Bunny Containers

 I save all the cardboard containers the oatmeal comes in.  They're pretty handy for storing things after the oatmeal has long since been enjoyed. I also use them for giving cookie gifts-- the smaller containers hold a perfect dozen and I draw pictures and silly quotes on the containers themselves. Some brands have their designs printed right on the cardboard, which is easily painted over with white paint.  Another brand from a local food store has a paper wrapper, which I love, because after I take off the wrapper, I'm left with a plain white container!

Before Christmas, I saw a cute idea using the oatmeal containers as a gift box-- draw or paint a snowman body, then use a scrap of fabric for a scarf and another larger scrap for making a knit cap for the snowman to wear. Fill with candy or small gifts, as you would a Christmas stocking. What a fun idea!  Never got around to making them last Christmas, but here's my version for Easter:

Bunny containers!!

So easy to make and the kids had a lot of fun drawing faces and doing the ears. I looked online for bunny face patterns and there are hundreds of different designs you can use. Pick your favorite and draw away! I picked one out and drew it on a piece of paper, then told the kids to make a face like that and they personalized them with eyelashes or bow ties.

 We glued cotton balls to the back for tails and ears were stapled.

We have family coming over for Easter, so these will all be given away after I've filled them with goodies-- candy and little gifts. Grandparents and Aunts and Uncles will also get a picture of the kiddos inside their containers.

It's not too late to start saving your oatmeal containers. Buy a bunch and eat oatmeal for breakfast everyday or make granola or a bunch of oatmeal cookies.  It takes one container for one batch of cookies, so if you need 3, make 3 batches! This was a fun little project for the kids and a great way to recycle nifty little containers. Let me know if you make any!  

Snowstorm: Winter 2013

Nearly every snowstorm predicted for our area this Winter was projected into something much worse than what actually came. The weather-reporter would announce drastic drops in temperatures; slick, icy roads; power outages due to the massive amounts of snow; or warnings to stock up on supplies in case you're snowed in!  Almost every time, the resulting storm just gave us a dusting, or a light coating of ice that melted away within hours. 

So surely, you couldn't blame us for scoffing at the recent announcements for a snowstorm heading our way.  Just in case, I did check the pantry and the fridge, and made sure we had plenty of food and batteries--we did.  But we didn't give the upcoming storm any more thought. We went out to town to run errands and stopped at the thrift store to donate a few bags of clothing, and while there, I spotted a metal saucer for sledding! Couldn't pass that up, but I figured it would be put away until next Winter.

Imagine our surprise when we woke up to this! A foot of snow and still coming down! Oh my!

And the snow was perfect for sledding-- we got to use the metal saucer after all! It was also perfect for making forts and we used an old litter bucket for making snow "bricks" and the kids were out there for hours working on their fort!

Good thing I hadn't yet put away the snow clothes, the boots, mittens, and hats. For one last time (perhaps), the kids were happy to don the many layers of warmth and dash outside to the white world to play. For one last time (I hope), I have to hang up all the discarded wet socks and mittens, pull turned out sleeves right side out so they'll dry, pick up wet pants and shirts. Oh, one last hurrah for Old Man Winter!

Today, the day after, the temperatures rose to above 60 and just as quick as the snow came, it all started to melt away. A foot of snow doesn't go away so quick, but as the kids have discovered, it sure gets heavy and watery and clothes get soaked a lot quicker when the snow they're playing with is melting snow and not frozen snow. The sun shone bright and warm and the whole house lit up with the light reflecting off the snow and into all the windows-- an early taste of the Sun! How I miss those sunny days! 

By the end of the weekend, if the weather reports are correct, the snow will be gone and all that's left will be puddles and muddy foot-prints all around the house!