Welcome summer!
In celebration… I decided to create this very functional and FUN centerpiece for the island in my kitchen. I saw something similar to this in the Rachael Ray magazine this month… I don’t normally look at this mag as cooking isn’t my thing (see last post!!) but my mom was in town and she loves it. this was something that they showed for a dinner party w/ kids… that you could line the table w/ butcher paper and let them color during dinner etc. well, I decided that it would be the perfect cure for boredom for my kids. They love to sit and draw, write and color. Nothing is more inspiring than a whole bunch of art supplies and a stack of white paper! I bought this serving tray at target, along w/ the plastic cups, new markers, pencils and crayons… and well, I had to buy the gobstoppers cause they looked so cute with the dots on the tray. I think it’s important that the kids practice math, journaling, spelling… that kind of thing. I am trying to come up with a ‘routine’ that even I can stick with that will include some constructive activities…
But when all else fails… quincy quiet for ½ hour coloring is golden! Easy enough.
I am loving the bright colors! Just had to share…
Monique
24 May, 2007 at 5:15 pmAhhhh, I just bought a TON of supplies for the girls and they have been perfect little angels (okay almost perfect)….but that is just a WAY cute way that you organized it. Cute stuff.
kelley pierce
24 May, 2007 at 5:55 pmseriously copying this idea. what a wonderful thing–so fun, so creative and a little quiet time for mom to boot. gotta love it. also love the gifts for the teacher–gonna do that too but i still have 2 more weeks until our district is out.
thanks for the great ideas.
stephanie
24 May, 2007 at 6:02 pmWhat a neat idea!
bethy
24 May, 2007 at 6:12 pmcute! thanks 🙂
Shannon Lowe
24 May, 2007 at 6:27 pmoh my gosh! I was just at target today (buying a cute clock! 😉 ) and I almost bought this tray just because it was so “happy”…
I think I need to go back! Thanks for the inspiration!
Nicole Ward
24 May, 2007 at 6:55 pmThanks so much for sharing this idea. Love it! I guess I’ll be at Target this weekend!
catherine feegel-erhardt (MMM 2007)
24 May, 2007 at 7:22 pmthe erhardts are so going to have one of these on the table….
thanks for the inspiration!
catherine
Sara
24 May, 2007 at 7:23 pmI totally saw this and wanted to do it!! Awesome job Heidi. I also saw that tray at Target and wanted it for summer. Now I have a reason for it 🙂
Gramkas
24 May, 2007 at 8:10 pmOK you outdid Rachel Ray big time!!! I love it!! You are so not a slacker…you put this together in less than 24 hours after I left. It looks like a great “baby sitter” for a few hours.
Sharon
24 May, 2007 at 8:19 pmI want this on my table and I don’t have kids (but I do love doodling on the table while I wait for someone to bring me dinner)! Maybe I could invite my niece over a lot so I’d have an excuse! Love it!
Sue M
24 May, 2007 at 8:23 pmKeep those ideas coming. My husband is staying home with the kids and “Camp Dad” sure could use some fun ideas. Last year they learned how to seal coat the driveway and window replacement.
kim b
24 May, 2007 at 8:46 pmI am going to make this for my table tomorrow! I am such a copycat! My kids can draw for hours!
Bonafyde
24 May, 2007 at 11:44 pmLOVE IT! Awesome idea!
LN
25 May, 2007 at 12:40 amWonderful, fun and functional center piece for kids!!!! Love it!
Idan Asinely
25 May, 2007 at 3:08 amcool idea!
Marty
25 May, 2007 at 5:20 amI am heading to Target! Thanks for the inspiration!
Shealynn
25 May, 2007 at 6:22 amVery Cute! And VERY inspiring!! I did end up doing your beach towel and magazine idea for my daughter’s teachers, and they LOVED it! Thank you for so much inspiration!!
jackie
25 May, 2007 at 6:36 amAwesome idea….I might try this idea for our upcoming family reunion. We have alot of small children. Thank you.
Kim Bolyard
25 May, 2007 at 7:12 amawesome idea…I am off to target right now.
peace
kim
tina
25 May, 2007 at 8:03 amWhat a great excuse to buy all those awesome bright colors Target has right now. I am loving the blue with the red strawberries myself (bought the strawberry placemats to decorate the walls in my DD bedroom! The fresh art supplies are on my list as well – now it’s to make mommy happy too!
Please share what you come up for kiddos this summer – I am in the same boat and getting there too!
You rock woman!
Brenna
25 May, 2007 at 9:07 amWhat a fun idea. No kids in my house but I just had to comment. The picture along looks so fun. Might need to incorporate that into scrapbooking somehow. Thanks for sharing Heidi!
Brenna
25 May, 2007 at 9:08 amWhat a fun idea. No kids in my house but I just had to comment. The picture along looks so fun. Might need to incorporate that into scrapbooking somehow. Thanks for sharing Heidi!
