(This is a sponsored post. See my disclosure policy here.)

I am so excited about this personalized Father’s Day gift I have been working on with my kiddos! While I was walking the aisles of the New York Stationery Show I came across a little gem of a booth called Compendium. Umm, yes, their books are A-Mah-Zing! The Story Lines series aren’t just books they are more like activities. I love projects that are keepsakes, crafts, and drawings all in one neat little package! I want to show all of you what we are working on inside this wonderful book. Compendium is also sponsoring a GIVEAWAY of 2 books each to 3 lucky readers. So read on to enter!

You can purchase this book directly from Compendium by visiting this link: Story Lines: Dad Can Do Anything (Illustrate Your Own Book) And when you visit the Live-Inspired website to purchase don’t forget to check out the Story Lines Gallery. “It’s an inspiring and creative place to see, share, and admire artwork from kids just like you.”

Although I am not showing it photographed here, the paper jacket that the book arrives with should be removed and underneath is a clean white cover with the title Dad Can Do Anything and a huge white space underneath where a picture can be drawn! We are currently trying to agree on what should be drawn on the cover and how everyone can work together to draw the picture.

The first page is titled About the Illustrator and the page also features a few questions your child or children can answer about Dad. All four of my kids are working on the book together, so it has been fun to see all the different answers and drawings they are creating.

Like the drawing above. On the second page of the book it says, “This is my dad.” Everyone wanted to draw a picture of Dad. It started out as a fight until we came to an agreement that everyone could draw their own picture of Dad. So the pictures from left to right are drawn by: Calista age 3, Lorelei age 9, Charlie age 5, and Allan age 7. This page just makes me happy! I love seeing all the ways they draw their Dad. Even the 3 yr old tried to draw the beard on his face, lol!

My 5 year old chose this page as one of his pages to draw on. The facing page is blank and we will be adding our own text and pictures. You could also make your drawing span two pages.

This is one of my favorites because we do go camping and we go berry picking, not necessarily at the same time. It is a fun part of the story of what Dad can do though! This page spread was drawn by my 7 year old. We used makers and in some spots we did get a few smudges, but my little ones aren’t good at using colored pencils yet, so I was okay with the smudges. It just shows how they really create, it’s not always perfect and clean! How many times does your child come home from school with marker smudged on the side of their hand?

Are you intrigued by this story line yet? You will have to get the book to see what happens and maybe your Dad does other amazing things that you add in on the blank pages! This page was done by my 9 year old.

And the winner of the sweetest page is drawn by my 3 year old. “And he always keeps me safe.” She drew our whole family, including our dog. See the dog in the bottom corner in black? Then she tried to draw some purple hearts. I know, so sweet, right?

I picture the future when each one is graduating high school or college, my husband will pull out this book and spend a few moments reminiscing about the fact that they created this special book for him. He will take some time to pour over their illustrations and think about how far they have come since the days of markers and crayons.

This the perfect gift for Dad for Father’s Day, his birthday or even Christmas. They also offer a Story Line for Grandma. Well, they offer a lot of different Story Lines themes (did I tell you there is going to be one about Ninjas?!), so go check them out here: Story Lines (Illustrate Your Own Book). This gift also fits right into a tight budget and it is also partly handmade by you and your child! That makes it a perfect gift in my book!

And of course don’t forget to enter to win 2 of your own Compendium books! Enter below for the GIVEAWAY and please read the terms and conditions at the end of the Rafflecopter entry. Winners we be contacted by me. Prizes will be awarded by Compendium.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Handmade Gifts | Father’s Day Personalized Book and Giveaway appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

If your daughter is anything like mine, then Disney’s “Frozen” and Elsa the Snow Queen may be an all day topic in your home. My three year old is in love with all things Elsa; Elsa’s songs, Elsa’s braid, Elsa’s gloves and Elsa’s ice castle, just to name a few. The now-famous Snow Queen inspired me to make this icy looking snow cape so my daughter can pretend to be Elsa to her hearts desire! This post first appeared for Darice on their blog – Live.Craft.Love

Supplies:

• Darice Sheer Decor aqua organza fabric
• Blue and clear rhinestone stickers
• Jolee’s Boutique Dimensional Snowflakes
• Turquoise organza ribbon
• Scissors
• Safety pin
• Sewing machine
• Straight pins

How To:

Using your Sheer Organza, measure your child for the cape length and cut the fabric to desired length. The long outside edges of the cape are already finished for you.

