Easter Crafts...Some Old, Some New

Since this is the first year of this blog I get to share all the stuff I've done in past years for each of the holidays.  So it looks like I've been busy, but really I haven't...not that busy.

First I'll share some things I've done in the last few years and then I'll show you one thing that I've been working on for the last few days...my one Easter project for this year.

Starting with Painted, Styrofoam, Beaded Eggs...I tried to make that name as long as I could!

I think I actually came up with this idea on my own!  (I usually have to see an idea first and then copy it).

I just bought a bunch of styrofoam eggs, painted them and then put glue on them in varying designs with a paintbrush.  Then I rolled them in tiny little colorful beads.  They've been kind of fun.

Next up, Torn Fabric Carrots

I made some of these last year and they were fine but then I made some more this year for my mother in law's birthday (she loves carrots) and I like them better so I will be showing you the new ones.

Here they are catching the early morning rays (sorry about the glare).

I'm not sure where the idea for these came from...not from a blog, but I may have seen a similar idea in person somewhere.  Anyway, I've seen things like this online since but I feel like I can kind of take credit for these.

I bought styrofoam cones and chiseled down the sharp edge at the bottom to round it off.  Then I took strips of torn, orange fabric and wrapped and hot glued it to the cone.  For the stems I just took green raffia, tied it in a knot and hot glued it into a little hole that I dug out in the base of the cone.

Here's an inside shot.  Kind of fun!

I definitely remember where to give credit for the next one....Felt, Peep Bunny Bunting!

Dana, from danamadeit.com is super talented and I love her photography.  Her pictures are always bright and cheery.  She always has cute ideas and this bunting is no exception.  She gives full instructions and a pattern here.

A couple of years ago, my sister and I had a fun day making these together. 

I'm glad she saw these and wanted to try her hand at them.  It was tons of fun!

(On a quick side note, when held up to the light you can see the ribbon running through the ears.  Angie's husband dubbed them "Rambunnies" because of this and my husband came up with this cutie...

He loves to fool around in Photoshop.  My favorite part is the pink beard.

It's embarrassing to admit but I don't even really know who Rambo is...it's still pretty funny though.)

 

Okay...moving on to Simple Fabric Bunnies

 

I don't really have a good name for them.  This was my inspiration...so cute...hers were little sachets.  I thought it would be cute to make them in varying sizes.  So here's my version...

 

 

I love the simpleness of them.  I also love the fabric.  It's hard to see in this picture but it's kind of a faux eyelet look.  On the link above she gives you the pattern...super simple and cute!

And finally for my most recent project, Braided Fabric Easter Baskets

My inspiration was from Vanessa from V. and Co. (vanessachristensen.com)

She did these super cute baskets. 

Wow!  It looked awesome but time consuming and a lot of effort.  I wanted a similar look but quick and easy.

I decided to try something and my sister in law said I should do a tutorial so here it goes...

 

I started with a pile of fabric, 

 

a plastic lid from the food storage cans...you know the ones...they pile up because you get two new ones in every box, but why throw away the old ones 'cause hey, they might come in handy some day right?  Andy they did...today!  

 

I also had my handy dandy mini glue gun and some coordinating felt.

 

I traced the lid onto the felt and cut out two circles...one for the top and one for the bottom.  I then glued them on accordingly.

 

 

Next I took three strips of torn (very important because cut fabric just wouldn't have the same look) fabric, knotted them at the top and started braiding.  

 

This was the most time consuming part of the project but also kind of fun.  My strips were the width of the fabric...so kind of long (while I braided the ends got tangled up quite a bit) but it ended up being perfect for my needs.

Tie a knot at the bottom, trim excess fabric close to the knots on both ends, repeat 11 more times and you end up with this...

I'm realizing that Ben must have smudged my camera lens while playing with it recently.  It gives it a nice soft effect don't you think?

Anyway, start gluing the braids around the lid and then on top of themselves...does that make sense?

I did about 6 1/2 braids to get my desired height and then I started layering the top two coils with 2 1/2 more braids.  I felt like the basket was kind of shapeless and I thought that adding a little more dimension would help.  So on the second to the top coil I doubled up the braids and then on the top coil I tripled them.  As I was layering I also added the handle.  I took the last three braids and braided them together so I ended up with a super think braid.  I cut it to the size of handle I wanted, glued the ends together (I didn't want to knot them again because I didn't want the bulk).  I tried to flatten the ends a bit too when I glued them and then integrated them into the layering.  That's probably not a very good description but it's the best I can do.

