DIY Turkey Snack Tins!

We are just having a ball over here at our house, coming up with fun craft ideas to dress up our holiday table!  This week, we hit up our local $ Tree and found all sorts of odds and ends to keep around for last minute activities to help the little ones stay busy & delight our Thanksgiving guests on the big day too!  

Take a look at how fun & simple these DIY Turkey Snack tins are; you can put them together in minutes and they sure make serving up treats a lot more exciting than your run-of-the-mill bowl!  Just check these out . . .

Supplies You Will Need:

~ Soup can
~ Decorative paper
~ Kraft paper/grocery bag/or Kraft gift bag
~ Glue gun & glue sticks
~ Scissors
~ Double-sided tape
~ Christmas ornament (we used a plastic one from the Dollar Tree)
~ 2 buttons
~ Orange bead (or orange felt)
~ Red ribbon

Directions:

1.) Cover your soup can with decorative paper & affix with double-sided tape.

2.) Cut 3 equal pieces of kraft paper or grocery bag (we used spare kraft gift bags from the Dollar Tree:) into equal squares about 9" x 9.5".

3.) Accordian fold all 3 pieces.

4.) Round the corners.

5.) Fold each of the folded strips of paper in half, adhering them with double-sided tape.

6.) Adhere all three piece together.

7.) Fold your paper pinwheel open, leaving one unattached portion on the bottom.

8.) Cut an oval out of leftover paper and affix it to the front, bottom (above the open portion) of your paper pinwheel.

9.) With your glue gun, attach the scrap circle to the back of the covered soup can.

10.) Cut your decorative paper into equal strips, about 3.5 inches wide and 12 inches long.

11.)  Draw the shape of a turkey feather onto the back of one of the strips.  Stack the paper strips together and cut as many 'feathers' at a time as your scissors can handle.

12.) Arrange your decorative paper feathers into a fan-shape and stick them together with your double-sided tape.

13.) Hot glue the paper feather fan to the back of the paper pinwheel.

14.) Remove the hook clasp on the front of your plastic holiday ornament.

15.) Use the hot glue gun to adhere the ornament to the front of the soup can.

16.) Cut a small piece of ribbon and hot glue it to the front, center of your ornament.

17.) Glue two buttons above the ribbon to make the 'eyes'.

18.) Next, add an orange bead under the button eyes to make the 'nose' (you can cut a small piece of orange felt for a 'nose' if you would rather:)

19.) Fill your soup can with nuts, snacks, jumbo crayons, candy, or whatever your little heart desires and set this little guy out on the table for your Thanksgiving guests to enjoy!

Isn't he just glorious?  Now I know you all are just itching to get to holiday decorating (I can tell from the Pinterest Christmas frenzy!)  But I have a few more Turkey Day crafts & decorations up my sleeve first!  I just love this holiday-all about family, friends, & gratitude; and so many fun possibilities for crafting with the kiddos too!!

Terrifically Tailgating ~ Unleash your Team Spirit!

As the days cool down (well, not here in Southern California but hopefully in your neck of the woods) and that unmistakable crispness of fall fills the air, it is football time!!  And whether you are a major fan or a complete foe of this (wonderful!!) time of year, you can't help but love a good party....or you wouldn't be over here on Juneberry Lane, right?

Here's a bit of inspiration on how to turn your run-of-the-mill tailgating party into a such a special little shinding ~ you'll keep your fanatic friends smiling even if the scoreboard doesn't look the way they want.  Take a look . . .

(Amy's Party Ideas)

(Amy's Party Ideas)

(Celebrations at Home)

(Williams Sonoma)

(Petite Party Studio)

(Petite Party Studio) 

(Petite Party Studio) 

Aren't these chili bowls complete with jars of toppings amazing?

(Petite Party Studio)

(Petite Party Studio)

(Chicago Tribune)

(Betty Crocker)

(Catch my Party)

(Giggles Galore)

I can't think of a better way to keep your spirit up throughout this football season!!  Hope you had an awesome Labor Day and can't wait to fill your fall with all sorts of autumn goodness!!

FROSTED: Surprise Luncbox Nibbles and Scribbles...For Your Littles

Every year as a child, I would always get so excited to go school shopping to get all the supplies on my list. I remember picking out colorful Lisa Frank folders for each subject, a backpack with the newest Disney Princess on it, and a plastic lunch box that always matched. I couldn't wait until school started so I could use my newest accessories.

One of my most fondest memories growing up was when I was in elementary school and I would open up my new lunch box and inside would be a note on a napkin or a special treat from my mother. It always made me smile and reminded me that no matter how hard of a day I may be having, I always had someone at home who loved me.

So, today I am sharing with parents some creative ways to make lunch extra special for your children, and show them that even though you may not be there with them at school, you're always thinking about them. Now, whether you're more culinary focused (like me) or crafty minded (like my sister), these treats and projects will be a welcome surprise to your kids' lunchbox.

