DIY Easter Egg Tree

As promised last Wednesday, I am going to share with you today how to make the Easter Egg Tree that was in the photos of the Free Easter Printables post.  If you missed that post, you can click here to see it.

This project is so easy and it doesn't take any time at all to make.

Here is all you need:

~ Foam Cone

~ Spray Adhesive

~ Moss

~ Plastic Eggs (the color is up to you!)

~ Hot Glue Gun

Here is what to do:

Step 1 - Apply the moss to your foam cone (I took this step outside because it gets messy).

I started by spraying the cone with the spray adhesive and then I stuck chunks of the moss on top of where I sprayed.  I did this in sections and by the time I was done I had applied about 2 coats of moss.  I didn't want much of the cone underneath to be visible, even though I was going to cover it up with eggs.

Then, I squeezed the cone to compress the moss in order to keep it in a 'cone' shape.

Next, I attached the eggs using my hot glue gun.  I bought these at Michael's for $5 (they were 1/2 off!!!) I put a squiggly line of hot glue one part of the egg and stuck it onto the mossy cone.  I had to hold it there for about a minute until it dried. 

I made sure the majority of the eggs were applied in a vertical-slant in order to create a pattern and avoid it looks all out of sorts. I did apply a few them in the horizontal position, but those are on the bottom row and they were to fill in the gaps.

After all the eggs were applied, I went back outside and stuffed some more moss in between the eggs using the spray adhesive again.  Finally, I trimmed up the straggly pieces of moss and it was done!

I've seen where people have added a little bird or something on top, but I never found one that I quite liked and I didn't think it really needed it, so I called it a day!

Happy Easter decorating!

~ Kerri

(Copy Cat) Del Taco Carnitas Fries Recipe

Warning: this post is going to make you hungry!

Since Kerri brought back Food Frenzy Friday a few weeks ago, I thought I would follow in her footsteps with this yummy recipe.  I have to say...it's one of our favorites at this house (umm...pretty sure everything we cook is a favorite at our house, we like to eat)! We first had these last summer at our local Del Taco and boy were they out of this world! After we ate them a few times, I decided to make my own and they were just as good.

Ingredients Needed:

Pork Roast

Potatoes 

Sour Cream

Cheese

Cilantro

White Onions

Hot Sauce

Cooking Spray

Salt & Pepper

In the morning I put the pork roast in the crock pot and only season it with salt and pepper and cover it with water. I  usually cook it on low all day (approximately 7 hours), but if I am home I will cook it for less time.

To make your fries from scratch, you will need 3-4 potatoes (or more depending on how many you are feeding), cooking spray, and salt and pepper. Wash your potatoes, then cut them lengthwise, spray the cookie sheet with cooking spray and then spread out the fries. After the fries are spread out on the cookie sheet, spray them again with cooking spray, then sprinkle salt and pepper on them. Bake for around 45 minutes to an hour (depending on the crispness you like) at 375 degrees. If you don't want to make the fries from scratch, then you can use the frozen store bought ones; either way they are good.

After the fries are done baking, you get to build your carnitas fries! It's simple, you just put the fries on the bottom, then put the shredded meat, sour cream, cheese, onion and cilantro and whaa-la there you have it...carnitas fries! The ones I make at home are just as tasty as the ones at Del Taco, but they are better for you...not as much fat. I always use light sour cream and baking the fries without oil or butter cut down on the fat as well. So if you are wanting something new and yummy to eat this weekend, why not try some carnitas fries! I don't think you will regret it.

Have a fabulous Friday!

~Julie

Free Easter Printables

Happy Wednesday! I hope all of you are enjoying your Spring and getting ready for Easter. 

If not, don't worry...Julie and I are here to help you with cute and simple ideas.

Today I am going to make it as simple as a 'click' & 'print' by sharing with you these Easter printables.

I had fun creating these for you.  I hope you enjoy them and are able to find the perfect one for your home décor.

(Next week I will share with you how to make the egg tree)

Here are 4 I created with a religious theme...



And here are 4 I created with a non-religious theme. 

This way you can choose décor style!

Click on the printable of your choice, choose the size you want in your printer's settings and print away!

 

Enjoy!!

