Great Easter Greeting Card

Thumpers Easter Greeting Card

Thumpers Easter Greeting Card

 

 

I have been seeing this craft around everywhere and really like it. I think this is a super fun project that makes really creative ideas. Easter has a ton of pretty colors to make fun swirls out of. If you have any kind of paper that you have been wanting to use and didn’t know what to do with it now here is your chance. I found this great Easter project from one of my favorite websites FamilyFun.com

 

 

 

Supplies:

Note card or cardstock folded into a card
Construction paper or other lightweight colored paper
Scissors
Craft scissors (optional)
White glue or glue stick
Paintbrush with a thin handle or wooden kitchen skewer
Toothpick
Colored pencil
Buttons (for added decor if you like)
Glitter (because why not)
Ribbons (if you feel your card could use them)

Directions:

1. First, create a simple landscape scene on the note card by cutting grassy hills and/or patches of garden soil from the colored paper and gluing them in place. Or, have your child draw or color a scene.

2. Now you’re ready to start quilling. To create the rabbit, begin by cutting strips from the colored paper that measure 1/4-inch wide and about 12 inches long. You’ll need 5 gray or brown ones, 3 white or tan ones, and 2 pink ones.

3. Glue the ends of 2 gray or brown strips together to form a single extra long strip. (Note: A toothpick comes in handy for applying the glue.) Wrap that strip around the paintbrush handle or skewer.

4. Slide the finished coil off the handle or skewer and let it expand into a circle that’s about 1 1/4 inch in diameter. Apply a drop of glue to the end of the strip and stick it in place. Gently pinch the top of the circle to form a raindrop shape. This will serve as the rabbit’s body.

5. Next, use a 12-inch strip to make a 3/4-inch circle and use it to create a teardrop shape for the rabbit’s head. Tear an 8-inch length from another strip and make a smaller teardrop for the rabbit’s foreleg. Set the remaining gray or brown strips aside for now.

6. For each of the rabbit’s ears, coil one of the pink strips into a circle and then pinch both the top and bottom. If you like, wrap a piece from the remaining gray or brown strips around each ear and use a couple spots of glue to secure it.

7. Use 2 of the white or tan strips to create the rabbit’s large hind feet in the same manner you did the ears.

8. Finally, use an 8-inch length from the remaining white or tan strip to coil a small tight circle for the tail.

9. For carrots, coil strips of orange paper (6 to 8 inches long). Pinch the bottom of the circle and then pinch the upper circle in two places. For carrot tops, simply fold short strips of green paper in half to form a V shape. Apply a bit of glue near the fold to hold the shape and then loosely coil the ends of the strip.

10. For the finishing touches, add a big round sun to the upper corner of the card. Then draw motion lines under one of the rabbit’s feet so that he appears to be “thumping,” and have your child print his or her holiday greeting inside.

Build a Portable Golf Course

Build a Portable Golf Course

Build a Portable Golf Course

 

 

 

Since it is still summer and the weather is sunny and warm an outdoor craft is a great idea to keep the family entertained!  I found this spiffy little idea on one of my fave sites FamilyFun.go.com.  I think the portable golf course is the cutest idea ever! If you like it enough you can bring the course with you to parties to share with friends and family. You might even inspire them to make a course of their own.
If you are a teacher this could be an excellent project for your students. The children can make and decorate their own courses and get really creative with other things they have around the house.

Supplies:

3-liter plastic soda bottles
Colored tape
Markers
Cardboard
Cardboard tubes
Duct tape
Glue
Paint
Any decorations you want to add to make them more yours ie glitter, ribbons anything lying around the house that could be used as a decoration.

Directions:
1. Trim the bottom off a 3-liter plastic soda bottle, then cut out an arched hole (approximately 3-1/4 inches wide and 4 inches tall) in the base.
2. Use colored tape, paint, markers and anything you want to decorate and number the bottles.
3. Fold a 3- by 11-1/2-inch piece of cardboard around the bottom of a long, sturdy cardboard tube (like a wrapping paper tube or poster/document tube). Wrap duct tape around the two pieces to secure them together, then wrap the rest of the tube.

