Who knew all we needed to inspire a full on boy crafting extravaganza was snow, cold and a hand drill!
Today we made a bunch of ornaments. They were super easy for kids to do, look nice, have different uses, and we played around happily this afternoon to see what we could make.
We started with a bag full of log slices (all about 1.25 - 2" in diameter), a rubber stamp and archival waterproof ink stamp pad, a hand drill, and both twine and red yarn. The boys stamped a bunch of the slices, and then also wanted to draw some snowmen using a sharpie.
They then drilled holes in the top (my boys would both happily drill holes all.day.long. if they could!).
They threaded twine through the holes and I tied the knots. Voila!
We also made a few batches using red yarn which look great.
For those discs they drew on, they stuck magnets on the back and now have snowman fridge magnets to gift!
Since we had a big bag of the wood slices, we also tried making some ornaments using pressed flowers and herbs from our garden. We had these ready in our press from the summer, but you can easily find pressed flowers at craft stores.
To make - using matte Mod Podge, we painted a layer on the wood, gently set the pressed plants down, and then super gently brushed a good layer of Mod Podge on the top to seal. The rest of the process was the same as the others. They look great!
We wrote the boys initials and year neatly on the back of each ornament with a Sharpie so we (and those who get some) always remember who and when!
My boys did a layer of matte Mod Podge on everything at the end (they couldn't stop! :)), but I don't think that if you are using waterproof archival stamp ink you need to seal those which were stamped ... but it can't hurt!
I love the projects that the boys can do without much help from me - it keeps them from getting bored, and they happily make away and really love that there are things THEY made which they can give to others. And these ornaments will make great presents. Of course, with kids, having something that is both simple AND looks good each and every time is just perfect for a relaxing crafty afternoon.
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19 comments:
These are wonderful! Where did you get the slices? I have a couple branches that I intended to cut up for branch blocks but am not able to get them as thin or as smooth as I would like with our primitive tools. We may add these to our idea list. They would make great presents for some family members.
I found this bag at a natural kids store, but I have seen them many times in craft stores as well (Michael's, Hobby Lobby, etc.).
We are also starting to make jewelry/bookmarks and a few other things with the tiny slices that we found in the wood section at the craft store. :)
Oh - and I have seen them on Etsy too. I think I was looking up 'branch slices'...
We've done stamps on slices of branches like that before for a matching game, but not dried flowers, what a wonderful idea!
I love these and want to do this with my kids. What a great idea! Thanks for sharing. I wish I had a chainsaw...
These are fantastic!
I just love the printed deer and the hand drawn snowman :0)
Clever boys - clever mama!
Wonderful!
I lovelovelove it when the babes are happily creating! :)
(And great gift idea.)
These look fantasic! What a beautiful idea, I love all of them. You really do give me so much inspiration. I am sometimes stuck as to what to do with my almost 6 year old boy. He is very much into drilling at the moment!
These are just lovely!!! I have been browsing around the web hoping for some christmas crafty inspiration... turns out it is right under my nose at all my favorite blogs!!!
Oh how pretty. Great idea and inspiration.
Thanks, I'll check our Hobby Lobby or Etsy.
I LOVE these Denise! I'll be off to saw some wood tomorrow!
These really came out great! I showed them to my boys and they thought they were very cool, too! Thanks for a great idea!!!
i just love these. so elegant.
Oh, these came out beautifully.
The pressed flower slices would make great necklaces.
These are beautiful. While we have TONS of trees in our back yard, many of which we are trying to get rid of because they aren't in the best shape, I imagine the bag log slices would already be dried, and therefor maybe easier. Regardless, I really want to do this with my little man. Thanks so much for the idea.
(Lovely blog btw. This is my first time here but I've seen you around the blogshpere...and FB.) -Debbie xo
Great ideas! Going to Hobby Lobby...
Denise I am so impressed by all the projects you did before the holidays. We just lounged around an played. Ryder made little fairy stands out of wood rounds like you have for the ornaments, we could decorate those I'm inspired!
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