About Me

Welcome to Housing A Forest!

I’m so exited you found my little creative corner of the internet!

I love being creative and encouraging kids to be creative a well.  Housing A Forest is packed full of art tutorials, educational activities and good old fashioned fun your kids will love.

Tammy from Housing A Forest

Hi Sweet Friends!

Let me properly introduce myself.  I’m Tammy Dube. The writer, creator and the girl behind the camera of Housing A Forest.  I am passionate about being creative and encouraging kids to be creative a well.

This is my space where I share all things kid related.  You can find everything from easy crafts and simple games…to learning activities and good old fashioned play!  Join in the fun, and let’s get our kids thinking outside the box and enjoying their childhood!

Navigating:

I’ve tried to make it as easy as possible for you to find what you are looking for.  The best place to start is the menu bar at the top of this page or the search box on the right sidebar.  Our archives are packed full of creative Science Experiments, inspiring Art Projects, earth friendly Recycled Crafts, and tons of Holiday themed ideas.

New to Housing A Forest? Start with one of our popular posts:

Dancing Oobleck

Painting On Wet Glue

Popsicle Stick Harmonica

How to Fix Barbies Hair ~ Barbie Hair Salon

Healthy Dehydrated Fruit

Compass Painting

Don’t get overwhelmed…grab a cup of coffee and get inspired!

A little bit more about me…

  • I’m a mom to 3 wonderful school aged kiddos (ages 9,10 and 12), who often inspire the creative activities that I write about on Housing A Forest.
  • I am married to my best friend.  Seriously, this guy is amazing!  Not only is he supportive of all my crazy ideas, he often joins in.  Love!!!
  • I often have a house full of kiddos (a few of my own, plus lots of extras).
  • My tool of choice is the glue gun, but I also love bright colorful paint.
  • I have also passion for turning junk furniture into something beautiful and useful.  Yep, I love dumpster diving and road side treasures!  Breathing new life into a tired and worn out piece gives me great joy!

Are you wondering…why Housing a Forest?

Well, I have a bit of a thing for Christmas trees (OK it might be better described as an obsession).  I LOVE how warm and cozy my house feels with all the festive decorations, white lights and decorated trees.  I have numerous trees (almost one for every room in our home, yes even the bathrooms have their own tree).  My sweet hubby hauls them all up to the attic (still set up) during their “off season.”  Love him!  Anyway…not too long ago a cable man had to look at something in the attic and commented “wow you guys have a forest up here!”  So, Housing a Forest was born.

When I’m not creating with my kiddos or writing easy to follow tutorials, there’s a good chance you’ll find me:

  • Painting furniture or just about anything I can get my hands on over at Inspired Home Stye.
  • Curled up with a good book and a steaming cup of coffee hot water (my body has recently rejected coffee, so hot water it is for now).
  • Playing boardgames with friends and strategizing over my next move (I’m just a wee bit competitive).
  • Dreaming I am wiggling my toes in the sand watching a beautiful sunset.

I would love to connect with you!

The best place to connect with me is in the comments of my blog posts.  Nothing makes me happier than seeing sweet comments or questions from you!  Seriously.  You can also find me on FacebookGoogle + and Twitter.  Confession: I heart Instagram. It’s my new secret love affair obsession. I don’t know why it has taken me so long to get over there?!?!  And since I’m a visual person, Pinterest rocks my world!

Have a question?  I would love to hear from you.

tammy (at) housingaforest (dot) com

DISCLOSURE POLICY

You can find my full Disclosure Policy here.

54 thoughts on “About Me

  1. Love your idea……will be fun to follow what you are making. What a special time in your life. I so enjoyed it when you and Ken were into making things…..seems so long ago and I was nowhere as creative as you are……next time you are home hopefully we can go through my craft drawers and you can take anything that will help you……love you lots…..Mom

  2. Way toooooo cooooool! Love the snowmen…..I was looking at the pics of the girls twirling their dresses and I don’t think I had noticed your back yard patio and walkway before. I love it…..time to visit again!

  3. Wow Tammy!! You do inspire! I shall look forward to following this as my five year old is always wanting to do something crafty. Thanks so much for sharing!!

    • My kids love to have lots of projects happening as well, so I totally understand. Have fun and I would love to see what your kiddos come up with.

  4. Awesome! I am so pumped to be able to see what you guys are up to and try your great ideas with my girls!

    • Thanks, we have been having a lot of fun. When Bree got home today, her first question was “what project are we doing today!” Love it!

  5. Oh Tammy- I admire you and I wish I could be more like you and have cool ideas for the kids to do. We will be expirmenting now as we follow you!!! Great idea!!!!!!!!!!!

  6. Hi Tam! I love the website and the videos on FB. I am certainly going to try some of your ideas with my kids at the Youth Centre! We’re always looking for fresh fun ideas!!! Keep up the great work!!!

