Jacquie's Up-Cycle Nation: Eco-Friendly Easter Fun

Easter celebrations are just around the corner!  Although we try to impart the true meaning of Easter on the kiddos- to them it is a time of chocolate rabbits, egg hunts and a time to gather with all the cousins.  The Etsy up-cycle artists are hard at work bringing fresh ideas to the younger folks at prices that make every parent smile!

Teach the kiddos something magical this year with this silk Easter egg kit from BooBahBlue.  Wee eyes will widen when recycled and reusable fabric scraps transform the egg into something eggstra-ordinary! (Sorry- I just had to go there!)

Keep the kitchen lessons rolling by letting the kids make their own chocolate treats.  Vintage chocolate molds lend whimsy and nostalgia to any party and the molds double as kitschy décor. Better "hop" on these molds from efinegifts priced to sell fast!

 Fill the basket with treats they can use year round!  No fear of breakage with these chunky eggs made of recycled crayons by art2theextreme.  Favorite this innovative shop for crayons in every shape and size imaginable!

 

 

Make-believe goes wild with these adorable bunny masks from EWMcCall! Made from new soft fabrics these Easter treats technically aren't an up-cycle but they were too cute not to include!

 

Pocket-sized pals are popular with the wee ones right now!  SesameSeedDesigns crafts these sweet bunnies from up-cycled sweaters and tucks them in a wooden egg for an Easter morning surprise!

 
For more up-cycled Easter treats search Easter up-cycle on Etsy!

LOVE  &  UP-CYCLE NATION!!

Jacquie Wheeler

Hand of Bela Peck

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Handofbelapeck?ref=si_shop
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BelaPeckHome

http://handofbelapeck1759.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hand-of-Bela-Peck/294397987277061?ref=hl

Blog Party Sunday -- Show Off Your Handmades

Welcome to our Blog Party Sunday. We would love to have you show us what you are crafting.

You are allowed to add 3 links to your shops or your blog.

The rules are simple:
1. Follow our blog
2. Handmade items only.
3. You may list up to 3 items each week.
4. Family friendly items only.

The success of this link party depends on the participants so spread the word to your friends, visit the shops,  post about it on your  blog, in a forum or on your favorite social networking site, grab the button and put it on your blog or website.
Just click on the Add Your Link button below and add your items.
And if you would like to add a link to the party you can grab this button below.

<a href="http://www.byyourhands.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy110/ByYourHands/blogparty.jpg">, </a>

An InLinkz Link-up

Witches Stitches – Bunny in a Can

They tell me Spring is here but with the weather we have been having, I truly am starting to doubt it. We had sleet, snow and freezing rain this past Tues. So I figure despite the weather I was going g to make something Spring inspired. I made a Bunny in a Can.
Sounds kind of silly I know but these little guys are quick and easy to make. If you celebrate Easter they can be part of your Easter decorating and after it is over they can be left out for Spring; If you don’t celebrate Easter they are the cutest little Spring addition to your home.

Step One – Making the little rabbit. I used a pattern from Crows Roost Prims. Here is the link to it on Patternmart  http://www.patternmart.com/pattern/12281/BUNNY+Rabbit+Easter+in+a+burlap+bag+epattern+317pm+SALE

It is so easy to make and the pattern has all the directions. The pattern has the bunny in a fabric pouch…I put him in a can. After he is sewn together, turn to the right side and stuff.
Step 2 – Tea dye him by making a very strong tea solution and then painting it onto your fabric rabbit. When he is dry paint him with dark brown paint. When that is dry go over it in places with a little black. Make it look smudged.  Let dry. You can put him in the oven to hasten the drying process. REMEMBER DO NOT leave the kitchen while the bunny is in the oven, safety first. Set the oven on 200 degrees. Pop him in for about 10 min and he should dry.
Step 3 – Take him out and lightly sand him if you want an aged worn  look. If that is not the look you want just skip this step.

Step 4 – Stitch a simple face on him. Don’t forget his whiskers. Now the bunny is done. Set him aside. Next  you need to alter a can.

Step 5 – You will need a can. I used a regular size soup can. After you open the can remove the lid. Make sure there are no sharp edges. If there are use a pair of plies and squeeze them to the can so they are no longer sharp.  Wash out the can completely and dry it.

Step 6 – Spray paint the can black. When it dries spray it with matt clear sealer. Before it dries sprinkle ground cinnamon over the sealer. This will make the cinnamon stick to the can. When you have enough on your can wait a few minutes and then spry again with matt clear acrylic spray, let dry.

Step 7 – Cut a piece of cheesecloth to cover the can. Separate it so it is only one layer thick. Wrap the can with the cheesecloth and then tie it on with a piece of cheesecloth.

Step 8 – Now put some glue on the inside and stick some moss around the top. When it is done put the rabbit in the can. You can glue him in or you can just sit him there. It is up to you.

You now have a rabbit in a can. You can embellish him with a paper tag or anything else you might want to use. I was going to wrap the can in a label that said Rabbit Stew, but I am a vegetarian and just could not do it.

If you love the rabbit in a can and don’t want to make it you can find a listing for him in my etsy shop.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/174313257/rabbit-doll-primitive-rabbit-primitive?ref=ss_listing

Thank you for reading and if you have any questions please give me a shout.

 

Handmade Spotlight - Spring Flowers and April Showers

Who's ready for some spring flowers? I am!!

If you're spring flowers aren't popping up yet, check out this gorgeous treasury of Spring items.

You can find it by clicking here.

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries: Not Just A Normal Hamburger......Recipes

Today I think we are going to look at some recipes. So you might think that a hamburger is just a hamburger, but that is so not true. :)  There are several different ways to have a hamburger and if your family is like mine....they LOVE hamburgers. I follow several different sites for recipes so I thought I would scour the "web" and find some different recipes for the good old hamburger.....:) Here are a few from the sites I follow....

From allrecipes.com

From All Recipes.com is the Big Smokey Burger. If you like that smokey taste in your hamburger this would fit that bill. 

From foodnetwork.com

If you want a little bit of sweet with your burger how about this Pineapple Teriyaki Burger. Just add a slice of pineapple to your burger. 

From kraftrecipes.com

How about this one for your kids. You know how most kids love mac and cheese(and us adults too!). Get your kids to eat their hamburger by putting a little mac and cheese on it like this one from KraftRecipes.com.

From Grilling.com

And it is not too early for some of you to start thinking about those backyard bbq's. Some of us in the north country will have to wait for a little while longer, but those that can start up the grill here is the Backyard Burger from Grilling.com

Makes me hungry just putting this post together. I found lots of different recipes to try out. Guess we will be having hamburgers this week!  So whether you are cooking in the kitchen or firing up the grill outside, looks like there are plenty of ideas to add a little pizzazz to that food stable called....the hamburger. 

Happy Cooking!! 

Colleen :)

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries Blog