Garden Projects For Kids: How to Make a Seed Tape

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If you’re looking for a fun rainy day garden project to do with your kids, or if you are a new gardener and are concerned about planting tiny seeds like carrots and lettuce in the garden, I have the perfect project for you.

Seed tape.

To make a seed tape you will need to gather the following items:

  • Toilet Paper
  • Flour
  • Water
  • Seeds
  • Bamboo Skewer or Toothpick

Before you start you’ll need to figure out how long you want to make your seed tape.  My garden boxes are 8 feet long so I used 8 feet of toilet paper.  The great thing about seed tape is you can make it as long {or as short} as you need to accommodate your garden space.

For this demonstration I am using carrot seeds, however homemade seed tapes can be made with any type of small seeds.

Step 1

Make a simple paste out of flour and water.  You want the “paste” to be the consistency of glue.

Step 2

Use a bamboo skewer or toothpick to carefully dab a little paste onto the toilet paper.

Step 3

Add 2 seeds to the dab of paste. I like to use 2 seeds just in case one does not germinate for some reason {blame it on the OCD}. If you are unsure as to how far apart to paste your seeds, simply look at the back of the seed packet for instructions.  Most carrot seeds need to be planted 3″ apart.

Once the paste has dried, roll up your seed tape and head out to the garden.

Lay the seed tape down and cover with dirt {refer to your seed packet to find out how deep}. For carrots cover with 1/8″ of soil. Water and care for your newly planted seeds just as you would had they been sowed directly in the garden. The toilet paper should disolve in about a week.

For more simple garden ideas to do with kids, check out Kids in the Garden: Growing Plants for Food and Fun. Amazon has it on sale right now for only $10.85.



Simple Crafts & Recipes For Easter

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Photo Credit

Here is a quick little re-cap of all the Easter crafts and recipes I have blogged about over the past 2 weeks. I hope you have a wonderful Easter, and remember, be kind to the chocolate bunnies.


Easy Easter Craft Project For Kids: Peeps

Easter Treats in Glass Jars

How to Dye Eggs With Natural Ingedients

Baked Pineapple

Sweet Potato Casserole

Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots

 The Best Carrot Cake I’ve Ever Made

Have a wonderful Easter.
Mavis

How to Make an Easter / Spring Centerpiece Using Fresh Flowers

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I was able to make this daffodil centerpiece in under 10 minutes.  By simply using the supplies I had on hand, I was able to create a gorgeous floral arrangement for my dining room table without spending a dime. Thank you Mother Nature, I love you!

Here is how I made it:

Step #1

Fill a mason jar 2/3 full with water and set the jar in a taller/wider vase.

Step #2

Add flowers.

Step #3

Gather moss. If you live in the northwest you can probably just walk out your back door and find some like I did.  If not, head on over to Joann Fabrics, Michael’s, or even Home Depot and pick up some dried moss and simply hydrate it.

Step #4

Carefully push the moss down in between the mason jar and the vase.  Make sure the moss covers all interior walls of the vase so the mason jar is not showing.


Step #5

Now comes the hard part.  Do I want to keep this for myself and display it on my kitchen table?  Or bring it to Easter Dinner?

Want to learn more about floral arranging?  Amazon has Fresh Flower Arranging By DK Books on sale for $17.85.  The book is filled will tons and tons of step by step directions and awesome photos.  Go HERE to take a peek.

Last Minute Easter Idea: Treats in Glass Jars

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If you can’t find a basket for all those Easter treats, forget about it.  Use what you have.  Most days these glass canisters are sitting on my counter filled with cookies.  But not this week.  After my kids polished off the last batch of cookies I made, I washed the canisters out and filled them up with a few treats the Easter Bunny had dropped off.

No basket?  No problem.

Easy Easter Craft: How to Dye Eggs With Natural Ingredients ~ No Dyes!

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how to dye easter eggs naturally

A few weeks ago I read a short little blurb in Bon Appetit Magazine about how to dye eggs using natural ingredients.  I was fascinated.  I guess it never crossed my mind since those fizzy colored tablets they sell in grocery stores this time of year are so inexpensive.  Who knew you could use vegetables and spices to dye eggs?

As I sat there I wondered, does it really work?  Did the pilgrims know about this?  Holy canolies, what have I been missing all these years.  My friend Jane is even doing it.  Where have I been?  Under a rock?

Since my chickens lay brown & green eggs I decided to splurge last week and buy 2 dozen white eggs at the store.  I was worried if I used the brown eggs the dye would not be as vibrant, and in the end, I’m glad I went the white eggs {even if they were not as fresh as homegrown laid eggs}.

vinegar

The process is surprisingly easy. Here are the simple directions:

Blue Eggs: Combine 2-3 cups chopped red cabbage, 3 tablespoons of vinegar and 4 cups of water and simmer for 3o minutes.  Drain colored water in a large bowl and steep the desired number of hard-boiled eggs in the colored water for 3 hours {less time if you don’t want dark blue eggs}.

Yellow Eggs: Combine 2 teaspoons turmeric, 3 tablespoons of vinegar and 4 cups of water and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.  Remove from heat and steep the desired number of hard-boiled eggs in the colored water for 2 hours {less time if you don’t want dark yellow eggs}.

Red Eggs: Combine 1 cup shredded beets {2-3 beets} , 3 tablespoons of vinegar and 4 cups of water and simmer for 3o minutes.  Drain colored water in a large bowl and steep the desired number of hard-boiled eggs in the colored water for 3 hours {less time if you don’t want dark pink eggs}.

blue eggs

*Keep in mind that the longer you keep your eggs in the colored water, the deeper your eggs shells will turn out.

naturally dyed easter eggs

Dry your eggs on a cooling rack.  Once the eggs have completely dried, use a paint brush to brush away any extra bits. See, I told you it was easy.

how to dye easter eggs naturally

Have you done this before?  What did you think?  Pretty easy huh?

Looking for the ceramic egg rack featured in this photo? Amazon has it HERE.

Easy Easter Craft Project For Kids: Peeps

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easy easter crafts for kids peeps

~Happy Easter to one of my favorite PEEPS~

Last night The Girl Who Thinks She’s A Bird and I whipped up a few Easter goodies for her favorite peeps. This was such an easy and inexpensive craft project I just had to share.

All you need are a few “snack size” ziplock baggies, a few boxes of brightly colored marshmallow peeps, and this free printable peeps topper.

Simply place 1 row of peeps in a snack size ziplock bag and close it tight.  Then staple {or glue} the printable peeps topper and you are good to go.

Mavis

How to Make a Party Hat for New Years Eve

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I am a visual learner. I would rather see how to make a party hat rather than read how to make a party hat. So I decided to load this “How To” demonstration post with a ton of pictures.  Party hats are surprisingly easy to make.  They can be simple or extravagant and beauty is in the eye of the beholder.  [Read more...]

5 Days Of Frugal Christmas Gifts: How To Make A Conversation Jar

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What can you make with a paper bag, a pickle jar and a fine tip marker?  A conversation jar of course! [Read more...]

5 Days Of Frugal Christmas Ideas: How To Make A Candy Train

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If you are looking for a fun craft project to make over winter break, this candy train is an easy one to do with the kids.  The Girl Who Thinks She’s A Bird has been making these sweet little candy trains and giving them as gifts for her friends for as long as I can remember.

 

Random Photo Of The Day: Arts & Crafts Gone Bad!

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Question #1 Who makes this crap?

Question #2 Who buys this crap?

Recipes Garden Frugal Canning Chickens Travel