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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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March 16, 2011

At the Kids Table…For St. Patrick’s Day


It’s Confession time once again…
Have you ever had one of those ideas that sounds so cute in your head and then when it comes to actually executing it you wonder what on earth you were thinking?
And then you have a whole bunch of talented people link up AMAZING creations to a party you co-host with your sister and you start squirming in your seat a little.

Because they do things with coffee filters that look like this…

This one is from The Nester
While you and your daughter make things from coffee filters that look like this!
Hmmmm…
Can’t put my finger on it but
somehow this doesn’t seem quite as creative.

And then you call your sister late at night in a panic because you are scheduled to do a crafty type post for the At the Kids Table series (even though you are the least crafty of the two sisters) and you start describing your anxiety over this ridiculous craft idea and the two of you end up just giggling uncontrollably as you plot and plan how you will make this sound even remotely appealing!
And then it hits you…or actually your sister “hits” you, in the nicest way possible of course, by telling you to just “keep it real” and fun because we all know that there is a reason why I only use my coffee filters to make, well….COFFEE!
So you throw caution to the wind.

You break out those coffee filters and get the girl set up with her favorite paints. Flatten that filter out and tell her to have at it!
Meanwhile, you realize that although you have explained to her that you are going to be making 4-Leaf Clovers out of these coffee filters and 4-Leaf Clovers, as we know, are Green, she is not going to go along with that plan and wants to paint her clover every color of the rainbow. So, you ask her if she will share her paints with you so you can make a Green clover yourself!
So you slap some green paint on 2 Coffee Filters and call it a day. 

But not before you pinch them together in the middle like so….

And then you lay them criss-crossed on top of each other…


Wrap a pipe cleaner around the middle leaving enough on the end for the “stem”….


Give it to your sweet little girl (or boy!) who proudly declares that she, “found a 4-leaf clover, mommy!” and this makes you realize something…


She doesn’t care that you can’t (or won’t try to) make one of these…

She only knows that she and her Mommy spent the morning “finding” 
those magical 4-Leaf Clovers.
And that Mommy tired quickly of painting the filters and resorted to using Magic Markers!
Seeing those filters just made me realize I haven’t had my second cup of coffee today…
Wish you could come and join me!

Thanks for stopping by the Fence,

Linking to these Parties
Swing into Spring
Wow Us Wednesday
Whassup Wednesday

16 Comments Filed Under: At the Kids Table, Good Ideas, Holidays, Kids

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Previous Post: « St. Patrick’s Day Recipes…Corned Beef Three Ways!
Next Post: Inspiration Friday Party No.7 »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. love.boxes says

    March 16, 2011 at 3:01 PM

    Love the coffee filter art! Very fun!

    Reply
  2. Val says

    March 16, 2011 at 3:06 PM

    This is such a clever idea…Avery would love this.

    Reply
  3. Val says

    March 16, 2011 at 3:06 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    Reply
  4. Sarah @ Modern Country Style says

    March 16, 2011 at 3:09 PM

    Vanessa,

    This really is one of the nicest craft posts I’ve read for a long time.

    I totally agree that it’s MUCH more important to enjoy the crafts, particularly if they’re for children, than it is for them to look all perfect and primped.

    I need to take a sheet out of your book and be more relaxed when I craft with my children and not be all, “Shall Mummy do it now” like I have been known to say!!!! Shame on me!

    Sarahxxx

    Reply
  5. Debbie says

    March 16, 2011 at 3:48 PM

    It was wonderful and wouldn’t have been nearly as much so had it all been the perfect Martha-ish craft.

    I loved the yakking to go along with it and the picture you drew in my head of your magical crafting time with your daughter.

    Made me feel good in my heart if that makes sense.

    Reply
  6. Christy says

    March 16, 2011 at 7:49 PM

    Okay, I have to laugh at myself because I thought we were going to make donuts. From my iPhone the white wreath looks like a powdered donut!!! Bahaha!
    Love the clover!!

    Reply
  7. Pam - diy Design Fanatic says

    March 16, 2011 at 9:43 PM

    Aww, the painted coffee filters sounds like a fun project! I think a bunch of them would look great in a little bucket!

    Reply
  8. Judy says

    March 16, 2011 at 11:06 PM

    What a cute idea. I just love how it came out. Thanks so much for linking up both posts to my party.

    Reply
  9. Maria Matter says

    March 16, 2011 at 11:12 PM

    omgosh I love your wreath, what a fun post!
    blessings!

    Reply
  10. Christie says

    March 16, 2011 at 5:14 PM

    Today has been a yukky day! I needed this sweet humor and a reminder of what really counts! Thanks friend! AND thanks to Heather for the corned beef recipe! I bought a big slab and usually throw it in the crock pot with the spices given with it…boring…so I am going to give this a whirl!

    Reply
  11. ⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜ says

    March 17, 2011 at 1:27 AM

    Now that is so fun! I bet the kids had a blast, I know mine would have at that age. I was not as creative back then LOL. We did a lot of play dough and clay.
    The wreath is adorable.

    Reply
  12. Ann-Marie ~ Brambly says

    March 17, 2011 at 1:56 AM

    Vanessa & Heather,

    You have been so nice to me and its helping to build my confidence in the world of blogging. I think my copper faucet is a Rohl,I’m not certain though.I’ll ask my husband if he remembers and get back to you.I can’t thank you enough for your kindness and wonderful comments.

    Fondly,
    Ann-Marie

    Reply
  13. CAS says

    March 17, 2011 at 11:30 PM

    That’s such a sweet post, Vanessa. I’d love to have coffee with you!
    CAS

    Reply
  14. kara@elements-interiors.net says

    March 20, 2011 at 4:50 AM

    This is SO CUTE!!!

    Thank you for linking this up to Whassup Wednesday! Hope to see you this week at my
    Par-Taaaay!

    xoxokara

    Reply
  15. Laurie says

    March 20, 2011 at 6:26 PM

    Vannesa, That is so sweet and so what it is all about! BRAVO!

    Reply
  16. xogetill says

    April 14, 2011 at 4:57 AM

    Beneficial info and excellent design you got here! I want to thank you for sharing your ideas and putting the time into the stuff you publish! Great work!

    generic nolvadex

    Reply

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“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom and the principles upon which our country was founded. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
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Now we’re ready to head into this beautiful weekend! ☀️
What do you do when you want to use a bunch of boo What do you do when you want to use a bunch of books in your decorating but it can cost $50 or more for just ONE brand new book? Head to the secondhand bookstore of course! I’m so excited about this new look in my family room and this easy, inexpensive decorating tip I’m bringing to you for this #tiptuesday
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This morning I was running errands and the weight of hard things that are happening in the world, the culture, my own community and even in our circle of friends just felt so heavy.

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I truly believe that as we mature in our lives and in our faith, we learn to embrace the tension that comes with the collision of different emotions and recognize that they can all coexist at the same time without one taking something away from another. Simple joys make the hard stuff a bit easier and hard stuff makes us appreciate those simple joys even more.

What’s a simple joy that you are thankful for today?
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*Friday night I joined some wonderful ladies at church for a time of fellowship and yummy desserts. I made a strawberry lemon coffee cake and it was amazing if I do say so myself. ☺️ We are new-ish to this church and have just felt so warmly welcomed and folded in which has been very healing.

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*Sitting outside for lunch with a yummy salad and iced tea felt like a little slice of heaven.

*Sunday we went to the iris gardens with my in-laws and then came home for naps and the most mouth watering ribs that my sweet husband had on the smoker all day.

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How was your weekend sweet friends? 🌸
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