  7. And you put a picture of yourself up, I’m proud of you 🙂 Beautiful Tammy!!!

  8. Found you from a link party (I think Tatertots & Jello – I have a million tabs open LOL). I love that you do so many fun and educational projects with the kids. My son is still too young to participate with me yet, but I’m storing up ideas, and you’ve given me a lot!! Also, you almost sound like you do Waldorf schooling with them because of the way you integrate education into the fun. I’ll def be back around checking things out 🙂

  9. HI there! i am your newest follower, found you while I was looking for a tutorial for hair curlers gotta try the rag curlers. See you around!

  10. hi tammy you take after your mom and AUnt great ideas got your web site from your mom You are so artty could tell from away back when you did your photos on Australia

  11. Hey Tammy! Rilla told me about your website and it’s even better that I was expecting!!! I don’t have kids yet but I could definitely use lots of your ideas with my kids at school. Keep up the great work! So cool!

  12. I just have to say I’m so absolutely in love with your site. Lots of other “DIY Mommy” Blogs are more about making things to decorate the house or stuff for the moms to wear, but your blog is so kid-centric. I’m creating a craft calendar for my husband and children to use over the summer. This is exactly what I was looking for some great ideas! LOVE the subwoofer and Oobleck idea! Amazing stuff. Keep it up!! 🙂

    • I’m glad you stopped by! I LOVE that you are organizing a summer fun calendar for your kiddos. Summer is over all too soon. Our kids loved the Oobleck experiment. It’s a bit messy, but totally worth it!

  13. Hi Tammy, I discovered your blog through Pinterest. So far, your ideas have been the highlight of our summer vacation!! I have two kids, 9 and 5 and they are eating up all the craft/science stuff. The only craft one we’ve done so far is the Shamrock sparklers (we just did crazy shapes since it’s not St. Patrick’s day) and they turned out beautifully!! Their favorite science project was the dancing oobleck and the Ivory soap. We’re going to attempt the bath paint from the leftover ivory today. Thank you so much for sharing your ideas with the bloggging world!!

  14. Love your blog, great pictures of the kids, the chicks are great! They will get to be very tame and want to move right in with you?!?! Good for the kids. Eggs are a good side lind as well. I figure my egss cost me about $20 a dozen. at least I know where they came from.

  15. I just wanted to tell you we tried three ideas from your blog today and our 4-year-old LOVED them! We made the Ivory soap cloud, then the puffy bath paint and also played some doodle games. I also shared your blog with all my other mommy friends on my Facebook so that they can enjoy your wonderful ideas as well! Love your site and thank you for helping us have some fun family time on this Sunday. 🙂

  16. hi – you left a comment on my food blog (www.MamaLovesFood.com) about the crock pot baked potato soup… unfortunately you’re not email enabled, and i couldn’t find an email address on your site anywhere, so hopefully you’ll see this comment. thanks so much for your kind words and i’m glad your family enjoys the soup 🙂 please feel free to mention the soup on your blog, but please do NOT reprint the entirety of my recipe on your blog. i’d love if you could link others to the recipe though! thanks so much for asking, i appreciate your consideration. best, april

  17. tammy, i wish you were my mom. you have the BEST ideas on this site. i will be copying/stalking most of the things that you do on here! keep sharing!

    ramsey

  18. These ideas are great. So much science going on. Thanks for taking the time to share it with others and can’t wait to come try things this summer.

  19. Thanks for all the great ideas .. Now I have more things to do I the class

  20. THANK YOU for blogging about such awesome craftiness! I am always looking for fun/simple crafts I can use for the camps I put on each year here in Colorado. You do some truly cool stuff with your kiddos and their smiles are evidence that you do a beyond-great job with them!! I also found you via Pinterest, and I couldn’t be more thankful I did! God bless!

  21. Hi Tammy!
    I found your blog via a link on Pinterest and now I want to leave comments on each one of the posts I’ve read so far! Soooo much fun stuff – and I don’t even have kids but trust me, I’ll be playing with some of these fun ideas myself 🙂
    Happy hello’s from Cape Town!
    Helen — Firenze Cards

  22. Oh, and I’m adding you to my blogroll – you’re a BIG must-see!
    Helen — Firenze Cards

  23. Hi Tammy! You have a wonderful looking family! I have a 4 year old granddaughter whose name is also Annika!
    Yours is the first other I have come across. Where did you get your dehydrator & how much did it cost if you do not mid sharing that.

    Thank you!,
    John

  24. Wonderful blog filled with great ideas. I am wondering if you have a Facebook page you post your ideas on or if someone can subscribe by regular email?

    • Thanks for the sweet comment. I just started a Facebook page, just type Housing A Forest into the search and I should come up. Hope this helps.

