31 Pins: Day 22

Today's Our Daily Bread fit perfectly with the pin.

I decided to be brave and do a kid + paint pin today.  I pinned this one a long time ago, but was inspired to fulfill it after seeing my cousin's wedding guest book last weekend (scroll down).

Wedding guest book:

Guests marked this beautifully designed board with their finger print and then signed their name.  I think I need some tree drawing lessons from Marc. :)

Here are a couple of other ideas you could try.

I started by drawing a tree with pencil on a random piece of cardboard (I believe this was the backbone of a pack of scrapbook paper?).  You could also trace if you found a silhouette you liked on google images or something.

 Next, I outlined with gold sharpie and filled in with brown.

Then it was time for Elli to make her mark!

She dipped her finger in different colors of paint representative of this season and put some "leaves" on the tree and on the ground.

This is what she came up with. (With some guidance). :)  

We did try the angel, but it ended up looking like a weird face or something.

So I allowed her to express herself artistically with this one.

Finally, I added a "Thankful" cut by my Cricut with the Cheerful Seasons Cartridge (Creative Memories).  Eventually this could be framed and brought out each fall to display, or kept in a scrapbook to give to Elli later on.

31 Pins: Day 11

One of my few coffee-drinking friends was visiting with her littles today, and she helped me to pick today's pin... Pumpkin Spice Lattes!

Original Pin

Who wants to pay $3-5 (or more) for one of these babies?  Not me....  Well, I guess if it is in a quaint cafe free of children, it might be worth it. ;)  

Anyway, if you can't get out of the house, you can set up your own little bistro and enjoy a home made version of this fall favorite.

The results:

Ingredients: milk, vanilla, canned pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, espresso/strong coffee, sugar (click the original pin above for the specific amounts)

While brewing the coffee, place all other ingredients in a saucepan and do not quite bring to a boil.

Pour into a blender and and blend for about 2 minutes.  This is how the froth forms.  (Make sure to hold the lid down so you don't make a mess, lol).

Pour the milk mixture into your favorite mug first (this makes two 10 ounce servings, so it will need to be a bigger one).  Then, on the side, pour in the coffee so as not to disturb the froth.

I think she liked it!

Difficult rating: EASY

Expense rating: CHEAP

Taste rating: Delicious!!!

31 Pins: Day 9

Original pin:

I was looking through my pins and found this one.  I totally forgot I had pinned it and had not noticed it in my recent scroll-throughs.  It is fall, and I have an abundance of wax, so it was perfect. 

Elli and I went out searching for leaves around the yard this afternoon.

We found a few types; different colors. 

Then came time to wax them.  I had to process the wax first (click the link to view an earlier post on this topic).  Then I lightly coated each leaf in a layer of beeswax.

 The results:

I asked Elli to go find a stick we could tie them onto, and she kept coming back with tiny twigs. :)

Eventually, I had to go and help.  I found the perfect stick right at the edge of the brush.  I cut unbreakable thread at different lengths, and tied the leaves onto the stick.  We just happen to have "hook and loop tape" at the top and bottom of our door glass, so I tied some fabric bows across the stick and attached a few pieces of hook and loop tape to the fabric.  Perfect!

I am very happy with the final outcome.  Since they are dipped in wax, they are supposed to retain the fall colors.  We shall see if that is the case!

View from outside.

This was a fun, seasonal pin that got the kid(s) involved and used up materials I already had on hand.  

Difficulty rating: Moderate (using raw beeswax is interesting)

Expense rating: FREE for me :)

Check out the other days by clicking the blog title at the top of the page and scrolling down!