Tuesday, March 26, 2013

crafting...spring garland

In a former life I was a teacher.  When I taught art, I had 6 sections of each grade, first through fifth.  Organization was imperative!  I laugh at myself now when I can't keep it together with just 3 little beans!  Like the classroom, I prep the night before to make sure I have projects ready for when the day jumps into full swing.  The snow is still falling here in Chicago, so having our craft days definitely keeps everyone happy and busy!


We dyed up some coffee filters and added some cupcake holders to make some spring garland.  This project is an easy one for little tots like mine!












In the coming months I will be converting one of the bedrooms into a work room for our family.  All of my art supplies are currently spread throughout the house, so it will be awesome to have them all in one place where they will be more accessible.  Plus, it will be nice for the beans to have a place to go when they want to create and get messy!

Room inspiration for our work room...

via-Shelter Interior design

via-Design Sponge
via- BHG

via-Birch and Bird
via-The Creative Mama


I hope the sun is shining where you are!  Peace!

42 comments:

  1. Very cute idea! My kids would love it too.
    Happy Easter!
    ~Julie

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    1. Happy Easter to you too! I'm looking forward to seeing your garden this spring!

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  2. I love it! They look like poppies ;) I hope spring comes soon for you ;)

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  3. In a former life I was a pre school teacher, I used to do all kind of craft with my son, so much fun.

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    1. I didn't know that!!! Fun times aren't they??? I hope you are having a great day!

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  4. So fun! I'm excited to see your workroom come together....central location for craft stuff is definitely something we could use here, too.

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    1. Yeah...I have to really remember where i keep everything. I literally have 6 different areas where I have bins or baskets! It is too funny! I hope you guys have a great Easter!

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  5. In my former life I was a ... oh dear, I've forgotten!! The garland is really cute and colourful, and I like the 3D centres :) Great pics for a workroom, and will watch this space for the final result! Hope your snow melts soon. We're sunny here and I feel blasts of warm on the breeze every so often. Wendy

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    1. OHHH what I would do for warmth right now! Enjoy every second of it! I hope you have a lovely week!

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  6. How cool that you used to be an art teacher! I bet your kids love that. I just got done making flowers/baskets out of coffee filters. So easy to dye! Your project looks great. Can't wait to see your craft room. Every woman needs one!

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    1. I couldn't agree more!!! I would love to see what you made out of the filters!?!?! Sounds cool!

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  7. How lucky are your Beans to have a (former) art teacher as their mum?! Love how you have used the coffee filters. Can't wait to see your craft room evolve. I was thinking the other night that with the colder months coming I need to restock our craft box. Happy Easter Nicole xo

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    1. Happy Easter to you too! I hope to find some things at the local flea market here in April. I hear you on stocking up! I know that your little guy likes water...I saw some cool tubing for bath time fun at Play at Home mom...you should check it out!

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  8. Oh this is so creative! How cool you were able to find a project the beans could help with. It is really pretty too! Love it!

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    1. Thanks Stacy! Still thinking about your card!! It was stellar!

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  9. What a fun project!!! Growing up, the fourth bedroom in our house was my mom's "Work Room", which it remains to this day. I would LOVE to have a room like that. "Someday".

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    1. Thanks lady! Yeah...I gotta squeeze in my stuff somewhere....was thinking the basement but it is dark and blah!!! Once I move the kids around we should be able to come up with something!

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  10. Your garland is so pretty. Looks like the "beans" are having a ball in creating. They appear to be following in Mommy's footsteps. What beautiful children they are! Hope you will share your creating space when you get it done. I know all of you will have a great time making fun things in there.

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    1. Thanks Lynn! I am thinking it is a much better way for us to work! That way I can keep the paint contained! HA!

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  11. I love your garland and that you made it with the kids. I didn't realize you taught elementary school art. For some reason I thought you taught older kids.

    I was making books with one of classes (13 & 14 years old) yesterday and it was amazing to watch them. They don't get art in their curriculum, but they crave creativity. They love to come into my classroom because I have craft supplies that I allow them to use. With all the focus on the basics, we are seeing art and music fall by the wayside in California. Kids need to have the time to create. One of the boys was frustrated because he made a mistake and was ready to throw everything away. I convinced him that he could solve the problem. He was happy with the result and was showing one of the other kids his solution.

