Thursday, October 25, 2012

Glow Lantern for Trick or Treater's!

 Less then a week until our little goblin's and witch's head out into the dark to collect mounds of sugar! We started the count down to the fun by making our own glow lantern to guide us through Mr. Wonka's factory (or the neighborhood) as we walk and collect tricks or treats! For safety and for fun head on over to The Studio, by Kiwi Crate to see my full tutorial on how to make your own glow jar. Perfect craft to do the weekend before Halloween!
 

Happy Halloween!
xo
green owl mama

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Witch Nails!

 I made a fun Halloween surprise for Emma while she was at school today. Witch nail gloves! Why? Well, Halloween is coming up, it's getting cold, this girl loves long nails (already!) and I love to surprise my kids!
 I had planned on doing this with her, but since I was using the glue gun I thought it would make a better surprise.
 I placed a cotton ball in each finger of the glove so the glue wouldn't go through to the other side. Next, I cut triangles out of green felt and rounded them a bit to look like nails.
 A little bit of hot glue held them nicely to each finger and once cooled I could easily pull out the cotton.
Don't be alarmed--that is her happy witch face! Now for a broom....

Monday, October 22, 2012

My New Venture, The Studio, by Kiwi Crate

I have been on a new creative adventure the past month or so and I am over the top excited to share it with you. Art is my passion . I started this blog because I see the way art changes my children's behavior and mood each day. I see them learn and develop through art and most of all I see their pure joy when we are sitting and creating together.
I recently started working with Kiwi Crate to help them build an amazing library of creative ideas for parents. To inspire and encourage art in families all over. This past week The Studio, by Kiwi Crate launched and I am a part of it with over 100 tutorials that I have contributed. I had no idea how amazing this site would be. It is an easy to use interactive creative place and am so excited to be a part of it.
Here are a few of my favorite crafts that are over at The Studio:

 A DIY costume or just a fun invitation for an afternoon of pretend play. Join me over at The Studio for the full Kitty Cat Nose tutorial.

The Shaving Cream Bakery will be a fond memory of mine forever. Such a fun afternoon full of many laughs.

Real Mr. Potato Head, enough said, right? This was just plain silly fun. I love the creativity brought out through some healthy food.

Check me out over at The Studio, by Kiwi Crate and let me know what you think. This is my heart and soul. I hope I inspired you a little.

xo
green owl mama

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Paper Roll Ghost Family

 This super easy ghost craft is so fun to personalize and create with your kids. Head on over to The Studio by Kiwi Crate and join me for the full tutorial of how our ghost family came together.



Friday, October 19, 2012

Wooden Spoon Monsters

 We did the mash! We did the monster mash! Halloween is just around the corner and you know what that means...it's time to do the monster mash! Or just make some freakishly cute monsters out of wooden spoons! These silly monsters are so fun to create with the kids and afterwards use to decorate your house or spook up the garden as festive garden sticks. Join me over at The Studio by Kiwi Crate for the full tutorial on this fun Halloween craft.



Thursday, October 18, 2012

Glitter Pumpkins

Pumpkins are here and they are everywhere! I have to stop myself from coming home with one each and everyday.  I love carving pumpkins, but we usually wait until Halloween week for that, since a rotten pumpkin on my door step is not the most easy on eyes. I love finding new ways to dress up our pumpkins prior to carving. This year we made these sparkly glitter pumpkins and best of all the kids got to participate in each step, unlike actual carving. To see the full tutorial of how we turned our pumpkin into pumpkin glam, Check me out over on The Studio by Kiwi Crate.






Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Day of the Dead Packing Peanut Skull

 The Day of the Dead is a holiday where people remember and celebrate those who have passed. I like the idea of celebrating the people you knew that have passed. Being with loved ones and reminiscing. The gatherings, celebrations, family and food are also joined by these amazing decorated skulls everywhere and made from sugar, paint and all sorts of creative things. They are beautiful and very inspiring. With this day coming up in a few weeks I thought it was a good opportunity to teach the kids about other traditions and holidays, so we made skulls.
 Packing peanuts are a wonderful material to create with. Did you know they are biodegradable and will stick together with just water? Yes, they are wonderful.
 I used glue for this project just because I wanted to keep that bone structure look of the skull.
 We stacked and stacked until we got just the look we had in mind.
 Then we pulled out some beads and sequins and decorated our skulls. They came out pretty neat and we learned a few things too. A good afternoon for us!

