Dip Dyed Reusable Canvas Bags

Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. We all recognize the three "R"s that we learned in grade school. Earth Day is around the corner and its time to get thinking about reducing, reusing, and recycling. Using recycled cotton canvas bags while shopping is a great way to reduce our waste while doing routine activities. These bags are sturdy enough for the heaviest groceries, and are 100% reusable and machine washable. I dip-dyed a few of my favorite canvas totes to add a little color and fun into my shopping routine, and today I'm sharing them with you.

 

Canvas bags don't have to be boring. Being made from 100% cotton means that these bags can be dyed, decorated, and otherwise customized to fit your personality. I chose to dip-dye my bags with an ombre effect in two different colors. These fun, vibrant bags are great for taking along to the grocery store, to the Farmer's Market, or even packing up to take to a picnic in the park.

I started shopping with reusable bags because I was sick of the waste from one-time use plastic bags.  Shopping with reusable bags is becoming a way of life for many Californians. While the state can't agree on a unified plastic bag ban, many cities in California have adopted bans on plastic grocery bags. My town adopted a plastic bag ban in January 2014, meaning they stopped providing plastic bags to customers and charge 10 cents per paper bag and offer reusable bags at most registers for a fee.

Who wants to pay more at the grocery store? I sure don't!

Rainbow Potato Stamping

We are taking advantage of all the sunshine we are getting by crafting outdoors! While the east coast is covered in snow, we are romping about in tees and shorts, soaking up vitamin D and getting our fingers dirty making potato prints. This art project is perfect for learning about color blending and easy for small kids to do because halved potatoes provide excellent grip for small hands.

 

I think its pretty obvious with my rainbow-themed projects this year, that I miss the rain! We have gotten 5 days of rain in the whole of 2015 so far, and this winter has felt more like an extended spring. I swear I'm going to sound like a weather nerd in the next statement, but I jump for joy anytime there is rain predicted in our forecast (and I get mad at the meteorologists when they are wrong).

Anyway, enough weather woes, whether (hey, see what I did there...) we are complaining that it is too hot, too cold, too dry, too frozen... Lets get on to the project!

Valentine's Day Marble Painting, with Paper Decorations

Valentine's Day is almost here! Have you decorated yet? I already made my Sweet(heart) welcome sign for the front door, but I wanted to make a second project that I could get my toddler involved in. I still had extra paint left over, so why not use it to make messy art that could be transformed into paper decorations? You might remember our cookie tin marble painting that we did last year for St. Patrick's day. I saved another cookie tin this year, so I decided to give it another go, this time in Valentine's colors.

 

 

We have been having a horrific dry stretch, so this time I decided to take the whole project outdoors in the sunshine. I set up the project on the kid-sized picnic table that we have set up in the backyard and let S-Bug get a little messy! I recommend putting your kids in a smock, or use older play-clothes when painting is involved.

Valentine's Day Decor Round-up - Wreaths and Banners

Welcome February! Will the groundhog see his shadow today or will we be blessed by an early Spring? It has been a dry winter, so I hope spring brings rain. Lots of rain. Enough rain to help boost California out of this drought would be nice. 

 

Speaking of spring, have you linked up the Spring Craft Blog Hop yet? Get your Valentine's day, Mardi Gras, or President's day inspired craft or DIY tutorials seen on 18 blogs. It's not too late to link up! This blog hop will run until February 17th. I have been enjoying all of your links so far, so keep them coming!

 

 

Need inspiration for decorating for Valentine's Day? I've included 12 fun wreaths and banners that celebrate the theme of Valentine's day. Like what you see? Please visit the blogs and share some love.

 

Spring Chalkboard from an Up-Cycled Mirror

 

 

See my updated version of this project! 

 

I had family come over yesterday for a barbeque, so I have been cleaning my house trying to make it look halfway decent. With a very active toddler, there is only so much I can do during the week. I managed to take some bags and boxes to Goodwill to donate, but before I did, I rummaged through them one last time, just to make sure that the kids had only thrown donate-able items and not broken toys or clothes with holes in them.

