Painted Birdhouse inspired by Travels to Eastern Canada

We built another birdhouse for our garden and painted the three sides inspired by beautiful places we visited in in Eastern Canada.

Glass Painting on CDs

This project is a fun way to recycle old CDs and use it for home decor. We love how the colours catch the sunlight during the day and create beautiful reflections in the room. This splash of colour and design on the CDs add interest to a boring space.

DecoArt Galaxy Glitter adds sparkle to our projects

DecoArt Galaxy Glitter helps us add sparkle to our projects without making a big glitter mess. I like these brush on glitter acrylic to add shimmer and shine to our projects and home décor accents. I enjoyed doing this painting on canvas with a variety of different acrylic colours and galaxy glitter acrylic paint. 

Using Stencil and Textured Dimensional Paint for DIY Focal Wall

Adding this textured stencil art instantly changed our space! We did this stencil art using the American decor tropical leaves and Americana Decor Texture in Meadow Green paint. Now, this space has a focal point and an added interest.

Poppy Flower Inspired Fabric Painted Cushion Cover

Fabric painting is a fun technique to use on clothes to add unique designs. For this cushion cover project, I chose to do a bright poppy flower inspired cover.

DIY Chalk Board and Crocheted Heart Duster

We transformed a clipboard into a chalk board using the Americana Chalkboard Paint. This chalk board will by useful to hang anywhere you need to write quick messages in your home or office.

Glass Paint Container

I chose is hexagon shaped glass for this project, so it took me a few days to complete it. I had to wait for each side to dry, to avoid the paint from running off. I like how the design and the colours turned out. 

Suteki Stencil Art

My children and I checked out the Suteki Stencils that are available at Toys"R"Us stores. Suteki Stencils allow children to create their own layered stencil pop art.

Children's Bedroom Renovation with Sherwin-Williams Paint

After picture, still personalizing the wall

Our recent project was to update and renovate the children's bedroom. I chose the Shagreen Sherwin-Williams' Emerald paint for the walls, and the cotton white and creamy white for the ceiling, trims and door.

Fabric Painted Pillow Cases

Children and adults alike will enjoy using stencils to make these unique, fabric painted pillow cases. My five year old son was happy with the results. He really enjoyed painting over the stencils and was very impressed with the final product when we removed the stencils.

Celebrate Earth hour with Wyk candles

Candles have been around for centuries, and it is used today for more reasons than light i.e. to relax, to create a lovely mood etc...

I burn candles often for aroma as I feel the fragrance creates a calming environment. I also like to light candles after finishing up cooking, during some nights when we are taking part for Earth hour or for a change in the usual routine for family nights and to have a little chit-chat under the candle light :)

If you do this as well a reminder :) Always use precautions especially with children around and never leave candles unattended.

After getting to know Wyk candles, I have learned the harms paraffin candles carry. The paraffin candles have harmful toxins in which some are carcinogenic. Some soy candles in the market only contain 25% soy unlike Wyk candles, which are 100% pure soy.

Wyk candles are unique because it is made with 100% natural soy wax made in USA. The cotton wick is dipped around beeswax and is 100% paraffin free. These fragrant eco-friendly candles respect mother nature and lasts 30% to 40% longer than other candles. It doesn't leave soot or black residue.

Wyk candles have a variety of fragrance combination some examples are cranberry orange cinnamon, moonlight orchid, green tea ginger, and happy birthday candles.

Happy birthday candles would be perfect to smell and burn during a birthday or celebration as they have a wonderful cake like smell. We enjoyed the aroma from all these candles. The faint serene fragrance was calming and lasted even after the candles were put out. The smell was not overpowering or strong.

The candles come in heavy glass tumblers and is not hot to touch. 100% soya candles don't come in pillars because it is softer than paraffin candles.

The packaging reflects its simplicity and the friendliness of the product. The original award winning artwork on the package is beautiful and the boxes would be perfect to reuse and store things neatly i.e. crafts.

Next time you purchase candles make sure it is made with 100% soy. Light candles using a gas lighter, not a matchstick because matchsticks produce sulfur. Enjoy the Wyk candles with everyone at home, as it is a safe healthy option for the environment and your children/family. Use up your paraffin candles for this painting and not for lighting.

Celebrate Earth hour on March 31st 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and every chance you get. Happy Earth hour everyone.

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Painting eggs and Joy to share Kinder Canada

We painted eggs using two different techniques. If the egg has been out for more than 2 hours don't consume.

To paint the eggs you will need...

eggs

food colouring

rubber band

kitchen paper towel

water

vinegar

The tie dye method

Damp a paper towel with water and put about a 1 tbsp of vinegar all over the paper towel. Spread different colour food colouring in a pattern. Place the egg and fold the paper towel to wrap the egg. Pour or sprinkle some water over it. Place a rubber band around it and leave it until the paper towel is dry. Remove the paper towel and see the colourful egg.

Rubber band method

Place a few rubber bands around the egg. Place the egg in 1 tbsp vinegar mixed with 1/2 cup water and 1/2 tsp food colouring for a few hours until it becomes the colour that is preferred.

Kinder values the time we spend with our children throughout the year. Kinder Canada has partnered with Children's Miracle Network to bring joy to families in need. It is important to remember, reflect and be thankful for our blessings and help others in need.

