Apple Pie

On one of our family fun days this summer we went to a museum. One of the exhibits was a scaled down house and in the kitchen someone had made pretend apple/cherry pies. The girls loved the idea and wanted one for their play kitchen at home.

So this is what I did...

I found pie plate (ours is really a cake pan b/c all I could find was glass pie pans and that WAS NOT happening!

Then I found some clearanced apple fabric. I cut two circles out (used my pan as the guide) and then sewed them right sides together leaving a small opening. I turned the piece right sides out and filled it with dried beans. I then sewed the opening closed.

After that I got a piece of brown felt (the one at the museum used foam but I couldn't find that in brown) and cut a circle out of it with pinking shears and cut diamonds in it to make it look like the pie crust. How cute will they look rolling out their pie crust with a rolling pin!


All put together it looks like this...

I'd like to find some other fruit fabric to make more "fillings" and make different "crusts" for variety. The girls are going to have so much fun with these and look so cute "making" their own pies!

Brooke's 13th Birthday Invitations

Brooke wanted a fashion show themed birthday party this year so she and I came up with these invitations.


We designed it so the runway pulled out and said "You have been choosen to be a model at Brooke's 13th B-Day Fashion Show" and we used a sticker that looked like each girl. The party information (when, where, etc.) was typed up on the computer and glued to the back.

Brooke was proud of these and the girls really liked them!

Dinosaur Cake

For Lexy's 5th birthday she asked for a t-rex cake.



Supplies:
Wilton "Partysaurus" mold
4 cups icing (I had two cups white, 1 1/2 cups tinted green, 1/2 cup tinted orange)
tips and decorating bags

I definately have respect for anyone that makes these cakes for a living or on a regular basis. My legs hurt from standing, my hands hurt from squeezing the icing bags and I'm completely exhausted!!

Treasure box

Lexy asked for a treasure box for her 5th birthday so this is what I came up with.

Supplies:

box from hobby lobby (~$7)

green paint

letter stickers

sticky dinosaurs

I used a sponge paint brush to pain the entire outside of the box green, I left the inside natural. I then put the letter and dinosaur stickers on.

Dinosaur party invites

For Lexy's 5th birthday party I made these invitations.

Mailbox Art

I saw something similar to this on another blog so I thought I would give it a try.

Mailbox Art

Supplies:
Metal mailbox (I found these at Target in the $1 spot)
Mod Podge
fabric or scrapbook paper
Embelishments (ribbon, stickers, buttons, etc.)

How to make:
1. Measure around the main body and the width of the letterbox and cut scrapbook paper or fabric to fit. You will need to cut a slit and a hole to fit the section where the flag is joined...this can be tricky.
2. Using mod podge attach the paper/fabric to the letterbox. Once dry, put another layer of mod podge over the top.
3. For the front of the mail box, place the cover face down on the back side of the paper/fabric and trace around it. Again, cut out and using mod podge attach it.
4. Embellish with ribbons, buttons, stickers, name, etc.

Start with this...

End with this (fabric)...

Fill with candy or notes...

or this (scrapbook paper)...

again, fill...

These could be played with by the kids as is or you could use mounting squares to attach them to the wall in their bedroom to leave notes and treats.

Cars

Painted Wooden Cars

Supplies:

Wooden cars (can be found at Hobby Lobby, Wal-Mart, Target)

Paint

Brushes

Lexy stayed home sick from preschool today and was bored so we found these cars that we had bought about a month ago...

And pulled these out of the craft cabinet...

Lexy and I did this...

And this is the end result...

We both had a good time doing this project and Lexy LOVED playing with the "beautiful" cars that we painted!

Dinosaur Letter Picture Frames

Lexy LOVES dinosaurs, especially any T-Rex she "meets" so I set out to personalize her bedroom a little with some artwork on her walls.

I took some old pictures frames...

a little paint and artwork I made on the computer...

and WA LA this is how they look on Lexy's bedroom wall...

Inexpensive, easy and super CUTE!!!

Decorated Shelves

I finally got around to redecorating the top of our entertainment center and the shelves/wall above it. I think it turned out pretty nice! Now all I need to do is make the little curtain for the shelves in the side of the entertainment cabinet so that I can hide the videos!

Brooke's Room Makeover

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Grandparents Gifts

After going back to get a grandparents savings bank that I had seen (that was no longer there) we decided to make our own version for Papa & Grammy and Mamaw & Grandpa Tom for Christmas.

We got supplies...
Glass jar
Fabric
Glass paint (ours just says for all porous & non-porous surfaces)
sponge
paper (to print saying below)
Decoupage glue

Then painted the glass jar with the sponge...


Then we cut a circle and a strip to tie around jar our of the fabric with pinking shears and printed the saying...



You will cut the saying out and decoupage it to the painted jar. Cut a slit in the middle of the circle of fabric (for coins to go through). Place the fabric circle on top and secure with a rubberband and then tie the strip around the jar covering the rubberband.

Here's the finished product...


Papa & Grammy and Mamaw & Grandpa Tom all said they loved the gift and the girls are waiting for their first "spoiling" to take place!!!

Update 1/3/2011 - Since making these, Maamaw and Grandpa Tom have filled their jar two times.  The girls made quite a haul each time, getting about $80 each!!

Applesauce & Cinnamon Ornaments

Robin, Shyla and I helped the kids make these at our Christmas/New Years party over Christmas break.

All you need to do is mix equal parts applesauce and cinnamon until a biscuit-like dough forms. Roll out the dough and use cookie cutters to cut. Be sure to poke hole (with straw) at top for ribbon/wire. Let dry for several days, turning frequently.