From Wikipedia, if you want a few facts about Day of the Dead:
Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated throughout Mexico and around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it is a national holiday, and all banks are closed. The celebration takes place on November 1, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day (November 2). Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. They also leave possessions of the deceased.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Paper Plate Tambourine


 Music brings happiness, movement and laughs to my children. Being able to make our own music brings us all together and that is what it's all about. Join me over at Kiwi Crate for a full tutorial on how you can make a simple tambourine out of two paper plates and let the music begin.


DIY Costume Tutu

 Making costumes for my children is something I treasure. It teaches them to be creative and resourceful all while dressing them up in unique and special costumes. This DIY tutu is always a great go-to basic in costume making for me. By changing the colors and adding different accessories it can become so many different costumes. Head on over to Family Sponge today to find out my super easy secret to make these tutus in just one evening!

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Vintage Sheet Ghost

I don't know what it is with me and vintage looking ghost these year, but I have a little thing going on with this new found Halloween love.
This morning I went hunting for some old vintage pillow cases at a local thrift shop and I couldn't have been more happy when I found this beauty. I had first imagined my vintage she ghost in more of a tiny rose print, but this bold floral throw back was even better.

 Once you score your fun vintage inspired pillow case either from Grandma or goodwill get to work on drawing your ghost with a black permanent marker. You want the head and arms to end at the top seam, this part will stay connected.
 Next, cut out your ghost, being sure to leave those connected potions in tact. This will be the part that lays over the tree branch.
 Once the ghost is cut out you can break any side seams that are still connected (just not the top seams!) Have I said that enough?
 There we have it. The Mrs. is ready for a face. Permanent marker will do the trick!
 I kept it simple, but just imagine the possibilities!
Once her face is on find a nice branch to lay this beauty over. Look how pretty she looks hanging out on our tree spooking away the neighbors.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Shrunken Apple Heads!

I have been wanting to try these shrunken apple heads for a few Halloween's now, but at fear of traumatizing Emma - I had to hold back! This was my year. I showed her a photo first and her eyes lit up. Yes, my little weirdo loves this creepy craft just as much as I do!

 First get your apples peeled. Leaving the top and bottom peel to keep the apple sturdy.
 Now get to curving. We found some tools in the kitchen that worked well including a few pumpkin carving tools. A popsicle stick is good for little ones to etch away at their apple head.
 Getting creepy by the minute! At this point squeeze some lemon juice over them and place on a baking sheet. Now for the tough part...they have to go in the oven at 170 degrees for pretty much 2 days...or longer! We popped them in and would turn off the  oven when we left the house or went to sleep. They were really fun to keep checking on and see them transform, plus your house will smell like yummy fall apples.
 When they feel dry and like rubber they are done and ready to spook little siblings everywhere! You can add some pine needle hair, rice grain teeth or black bean eyes if you dare! We liked them just like this to add to our Halloween fright collection.
Emma likes to carry them around and talk to them in her witch voice. What have I done???
Happy Halloween!!


Thursday, October 11, 2012

Rock Ghost - Boo!!


We seem to collect rocks daily around this house and always are meaning to do something fun with them. Lately, I have seen the rock jack-o'-lantern all over pinterest, but we thought a ghost would be fun! Seems like ghosts are the theme of our Halloween fun this year.



Pretty cute and they make the perfect Halloween paper weight for teachers or a fun garden accessory!

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Ear Plug Monsters!



I love when random materials become cool art projects for us. Like ear plugs of all things, but why not! They are little and anything little seems to catch my kids attention.
You want to start with NEW ear plugs of course. I am definitely all for reuse, renew, recycle...but, I have my limits! The only other thing you need is a set of markers. This is the perfect evening activity when little ones need to chill and wind down.
Oh the tiny monsters wee ones will create.
Cute, right? And they are the perfect size for little hands to carry around, name, play monster house with or something like that.
From my monster house to yours,
xoxo
green owl mama