Many families have benefited from Children's Miracle Network, check the Kinder Facebook page to read their stories. It is important for all of us to help our communities in some way i.e. donating or volunteering our time and to remind ourselves and teach our children to be thankful, this will make us humble.

Follow Kinder on twitter @KinderCanada or @KinderCanadaFR, they are giving away 100 Kinder eggs a day for 10 days from March 19th to 30th.

Disclosure: I am part of the Kinder mom program and receive special perks for being part. All opinion and rights reserved on photographs and written content Createwithmom © 2012. Please Ask First

The joy of writing with Papermate

Writing is a gift, so I take every opportunity I can to write the old fashion way, using a pen.

Wee can too edible paint

Wee Can Too is a paint product that is safe to use with our infants and toddlers without the worry of "what if they eat or lick it". I know as a mom, I prefer to use products like Wee Can Too with babies and young children because it is non-toxic and is made from organic food based products. It is gluten free, vegan and dairy free so it could be safely used with children over 6 months.

It gives a lovely opportunity for children to start painting at a young age. The tottle set comes with purple, orange, green, red/pink and yellow. The paint is in a powder form. It is better to put it in a container and mix it with the amount of water you prefer; this way you can use it many times. It is a squeezable container, so we can add the water directly and do a squeeze painting with an older child. If there is any painting remaining it can be refrigerated for up to a month.

The texture and the faint smell reminded me of baby cereal. It is better to use paint clothes with the little ones because the fruit and vegetable extracts i.e. blueberries may stain clothing. Although it is made with safe edible ingredients, doesn't mean it is for consumption.

The sidewalk chalk made with edible products would be perfect for us to have fun with babies outside during spring and summer.

This is a lovely product that promotes "Art from the Start" and We Can Too is a finalist at the Crisbie Awards so vote for it and confirm your vote at the bottom of the page. Every vote counts, as the Honest Company will donate a diaper to Baby2Baby. Have fun with your little messy artists and win your tottle set by following their Facebook and tweets.

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Decoration for a dinosaur cake and birthday card

This is made using fondant mixed with a little bit of gum paste. If needed use a toothpick to support the back of the tree. To get this colour of the trunk I used neon orange fondant mixed with a little bit of Wilton brown food colour.

For the leaves I used neon yellow with a little bit of Wilton green food colour. The number placed on top of the tree is cardboard.

This birthday card is made with brown felt cut into a dinosaur shape and glued on to a white cardboard. The grass is green felt cloth cut and glued. Crayon is used to decorate the card.

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Oatmeal play dough

Oatmeal play dough is easy for children to help measure and make. This play dough will keep children engaged and help them become creative.

The oatmeal gives a unique lovely texture.

You will need...

1 cup flour

2 cups oats

1 cup water

food colouring

Mix the dry ingredients and gradually add water to make a smooth dough.

Separate it into balls and add a little bit of food colouring and mix. The play dough stores well for about 3 to 4 days in a ziploc bag.

Reminder: Two giveaways within Canada ending December 15, 2011

Please enter by leaving a comment on

Camelina oil, a healthy oil with lots of benefits.

Fun kits to bake with children for the holidays.

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Fabric painting yo yos for a plain shirt

You will need...

fabric yo yos

fabric paint

paint brush

water

Here is a link on how to make fabric yo yos.

Paint the fabric yo yos with fabric paint to dress up a simple shirt. It is easier to carefully paint inside the yo yo with a paint brush. If needed dilute the paint with a little water.

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Painting river rocks

This rock painting was done by my daughter. She used the paint brush to get these effects, it is probably the way she handled the brush to paint it :)

river rocks

acrylic paint or fabric paint

paint brushes

These rocks can be found by a river or beach, it is also sold in craft shops. For these stones we used acrylic paint. I didn't dilute the paint much, but if needed use water sparingly.

Paint the first coat and then decorate only when the first coat is dry. Children can take a break between painting until the first layer dries then they can put designs.

I put fabric paint on the list because it can be used instead of acrylic paint. I have painted rocks using fabric paint which also last long on the rocks.

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Wooden coasters

pre cut wooden pieces

acrylic paint

paint brushes

water to clean brushes

newspaper to protect surface

varnish for acrylic paint to seal optional

This craft is suitable for 2 1/2 years and up.

These pre cut wooden pieces are available in craft sections in craft shops, hardware stores or dollar stores. If not, can use any cut pieces of wood.

First paint a thick coat in any colour. Let it dry completely. Then paint flowers or anything preferred and let it dry.

Can put varnish to seal after the paint dries, I didn't do this step on these coasters.

Instead of coasters this can be used as a wall hanging by using picture hanging hardware.

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Pistachio shells

This is a fun craft to make with children, the same concept can be used to make wall hangings.

shells from pistachios cleaned and dried

crayola or acrylic paint

paint brushes

paper

tape or glue gun

Collect pistachio shells, clean it with water and dry. Colour using crayola or acrylic paint and let it dry.

Once it is dry, glue them on the paper. It is difficult with white glue, but works well with a glue gun.

If you are using glue gun use it with an adult and be careful.

We used tape here as it was easy to do and fun for young children to be part of the whole project.

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