grace grits and gardening

ramblings from an arkansas farm girl

How to Make Valentine Bird Seed Feeders

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Bird Seed Feeders

Got cabin fever? Today I’m making Valentine bird seed feeders—a winter gift to the birds. I worry about birds in winter, especially when the ground is covered in ice and snow. Teaching kids about nature and birding and caring for the creatures of our planet is an important lesson on compassion. Birds need love too. And valentines.

There was a little trial and error on my part, and yes, this project takes a bit of patience. But these heart-shaped bird seed feeders make a fun project for children of all ages (with adult assistance).
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How to Make an Altered Book (part two)

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Grace Grits and Gardening - Altered Book How To

Grace Grits and Gardening – Altered Book Project

I started working on an altered book several months ago. You can read about it HERE. Since then, I work on it sporadically, often clipping out pictures or jotting down ideas for future pages. Sometimes I actually sit down with my Mod Podge and work for hours. Time has a way of disappearing when I work on my altered book…

I thought I’d let you see a few of my latest pages.

I made two pages from the Christmas cards I received. I love love love the holidays and wanted to have a section in my book devoted to Christmas.

Altered Book - Christmas page

For the next page (below) I cut Christmas cards into circles. As you can see I did it freehanded. The edges aren’t neat and perfect. They don’t need to be. I like the idea of having my cute neighbor kids’ faces in my book.Altered Book - from christmas cards

Below is my “Me” page (front and back). I’m still working on this one. Or maybe it’s finished. I’m not sure.

altered book - me page

I also added a calendar insert to my altered book to make it practical as well as inspirational. This year I am planning out my blog posts and other writing three months in advance. As you can see, I change my mind a lot, but I do feel more organized.

altered book calendar

I’m working on a few other pages in the garden and kitchen sections of my altered book, but I’ll show you those later.

Grace Grits and Gardening

P.S. I have an Altered Book board on Pinterest. Take a look at the possibilities.

“I dream my painting and I paint my dream.”
― Vincent van Gogh

Vintage Book Christmas Tree Craft Project

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I made Christmas trees using pages from a vintage children’s book.
(Consider this a great way to recycle damaged books that would otherwise end up in a crowded landfill. The old Dick and Jane book I used had torn and missing pages and was of no value to a reader.)
For my example, I made tree ornaments and paper bunting, but these trees can be used in a variety of creative ways such as holiday cards, bookmarks or as scrapbook embellishments.
To begin, start with a half circle. (Any size will work, but the size will determine your tree.)
To make my half circle, I placed the center of a bowl on the middle edge of a page and outlined around the top of the bowl. If you aren’t a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of crafter (like I am), you can use a template. But, it doesn’t have to be perfect…
Vintage Book Christmas Tree Craft Project
After you cut out your half circle, fold the right side over almost to the center of the page, placing the edge a tiny bit above the paper.
Vintage Christmas Tree Craft Project
Fold the corner back. This point will be the top of your tree.
Vintage Christmas Tree Craft Project
Flip over the paper.
Vintage Christmas Tree Craft Project
Fold the top right side down (almost to the edge but not quite) to make a triangle.
Vintage Christmas Tree Craft Project
Flip it back over again and voila! A Christmas tree.
Vintage Christmas Tree Craft Project
cute already!
Seriously, you can make dozens in no time…
Now for the best part!
Decorate your trees with supplies on hand—buttons, rick rack, glitter, ribbon, stamps, jingle bells, etc.
Hot glue tree trunks to the bottom using card stock or scrapbook paper.
For Christmas ornaments, hole punch the top and string a loop of ribbon to make a tree hanger.
vintage red buttons
vintage green rick rack and a jingle bell
I made bunting by stringing four trees together, stamping the word “Snow” and adding red glitter to the boughs.
red glitter, contrasting tree trunks, “Snow” bunting…
This project works well with scrapbook paper or sheet music as well. Just remember, both sides of the page show, so use paper with complementary front and back colors.
Whatdya think?
talya
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Food. Farm. Garden. Life.

THANKS FOR READING!