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    DIY Bookmark Tassels

    Brittany
    -
    5
    DIY Bookmark Tassels

    4 techniques for making tassels and poms for bookmarksMany of you may not know that we have a monthly book club here at Lars. If you’re a fan of reading or want to start reading more, check it out! In addition to discussion questions, we offer a coordinating art print and bookmark by a different illustrator each month (See September’s book art here). Let me tell you, each illustrator always creates the most lovely illustrations that capture the book of the month perfectly. Make sure to check out our Book Club archives to take a peek. For the bookmarks, we like to add a small tassel or bobble to finish it off, but we’ve never shown you how to create it for yourself Shame on us! So today we’re going through 10 varieties of DIY bookmark tassels and pom poms that you can make to jazz up your bookmarks! Don’t stop there though, think key chains, and clutches, and anything else that needs a little something extra!

    Check out all the tassel variations

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    How to press flowers in 3 methods

    Brittany
    -
    3
    How to press flowers in 3 methods

    I’m so excited to share this tutorial on how to press flowers with Beci Orpin, one of the most inspiring creatives I know. She’s an artist and illustrator who makes incredible crafts, and I feel lucky to get to share some of her expertise with you.

    Press Flowers with Beci

    I am an avid collector of many things, but old books are one of my favourites – I rarely walk out of an op shop without one. Quirky typesetting and old-school printing aside, one of the things I love about second-hand books is the chance of discovering a little surprise inside them. I’ve found many treasures tucked inside those yellowing, musty pages, including some flattened Easter-egg wrappers from the 1940s, a birthday note from an aunt to a favourite niece and, best of all, several books containing some beautiful pressed flowers.

    When I was a child I used to press flowers with my grandma, and I remember never having enough patience to wait the weeks and weeks before the flowers were completely dried and pressed. Luckily for me, while I was researching this project, I discovered that there are several methods of pressing flowers, some of which allow you to cheat, so you don’t have to wait forever and ever before they are ready. This is good news for me, as I still have as much patience as a five-year-old.

    Sunshine Spaces by Beci OrpinYOU WILL NEED:

    • flowers/foliage: ones with flat petals are best (see a list here. I like pansies, geraniums, flowering weeds – anything pretty and dainty
    • book/iron/microwave: what you use will depend on which method you choose.
    • paper or a card: try blotting paper, coffee filter paper, printer paper, several layers of tissue paper

    NOTES:

    1. Flowers should preferably be freshly picked, to prevent browning.
    2. Don’t pick your flowers too early in the morning, as they will still have dew on them. The extra moisture from the dew may cause them to go mouldy during the pressing process.
    3. Flowers should have just bloomed or be about to bloom. If they are too mature, they will lose their petals.
    4. If the flowers have obvious stamens, remove them before pressing.

    Method 1, Pressing in a book:

    (This is the easiest but slowest method; I found it produced the best results.)

    Open up your book and place a sheet of paper on one side of the book. Liquid from the flowers can leach into the surrounding pages, so use an old book or several sheets of paper to prevent this. TIP: Don’t use a phone book, as the paper is too flimsy.

    Arrange your flowers on the piece of paper, making sure the flowers aren’t overlapping (unless you want them to). Cover with another piece of paper (or fold the first piece of paper in half) and close the book.

    Weight down the book by placing some heavy books or bricks on top of it.

    Change the papers after 1 week, then leave for a few more weeks until the flowers are completely dry. Try to resist the temptation to check them (unless changing the paper), as this can disturb the flowers.Sunshine Spaces by Beci Orpin

    Method 2, Ironing:

    Flatten the flowers between pieces of paper in a book, following steps 1–3 (left). Leave the flowers to dry for however long you can manage (I recommend at least 1 day). Empty any water out of the iron (you don’t want any steam), and set the heat to the lowest setting.

    Remove the flowers from the book, leaving them sandwiched between the two pieces of paper, and press them with the iron for 10–15 seconds. You don’t need to move the iron around, just press it on the paper.

    Method 3, Microwave:

    Arrange the flowers in the book between two pieces of paper, following steps 1–2 (left). Make sure that your book has no metal in the spine or type before putting it in the microwave. Place in the microwave and zap for 30 seconds. Take the book out and let it cool by opening the pages to let the steam out (don’t open the pages that have the flowers enclosed). TIP: Have a couple of books on the go at once, so you can have one heating in the microwave while the other one is cooling down.

