Back to School – And Then Home

DIY Easy Kids Art Display

christine — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 19:47:56 +0000

To help kick off our new look, I’m bringing us a fun and trendy DIY Home Decor piece for your littles’ art work! With three girls we are starting to collect a ton of art and with back to school coming, it’s the perfect time to add a personalized art display rack to the house. After looking for ideas for kids art display, I finally decided to make one! I’m excited to show you how it came together so you can make one too. First, let’s take a look at the materials needed to complete this DIY Easy Kids Art Display.

I happened to find this beauty at a garage sale this summer so the hard part has already been done…in that it’s already whole! You could potentially make this from scratch. Find some light wood planks at the local dollar store, drill some holes and attach then with ribbon or rope (like they did on mine). You could also use some thin barn board. BUT for this project, our piece is already set up! You’ll need some paint, brushes, tape, paint pens (see our review here), washi tape, ribbon, screw driver and glue.

Before and After!

DIY Easy Kids Art Display

Here’s the how to!

Step 1. Firstly, remove all the hardware from the board. I used a screwdriver and a tiny bit of force to pull them off as they were glued. Then I pulled off the twine that holds the mini clothes pegs, these were held on by hot glue.

Step 2. Secondly, you’ll need to paint your boards. You can use spray paint if you like, it will give a solid look thats fast and easy. Just be sure to cover the existing rope with some tape, or remove it altogether. I used a light yellow acrylic paint and left the top and bottom white. You’ll need at least two coats, waiting for the paint to dry completely between each coat.

Step 3. Once your paint is dry and you’re happy with the coverage the wording can be added. I recommend “Look What We Made” along the top of the boards. This is very easy to do when using paint pens! I highly recommend them. I will be adding my daughter’s names on the bottom of the board.

Step 4. Adding the washi tape is easy and adds a pop of colour. I added mine to each board on the top and bottom. Just stick it on. I also changed the rope to ribbon.

Step 5. Finally, we can replace the clips and twine. Screw them into the places they were removed from, and be sure to add a small amount of glue to the back of them. I only placed one of the twines back as I wanted to have a bigger space for any larger pieces of art work.

Ta-Da! DIY Home Decor!

And that’s it! Your littles will be so proud to have their work displayed on this DIY Easy Kids Art Display! A special place for all their works of art! How did yours turn out? Any styling tips to share? I’ve always wanted to add one of these to my home and I’m happy I finally did! The girls love it. If you love this back to school decor, check out our new Back to School Up-Cycled Decor Jars! Or if you’re looking for some fun summery poolside decor the kids will love, certainly check out this Beach Decor Flip Flop Hanger!

Happy Crafting!

*Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. There may be a small commission made by our recommendations, and/or link to products mentioned or services on this website. Any potential purchase you make will help us continue to bring you amazing content, step-by-steps and product reviews. Products are not exact to what we use, be sure these materials are right for you!

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Back to School Up-cycled Decor Jars

Vicki — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 04:16:17 +0000

It’s hard to accept but back to school – and the end of summer – is creeping up on us. Whether you’re secretly looking forward to some alone time or you’re dying inside because summer is over, we can certainly all agree that back to school decor is ADORABLE. Organize for BK 2 Skl in a creative way by attaching some old pickle jars to wooden candle holders and store anything from school supplies to candies to toiletries in the bathroom. Try these DIY back to school Jars today!

DIY back to school Jars

What You’ll Need:

Empty jars with the labels removed
Wooden candle stands
Acrylic paint
Paint brush
E6000 glue
Letter and number stickers

Firstly, paint the wooden candle holders in primary colours.

Don’t forget to paint the lids! These will need a couple of coats and be sure to let each coat dry fully.

Secondly, add stickers to the jars for a touch of fun!

All done! Get organized and decorate for back to school.

Love these DIY back to school Jars and looking for more? Certainly check out our Hello Sunshine Canvas or these Beaded Wind Chimes for Kids.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. There may be a small commission made by our recommendations, and/or link to products or services mentioned on this website. Your purchase will help us continue to bring you amazing content, step-by-steps and product reviews.

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Easy Peanut-Free Lunchbox Poppy Treat

christine — Fri, 03 Nov 2017 17:46:54 +0000

If you love bento style lunches for your kids or yourself, you’re going to love this quick and easy Remembrance Day treat. These little treats are the perfect addition to any lunchbox and they are themed to a meaningful day. They are very sweet so you only need a few to take on the go. They also make a beautiful Poppy bouquet when made in a bundle, perfect for the work meeting.

The motivation behind these Poppy Treats is of course Remembrance Day. I try to add a themed treat or snack to my daughter’s bento box with each holiday or event and sadly I couldn’t find anything for Remembrance Day. So, I created these simple Peanut-Free Lunchbox Poppy Treats that will send another gentle reminder of what the day is about.

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Easy Peanut-Free Lunchbox Poppy Treat

These Poppy Treats are super easy to make. All you need are some peach flavoured candy rings and some black liquorice bites. Just squeeze the liquorice in the centre hole of the peach ring and you have a lovely candy poppy. It’s fun, tasty and festive. Not to mention they only take SECONDS to put together!

The other thing I love about this bento box treat idea is that they are PEANUT FREE! Everything that enters the schools needs to be peanut free, for a good reason too. These treats are safe to send and may get your kids talk about poppy’s and their significance.

There you have it! Remembrance Day is on a Saturday this year so we hope everyone gets a chance to show some support, attend some ceremonies and pause for a minute to reflect what the day stands for.

