Make Your Own Kool-Aid Lip Gloss

We go through a lot of lip gloss in our house. One little girl and I seem like I am always searching for a tube or buying another pack at the store. Of course, if I had known just how easy it was to make our own tinted, scented lip gloss, I would have started years ago.

I ended up making 4 different glosses, but I just found some of the invisible (uncolored) Watermelon Kiwi that my son has asked me to use for him. I try not to leave him out of the fun.

I feel like I should warn you, Kool-Aid powder in concentrated form will stain fingers, counters, etc. So I opted to not make it with my small children. I also put down a plastic placemat so there were no pesky drips or spills.

Okay, the good news is this is so easy to make. I only used 3 ingredients for them. You need: coconut oil, sugar and powdered Kool-Aid. Why the sugar? Have you ever tasted unsweetened Kool-Aid? It has a pucker factor of 11 on a 1-10 scale. I used just a little sugar to sweeten the gloss so it was still had a Sweet Tart type of flavor, but wouldn't be shocking.

Okay, again... grab:

• 2 Tbsp. Coconut Oil
• 1/2 package of Kool-Aid
• enough water to form a paste
• 1 tsp. sugar or to taste

I used two custard cups to make up a batch of gloss. First I started by softening my coconut oil. I heat the oil in the microwave for 5 seconds and then stir vigorously. You don't want to overheat it, it should not be in liquid form, but you could put it back in for another few seconds if it is too firm.

In another cup, pour in about half of the Kool-Aid. Add just enough water to form a paste and see the color. Whisk in your sugar and add it into your softened coconut oil a little at a time till you achieve the desired color.

I used a small whisk and some elbow grease to mix it all together. The oil and paste don't mix well unless you work at it... just a little bit. I kept wisking till most of my sugar had dissolved. It kept dissolving as it sat and I was pleased that my gloss was smooth when I tried it out.

Then I spooned the gloss (it will still be a litle soft) into 2oz makeup bottles like these. You can find them on Etsy or at a craft store.

Now I just need to design labels for them...

Let them cool completely or refrigerate briefly to solidify the oil again. I love how it warms up to the touch as I apply a little to my lips.

My daughter tried out the cherry first.

Despite looking pretty dark in the bottle, it was a nice and gentle red. This whole project was a little girl's dream come true. My little girl is already brainstorming the new flavors she wants to try.

We finally may have more lip gloss than we need.

Take a peak at my Kool-Aid Meringue Cookie and DIY Snow Cone Syrup recipes and stay tuned for more Kool-Aid fun next week.

Have you ever made lip gloss? What Kool-Aid flavor would you try?

Fall Crafting with Kids and Oriental Trading Kits

Disclaimer - This review is based strictly on my opinion and experiences using these products. Your experience or opinions of the reviewed product my differ from my own. I was provided sample craft kits free of charge to make with my children by the company or PR agency. No other type of compensation was received for this review.

With the Halloween candy sorted and all of our spooky decorations carefully packed away for next year, it is time to start looking towards Thanksgiving. This is one holiday I don't have a box of prepared decorations ready to go. Instead we decided to make our own this year.

With a 6 and 4-year old, I needed craft ideas that would be easy enough for them to tackle on their own, and also didn't require a large investment in supplies. This year I decided to try out a few of the Oriental Trading craft kits to make our house more festive for the holidays.

I loved the Fall Colors Weaving Place Mat Craft Kit. It seemed like a great way to make our table more fun and festive.

These foam strips were a great chance to talk about patterns, following directions and the upcoming holiday meal. It was a great chance to decided what the kids wanted to help me make for our family dinner. We decided on making Grandma's Cranberry Salad.

I helped my 4-year old out a few times with the under, over pattern, but both children were able to make their place mats with only minimal guidance from me. I love projects that let them do-it-themselves. There is such a feeling of accomplishment afterwards.

These kits didn't require any cutting with scissors, the foam was already scored to pull-apart easily, and only required minimal glue.

Weaving was a fun concept for my daughter. I loved projects like this when I was her age.

Since my son is 6, I picked the "Give Thanks" Banner Craft Kit for him. I thought this would make a great gift for his teacher, grandparents and to decorate our home this holiday season. I also made one for myself.

All of the pieces came pre-cut and it required glue for assembling. Both my kids love glitter glue, so we went with that. He was very serious about assembling his banner. I took this opportunity to talk about contrasting and complimentary colors. He did a great job matching letters to contrasting backgrounds.