For All You Amateur Chefs: Whip up a few of these scrumptious sweets that will make your little one the envy of every child in the cafeteria...plus they don't even have to know that these treats are healthy for them!

Sour Patch Grapes
(Recipe from Sweet Treats And More)

Ingredients:

• Bunch of green grapes
• 1 package of lime Jello

 Directions:

1.)  Wash grapes thoroughly. Make sure they are really wet so the gelatin powder sticks to them.

2.)  Place the gelatin powder on a plate and roll grapes into the powder, completely covering. Using two spoons will help with this. Or you can simply place the powder in a zip lock back, drop a handful of grapes in at a time and shake until covered. Refrigerate for several hours.

 

BaNilla Bites
(Recipe by Family Fresh Meals)

Ingredients:

• Mini Nilla Wafers
• Peanut or other nut butter
• Banana (sliced into 1/2 inch slices)
• Sprinkles or nonpareils

Directions:

1.)  Spread a small amount of nut butter on each wafer, place a slice of banana in the middle and then roll in sprinkles.

5-Ingredient Rice Crispy Treat Balls
(Recipe via Chocolate-Covered Katie)

Ingredients:

• 3 Cups of brown gluten free rice crispies
• 2 Teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 Teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 Cup plus 2 Tablespoons of peanut or other nut butter
• 1/2 Cup of sticky sweetener (Agave Nectar or Honey)

Directions:

1.)  Mix together your nut butter, sweetener, extract, and salt. Melt ingredients together (either in the microwave or stove), then pour over the cereal and stir very well, making sure to coat all the crispies.

2.)  Form tightly into balls. Freeze for at least a half hour before serving. These treats can be stored in the freezer, in the fridge, or loosely covered in a cool, dry place. 

For All You DIY Divas: Get out those paint brushes and markers, and create some of these fabulous lunchbox additions and accessories that will make your kids' lunches stand out in a crowd...while also providing some of that extra TLC that parents love to give.

Fruit Leather Fortune Cookies
(Recipe from Family Fresh Meals)

 Ingredients:

• Fruit leather
• 2 inch circle cutter or a small jar lid
• Parchment paper for fortunes/notes (this will prevent the note sticking to the cookie)   

Directions:

1.)  Lay fruit leather out on a cutting board. Cut 2 circles per fortune cookie.

2.)  Cut strips of parchment paper. Write a special message to your child on parchment paper. Place paper on top of the lower half of the circle.

3.)  Fold top over and pinch together the edges to form a fortune cookie.

Chalkboard Lunchbox
(Courtesy of Scissors & Spatulas)

What You'll Need:

• Metal or insulated lunchbox
• Painter's Tape
• Plastic Bag
• Chalkboard Spray Paint
• Adhesive Backed Vinyl (if using an insulated lunchbox)
• Chalk

Directions for Metal Lunchbox:

1.)   Tape around the edges of the lid and cover the rest of the lunch box with a plastic bag.

2.)  Use chalkboard spray paint to cover the inside of the lid. Once the first coat is dry, spray with a second coat and allow to dry overnight with the lid open.

3.) Write a message to your child each day with chalk.

Directions for Insulated Lunchbox:

1.)  Cut a piece of vinyl to fit the inside of the lid. Before attaching, spray paint the vinyl with chalkboard paint.

2.)  Allow the vinyl to dry overnight. Peel adhesive backing off and place on inside of lid. Use a flat edge to smooth out any bubbles.

3.)  Write a message to your child each day with chalk.

 (Image by Whisk Paper Scissors)

Butterfly Sandwich Bag Clips

(Via Juggling With Kids)

What You'll Need:

• Clothspins
• Snack size ziplock bags
• Googly eyes
• Pipe cleaners
• Glue
• Paint, glitter glue, puffy paint
• Snacks

Directions:

1.)   Decorate one side of a clothespin with either paint, puffy paint, or glitter glue. Glue two small googly eyes near the gripping end of the clothespin and let the glue dry.

2.)  Put your snack into a snack-size ziplock bag until it's a little over half full. Seal the bag, cinch the middle with your fingers, and clip it with the clothespin.

3.)  Fold down/curl the tips of a 6-inch length of pipe cleaner, then bend the entire piece in half. Clip the pipe cleaner in the clothespin.

Such easy and fantastic ways to bring some excitement into the middle of your kids' day!! What a simple way to wish your child luck on their first day of school, boost confidence before a big test, or make an extra special meal for their birthday at school.

So, after you are done packing a treat in your own Tiffin Lunchbox, add some pizzazz to your child's lunch with healthy snacks and heartwarming crafts, that will surely get an, "I love you mom!" Have a Great Weekend!