Easy Apple Tree Stained Glass Window

Cute and easy to make, this kids craft adds a pretty touch to any window, just like stained glass!

We love to craft with contact paper, it is so much fun to use in so many projects! But, one of my favorite uses for it is to make 'Stained Glass' or window decals! These are so cute!

With fall being on the way, our thoughts drift towards the apple orchard almost every weekend. We head out for the time together as a family, harvesting fruit, eating fresh donuts and playing outside. In anticipation of the fun fall weekends that are to come, we made these easy as pie Apple Tree Stained Glass projects.

You will need:
one square of transparent contact paper per decoration
assorted colors of tissue paper, we used green and yellow
one strip of brown construction paper

Lay your contact paper sticky side up
Place your brown paper on the sticky paper to form a trunk
Next cut small circles of yellow or red tissue paper for apples
Place the apple cut outs around the tree
Fill in the leaves using green tissue paper
Leave a few sticky places without paper to easily affix to the window for displaying.

Easy Homemade Coleslaw Dressing

Never Buy Store-Bought Dressing Again: Easy Homemade Coleslaw Dressing

Coleslaw is a classic side dish that goes with everything from BBQ to fried chicken. But who needs the store-bought dressing that's often loaded with sugar and unhealthy fats? Making your own coleslaw dressing is incredibly easy, and lets you control the flavor profile to perfectly complement your meal.

This recipe creates a creamy, tangy dressing that's bursting with flavor. It's ready in just minutes, and uses ingredients you probably already have on hand.

Why Make Your Own Dressing?

• Healthier: You can control the amount of sugar and fat in your dressing.
• Fresher: Homemade dressing always tastes brighter and fresher than store-bought varieties.
• Customizable: Like things a little sweeter or spicier? No problem! You can easily adjust the ingredients to fit your taste preferences.

Ingredients:

1 cup Mayonnaise

2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar

1 Tablespoon Dijon Mustard

1 Tablespoon Honey (can use white sugar)

1 teaspoon Celery Seeds

Salt and Pepper, to taste

Directions:

In a small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients.

Taste and adjust to suit your personal preferences.

Makes just over 1 cup of dressing, approximately 16 servings.

Tips:

• For a creamier dressing, use full-fat mayonnaise.
• Want a lighter option? Use low-fat mayo or Greek yogurt.
• Play with the acid! Experiment with different vinegars like apple cider or white vinegar.
• Add a pop of sweetness with a tablespoon of honey.
• Love a bit of heat? Add a pinch of cayenne pepper.
• This dressing will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Coleslaw with Personality

The beauty of homemade coleslaw is the ability to customize it to your taste. Here are some ideas to get you inspired:

• Asian-inspired: Add toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, and a sprinkle of ginger for an Asian twist.
• Vinegar punch: For a tangier slaw, increase the vinegar and add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
• Fruity twist: Chopped apples, grapes, or dried cranberries add a burst of sweetness and texture.

So ditch the store-bought stuff and create a coleslaw that reflects your unique taste. Homemade coleslaw is a versatile and delicious side dish that goes beyond BBQs and picnics. Try it alongside grilled fish, roasted chicken, or even piled high on pulled pork sandwiches.

You will love the tangy flavor this ultra easy recipe brings to the table. You can also dress this up even more to make a whole new take on a classic side.

Make this for summer picnics and bbqs or serve it on the side of a simple meal at home with the family.

This is destined to be a favorite coleslaw option with everyone who tries it.  Be prepared to share the recipe. 

You might also like this honey garlic glazed carrot recipe. It cooks in the instant for another simple and easy side dish option.

Everyone loves this Nashville hot chicken fried potato recipe.

 

Paper Plate Crafts for Kids

 Paper plates have always been one of my kids favorite things to craft with. There are so many possibilities for making something fantastic, out of a plain old paper plate! This collection has some really fun ideas for your family to try out. You might not ever look at a pack of plates the same again.

You might notice there are a few of my craft projects listed below. I have been crafting things out of paper plates and Styrofoam bowls since I was a little girl. I can recall my cousin Courtney and I making these super fun flying saucers when we were kids with styrofoam bowls, and it is safe to say, I have been hooked ever since.

Be sure to click through to get the details of all of the projects below.

Paper Plate Lions by Sweet Silly Sara

Grab the paper plates, glue and some pasta to make a really fun little lion craft!

Paper Plate Ladybugs by Crafts by Amanda

These cute little ladybugs are the perfect way to make a spring craft with minimal supplies. Kids of all ages will love this!

Fun Snails by Attachment Mummy

These little snails might inch their way into your heart! They are perfect for an afternoon craft for the little ones!

Paper Plate Witch Craft by Sweet Silly Sara

This friendly witch is the perfect craft project to get kids in the Halloween spirit!

Paper Plate Apples by Mom Brite 

Take a bite out of craft time with this cute apple craft! All you need is a paper plate and a few basic supplies!

Paper Plate Crabs by Mom Wife Busy Life

This paper plate crab craft is nothing short of a pinch of perfect! This is such a cute idea for little hands!

Paper Plate Flowers by Glitter on a Dime

Create a pinkalicious storybook inspired garden of pretty flowers! This a great craft for anytime you need a craft to share!

Paper Plate Pigs by Simply Everyday Mom

Need a cute craft to entertain the kids? This piggy craft is an oinking good time for all!

Easy Paper Apple Craft

Every day, my little girls says, "Let's make a craft!" I love her enthusiasm and always encourage activities we can do together. On this particular day, we were anxious to get into some fall themed crafts, and we are always super excited to kick off fall with the harvesting of apples!

