I’m so thrilled, flattered, tickled, excited to be named in the Parents magazine Best of the Web list for 2016! With so many crafty sites out there, I’m really honored that they chose Project Kid to represent in the play category.

Head over to Parents.com and get your bookmarking finger ready! There are some good resources in this list that you’ll be psyched to know!

When it comes to decorating a nursery, it’s easy to focus on the big statement-makers: Wallpaper, decals, or even a hand-painted mural are great for setting the tone, fast. But don’t overlook the small, sweet design details — like kid-friendly art or a modern weaving — that you’ll find your eyes traveling to again and again during all those middle-of-the-night feedings and lullabies before bed. This playful, Matisse-inspired take on a diorama is just the kind of DIY that will delight in baby’s room — and might even migrate beyond the nursery walls in years to come. The best part? You can customize it in any color combination you like.

Let’s get started.

You will need:

• 14-inch embroidery hoop (1 inch deep)
• 1/8-inch balsa wood sheets (totaling at least 2 to 3 square feet)
• Pencil
• Utility knife
• Emery board
• Acrylic paint (4 to 5 colors)
• Paintbrush
• Scissors
• Wooden coffee stirrers
• Hot-glue gun
• Cutting mat
• Gloss varnish (optional)

Step 1: Use a pencil to draw leaf shapes on the balsa wood. My leaves ranged in size from 3 to 5 inches tall. (Remember that the more complicated the shape, the trickier the turns you’ll have to make with your utility knife.)

Step 2: Working over a cutting mat, cut out the leaves with the utility knife. Don’t try to go all the way through the wood on the first cut. It’s better to score it with a shallow cut and then go back over each line 2 or 3 times to make it all the way through.

Step 3: Once the leaves are cut, use the emery board to sand down the edges.

Step 4: Paint each leaf and a coffee stirrer to match. (Since balsa wood is so porous and absorbent, it’s best not to use paint that is too watery, as it can warp the wood.) Set these aside to try.

Step 5: Trace the bottom fifth of the hoop onto a sheet of balsa wood and cut out a 2-inch tall wedge with a wavy top edge. Once cut, trace that shape and cut another identical piece.

Step 6: Paint the hoop and the two wedge pieces one color. Let dry.

Step 7: Hot glue the wedges to the front and back of the hoop’s bottom edge.

Step 8: Hot glue the matching painted coffee stirrers to the backs of the leaves.

Step 9: Trim coffee stirrers with scissors to create varying heights. Hot glue the sticks to the inside edges of the wedges, gluing some inside the front and some inside the back to create depth.

Optional: Spray with a gloss varnish to seal.

 In January 2016, I got to return to Alt Summit, the most fantastic conference for design and lifestyle bloggers. It was my second time, both as a speaker and an attendee—and I can’t tell you how much I learn about blogging and the business behind being an influencer in those three days. It’s such a warm, open community of mostly women wanting to see each other succeed.

I was lucky enough to join a dinner with the folks at Collectively Inc, an influencer marketing agency that helps brands connect with bloggers, Instagrammers, and the like reach new audiences. At dinner, I sat near Anna, the community manager for Collectively, and learned that she lives not far from me in Brooklyn. We had coffee a few weeks after Alt and she asked if our conversation could be featured in their Coffee With Collaborators column on their blog. Yes, obviously.

We talked about everything from my current work, to my books, to the fact that my kids think I play with arts and crafts all day. You can read the full interview here!

When my almost 4-year-old daughter Sommer requested a science party for her birthday, I did a little silent cheer. This meant I didn’t have to do the princess thing (not that there’s anything wrong with it), Dora (not that there’s anything wrong with it), or a Frozen (not that there’s anything wrong with it) birthday party. And then she threw in the rainbow element which meant we could have great party programming plus great decor!

My challenge became…what kind of science can I do with 20 preschoolers? So I decided to keep it pretty simple and I stuck to a few activities…scientist apron decorating, name badge decorating, Magic Grow capsules, walking water, elephant toothpaste, and pass the parcel. (Now that I’m reading this list, it doesn’t seem so “simple” after all!)

