#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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Food and Life

Memorial Day Crafts: Fireworks Flowers

May 19, 2009 · Narrative

Memorial Day Flowers
Oftentimes, when Nick is done with his homework in the afternoon, he wants to do a craft.  Whether it’s painting, coloring or creating, he is definitely artistic, something he gets from his grandmother.  It sure as heck doesn’t come from me.

Usually he ask me to do a search on the computer to find him something to make, but without a well-built arsenal of craft supplies, I don’t always have on hand what he needs for the craft he chooses.   I have been working on stockpiling some basic craft supplies though, and now have a few crafts at the ready for when inspiration strikes; so the other day when he asked, I was totally ready.

With the Memorial Day weekend looming, and plans to head down the shore underway, when I saw these fireworks flowers, I knew they would be perfect.  Simple to make, supplies on hand and a perfect way to celebrate the patriotic holiday.  He did such a fantastic job, I know he can’t wait to see them on the dinner table this weekend … neither can I!

Flowers Other Side

Fireworks Flowers
Craft courtesy of Familycorner.com

basket coffee filters
chenille stems (red, white, blue, gold and/or silver)
red and blue watercolor paint (we used food coloring)
paintbrush
scissors
2 pieces of paper towel or a kitchen towel

Cover table with newspaper, a plastic tablecloth or even an old shower curtain. Gather your supplies and have them all within arm’s reach. Cover kids clothes with a smock or old t-shirt. Now you are ready to begin making your coffee filter fireworks flowers.

Place one of the coffee filters onto the paper plate and flatten out. Paint the coffee filter with water color paint. Paint some solid red, some solid blue and others a combination of blue and red, leaving some areas unpainted. Move the coffee filter to the towel and lay flat to dry. Repeat with the second coffee filter. Leaving the center of the filter in tact, cut the coffee filter in strips, working you way around the circle. Cut a 1.5″ piece off of one end of a chenille stem and set aside.

Take the longer piece of chenille and poke it through the center of the coffee filter. There should be about 2″ of chenille poked through.  Turn the entire thing upside down and grasp the filter with your fingers. Gather it around the chenille and secure it by wrapping the extra piece of chenille stem that you cut off in an earlier step. Twist it around the part you are holding and turn the flower back upright. Manipulate with your finger until strips are spread out and it looks the way you want it to.

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Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: crafts, fireworks flowers, Memorial Day

Comments

  1. Sarah Caron says

    May 19, 2009 at 10:31 pm

    What an awesome craft idea! Thanks for sharing. Did these take long to dry?

    Sarah Carons last blog post..Will’s Eye View

    Reply
  2. noobcook says

    May 20, 2009 at 4:29 am

    oh my this is so pretty. Makes such a lovely home decorating piece. I am always so lousy with crafts and I admire people who are good at it :)

    Reply
  3. The Sister In-Law says

    May 20, 2009 at 7:48 am

    Great idea and they look pretty darn nice!!! BTW I think it comes from both grandmothers, my mom was very artistic as well.

    SIL

    Reply
  4. Cate says

    May 20, 2009 at 8:34 am

    Sarah – no, not long at all. We put them outside and in less than an hour they were good to go.

    SIL – Really? I didn’t know that. We know so little about her, your brother very rarely talks about her. A shame really.

    Noobcook – Thanks!

    Reply
  5. Cathy says

    May 20, 2009 at 7:07 pm

    Looks like fun!

    Cathys last blog post..If you have time to remember to marinade….

    Reply
  6. Sara @ Our Best Bites says

    May 21, 2009 at 11:03 am

    Oh those are darling! Great idea

    Sara @ Our Best Bitess last blog post..Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

    Reply
  7. Elyse says

    May 22, 2009 at 1:56 pm

    Nick is quite the creative little guy, huh?! These fireworks flowers are an awesome decoaration for Memorial Day. Great job!

    Elyses last blog post..Glorious, glorious pound cake…

    Reply
  8. Amanda Formaro says

    March 23, 2010 at 7:59 am

    How fun to see one of my projects redone somewhere, they look GREAT!!

    Reply
  9. Caroline says

    May 14, 2012 at 7:12 pm

    Cool idea! My kids just did Memorial Day coloring pages from http://www.thecolor.com/Category/Coloring/Memorial%20Day.aspx?holiday and we’re looking for something else we could make together.

    Reply

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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