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10 Mix It Up Back to School Lunches

Vicki — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 18:57:45 +0000

Its that time again… back to school and back to packing lunches. Why not mix it up from the old Monday to Friday sandwich routine? We know that packing the same lunch everyday can get a bit boring. So we’ve put together a list of ten ways to shake up your kids lunchbox and think outside the sandwich! Here’s our list of 10 Mix It Up Back to School Lunches:

Photo Credit: Add A Pinch

Add A Pinch – Mini Quiches

These little bites are healthy, easy and always ready to go in the morning. Make them at the beginning of the week and they’ll be on hand in the fridge for quick morning assembly.

Photo Credit: Kraft

2. Kraft – Cheese Quesadillas

Quesadillas are so versatile. It’s a fuss-free lunch that will satisfy even the pickiest little eater. You can add cooked chicken breast for protein and throw some salsa and avocado in the lunchbox to add extra flavour.

Photo Credit: Betty Crocker

3. Betty Crocker – Roast Beef Roll Ups

Easy to make with endless filling choices, roll ups are perfect for school lunches. You can add practically anything but this recipe is a great place to start.

Photo Credit: The Spruce

4. The Spruce – Hummus and Pita

Hummus is one of those magic foods that every kid likes. Throw a few simple ingredients into a food processor and you have a satisfying lunch.

Photo Credit: Dinner Then Dessert

5. Dinner Then Dessert – Mini Pancakes

You can make these silver dollars on the weekend and save them for lunches during the week. Add hard-boiled eggs, leftover sausages and some fruit to make breakfast for lunch. Try these boiled egg molds for a fun twist on the egg shape!! They’re super cute when done and a hit with the kids.

Photo Credit: Inspired Taste

6. Inspired Taste – Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese

Be sure to make the grilled cheese with enough time to completely cool before being packed up to avoid having a soggy sandwich. Warm up some tomato soup and transfer it to a thermos for a warm lunch, especially great on those cold winter school days!

Photo Credit: I Heart Naptime

7. I Heart Naptime – Pizza Pinwheels

What kiddo doesn’t love pizza? Treat them to a pizza lunch with a twist with these easy little rolls.

Photo Credit: Skinnymixers

8. Skinny Mixers – Lunchtime Meatballs

Want to sneak extra veggies into lunch? This recipe slips kale into meatballs! Your kids will never guess the secret to why these delicious meatballs are green.

Photo Credit: Pure Wow

9. Pure Wow – Mac N Cheese Bites

These mini baked mac-and-cheese bites are baked not fried. Easier to make and a bit healthier. Yes, your kids are going to love them, but we wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up in grown up lunch boxes too!

Photo Credit: Jo Cooks

10. Jo Cooks – Mini Corn Dogs

Last but not least is a lunch that will make your kid the envy of the lunchroom. Add some ketchup and mustard for dipping and some potato salad on the side for lunch perfection.

So that’s our list. Hope it will help make this school year go by a little easier and a little bit more fun. (for both you and your kiddos!) Check out our DIY Back to School Memory Chalkboard for more back to school fun.

Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. There may be a small commission made by our recommendations, and/or link to products mentioned or services on this website. Your purchase will help us continue to bring you amazing content, step-by-steps and product reviews.

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DIY Back to School Memory Chalkboard

christine — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 13:22:02 +0000

It’s happening…my daughter will be heading into Junior Kindergarten this year. I can’t believe it, I feel like she was just learning how to crawl and here she is going to school. It will be an adjustment for me as I’m used to having her around. But, the day is approaching fast so I’ve started getting all of her back to school items ready. I started off with shoes, then a lunch bag and backpack. I still have clothing to buy and that got me thinking about the photo I will start taking on the first and last day of every grade and THAT got me thinking about crafting…doesn’t your mind end with a DIY project too?? So, here I sit, writing about my daughter’s first day of school and the DIY Back to School Memory Chalk Board that will follow her and her sisters for many years, hopefully right to their first day of university (if she attends and will humour me of course). ?

This Back to School Chalk Board is very easy to make. The hardest part for me was deciding exactly what I wanted it to say. There was a list of musts – age, what I want to be, and date. And a long list of maybe’s – teacher, school, height and favourites, which has it’s own subcategory of food, colour, subject, movie, song, and more. Since this is a DIY project you can choose exactly what you want your/their sign to say.

DIY Back to School Memory Chalkboard

What you’ll need:

Chalk board
Oil based paint pens
Chalk
Ruler
Pencil (for roughing it in!)

Step 1. Pencil in your design and letters, don’t press too hard with the pencil, just light enough to see the design. Perhaps plan your design on a piece of paper first to give you an idea because once the pencil hits the board, it will be hard to erase.

Step 2. Once you’re happy with your design and layout, you can start ‘painting’. Using the paint pens makes this project that much easier. Just follow the pencil lines and you’re set. Choose your colours as you see fit, have fun with it!

Step 3. Use the chalk to write your child’s memories, name, age and year. Take your back to school pictures with this awesome memory chalk board!

With 3 girls this board is going to get plenty of use!! Another way to use this board is to take some after school pictures. When they finish their school year, put a line through “First” and write in “Last” in chalk. Then write their answers down, take a picture and see how they’ve changed during the school year.

If you love this chalk board craft, check out our Chalkboard Clay Pots which are perfect for planting herbs or spring bulbs. The erasable chalkboard labels make reusing these pots simple! Or if you’re looking for a way to keep the kiddo’s entertained try making this easy DIY Stocking Butterfly Kids Craft.

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