Category: Family

by Allison

Make your own customized cards

customized cards

You can make your own customized cards for the people in your life, did you know this? At cardstore.com  I knew it was a thing, back in the day.  You could go to a kiosk in the mall and make your own card, throw in some MS paint graphics and print it up one beepy line at a time.  I know this because two of my friends surprised me one summer day in the early 90′s with a treat and a special customized card.  There was a random picture and the text ran somewhere along the lines of,

“You need to get better.  Those peaches won’t can themselves.”

customized mother's day cardsI remember thinking it was awesome because it’s not like any card company out there knew I was spending my summer(s) in a steamy kitchen working as (unpaid) slave labor for my parents, canning bottles and bottles, and bottles of peaches.

That’s pretty cool, right?  The card, not the picking, washing, and canning of peaches all the summers of my youth. That part made me resent my mother and her home-making-ness until I got old enough to appreciate the skills she taught me as a kid.

In fact, … >> find out more…

Allison

I'm Allison, founder and editor of Petit Elefant. I run the gamut from granola to glamour and love everything in between. I think the beach is always a good idea, as is Diet Dr. Pepper; on ice. Sometimes I put out the fires and sometimes I start them. Sometimes I really do have it all together. Sometimes my children say otherwise. We just like to keep it real around here.

by Allison

Earth Day and some cool recycled crafts

earth day

It’s Earth Day!  Did you celebrate by planting a tree or clearing a trail or heading out for a nice hike with your loved ones?  In middle school and high school we celebrated Earth Day every year by planting a tree next to a commemorative plaque, and more than once we headed into the mountains for a celebratory hike followed by a picnic.  I love Earth Day!  I really do.  This earth is a pretty fantastic place, and I’d love to help keep it around awhile longer by recycling and getting by with less.  It’s hard sometimes, but I believe in us, you and me and we.  We’re good like that.

You remember last week when I shared the DIY t-shirt necklaces with beads?  And the cool DIY projects from my friends Dana, Marie, Jacinda + Jaime?  They were all made with recycled materials and supplies Consumer Crafts, and you probably have most of the supplies in your house already.  If you don’t, Consumer Crafts has free shipping! all day! today! so you probably want to go order some craft supplies.  It’s for mother earth.

earth day craft

Allison

I'm Allison, founder and editor of Petit Elefant. I run the gamut from granola to glamour and love everything in between. I think the beach is always a good idea, as is Diet Dr. Pepper; on ice. Sometimes I put out the fires and sometimes I start them. Sometimes I really do have it all together. Sometimes my children say otherwise. We just like to keep it real around here.

by Allison

Good advice from my favorite grandma

advice from grandmaGood news is something we’re all searching for today, high and low.  Yesterday was a rough day in the news, and as usually happens when something tragic and horrible takes place, the tragic bombing yesterday at the Boston Marathon got me thinking about my life in a philosophical way.  As I tucked my little son Charming into bed last night, I tried to refrain from weeping as I repeated to him the words another mother, Mister Fred Rogers’ told him when he was fearful,

“Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.”

Charming in turn thought about all the good and helpful things people had done in Boston, and all over the globe during the tragedy of the day, repeating them to me one at a time as he drifted off to sleep.  In the end his little worried mind was too much to handle and he found himself tossing and turning, restlessly fighting for slumber.  We bantered quietly across the hallway separating our bedrooms as I tried to comfort him for the better part of an hour when finally I called out for him to come tuck himself in bed next to me, to find … >> find out more…

Allison

I'm Allison, founder and editor of Petit Elefant. I run the gamut from granola to glamour and love everything in between. I think the beach is always a good idea, as is Diet Dr. Pepper; on ice. Sometimes I put out the fires and sometimes I start them. Sometimes I really do have it all together. Sometimes my children say otherwise. We just like to keep it real around here.

by Stephanie Hayward

Do-it-yourself can desk organizers tutorial

do it yourself recycled can tutorial

// Tin can desk organizers, with cork and polka dots.  So very recycled and crafty. //