    Once the book is cool, zap it in the microwave again. Repeat until the flowers are almost dry (you may need to do this about four or five times: smaller flowers will dry out quicker), taking care you don’t overcook them, as the flowers will turn brown.

    What To Do With Pressed Flowers

    Learning to press flowers is just the beginning! Once you’ve pressed your flowers there are so many great crafts you can do with them.

    Adding pressed flowers to a handmade card or invitation adds a whimsical touch. You can also place pressed flowers between two sheets of glass and then frame them for a garden-inspired wall decoration, as pictured here.

    Sunshine Spaces by Beci Orpin

    This gorgeous pressed flower tray made by Jessica Pezalla of Bramble Workshop is an unexpected and delightful project to make the color from your garden last.

    And don’t forget about pressing flowers when next Easter comes around! Then you can use our tutorial for dried flowers on Easter eggs. The possibilities are limitless.

    Another floral project I love is this DIY flower pounding on fabric. It makes such beautiful design and the way the flowers transfer their color is delightful.

    Sunshine Spaces by Beci Orpin

    If you use this tutorial to press flowers, I would love to see what you make! Share with us with the hashtag #LarsFlowerMonth.

    You can purchase Sunshine Spaces here 

    Keep reading! See more of our book recommendations here.

    Photography by Chris Middleton  |  Book by Beci Orpin 

    Sunshine Spaces by Beci Orpin

    DIY Bunny Party Hats

    Brittany
    -
    0
    DIY Bunny Party Hats

    Disclosure: This post is brought to you by the Tic Tac® brand. I received compensation to write this post through the Tic Tac Pack Program; however, all opinions expressed are my own.

     

    As you know, it’s my personal belief that all holidays deserve a party, and Easter is no exception. That’s why I came up with this DIY bunny party hat to celebrate in true bunny style. They’re perfect for an Easter hunt or sporting at the dinner table. No big pink bunny costumes (a la a certain Christmas movie) needed! See below for the full tutorial.DIY bunny hats

    I used the new Bunny Burst Tic Tac® mints to inspire my color palette for the bunny hats. They are a blend of artificially flavored green apple and grape mints and, of course, I ate a few along the way, to really get into the spirit. These little mints were the perfect confetti accessory for the table scene. Wouldn’t they be cute left out as a surprise for your guests mixed with the party hats?!DIY bunny part hats

    MATERIALS1 EDITED

    DIY Easter bunny party hats

    Materials:

    Instructions:

    1.  Make the party hats with this template. Any classic party hat template will do.
    2. Cut out eyes and noses for the bunny with simple circles and triangles and long thin pieces for the whiskers.
    3. Attach the eyes and nose with glue dots.
    4. Draw in a simple mouth with your permanent marker.
    5. Cut slits in the side of the hat with your craft knife.
    6. Cut out ears and fold at the bottom about ¼” up.
    7. Insert the ears and secure with tape inside.
    8. Attach twine to the sides of the inside of the hat to tie around the head. Secure with tape.

    Voila!

    Enjoy the Easter party with your new bunny hats!

    bunny part hat stepsDIY bunny part hatsDIY bunny part hats

     

    Photography by Trisha Zemp

    This post was sponsored by the Tic Tac® brand. All content and opinions are my own! Thank you for supporting the sponsors that keep The House That Lars Built running!

    For more Easter craft ideas and inspiration, take a look at the Lars Easter Pinterest board.

    In the Company of Women Book Artwork

    Brittany
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    0
    In the Company of Women Book Artwork

    In The company of Women book art

    Hello readers! Have you enjoyed In The Company of Women? From the comments we’ve received on @larsbookclub, many of these women entrepreneurs and makers inspire you! Tell us why! Here are some questions to discuss, further fun reading suggestions, and of course, enjoy this month’s book artwork by featured illustrator, Libby VanderPloeg, which just may be my favorite to date. Isn’t it great?!   In The company of Women book art

    Get the free Women Who Work bookmark download on the next page!

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    50 Creative and Inspiring Movies To Watch During Social Distancing

    Brittany
    -
    4
    50 Creative and Inspiring Movies To Watch During Social Distancing

    All of these movies we love have been linked for you to rent to watch on Amazon! If you scroll down you will also find our favorite movies on Netflix right now.

    Movies with amazing colors

    Of course we are obsessed with any movie with an unexpected color scheme. The new rendition of Emma was released early for streaming on Amazon since movie theaters are now closed. We live the Gywneth Paltrow version, but this new movie is packed full of color and humor. The shade of yellow above is a prominent color throughout the film and matches Emma’s personality perfectly. We are talking too much, just go! Watch it!