Conch Shell Succulents

Conch Shell Succulents

Conch Shell Succulents

 

 

I was looking for some summer crafts to do since we decided against our garden this year as our outdoor fuzzy friends refuse to even give the garden a chance and everything we have tried doesn’t keep them out. I still love me some greenery and didn’t want to slack while the weather is so nice. I have been seeing succulents and succulent projects all over the place.  After much searching I have found a project that I love love love!!
Since it is summer and I know everyone knows at least one person who goes to the beach regularly and collects shells why not make great use of them. You have used sea shells as decorations before but why not as a planter right? This is an excellent way to upcycle! You can give the the conch shell planters away as gifts, do it as a party craft or even save it for next school year for a craft project. Conch shell planters can make beautiful decorations for inside or outside of your home. You can brighten up your office even! Here is all you have to do:
1. get and clean a conch shell
2. buy a pot or if you already have a pot of succulents you can use them
3. spoon

Make sure your conch shell is clean and big enough to give your succulent room to breath. You can really use any plant you want if succulents aren’t your thing.  I am really into the look of succulents lately here in NY you don’t really see them very often as decor.  I really like the look of them and there happens to be a wide variety to work with. Use your spoon to gently dig the plant out by the roots.  Once the roots and plant are out add a little soil to the bottom of the shell to make sure the roots will be covered.  Add the plant then the rest of the soil.  Make sure the soil and plant are packed tight enough to not fall out and there you have it! Your conch shell planter is ready.  I have seen some crafts where you can add wire or twine to hang the planter which is also a super cute idea!

 

Shaggy Dog Recycled Metal Planter

Shaggy Dog Recycled Metal Planter

Shaggy Dog Recycled Metal Planter

 

 

Shaggy Dog Recycled Metal Planter is way too cute not to have!! This is great now for the warm weather. You can keep the Shaggy Dog planter out side and bring it in when the weather gets cold. The recycled metal planter is perfect for an office or house warming gift. The Shaggy Dog planter adds adorable personality to your garden, porch or indoor sanctuary. You can even play some tricks on your pets if need be! You can get this awesome planter by clicking right here! As usual every purchase from The Animal Rescue Site goes to help animals in need.

Product Info:Carefully crafted from charm and recycled sheet metal, this goofy canine is looking for a good home. Dog lovers, gardeners, and environmentalists alike will love our planter, handmade in India from materials otherwise destined to clog landfills.
Recycled sheet metal
11″ H x 12.5″ L x 5″ W (27.9 x 31.7 x 12.7 cm)
Handmade in and fairly traded from India

Since Dads Are Often Cheesy

Since Dads Are Often Cheesy

Since Dads Are Often Cheesy

 

Fathers Day is around the corner and you know how they love handmade gifts from their loved ones. Handmade gifts and ties right? They always want ties. Here is a creative and yummo way to show Dad that you love him.

Ingredients:
Organic rectangle shaped crackers
Organic sliced cheeses (you can use any kind even possibly spreadable but that might get messy)
Organic red or green bell pepper
Organic pepperoni (you can use vegetarian pepperoni as well)
Organic sliced cold cuts (you can use vegetarian cold cuts as well)
Organic scallions
Organic yellow mustard
Organic olives (green or yellow)

 

Directions:

1. For each shirt, top a cracker with a rectangle of cheese or cold cut.
2. Next, cut shirt details, such as a collar, pocket, tie, or button seam, out of olives, cheese, peppers, cold cuts or pepperoni.
3. Use thinly sliced scallions or dots of yellow mustard for buttons.
4. Get creative with it. You can make other things as well that remind you of dad. Cut out a wallet or a mug maybe a television.

Dad will get a kick out of your creativeness. It will be yummy too. You can try other foods such as hot dogs, pretzels, bread, ketchup, anything really. You can make a bunch of Dad shaped things.

‘Distant Lands’ Cell Phone Carrier Give Away

Distant Lands Cell Phone Carrier Give Away

Distant Lands Cell Phone Carrier Give Away

 

 

 
The winner didn’t claim their prize so we are running the contest again!! The contest begins today and ends on January 27th.
We love Novica.com for introducing us to super cool stuff made by some super cool people. The Distant Lands Cell Phone Carrie is made by Anchalika Chamnan who celebrates the colorful artistry of the Akha hill tribe people with this stitched phone carrier. Cross-stitch patterns recall the images that decorate traditional costumes. Each is sewn of cotton and lined, featuring a coconut shell button.
All you have to do is like me and don’t forget to share so your friends get a chance to win too! The winner has 48 hours to give me their contact info to where I can send their prize as well as send the shipping costs to my Paypal account. If in 48 hours I do not hear from the winner we will just start the contest over! Have fun and I hope you enjoy! Click here to enter!
If you want us to send you an additional gift friend us on Facebook at The Green Beagle and follow us on twitter twitter.com/thegreenbeagle. Once you have done this comment below and we will send you something special with the Distant Lands cell phone carrier.