 

I am very happy with the result.  I made one for each child in their favorite color.  Ben doesn't know it yet but his favorite color will be green :)

They're kind of small but hey, less candy is good right?

 

 

Yeah!  Homemade, sentimental Easter baskets that hopefully my kids will love and pull out even after they're married and look back on with fond memories.

Thanks for letting me share!

Lots and Lots of Pictures from Spring Break

I warn you now....I have a ton of pictures to share. 

Andy and I decided to take our kids to Temple Square and the surrounding area for Spring Break.  They've never really been there.

This is how our trip started off...

Ben stole my sunglasses.  We can't get in the car now without him communicating in his own special way that he wants my sunglasses.
And who taught him to put them on his head?
 

We met Grandpa and Grandma Bryan at the Conference Center where they are currently serving as missionaries.
We realized Ben was having a staring seizure as we crossed Temple Square.  It lasted several minutes but all was well afterward.

We received a tour from a very nice man.  He was so attentive to the kids.

I love this picture!  Matt sat down while the rest of us were looking at the Book of Mormon paintings.  Our guide went and sat next to him and chatted for quite a while.

This is a painting folks...not a photograph!  I was floored...especially upon closer examination.

I just had to get a picture of Andy next to one of his favorites...Elder Bednar.

The next several pictures were taken on the roof of the Conference Center.

Josh was a trooper...walking around on his boot for so long.  He eventually ended up in Ben's stroller though.  What a grin!

Ben didn't last long in my arms.  He wanted to WALK!  He stumbled around quite a bit but I found myself enjoying every bit of pulling him up off the ground and steering him in the right direction.  I didn't mind taking our time and taking it slow.  It's a joy to see him walking around.

Matt...who else?

Water is just too much of a temptation :)

After the Conference Center it was lunch time so we crossed Temple Square to the New City Creek Center.

It was quite exciting and extremely impressive.

 Crossing the Skywalk.

 My favorite part was the natural creek running through the middle of everything.

We had lunch in the food court and then spent some time in the Children's Play Area.

Large, soft, plastic dinosaurs are, apparently, the greatest thing.  Our kids could have spent all day there.  

It was fun (and also a little sad) to see the reaction of the other kids as Ben entered the area with his helmet on.  One kid even came up and patted him on the helmet.

Josh enjoyed posing and would ask me to take his picture multiple times.

Right after I took this picture, Matt leaped off the dinosaur neck and knocked into a boy that happened to be running by at the moment.  The other boy was fine but Matt ended up limping for much of the next hour or so until he forgot about it.

Okay...moving on....to the....

Disney Store!

Ben was thrilled with his purchase...a big, squishy Mater!

He kept running it around the edge of his stroller making his version of a car sound.  

I'm such a mean mom.  I made my kids sit and watch as other kids ran around on the splash pad.  I know Matt was just dying!

Back to Temple Square.

In a few of the beds, moss surrounded the flowers instead of grass.  It was beautiful!

Moss...

Mater 'n Moss

 I've always loved the hanging flowers on the wall.

Sorry...we're nearing the end here.

We went to the North Visitor's Center to see the Christus.

 Josh didn't want to leave.  I think he had a nice moment.

As we were leaving Temple Square I asked Andy to take a picture of me and the kids among the tulips.

This picture cracks me up!

So much for getting a nice little picture :)

And that was that.

We headed up to Grandma and Grandpa's house and spent the next day and a half watching movies, eating, talking, playing, eating, relaxing, shopping, and eating.

Even though it was windy, we were still able to enjoy the outdoors.

The kids had fun blowing bubbles, or letting the wind blow them...

 

Ben was jerking around quite a bit while we were out and inevitably face planted quite hard onto one of the flagstones.  He went into a jerk and stare seizure.  He turned a bit grey and afterward quickly fell asleep in my arms for quite a while.  

 Later that evening, after the kids had put on an Easter play he ran around behind the couch and a second later heard seizure breathing.  Ben had a 10 minute tonic clonic that required emergency meds.  It was a scary one.  He was absolutely out of it when it was over.  Such a little rag doll.  We were able to change his diaper and get him in his jammies without waking him.  It wasn't until I tried to give him his regular p.m. meds that he choked and sputtered on them and then threw up that he woke up.  We got him cleaned up and then it didn't take long for him to fall asleep in my arms again and he slept very well the rest of the night.

Today Ben was fine and spent much of his time lining up his "Cars" cars and towing them around behind Mater.  Seriously...it kept him occupied for hours...literally.

Sorry for the forever long post!
Thanks for reading...or at least skimming through the pictures :)