Each kit came with easy instructions for assembly. My children could assemble most of it just with the pictures. These kits had my kids crafting right away. I didn't have to make them wait while I prepared materials.

We all worked on a Turkey Craft Kit. This kit was colorful and fun. Now we have several turkeys decorating our kitchen and dining room. I gave the kids glue sticks and let them go for it. Each kit was individually wrapped so it was easy to find all the pieces needed easily.

Finally we put together the Turkey Coaster Craft Kit to finish out our Thanksgiving themed table setting. This kit came with foam pieces that already had peel away adhesive backing, so no other supplies were needed for assembly.

This was one of our favorite crafts out of the box and has already been used at our daily table. I can't wait to enjoy them with the whole family on Thanksgiving.

These crafting sessions were the perfect way to get my kids excited about the upcoming holiday and spend some quality crafting time together.

Overall I was very impressed with the quality of the craft kits from Oriental Trading Company. These would  be perfect for church, homeschool lessons, classroom use or to keep all the kids in the family busy on the holiday. The kits I chose only required glue and each set came with spare pieces, just in case.

Most of the kits I chose came in packs of 12, perfect for the whole family to enjoy. We packed up our extra kits and made a gift bag for friends of ours to try out, too.

There are many other great craft ideas and kits available on the website. Be sure to check them all out on the Oriental Trading site,  request a FREE catalog and sign up to receive exclusive offers, promotions and coupons. Connect with them on their Facebook page, Twitter and Pinterest.

Our house is now ready for Thanksgiving, what about yours?

Over the next month I plan to explore more of the craft options available at Oriental Trading including options for Christmas Ornament Gifts and a Gingerbread House Decorating Party. Stay tuned!

Happy Fourth of July! Past Post Inspiration

I hope everyone is celebrating a safe and happy 4th of July. I am so excited to share our festivities and recipes with you and will have that post up this weekend.

Till then, I wanted to share some fun inspiration and images from our past 4th of July celebrations.

Keep the kids busy with these Simple Firework art projects using Elmer's glue.

Celebrate with a classic cherry in this simple Biscoff and fresh pie cherry parfait. My family loves them.

Create fun and Patriotic Shirts with spray glitter, plain shirts and Elmer's glue.

Create your own signature snow cone syrups easily with fresh fruit or Kool-aid. So easy and inexpensive!

Make simple ice water 4th of July ready with red and blue berries and small star cookie cutters.

No matter how you celebrate, I hope it is a great day. I can't wait to share what we have been up to. It involves the BBQ and of course, it is going to be delicious!

On the Time Change, Procrastination and Crafting

I thought I got through Daylight Savings Time unscathed and then it happened. The crankies set in, the whining and the general upset of our usual daily schedule reared it's ugly head this week. Someone explain to me how changing the time makes sense to young families.

Okay, it could not have possibly been a mother who thought up the idea of switching the clocks twice a year. Meal times are off, naps are a disaster and prying my kiddos out of bed in the morning is ugly. For that reason I missed my meal planning this week and am feeling even more run-down than usual. Blech.

After weeks of procrastinating my pile of knitting and crafting projects it finally hit me that I am going to be having this little guy in 3 short months! Add to that Easter creeping up on my and it is time to get serious again.

I've mentioned Natural Knits for Babies and Moms before as one of my favorite knitting books for baby patterns. I decided that I really needed a quick project to complete so chose this striped baby hat in green and vanilla. I love this knit because it is stitched up flat and done in a day. I made this for both my son and my nephew in neutral tones in natural fibers from Knit Picks.

I have a little bit of a phobia concerning my circular needles. And don't even get me started on those little menacing bundles of double pointed needles that I collect, but rarely get out. Reading and working patterns has always been challenging for me, but once I master it things are great. ...Until I put my needles down for a few years and forget everything! Next I plan on making a matching diaper cover and wool longies from another book with the hopes that I can expand my skills.

As for my knitted square baby blanket? Well, I am still a few squares short. Let's make that more than half.

My husband half joked that I peaked last month with my productivity and energy level. I blew it off, but in truth my pace has slowed and I need more time to relax. Maybe a quick daily nap? Luckily, that means I should have more time to rest and knit. Yay!

Again, tick-tock, this baby is coming in 3 months ... or less.

