Handmade with Love: Felt Fun and Homemade Pancakes

This past week was our first week back into the homeschool routine after having a fun and memorable Christmas break.   With the hustle and bustle of the Advent and Christmas season, I didn't get a chance to post some homemade gifts our family made for loved ones for Christmas.  

I had some great fun making a few gifts with felt. (Thank you to my friend, T.D., who let me borrow her bag of felt material over the holidays!)  I thought I would share the 2 gifts I made in hopes that it will maybe inspire you to use felt in fun and festive ways!

For my parents (a.k.a "Grandpa and Nana"), I took a 4x6 photo album that I had for a few years. I used my hot glue gun to make a snowman cover by gluing black felt with glitter  to the cover and back of the album.  With scissors and patience, I snow scene was made.

On the inside, the first page of the album was covered with black and white cardstock paper and my family and I dipped our fingertips in white paint to make a family of snowmen because "We love Grandpa and Nana "snow" much!"  Each of us signed our names under our snowman and I cut out a green felt tree.  The snow was made by dipping a Q-tip into white paint and making dots.

Here are my parents opening up the snowman photo album with my cupcakes and I looking on: 

Then for my sweet niece up north, I took a large (clean) green bean aluminum can and made a "P" is for Piper "can"-tainer.  I used my hot glue gun to glue a pattern of felt around the can and then took foam shapes to finish off the decorations.  I had so much fun making this "can"-tainer for Piper.  I put in a few art supplies into her felt can in hopes she will use these items to create art projects, which she enjoys doing.   

Besides making homemade gifts with love, I enjoy finding homemade recipes that are easy, healthy, and yummy for my family.  I wanted to share a healthy homemade pancake mix that I found that my family has enjoyed eating.


I found a Healthy Homemade Pancake Mix recipe HERE at Today's Mama.

For the oat flour in the ingredient list, I just take a cup of oatmeal and grind it up in my Vitamix blender until it's a flour consistency.

I wrap any extra uneaten pancakes in saran wrap in groups of 3 or 4 and put them in the freezer.  Then during the school week the kids can reheat the pancakes in the microwave for a quick and easy breakfast.    

This is what the pancake mix looks like after you add the eggs, milk, and butter.  

 I store the mix in a large plastic (ice cream) container.

No more "Bisquick" pancakes for the Smith Family!  The homemade pancakes passed the husband and kid "test" and everyone agrees they taste delicious (and healthy too)!  Do you have a homemade pancake mix you enjoy eating?  If so, please comment below! :)

I hope you are enjoying your January 2013!

I'm linking this post to Frugal Homeschool Family Friday Link-Up