Friday, April 13, 2007

A Craft Filled Day

"The sun did not shine.
It was too wet to play.
So we sat in the house
All that cold, cold, wet day."
-The Cat in the Hat

Friday was wet and rainy, so we decided to get out some craft supplies. We had a "petal people" kit and some pressed pansies to work with.


In the past for pressed flowers, I have used paper towel between phone book pages but the flowers tend to stick to the paper towel. The cheapest flower press was $15.00 at Michaels but I found a paper refill package for $2.99. I put the flowers between the paper and cardboard layers and then put several heavy books on top of it. The books worked as a substitute press. In two weeks our flowers were ready...






We made 8 petal people. The yellow one is mine...


Emily's doll...


I love how Grace made her doll with glasses! Benjamin wasn't too interested in these crafts so he ate crackers and watched a movie. Two of his favorite things to do!


With our leftover supplies we made three petal babies. A walnut half makes a perfect cradle.


I got the idea for this next craft from a back issue of Victoria magazine. Heidi Garnello makes amazing pictures of flower fairies from pressed flowers. The pansies become skirts or dresses and the bodies and faces are painted on.

It was much harder than I thought it would be!




Grace's Victorian lady is playing croquet!


Four hours went by so we took the rest of the pansies and made a mini wreath picture from them.


I have a huge to-do list for this weekend. I still don't have our winter vs. summer clothes sorted and if I don't get that done I think I will
scream! ;0) We have a missionary staying with us for a few days next week so I need to get Benjamin's closet cleaned out. The garage is a mess and our toliet is leaking!! Thank goodness for leftover Easter candy!

Do you have any fun plans for the weekend?

34 comments:

copperswife said...

"Thank goodness for leftover Easter candy"

LOL!!! So true!! You will get everything done, Kelli, and in a timely manner, too. You made lovely memories with your children yesterday crafting in the rain! I love the pansy wreath picture! Enjoy your weekend and your houseguest.

Reviekat said...

You always do the neatest things, Kelli! All the dolls and petal pictures look terrific. :) And I agree with you - "Thank goodness for Easter Candy" - you don't know how much I inhaled yesterday while watching over Gracelyn and the pups. :)

Heather Anne said...

I think your weather made it's way north, for you are discribing our day here to the 'T'! Yesterday was lovely and I twisted my hubby's arm after work for an outlet mall outing.
It was a good trip (I didn't spend too much money!), but ended up making a very late evening, so while Daddy went to work early, the children and I slept on and on! Very rare indeed! Though the house is a mess and needs cleaning, I see no point until the drywall dust is finished, so we will tidy and do the bathrooms thoroughly, but leave the rest for after the primer is on the walls.

We had to go out in the cold and rain because there was not a drop of milk in the house - Oh for the days of home milk delivery in frosty glass bottles! I'm thinking we really need to buy a cow! So now, home sweet home. A bit of cleaning, a bit of baking, and some crafting or reading! I hope you are enjoying your day too!

Betty said...

Kelli,

Your petal people are beautiful....
Making memories with your children so important.....

Paula said...

What a wonderful way to spend a rainy day!! My girls would just love to make some petal people. I've never thought of that before.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and get a lot accomplished on your to-do list.

Terri said...

Oh! Thanks for all the ideas!
So, where did you find the replacement sheets for your flower press?
Hope it's a nicer weekend there then it is here! We're expecting a Nor'easter!
God bless.
Terri

Unknown said...

Your petal people are adorable. I can tell you had so much fun. The pressed pansies would make lovely cards I think. But I like your people, and the wreath is beautiful. Gotta love a rainy day.

Tracy said...

These turned out so well. I am really impressed! Yes, rainy days can be fun.

No fun plans here...I'm sick in bed!

Autumn said...

I love the little petal people! They almost look like fairies!! =)
I liked the line from the Dr. Seuss book too!

Open Roads Mama said...

These dolls and cards are amazing, how creative! I have a flower press that I put in a microwave for a minute and the flowers are all dried and ready, but I haven't used it other than for testing it out - I'm saving it as my project for making little crafty Xmas picture-gifts in the winter. :-)

Jenn4Him said...

