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Archive for the ‘St. Patricks Day’ Category

I finally made my shamrock lapel pin, did you?  It ‘s not much and I didn’t spend a lot of time on it but I will wear it on March 17th!  I actually made it during craft time with my 4yr old and my 22 month old so I just used their stuff. 

So I did it a little different than the last posts but that’s okay cause it was an idea….you can make your shamrock your way with the craft items you have.  I drew a shamrock on a green piece of construction paper, cut it out and spread craft glue on the side I wanted to be the front.  Then I sprinkled green glitter on it and let it dry.  Once dry I shook all the loose glitter off and discarded.  I took a small peice of green chenille and shaped it into a “stem” for the shamrock.  I used double stick tape just because I didn’t want the hot glue gun going with my two littles at the same table…they are curious little creatures and even if you tell them it’s hot…what do they do?? You got it they touch and cry out “It’s HOT!”  That’s when  a parent can say I told you so…hehehe.  Okay, I digress and I applied the pin back with double stick tape as well.   So far, so good and obviously if I have trouble I’ll just to back and use craft glue or hot glue. 

Oh and get this I only had silver glitter so I had to make my green glitter.  How you ask?  Well when I get gifts I keep all intact bows, tissue paper, bags and boxes for future use.  Some people may think I’m crazy but let me tell you I haven’t bought a bow, bag or wrapping paper in 5 years!!  Well maybe a few here  and there but for the most part I have recycled.  So I found a shiny green Christmas bow, you know one of those small ones.  I took the bow completly apart and cut the ribbon length wise about 2-3″inches at a time and then cut vertically to make small squares and I did this until I had a desired amount of “glitter”.  You may be able to see by the picture that the glitter is bigger than glitter you buy in the store but that’s okay, or alteast it was for me ’cause it makes it unique and your own.  That’s what crafting is all about!  And some people think you need fancy stuff to craft but all you need are some scrap supplies and an idea!

I know you are not here for a history lesson but don’t worry I’m no history buff but it is interesting, if you don’t know, why we celebrate certain holidays and their true meaning, who’s behind it etc.  Well this is an excerpt from the Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Patrick’s_Day):

“Saint Patrick’s Day (Irish: Lá ’le Pádraig or Lá Fhéile Pádraig), colloquially St. Paddy’s Day or Paddy’s Day, is an annual feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick (circa 385–461 AD), one of the patron saints of Ireland, and is generally celebrated on March 17.”  Here is another interesting tidbit…never thought of a clover in this fashion until I read this:  “Legend also credits Patrick with teaching the Irish about the concept of the Trinity by showing people the shamrock, a 3-leaved clover, using it to highlight the Christian belief of ‘three divine persons in the one God’ (as opposed to the Arian belief that was popular in Patrick’s time).^[when?]“ 

Wow, that just gave me an idea for a Religious St. Patrick’s Day Wrapper!  I can’t wait to design it!  I’ll post a picture once I have completed it!  I’ll also add it to the featured products page.

Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?  Is it more than just a day to wear green for you?  Is it part of your heritage?  I’d love to read about how you and your family celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.  My BFF’s birthday is March 17th so I know how she celebrates!  Balloons and cake.  This year is extra special because she is going to be a first time mommy!  How exciting. 

I don’t really celebrate St. Patrick’s Day but any holiday, no matter how big or small to each person out there, is a day to take advantage and celebrate.  Perhaps you really don’t know what a particular holiday’s real meaning is or how the tradition started.  Google it on the internet and you will find tons of information just make sure you’re on a valid site so the information you are reading is accurate.  Or take your kids to the library and check out a book and learn together.  My 4 yr old has seen a show about the library and he really wants to go now.  We are still fairly new to the area so I need to find it and get some cards…LOL! 

My favorite thing for holidays is cake and crafts.  I like to make specialty cakes for my family, especially at birthdays.  Yes, I decorate cakes as a hobby.  I enjoy it, the kids love it and it tastes great!  I’ll have to make a shamrock cake for St. Patrick’s…that one will be easy. 

I was looking in my closet and noticed I don’t have  a lot of green to wear so I’m going to do a little craft with my kids that I think they will like.  We are going to make some shamrock lapel pins to wear March 17th so we don’t get pinched.  I’ve seen several different ways to make these but I’m going to use things I already have around the house and I’ll post a picture of that as well once I get it made.  What I plan to do is draw a shamrock onto a scrap piece of thick chipboard (I just used up all the sheets of paper on a pad/notebook and I’m going to use that thick brown board for my shamrock) then I’ll cut it out and paint it green with some craft paint I already have.  Once that dries I will smear craft glue that dries clear onto the entire shamrock and sprinkle green glitter to completely cover the shamrock.  After that has dried I will hot glue a 3″ green chenille stem and pin back on and voila, a shamrock lapel pin! 

*If you need a template for your shamrock just google it and print one you like and use it as a template for your pin.