  25. I just love this website!! My kids are outside RIGHT NOW playing with their new bubble blowers I found on ur website!! They loved being able to make them all by themselves and then get to see what they can do!!
    I have 3 young children and I love watching them be creative!! You are doing AMAZING things for ur family and others who see everything you create ….like mine!!
    So Id like to say thank you, thank you, thank!! Keep doing great things! I look forward to trying more of ur great ideas!!

  26. I just wanted to say “what a wonderful mum you are”. You have an amazing imagination and creative inspiration. When my children were younger I loved nothing better than, painting, glueing and sticking and play doh etc, but nothing on the level you have done with your children. You are an inspiration to mothers out there. I have two grandaughters now and again I love to do creative things, but I don’t have much of an imagination so……. your blog will inspire me to do lots ofcreative things with them. Thank you for a truly wonderful blog. Keep up the creativity, you are wonderful.
    From Tracy (England UK)

  27. Hi Tammy, I love the yarn headbands and necklaces. I have been searching for cool projects to do with my nieces. Do you by any chance have the directions for the headbands n necklaces?? I would be very grateful!!

  28. Stumbled on your blog from somewhere else and just wanted to say there your children are gorgeous…even the one that loves bugs..lol! I hate them.

    You have a partner in crime. I love Xmas trees. And am know to always go to the tree lot and buy the one that most people wouldn’t. I don’t like perfect looking ones. I also do a full tree in every room and they are all themed. I make everything but the glass ornaments. I change the theme of the main tree in my living room every year. So that makes for an enormous amount of decorations. Lucky you you have a attic. I live in an apartment, though huge, makes storing all this stuff to be creative. I leave the tree up in my Studio all year and even have a small tree in the bathroom. Long story.

    Thanks for sharing you wonderful ideas.

    • I am itching to get all my Christmas out right now, but trying to contain myself for a bit longer! I might just have to sneak a tree into the office:) Although I will admit the Christmas music has been playing for a while! Thanks for stopping by!

  29. Hi Tammy

    I’m french mum; I’m sorry I don’t speak very well engish.

    J’adore votre blog ou je peux trouver pleins d’idée sympa à faire avec mes enfants. Merci à vous.
    Il y a tres peu de blog français avec d’aussi bonnes idées que les votres, donc j’ai décidé dans créer un pour partager avec les mamans française et les autres.
    Voici mon blog.

    http://mamanjesaispasquoifaire.blogspot.fr/

    Je vous est emprunté certaines de vos idée ( j’espere que vous ne m’en voudrez pas ) vous pouvez vous aussi choisir dans le miennes ce qui vous interesse (même si le mien est bien moins rempli que le votre, mais c’est que le debut )

    Mes enfants aussi vont à l’école du dimanche où je suis une de leurs monitrice.

    J’espere que nous pourons continuer à échanger nos idées.

    A bientot

    Stéphanie

    • Stephanie, Thanks for your sweet comments. I had a quick peek at your blog and it looks great. Lots of fun ideas, thanks for sharing.

  30. Hi Tammy,
    just wanted to say, Thank you for sharing all your wonderful ideas . what a great Mum you are.I would have loved to have had you as a mum growing up!
    keep up the great work! I can’t wait to make the rainbow bubbles with my little girls!!
    xx

  31. I love that you’re creative with your children. My children are grown, but I’m thoroughly enjoying reading your ideas. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing.

  32. What a nice site! Looks like you have a lovely family. Not much to say but good for you and stay the course!
    Best,
    Mike

  33. Hello Tammy, I’m ling from malaysia. I stumbled upon your site while I was searching info on frit leathers. Your blog is so interesting and now I can use the ideas for more fun with my nephews and nieces. Will Be checking in often. 🙂

  34. Do you recommend a certain food dehydrator? If so, which one.

    thanks
    Phil L

  35. Hi Tammy! I am a staff member at Prairie Family Center and saw your St. Patty’s day project of growing sprouts on a shamrock-shaped sponge at Allison’s (learn play imagine) pinterest site. I wanted you to know that I am using this as our Project of the Month for March and am placing it in our newsletter. Thank you so much for this and all of your ideas. Prairie Family engages the children in our community with fun things to do so that they will expand their imagination and creativity. Between you and Allison, I will have plenty of projects and ideas for them to explore! Thanks again! ~Jordie

    • I love it Jordie! Allison is one of my sweet friends and I love her site. We are still in the middle of winter here, so the kids loved growing a little indoor garden. Thanks so much for stopping by;)

    • You are so sweet! Thank you for your kind words. I just love Housing a Forest. I’m always inspired by Tammy. 🙂

  36. Hi there love the pipe cleaner challenge idea. I am going to do it with my 4th graders as a back to school activity. Can you give me a suggestion as to how many pipe cleaners and pieces of tin foil each group should get? I like specifics lol I get overwhelmed when unsure lol lol

  37. Just stumbled across your site and I think it looks fabulous! Will definitely investigate further with my next cuppa.

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