May Day Wildflower Seed Bombs



I have to admit, I didn't exactly know what May Day was before I googled it this morning.  But, I was just itching to get the kids (and me) out of the house for a bit.  Wednesdays just seem to be those days when the grind of the week comes to a irritable climax.  So, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that the ancient holiday is often celebrated by leaving anonymous baskets of sweets and/or flowers on neighbors' doorsteps.  These wildflower seed bombs seemed an appropriate alternative for my two little boys who jump at the chance to go on adventures.  I told them we were "Guerilla Gardening" by flower "bombing" our neighborhood...they couldn't be more excited about May Day!

         YOU WILL NEED:

         Crayola Air Dry Clay // Soil // Wildflower Seeds // Water // Egg crate

         OPTIONAL:

         Gloves // Small Ice Cream Scoop

ONE:

Combine all ingredients together in a large bowl. I did mine in two batches...with a  ratio of 4 parts clay, 1 part soil, 1 part seed...then added water to achieve the desired consistency (I made mine a little too wet at first, so I just kept adding more soil). I'm pretty sure the science doesn't need to be exact :)



TWO:

Now mash it all together!

THREE:

Roll the dough into small balls (mine were about 1 1/2" in diameter).

FOUR:

And place your "bombs" in an egg crate and then in a dry place for a couple of days to harden.

FINALLY:

Get in your car, or better yet, on your bike and start flinging your flower seed bombs in all the right places (my kids used their slingshots to increase the flight range of these babies)...on empty lots, on vacant stretches of roadside, or even in your own backyard! 

 

Most importantly...HAVE FUN and spread that May Day cheer all over the darn place!!



Minted's Wedding Inspiration Board Challenge

So...Minted.com is hosting a Wedding Inspiration Board Challenge!  I used the peach Ombre Wedding Invite to compliment the cooler jewel-tones of the wintery palette.  It's vintagey, modern, rustic, and yet glamorous, with golden accents and pops of hot pink...what do you think??

Wedding Board Challenge board by Erin. See more modern Minted wedding invitations

 

Erin

xo

ban.do Inspired Gift Bow Tutorial

So, you're probably familiar with all the colorful goodness that is everything band.o, but just in case you aren't...you must check it!  I am in LUV with all the sparkles...and their pieces are perfect for every occasion!  Over the holidays, I was lusting over their gift bow corsage (as well as some of Kate Spade's creations)...however, I missed the boat on their little number (they are all sold out), so I thought I'd attempt to craft my own inspired version!

Note:  The paper circle should be the size you want your finished bow to be (mine is 3" d),
and I used an entire 2' spool of glittery ribbon

Well, almost...At this point you can decide which type of fascinator you prefer.  I like to use a little alligator clip, as well as a safety pin, so that I can wear it in my hair, attach it to my shirt, or clip it on my purse.  But you can hot glue it to a headband or ribbon too!

Here's me in mine...

Now, go on and get your craft on!!!

Erin

xoxo

PS--Send pics of you in yours too!

Happy Tuesday!

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend!  My hubby (I'll just call him "H" from here on out for the sake of ease) didn't have Monday off but, we got together with friends on Friday night for drinks and carne asada.  I had may have had one too many drinks and not enough tacos (however, I did fill up on a full bag of chicharrones and Valentina though)...oops!  Then Saturday, our neighbors invited us over to play on their new jungle gym (the kids, that is) and share a potluck lunch.  It was so nice to meet some of the other people in the neighborhood and the boys had a blast running around with all their friends.  Sunday was spent getting some stuff done and being productive...yay!  So, here are some fun photos to celebrate the short work week <3







top // print by Lara Harwood via Sally

middle // Cateye Sunglasses via weheartit

bottom // DIY Confetti Tablecloth by Oh Happy Day!

And, cause you can never have too much confetti, right?!

Erin

xoxo

52 Lil Love Notes

Okay, so I know it's past Valentine's already and you're probably wondering why I'm still posting about it, but I promise today will be it, AND (just like yesterday's project) this next idea can be used for just about any occasion (birthday, anniversary, Father's/Mother's Day, etc).

Originally I saw this project printed out on a deck of cards, here.  But, since I didn't have one on hand and was already searching for a way to use the super-cute mini mailbox I got at Target last year, I decided to just use cardstock cut to 4 1/4" x 2 1/4" (basically an 8 1/2 x 11 cut into 8 equal pieces) and Avery 5163 labels to print out "52 Things I Love About You" for my hubby. 

