Turkey Votive Tutorial

One of my favorite things about Thanksgiving is coming up with inexpensive, but creative and beautiful ways to decorate the table.  This year, because it will be Elli's first Turkey day, the table is going to be kid-themed.  In preparation I had my niece and nephew over to create the main centerpieces.

Once I saw the idea for this votive, I knew it would be perfect for our theme.  I followed the main instructions from here, but added a few of my own modifications.

The biggest differences on our turkeys are the size and the heads.  When I went shopping the dollar store only had the larger bubble votives, but I think I like the result of the bigger turkey much more than I would have liked the standard size.

For the head I used a styrofoam ball (I found a ten pack at the dollar store) and covered it with the darker colored tissue and mod podge.

Here are a few tips and modifications: 
Get all of the cutting done and supplies gathered and organized ahead of time.  My niece and nephew love to do crafts, but expecting them to wait around happily while I prep isn't very realistic.  I also made my own turkey so that I would have a sample to show them.

I also covered the heads ahead of time.  The small size would have made it difficult for the kids to cover well (there's a lot of wrinkling/tearing tissue involved when you add the mod podge).  Putting a bamboo skewer into the styrofoam ball made them much easier to work with and to dry.

I cut the tissue paper for the body into petal/feather shapes instead of squares.  I did this for two reasons.  1: I thought bigger pieces would be take a bit less time to cover the votive (thus not using up my nephew's patience) 2: I just thought the new shape would be prettier

Layers of tissue paper stick together when you cut them.  Next time I would do a better job separating the tissue "feathers".  It was a bit difficult for little sticky fingers to do this.

The most difficult part of the entire project is painting the mod podge over the tissue paper.  The paper is delicate, so it tears easily.  This frustrated my perfectionist nephew.  I had to help both of the kids with this part.

  While the bodies dried (it takes about 30 minutes) we added the pieces to the turkey's head (we a little used Mod Podge instead of glue) and covered a few plain votives I had around the house with left over tissue. 

We also used this time to prep the tail-feathers.  Instead of just folding them in half we looped them (kind of like the cause ribbons) in a criss cross fashion.  The kids needed a little help getting started with this.

Once the body was dry we attached the head with hot glue (it's much faster than tacky glue), but did attach the tail-feathers with tacky glue.

One other modifications we made was cover the "stems" of the tail-feathers with extra body "feathers".  I thought this just made it look a little more finished.  We did this by placing Mod Podge under the tail feathers, sticking on the petal shaped feathers, then covering the ends with another layer of Mod Podge.

Our final step was to add eyes.  Instead of using beads or googly eyes (I hate googly eyes) we used a sharpie.  My niece gave her turkey girly eyelashes and my nephew gave his turkey "surprised eyebrows".  Battery operated votives (2 for $1 at the Dollar Tree) were placed inside.

The finished products!

Chicken and Green Beans

It's been one of those days...for a few days now.  First it was me, now it is baby all stuffed up, achy and feeling yucky.  Contentment comes in small bursts in between fitful sleep and whining discomfort.  Yesterday, however, we received a sudden window of joy.

Due to illness, it's been a few days since real and true connection and my heart was longing, missing the One.  Baby and I sat down for breakfast and said a small  familiar prayer, "Thank you, Jesus, for this food, bless it to our bodies, amen."  With an urge in my spirit I added one more simple phrase, "We miss you, Jesus, please be here today."  The meal was finished and then we went on to play, struggle with runny noses, and, finally, nap.

We prepared to sit down once again, this time for chicken, green beans and applesauce, my attempt for a rounded baby meal.  The quiet, germ-filled air needed something.  I choose a Julie Meyer cd based on a tiny tug I feel in my heart.  Worship and praise began to fill the room as we worked on learning to both chew chicken and like green beans.  Words of desire to know God pour all around us.

Soon we are worshipping.  Hands in the air in between miniscule bites of lunch.  I'm thankful for food for our bodies and spirits.  Rythm and lyrics of joy and dancing begin to bounce throughout the kitchen.  We are whisked away in our own private time of celebration.  Food waits as we whirl, twirl and hop before this precious loving God that has overwhelmed us with the goodness of love and the provision of promise. 

I missed the One and He came with joy...right in the middle of chicken and green beans.

Yay for Scarf Season!

Scarves, scarves, scarves.  I love them.  I want more of them for myself and my friends.  I'm not rich nor can I sew, knit or crochet, so how do I get my hands on more scarves?

Here are a few great solutions on Grosgrain

Some of these beauties are beyond my skill level (ie. sewing, knitting, etc), but several of them are easy enough that even I, the non-sewing Martha wannabe, could make them.  Each one of these has a link to a tutorial that you can find on the Grosgrain blog. 

Now here's the big question, which to start?  I'm thinking 8, 9 and 19 are my favorite (within my capabilities)...which ones are your favorite?

Secret's Out

My partner in crime may kill me for this, but I can't keep this secret any longer. 

I've been cheating with another...blog. 

Here it is, our "so honest it's scary, but hopefully it'll help us AND others" blog.

Go ahead and take a peek, and let us know what you think...maybe even become a subscriber (follow).  You might just like it.

This is why...*sigh*

This is why I need to learn how to sew...

And this...

And these...

Too bad I can't even sew a straight line...*sigh*...someday...