Cajun Cottage Under the Oaks

Did You Draw Today?

Edible Flowerpots

I can't believe I thought I didn't have anything to contribute to the Simply Lovely Flowerpots Fair over at Susan's.  I missed another fun fair again because of my forgetfulness!

Jessica's delightful little Flower Pot Cupcakes reminded me of a party craft/favor we made a couple of years ago at my daughter's birthday party.  It's a very simple, fun, yummy activity to do and perfect for parties. 

It'd also be perfect to make these in May during the month we honor Mary, our Blessed Mother.

First you set out your cute little flowerpot:

and put an Oreo cookie in the very bottom of it (to keep the pudding from ozzing out):

then give each child a container of chocolate pudding to add to the flowerpot:

Crumble some Oreo cookies and let the children sprinkle that on top of pudding, then add some colorful candy sprinkles on top (Jessica's idea of green tinted coconut for grass would work wonderfully too):

The finishing touch can be a simple colorful lollipop that the child inserts in the center of her flowerpot.  I found these flower pops  at Party City for only .39 cents a piece:

And there you have it. 

A beautiful little flowerpot of sweetness!

The Best Way...

...to break back into the school spirit after a weeklong Easter/Spring break:

BREAK OUT THE FINGER PAINT!

Annie's work-in-progress

Picture of Mary

Karen wrote:  "Oh, I noticed your lovely picture of Mary is gone. Please, who is it by?"

It is a lovely picture, isn't it? It quickly became one of my favorite this Christmas.

The picture is still located here.  I found it somewhere on the web but can't remember where.  You know how you find a lovely picture on the web and quickly save it in your picture-file then move on?  I know when I found it it wasn't labeled so I have no idea the name or painter. 

Anyone know?

Christmas Mosaic Art Craft of the Week

Excited to see this lovely, simply art craft:  Festive Christmas Mosaic

We'll be doing it this week.  Won't you join us?

Loveliness of Handmade Gifts

are up at Dawn's beautiful blog!

A Pie Worth Sharing

Yesterday at co-op the girls made the cutest little potpourri pies you ever saw.  They're peachy pretty and smell just like grandma's kitchen.  And they're super easy to bake make.

Supplies Needed:

• Terracotta planter bottom
• Seven strips of brown or tan felt cut with pinking shears
• Apple/Cinnamon potpourri
• Hot Glue gun

Fill the terra cotta planter bottom (see picture) with apple/cinnamon potpourii.

Layer four of the felt strips length-wise over the pie.  Hot glue the ends onto the pot's edge them trim them with scissors.  Weave the other three felt strips across the width of the pot and hot glue those ends, then trim.

(Please notice that our pie only has five strips.  That is because we were doing it as a class and we ran short on strips and had to share.  It still came out darling, but the demo pie with seven strips was picture-perfect.)

Be sure to have your child set some of the potpourri off to the side to hot glue on top of her "pie" when she is finished.  It adds a nice "touch".

You can also place it in the microwave for a few seconds (I don't remember how long so you might have to experiment) to heat the terra cotta and have the fragrance waft through your kitchen.

Chelsea was so excited with hers she promptly said, "I'm giving it to Cristina at her Bridal Shower."

I think Cristina's going to love it.

Visit Dawn on Thursday (November 8th) for the Loveliness of Handmade Gifts...a great fair to thumb through in time for Christmas.  Thank you, Dawn!

Journey with Trisha Romance

A wonderful new artist I've been introduced to:

Trisha Romance

She offers two virtual books for you to enjoy as well as many sharings of her original artwork.

Trisha's biography is something all artists will enjoy reading.  It is an embracement of life, love, light, family, art, and God.

This painting is titled: Journey of Hope (click to enlarge)

Differences

The difference between, Garrett helping his little sisters with a craft...

(I think the nearby sports page might have had something to do with the incomplete project.)

And Daddy helping them with a craft...

The difference between Oma helping with a craft project...

And Mommy helping to finish it... (I suppose Garrett takes after me.)  :)

Hey, I never said I was perfect.

Even 20 Year Olds Like to Paint

In homeschooling circles we often talk about doing art with our children.  Art is creativity and, as we are all made in the image and likeness of God, we are born to create.

So what about nurturing our older children's creativity?

My oldest was the preschool child who was repeatedly left working at the art table while the other children were hustled off to movie hour or playtime because he was too busy meticulously finishing his coloring picture.  The teachers repeatedly told me how they couldn't get him to hurry up and finish and how he scrupulously colored inside the lines. "It doesn't have to be perfect, Corey," they would tell him patiently.

But this was the child who lined his shoes along the wall of his room in "two straight lines...at half past nine"  For him he found his focus in art.  He found achievement and satisfaction in the art process. 

This week I realized that he still does.

Just give him some Cabela's Camo Paint and Stencil Set

and a second-hand marsh boat

and let the painting begin!

And don't forget to applaud the results of your child's efforts.  : )