~ Kerri

Easter Egg Craft

This weekend I have been creating so much for my Etsy shop, that I almost forgot about my blogging! The other day I was at Hobby Lobby (well that's about everyday) and saw some craft Easter eggs and I thought they would be fun to decorate...since I can't find any of my Easter stuff! So I threw them in the basket (contemplating if I should get them or not). The reason I threw these in the basket was, I saw this post on my friend's Facebook page. When I saw those eggs, I thought that I could maybe try using scrapbook paper instead of an old book (I don't have any old books). 

So, I did and here is the outcome:

It was fairly easy to put together, the hardest part was getting the Mod-Podge all over my hands and not being able to touch anything else! 

Here is what you will need:

Paper Craft Easter Eggs

Scrapbook Paper

Mod-Podge

Sandpaper

Distress Ink

What you will need to do, is cut your scrapbook paper into 1/8-1/4 inch strips. I used the smaller (4x6 papers, so I just cut it the length to make it around the egg). After that, apply the Mod-Podge to the egg (a little section at a time) and then put your paper on it (see below pictures). It really is that simple! This might be a fun craft to do with your kids. That is...if you don't mind a mess!

When the Mod-Podge was dry, I used sandpaper to rough it up a bit and then I applied my distress ink. I basically used the same method as I did with my Christmas stocking initials. 

When I was finished distressing it, this is what it looked like:

I thought it turned out pretty cute and shabby...the way I like things! 

If your kids are on Spring break this week here is a fun and simple craft to do with them. 

I will be sharing that adorable little bunny tag next week on the blog, so stay tuned!

Happy Creating!

~Julie

P.S. Here is a little something I created for my Etsy shop! Hop on over to see some Easter items as well (just click on the tab at the top of the blog).

DIY Garden Tags

Happy Spring!!!  It's officially here and I'm so excited.  Although, here in California we didn't have much of a winter, I'm happy that season is over because that means it's time to plant my garden!!

This year I simplified it and only planted what I knew we would eat.  I planted tomatoes, strawberries, and cucumbers, along with my herbs: parsley, chives and basil. And, every garden needs some easy and cute signs so you know what you planted!

You have no idea how easy it was to make these, so let me share it with you...

I found these small wood signs at Michaels for .29 and I painted them with chalkboard paint I already had.

I then took my white oil-based Sharpie (my chalkboard pen was thicker than I liked) and designed them.

Next, I grabbed some popsicle sticks and hot-glued them to the signs.

I added a little twine bow to dress it up and stuck it in the ground!

So easy and they turned out pretty cute!

Happy planting!

~ Kerri 

Framed Bunny Silhouette

Well, it is that time of the year that we have all been waiting for...SPRING! At least for those of us that live where there are cold winters. Easter is going to be here quicker than we know it, so I thought that I would share with you a quick little Easter DIY. The bunny silhouette seems to be very popular this year (maybe it has been in the past as well...I haven't decorated for Easter in years). I had another craft planned for today's post, but my Easter eggs were MIA!

So I decided to give this one a try.

I have to tell you, it was SUPER easy!


Supplies Needed:
Drop cloth
Frame or backing of some sort
White paint
White pom pom
Tag
Ribbon

I have had this frame for about a year and finally used it. I knew it would come in handy some day. All I had to do was take it apart and clean it up for my new project (see below picture).

 I got it at Hobby Lobby on clearance for around $2.00. In fact, it isn't the only one I bought...I bought 4 of them and now I wish I had bought all of them! I did ask Tabatha (aka: BFF) if I could buy her 2 extra ones. She said I could have them...isn't she sweet? I told her I will take her to Starbucks, seems fair enough, right?

For the bunny silhouette, I used this pattern from my Easter Pinterest board. When I printed it, I only printed it at 75% so it would fit the space I was painting it on. For the background, I used a piece of the leftover drop cloth from my Christmas stockings. If you are using a frame or backing of some sort, you will need to trace the square to cut the drop cloth to size.

Directions for the silhouette:
Cut the bunny pattern out
Trace the bunny onto your drop cloth
Paint the bunny
Hot glue the pom pom for the bunny's tail

I wanted to add a bit of color to my silhouette and I figured why not paint the tag for that pop of color.
I used the color of the year: Radiant Orchid.
I have to say, I am not a huge fan of purples...but this color is beautiful and I am in love!