    The color in films can be an important part of the story line and experience. Teach your kids to pay attention to how colors change throughout the movie and how it affects their emotions. A great movie to watch as an example of this is The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (an all time favorite for some of our team members!) It is subtle, and you may have already watched this one multiple times without noticing, but this time pay attention to how the tones in the film gradually change from blue to red as Ben Stiller’s character progresses.

    Here is our full list of movies with stunning colors:

    Fantastic Mr Fox
    Ponyo
    The Help
    Emma
    La La Land
    Coco
    The Farewell
    Moonrise Kingdom
    Alice in Wonderland
    Crazy Rich Asians
    Photo sources: 1 | 2

    Movies around the world

    Watch all of these films which take place in different countries, and consider today’s homeschool geography and cultures lesson crossed off your to-do list!

    Roman Holiday
    The Hundred-Foot Journey
    Jojo Rabbit
    Heidi
    Brooklyn
    Mary Poppins – the original version | the new version

    Classic movies everyone should see

    We recently watched the Imagineering Story on Disney+ and it was so interesting to learn more about the original animators of classic Disney movies. Mary Blair was the creator of concept art for Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and more. Her use of bold hues and surprising color combos became the basis of Disney animation style, and lead her to design one of Disney’s most iconic rides – It’s A Small World. Learning about Mary made watching classic Disney movies an entirely new experience! Learning about the artists behind movies makes the watching experience even better, plus then you can call it homeschooling! 😉

    Here is some of Mary Blair’s amazing art!

    Mary Blair Alice in Wonderland concept art

    Sources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4

    Click here for an online class about Mary Blair and to paint a whimsical castle in her iconic style! And here, and here for fun kids books all about Mary!

    Classic Movies

    Secret Garden
    The Little Princess
    Little Women – The new version | the Christian Bale version
    Pride & Prejudice – the newest version | The BBC version since you have time!
    Ever After
    The Tale of Despereaux
    Beauty and the Beast
    Spirited Away
    The Sound of Music
    Alice in Wonderland
    Life of Pi
    August Rush
    The Original Parent Trap
    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
    Matilda 
    Annie
    Anne of Green Gables

    Movies that will inspire you to learn a new hobby

    Julie and Julia
    Loving Vincent
    The Hundred-Foot Journey

    Movies that will make you want to be a better person

    A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
    The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
    My Fair Lady
    Wonder
    Ruby Bridges
    Secret World of Arrietty
    We Bought a Zoo
    Hidden Figures
    It’s a Wonderful Life
    Pollyanna
    Dead Poets Society

    Our favorite shows on Netflix right now

    The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society 
    Anne with an E
    Julie & Julia
    The Hundred-Foot Journey
    Hook

    Movies based off books we love

    Madeline
    The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society 
    The Help
    Secret Garden
    The Little Princess
    Emma
    Little Women
    Pride and Prejudice
    Anne of Green Gables
    Matilda 
    The Little Prince
    Finding Neverland
    Sarah, Plain and Tall

    We would love to hear more movies you would add to this list! Please comment below any creative movies we could watch!

    How to throw the garden party of the century

    Brittany
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    12
    How to throw the garden party of the century
    how to throw a garden party

    Are you ready for some oooos and ahhhs?! Natalie Norton did an amazing job at capturing A Midsummer Mingle and I’ve been dying to share the pics with you.

    If you’re just joining me, I threw a garden party with Sarah Jane Studios, Mer Mag, One More Mushroom, Sycamore Street Press, Caravan Shoppe. It was a way to say thank you to all the people out there who support us because we couldn’t do what we love and without you. It turned out to be a party much bigger (and better!) than any of us intended, but we couldn’t be more pleased with how it turned out so we’re boldly calling it a success. I’m dividing the photos into two parts–they’re just too lovely not to share all of it with you. It couldn’t have happened without the support of many, many people–especially Cricut— so stick with me as I attempt to thank them here.

    I learned so much from this event so I thought it might be helpful to share some tips on what to do and what NOT to do.

    You might also be interested in these Midsummer posts

    You can see midsummer party part 2 here and part 3 here and the video here

    We also made a playlist here and have made several crafts like this cake topper, baby mobile

    balloons in the pool at your party
    floral head crown

     

    How to throw a garden party

    To do #1: Throw a party! But only do so if you’re totally committed to throwing a party. I initially texted everyone and said “how about a stress-free party to celebrate midsummer?” That “stress-free” party turned out to be anything but, and of course, the timing was horrible for everyone involved. I think had we known what we were getting ourselves into, we may not have done it, but we committed to throw it and make it the best we could for the sake of a beautiful event with lovely people.