Twisted Limb Paperworks

Twisted Limb Paperworks 100% Recycled Handmade Paper and Custom Invitations

I think I have mentioned before how I love writing letters and sending cards which isn’t the greenest of approaches to correspondence but I go out of my way to find the green-est stationary I can get my hands on. I do my part and send out actual stationary only when I need to express that personal touch that e-mail/e-cards cannot display.
While searching for some invitations for a family member’s upcoming baby shower I came across Twisted Limb Paperworks unique designs. Twisted Limb’s handmade paper is just as unique as the company. You should be happy to know that the paper is made here in the USA which is a quality I will never get enough of. The colors and texture are much more fun than you can find in boring old mass produced stationary. Just feel one sheet of Twisted Limb paper and you will immediately see a difference. You can see the care and love put into producing Twisted Limb products. This paper isn’t made for the sake of cutting down tree’s it is an alternative to a necessary evil that will probably plague the world for quite a few more years.

About Twisted Limb Products (you can read more about Twisted Limb Paperworks by clicking here):
■Eco-friendly: We want you to fall in love with any of our designs knowing that they have the highest environmental integrity possible. The paper we make and use is the very best from an environmental standpoint or we don’t carry it. Except for the eco-friendly vellum, which is 30% PCW recycled and processed chlorine-free (best available), all paper that you receive from Twisted Limb Paperworks is 100% PCW recycled and processed chlorine-free; most are also manufactured carbon-neutral. Learn more about our sustainable business practices.
■Artisan-crafted in the USA: Our handmade paper and invitations are carefully made from start to finish in our colorful carbon-neutral art studio in Bloomington, Indiana

If you must purchase stationary or have an event that requires invites do your part and support businesses that support our environment, better yet that support our environment and our country! Did I also mention that they support your wallet by not charging a million dollars for their beautiful products?? Twisted Limb Paperworks goes out of their way to make beautiful, high quality stationary for their customers so go out of your way to do the right thing and choose green! You don’t be disappointed.

Ecoist’s Scarf-Necklace

Yes, Yes I know another Ecoist item but what can I say, they have been wowing me more than ever lately. How cute is this scarf-necklace really!

Scarf Necklace

Scarf Necklace

Yesterday’s News = Today’s Fashion

These absolutely fabulous scarf-necklaces are made from upcycled t-shirts and factory remnants and are handmade by local women. Ecoist offers a variety of prints but I personally can never say no to animal prints in general.Ecoist’sScarf-Necklace is moderately priced but that isn’t to say the necklace isn’t worth the purchase! I am completely swooning over these!

SoleRebels “Whole Rebel” Sandals

SoleRebels "Whole Rebel" Sandals

SoleRebels "Whole Rebel" Sandals

Free Standard Shipping in the US on Orders of $50 or more. Promo Code: SHIP. Offer Valid 4.25.4.28.

The nice weather is upon us which means FLIP FLOP TIME!!!! Sole Rebels“Whole Rebel” Sandals are way cute, go with any outfit and made Fair Trade in Ethiopia! When you purchase a pair of Sole Rebels you will also be saving 1,145 sq ft of Rainforest!

Product Description:

Do good while looking good! These fashionable “Whole Rebels” sandals are organic, eco-friendly, and also help support injured former soldiers in Ethiopia. Founded by Kiru Alemu, Sole Rebels bring a source of hope by creating job opportunities for wounded veterans while creating something that can be enjoyed worldwide.

The soles of the sandals are made from recycled tires, and the tops of the sandals are made from recycled and organic materials in your choice of Blue, Red or Green.

Choose U.S. women’s sizes 6, 6 1/2, 7 1/2, 8 1/2, 9, or 9 1/2 (European women’s sizes 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, or 41). Handmade in and fairly traded from Ethiopia.

Get started with the hunger site today!

Recycled Traffic Sign Martini Glasses

Recycled Martini Glasses

Recycled Martini Glasses

You know I love me some cocktails! Even more so I like them to be pretty! How much prettier can they get than being in recycled glasses!! GreatRecycledGifts.com really has some amazing items in their store. You are doing your part purchasing recycleditems that are handmade in the USA! Each set may vary in color depending on the sign used to make them. The Recycled Martini glass is perfect for entertaining, as a gift or just for you when relaxing at home! I love love love these glasses!!

Product Description:

These cool goblets are made from a recycled traffic sign parts, nuts and a bolt for the stem, and a stainless steel cup. We call them “tipsy” martini glasses because the cup portion is mounted at an angle to the bolt giving the whole piece a tipsy appearance. Don’t worry – your drink is safe!
Each set is hand made in the USA by Tripp Gregson who fashions them from actual recycled traffic signs (legally obtained)!
As traffic sign colors vary – each set has two sign color variations.

recylced gifts