How to make an easy, inexpensive floral centerpiece.

On the right is the centerpiece my daughter and I made together, the one in the middle is the one she made that inspired this project, and the one on the left is the one she made on her own with flowers and she liked the jar closed.

Ya know, being a MOM is just the most amazing thing ever! My kids are forever inspiring me in all sorts of ways. Today I want to share with you a project that was inspired by something my oldest daughter made on her own. I happened to pass by a small table in our garage and noticed something sitting on it that wasn't there before...it caught my eye! It was simple, yet elegant. Muted, yet beautiful. And it inspired me to make my own!! So I asked my daughter to help me, of course she loves creative projects, and she also loved that this was her idea, and I was using it!! So together we created what you will see today. This is a very simple, inexpensive, fast and fun way to use the beauty around us that nature creates to add beauty to a space. Flowers are beautiful coming out of jars in a more traditional sense, but I love how they are inside the jar in this case, it gives it a different feel!

All you need to complete this project is some wildflowers or other leaves and pretty things from your yard and a glass canning jar. Pluck the heads off the flowers and start adding them to the jar. We tried to keep the fronts of the flowers facing out, but they naturally slump over time which adds a different dimensional element that I think makes them even better!

If nothing else, I hope these pretty flowers add a brightness and beauty to your day!!

Our completed project tied with a little spike leaf from our planters.

This is she, who inspired this project and inspires me everyday to be a better person! She is the perfect example of happiness and light. I am grateful everyday I was blessed to be her mother!!

And after 3 days, it still brings beauty to lives and memories of time spent together. The flowers scrunch down over time, but are still pretty.

How to Keep the Kids Busy This Summer Series Continues, Colored Corn Kernel Art Projects

Welcome back to our little "Patch-A-Heaven!" It's officially summer!! And we are loving it. Today I'm sharing a simple, inexpensive art project to keep the kiddos busy this summer. My kids love art projects of any kind. I have seen lots of kid projects using popcorn kernels glued to paper, but I've never seen anyone color them. So we thought we'd step up the art with some color!

To do this project you will need:
Popcorn kernels
Glue, we like Elmer's the old school white glue
Food Coloring
Card stock Paper
Zip Loc Bags and Paper towels

To make the kernels colored, just put about 1/2-3/4 cup of kernels in a Zip Loc bag, then put as much food coloring as you like into the bag also, just dropped onto the kernels. (We liked about 7-10 drops per bag) Then seal the bag, getting all the air out. Then squish and roll the bag (from the outside) around in your hands getting the color all over the kernels. The kernels absorb the colored liquid quickly and nicely. You can lay the kernels out onto a paper towel for a min. to absorb any excess color before using them for your project. And I would recommend that as it keeps little hands from getting colored too. In the pics my kids hands got colored because I let them do the dropping and then they put their hands into the bag to get kernels out and some color was on the inside of the bag. To avoid colored hands, just empty the colored kernels onto the towels instead of reaching in the bags.

Here she is adding the food coloring drop by drop. 

And now she is squishing the bag from the outside to coat all the kernels with color.

Working on his train tracks.

I love the look of concentration on his face!

Here are the kernels in the bag all colored.

Then allow the kids to use their imagination to draw what they want with the glue onto the paper and then push the kernels into the glue and allow to dry.

For my older kids I had them pick an object and then try to create it. One chose the shape of the State of Utah. I did the horse. And my youngest chose train tracks. It's also fun for the littlest ones to fill in a shape you outline for them. I outlined a balloon and my 3 year old filled it in. This is also a fun way to teach them patterns.

The best thing I find about doing these sorts of projects with kids, is that it encourages their imaginations and creativity, curiosity and they want to learn more!  When we were done they wondered what popcorn kernels look like when they are colored and then get popped....a project for another day I suppose!

He was pretty proud of his work!

Hope you are all having a super fun summer!

I had my cell phone there to remind her what the great State of Utah's shape looks like.

Until next time, much love from our little "Patch-A-Heaven!"