Fold the unfinished edge over twice and pin. This will create a tube for you to thread the ribbon through to create the tie for the cape.

Sew along pinned edge of the cape.

Cut a 20″ piece of ribbon. Attach the safety pin to one end of ribbon. Insert safety pin with ribbon into one end of the sewn tube. Continue to push the safety pin with ribbon through the tube and out the other end.

Once the ribbon is all the way through, center it across the top of the cape. Use your sewing machine to stitch the ribbon in place in the center of the cape. This will prevent the ribbon from pulling out.

Stick self-adhesive rhinestones and snowflakes all over your cape.

Wear your Frozen cape and pretend to be Elsa the Snow Queen!

The post How To | Frozen Elsa Snow Queen Cape appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

This peas in a pod ornament is a fun afternoon craft. This project is just right for the younger set and perfect to gift to an Aunt or Uncle. It’s simple and doesn’t take many supplies, plus it is cute enough to hang on the tree. I often see necklaces that feature peas in a pod that use the number of peas for how many children you have. I thought it would be fun to make ornaments like that too. So let’s get started!

Supplies:

• Green Pom Pom Balls
• Milkweed Pod
• Ribbon
• Craft Glue

How To:

1. Glue appropriate number of Pom Pom Balls inside milkweed pod. If you just picked the pods you may need to let them dry out for a day or so.
2. Loop and knot ribbon. Glue knot of ribbon to top of milkweed pod.
3. Wrap in cute packaging and give to your favorite person!

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Happy Holidays to you and your family!

The post Handmade Holiday | Peas in a Pod Ornament appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

Handmade Holiday Gift Idea

Do you ever have a craft idea and when it all comes together you are just giddy? Well, this plastic cloche ornament was one of those moments for me. I was searching and searching to find some tiny glass bell jars or cloches to make ornaments. Of course I am a little on the cheap side and didn’t want to pay very much, plus I wanted my kids to be able to use them to make ornaments and not feel like they cost to much to let them glue Legos or pipe cleaners inside. Then I was wandering the aisles of Dollar Tree and duh, it hit me.

I spied some plastic wine glasses with removable bottoms and presto this fantastic ornament idea was born. I am certain I am not the first crafter to have this idea and I am not sure why I never thought of it before. But if you are as excited as I am, then run, don’t walk to Dollar Tree and pick up a 6 pack of these plastic wine glasses and some of the plastic snowflakes I glued to the bottom.

(The Santa ornament above has the removable wine glass base glued onto the bottom of the ornament. Genius! You can use all the pieces! That makes it stand up on it own. Don’t add the ornament hanger and you can just display it on a mantle.)

I do want to warn that E•6000 glue is smelly and you will need to help your child with the gluing part. I let my kids pick out all the pieces and show me how they wanted them assembled, then I glued for them. Only my eight year old was able to do it herself.

Supplies:

• Plastic Wine Glasses (mine are from Dollar Tree in the party supply section)
• Plastic Snowflakes or (use the removable bottom from the wine glasses)
• E•6000 Glue
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Assorted items to put inside (birds, Santa, bottle brush trees)

How To:

1. 

   Using either a plastic snowflake for the ornament base or the removable bottom from the wine glass, glue down the pieces you are using to form a scene inside your ornament.

2. If you are using the base of the glass, you can either put it right side up or upside down. Either way will work.

3. 

   Complete gluing on all items that will sit inside the ornament. Let dry.

4. 

   Place glue around edge of glass and stick down to base of ornament.

5. 

   Add glue to the stem of glass and tie ribbon around glue to create an ornament hanger. Let dry. Then tie ribbon into a loop.

    

6. Glue on additional embellishments to the outside of ornament. I got my rhinestone mesh to create the pretty blue bling around the bottom of my bird ornament from HERE.

