Spring Folk Art Trees

Spring Folk Art Trees

by | Mar 24, 2023 | Craft Tutorials

We’ve been studying about Colonial history this year.  The cheerful and simple folk art depicting Colonial times inspired us to learn more about folk art.  

To learn about how to make folk art trees, we watched a video on Deep Space Sparkle.

This great tutorial from Deep Space Sparkle focusses on trees in the autumn, but as it is springtime, we modified the designs for spring. 

We also chose to draw the designs with colored pencil, rather than Sharpies (a little safer with little ones!).

We also found inspiration from Cheryl Bartley designs.  She has free coloring pages too!

 

We had so much fun on a late winter (almost spring!) afternoon, looking out at the trees, and creating folk art together.  Before creating our art we spent some time looking closely at the trees.  Only God can make so many branches and leaves, but the simplicity of folk art allows us to capture the beauty of trees in a simple and fun way. Hope your family can enjoy some art time together too! Here is a sampling of our art…

folk art spring tree

folk art trees with flower embellishments

Our 8-year-old had fun adding spring blossoms to her trees.

folk art forest

folk art trees in a forest

Our 11-year-old enjoyed making a peaceful spring forest scene.

folk art winter

folk art trees with sparkling snow

Spring often comes with surprise snowfalls.  Our 8-year-old added a sprinkling of salt over her watercolor to make her trees look like they have a glimmer of snow.

folk art tree toddler

folk art trees by our toddler

Folk art is for any age.  Our toddler had so much fun painting her trees too!

folk art trees

folk art spring tree garden

Even Mama joined in the fun of painting. Making art together brings so much peace to the day!

Looking for art supplies?

Check out the links below for art supplies we love for this project.

Enjoy!

 

Note:  Some links on this page are Amazon Affiliate links.  Sparkles and Sprinkles is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Other links may or may not be affiliate links.  We provide links because we have found these products or services beneficial, and we think you might too.

Water Princess Giving Well Activity

Water Princess Giving Well Activity

by | Mar 11, 2023 | Craft Tutorials

The book, The Water Princess, tells the story of the young Georgie Badiel spending entire days walking to get water for her family in Africa. Inspired by this story, we decided to make a paper well that can be used like a Lenten paper “rice bowl” to collect money for those in need.

Simply print the free printable on cardstock and read along to learn how to create the well. The French version of the well says, “Mon Puits pour la Vie” (my well for life – “puits” rhymes with “vie”).  The English version says, “My Giving Well.”  There is also a plain version (as requested by my daughter so that she could use it with her doll house).

If you would like to read the Water Princess before you create the well, click the image for an Amazon link.

the water princess

Let’s make a well…

lent giving well

Click Here to Get your Free Printable

Print your printable on cardstock.  The printable comes in a French, English, and plain version.

the water princess

Step 1

After printing on cardstock, cut out each of the pieces of the well.

the water princess

Step 2

Tape or glue the stone well into a circle.

the water princess

Step 3

Fold tabs up around water circle.

the water princess

Step 4

Tape or glue the water circle to the inside bottom of the well.

the water princess

Step 5

Fold posts in half.

the water princess

Step 6

Fold roof in half on solid line.  Cut slits on dotted lines.

the water princess

Step 7

insert posts into slits in the roof.  Then gently bend tops of posts to secure them to the roof.

the water princess

Step 8

Tape or glue the posts to the side of the well.

the water princess

Step 9

Place coins in your well.   After saving coins, donate to people in need.

You could use your well to collect money for organizations that help those in need, near your home or around the world.

Do you have a heart for francophone Africa? Check out the wonderful work that Viridiane’s Hope for Children’s Heath and Education is doing in Cameroon!

Do you love learning through pictures books? You might love learning French with Joie de Livre: French language and culture through beautiful picture books.

“…but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14

« …l’eau que je lui donnerai deviendra en lui une source d’eau jaillissant, jusqu’à la vie éternelle. » Jean 4:14

Note:  Some links on this page are Amazon Affiliate links.  Sparkles and Sprinkles is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Other links may or may not be affiliate links.  We provide links because we have found these products or services beneficial, and we think you might too.

Make your own doll donuts!

Make your own doll donuts!

by | Feb 10, 2023 | Craft Tutorials

Watch our YouTube tutorial and have fun making these cute donuts for your dolls.  We use Model Magic, which is easy to shape and sturdy when it dries.  Scroll down to get our FREE donut box printable and other doll ideas too!

doll donut diy
doll donut box

Click on the image to get our FREE donut box printable.  Print on cardstock, then watch our YouTube short to see how to easily cut, fold, and glue the box.

doll food box printable

More fun doll ideas…

American Girl Doll Party Ideas

Doll birthday party

Knit a doll hat

Hand-sewn doll clothes

Note:  Some links on this page are Amazon Affiliate links.  Sparkles and Sprinkles is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Other links may or may not be affiliate links.  We provide links because we have found these products or services beneficial, and we think you might too.

Cinnamon Rolls for Dolls

Cinnamon Rolls for Dolls

by | Feb 9, 2023 | Craft Tutorials

Watch our YouTube video to learn how to easily make play food for your dolls, using Model Magic.  This type of clay is easy to work with and makes sturdy doll food.  Grab our free printable to make a pastry box for your doll treats too! (Our YouTube short will show you how to make the box.)

play doll food
doll play food

Supplies:

Model Magic

Paint brush

Jar of water

Watercolors

White acrylic paint

Ground cinnamon

doll food box printable

More fun doll ideas…

American Girl Doll Party Ideas

Doll birthday party

Knit a doll hat

Hand-sewn doll clothes

Note:  Some links on this page are Amazon Affiliate links.  Sparkles and Sprinkles is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Other links may or may not be affiliate links.  We provide links because we have found these products or services beneficial, and we think you might too.