    To do #2: Involve other people. I originally thought of throwing a Midsummer party by myself. I suppose I could have done it on my own, but it wouldn’t have been as good, well-thought out, and meaningful had I not invited other hosts to come on board. By bringing on others, we grew closer, relied on each other, and helped bring creativity and loveliness out into the world, which is ultimately our end goal.

    To do #3: Involve sponsors who believe in what you do. Sponsors like Cricut and Save-on-Crafts, Atly, Land of Nod, and Blickenstaffs and many other raffle and swag bag sponsors and vendors made the party possible. When you work with people who believe in what you are doing and mutually get something out of it, there ain’t nothin better! And tell you what, these sponsors have been so supportive and generous. We couldn’t have been more humbled by the support. PLUS, they helped make the party look good!

    maypole
    Balloon installation
    To do #4: Create a unique focal point to the party. After the success of the balloon installation I did for BHLDN, I’ve been dying to try out another and actually have one that people could see in person. I teamed up with Partyland who graciously came in last minute to provide the balloons. They even introduced me to a machine they invited that creates the twisty shape you see here. It’s called EZ Twist and I’m so pleased with the shapes it created. I’ll be talking more about it in the next post.
    Creating something unique for a party means at least one decorative element that you haven’t seen anywhere else. Go on Pinterest for the rest of your ideas.
    vintage camper food truck

    Catering

    To do #5 Delicious food/drinks that fits the branding of your event. Ramblin Rose Cafe catered the affair and it was THE PERFECT marriage. They have a lovely menu of tea and toasts and I tell you, their flavors are unique and botanical and DIVINE. And their lemon lavender tea is out of this world. If you’re local, go see them every week at the Farmer’s Market in SLC. And, AND, they come with the cutest get up including this vintage camper and signage. Everything was perfection (minus running out of cups…oopsies, my bad!)
    When selecting food or drinks for your own event think of how you want your guests to feel. Is it a fun and whimsical event? Go with a cotton candy truck. Is it a relaxed, casual event? Go with a food truck. Here in Utah we’re lucky to have so many options.

    Signage

    To do #6: Signage. No matter how large the party is, signage will always help. We knew we needed lots because we were directing our guests through meandering pathways to discover different “experiences” around the garden. We knew we would need arrows and explanations. Enter Cougar Copy. Local print shop Cougar Copy provided all the printing and they went above and beyond like the banner you see here. I’ve been using them for the past year because they are so wonderful to work with. You just send in your files and all you do is pick them up. AND, they’re prices are fantastic. Karen, thank you so so much!
    felt ball garland

    Color branding

    To do #7: Color branding. We settled on some colors and branding that helped set off the theme for the rest of the event. Merrilee Liddiard of Mer Mag did all of the branding and color selection. It helped when adding on sponsors who helped out like Aubry of Hello Maypole graciously provided mini garlands for every attendee and included some garlands for my section of the party, but more on that on the next post.
    Wear all white at your garden party

    Dress Code

    To do #8: Dress code. Once a dress code is requested, it immediately unifies the group and gets guests more involved. We asked our guests to dress all in summer whites. I hope it wasn’t so much of a headache as it was a fun assignment to go through your closet or find a new ensemble. I found a dress from Danish label Ganni off of ASOS that I love, love,  love, and have been wearing it every day since. Turns out they have a ton of beautiful white summer dresses. I would have worn any one of them had I been all Kim Kardashian and changed every half hour.
    Dancing around the maypole
    Dancing around the maypole

    Entertainment

    To do #9: Entertainment. Merrilee arranged to have a Maypole troupe come and perform for us. They were amazing and really set the stage for the event.
    We actually tried to get an acting group to come perform a scene from A Midsummer’s Night and some folk dancers to come on board too, but it didn’t quite pan out. We’re not complaining here, but just imagine the awesomeness that could have been!
    We also had a ton of crafting going on. Each blogger/company, had their own “station” where they displayed the Cricut project we created for the event and had supplies out so they could display them. Cricut was present with a number of their brand new machines so people could come try them out for themselves. I’ll be talking more about our projects later this week.
    Come create with cricut
    flowers by Lizy's Lilies