The post Handmade Holidays | Plastic Wine Glass Ornament appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

Making memories: Share the experience of a unique children’s book from Blurb

There’s something about the holidays—that warm glow from the fire, the fact that you actually get to spend time with your kids (or your friends’ and family’s kids)—that makes it the perfect time to curl up with the little ones in your life and read them a storybook. Reading a totally new, beautiful, amazing book with a child is a treasured holiday experience. And if you choose the right book, every time the child reads it alone in the future will bring back the memory of that time you shared.

If you’re a little tired of the standard children’s book selections in your local brick and mortar store, Blurb has a really incredible assortment of self-published children’s books that you won’t find anywhere else this holiday season. Try a few of these future classics and create some new holiday memories this year. Don’t forget about Blurb’s sale going on NOW! Save 20% on print books when you spend $40 or more

Title: Ollie + Loo
Author: Joni Cooper
www.blurb.com/b/4554150-ollie-+-loo
Joni Cooper brings incredibly original characters to life with brilliant illustrations in a book that will have parents and kids laughing along together.

Title: Edward Hopper and the Carrot Crunch
Author: Mike Smith
www.blurb.com/books/1189264-edward-hopper-and-the-carrot-crunch
Very few children’s books have financial mismanagement as a central theme—we can only assume most children’s book authors have not had the pleasure of meeting a rabbit named Edward Hopper.

Title: My Bug Journal
Author: Hannah Rollings
www.blurb.com/b/1925331-my-bug-journal
Bug-lover or other, this journal is sure to spark interest from anyone who takes a peek inside the covers. Enchanted illustrations, bug facts, room for records and much, much more.

Title: Myrtle & the Scarecrow
Author: Kate Lowe
www.blurb.com/b/4662116-myrtle-the-scarecrow
Myrtle finds solace with a not-so-scary scarecrow?and learns a lot about herself? in this short but sweet tale. The atmospheric illustrations have a little magic about them—we look forward to more from this young, talented illustrator.

Title: The Trouble with Bears
Author: K.D. O’Reilley
www.blurb.com/b/400437-the-trouble-with-bears?pid=Featured
This story cleverly combines a lesson on self-worth with an exploration of different cultures, geography, and history. The talents of a former writing instructor and a visual artist are a winning combination here.

Title: Mylo & Peet
Author: Janyce Portalatin
www.blurb.com/b/4290427-mylo-peet
A graphically pleasing book with a message tailor-made for the new generation of eco-warriors the importance of recycling and protecting the planet.

Title: Theo
Author: Kenny Lim & Grant Gilliand
www.blurb.com/b/781375-theo?pid=Featured
Join Theo on his journey as he navigates the obstacles and challenges of school—made all the more difficult due to his not-so-normal third eye. Fantastic illustrations bring this story’s great message to life.

Title: A Whimsical Tale of Invention
Author: Kara Pooley
www.blurb.com/b/628072-a-whimsical-tale-of-invention
Fascinating facts, inspired inventions, intriguing illustrations, a poem or two—this book has it all.

Title: Ahwen’s Journal
Author: Alice Alder
www.blurb.com/b/4291566-ahwen-s-journal
It would be impossible not to fall in love with the beautifully illustrated characters in this book. Ahwen, Harn, Charwood—we’ll be keeping an eye out for you the next time we’re in the woods.

Title: Marco and the Zombies
Author: Justin Kerr
www.blurb.com/b/1360926-marco-and-the-zombies?pid=Featured
Another collaborative project delivers a brilliant book. With Zombies at the heart of this story—and superb illustrations by Bret Bowers—it’s one older children are sure to enjoy.

Title: Baby Bear gets a Present
Author: Chris Wood
www.blurb.com/b/4387364-baby-bear-gets-a-present
Even toys relegated to a box in a forgotten corner of the house have lives of their own. In this heartwarming tale we learn just how much fun they have.

Title: Penelope and her Puffy Brown Crown
Author: Jasmin Ortiz
www.blurb.com/b/4181634-penelope-and-her-puffy-brown-crown-paperback
Popping with color and originality, this rhythmical story makes reading aloud a real pleasure. Apparently, bad hair-days happen to young people too.