    Have fun creating a work place. Over the years I created in a closet, in the garage and on the dining room table. Now I have a little corner of Steve's studio, but my sewing machine is in the garage and some supplies are in a cupboard in the living room.

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    1. Good for you for giving those kids a chance to create! That is just awesome! It is such a shame that so many kids go without the arts because for people like me, that is how we learn. I hear you on the work space. The upstairs room I am going to convert is a small space but I figure I can use the closet as a work area too by taking off the door. I was thinking of using the basement but it is just too dark for painting. You take care!

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  12. I love this garland - so much fun to make and it looks great!

    I had to chuckle at the room inspiration photo with the chairs doubling as shelves...my mom has a HUGE collection of small chairs, covering several walls in her house. The problem is she never has anywhere to put anything else ~ I wonder if she ever thought of using her chairs this way?

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  13. The garland looks really pretty! I'm sure i've done the same project years ago in school...ah the memories..

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    1. Memories indeed!!! See what you have to look forward to!!!

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  14. Love seeing the creativity going on in your world with the sweet 'beans'. How nice to have a room dedicated to the creative side of life! Why did I 'know' you were a teacher in a former life! I was a volunteer art teacher at my kid's school, once a month I went into a different classroom to teach art. I had so much fun! Miss having little ones in my life. Enjoy your sweet beans and be sure to share your finished room with us! xx

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  15. Love the spring garland! I recently helped my daughter make a craft/computer/homework/etc. room. She purchased a desk and bookshelves from Ikea, both in white. She added rolling chairs that she recovered with some bright fabric. Some bright posters to the walls - and she was done. It looks great. Just wanted to say - you can do it, and it doesn't have to be very expensive. You will LOVE having a dedicated space!

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  16. I need a little kid around to do this stuff with :(

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  17. This looks like fun! My kids love doing crafts and art projects. I am sure you were an amazing art teacher! Isn't it nice you can still teach your kids! Good luck on the art room, I would love to have one for my kids!

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  18. Lovely! Watching the paint/ink spread on filters is so much fun. :)

    toddlindsey.com

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  19. What a sweet little craft! Big shout out to another former teacher!

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  20. You ROCK, Mom! I'm betting the beans had the BEST time with this...back from my mini vacay, and catching up on a little bit of reading tonight...Happy Thursday, girl! Tanya

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  21. Looks like a lot of fun for the little ones! It's great that you think of crafty projects to do with them :-)

    Take care and thank-you for all the lovely comments and thoughts on my recent posts! They make my day! xxx

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  22. So cute I love it :)

    www.vindiebaby.com
    Vintage Inspired Girls

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  23. I love this Nicole!! So cute and what a great project for little ones. :) I can't wait to see your finished work room!! I love the inspirations.
    Have a great weekend! :)

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  24. eewww, snow! bad word, bad word!! It is warm and sunny in Las Vegas! Love the idea of making a room for the kids to be locked in , oops, I mean play in..heehee.
    I have my own craft room and I escape to it every now and again, I love it!
    There is a cool blog I go to for organization ideas: craftystorage.blogspot.com
    Good luck, can't wait to see the finished room!

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  25. You're such a fun mom! I'm not that crafty. But my kids and I used to bake a lot and they were always conscripted into helping with the garden. Sometimes my students turn my science projects into full blown art projects. I actually have to reign them in because they forget about the science part of the project! I end up telling them, "Just draw stick people! I'm not the art teacher!" :o)

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  26. What a cute idea!
    Wishing you a very happy Easter Nicole!

    Melissah from Country Style chic

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  27. Love it Nicole! I'll have to try this with my preschooler and toddler too. Can't wait to see your work space. We are short on bedrooms in this house, but blessed to have a home office space. I have plans to make it into more of a family work/play/create space, but not sure what yet. I'm sure I will great inspiration from you!

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  28. A craft/work room sounds like a great idea Nicole. I bet the little beans had fun making the coffee filter flowers. Have a great Easter!

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  29. That flower garland is awesome!!!!! So simple yet -so- pretty! I'm looking forward to how your work room turns out, I have no doubt it will be lovely (because you have amazing taste).

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  30. This is super cute! I am going to do this with my little on this week...I've been looking for a fun spring project that we can do inside because it has been rainy and cold here most mornings! Thanks for sharing this

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