 

I'm glad I did too, because I found this gem in there! I don't know where this mirror came from, or what its purpose was, but I had previously set it aside "to do something with" years ago, and put it in the Goodwill box when 6 months or so had passed. I'm glad I discovered it again, because this time I had a purpose for it!

 

I made this cute little chalkboard, perfect for dressing up the mantle or entryway!

 

Here was my inspiration:

$2 Trash to Treasure Chalkboard by Making Home Base



 

 

Mirror

White acrylic paint or primer

Chalkboard paint-See Note 

Mod Podge

1 square of scrapbook paper (I went to Michael's and got 1 for $0.59)

Brushes

Painter's tape

 

Not pictured:

Rubber scraper for smoothing out air bubbles in the paper

X-acto knife for trimming the paper

Sandpaper for smoothing the edges of the paper after trimming

 

Note: I recommend finding chalkboard paint specifically for use on glass or glazed ceramic. I used the Martha Stewart chalkboard paint, and it was difficult to use on glass. Live and learn, I will use it for other chalkboard applications in the future.

 

1. Prime the frame using primer or white acrylic paint. I covered the mirror with painter's tape first.

2. Add the chalkboard paint. Follow the directions on the bottle. Most will need to let cure for at least 24 hours after it is dry before using chalk on them.

3. Time to Mod Podge. I applied Glossy Mod Podge to the back of the scrapbook paper, then smoothed out any bubbles with a rubber scraper (found at your restaurant supply store for $0.79).

4. I used the X-acto knife to cut out the mirror/chalkboard and to trim around the edges. This way I didn't have to be as accurate when applying the scrapbook paper.

5. Apply two coats of Mod Podge to the top to seal everything. Once dry, lightly sand the edges.

6. Your new chalkboard is now ready to be part of your Spring or Easter décor!

 

 

See my updated version of this project 

 

This was my first attempt using chalkboard paint, I definitely learned some things! I will be decorating my mantle for Easter in the upcoming weeks and I plan to feature this. As you can see, I am not the best artist, so my stick figure people and fried-egg flowers will just have to do!

 

I remembered I don't like writing in chalk (memories of grade school writing on the blackboard). I have ordered a chalk pen that I hope will make writing easier.

 

 See how I made a super easy picture frame hanger!



Marble Painting in a Cookie Tin

This week's storm was the perfect way to say goodbye to February and "Hello March!". I'm really hoping March will be significantly wetter than February was, California desperately needs the rain. Since we were indoors because of the rain, I wanted our art activity to get us to move a little, while keeping the mess to a minimum. Looking for supplies and inspiration, I found a leftover cookie tin that my youngest was using as a drum/Frisbee, and though I could put it to good use. I remember doing marble painting from my early school years and how fun it was. Since the cookie tin had a lid, it was perfect for crafting with my toddler, since he could shake it in all directions without paint getting everywhere. It rattled and rolled, we shook and wiggled and giggled, all while making art! I chose green and gold paint for this, as I plan on using this artwork in a St. Patrick's day-inspired craft.

  

My Supplies:

1 leftover cookie tin

Cream-colored paper

Marbles

Green tempera paint

Metallic gold acrylic paint

 

When working with small objects (like marbles) and toddlers, be mindful that these are choking hazards. Please supervise very closely!

 

 

 

I cut my paper to fit inside the cookie tin. The easiest way to do this is to simple trace the tin, and then cut inside your line a bit. That way, it sits nicely inside the tin without being bunched up.

I added 3-4 drops of each paint to the paper. I found that less is more in this activity. Too much paint and the effect was muddled. S watched and I counted aloud as the paint was being dripped.
I added the marbles (again, a good way to teach counting), put on the lid, and let S get to shaking!











All done! Let's open the lid...

Shake, Shake, Wiggle

 

The finished product! These are just few of the ones we did. Since it is such an easy art project, you can do a bunch in a short amount of time. I love how each one looks different, depending on how much or little we shook the tin, what direction the tin got shaken in, and how hard or soft the marbles rolled.