This craft was so incredibly fun! It was a bit of a challenge for my almost 4 year old, but we worked together to get it right.

You will need:
A square of heavy white paper {Ours was about 6'' x6''
A piece of green, red or yellow construction paper
School Glue
A tiny strip of brown paper for the stem

To begin we made thin strips of green paper that were 4 inches longer than the square of paper
Next we began folding those strips of green paper so we had 2 folded edges per strip
We glued these on the white paper
Working in a circle we kept gluing both sides of the strips on to the square, being careful to not disturb the other strips of paper
At the end, we added a tiny stem to the top.

We liked this apple craft because it was challenging, a good exercise in patience for both Harp and I. It was also really cute when it was finished! This was a fun craft to follow up with apple slices as a snack!

Sunflower Stamped Pumpkin Patch Art

 

This adorable pumpkin patch art is great for kids of all ages! Made with simple supplies like paint, paper and a sunflower head, this is a great way to create art using nature!

Harper and I love to paint together. We have been crafting side by side since she was just a tiny toddler, strapped into a high chair for safety. We have painted pineapples, apples, baskets of fruit and even Christmas trees. We usually use corks to create our process art, but we had a bouquet of sunflowers that had seen better days, and well, inspiration hit.

We decided our fridge just had to have a pumpkin patch scene. We are all about creating refrigerator masterpieces . 

Supplies:

Orange paint

Green paint

A sunflower head

White paper

A paper plate

Pour orange paint and a small amount of green paint onto a paper plate.

Invite your child to press the sunflower head into the orange paint.

Encourage your child to press the sunflower onto the paper.

Use a stem, petal, or other small item to form the stem of the pumpkin with the green paint.

Allow the paint to dry, then

These were so much fun to make! And I think they turned out really cute! Harper was very proud of her efforts. Preschoolers can handle this project, as well as elementary aged kids like Harper. Your kids might also like to draw little pumpkin faces on these after they have dried.

I hope you get a chance to try this project with your family, it is the perfect project for a fall afternoon!

Find more fall ideas here.

Top Picks for Gifts for Guys

Shopping for the special men in your life can be a challenge! We are at less than 2 weeks until Christmas and I have been searching high and low for awesome gift ideas. I cannot bring myself to buy another pair of sleep pants or drug store shaving kit to wrap up and present to my husband or father.

This year I am sharing the most thoughtful, sophisticated, stylish and delicious gift options for the guys! Product samples were received to inspire this guide.

1) Silk Pocket Square; The City of New York

There is something really classy about a pocket square. This one is perfect for my history loving husband. The silk pocket square depicts the City of New York in the 1870's Retailing at under $60 this is a gift that adds so much flair to any outfit. The printing is eye catching and thought provoking, for a truly one of a kind gift.

2) Black Lapel Custom Velvet Dinner Jackets

This is a gift to splurge on, as it is truly a gorgeous dinner jacket. Perfect for a special event, or a unforgettable night on the town, any man with this ensemble in his closet is prepared for anything, no matter how swanky it may be. Retailing at $549 this jacket is a one of a kind. Conversation-starting, luxurious and reasonably priced, these custom-tailored velvet blazers are sure to make any man a standout for the holidays, whether he's just going out to a bar or dinner, or he's attending the most posh, highly celebratory events. These stunners come in navy blue, black and deep purple and are sure to make people ask the handsome man wearing them, "Where did you get that beautiful blazer?"

3)Eduplated.com

If your special guy wants to get in better shape or take steps to being healthier than ever, this app is perfect for gifting. Think match.com for dieters! It links him with a dietician to make healthy choices and start living his best life. There are 2 plans available starting at about $50 a month, or $100 a month. Since this is an app, you can truly shop at the last minute and still deliver a great gift!

4) GourmetGiftBaskets.com

I love the offerings from gourmetgiftbaskets.com and how they take the stress out of shopping by delivering a great gift, right to the door of whoever you are gifting! This year, I love the Fresh Fruit Gift Basket option for a sweet yet healthy holiday offering. Featuring red and green apples and oranges, this is a super fresh and inviting gift option. Retailing at under $100 this is an excellent way to send holiday cheer with a fantastic assortment of fruits, popcorn, cookies, crackers and so much more!

Because life is short and you should totally eat the cookies and brownies that Christmas has to offer, I love the Baked Goods Sampler Gift Basket . This basket is packed full of irresistible options like Peanut Butter Brownies, Lemon Sugar Cookies, Peanut Butter Cookies and Chocolate Chunk Brownies to name a few. Retailing at under $60 this is a sweet gift for a great guy!

5) Thirty One Moosin Around Large Utility Totes

Thirty One has so many fun options for the whole family, and the guys are not excluded! I love that this is a masculine print that he won't mind carrying to games, events and practices. It is spacious and comfortable to carry and can be used in so many ways! Thirty One can help him get organized and carry all of the essentials on any adventure he goes on. Retailing at $35 this is a great gift for any guy on your list. You can also find this print on Thermal Lunch Totes, mini bins and more to give him the gift of organization and function on a budget.

6) Ugly Christmas Sweaters

This is one of the most fun gift options of the season. I love love love that they have star wars options available for the guys on your list. My favorites include the At At Ugly Christmas Sweater which is so subtly wonderful that if you don't know Star Wars you might not get it. I am also crazy for the Boba Fett button up sweater which is colorful and super cozy! Priced at under $50 these are festive and fun options for the guys on your list. If they aren't into Star Wars, no sweat, you can find so many other awesome options onsite.

If you have ideas for thoughtful gifts for him this Christmas, please leave a comment to share the inspiration! From my family to yours, Happy Holidays!