    Flowers

    To do #10: Flowers!
    You guys know me by now. Everything, especially a garden party, must have flowers. Flowers can be a large part of the budget but it was so important in this instance to set the mood. Lizy Bowden of Lizy’s Lilies stepped in with the florals and did a smashing job. Aren’t they so gorgeous! She added them throughout the balloon installations too. If you’re budget is not so large, go with less or be strategic in where you place them. Initially we had them everywhere but we had to par it down to a bit in the end.
    A very important element to the party was floral crowns for all. Amy Anne, along with some magical helpers, stepped in and created 150 floral crowns! It was insane yet so perfect for the event.
    Floral crown

    Treats

    To do #11: Treats! You must have some little tasty treats that get people off their diets for one night. Cocoa Bean Cupcake Cafe supplied delicious goodies for the event and they were knock your socks off tasty! They’re located in Utah and Idaho and if you get a chance, go!

     

    Lighting

    To do #12: Lighting! The key to the success of this garden party, among other things, was lighting. We wanted to create a magical wonderland for our guests and this could only have been achieved with good and adequate lighting provided by Save On Crafts, my go to source for craft and decor supplies. They have these little lights called Fairy Berries, which the name alone will make you die of cuteness, but they added the perfect amount of delight sprinkled throughout the garden. We also added a TON of bistro lighting throughout as well as tea lights, lights in jars, lights on branches, and a dozen other lighting techniques. Save on Crafts has it all and they are so well priced! I couldn’t recommend them enough.
    party ware from Shop Sweet Lulu
    To do #13: Cute partyware. For cute party decor details we turned to the go-to party source, Shop Sweet Lulu. They provided the cutest confetti cups and plates and straws for us. (Psst: word on the street is that they are getting a cute site makeover soon!)

    Cake!

    To do #14: Cake! ME, my baking intern, created these delicious Scandinavian-inspired cakes. Not only are they beautiful, but they were delish. Cake is a must. And cute cake stands like these ones from BHLDN are perfect (and they’re having a 20% off sale right now! Go quick!)
    Cakes by ME Hammond. Cake stand by BHLDN
    Watermelon mint water

    Refreshing Drinks

    To do #15: Refreshing drinks. Ours was a non-alcoholic event and being a garden party, refreshing infused drinks were a must. Ramblin Rose Cafe provided some delicious infused waters like watermelon mint.

    Create a hashtag

    To do #16: Create a hashtag. Hashtags for your specific events are now a party standard. If you’re super unfamiliar to what a hashtag is, it’s a way to archive photos on social media. If you add a hashtag to an event (simply use the # sign and add your phrase after and voila!) then your guests can look through all the photos in one place. Ours was #amidsummermingle and we provided several signs around the venue including this one which lined the back fence of the tennis court.
    Use a hashtag at your event
    Hello Hackworths and Natalie!
    A big shout out to Sarah Jane and her husband Ken for making the midsummer pole. It turned out so well! And we used fabric from Michael Miller to create the ribbons. Thanks to Carli Randolf for sewing them!
    Dancing around the maypole
    Rachel of Darlybird, above, and her mother Laura of the adorable fabric and knitting shop Harmony in downtown Provo provided earrings for all the guests in the swag bags and adorable lavender sachets.
    lavender sachet
    Red Rock Hot Club

    Hire an awesome band

    To do #17: Hire an awesome band! When you can, hire a band! We searched high and low to find a French gypsy jazz band. Turns out, most were in France! But we ended up getting the best of the best with Red Rock Hot Club. I felt like we were in the movie Chocolat and Johnny Depp was playing for us.

    Involve Local artists

    To do #18: Involve local artists. It just so happened to work out that a couple of local artists were able to provide some artwork to be put on display like Jann Marie and Kev Nemelka.
    Jann Marie Studio
    Blickenstaffs was one of our generous sponsors. They created a sweet experience where you could write notes and stick them in bottles and they’ll be sent out to sea.

    Get help!

    To do #19: Get help! Though it’s #19 on the list, it should really be #1. Do yourself a favor and when people ask if they can help, say yes! All of these people above played an instrumental role in helping out with the event. They contributed countless hours in making this event possible and I am so so grateful. I’m especially grateful for these two below, Brynn and Kelly, who spear headed the efforts. They worked with my indecisiveness and last minute calls for Home Depot runs. They kept us on track and organized when I was going nuts. Thank you so much.

