafts, Valentine crafts, Valentine's Day, washi tape crafts

Valentine Hershey Candy Wrappers

January 29, 2013 19 Comments

Hershey's candy wrappers

Today I’m sharing a quick and easy way to wrap candy for Valentine’s day. This scrapbook paper wrapped Valentine Hershey Candy gift is a cute idea for kids of all ages and once you get started you’ll want to make a whole bag of them! They’re so easy to make and are a great way to turn a plain candy into a themed seasonal, holiday, or birthday gift.

Hershey's Candy Wrappers Have you noticed that I’ve been sharing a lot of paper crafts lately? I love them! But I promise I’ll get to some new stuff soon. I’m actually half way through several DIY projects that I can’t wait to share with you. Paper crafts are just so much easier for me to finish and write but the piles of unfinished projects are building up around the house and I need to get on them! Speaking of DIY I’m anxious to remodel our kitchen, its something we’ve been talking about doing since last Spring. Super random for a Valentine candy post isn’t it? HA! Well I’m pretty random and also very indecisive about what color to paint our kitchen cabinets. OK I’m probably the most indecisive person ever, but I do love white and ya know the white cabinet bandwagon is going around so I might as well jump on it! :)

I’m just torn whether white cabinets are the best option for our family. For some reason I think they’ll be easier to keep clean in 18 years when the kids are away at college. So tell me..white cabinets yay or nay? Do you have them and love them? Or are they impossible to keep clean?

And now back to your regularly scheduled program…

Hershey's Candy Wrappers

To make the Valentine candy you will need a bag of Hershey Nuggets, scrapbook paper, and glue or tape. Begin by cutting your paper to 1 inch wide x 3 inches long. Then simply glue or tape the paper around the Hershey nugget and repeat!

Hershey's Candy wrappers They really are fun to make, even the kids wanted to join in to make a couple of candy boxes. We packaged 3-4 Hershey Nuggets into a Lifestyle Crafts dessert box. In case you are wondering the paper is My Minds Eye, twine from The Twinery, brad and paper for the candy are from Hobby Lobby.