Mother's Day Handmade Gifts

All week I have been trying to think of some creative handmade gifts for Elisha and I to make together for his grandmothers for Mother's Day. We have been working out in our flower beds this week and doing some spring cleaning around the house and while doing these things I stumbled upon a few ideas. When organizing and cleaning out my office/craft room I found some soy wax candle making supplies that I had ordered off Etsy last year when I thought that I might want to start making candles to list in my shop (I found out that I do NOT want to do that anymore).
 Anyway, I decided that Elisha and I would paint up some of the candle votives and make some candles to put in them and pretty them up for the grandmas.

Here is what we came up with:

 

 Here is how you can make your own:

What you will need (ignore the coffee making supplies in the background ;):
1 lb of soy wax flakes
wicks
wick bases
double boiler
fragrant oils  (I used coconut and lime)
food coloring or dye (I didn't color our candles)
Paints and paint brushes
Ribbon.

First, put water in your base pot for the double boiler and then insert the inside pot and heat it up to a boil on the stove.
  Add, wax flakes and let them melt (you can stir it if you like). 

While the wax was melting I painted our candle votives.

Once, the wax has melted stick wick in wax and them pull it out. Let the wick dry.

Stick the dry waxy wick in it's base and glue it to the bottom of the  votive.

Use a dowel rod or clothes pin to hold the wick up.

After votive has dried from painting, pour molten wax in it.
Then make a cute little card or label to stick on it!

...OR if your don't want to mess with the candle mess fun you can use the cute, painted votives for planting flowers (I let Elisha make this one for me;) ).

Happy Mother's Day, Mamas!

Crayon Caddy

In honor of my son, Elisha's 3rd birthday today, I wanted to share the crayon caddy I made for him as one of his gifts, as well has a neat tutorial to show you how to make one too. I didn't take pictures of my process of making his caddy and kind of just made up my own pattern. But, I found a great tutorial at Just Another Hang Up that shows you how to make a cute little crayon caddy.

Here is the super cute caddy from Just Another Hang Up:

Here is the crayon caddy I made for my boy:

I can't wait to give Elisha his caddy tonight at his birthday party! I know it will be something he will want to take in the car on trips and to church as a quiet activity during service. :)