Walnut Shell Mayflower - place-card holders

Walnut boats are a classic craft to make with kids. We even posted about these on our blog here.

I thought about using these boats as place card holders for Thanksgiving, but making them Mayflower boats for the occasion.  This is perfect for the kids table, and they can keep the boat to take home too! Plus they float, so they can even be displayed in a water glass.

In our other post, we used clay, this time I thought wax would look nice.

1. I used white card stock for the sails. Either cut into a rectangle, or

 trim a curve in the sides like I did.

2. I used my tiniest hole-punch, to make the holes at the top and bottom 

of the sails.

3. Decorate your sails. I added the names for a place-card.

4. You will need 2 toothpicks for each boat. I trimmed about 1/4"

off one, so the front sail sits lower.

5. Stick the toothpick through one of the holes on the sail.

6. Then through the other hole.  Set these sails aside.

7. I heated up the wax with a candle wax warmer.

8. Once melted, I used a plastic spoon and fill the walnuts carefully to 

the top.  Then let them cool. 

Once they are almost dry, stick the sails in, and allow the wax to finish hardening.

When you are done, the boats are ready for the water! 

Enjoy! 

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Miniature fall scarecrows

As Halloween approaches, our family usually visits a pumpkin patch or a harvest fest or two, and for the past 4 years we have made a scarecrow with the kids. This year we missed out on our harvest fest. due to rain, and did not make the annual scarecrow.

Pom Pom Fairy Acorns

If you come across some acorns like these in your trees, look closely, you may find a fairy nearby!

If not, you could also try to make your own because they are pretty cute.

Here is how;

Start off with a pom pom, we made our own pom poms which are really easy to make,

and look even better than the store bought ones.

You can buy pom pom makers, or cut one like I did here. You can even just use 2 fingers, and 

wrap the yarn around them.

1 .So, I like to start with one strand of yarn in the middle of the 2 sides, that can later be used to tie off the middle of the pom pom. I have just found this to be easier.

2. Lay the other piece on top of the yarn.

3. Start wrapping yarn around the middle. Just make sure that loose strand in the middle, stays loose.

 The more yarn, the bigger and denser the pom pom. 

4. When you are done wrapping it, turn it upside down and see if those ends are sticking out.

5. Just pull them together and get ready to tie a knot. You can't pull it as tight

as it needs to be at this point, but you can get all your yarn gathered.

6. Tie that knot.

7. Now turn it rightside up, and cut along the round edge, straight through the yarn.

8. Now the cardboard is loose, so just pull the pieces off. 

9. And now you can really pull the knot as tight as it needs to be. I make a double knot.

10. So grab those strings you just used to tie the knots, and shake the pom pom out. You should have an unruly, messy pom pom now.

11. Take your scissors, and clean it up to a more uniform ball. (or leave it messier if you like!) Just a little at a time, it can shrink to a tiny pom pom fast!

So, now that you have the pom poms, go get some acorn tops!

The tutorial pom pom, was make with a wool roving yarn. These pom poms above were

 made with cotton yarn. 2 very different looks.

1. Get your supplies. Pom poms, acorn tops, and glue.

2. So simple, using craft glue, fill the acorn top and then attach it to the pom pom.

3. If you want your acorn to hang, then just fold over your ribbon of choice, 

and slip it in between the pom pom and acorn top, when you glue it.

Now  let them dry, and think of all the cute places to hang them.

Windows, 

ornaments, 

attached to a gift, 

in a tiny fairy home,

 in a tree or plant,

off of a lamp, 

I mean, c'mon it's endless!