Fabric Wall Decal

Hi All,

I am very excited to share with you what I did in the baby room.  Well, technically my youngest is a toddler but she's still in a crib and she'll always be my baby.

Before, I used to have a paper version and attached it with sticky tack but what I didn't know was that over time sticky tack causes oil stains that show through paper.  So the paper tree branches had a these oil spots.  It was unsightly and I wanted something different.  While looking through Pinterest, I found a solution.

And here's the best part, it only uses two ingredients and it's very likely you have them in your home: corn starch and water!  It also doesn't ruin your wall.  When you need to take it down you just wet it and peel off.

Fabric Wall Decal Goop

1 TBS Corn Starch
2 TBS Cold Water
1 Cup Boiling Water

1. Add corn starch to the cold water.
2. Add boiling water.
3. Stir, apply.

That's it! Easy peasy.  I actually doubled that recipe for my project but I had way too much.  The above recipe would have been plenty.

First I laid down my branches I cut from some brown broadcloth.  Then I placed the leaves I cut from various fabrics where I wanted them.

 I then applied some of the goop onto the back of the trunk area with a paintbrush and placed that part on the wall.

With the remainder of the branches I painted directly onto the wall where I thought the branch would lay and then painted on top. Then I painted on the back of the leaves and stuck those up.  With a final painting over top of everything and a wipe of the wall from the drips, it was done.

Now that I know this works, it opens up so many possibilities for the rest of our home.  

Blessings,

Christina

Jazzing Up a Store-Bought Cake

Hi All,

My young son just turned 5!  Boy, where has the time gone?  Usually I make the cake but this time I opted for easy and bought a plain vanilla cake from the grocery store.

Since this cake was for a birthday, it needed a special touch for my boy.

So this is how I decorated a plain store-bought cake.

Most stores will add writing for free, so that was the first step.

I've seen bunting as a cake topper online.

                                                                            {source}

But my son wanted a superhero cake so I made a Superman style bunting.

First I needed to make a template of the Superman Emblem. I googled it and clicked on images.

Then I pushed my laptop screen all the way back and VERY GENTLY traced.

I made a couple stars as well.  Cut them out of cardstock and tape to some yarn.  I ran out of bamboo sticks but had chopsticks.  So I used those instead.

Next you just add some small figurines and candles.

There you have.  Low cost with big effect.

Blessings,

Christina

Homemade Playdough

Need a Christmas gift?  Well I guess whoever really NEEDS a Christmas gift?  In anycase, here is one that can meet any budget.  It's about the best homemade playdough recipe I've come across.  I love it 'cause it doesn't use as much salt as other recipes do, therefore the hands don't dry out as much.

Homemade Playdough

3 and 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp Alum
1/2 cup salt
3 Tbsp oil
2 cups boiling water
Food colouring

Mix all the ingredients with a spoon.  Once your hands can handle the heat, knead the dough until it's smooth, about 5 minutes.  Your hands should come out clean since it is playdough.  If it's too sticky then add a bit of flour. 

Divide the dough into the amount of colour portions you're going to make.  Place one portion on a plate to catch any food colouring that might accidently drip.  With each portion make a little well in the centre and add about 5 drops of the colour.  Knead in the colour.  Then add another 5 drops.  Each colour will need about 10 drops to reach a nice colour.  I find if I add all 10 drops at once it colours my hands.  Cover the other portions while you do this so they don't dry out.

I keep mine in Ziploc bags but let them cool off before closing the bag.  That's it.  They should stay soft for a long time.

Blessings,

Christina

Cardboard Gingerbread House Tutorial

Every two weeks a dear friend and I get together to homeschool a religion class and a craft.  She teaches the religion then I take care of the craft.  Anyway, this past week I decided to make cardboard Gingerbread houses that they could decorate.  You could also call it a Christmas house if gingerbread house makes them sound edible.

Here's what you'll need:

Cardboard
Hot glue and gun
Craft knife and a surface to cut on like a self healing mat
Or you could use scissors
Pencil
Ruler

1. All you have to do is mark your lines on the card board where you're going to cut.
2. Cut them out with whichever method you choose.
3. Glue
4. Decorate
So you'll need 1 x Base, 2 x Roof, 2 x square sides, 2 x Pointy sides.

Here are the measurements:
Base: 4" x 4"

Square Sides: 3"x 3".  The windows are 1" x 1".

Pointy Sides:  It's a 3"x 3" square but to add the point you need to find the middle, then make a mark 1" up.  From that mark draw a line to one of the corners of the square.  I hope that makes sense. You'll be able see my lines in one of the following pictures (Ignore the mark that says 3.5" in red. I don't know why I wrote that). Oh and I just cut a little window and door in one piece as you can see.  No method or measuring, just wherever you want.

Roof: 2.5" x 3"

Then start gluing one side at at time.

And Voila:

Make a bunch to decorate.  I usually plan for 9 kids to craft.

 You can decorate using markers, puff paint or glue on pom poms, beads, sequins, etc. I wanted to use a mock icing.

Mock Icing: 2 parts glue, 1 part white paint and 1.5 parts flour.  Then I put a dollop into the corner of a ziploc bag, cut a teeny tiny corner off the bag.  To make 7 small Ziploc baggies I used 1/2 cup glue, 1/4 paint, and approx 1/3 cup flour or to pipe-able consistency.

I had the kids "pipe" it on while adding beads.  I found that you need to use a good amount when adding beads otherwise the next day the beads will fall off easily.   A 3 year old was able to use the mock icing as well.

Here are all the finished houses.  They had a lot of fun.

Hope you will too. 

Blessings,

Christina