Crêpes {gluten-free}

Crêpes {gluten-free}

by | Feb 2, 2023 | Breakfast Recipes, Lunch and Dinner Recipes, Main Dish Recipes, Snack and Dessert Recipes

These gluten-free light buckwheat crêpes are fun to make and can be enjoyed any time of day.  If you do not need to eat gluten-free, regular wheat flour can be substituted for the light buckwheat flour. Crêpes can be filled with a variety of tasty ingredients for a savory main meal or a sweet dessert.

gluten free crepe recipe buckwheat
crepe cooked
gluten free crepe recipe

We find inspiration for what to put in our crêpes at home by visiting crêperies. Here are some that we love…  Just click on their menus for fun inspiration, from kid-friendly pb&j, to traditional ham and cheese, to unique goat cheese and dates, to decadent ice cream and chocolate sauce…

Clifton Cafe

Fontaine Bistro

The Skinny Pancake

It was at The Skinny Pancake that we first learned of light buckwheat flour.  This amazing gluten-free flour is super healthy, and makes the crêpes look like they are made from white wheat flour. Light buckwheat has a mild, sweet flavor (not at all like the strong flavor of regular buckwheat).  We get our light buckwheat flour directly from Bouchard Family Farms (there is a significant discount for ordering in bulk).  If you just want to try one bag, it can also be ordered through Amazon.

 Crêpes can be made at home using a regular non-stick frying pan.  We love Greenlife pans.  You can also opt for a special crêpe pan with lower sides.  Another fun option is an electric crêpe pan that can be dipped into batter (I used to use this in the classroom setting for many years.  It works well and makes a very thin crepe.)

 

Let’s make crêpes!

Gather your ingredients:

6 eggs

3 cups milk of your choice

3/4 cups water

2 cups light buckwheat flour (or wheat flour for non-gluten-free option)

1/2 cup melted butter

(This recipe makes about 18 crêpes.)

 

crepe

Gather your kitchen supplies:

  • large mixing bowl
  • 1 cup dry measuring cup
  • 4 cup liquid measuring cup
  • whisk
  • frying pan or crêpe pan
  • ladle
  • spatuala

 

 

crepe

Measure, mix, pour, flip…

crepe

Step 1

Crack 6 eggs into large mixing bowl.

crepe

Step 2

Whisk eggs well.

crepe

Step 3

Measure 3 cups milk into large liquid measuring cup.

Step 4

Add 3/4 cup water to the milk.

Step 5

Pour milk and water into the whisked eggs.  Whisk again.

buckwheat crepe

Step 6

Measure 2 cups light buckwheat flour.

buckwheat crepe

Step 7

Gently pour flour into the milk and egg mixture.

Step 8

Whisk the flour into the egg and milk mixture.  Whisk well until there are no clumps of flour.

Step 9

Melt a stick of butter (1/2 cup) in a frying pan over medium heat. (Be sure to turn off the burner once the butter is melted.)

crepe batter recipe

Step 10

Pour the melted butter into the batter.

crepe batter

Step 11

Whisk the batter well.

Step 12

Heat frying pan (or crepe pan) over medium heat.  (If needed, add more butter, but the coating from the melted butter should be enough.)

crepe batter pour

Step 13

Lift the pan above the burner. Pour a ladel full of batter into the pan.  Swirl the pan so that the batter fills a complete circle. Place the pan back on the burner.

crepe

Step 14

Let the crêpe cook over medium heat for a few minutes, until it looks mostly cooked.

crepe flip

Step 15

Flip the crêpe, using a spatula.  (Or by flipping in the air!)

crepe cooked

Step 16

Let the crêpe cook for a short time on the second side.  (It will not need to cook very long, as it has mostly been cooked on the first side.)

light buckwheat crepe

Step 17

Slide the crêpes off the pan and onto a plate as they finish cooking.  Then fill them with ingredients of your choice.

Bon Appétit!

Read below for more fun with crêpes…

Did you know that on February 2nd, the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord, people in France love to get together with friends and family to make crêpes?  The French call this special day La Chandeleur.  With its round shape and golden color, the crêpe is said to symbolize the sunshine… and reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world.

A Fun French song for la Chandeleur

On fait des crêpes à la Chandeleur
Moi, je les aime au sucre et au beurre
On fait des crêpes à la Chandeleur
Quand on fait des crêpes, c’est un bonheur

This can be traslated to:

We make crêpes for la Chandeleur

Me, I love them with sugar and butter

We make crêpes for la Chandeleur

When we make crêpes, it’s a joy

A Cute Video in French – Petit Ours Brun (a sweet French cartoon character) makes crêpes with his papa.  They encounter some difficulties at first, but with practice, they make many wonderful crêpes.  Don’t lose heart if it is hard to make a crêpe on your first try!  

Note:  Some links on this page are Amazon Affiliate links.  Sparkles and Sprinkles is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Other links may or may not be affiliate links.  We provide links because we have found these products or services beneficial, and we think you might too.