Potato Sticks!

Potato sticks are my mom-in-law's most favorite treat, ever.  I've never seen someone enjoy a potato stick as much as her.  In 2008, we decided to send her some for Mother's Day.  Instead of wrapping it, I grabbed my glue gun and as many ribbons as I could and what resulted was a crazy-crafty-colorful-glittery-over-the-top container.  Aaron, rightly, gave it the eye-roll.  

Debby *LOVED* it and to my surprise, she kept it.  KEPT IT!  Like...on display!! Which meant one and only one thing: we'd do it again!

Every year we take turns decorating a potato stick can, and each year they get more elaborate.  Debby has them all displayed as a collection in a house full of Real Art.  Yes, she's eaten all the potato sticks - a key part of the design is to make it open-able so she can crunch away!

This is a 2011 creation by Aaron (again, it's really all about the glue gun):

This was the 2012 creation by Aaron:

So for the past 7 years we've decorated a potato stick can and given it to her.  This year we out did ourselves.  Even I can't believe it.  ...AND, as an added bonus, it was a total collaboration. 

(Keep in mind that Debby volunteers at the butterfly-house at the university and loves that almost as much as potato sticks.)

We made her a butterfly pull toy!

Aaron made the base, including wheels that actually turn!

I made the butterfly:

The final result?

Hopefully you can click on the triangle/"play" symbol and see the butterfly in action!