Here’s how I describe it on CU:

The basket base of this craft was designed and featured in Martha Stewart Living Magazine in April, 210, page 160. I just decided that it needed to “kicked up a notch” by personalizing it with photos. And my good friend and decor expert Stacy was the one who thought to use the fan pulls in a non-traditional way. So really, it was a collaboration between Martha, Stacy, and myself. (wink!)

You think Martha is reading??

Well, anyway, I just wanted to add a few thought here on Mother’s Day… I personally have a number of friends struggling with infertility. Some of my gal-friends have never been able to conceive, and a few have borne one child, only to have problems adding to the family.

In my personal experience, we had our first child with no issues….and then we had a string of miscarriages. It was devastating to have had ONE healthy child and then not be able to repeat the performance, so to speak. And then we had folks telling us how lucky we were to have had a least one child.

(By the way, that only pisses off the infertile couple. Don’t do that.)

Anyway, I’m super-sensitive about Mother’s Day, so I guess I’m suggesting that you keep these women/couples in your mind and perhaps honor their struggle. Many have pets, so you could adapt this craft to put doggie-or-kittie photos in the middle. Or if there are nieces/nephews in their lives, use those photos instead.

You could also just make plain flowers with a heart or cross in the middle to honor the babies they conceived who didn’t make it. (In that case, I’d have four flowers in my bouquet.)

So, honor your Mom, your motherhood, and your “sisters” who so desperately want to join the “Mother-Hood” this year.

And a big hug to you all.

Coffee filter blooms are a great recycling craft!

Yeah, I know this one is kinda an “oldie-but-a-goodie,” but I had such a good time making them today that I thought I’d share it here, too…just to remind you how much fun you can have with the garbage you generate!

My recycled objects were all collected after breakfast:

• 5 or 6 coffee filters (per flower)
• egg carton (yields 12)
• cereal box

Plus you’ll need some not-so-recycled objects, one each per flower:

• bamboo skewers
• chenielle stems
• button for the center

And some general crafty items:

• colored spray mists (I love my Radiant Rains- read my review of those HERE- but you can use Glimmer Mists or plain ol pan water colors)
• Hot Glue
• Floral tape OR yarn and white glue for wrapping the stem
• scissors

To start, you’ll need 5 or 6 used coffee filters. After I brew a pot, I usually just take out the filter, grounds and all, and lay it on a plate to dry out. That way I get interesting color variations on the filter. When they are dry, I just brush the grounds off of the filters with a stiff paintbrush.

I like to use 3 colors per flower- 2 each of a dark, medium, and one or two of a light shade. I used a dark pink, and orange, and a yellow for mine. (If you want the exact colors, just leave me a comment.) I placed the filters in an old box lid and gave them a nice spray of color:

The coffee staining adds nice shading.

While the filters are drying, cut the bottom cups out of the egg carton. I specifically only use a fiberboard egg carton, as the color spray won’t stick to the foam ones. After you cut out the cups, you can color them with a green magic marker or hit them with some fabulous green color mist.

If you want to paint them, use the paper egg cartons!

You can also rough- cut some “leaves” out of the cereal cardboard- just make sure to leave a 1/2 inch cardboard stem on each. I also sprayed the back (unwaxed) side of the cardboard with my green color mist.

When everything is fairly dry, crumple the “petals.” Do this by grasping the center of a filter, then pulling the edges up and crumpling as you go. It just adds some nice pleats that are reminiscent of a carnation:

Next, stack all of your filters in the order you’d like them: the center color on top, darkest color on the bottom. Poke holes in the middle of the filters using a craft blade. Also make a small hole in the bottom of your egg cup.

Now it’s time to assemble your flower:

Loop top 1/2 inch of the end of your chenielle stem through your button, and twist it on tightly. Then thread on your filter petals, in order from top to bottom. Lastly, thread on the egg cup. As you pull the button down, it’ll pull the filters into the cup and force the petals up. Be gentle doing this, and arrange your “petals” as you go:

Now take your bamboo skewer and place the pointy end in the hole in the egg cup. It’s going to make a nice, rigid stem. You might with to add a dollop of hot glue to the bottom of the egg cup to keep the stem/skewer from pulling out, or the head of the flower from flopping over. (I didn’t on my sample, and I wish I had.)

Now take your floral tape and start wrapping from the top of the stem (by the egg cup) and, pulling and winding as you go, wrap the skewer and chenille stem together. After you’ve wrapped about 2 inches, add in your cardboard flowers if you like.

OK, there you go! A little more trash OUT of the landfill, and a little more art in your life. I have to think that this would be a fun craft to make with older kids- either for Mothers (or Grandparent’s) Day, or to decorate for Earth Day.

Have fun and happy crafting!

Disclosure

Photo & project  courtesy of Jess at Craft Cafe

This is a quick and super-easy-super-cute idea from our friend Jess at Craft Cafe. (Who ALSO calls herself a “Craftista!) You take a cheap-o dime store spiral bound pocket notepad, remove the cover, and make a new one with pretty papers, rub-ons, stickers, or other embellishments. It’s a great way to use up those odd-and-ends of scrapbook/cardmaking projects.

I’ve done something similar with mini composition notebooks that I got a the dollar store. For those, I didn’t remove the cover, just added a new one on top using my own hand-made fabric paper. I also jazzed it up with a work pebble and some grosgrain ribbon.

Anyway, Mother’s Day will sneak up on us faster than you think- what about whipping up a dozen or so of these and gifting them to your favorite Mamas? Who doesn’t need another notepad to keep track of…well, everything?

To recap, you’ll gather some wonky candles from around your home. You know you have them- ones that got dinged up, ones that are burned 1/2 way down and look goofy, ones that have faded from the sun. Gather them up and pull out the wicks, and then melt them in a double boiler. (Jenny’s bootleg double boiler is a coffee can in a pan of water!) Melt the wax, and then add a few drops of oil fragrance or coloring made for candles. (Easy to find at your local craft store.)

Dip your new wick (also at the craft store) in the wax to make it stiff. Then cut lengths for your teacup, allowing for enough to wrap around a skewer or pencil. Pour in your wax, and let it set up. (See all of the details on Martha’s site.)

What a great gift for a mom, aunt, grandma, or teacher! I also love the idea of taking those “orphaned” teacups – ones that come from somewhere, but are too pretty to throw away, but maybe are stained inside or have a little chip. (Or go nuts at the thrift store!) Sweet, pretty and recycling. Love it!