fawn&forest

Just about done with your shopping? Ready to wrap? We have some free gift tags for you to download and print! A fun last minute project. To download (2.9mb), click here.

Best gift pick for last minute shoppers? A fawn&forest giftcard, of course!

Today's project: wrapping paper... it is so fun to make!

Here's how to make wrapping paper with a potato stamp:
1. gather your children.
2. gather some paper (recycled newsprint, brown paper bags, kraft paper...anything that's large enough to wrap gifts)
3. gather paint. acrylic, washable paint is best. i'm keeping with the red/aqua theme and used aqua paint.
4. gather the potatoes.
5. learn how to make a potato stamp here.
6. using the potato stamp, print onto paper. children love the printing part, obviously... so let them have at it!
7. let dry! wrap!

Today's pick are an adorable clique of fabric dolls by Sophie & Lili - fun to play with and quite cozy on your little girl's bed.

Today's project is all about giving, the best gift of all.

There are many ways to give: time, money and things. Have fun connecting with your children on what giving means to them and how you can give as a family.

Here are some ideas:
First Books :: First Book provides new books to children in need addressing one of the most important factors affecting literacy – access to books.

Oxfam America ::  Oxfam is an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice.

Voice of the Martrys :: The Voice of the Martyrs is a non-profit inter-denominational Christian organization dedicated to assisting the persecuted church worldwide.

Soles4Souls :: Soles4Souls has a simple mission: To impact as many lives as possible with the gift of shoes.


Also, ideas for giving time: We Are What We Do, Raising charitable children and an exhaustive list of service ideas.

While I am happy to say fawn&forest works with numerous companies who give to charitable causes, one that particularly stands out is Barley & Birch, who is today's pick.

B&B  makes organic cotton clothes for children, and really goes the extra mile in their process. :: they give 15% of profits  to several carbon-reducing initiatives in order to fully offset the carbon emissions that result from the production of their garments... and another 15% is donated to organizations that improve people’s lives around the world. Truly fantastic.

Keeping a memory book of the Holidays is such a cozy idea and is today's project. I've been keeping a Christmas memory/scrapbook since my first son was a newborn. Some things, as precious as they are, are easily forgotten. Take notes!

Any journal type book will work -- Moleskine, traditional scrapbooks, or even photo album.  I use a Mokeskine.

What to include in your Holiday memory book?
- hand tracings of the kids
- snippets of giftwrap and ribbon
- cards & gift notes
- lists: what you did, what you made, where you went, things you ate
- christmas card list, or new people to add to your list
- list of gifts received, so you can be sure to write thank you notes!
- memorable moments
- photos & drawings
- recipes

With our days filled with all things digital, it's refreshing to sit down and do something on paper.

Today's Pick is something that's fully fancy and instant heirloom for your little girl: Periwinklebloom's Organic Sherpa Capelet.

Have you done your Holiday cards yet? Truth: I have not, but it's in this weekend's project plan...! My plan? Forest Gnome Cards made using my children's artwork. Yes, time to dig into that heap of artwork  your children have produced thus far!

How to make a card using your child's artwork:

1. Determine he shape you want. Any shape could be used including a snowman, snowflake, angel, deer.. I chose a gnome (do a Google image search  to find the perfect image).
2. Print out your favorite image, cut around it to get a solid shape.
3. Trace the shape onto the back of the artwork (so pencil marks are not visiable on the front).
4. Cut the shape out and punch a hole at top.
5. Using red twine, create a loop and bow (your recipient can now use your "card" as an ornament!)
6. Cut a piece of cardstock to the desired size to fit both your cutout shape and the envelope. I used a flat card, but you could also fold the paper in half to create a folded card.
7. Using double sided tape, attached the Gnome (or whatever shape you use) to the cardstock. This will allow your recipient to remove and use as an ornament.
8. Stamp, write or print a greeting on the cardstock. I used a date stamper to print "12 25 09" in red.

Today's best gift pick? Clementine art supplies for your budding artist. Clementine uses only non-toxic, all natural ingredients and is environmentally friendly.

Happy Hanukkah to you as well! 

Wreath making will bring out your inner craftiness and is today's Project. Wreath making is great fun, the ideas limitless. Evergreen wreaths are perhaps the first sort you think about, but be sure to take a look at the inspiration i have linked to below. Paper? Gumdrops? Oragami? Old books?

I'm rolling with an aqua & red color scheme for Christmas this year (remind you of the gifts + ideas page?) and thought it'd be fun to make sparkly aqua "wreaths" for all the (inside) doors in our home. 

I made the aqua wreath (shown above) in all of 8 minutes using supplies I already had. You will need: cardboard or chipboard (something sturdy), glitter, glue and thread to hang (and any additional decorative pieces ... i used a silver dot sticker garland).

Using a bowl or plate, trace a circle on the chipboard. I then added a star-ish points. Cut out the shape, cutting out the inside of the circle as well. Hole punch a hole at top. Using white glue, cover the front of the wreath then cover in glitter. Let dry + hang!

Inspiration? One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

Today's Pick will keep time.. for yourself. I am loving Decoylab's new bamboo clocks. My 2 favorites? The Squirrel and Birds & Branches.

Today's project is capturing your baby's first Christmas! Next to taking 1.2 million photos, making hand print impressions is a special way to capture the tininess of this incredibly special time.

Using Crayola's Model Magic you can very easily capture your baby's tiny little fingers in an impression. Model Magic is non-toxic, non-sticky, fast drying and comes in basic white and works perfectly for this project.

To start, simply roll a ball of the clay, flattening into a circular, organic shape, about 3/4 of an inch thick. Then, take you baby's hand and gently press into the clay. Take a moment to press each finger down and even the wrist to get a good impression. If you want to be able to hang this keepsake, using a straw or small circular object, poke a hole at top.