So procrastination has become a dirty word. I have lists to finish, items to find and things to make. This experienced mom knows that time will stand still once the baby arrives. Most items are already off the list but I still want to add some personal touches to his wardrobe and accessories.

So wish me luck and my fingers great speed.

What are your favorite baby projects for yourself or to give as baby shower gifts?

Project Organized - Tackling the Craft Room Pt. 2

On the first of the month I gave you a rather embarrassing glimpse into my crafting space. Did you see the before picture?

Yes, it was bare, cluttered and not usable. A crafting space should inspire creativity and relaxation. Okay, those are my requirements. I was always frustrated with not being able to find the supplies I was looking for.

Even the closet was so crammed with "stuff" that I couldn't really find what I wanted.

So my husband agreed to put up shelves and I agreed to finally conquer this mess. Here was the improvement after the first shelf.

It was better, but still didn't give me the room to organize that I was wanting. I actually changed my mind on the shelf and my very patient husband took it down and replaced it with a wider one that also has room for hangers. He put the smaller one on top instead.

So here is my new space:

I have more desk space, my sewing machine is finally up on the table and I even have room for my studio light for getting more detailed pictures of my projects. It is the first time in 3 years that I have been excited to sit down and create. It is a huge improvement from the picture at the top of the post.

Just this morning I was browsing gorgeous craft room make-overs featured on one of my favorite blogs. I wish I had a whole room like they showed. The truth is, after having my supplies piled up on the kitchen table, or scattered around the dining room, I am so excited to have a space to call my own. Not everyone has a whole room they can spare, but sometimes a corner is all we really need.

And, if you noticed, I was even able to organize my closet.

I still have a few more touches to add to the space. I want a big cork board behind the table for tacking fabric swatches, instructions and pictures to. I also want a photo collage of my kids to look at late at night. If anyone has any suggestions for organizing scissors, let me know. I am still not sure where I want to put them. Maybe a peg board with hooks on the side wall?

Is your craft space organized? How do you organize your supplies?

Friday Food Frenzy (12/21) - Be Inspired. Link up and Inspire, Too!

Where did the time go?

Can you believe Christmas is Eve is Monday? I still have wrapping to do and just finished off my Christmas list today. Still so much to do! If you are looking for another star dish, craft or idea check out this week's linky... and submit your inspiration here, too. We love to see what other bakers, cooks and crafters are up to. Happy Holidays everyone. Wishing everyone a safe and joyous Christmas!

Close to Home ,Mostly Food and Crafts and  Adventures in All Things Food. welcome you to come share your recipes and browse others for some great cooking ideas at home.  How many times do you hear "What's for dinner?", surprise them with a new dish you found on Friday Food Frenzy. 

Make Your Own Cinnamon Ornaments - Kid Friendly Craft Idea

In an attempt to move my kids away from the commercially motivated Christmas, this year I opted for more experiences, crafts and quality time with my family. We are keeping the gifts to two apiece and I am having them focus more on giving and creativity than a long list of wants and desires this year.

Honestly, the previous year's pile of toys went mostly un-played with and there was almost no appreciation for what they did have. Instead my 5 and 3 year old were abuzz with all the wants and desires they saw on aisle end-caps or flashy commercials.

Well, enough.

What are your memories from childhood holidays? I can't say that I can remember more than a few past Christmas gifts. What I do vividly remember are the nights in front of the fire as we decorated the tree. With  Nat King Cole singing in the background and a hearty mug full of hot cocoa, I drifted off to sleep watching the tree's lights twinkle and my parents looking for the best spot for their cherished ornaments. The memories of my Mom baking in the kitchen are a close second, but none of my best memories involve the size or number of presents I received.

Last year I showed my son how to make a paper chain garland for the tree and this year we created these fast and easy cinnamon ornaments. Read on and I hope you will give them a try. With just two simple ingredients, they have made the entire house smell more like the holidays (and I baked these last week!).

I was looking for a simple craft my children could help make and then hang on our tree. We also gave away a few to family members. It was such a hit, the kids are already planning out other shapes they want to make next year. I can tell this will become a beloved holiday tradition.

Again, the supplies and ingredients are minimal. You only need applesauce and cinnamon to make the ornaments, but string or twine to hang them, cookie cutters, a non-stick sheet and a skewer will come in handy.

I will include the recipe at the bottom of the post, but take 1 cup of applesauce and measure it into a large bowl.