    And last, but not least, these lovely ladies who have been a source of sound advice and strength in recent months. I moved here a year ago and feel so lucky to have such wonderful people by my side. I’ll be talking more about them in the next post.
    Thank you to our sponsors:
    Cricut (stay tuned for our projects!)
    Save on Crafts for the amazing lighting (seriously, they have so many wonderful options!)
    Lizy’s Lilies for the florals
    Ramblin Rose Cafe for the food
    Called to Surf and Blickenstaffs
    And thank you to the swag bag sponsors: Darly Bird, atly, Hello Maypole
    PREVIOUS PAGE

    DIY Knot Necklace

    Brittany
    -
    3
    DIY Knot Necklace

    Okay Lars fam, we’ve stuck craft book gold again and we can’t not share these things with you! Our friends over at Abram Books (our very own publisher!) sent us the most incredible book “The Year of Knots” written by the one and only Windy Chien. The book just launches TODAY and it needs to go in your craft library. It offers tutorials ranging from home décor to how to adorn your shoes. Just in case you needs a little more convincing on just how fabulous this book is we have included a tutorial on this wonderful knot necklace!

    We went ahead and made a few modifications to the original necklace by adding in a second semicircle on it but the bones and idea behind the necklace are all attributed to the very talented Wendy Chien!  This necklace is simple yet intricate and the perfect accessory to pull together any outfit! Seriously, everyone in our office tried it on and it looked great with evert single outfit! Trust us, every outfit you own needs this necklace!

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    DIY floral staircase from Old Home Love

    Brittany
    -
    4
    DIY floral staircase from Old Home Love

    I’m pleased as punch to present two special guests to Lars today. Andy and Candis Meredith, from HGTV’s Old Home Love, recently released their first book of the same title, Old Home Love, and it’s gorgeous! If you’ve seen their show or know anything about them, you know that they love old homes and this book is an ode to it. It’s part love story, DIY, and inspiration. It’s also a special book for so many other reasons (go and find out!) and one of them is because it all took place here in Utah, was photographed by Chaunte Vaughn, who also photographed our upcoming book, and styled by my good friend Meta Coleman, assisted by my own sister, Caitlin Watson Boyes. And a couple of my own pieces of furniture and plants even make a special appearance 🙂 Candis and Andy are here today to share a tutorial NOT featured in the book but I know everyone is wondering about: How did you make that floral staircase featured on the cover?! Aren’t you curious?! Let’s find out! 

    Hi Friends! I am so excited to share this project with you. I have been a fan of things with big scale for a long time and I am so happy that we got to showcase these beautiful stairs for our new book. This project has such a huge impact for little effort and I think it adds a PUNCH of happiness and color to our understated white space. What’s great about this idea is that you can use almost any image that you love! Landscapes, old photographs, random patterns, portraits! The sky’s the limit. And don’t be overwhelmed by the idea of doing this–it really is SO easy and took less than an hour!

    Old Home Love book

    Here we go!
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    Creative things to do during your Quarantine and SALE

    Brittany
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    0
    Creative things to do during your Quarantine and SALE

    Crafts Ideas During Social Distancing

    While you are practicing social distancing or quarantine, crafting can help you and your kids use your hands, quiet the stress, and explore your creativity in a way you may not always have time to! In addition to our 40% sale and free coloring page downloads, we want to make all of our tutorials as accessible as possible for your during this time.

    Below we have organized some of our favorite projects by age group. You may already have the supplies on hand to complete many of these crafts, and if not we linked basic craft supplies you can have at your door in no time. We promise, having craft supplies on hand will make your quarantine go much smoother! And if that is too overwhelming, some of these projects only need to be printed off and they are ready to go!

    Projects by age

    We know many of have suddenly found yourself with all of your kids at home, trying to keep up with their schooling while not going crazy. Therefore, many of the projects below are not only fun but educational!

    Toddler & Preschool

    Start their art history knowledge off early with this DIY Matisse felt board. After that, your kids can even dress up as their favorite picture book, and act it out for the family! With our If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and our Giving Tree costume tutorials.

    Elementary School

    Even a travel ban can’t keep you from taking a day trip to Paris and back during lunch break! These Paris placemats are the perfect way to turn lunch time into a history and geography lesson. Or dive more than surface deep with your homeschooling and learn all about whales with the help of this stuffed whale template!

    Middle School

    Did school just get cancelled for 4-6 (or more, ah!) weeks? Sounds like you won’t be using your paper lunch bags for a while. Put them to use and make these colorful lunch bag honeycomb fans!