Title: My Best Friend
Author: Nathalie Josephine
www.blurb.com/b/4295225-my-best-friend
In this lovely little book, bright (and very cute) characters illustrate a story designed to help children deal with the loss of a friend.

Title: A Bit Lost
Author: Leanne New
www.blurb.com/b/4275053-a-bit-lost
Delightful creativity elevates the imagery in this standout book, a simple tale of lost-and-found for little ones.

Title: The Goose Girl
Author: Madeleine Valley
www.blurb.com/b/4274145-the-goose-girl
A lesser-known story by The Brothers Grimm gets a thoroughly modern makeover in this graphically rich retelling of Goose Girl from Madeleine Valley. This is one for the older bunch.

Title: The Great Bear Surprise
Author: Carolan Coughlin
www.blurb.com/b/4259737-the-great-bear-surprise
Join Carolan on her hike up Red Plume Mountain where she discovers much more than the view of the surrounding landscape. This is a sweet story of unexpected friendship.

Title: Goodnight Forest
Author: Emilie Dale
www.blurb.com/b/3018559-good-night-forest
See your little ones off to sleep and bid goodnight to the forest with this rhythmic wind-down bedtime book, from graphic designer and illustrator Emilie Dale.

Title: The Adventures of Dude, Squat and Mose
Author: Michael Hall
http://www.blurb.com/b/4720681-the-adventures-of-dude-squat-and-mose
With fabulous illustrations from Gerald Kelley and a fun-packed story from author Michael Hall, the adventures of this brave trio of adopted dogs if sure to become a favorite.

The post Handmade Holiday | Blurb Books appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

It’s Foam for the Holidays Friday again! This project doesn’t actually use foam… but, do you love giving wine as a house warming gift or to the hostess of a holiday party? You can stitch up this burlap wine gift bag in no time and get that bottle of wine all decorated for gift giving!

You can also find more project ideas using FloraCraft® products at MakeItFunCrafts and at the CraftsandCoffee blog!

Supplies:

• Burlap Garland Design It:® Simple Style® By FloraCraft®
• Embroidery Floss
• Sewing Needle
• Ribbon
• Candy Cane or other decoration
• Scissors

How To:

1. Wrap the burlap garland up around the bag and cut off the needed length to cover  your bottle.

2. 

   Fold burlap piece in half. Tie a knot in the floss and start stitching down one side.

3. 

   Continue stitching down the first long side. Then stitch across the center of the bottom and the up the other long side. Knot thread and trim.

4. Slide wine bottle into bag and tie ribbon around top. Add a candy cane or other holiday decoration to the ribbon.

The post Handmade Holidays | Foam for the Holidays Burlap Wine Gift Bag appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

Are you in the holiday spirit yet? We had a great time decorating the tree over the weekend. Everyone is old enough now that they can help hang the ornaments. It’s a special and magical year for us and I love that all of my kids are so into the Christmas spirit. This week I helped my 4 year old make his handmade gift. He stamped these spice bags to give as gifts to his brother and sisters. This is really easy to do, but will keep a 4 year old busy for a chunk of time.

My son was so excited to finish stamping the bags and then fill them with CANDY! I bought some Brach’s classic candy mix, somehow it just tastes like Christmas and Grandma’s house!

Supplies:

• Spice Bags
• Stamping Ink Pads
• Stamps
• Candy

How To:

1. Lay bag flat.
2. Choose stamp and ink it up.
3. Stamp onto bag. Continue to add stamps to build a cute scene!
4. Fill with candy or treats.

The post Handmade Holidays | Stamped Spice Bags with Candy appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

It’s a new week and time for another Foam for the Holidays Friday! This week I made this exquisite glitter tree with a cherub perched inside. You could put a bottle brush tree, a Santa Claus, an Angel; just about anything inside this sparkly little tree. It’s the perfect weekend to start making gifts of holiday decor!

You can also find more project ideas using FloraCraft® products at MakeItFunCrafts and at the CraftsandCoffee blog! Come back next Friday to see what I made using Burlap Garland Design It:® Simple Style® By FloraCraft®!

