Søren and I made a Christmas wreath for the door. I "learned" how to make a wreath with him last year. We used the toddler method for learning, i.e. deconstruction of an existing model. We saved all the parts (except the greenery) and now we've reconstructed. Lovely!Unfortunately, there is no part three to my walnut shell series. I was most excited about "part three," and so I had saved it for last. I found a recipe for recycling old soap bits into new soap with walnut bits for an exfoliating treat. I am now suspicious that the person who posted this recipe had never actually tried it themselves. I tried my food processor to pulverize the shell bits (as the recipe called for) and am now a little worried I damaged my blade (I tried every blade I have, all two of them). No luck. Next I tried using my ceramic mortar and pestle. No luck. I am not going to make soap with walnut hunks so large that you might injure yourself rather than exfoliate yourself after receiving it as a Christmas gift.
However, the three projects I shared in part 1 and part 2 are now all hung on our tree. Dare I say that they look cute?! I am quite pleased with their sweet, homey addition to our tree. I only wish one of my dear friends with a decent camera were here to take some pictures so that I could adequately share them with you. Instead, you will get ugly flash pictures that completely ruin the magical effect of the tree.
Here's one blurry attempt at catching the lights(6 walnut ornaments and 1 acorn pictured, can you find them?)
Penelope's First Christmas ornament
Christmas Sailing
Three treasure walnuts
Another "nut" ornament.I was quite fond of this one.
I think I will make LOTS more next year.
i love the walnut boat!
ReplyDeletetoo bad the walnut exfoliating thingy didn't work out....it would have been most excellent!
Love your nutty ideas ;-D! We have walnut shells and have made boats and floated them in the sink. I love the bright ones with treasures inside.
ReplyDeleteWe love the boats too! In fact, the boys made some that I didn't put on the tree that we have taken in the tub.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for the boys to use the nutcracker (or "walnut opener" as Soren calls it) Christmas morning =)
I'm a nut!
Teal - yes, I was most disappointed with the walnut exfoliating!
It's a treat to see your tree, and those walnuts work in so many creative ways. Merry Christmasing to you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Deanna! You are welcome to come see it in person too =)
ReplyDeleteLovely Christmas decorations!
ReplyDeleteYouch! I hope you didn't ruin your food processor! The only way I can think of getting the walnut shells to small enough pieces is to use a hammer on a piece of wood. But then, thinking this through, I'm not sure I'd want tiny walnut pieces going down my bathroom drain. That sounds like a recipe for a second disaster! So, I am tossing my broken walnut shells, but those of you with wood stoves should know - they make excellent kindling! My family always uses them for a fire starter.
Melanie - Oh my, I didn't even think about walnut powder and drain damage. Luckily we don't have to know! Kindling is a good idea! I actually tossed all the bits into the top of our potted orchids. I had been through too much with them to just toss them out =)
ReplyDeleteI love hearing from you and about your life! You're wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIs "Jay" Cas?! If so, you are wonderful too!
ReplyDeleteYou guys are nuts....in a good way.
ReplyDeleteLove the cheery little tree with all its milestone ornaments. Sweet, just sweet.