Wildflower Crown

Amid days of endless rain and even a few snowflakes, spring has made a brief appearance.  One of our favorite spring past times is making wildflower crowns.

The best part of making this crown is gathering the supplies.  

Take the weeping willow branches and begin to wind them into a crown shape.  Twist and wind each additional weeping willow branch to help maintain and secure the shape.

When your crown is complete, adorn it with wildflowers.

Then crown a wildflower princess.

I hope spring sticks around a little while longer, I think I want to make a wildflower crown for myself, too!

Carrot Boutonniere (or pin)

Easter accessories don't have to be just for girls.  This carrot boutonniere could be a delicious and dapper addition to any little boy's Easter outfit.

Want to make your own carrot boutonniere?

Grab the following supplies.

 Using your orange fabric, cut out a triangle shape.

Don't let this next step intimidate you, even though it requires using one of these.

Fold the orange fabric in half, right side facing each other.  Leaving a 1/4 of an inch seam allowance, sew down along the open side from the top to the tip of the carrot.  Turn your carrot right side out and fill with stuffing.

Using your needle and thread, 1/2 inch down from the open end, do a running stitch around the entire top of the carrot.  Tuck the excess fabric into the top of the carrot and pull the thread to loosely close the top.

Grab your ribbon and cut into 3 1/2-4 inch strips.  I used 8-9 loops per carrot.  Fold over and group as a cluster of loops.  *Tip:  use a glue stick to help secure your loops and create your cluster.

Place your ribbon loops into the top of the carrot, pull the running stitch string to tighten the loosely closed carrot top fully closed.  Run a few laterally stitches through the cluster of ribbon loops and carrot fabric to fully secure them into place. 

Add a little grosgrain ribbon around the stem for an extra spring touch.

Then pin it to the handsome little man in your life, or in this case, a fellow blogger's handsome little man.

Thrive 360 Living's sweet little boy.

Or just pretend to eat it.

Jelly Bean Jewelry

Spring may not be in the air BUT Spring candy certainly is.  Spring candy in all its glorious bright and cheerful colors.  Colors that could be the perfect accessory, even to winter outfits.

Accessorizing is something we know all about so we decided to do just that and make colorful (and edible) bracelets...out of jelly beans!

Do you want to make your own delicious piece of jewelry?

Gather the following supplies:  jelly beans, string and a needle.

If you opt to make a bracelet, make sure you cut your string longer than you would expect, the jelly beans will take up more bendable space then you might think.

Push your needle through the jelly bean.

*This proved more difficult than I had expected.  Perhaps the generic jelly beans I bought were a bit stale?  Regardless, I heated my jelly beans up in the microwave for a few seconds (about 8) to soften them enough to get the needle through.

Continue stringing your jelly beans onto the string to the design and size of your liking.  When you're finished, tie it around your little fashionista's wrist.

  No matter how fashionable it is, the best part is eating it!