Hi Kelli,
My Grace and I enjoy making those petal people as well. I just packed them for the big move this weekend. Can't wait to get them back out. It is snowing today....

Gena said...

I just love those little petal people! I have never seen those before. Also, your pressed pansy creations are beautiful - I especially like the wreath. It looks like you had a great time with your kids.

As for our weekend - today the girls and I visited my sis-in-love and then, when hubby got home from work, he and I went out to dinner. We made it an early one since there is severe weather threatening our area again. Tomorrow will just be R&R for all of us. Have a great weekend!

Trella said...

Wow! I love the petal people. Your children are going to have great memories and you are so creative.

Sue Seibert said...

This weekend...cold and wet...global warming, what a laugh. Love your dried pansies. I have a thing that supposed to dry them in the microwave, but I haven't used it yet. As for plans...tomorrow is church. Then we are going to Dallas to the Museum of Art to see the Matisse exhibit and to eat a Cafe Pacific with a gal I grew up with in Stephenville, Texas. Last night we ate catfish by the Brazos. Good weekend.

dot said...

Ya'll always make the cutest things! I love the little petal people.

Susie said...

Kelli,
Those pansie crafts are just adorable. The wonderful times you've spent with your children are so important..
We're having bad rainstorms here too!
hugs!

Jodi said...

Kelli, it looks like you had a lovely day! What very dainty crafts you did! Your petal paintings (Victoria Magazine) are beautiful! I can tell your daughters take after their mama when it comes to wielding a paintbrush! :o)

Amanda said...

Our Saturday was spent helping out and playing at a judo tournament. Tiring, but fun!

Tina Leigh said...

Kelli those crafts are so pretty!! I want!!! I have never done anything like that before. We are getting some very high winds right now but NO rain yet. It keeps skipping us. We need it sooo bad. The house always falls apart when company comes!!

Anita said...

Wow, your crafts are SO BEAUTIFUL! Very very very WELL done!

My plans for the week-end? sunbathing! It's absolutely HOT outside and feels like in summer!

Have a great sunday as well!

Unknown said...

Kelli, please consider yourself tagged if you'd like to do the history meme. I had one blogger who had already done it when I tagged her. I just worked down my bloglines list until I got 5. But I'd love to see you answers if you want to play along.

Henny Penny said...

Petal people? I've never heard of them, but they sure are CUTE!

Having Cat in the Hat weather here...

Carole Burant said...

Ooooh how I love your little flower faeries!! They're so adorable!! You know me and faeries! lol Also, what a wonderful way to use pressed pansies! I swear, you are the best craft maker around:-) xox

Jamie said...

Oh, those are SOO cute!

Naturegirl said...

Kelli what a great use of the dried pansies! You have inspired me to do something different with my dried pansies! I think I'll do the wreath!
Susie sent me over and I'm glad she did! We are just one big happy sharing inspiraing blog community!
Have a great day and if you come by my place today wear a ~W~O~O~L sweater.Brrrr. hugs NG

theups said...

Kelli!!!
What FABULOUS ideas!!! I recently looked at the beautiful pansies that are STILL in my garden!! They are sooo lovely and I hate the thought of them dying because they've done exceptionally well this year. I think I will HAVE to press some and decorate!! Thank you for the ideas!

His,
Mrs. U

Julieann said...

Oh, those petal people are precious!!!

I want to go to school at your house:)

Julieann:)

Susan P. said...

The petal people are precious! Oh my goodness, I think that is a "tongue twister:)" Your children are going to blessed with so many wonderful memories because of you! I wish I could have "crafted" with y'all:)

Christie Belle said...

What cute, cute ideas! You have some of the most creative ideas ever! Thanks for sharing the pictures of the crafts. Have a great week!

Anonymous said...

I love the petal babies. How cute!!!!

Lena said...

These are all so beautiful! I love everything Kelli.

Marci said...

These are really neat ideas. I have a couple of notebooks to paint this week for gifts. I need to get on the ball.

Lori said...

I missed this post. Wow! You are so crafty. Those flower ladies are pretty.

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

A friend gave me a petal people kit and I haven't used it yet. Looking at yours makes me want to get petalling