Directions for the tag:
Paint the tag (color of your choice)
Let it dry
Stamp 'Happy Easter' or whatever you choose on it
Add some ribbon
Hot glue it to your backing

From start to finish I think this project took me about 45 minutes (at the most).
This was a fun and easy project to jump start my creativity for Easter. Stay tuned for more Easter and Spring projects from Kerri and myself.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
~Julie
P.S. There are a lot of new items in my Etsy shop if you haven't visited in awhile! Click the tab on the top of this page to have a look.

St. Patrick's Day Dinner & Kids Art

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  I'm not sure about you, but the best part of this holiday is the corned beef dinner, so today, I want to share with you how easy it is to make this dinner!  It was so easy that I had plenty of time to do a St. Patrick's Day art project with my daughter.

Doesn't that look delicious?  Here's what you need:

Corned Beef

Carrots, sliced and cut into 2"-3" lengths

Cabbage, peeled and rinsed

Red Potatoes, washed and cut in quarters

Here's what to do:

Grab your Crockpot and lay your corned beef on the bottom. Top with your veggies and add water until everything is covered.  Turn your Crockpot on for 8-10 hours and enjoy!!!  EASY!

As for the art project, here is what we made...

Yes, so my daughter just had to do it herself, which meant I was not able to help her place the clover leaves, so I did the best that I could with what she created.  It's more fun when they create anyway!

All you need for both of these projects is green paint, a paper plate, paint brush, toilet paper roll and paper. 

For the first one, simply fold the toilet paper roll so it makes a heart shape.  Dip it in the paint and stamp it on the paper.  Ideally, they are supposed to be close together so that you will only need to paint on the stem, but when your child is Ms. Independent, this is how it may turn out...ha!

This next project was way more fun for her than the first one.  So much so, that we made three of them!  Ideally, all 4 handprints are supposed to be touching where the palm prints are, but again...she had to do it herself!

Either way, she had a blast and even had fun cleaning all the paint off her hands!

It was a fun day and now we have yummy corned beef to eat tonight too!

Have a happy and safe St. Patrick's Day!!

~ Kerri 

Shamrock Door Hanger

Since St. Patty's Day is on Monday, I thought that I would share a little something I whipped up for a friend of mine! I have made the owl door hangers, the heart door hangers, and now I (was asked) to make a shamrock door hanger.

So, here it is:

I didn't have a pattern to use, so as usual...I made one with tissue paper. It was pretty easy, I just had to make sure it was proportioned. It took a couple of tries. I cut the green fabric the size of the pattern, then set it on the burlap and cut that about 1/4" bigger (just like the other 2 door hangers).

After, you have them cut out, you sew the 3 pieces together and leave an opening so you can stuff it. 

The first time I made a mistake, because I left the stem open and it was too hard to stuff. So I had to close it up and open up a little more of the shamrock part. Stuff the shamrock to the puffiness you want it and then sew the opening together to complete it. When you are finished with the shamrock you need to add the wire to hang it.  I poked it through the top of the burlap and brought it up and twisted it back around itself (see owl tutorial).

  Like the heart door hanger I used tea dyed tags (to embellish them) and I stamped 'lucky' on them. Then I added ribbon and pinned them to the shamrock.  

This is a quick and easy project for a cute little St. Patty's Day fun!
Have a BEAUTIFUL Friday (I know I will)!
~Julie

DIY St. Patrick's Day Door Wreath

Another holiday approaches...do you have your décor out?  If you're like me, you don't have much time, so I'm going to share with you 2 EASY door wreaths that are both festive and welcoming for your guests!! 



If you have been following our blog you know that I have made this door wreath in January.  I kept it simple because I planned on changing it for every holiday...I know, seems like a lot of work, but the trick is to keep it 'simple'!

I then changed it up for Valentine's Day... (click here to see this post)

And a few weeks ago, Julie shared this easy DIY door wreath... (click here to see this post)

So, here is the one I came up with for St. Patrick's Day



All I did was change the banner, which I made with my Cricut, and added a shamrock that I bought at Hobby Lobby!  Easy!!!

A dear friend of mine, Meagan, created this one! Again, it's so simple, you can do it too!

She bought most of her materials at Hobby Lobby.  The small green flowers she bought at Michaels as well as the wood circle and the 'A'.

She painted the circle with some paint sample she had and hot glued it all onto the wreath!  Didn't I tell you it was easy?!

Not too bad, huh?!  Now your turn...what will you create for St. Patrick's Day that is quick and easy?

~ Kerri