 I realize that once you take away the deck of cards "52" no longer seems relevant, but it actually can be!  Just tell your partner that you have written one "Lil Love Note" for each and every week of the year.  That way, they can keep their mailbox (or any box for that matter) close, and open it up throughout the year to be reminded of all the things you really appreciate about them.

If you are having trouble thinking of unique "things" (cause let's face it, 52 is alot of "things") I have posted some of the ones I used for mine.  They are just to give you an idea of how detailed I got with them.  My best advice is to give yourself a few days to compile your list...start with the really obvious reasons, then try to think of all the little things that bring a smile to your face :) 

52 Things I Love About You...

• You gave me the two most beautiful sons EVER <3
• You work your butt off for your family
• You are always looking out for my safety
• You've fixed every car problem I've had (minus the time I blew a rod through my engine)
• You cook the perfect hardboiled egg (and make a mean egg salad sandwich)
• You make me laugh when I want to be mad at you
• You tell me to "Run like a little bunny!"
• You made up the song "Sweet Home Agua Dulce" for your dad & it's actually pretty catchy
• You don't make fun of me when I cry during commercials...ok, maybe just a little :)
• The way you talk in your British voice a la Monty Python
• The boys now like watching documentaries instead of Disney's during family movie night
• Your parents have been married for over 30 years and you want to emulate that
• You play "Tears in Heaven" on the guitar
• You've had the same best friend since high school, which shows your loyalty
• You believe in me, most of the time even more than I believe in myself
• You let me claim one of our 3 bedrooms as my craft room, even though it means our boys have to share one
• You keep everything alive in our house...including the dog, fish, and plants
• You like spending time with your parents
• You think Differential Equations is fun
• You build "real" fires in our gas fireplace
• My mom's fried chicken is your favorite meal
• You always try to do what's right and good...even on your taxes
• You don't mind that I decorate our house in pink
• You never forget to kiss me goodbye before you leave for work in the morning
• You are always the one to tuck the boys in at night
• You appreciate all the things I define myself as
• You don't mind when I don't cook dinner
• Your bear hugs instantly calm me down
• You are the most amazing father anyone could ever ask for
• You will stay up late to talk to me about nothing
• You have a tough exterior and a sensitive heart
• You've made me a stronger person
• You like it when I spoon you
• I know you will never give up on me
• I love you for you!

I promise that your loved one will feel all warm and fuzzy inside...and so will you!

Erin
xoxo

Kiss Flipbook Tutorial

So, yesterday I told you that I would write a "How-to" post on the Valentine's "Kiss Flipbook," that I originally saw via Pinterest on ColorMeKatie, where she explains exactly how to make your own.  But, it really is VERY cinchy! 

You start by snapping a photo of yourself blowing a kiss, like so...(this was taken by my 7 yr old son with my iPhone...no need for a fancy camera)

I probably should've even placed myself  more towards the right edge of the photo, due to the way the book flips, but whatevs. 

Next, upload and print a bunch (40 to be exact) of the wallet-sized images (I actually used Mpix because it's super-easy and my printer sucks).  Then, use a photo-safe marker to draw one heart on the first photo, two hearts on the second, three hearts on the third, and so on. 

You don't have to be perfect here. I found that the more irregular the pattern, the more movement it created. 

When you're done, you hole-punch and tie them together in a stack with some pretty ribbon.  You can also add a protective cover to the pocket-sized pucker book like I chose to.

Here's Katie's video of the finished product...cute huh???

Flip Book from katie sokoler on Vimeo.

And let me just say, that this sort of present doesn't exclude itself to Cupid's day...think birthday, anniversary, father's day, etc...use balloons, words, lips...the list is endless!  Just have fun with it!

Erin

xoxo

Happy Day-After Valentine's

I hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine's Day!  My husband and I usually don't make a huge deal of the holiday (perhaps a card and a nice dinner), but this year I actually had some time to create a few inexpensive, but thoughtful gifts to show my appreciation for everything he does for our family.  After a 10 hr work day, he came home to a clean kitchen, Chinese take-out on the table (hey, this is my Valentine's too), and a few balloons thrown in for fun!  I snapped a few pictures of the table and a couple of the projects I gave him...don't judge, I'm am NOT a photog :) 

The pink neon heart plaque I made with a wood-burning tool, some acrylic craft paint, and one of those cheap wooden plaques from Walmart...sooo, easy and cute!  I will attach ribbon on the backside to hang it when I find the right color.  The Flipbook was an idea I saw on Pinterest and I will do a separate posting on how I tackled it. 

Erin

xoxo