For decorations, I covered our big cabinet with these colorful pinwheels. The lighter ones are from Shop Sweet Lulu and the brighter ones were from my local party store. We also downloaded some science lab symbols and printed them on bright paper to add the science element to the rainbow. I also bought 2 of these tassel garlands from Michaels (they have rainbow colors in store), bright balloons, and I created her name in rainbow scrapbooking paper which was hanging over the television.

When the kids came in, they each got an apron and fabric markers, both super-affordable from OrientalTrading.com. We weren’t doing anything super messy, but I thought it would get them into the science lab spirit.

Then we headed over to Sommer’s Science Lab, and the kids put on their special scientist glasses. We talked about science and what their definitions of science were.

In front of each kid, was a paper cafeteria tray (one of my favorite items to use at any craft event) filled with goodies: glasses, scientist name tags with stickers to decorate, a test tube, and a Magic Grow Capsule with a cup for water. The kids dropped in the capsules to see what they became. Some got vehicles, some got bugs, and some got dinosaurs. They take a little time to open up, so we talked about how all living things grow and transform and that that’s a part of science.

Then we moved to the floor to do a few experiments. The first was called Walking Water. Just fill a few jars with different colored water (I used food coloring and created a rainbow since the party was rainbow science). Fold a paper towel into thin strips, dipping the ends into the adjacent jars. The kids talked about color mixing…how green, orange, and purple are made.

For our second experiment, we made elephant toothpaste. Here is the recipe I used from PBS. For the best results, you definitely want to get the 6% hydrogen peroxide. We used the 3% because we had it, but I think the results of the stronger will get more oohs and ahhs. The kids loved it nonetheless and had a great time talking about what kind of toothpaste elephants would use.

What you need:

• Hydrogen peroxide (see note above)
• Plastic bottle
• Dish soap
• Warm water
• Dry active yeast
• Food coloring
• A funnel

1. Using the funnel, pour 4 oz of hydrogen peroxide and 2 oz of dish soap into the bottle.
2. Add food coloring. (We probably added about 12 drops of purple.)
3. In a separate container, mix dry yeast with warm water. And let it sit for 5 minutes.
4. Add the yeast/water to the bottle and watch it bubble! (With the stronger peroxide it shoots ups a bit more. Next time!)

We ended the party with a round of pass the parcel (a great way to hand out party favors!) and bite-size cupcakes by Baked by Melissa.

A great time was had by all!

Special thanks to Oriental Trading and Shop Sweet Lulu (my fave party shop on the web) for some of the goodies provided for the festivities! 

I’m a little obsessed with honeycomb paper. It wasn’t until about last year that I learned that you could actually buy the paper and cut any shapes you want. It a little bit turned my world upside down. Easter has a history of using honeycomb paper in its decor…maybe because it is so delicate and sweet. Like spring flower petals.

Here are 3 Easter icons that you can make so easily with this awesome material (you can buy it at Devra Party). Happy Spring everyone!

THE GOOD OLE EASTER EGG

1. Cut two half egg shapes, about 2 inches tall, from the straight edge of the honeycomb paper (make sure the lines of the paper are always running horizontally). Cut the bottom edge straight across so that your egg can stand.
2. Use glue dots or a tape runner to attach to sides of the egg together.
3. Cut a piece of rick rack that will wrap around the egg. Use glue dots to attach it to the back of the egg.

THE EASTER BUNNY

1. Cut a template that looks like an uppercase B. Trace it twice onto the honeycomb paper and cut both out. A good size for the height is about 2 to 3 inches tall.
2. Glue both flat sides together to make a 3D shape with glue dots or a tape runner.
3. Cut ears from crepe paper—one outer ear and one inner ear. Glue to the top of the bunny’s head.
4. Glue black eyes in place and a pale nose. I used small brads for the eyes and a small wooden bead for the nose. Glue a small white pompom to the bum.

SWEET CHICKADEES

1. Cut two 1-inch tall 1/2 egg shape from the yellow honeycomb paper.
2. Glue the two sides together with glue dots or a tape runner.
3. Glue a small feather puff into the top of each head.
4. Glue small wooden beads as eyes and a piece of orange tissue paper as the beak.