Guys, it’s officially SPRINGTIME! Even though its currently snowing in Central Ohio (seriously, snowing), I’m trying to stay focused on the fact that the calendar says warm weather is approaching, and I can’t help but get going on bright and happy crafts like this adorable polka dot cork desk organizer. And the best part? It’s made out of tin cans, which I know you all have  in your pantry. Cook up some of those tomatoes or corn that you have in those cans tonight and then get crafting on this simple project!

do-it-yourself desk can organizersMaterials for Polka dot tin can cork organizer:

  • tin cans – cleaned and dried, labels removed. Don’t limit yourself to tin cans! I also had a giant pill bottle that I used for some extra height.
  • felt
  • cork sheet
  • glue
  • scissors and knife
  • acrylic paint
  • a “polka dotter”
  • large, colored rubber band

do it yourself recycled can Do-it-yourself can desk organizers tutorial

  • 1. Trace each can around on the felt, then cut out and glue the circle into the bottom. This step is actually optional, but I wanted to keep scissors in my tin cans and

    • … >> find out more…

Stephanie Hayward

A designer, maker, crafter, and blogger, Stephanie Hayward spends her days designing buildings in Columbus, Ohio and nights blogging about design, DIY, and (attempts at making) good food at Stuff Steph Does. She lives with her partner in crime, Brandon, and their spunky little dog, Lucy.

by Stephanie Hayward

Easter how to cute washi tape decoration

how to cute washi tape decoration

Washi tape!  Have you hopped on board the washi tape bandwagon? I’ll admit I’m a late comer to this fantastic trend, but now I can’t get enough! Who would have thought there would be so many uses and adorable things you can make with these little sticky strips of colored printed paper?

Because I’m so enamored with this cute little tape craft supply, and since Spring is right around the corner, this week’s project is a quick and easy to way to make some cute decorated “eggs” to add to your Easter and springtime decor! Keep reading to see how to make these Washi Tape Egg Decorations: >> Read More

Stephanie Hayward

A designer, maker, crafter, and blogger, Stephanie Hayward spends her days designing buildings in Columbus, Ohio and nights blogging about design, DIY, and (attempts at making) good food at Stuff Steph Does. She lives with her partner in crime, Brandon, and their spunky little dog, Lucy.

by Allison

Oscar nomination printable coloring page

A page full of celebrities to color for your Oscar party Sunday night, where does one find one of those so last minute, you ask?  OH HAI, I happen to have just such a free printable coloring page for all your entertainment needs right here.

Oscar coloring pagesDo you host an Oscar party?  In my early teens my family started having an Oscar contest every year, probably as a distraction to get through the rotten winters, and the lucky winner got a quart of their favorite ice cream. One of my sisters would print up and pass out a ballot page a few days ahead of the Academy Awards.  The page would be filled with all the nominees, all the movies (foreign and otherwise) and we’d fill them out, desperately trying to win by choosing a mixture of our favorites with a sprinkling of the popular actors and actresses and a few outliers here and there.  Maybe I’m just speaking for myself, but I did win a few times.  Or three.

We still played with everyone interested after my siblings and their friends spread across the country for college and it’s one of my fondest memories.  The end.

The moral … >> find out more…

Allison

I'm Allison, founder and editor of Petit Elefant. I run the gamut from granola to glamour and love everything in between. I think the beach is always a good idea, as is Diet Dr. Pepper; on ice. Sometimes I put out the fires and sometimes I start them. Sometimes I really do have it all together. Sometimes my children say otherwise. We just like to keep it real around here.

by Allison

How to make a Valentines centerpiece

valentine themed vase

Make a Valentine’s Day centerpiece.  Making one is surely at the top of your to-do list right this very second.  I know it’s late, you’ve procrastinated a little, you’re not really feeling it this year (I’m projecting, I do that on Valentine’s Day) but I still want you to make a Valentine craft, spruce up the old homestead for the holiday.  No?  Play with me here, it will end better for all of us.

