DIY Sunflower Bouquet for Easter Centerpiece

sunflower eggs_jsorelle

Martha Stewart’s team sent out an newsletter e-mail with information about an Egg Decorating competition, and although they probably had thousands upon thousands of applicants, part of me thought, ‘why not just attempt a semi-creative egg and see how it turns out, and maybe I can enter?’ Well, it turned out to be a fun project for the kids and I on a cold day, and I like the way it turned out.

I know sunflowers do not typically go hand-in-hand with Easter, but the texture with the ground espresso {oh, and the amazing smell} and the bright yellow color lured me in. Maybe you can follow some of the same steps below and use eggs to create Tulips for your Easter table? If you do, pretty please send me photos.

You’ll Need:
sunflowers
hard, white eggs {they are not plastic, but more plaster and do not open}
hot glue gun
a screwdriver {to screw or drill a hole into the bottom of the egg}
green acrylic paint
scissors
ground coffee or espresso beans {they add the sunflower texture}

How To:

egg sunflower 6steps_

1. Find a sunflower you can part with, and remove it from the stem {I was able to just pull mine off}, and remove all the greenery under the leaves.
2. Cut a circle in the center of the flower – I guessed at the size, and when it was too small, I cut it to make it larger.
3. Slide the flower over the egg and put a little tu-tu {otherwise known as sunflower leaves tu-tu} on it. If it fits snugly, fantastic, and if not, add some hot glue to keep it in place.
3.5. {not pictured} Use a screwdriver or nail and hammer to put a small hole in the bottom side of one egg. I did this, with not much muscle strength.
4. Pull all the leaves back and hold them with your hand. Add a generous, but not too heavy, amount of Modge-Podge.
5. Gently rub the Modge-Podge covered egg in espresso or ground coffee beans.
6. Insert a toothpick in the hole, and paint green acrylic paint on the bottom of the egg. Then place in cardboard or styrofoam to let it dry.

Once it’s dry, add the egg flower back to the stem {mine had little stems to keep them in place}.

You will have an egg-stra special centerpiece for your Easter party!!

diy egg sunflower centerpiece_jsorelle

DIY egg sunflower_jsorelle

diy egg sunflower_jsorelle

{images via j. sorelle}

DisneyNature Bears Party Ideas for Kids

disney nature bears party_jsorelle

On April 18, 2014, we celebrate furry, cuddly and powerful BEARS with the release of Disneynature’s Bears.

With the magnificent Alaska as the backdrop, Disneynature Bears follows a mother and her cubs as they emerge from a long winter’s nap and discover the life, dangers, beauty and lifelong lessons of being a bear…and the same struggles, joys and strength it takes for a parent, bear or human, to raise a cub.

My kids are thrilled to learn more about the world of bears, and watch the two cubs discover the world around them. So, in honor of Earth Day and Disneynature Bears, we celebrated with a fun bear party…bear party_jsorelle

Furry stuffed animal bears, honey {a bears favorite treat}, berries {also a bears favorite}, yogurt and granola, Teddy Graham’s and books all about bears served as the perfect backdrop to our rustic celebration of bears. The kids and I spent the afternoon painting stencils on sliced wood from a tree trunk in our backyard, otherwise known as the Rocky Mountains, to spell BEARS, and of course, their initials. Then, the kids and I went on an Outdoor Scavenger Hunt {you can go on a hunt too with our amazing FREE PRINTABLE} and also an Indoor Scavenger Hunt {also available here in a FREE PRINTABLE} to find the ‘bear’ party awaiting us in the kids room.bears party_jsorelle

bears party_jsorelle

granola at bears party_jsorelle

bears party snacks_jsorelle

cinnamon bears at bears party_jsorelle

bears party_jsorelle

bears party

bears party_jsorelle

bears party_jsorelle

bears party_jsorelle

bears party_jsorelle

bears scavenger hunt 1

bears scavenger hunt_jsorelle

I hope you celebrate the beauty and majesty in the earth that will live, breathe and play in everyday on April 18 and every day after. And, I hope you check your local listings to discover a world of bears that awaits you!

Thanks for Jenna {sister and also owner of Fleur de Lis, a paperie} for creating the Scavenger Hunt printables for us to enjoy!!

{images via j. sorelle}

easter baskets

We’ve gathered some of our favorite gifts for the kids Easter baskets this year. Hop to it!

easter_girls basket_jsorelle

FOR THE PRETTY LITTLE LADIES
1. Pink Bunny Coin Purse, Paper-Source
2. Tropical Romper, The Children’s Place {I just bought this for my daughter – LOVE}
3. LIL tOOders Superhero Custom Cape – enter a giveaway for a free cape {including an Anna or Elsa cape from Frozen} here.
4. Melissa and Doug Bright Flashlight, Yo-Yo
5. Sunglasses, Gap
6. Melissa and Doug Watercolor Paint Set, Amazon
7. Bunny Jute Bin, Land of Nod
8. Frozen Snow Wand, Target

easter basket ideas for boys

FOR THE HANDSOME GENTS
1. Aviator Sunglasses, Gap
2. Swimways Torpedo Bandits, Amazon
3.  LIL tOOders Superhero Custom Cape – enter a giveaway for a free cape here.
4. Woosh Frisbee, Amazon
5. Green Puppet on a Stick Pen, Amazon
6. Galvanized Bucket, Pottery Barn
7. Melissa and Doug Habitats Reusable Sticker Pad, Amazon
8. A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee, Amazon

{images via The Children’s PlaceGap, Target, LIL tOOders, Amazon, Yo-Yo, Paper-Source, Pottery Barn, Land of Nod}