Brenna
25 May, 2007 at 9:11 amWhat a fun idea. No kids in my house but I just had to comment. The picture along looks so fun. Might need to incorporate that into scrapbooking somehow. Thanks for sharing Heidi!
Pineconegirl
25 May, 2007 at 9:42 amThis is perfect. Who doesn’t love brand new supplies and what a great way to insure that everything gets back in place when you are finished with it.
Leah
25 May, 2007 at 10:03 amWay cool idea, I am copying it ASAP. Much cuter than the shoe box with everything mixed up and broken, and missing lids that I usually have around.
Leah
25 May, 2007 at 10:04 amWay cool idea, I am copying it ASAP. Much cuter than the shoe box with everything mixed up and broken, and missing lids that I usually have around.
Jamie
25 May, 2007 at 11:44 amVery cute idea!
I saw that adorable tray at Target this morning.
Hope you and your family have a fabulous Memorial Day weekend!
Jamie ~ Alabama
Raven
25 May, 2007 at 11:49 amThat is SUCH a fabulous idea! That whole polka-dot/candy line at Target has me drooling every time I see it. Going to buy this tonight & do it for my little ones (and okay, myself, too!). 🙂
Tam
25 May, 2007 at 1:28 pmHope you and your family enjoy your Dream Dinner meals. We don’t have DD’s around here but we have other places that are the same thing. Let me tell ya. They are a total lifesaver. My hubby and I are always getting food from there. It’s so quick and easy. Well worth the $$. Enjoy!
Tam in Tx
Crystal
25 May, 2007 at 2:45 pmI am so doing this for a birthday present for a little girl next month! Thanks for sharing all your fabulous ideas!!!
kimberly
25 May, 2007 at 6:11 pmwow loved this idea it is absolutely fabulous….mine is already set up and my kids havent left the table for over an hour ….i added the cute candy placement under the tray off to the side a little so you can see how cute the candy and polka dots look and of course had to put candy necklaces in one of the cups….heidi you are awesome thanks for all your heart and soul you put into your work and products !!!!!!!
Karen K
25 May, 2007 at 10:48 pmOh so cute. I love this idea for me, but I’m going to set it up in my department (I manage a Creative Service department) — I want to get them away from their Macs and get their hands dirty! Thanks Heidi!
PS Of course, I’ll have to make this for my own studio! haha
Paul-ene
26 May, 2007 at 12:35 amGotta love the smarties in there and yummy candy.~hee
Great set up……love it! So full of color and looks like so much fun. TFS!
PROLIX from la Normandie
26 May, 2007 at 4:35 amitsa paradise island!!!
cool!
Prolix
{ThE fReNcH tOuCh}
artsy english-français blog
http://prolix.typepad.fr
Laura
26 May, 2007 at 7:10 amHah! Brilliant! Especially for living in AZ and needing some indoor downtime activities! Thanks!
Marilyn
26 May, 2007 at 9:14 amLove it! I am going to be doing this also. I have all our stuff hidden in the closet and with the hot AZ weather, it’s nice to have something fun out at all times. Thanks for the great ideas. You are a fabulous person, keep it up!
Ashley
26 May, 2007 at 4:54 pmThis is a fabulous idea…I may have to copy!!
😉 Thanks for always having something cute to share!
Kristina Lewis
27 May, 2007 at 7:34 amI love it! Thanks for posting this, how inspiring!
kerry davis
28 May, 2007 at 5:18 amI am totally going to Target to copy your centerpiece!!
Your new garage doors ROCK – they are so elegant looking, I really love ’em.
Are you keeping your baby boy’s name a secret??? I’m dying to know what it is. I love, love, love the name Capri. . . Okay, and if you *are* keeping it a secret, you can just send me an e-mail and I promise not to tell. ~ Gosh, I am really not some crazed Heidi Swapp stalker. =)
LenaS
28 May, 2007 at 5:57 pmHa, I almost bought one of these trays to alter as a gift for your B-day…glad I didn’t now. We must B on the same wavelength! Great idea!
Brooke
29 May, 2007 at 10:45 amThat is so much fun!
Samm
31 May, 2007 at 12:28 amHmmmmm, lovely pens and sweeties, what a fab combination!!!
Samm
http://samm-l.blogspot.com
Sara
8 June, 2007 at 10:17 amI love that idea for the island!! How creative – I know my kids will totally enjoy it! Guess I’m off to Target to get some supplies – thanks for sharing this awesome idea!!
sara's art house
15 July, 2008 at 4:53 amSo cute!!!!!!
Deb
15 July, 2008 at 5:44 amThat would look GREAT in my new school room. Thanks for the inspiration.
Michie
16 July, 2008 at 7:49 pmI love this – and I think my daughter would love it too. When I first saw it, I thought it was on a Lazy Susan – that way you could just spin it around to get what you want. 🙂
apple
18 July, 2008 at 11:33 amI love that idea. I did something similar for my art stuff. I just bought a lazy susan and put my art supplies just like that in cups. I love it b/c everything is right at my reach.