Peg Doll and Pinecone Turkeys

Head on over to CBC Kids Parent site to see how to make your own peg doll and pinecone turkeys.

(just in time for Thanksgiving here in Canada)

Wishing you a weekend FULL of goodness!

Washi Tape Back to School Supplies

Head on over to CBC Parents to see how to make your own colourful back to school supplies

using colourful and cheap washi tape.

Spring Blossom Bracelets

Who can resist an excuse to play with flowers?!
Here is a super simple activity that you can do with all those gorgeous blossoms around!
Moments to make, almost no supplies needed and lovely results.

Pop on over to CBC to see how we made our blossom bracelets.

Happy Spring,

Nesting Mobiles

Happy Earth Day!!!

In honour of Earth day, we made some nesting mobiles…this is a great craft for kiddies of all ages…made with natural materials that will eventually go back to nature.

Did you know that if you provide birds with nesting materials, they are more likely to build a nest in your yard?!

Head over to CBC Parents site for the full tutorial!

Teach them when they are young to be stewards of the Earth!

Head over to CBC Parents for the full tutorial on how to make your own

RAINBOW BOWLS!!!

They are made simply with tissue paper and Mod Podge!

Happy St Patricks Day, and soon SPRING!!!!

The Artful Year…Book Review and GIVEAWAY!!!

Today we are reviewing the new book by The Artful Parent, 

called

The Artful Year

This is the author…the beautiful and so very talented Jean Van't Hul…

she describes herself as a children's art enabler and writer.

We've followed the success of The Artful Parent for years now and she has inspired us so much 

in our own blogging journey.

Onto the review...

This book takes you on a crafty journey through all 4 seasons with beautiful art ideas, 

craft ideas and even recipes!!!

My 6 yr old was DELIGHTED to go through this book, earmarking every craft she wanted to make

(and there were MANY!!!)

In honour of spring, we decided to make these cheerful plant pokes with beads…

so very simple and so so pretty.

It was a great little craft to quickly whip up before supper…here is Matildas finished product...

and here is mine!

 With Easter soon approaching you can bet these glitter eggs are next on our list.

Oh the crafting possibilities…from bunny ear crowns, a garden loom, autumn leaf mandalas, coffee filter buntings…it's going to be a busy year!!

I like how the book starts out…Jean says, "Art is often considered a solitary pursuit, but crafting is traditionally done together abuzz with conversations as participants create together or side by side."

in my own home we are often at the kitchen table crafting together, catching up on our day...

What a beautiful tradition we give our children when we take the time to craft alongside them…

creating not only beautiful art, but beautiful traditions throughout the year that they will remember for a lifetime.

I encourage you to pick up a copy for your library at home…this is a book you are sure to reference over and over again, season by season…I know as every season changes I am always on the lookout for great ideas and craft inspiration…this book is sure to be a hit!

You can purchase this beautiful book at AMAZON.com

or request it be ordered at your local bookseller.

Jean has also generously offered us a copy of the book to 

giveaway to one lucky reader…

to enter our giveaway please leave a comment below, 

The give-away will run until Sunday March 15th at midnight.

The winner has been picked and contacted.
Thank you to all who entered.

Good luck to all who enter, and happy Spring blessings, as we enter into a seasonal shift here!

Rainbow Ice Totems and Sculptures for CBC Parents

Head on over to CBC Parents to see our latest post on how to make 

Rainbow Ice Totems and Sculptures!

We've been stuck in a deep freeze for weeks now and this is a great way to make use of those cold temperatures, and to bring some much needed JOY and colour to your yard!

Hope you are all surviving winter well!

xo

Making Peg Dolls and More…Book Review and Giveaway!!!!

Today we are so deeply honoured to tell you about our dear friend Margaret Blooms newest book

Making Peg Dolls and More…

If you don't know who Margaret Bloom is, well

she is the official peg doll QUEEN of the Universe!!

Her website We Bloom Here is full of beautiful crafty inspiration, 

and every now and then she hosts peg doll swaps with enchanting people all around the world!!

To say we adore her work would be an understatement!!!  

So…onto the book review…

In this book Margaret takes peg doll crafting to a whole new level of amazing!

From mobiles, to wall hangings, necklaces, dream pillows…

the scope of crafting possibilities is mind blowing,

(and it all starts with a little peg doll).

She covers wedding cake toppers…

cupcake toppers, (totally doing these)

and my very favourite…the Greenwood Tree Wall Hanging!

The photos inside the book are beautiful and inspiring…the instructions are easy to follow

and there are patterns contained throughout.

She even has suggestions on how to get the whole family involved in making these projects…

little kid and big kid crafting suggestions.  *Love it*

Of course I had to do my own variation of the wedding cake topper…

just have to find that pointy hat wearing man of my dreams and I'm all set!!!

The book is available at the following wonderful retailers...

Castle in the Air, Bella Luna Toys,  and A Child's Dream

and of course you can also order on Amazon

There are also discount codes for peg doll making supplies and wool felt available!

Now…Margaret has been generous enough to offer our readers a chance to WIN a copy of her newest book!!

All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below…

we will also be accepting entries on our Twig and Toadstool Facebook page

Enter until February 14th!!!

Best of luck to all who enter!

The winner of our giveaway is Anne in NC!!!!!

Mrs Bloom…we love you!!!!

Here is the official book tour schedule…

go check out the links for discount codes for supplies

other chances to win a copy of the book

and to support some of the BEST creative people online!

February 2: The Crafty Crow

February 3: Clean.

February 4: Castle in the Air

February 5: Sally Mavor-Wee Folk Studio

February 7: A Child's Dream

February 9: Forest Fairy Crafts

Febuary 10-Bella Luna Toys

February 11-ben and birdy

February 12-Twig and Toadstool!!!!!

February 13-Wee Wonderfuls

We can't wait for the next book Margaret Bloom!!!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for a copy of 

Making Peg Dolls and More

 by leaving a comment below.

Pinecone Ninjas

I wanted to make something a little different this year for an ornament…

with my daughters newfound love of nunchuks, I opted to make some ninjas for the Christmas tree!

These little ornaments are super cute and can be made in any colour you could dream up.

To make your own pinecone ninja you will need:

pinecone

wooden bead "head" (about 1 inches in diameter, or larger)

black paint and brush

black glitter

embroidery floss

glue gun and glue stick

white craft glue

*you are certainly NOT limited to black…

make PINK ninjas

BLUE ninjas

or whatever colour you please!!

To begin, paint your pinecone black all over...

While it is still wet sprinkle it generously with glitter.

Now take your wooden bead head and paint it like so…

just leave a small space clear to paint on your eyes.

(use a very small brush, or toothpick to make the eyes)

Paint your bead all over with white glue, (except the "face" part)

Roll around in your black glitter!

Now take your embroidery floss and stick it through your bead head…

using your glue gun, run a dab of glue at the bottom of the bead to fasten your floss,

(I also put a bit of glue in through the top of the hole, just for extra durability)

Fasten your head to your pinecone…

and DONE!

Nature Imprint Ornaments

With the Christmas season upon us we were inspired to create some magic for the tree. Lovely to see how simple snowy white clay and bits of nature pair up so sweetly. 

These ornaments are quick to make and your natural imprint options are limitless!

Thinking these ornaments would make wonderful gift tags as well. 

Pop on over to CBC to see how how we created these. 

Wishing you peace and creativity in this season and always,