Recycled box!!!

Recycled boat....
It was a crafty morning around our house this morning, we made a space ship out of a plastic bottle and we also made this cool ship out of a cracker box.
We have a recycling bin in our pantry that we save boxes ,bottles ,tops ,paper and other items that we thing can be useful for our crafting activities.
So AP went in and got a cracker box and said he wanted to make a ship, by now both of them know what they want and just walk in crab something and tell me what they need it to be.
So I went ahead and covered the whole box with paper tape, this helps with the painting procedure.
The paint can go on easier with the paper tape on.
So we went out got the paints and kids started to paint, he wanted wooden barbecue sticks and pocked holes and stuck them in and then cut thick card stock paper for the sails and just had fun with it.. You could create anything from items that you have at home and turn them in to toys ,decorating items and anything  your heart desires.. 
Have a fun and crafty time!!!!!!!  

Recycled bottle.

We turned a bottle in to a space ship!!
My little guy wanted to make a space ship and so he went to our plastic recycling bin and got a bottle ,brought to me and said: Let's craft now I want to make a spaceship.
So I used paper tape to tape all around it and covered it all up. Now it was ready to be be painted.
We used some paints and the little man choose he's colors and started.
We used egg cartons and cut them for the space ships propellant that is we're the fire comes out and painted them,and also ribbons and fabric for the fires. You could use paper or tissue paper too.
Little man had so much fun making it and when it was all dry he had fun playing with he's space ship.
He got all he's men out and took them to the moon and mars. Even if the playing doesn't last long you get to save there master peace up on shelf along with all there other crafts..
Have fun crafting..

Home made play dough..

Home made play dough is a really good senso play for kids and they could play for hours, with this home made version you won't have to worry about the toxins found in store bought ones and won't worry about kids putting them in there mouth. It's made with things you already have in the house and you could use whatever scent you fancy..                                                                                              

So lets go see the ingredients you will need:::

                                                                                     

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup water
• 2 tsp. cream of tarter
• 1/3 cup salt
• 1 TBS olive oil
• Food Coloring 

So here is what you do:
In a sauspan add the flour salt cream of tartar

Then add the water and the oil and mix well ,turn on the heat to medium and strir as if your life depended on it:-)

It will start of being lumpy just mix mix mix and add the food coloring, it will start to stick at the bottom of the pan and when it's not runny of wet any more take it of the heat and take it out on your workspace. Wait a few minute to cool down and them add your essential oils and Knead.
Store it in a air proof container or a ziplock bag ..
For blue I used lavender
For red  geranium
For green spearmint
For yellow tangerine
This can be stored for ever and won't go bad.. Kids will love it and because of the essential oils is very calming and relaxing .
Happy playdouing :-))

It would also make an excellent gift if added in a nice bag with cookie cutters and rolling pin ..

Photo memory plate frames..

I've got a fun craft project for you that you could turn in to a lovely wall decoration.Last year i had the idea to stick a holiday photo on a plate and let the kids to decorate them. They came out so effective that I printed more holiday photos off holidays that we have been over the years and decorated them with memorabilia that we brought with us and I have saved in there memory keepsake boxes..I could be stuff like napkins ,paper notes from the hotels and little things like that. 

And then I was wondering around in ikea and sore the shadow boxes and I thought they could look cool on the wall all together .And I was right ,they look really effective and kids can look at the wonderful work and memories .

What you will need:

• Photos of good memories
• Glue stick
• Glitter
• Holiday bits and pieces
• Stickers of some kind of relevance 
• Shadow boxes (ikea has them)

Get the kids to stick the photo in the center of the plate ,I used the ikea square ones and some round ones.The square ones are more effective in personal opinion .
Let the stick and glue glitter and stickers and all around to make a frame.  And then just place them in the shadow boxes. Easy as pie..And you could keep it up for as many years as you like. You will fill a whole wall of holiday memories. How cool would that look? I haven't come round in making all of mine but now with the summer  holidays I will get them to so the rest.
Hope you enjoy this fun craft..

Diy body butter

Good quality body butters are usually pricy,also they contain ingredients that you can't even pronounce..With this home made version you get the quality without the chemicals and cheaper to..
You could customize the scent you like and eat it too:-)
It's really yummy straight out of the shower and it leaves your skin feeling soft soft soft and smelly..
It's also very good if you very dry skin or suffering from eczema ,bites and itchy skin..It could be used for face hands and body..
So with 3 ingredients you get the best body butter.
You will need:

1. Coconut oil
2. Coco butter
3. Essential oils or vanilla extract.

Prepare a double boiler and combine the oils and butters until melted, take off heat and add the essential oils or vanilla extract, I used vanilla in this one and it smells so so good. I used the powdered pure kind and its late afternoon and it still smells wonderful. So to the next step ,now you need to put the oils in the refrigerator until the mixture starts to harden a little it will look darker in color like a honey color, it should be soft to the touch.

1. Use a hand mixer to whip for 10 minutes until fluffy.
2. Return to fridge for 10-15 minutes to set.
3. Store in a glass jar with a lid and use as you would regular lotion or body butter. If your home stays above 75 degrees, it may soften and need to be kept at the fridge, but it will stay whipped at a temperature lower than that.
4. Enjoy!

+

Coconuts..

I recently became obsessed with coconuts..coconut oil,coconut milk,water and all coconut .

Bought a couple of coconuts on Friday cracked the one open and had the water with some ice and it was delicious,me and the kids ate some of it and grated the rest. We made the granola witch I posted earlier and some yummy cup cakes with rye flour and coconut oil frosting..Read about the coconut benefits.

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-numerous-health-benefits-of-coconuts-2.html

I make all sorts of things like body butter out of coconut oil and coco butter.

Cakes and cookies,lip balm,hair conditioner and make yummy pop corn with the coconut oil .

These recipes are available on the blog.. So get coconuting for a healthier yummy life.

Home made granola

Dry cereals have been around for along time making breakfast easy and fast.. Just adding milk or yogurt and its ready to be eaten.
But buying most commercial brands form your local grocery store is not always the healthiest option.
There loaded with sugar conservatives,color and wheat..So if there was a  way to make your own cereal without chemicals and with low or no sugar at all then you would take it right?
So here I will share a yummy and easy recipe to make granola.. Can be eaten with milk or yogurt and you could add your fresh fruit and seeds to it.
So here goes:
1 cup organic oats
I cup shredded cocunut
Half a cup raisins ( more if you like is ok)
3 table spoons of cocunut oil
Half a cup of honey
Seeds of any kind depending on your preference ( I use hemp seeds,sun flower)
Nuts like almonds ,macadamia
1 tsp cinnamon

So you combine oats,cocunut,raisins,nuts,cinnamon ,nuts and mix.
Melt honey and coconut oil and add to the oat mixture. Preheat your oven to 185 and then place the mixture to a cookie sheet and spead evenly..Bake for half and hour till golden brown. Take out of the oven and let the granola cool down and put in an airtight container.
And now you could have it with your fresh fruit and add more honey if you like..