Owls... from Toilet Paper Rolls

This idea came from Rebecca Mikami. When my daughter saw the picture of these online, she wanted to do them NOW... it was really hard for her to wait until we'd accumulated a couple empty toilet paper rolls.

For this cute project, you will need empty toilet paper rolls, masking tape, paint, googly eyes, orange paper scraps, and fabric scraps.

• Start by folding down the top of the roll to make two pointed ears. 
• Tape it down. I didn't have masking tape, so I skipped that part, and the ears seem to be holding up just fine.
• Paint! 

• When the paint is dry... add the eyes, beak, and wings. I didn't have googly eyes. What kind of crafty mother am I? So I used my smallest circle punch and some black sticker dots to make our eyes. I cut orange triangles from scraps of paper, and cut wings from scraps of fabric.
• I used a glue stick for the wings, but thought the eyes and beak needed something a little more, so we used tacky glue for that.

Such an adorable and easy project, and even the little girl next door came over and made one. I hope her Mom doesn't mind the bonus pink paint in her hair.

Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy. Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. Proverbs 2: 9-11

Pencil Eraser Stamping?

I found this idea on Pinterest, but it originated at www.lilmagoolie.com. My daughter enjoyed stamping a picture of flowers, and then I made my own flower picture. And as I stopped to look at it, I decided this would be a FABULOUS way to make interesting, UNIQUE, and creative greeting cards when the mood strikes me.

Just make sure you have pencils with new, unused erasers, a different one for each color. You don't want to put your eraser that has been stamped in yellow into your dark blue! Then start stamping your design. The cool thing is the first stamp is dark, but the second is lighter if you don't re-ink, so you can even do some shading.

Don't you think this would make a neat greeting card?

Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

Boxed Condos

I recently saw a picture online of a cardboard box skyscraper that was TOO COOL. I was INSPIRED! We HAD to build one... we couldn't NOT build one. After all, anytime there is a spare box laying around, my daughter requests to play with it, so I knew this would be up her alley. I had a pretty good stockpile of boxes in the attic for times when I might need to send a package. So we had all the ingredients we would need for our creation.

You'll need boxes of all shapes and sizes. I held ours together
with mostly packing tape. I used glue in a few places, but still
reinforced with tape because I was too impatient
to wait for the glue to dry.

We started building together, the girls and I.
Then I sent them to bed and I finished building.
This is what they found when they got
up this morning.

I made it as 3D as possible, with balconies that dolls could really walk out on, a couple doors that really open, porch roofs over doors, and even a chimney. I left open boxes on the back side so they could have rooms to play inside.

Then we used a permanent marker to draw on
doors and windows. I told them they could
decorate it however they wanted, and use
as much color as they'd like.

They drew up a few things, but then the
dolls came out and they started playing.

We used an upside down shoe box lid to make
a swimming pool... and we even have a diving board.

The Lalaloopsy beds and table/chair set were a perfect fit.

We're having so much fun, we've missed
breakfast and it's time for lunch.

At its tallest point, our condo stands a tad over 5 feet tall and will be a perfect playhouse for the Mini Lalaloopsy dolls, Polly Pockets, Little Pet Shop, or any other similarly sized toys. My oldest told me she just loves it... and I'm wondering why we spent $100 on that Barbie house.

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. Proverbs 18:10