Then take 1 cup of cinnamon and mix that in. It needs 1 1/2 cups of cinnamon total, but the final 1/2 cup will require some time with your hands to get it all incorporated. My kids had a blast helping to mix it all.

I grabbed the cheapest applesauce on the shelf and picked up a bottle of cinnamon at Costco. I have heard the dollar store is another great place to hunt for supplies.

Mix it all in. I promise it will all get incorporated. If it seems too crumbly, let it sit for a few minutes. It make take a while for the cinnamon to all become moist. You can always add a little more applesauce or cinnamon at this point, if necessary. It should hold together, but be as dry as possible without being too crumbly to hold a shape.

I laid down waxed paper underneath my dough. I dusted it with a little more cinnamon and then covered with another sheet of waxed paper over the top before rolling.

We used an assortment of star cookie cutters this time, but get creative. Next time I want to make some Gingerbread men, my daughter wants to cut out Christmas trees.

I put them on my Silpat mat. They were close, but not touching so they can dry properly. I used the skewer to poke holes in each ornament for my twine.

I picked up a spool of kitchen twine in Marchino from The Twinery. Boy, I have fallen in love with that online shop. If you haven't seen their selection, you will be amazed with all the colors of Baker's Twine possible.

Bake these in the oven at 200 degrees for around 2 hours. You want them to dry completely, but actual time needed will vary depending on the humidity of your home and how thick you make your ornaments. If you are worried, bake them and then leave them in the oven, turned off, overnight just to be sure.

Once dried, store in an airtight container to reuse the following year. A friend of mine has had hers for 6 years and still loves the smell.

Of course, I will just mention that these are not intended to be eaten. They might smell yummy... but, they aren't for consumption.

Cinnamon Ornaments

You Will Need:

• 1 c. applesauce
• 1 1/2 c. cinnamon
• ground cloves or other dry spices *optional

• Bakers twine or string for hanging
• cookie cutters
• wax paper
• rolling pin
• non-stick mat or parchment paper
• skewer or pencil for punching holes

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.

Mix the ingredients well until all the cinnamon is incorporated. Roll out between waxed paper and cut shapes with cookie cutters. Poke holes in each ornament before baking.

Bake for around 2 hours or until hard and dry. Turn off the oven and leave overnight to completely cure. 

String the ornaments with Baker's twine, hang and enjoy the smell of cinnamon for weeks and years to come!

Fall Decorating & Crafting - Felt Pumpkins

I am in the mood for Fall. Halloween is on my mind and the turning of the leave and ripening of pumpkins on the brain. One of my favorite activities on chillier nights is to craft. This year's project has been felting and so far I love it! I can make one of these pumpkins during an hour long episode of TV and I have plans to fill my apothecary jars in the entryway and make a center piece on the table using these easy felt pumpkins.

I love the texture of wool already from knitting and a failed attempt at spinning and the drop needle, (...and by failed I mean I will probably take it up again in a few years) so this was a big stretch. I already had some wool laying around.

After a few late nights on Etsy I saw some kits for creating your own felt pumpkins. They came with needles, a mat and some wool to get started. These are serious needles, by the way. With little barbs at the end, as you stab the felt it pulls some fibers into the center of the bundle causing it to start felting.

So armed with the tools, I started out. Now, you can use either all orange wool, or use a natural color and cover it with less of the orange dyed wool. Well, unless you have ever met an orange sheep. I would love their number, please.

I wrapped the natural wool in a ball and started stabbing. I can't tell you how good this feels for releasing stress.

Here is my finished ball. This only took 10 minutes of stabbing. I turned it as I went and the ball begins to take shape. I stabbed the top and bottom more to give it a flatter top and bottom. Since pumpkins come in all shapes and sizes, you really can't go wrong with this craft.

Then I covered my ball with a little orange wool. Keeping poking the needle in and out to secure it in place. Use little bit of excess wool to cover any thin or bare spots. I don't mind a little brown showing through, but that is my personal preference. I think it looks more natural.

After a while the pumpkin gets harder and harder to push the needle into. Then I added the lines. Just keep stabbing the same line over and over till you get the desired indentation.

Then with just a little bit of brown I created a long stem. Stab, fold and shape as desired.

I trimmed mine to the desired length and then attached it to my pumpkin. Stab and pull the fibers on the end to attack where you want. I tried to pull mine to cover the entire center.

There you have it! My little felted pumpkin. I plan on also adding a few white and green pumpkins to my collection as well.

An InLinkz Link-up