Place the impressions on wax paper to dry which generally takes a day or so. Once dry, Model Magic clay can be painted, stained or left plain (as shown in image).

Today's pick? Baby gifts. A few of my favorites: Kina Lamb Booties, Dress Me Up Teething BonBon and Area Alma Baby Blanket.

Project Sugar Cookies. All kids love making sugar cookies. Cookie cutters, rolling out dough... squirting frosting.. sprinkles.Eating...

My 2 boys had a great time making the first batch of sugar cookies of the season recently.  Even 18 month old Owen totally got into cookie cutter. Your family is likely to have the sugar cookie recipe you turn to, my favorite is Nigella Lawson's.

It's always fun to add to the cookie cutter collection,  this year I am really loving this Northwoods set. And this year forget all about messy icing! These squeeze bottle are absolutely amazing and a lot easier for little hands to use.

Today's pick fits right in. Tea Towels by Tikoli. For Mom, because it's always nice to have towels that are lovely.

Project Garlands. Making garlands is instant satisfaction and fits every skill level.  Garlands can be made of paper, tissue paper, fabric, felt, sicker dots or sequins and can be sewn, glued, or stitched together.

In the image above (view flickr set here) the garlands were made in a variety of ways. The first garland was made of small rectangular pieces of gift wrap glued in half onto yarn. The 2nd green garland was made of green paper circles, sewn together on a sewing machine. The third garland was made of sticker dots painted silver with a silver marker, stuck back to back with clear thread in between.

The last garland (on the right) is made of organic fabric and baker's twine by Periwinklebloom and can be purchased here


For more Inspirational garlands: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve.

Today's pick goes along with the simple fanciness of a garland : wool felt Crowns by Little Red Caboose.

Nothing quite like making a mess in the kitchen with your little ones as you bake cookies together. Children are excellent cookie makers (and eaters!).... which makes for an excellent weekend project. 

Recipes? I'm a big fan of Heidi Swanson's cookie recipes, view here. We always seem to make a big batch of Grammy's Chocolate cookies and be sure to take a look at Smitten Kitchen's collection of cookie recipes.  Yum!

The boys & I made the chocolate cookies (pictured above) from the book Babycakes -- wheat & gluten free (if you're interested.) They were amaaaaaaazing.

Today's pick will help keep the little bakers clean, a Dwellstudio coated apron which is available in a variety of different patterns.

Have a wonderfully cozy weekend!

Putting up the Christmas Tree is monumental and thrilling. Triple bonus points if you can make it through the whole season without having the tree looking haphazard & un-decorated by curious little fingers!

Perfect for those curious little fingers? It's today's pick: Wood. Reclaimed wood rattles by Earnest Efforts that shakes and rattles, making the most lovely noise.

Project: We've created an exclusive Christmas Tree Coloring page for your little ones (and you!) complete with acorn lights.  Bust out the crayons and have fun!

Writing a letter to Santa is a total classic. Your child's imagination is free & inspired. What to ask for? What to tell Santa?

Not only does it get their  creativity rolling, it also sharpens their writing skills -- a plus!

We have the tradition of taking our boys to Macy's to mail their letters to Santa -- for more info, click here for participating stores.  For every Santa letter "mailed" at Macy's they donate $1 to the Make-a-Wish Foundations. Bonus!

For extra fun, print out a few pages of lined or story paper, here and give your child fancy pens, envelope and a special postage stamp or sticker.

For today's pick: Nikki McClure's Things to Make and Do. A journal that will spark your own creativity and urge you to do all those fun little (or big!) things you have been meaning to do.

Welcome to December! December 1st is so fresh & eager. Projects to be done, time to be enjoyed, shopping yet to be finished... Instead of a basic gift guide this year, I have compiled a project &  gift pick guide. To start? An advent calendar of course.

A homemade advent calendar is the ultimate countdown to Christmas and are enjoyed by kids & adults alike. Making an advent calendar need not take much time. I made the "hanging" gathered-cone advent above in an afternoon, using supplies i already had around the house.

Hanging Gathered-Cone Advent

supplies:
several sheets of pretty paper (scrapbook or magazines, giftwrap, construction paper or newsprint)
glue stick
scissors
several yards of yarn, twin or thick thread. i used about 2 feet per cone.
hole punch or stapler
the numbers 1-24 written out on their own small piece of paper
holiday outings, project ideas & other fun things to do this season written on small pieces of paper
small toys or candy (to be included inside the cones or to be given when the date is chosen)

instructions:
1. print out the cone template, I used this one and followed the cone-making directions.
2. print or write out the numbers 1-24 on small pieces of paper.
3. write out 24 things to do, places to go or project ideas. here is a good list. small toys or candy are fun too.
4. place the paper with the "activity of the day"/toy or candy inside the cone.
5. place the piece of paper that has the number on top of the cone (lightly folded flat at top to "close" the cone) and hole punch or staple together. if stapling, include yarn piece now.
6. attach the yarn by running through the holes and knot off, leaving a 2 foot tail to allow to hang.
7. once all 24 cones have been closed + yarn has been attached, gather all together to create a "bouquet" -- tie all strings together in a knot at the top. you can add a ribbon bow at top or leave plain.
8. time to hang. use the same string or clear line -- determine the length needed and attached to the advent.... and then hang from the ceiling. be safe, you don't want it to fall down!

then...
each day, give your child a pair of child safe scissors (if old enough). let him find the correct number/date and cut the cone free! enjoy your time together doing or making.

For more info on this project, view images in the advent flickr set.

Counting down.... or counting up? Today's best gift pick is the Heirloom Growth Chart by Miss Natalie.