Category Archives: DIY

diy: custom colored blocks …

July 9, 2012

i enjoy simple toys for my children.  i love to see them play with toys that make the wheels in their heads start to turn.  blocks are a great toy, because every kid loves to play with them and build things.

as a mom of young children, i am constantly picking the same messes over and over.  so, it helps when the toys are pretty to look at while i’m picking them up!

we made these fun neon colored blocks.  and, they were very easy to make!  you only need a few supplies, and you can do any color you want!

i am sharing the full tutorial over on my post for hellobee today!  be sure to check it out, here!

there’s nothing like playing with beautiful things!

{all photos by me, caroline armelle drake}

diy: magnetic chalkboard trays

June 29, 2012

Summer is finally here!  And, for many of us, that means lots of road trips in the car, and extra time to entertain the little ones.

I made some chalkboard trays to help keep my kiddos entertained this summer, and keep them fresh on their letters!

They are so easy to make!  You only need a few supplies.

The chalkboard tray is perfect for your children to doodle their letters, or use it as a tray to hold their toys as they play in the car.

It is perfect that it is magnetic too!  They can use it to play with their favorite magnets!

For the full tutorial on how to make magnetic chalkboard trays, check out my post over on Hellobee today!  Click here.

{all photos by caroline armelle drake}

gourmet tin foil dinners …

we went camping recently, and we made some pretty killer tin foil dinners.

just because your camping, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have good food!  tin foil dinners are nice because they can be prepared in advance, and while you are camping you can just throw them in the fire and dinner is ready to go in no time.

making tin foil dinners is simple, and you can “gourmet them up” pretty easy by adding a few little extras like amazing veggies, seasoned meat, and some amazing herbed butter.

I started by mixing up some ground beef with a half an onion, 2 cloves of garlic and some spices, salt and pepper and a little ketchup.  You can season them to your preference! Mix well.

Next, I mixed up a little butter with fresh herbs! Chives, Thyme, basil, salt and pepper.

For the vegetables I decided to chopped up fresh corn on the cob, thinly sliced potatoes, carrots, peppers, green beans, onions. Whatever sounds good to you!  You can slightly steam or boil the veggies ahead of time to cook faster if you choose.

For each dinner.  I placed a large piece of foil, and a piece of parchment inside. This will help from sticking.  I then placed a large pat of the herbed butter and spread it around to help avoid sticking.  Next about a hamburger size patty of the ground beef mixture, then topped with a mixture of the vegetable options of my choice.  The neat thing is that you can make these ahead and custom to each persons preference of toppings.  I added more of the herbed butter to the top, and a good amount of salt and freshly ground pepper.

Wrap up the tin foil in half then fold down the seems, then in half the other side then fold down the seems.

Cook in an open campfire close to the heated embers for the best heat.  About 25 minutes or so and turn half way or until meat and vegetables are cooked through.

Enjoy!