Monthly contributor post from Kristen of Celebrate Every Day with Me:

September is just about here and do you know what that means?  National Honey Month!  We’re celebrating with homemade honey granola and a honeycomb-inspired craft.  Plus, I’m sharing other ways to celebrate and have fun with honey.  Take a look!

Today’s craft will be perfect for storing your homemade honey granola.  Keep it for yourself or share it with others as a cute little gift.

What You’ll Need for our Honeycomb-Inspired Craft:

• Jar (I went with a Smucker’s Peanut Butter jar since it has straighter sides.)
• Bubble Wrap
• Yellow and White Acrylic Paint
• Foam Brush
• White Spray Paint for the Lid (or use the acrylic)
• Spray Sealer (if desired)

Begin by painting the bubble wrap with yellow paint.

Next, add white paint to selected areas.  We did this to add dimension to our design.

Roll the jar on top of the bubble wrap to create the honeycomb-inspired pattern and allow to dry.  Apply a coat of spray sealer if desired, taking care to protect the inside and rim of the jar.

Don’t forget to paint the lid.  I used white spray paint because it is so easy.  You may want to use your white acrylic paint and apply several coats.

Ingredients for our Homemade Honey Granola:

• 3 Cups of Rolled Oats (not 1-minute)
• 1 Cup Sliced Almonds
• 1/2 Cup Honey
• 1/4 Water
• 1/2 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1/2 Teaspoon Almond Extract
• 1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
• 1/4 Teaspoon Salt

Measure and mix the honey in a microwavable bowl.  Warm the honey/water mix for about 10 seconds or until thin.

Add the vanilla, almond extract, salt and cinnamon and mix together.

Then, add the oatmeal and almonds and stir until they are well covered.  Spread onto a baking sheet and press down to make it flat.

Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes.  Stir the granola and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until golden brown.  Note:  The granola will not crisp until it cools.

We decided to give our granola as a gift to our neighbor for her birthday so we added a little tag.

Here are other ideas to celebrate National Honey Month:

• Learn about the important connection between honey bees and our food supply
• Visit a bee colony
• Make honey soap
• Check out books about honey bees from the library
• Plant flowers that attract bees (check out this book:  100 Plants to Feed the Bees)
• Make honey play dough
• Start your own bee colony (check out this book:  The Backyard Beekeeper)
• Enjoy an after-school treat of fresh fruit dipped in honey
• Make a honey and sugar face scrub

     

For the younger kiddos:

     

What is your favorite honey recipe or treat?  I’m willing to bet that your kids like a plain old spoonful of honey just like mine.  Yum!

Have a Sweet Month!

Kristen of Celebrate Every Day With Me is a fun-loving mom to two kids who keep her busy and laughing. Add her great husband and the Lord to the mix and her life is one fantastic (and sometimes crazy) adventure. She is a former youth leader, professional wedding and event planner and has a degree in Christian Thought/Christian Ministry. She loves long lists, diet soda and playing jokes on her husband.

Kristen is the author of Teach Me To Serve:  99 Ways Preschoolers Can Learn To Serve & Bless Others.  On her blog, you’ll find fun ideas for children’s activities, creating memorable moments and party planning.