Egg Carton Flowers

Since I work from home on Tuesday mornings, I have been trying to think of easy projects that Arielle can do while I work. One of my favorite blogs for craft ideas is The Crafy Crow so when I saw this post I just couldn't resist making the flowers. I had egg cartons saved up from Easter and found some random pipe cleaners left over from other craft kits so I didn't have to spend a penny! Instead of using paint, we used markers and even I joined in the fun. This was such a fun project to get the creative juices flowing. After we finished I found a small vase, stuffed some tissue paper in the bottom and VOILA! They turned out so cute I think I'll keep them around for decoration in my bedroom on my nightstand. What better way to wake up in the morning than to see these beautiful flowers that me and my daughter made together!

Here are the supplies we used:

It's easy. First you cut the egg carton up into "flowers". Next you color the flowers with markers. Then you poke a hole in the middle and insert the pipe cleaner. It really is that simple!

Hopefully every Tuesday we'll have a new craft to share!

~Momma to Bug~

A Magnet Board Project

Now that I'm out of first trimester and feeling much, much better I am getting back into my creative mode. I have had this very large, silver frame sitting in the basement for the past year {since my bedroom makeover} as I was unable to sell it on craigslist. I was reading this post at one of my favorite blogs, I saw the picture of the magnet board in the background of the third picture so I thought what better way to reuse this beautiful frame! After contacting Chris and finding out how easy it was to make I just couldn't resist. Plus, I had been thinking about using this particular wall next to the kitchen to display Arielle's artwork since we were running out of space on the side of the stainless steel fridge.

Off to Lowe's we went in search of sheet metal which was the only thing I needed to buy to finish this project. We found that they sell precut sheets which are a heavier guage of metal and they cost more money than I wanted to spend {the size I would've needed cost over $28}. Fortunately, we found some lighter-weight sheet metal that they sell by the roll {20 inches by 10 feet; I needed 20 x 38 inches}. The roll only costs $13!!! My husband warned me there would likely be creases on the sides from being rolled up and he was right but they aren't that noticeable especially after you hang all the stuff on it. I struggled a bit to get the frame back together as it is a custom made frame and had to be completely disassembled then reassembled without the glass and with the sheet metal. I was able to pull it off and I am pleased with the end result!


To complete the look I am going to have to find some MATCHING black magnets. This will really give it that final touch and make it look more cohesive and less cluttered! Since I took the pictures, Arielle has added some more of her artwork and the hodge-podge of magnets doesn't appeal to me at all. Anybody know where I can find some good looking, affordable magnets?

~Momma to Bug~

My Photo Gallery Wall

I've always wanted to have one of those "unplanned" but organized photo gallery walls that you see in Pottery Barn catalogues. Since I can't bring myself to buy several matching, expensive picture frames I decided to work with what I already have. I chose the staircase wall to put my gallery because it just looks so empty and there is nothing else that I can think of to hang there. I took some randomly placed pictures down from around the house and bought one new one {on clearance at Home Goods for $7} to complete my collection.

So here it is, my version of a wall photo gallery:

These are the best pictures I could get as it was very difficult to photograph. Now if I could just get around to updating some of the framed photos to more current ones.

~Momma to Bug~

Happy Tears

Yesterday, Arielle and I were cuddling on the couch and she turned to me with a big grin on her face and said, "I have happy tears!" Then she said, "Why do I have happy tears?" to which I replied that her eyes were watery and that is why she had tears {I think she has some springtime allergies}. The point of this story is that I couldn't think of any time that I had ever mentioned happy tears to her, so how did she know what to call them? From her perspective she was happy to be spending some quality time with her mommy and it just so happened that tears were coming out of her eyes, so they must have been happy tears? The perspective of pre-schoolers never ceases to amaze me.



~Momma to Bug~

Dressing Up

Arielle received a Hannah Montana dance mat, video, wig and guitar for her birthday. She had a lot of fun dressing up and dancing and singing her heart out! I am amazed at how well she knows the words and can sing the songs.


~Momma to Bug~

Easter recap

This Easter was fun for everyone. We died eggs the day before Easter and managed to keep her fingers clean this time. I tried to explain to Arielle that the longer you kept the eggs in the dye, the brighter the egg would be but she was too impatient. Although the eggs turned out beautiful anyway because we used the vinegar method this year.

The Easter Bunny's egg hunt was a great adventure and his Easter basket was a success! Even Mommy and Daddy's gift, a new Leapster game, was greatly appreciated. Arielle was so excited to find the hidden eggs and discover that some of them had candy in them. So much so that after she found all of them, she reorganized the jelly beans and chocolate from her basket and made sure that each egg contained a sweet goody! She played with her presents ate a few bits of sugar heaven and kept herself content most of the day. I was even surprised when she ate her ham and green beans then asked for more two hours later! The one thing I am dissapointed with is how bad all of the pictures turned out this year and the fact that the weather was too cold to dress for the occassion so we stayed inside all day.

~Momma to Bug~

Arielle is Four!

It has been a long time since I posted. We have been busy to say the least. I have not been feeling so great in my first trimester of pregnancy and am hoping that will turn around now that I am into the second. Arielle has been keeping herself busy as usual! She recently learned how to play card games; Crazy Eights, Go Fish and Memory. I can't believe how good she is at these games and she loves to play them! Today we played Candy Land and she tried to get away with a couple of cheats but I didn't let her {not even on her birthday}!

So as I mentioned, Arielle turned FOUR today! We had her Barbie birthday party on Saturday and it was a blast! A lot of her friends showed up despite the snow blizzard that was in the forecast. They had so much making necklaces, getting hairstyle makeovers and decorating picture frames with gems. At one point during the party, Arielle managed to bring her friends upstairs to jump on mommy and daddy's bed. She is just a little devious, don't you think?!?! Opening her presents was her favorite part of the party but isn't that obvious? Tonight Arielle gets to open mommy and daddy's birthday presents to her and she is really looking forward to it. I think I have heard her say it at least five times today!


I think the best part about Arielle's birthday this year for all of us is that Gaby got to visit and join in the festivities. We were sad to see her leave today but we had a wonderful four days with her so nobody is complaining. Thanks for the visit, Gaby! We can't wait for the next one.

~Momma to Bug~