Learning how to make a Valentines Day centerpiece will: cure cancer, make your mother-in-law love you, end childhood poverty, and make your mama proud.  No, that’s not true, none of those things will happen if you use a bunch of conversation hearts to make a pretty something-something for Valentine’s Day.  But it might make your holiday a little lovelier, and if you put it on your nightstand your kitty will be thrilled with an extra toy to knock over in the night and interrupt your slumber.

Jerk.

valentine heart filled vase

Supplies for a Valentine’s Day centerpiece:

  • a few bags of conversation hearts
  • vase
  • smaller vase
  • flowers

valentine's conversation hearts

This whole Valentine’s centerpiece thing is pretty simple, you just need a few sundries and about 5 minutes, max.  The … >> find out more…

Allison

I'm Allison, founder and editor of Petit Elefant. I run the gamut from granola to glamour and love everything in between. I think the beach is always a good idea, as is Diet Dr. Pepper; on ice. Sometimes I put out the fires and sometimes I start them. Sometimes I really do have it all together. Sometimes my children say otherwise. We just like to keep it real around here.

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by Stephanie Hayward

DIY hand warmers Valentine heart

Hearts are everywhere right now!  It’s time to make some DIY hand warmers Valentine hearts to keep you nice and toasty.

how to make valentine handwarmersIt’s Steph here again from Stuff Steph Does. It seems like as soon as January rolls around all the red ornaments, lights, and other decorations from Christmas transform into glittery hearts and cupids for the upcoming day of celebrating love. Can you believe it’s already time to start thinking about your Valentine? Nope, I can’t either. But what better way to start thinking about it than with a fun DIY project!

The saying goes “Cold Hands, Warm Heart,” right? Well who wants cold hands? I know I don’t! Warm up your Valentine’s hands and their heart with these adorable, reusable hand warmers.

DIY hand warmers Valentine heart (s)

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • 100% Cotton or 100% Wool Fabric* – (2) 3” squares per handwarmer
  • A heart stamp (use one you have or make your own!)
  • Acrylic Paint
  • Rice
  • Thread

*Its important to use natural fibers for these since you will be zapping them in the microwave. Some synthetic fibers can do some funky stuff when surrounded by radiation, so it is best to be safe and stick with … >> find out more…

Stephanie Hayward

A designer, maker, crafter, and blogger, Stephanie Hayward spends her days designing buildings in Columbus, Ohio and nights blogging about design, DIY, and (attempts at making) good food at Stuff Steph Does. She lives with her partner in crime, Brandon, and their spunky little dog, Lucy.

by Allison

How to paper flag banner

how to make paper flag bannerToday it’s how to make a paper flag banner day.

Because it’s January, because it’s literally 7 degrees (F) today, because I need some sun and cheer, because everyone needs a banner in their life, because you’re fabulous.

DIY paper bannerI didn’t intend for this paper flag banner to be a how to tutorial on Petit Elefant.  I was teaching my son how to sew over the weekend, and I decided I needed a paper banner for January because I’m telling you, January is not  my friend.  I need all the sunshine and sparkle and fun I can get in this dark month of the winter, so I whipped one of these up on Saturday.  And then I thought: everyone needs to know how to make a quick paper banner, so you get a tutorial today.  The easiest tutorial known to man, for realsies.

How to paper flag banner supplies:

  • paper
  • scissors
  • ribbon
  • sewing machine

how to paper banner

Step 1: Make a template for whatever shape you’d like to have for your banner.  I chose a triangle because I’m conventional like that (no, not really but let’s pretend), but you could do hearts, squares, whatever your heart desires.  Cut the shape out of … >> find out more…

Allison

I'm Allison, founder and editor of Petit Elefant. I run the gamut from granola to glamour and love everything in between. I think the beach is always a good idea, as is Diet Dr. Pepper; on ice. Sometimes I put out the fires and sometimes I start them. Sometimes I really do have it all together. Sometimes my children say otherwise. We just like to keep it real around here.