Supplies:

• FloraCraft® Make It: Fun® Foam Cone
• Glitter
• Mod Podge
• Foam Knife by FloraCraft® Make It Fun
• Pipe Cleaner
• E6000 Glue
• Decoration for Inside

How To:

1. 

   Using your decoration, measure how big your hole will need to be. Use your foam knife and cut an outline of the size hole you want.

2. 

   Continue to work the knife around making the hole deeper.

3. 

   Once you cut open a hole, scrape inside until you get the desired depth and size you need.

4. 

   Paint Mod Podge onto your foam cone. Paint in sections and add glitter as you go. I like to glitter over a pail or dish and then dump the unused glitter back into my container.

5. 

   Paint Mod Podge inside the carved out opening.

6. 

   Glitter the inside of the opening.

7. 

   Use E6000 to glue a pipe cleaner as a trim around the set in part of the tree. Use glue to secure decoration in place too.

The post Handmade Holidays | Foam for the Holidays Glitter Tree appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

My 7 year old son made these drinking glasses to give as gifts to his siblings for Christmas. This is a really great kid craft! This year we are working on a new tradition. I am helping each child make a handmade gift for everyone in our family. Making special gifts makes my kids feel so excited and proud and since he loves to draw this was a natural fit. So you’ve seen what he made, don’t spill the beans to the rest of the family! Want to help your child make glasses like these? Read on to find out how simple they were to make!

I wanted to tell you a little more about my son’s choices of drawings. He drew a bunny for his older sister who loves bunnies, ninja’s for his brother, a crown for his little sister, a deer for Dad and an Astronaut for himself. There was one more glass for me, but he wrapped it so I couldn’t see it! I am so excited for him to give these to everyone! Plus now we will know whose cup is whose and I won’t have to keep washing them because we don’t know who drank out of what cup!

Supplies:

• Glass Markers – found at Michaels or Jo-Anns
• Glasses
• Drawings of what you want to draw
• Tape

How To:

1. Wash and dry glass.

2. 

   Measure your glass and cut a piece of paper so it will fit inside your glass. Use that paper to draw your picture on. Slide paper with picture into glass and use a piece of tape to secure picture temporarily to glass.

3. 

   The easiest way we found to draw on the glass is to lay it on a paper towel in your lap. Once glass is lying flat, draw your picture by following the lines of your paper sketch you see through the glass.

4. Let dry according to marker instructions. Hand wash.

The post Handmade Holidays | Painted Drinking Glasses appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.

Welcome to Foam for the Holidays Friday here at The Craft Nest. I am so excited to be working with FloraCraft® during this holiday season. Check back each week to see what I have created using their foam products! Below you can get the full instructions for creating this tinsel tree yourself.

I would love for you to create some items using FloraCraft’s® foam. If you do please send me a pic and I will post it here on my blog. You can also find more project ideas using FloraCraft® products at MakeItFunCrafts and at the CraftsandCoffee blog!

Supplies:

• FloraCraft® Make It: Fun® Foam Cone
• Tinsel Garland (mine is from Target)
• Sparkly Star Garland (mine is from Target)
• Star Topper (mine is from Target)
• Straight Pins
• Hot Glue Gun
• Wooden Circle Cut-out
• Mini Spindle
• Paint
• Paint Brush

How To:

1. 

   Use a straight pin and attach one end of the tinsel to the top of the tree. Use a dab of hot glue to secure it to the tree.

2. 

   Continue to wrap tinsel around the tree and work your way down. Use dabs of hot glue as you go.

3. Secure the end of the tinsel using hot glue.
4. Start at the top with the sparkly blue star garland. Use a straight pin to hold it in place and add a dab of hot glue to secure the end.
5. Wrap the garland around the tree in the opposite direction that you wrapped the tinsel.
6. Secure the end of the tinsel with a dab of hot glue.
7. Glue a star topper to the top of the tree.
8. Paint the spindle and wooden circle and glue them together. Or use a candle holder or other find from a thrift store as a pedestal.
9. Display!

I can’t wait to show another project next Friday. So come back by next week to see what I reveal.

The post Handmade Holidays | Foam for the Holidays appeared first on Alanna George | The Craft Nest.