    Did your 8th grader’s biology class get cancelled? No problem, switch them over to the science of horticulture for the next few weeks. This paper template has a great range of plants to get your child excited about using their green thumb. Next, they might even be asking to weed your garden for you, who knows!

    Is your daughter’s BFF feeling a little under the weather? Use our friendship bracelet tutorial above to have her make a special gift, add our downloadable friendship cards and her her doorbell ditch a gift to cheer her buddy up!

    High School

    Your Sophomore might be feeling a little on edge with the news about prom being cancelled. However, projects like this rope necklace or clay hair clips will cheer them up and keep them busy.

    For you!

    You also deserve some creative time during all of this craziness. Setting aside even an hour to use your hands and make something new is sure to cure cabin fever. Now if only it could cure the virus!

    Can’t get out to the grocery story for some fresh flowers? But you’re longing for something fresh and pretty to look at? Our paper flower tutorials are the perfect project to tackle with all this new-found time on your hands.

    Projects for the whole family to do together

    Learn about the presidents (and learn new embroidery skills) with our Heirloom E-book doll project. After that, Send some love postcards to grandparents you can’t visit right now.

    Basic Craft Supplies

    Click here for our favorite basic craft supplies on Amazon!

    Other creative resources during quarantine

    It’s amazing to see the creative community going all out for those who have to stay in. In addition to ours, here are some resources from other creatives doing great things.

    Know of any others? Send them over! Would love to add to the list!

    3 Valentine’s Day piñata boxes

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    3 Valentine’s Day piñata boxes

     

    It’s been a while since my school days when everyone brings in a homemade box to store their valentines from classmates, but after our hair product pinatas for Rubi’s workshop, we wanted to piñata everything! Thus, Valentine boxes were in order. We made some red lips, a Love Bug with a trunk that opens, and a hot air balloon. Each one I’m trying to figure out how I can display on a permanent basis. They are too cute!
    Hot air balloon pinataLove bug valentine box

    Find the full tutorials below! 

    Continue

    Gender reveal stork pinata

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    Gender reveal stork pinata

    Stork pinata gender reveal

    Ashley is a very good friend to everyone around her. She volunteered to help a friend announce the gender of their baby with their friends and came up with a stork piñata to do so. Such a clever idea! Inside the stork they filled candy and decorations in pink to announce the girl they were having. I loved the idea so much I asked if they could document the process.

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    Baby Lars’ French-inspired rattan nursery

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    Baby Lars’ French-inspired rattan nursery

    When I first published a roundup of my favorite rattan nursery furniture I hadn’t yet revealed the sex of my baby (surprise, Jasper’s a boy! And Felix, too! Ha!) so I kept my nursery favorites simple. While neither of my boys are a surprise to any readers anymore, it’s nice that so much rattan furniture is gender-neutral and timeless, so no matter who you’re expecting there’s something here for you!

    In case you haven’t caught it, mood boarding is a major theme for Lars–I use them for pretty much every project! Becca made one for her wedding and I made one for my personal style. They’re just so helpful in setting a foundation for any creative project.

    Designing a Nursery

    Both times I found out I was pregnant I immediately started a secret Pinterest mood board to narrow down the 1,701 nursery design pins (I’m not kidding!) I had accumulated over the years and I started to notice a trend. The nurseries I was attracted to leaned on the French side with a heavy dose of rattan.

    , tooOver the last few years, the USA has woken up to the world of rattan a little bit, but it’s still a lot easier to get show-stopping rattan nursery furniture in Europe. Shipping to the States can get really expensive (think $1500 to ship a crib! *Sigh*)! I spotted this flawless rattan crib, pictured above, on Atelier Vime’s site and it was inevitable, I fell in love. It doesn’t hurt to have aged herringbone wood flooring and other lovely architectural features like in the photo, too…

    Rattan Cribs and Bassinets

    With that immaculate crib as by inspiration I set out looking for French-inspired rattan nursery furniture and I found this beautiful bassinet by Crate and Barrel.

    A rattan bassinet with metal legs in a light-filled nursery

    I did some more digging around and noticed that I loved the rattan mixed in with other wood elements and mixes of fabrics like the one below. Though you’d probably attribute this one to a boy’s room, it could easily be changed up for a girl’s room if these colors and toy choices aren’t your thing. This Cribs and Co. bassinet is for sale on Etsy, and gives the same kind of look.

    Rattan Bassinet with plush cactus and lotus flower inside.

