Recycled 2 Liter Bottle Planters

We're trying our hand at some gardening again this year. I have a notoriously black thumb, so we'll see how it goes. I made these planters our of recycled 2 liter bottles. Start with a clean 2 liter bottle. Cut it in half and invert it into itself. Add some rocks to the bottom so that all your dirt doesn't fall out. Add dirt, seeds and water. I'll be sure to update you all on how are plants are growing.

Cardboard Tube Bird Feeder

This is a cross post from my TP Craft site. If you are interested in other crafty projects using toilet paper and paper towel rolls then you should check it out.

Cardboard Tube Bird Feeder Supply List: toilet paper roll or paper towel tube, peanut butter, string or twine, bird seed, spatula

Use the spatula to spread peanut butter on your cardboard tube. Make sure to get it on nice and thick.

Once it is covered, roll your tube in bird seed.

Thread a piece of string through the tube and tie it in a knot.

Hang it outside and wait for your little bird friends to stop by for a bite to eat.

Book Suggestion: We checked out Backyard Bird Watching for Kids: How to Attract, Feed, and Provide Homes for Birds from the library and it had some great ideas for kids about how to attract birds into your backyard. It has very simplistic language that is easy for a preschooler to understand. Cole loved the bright pictures and all the interesting information about birds.

Painters Tape Painting

Cole and I did some painters tape painting the other day and he loved it. We marked off his construction paper using blue painters tape. Then I let him paint any colors he wanted. He loved mixing the different colors. While the paint was still wet we peeled off the tape. He was intrigued by the lines that were left behind.

Muffin Tin Monday {Baby's First Muffin Tin}

It's Monday again! This week I tried to make a muffin tin meal for Kiley. I wasn't sure how she would react to it, since usually she just dumps her plate and moves a bunch of stuff around on her tray. Well, it was a huge hit. She loved the silicone cupcake liners, loved dumping the food into different cups, loved the little fork I gave her. I guess now I have 2 monkeys to make muffin tin meals for on Monday!

life = 4 x 12 {February}

I mentioned last month that this year I resolved to take at least 1 family picture of all of us every month. The idea came from the fabulous Tara Whitney. Here is our January picture. It was blurry and the color was really off. I had used the timer for that one. This month we took our pic outside and used the remote. I think it turned out much better. In addition to getting 12 family pictures, I'm also gaining better knowledge of my camera from this project.

Happy St. Patrick's Day...

Toilet Paper Roll Race Car

This is a cross post from my TP Craft site. If you are interested in other crafty projects using toilet paper and paper towel rolls then you should check it out.

Race Car Supply List: 1 toilet paper roll, paint, hole punch, scissors, 4 plastic bottle lids, 2 toothpicks, 1 straw

Begin by painting your toilet paper roll.

While you're waiting for your toilet paper roll to dry trim your straw to just a little shorter than your toothpicks.

Punch holes in your toilet paper roll and thread the straw through. Then insert the toothpick through the straw.

Punch some small holes in the plastic lids. You want to make sure that you get the hole directly in the center so that the wheels don't wobble.

Put the wheels onto the toothpicks. I ended up putting a little drop of glue on the outside of the wheel, right where the toothpick poked through, but it wasn't necessary. I just didn't want the baby to pull them off and try to eat them.

Cut a hole in the center of the toilet paper roll for a seat and find a little friend who wants to go for a ride.

Book Suggestion: R is for Race: A Stock Car Alphabet is a great book that is as rhyming verse for that little kids will love and longer paragraphs that are good for older kids. It's perfect for the little car enthusiast in your house.

Fishing Cupcakes

The second cupcake I made was a fishing cupcake. Again, I used this tasty icing recipe and added blue food coloring. I used a large star tip to swirl on the icing. The fishing pole is a pretzel stick with a piece of dental floss tied to it. I added a few colorful goldfish into the waves and viola!

Camping Cupcakes

So I mentioned earlier in the week that I made camping & fishing cupcakes for my nephew's 7th birthday. I think they turned out fabulous. These are the camping themed ones. I used this frosting recipe and added green food coloring. Using a large circular tip I iced them and then added some green sprinkles. The campfire is pretzel sticks with some red icing on the top and the marshmallow sticks are pretzel sticks with mini marshmallows on them. They were delicious.

Muffin Tin Monday

It's Monday!!! Around here that means it's time for our weekly muffin tin meal. Since we've had warmer weather the last few days I tried to make a muffin tin meal that looked like a flower. I used silicone heart cupcake liners that I got on clearance at Target after Valentine's Day for .89 for a 12 pack. What a deal. Anyways, the center liner is a paper one from Ikea. I think it looks a little like a flower, right? As usual, Cole loved it and gobbled up every little bit.

Camping & Fishing Cupcakes

Mmmmmmm... Cupcakes! I made these camping and fishing cupcakes for my nephew's 7th birthday. I'll post more details about them later in the week, I just wanted you to have a peek at how cute they turned out!

Paper Towel Roll Marble Run

This is a cross post from my TP Craft site. If you are interested in other crafty projects using toilet paper and paper towel rolls then you should check it out.

Marble Run Supply List: 10-12 paper towel rolls, hot glue gun, magnets, scissors, marble

Cut out the edges on each of the tubes.

Use the hot glue gun to attach magnets to the side of the tubes. Please do not allow your children to use a hot glue gun. I did this part while Cole was napping.

Line up your tubes on a magnetic surface. This would be a great activity to do on your fridge. We just got a new stainless steel fridge and it is not magnetic so we did out marble run on the laundry room door.

Here is a video of our little activity. It was a HUGE hit!