    A rattan bassinet in a white spaceI’m a big fan of the Jayce bassinet from Pure Salt Shoppe (pictured above), but like any new mother, I’m unsure what types of furniture you actually need. Lots of people swear by bassinets, but I found out they are cute and small but you may not use it for very long. Dommage! I was informed by my dear friends who are mothers that a Moses basket is a great transition into a crib because they’re transportable and cheap and once again, adorable.

    Rattan moses basket in a grassy field

    They’re not always rattan, but they are a part of the same family so they flow well together. I talked more about my favorite baskets in my Lars Baby Essentials post, so check that out!

    Rattan day beds

    Paul and I are quite practical when it comes to discussing our sleeping habits so we anticipate needing to spend nights in the baby nursery. Might as well make it comfortable while we’re at it! I’ve spotted a number of lovely rattan beds here in America. Hooray! Like this one from Anthropologie or this much more dramatic one.
    Rattan day bedDramatic Rattan bed with a criss-crossing rattan headboard

    I love the back of this Venus Rattan Day Bed, and it would surely hold its own as furniture long after the need for a nursery fades. The Avalon Day Bed (on the right) is another great option, and it comes in a kid’s size too, which means that once you move your crib out of the nursery you can stick with the French-inspired rattan theme!

    Rattan day bed in a light-filled beige room. A dog, some pillows, and a few magazines and books are on the day bed. A rattan day bed in an airy room full of plants in terracotta planters

    Rattan Accent Furniture

    Don’t limit yourself to cribs, bassinets, and beds! There are so many great ways to incorporate charming, handmade rattan into a nursery. This rattan rocking horse is sturdy and has lovely vintage flair.

    Rattan rocking horse in front of a cabinet.

    Once your kid has grown up a bit, chairs are a great way to bring rattan furniture into their room. This antique rattan and teakwood chair is a great one, and so is this rattan bunny chair for kids.

    A rattan and teakwood antique armchair for kids in a white room.A rattan chair whose back is designed to look like bunny ears in a white space.

    Kids accumulate STUFF, so this shelving solution is another great option.

    A rattan arch-shaped shelving unit with three shelves. I think it’s important to find furniture that you’ll love long after your kids have grown out of cribs, and this hanging rattan swing is sure to do that. It looks so pleasant to sit and rock a baby in, and later you and your kids can read in it. It is truly furniture that will become a fixture in your home through the ages and grow with your family.

    Rattan hanging swing in a light-filled room with blue pillows and accentsNo, I don’t think it would be wise to outfit the entire nursery in head-to-toe rattan, but I love the idea of bringing in one or two pieces to set the tone. Perhaps it’s a rattan crib and a lamp or perhaps it’s the daybed with some nursery animals. Who knows! I haven’t yet purchased anything. I love the idea of mixing in some vintage pieces too.

    Shops that sell rattan baby furniture

    I’ve barely scratched the surface with the above links! There’s so much rattan goodness to find and design with. If you’re lucky enough to live in rattan-friendly countries, here is a list of some of my favorite shops that sell vintage rattan furniture:

    Custom rattan furniture

    I haven’t yet found somewhere in the US that does custom rattan furniture, though I’m sure it exists (anyone know of a place?!) but I did find a place in Australia, The Rattan Collective, where you can get the most beautiful pieces commissioned. And yup, I already asked, and they currently do not sell to the US. (Pssst: this one and this one are my favorites!)

    I’d love to hear from you!

    Well, I certainly did not intend to write a full post about rattan furniture for the nursery. I guess this exposes my late night obsessions. Guilty! Once again, I’d love to hear your tips about finding beautiful vintage rattan furniture here in the US as the $1500 shipping price really bummed me out, and share your French-inspired rattan nurseries with #LarsAtHome!

    Find More!

    I have written a few more posts about rattan furniture since I first published this nursery furniture roundup. Check out this post about adding rattan furniture to your home decor and wardrobe, this DIY rattan sunburst mirror tutorial, and a huge roundup of a veritable smorgasbord of rattan furniture and decor.

    Looking for more Lars baby content? In the years since I first search for rattan nursery furniture I have come a long way in the baby department, so look no further! Here’s Jasper’s birth story and here’s Felix’s.  Our shop has a dedicated section for babies and children, and it’s full of fun and beautiful toys, patterns for crafts, and art prints to hang in your nursery.

    I also made a roundup of my favorite baby gifts and my recommendations for baby essentials, and I would love to hear about your favorite baby gear, too!

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