Thanks again, Pinterest, for helping me find another cool idea, this time from Cute Food for Kids.
I think these fun little magic messages might replace paper lunchbox notes in the kids' lunches when school starts. They definitely got a kick out of them for a summer snack.
Best thing is, they were SUPER easy!
Here's what you do:
1. Using a toothpick, draw a picture or write a message on your banana peel.
2. At first, it will be rather tough to see.
3. But after several minutes, your magic message will begin to darken.
4. After about an hour (or by lunchtime if you pack it in a lunch box), you'll have an easy-to-read special message that your child will love to read.
** NOTE ** I've found that the message tends to show up more quickly when the banana is more ripe.

I can't wait to write a secret message to my husband in his lunch. :-)
ReplyDeleteBrillant! I'm so going to try this! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletewww.michellepaige.blogspot.com
Wow, that's cool! I'm definitely going to try that sometime!
ReplyDeleteI saw this on Pinterest earlier today -- love it :)
ReplyDeleteHi Laura, thank you so much for the link ^,^
ReplyDeleteStop it!!! This is adorable! I NEVER would have thought to do this. Totally going to do this, thanks for the tip :D
ReplyDeleteShelley
www.westermanfam.blogspot.com
What a fun idea! My son would love this surprise on the breakfast table.
ReplyDeleteWOW! So cute! Is it back to school time yet?
ReplyDeleteThis is so totally brilliant!
ReplyDeleteMy Mom did this in our lunches when we were kids and I LOVED it!!!
ReplyDeleteOh I love that idea. I just finished up our bananas. I'm going to do this the next time. My kids will love it. Thanks so much for sharing.
ReplyDeleteJessica
Hi! I love your blog...I am pinning this! I am a new follower! I would love it if you would check out my blog an! follow back! Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteBest...Idea....Ever! Thank you soooooo much!
ReplyDeleteDo you care if I do a little feature on it?
Miranda
www.justdrinkacoke.com
Another cool idea :) I followed your link to Pinterest and it's such a fun place to browse! How does it work; is there a fee?
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great idea!! I had been sending messages in my boys' lunchboxes last year by writing on marshmallows with icing markers. I love this banana note idea! I'm sharing it on my crafty facebook page : )
ReplyDeleteJaimee @ craft-interrupted.blogspot.com
What a cute idea! My kids will think I'm "magic." Thanks for the tip!!
ReplyDeletewww.freestylinbeth.com
this is so great... so doing this to my husbands lunch
ReplyDeletewhat a cool thing to do with a banana!! can't wait to put one in my kids lunch when school starts
ReplyDeleteSo fun! What a great little experiment for the kids!
ReplyDeleteJenn :)
My oldest is going to kindergarten this year and this would be perfect for his lunch!
ReplyDeleteThis is BRILLIANT! Thanks for sharing:)
ReplyDeleteGreat idea! So easy, and you know the kids will be talking about it. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm your newest follower.
Stop by sometime DavisDomestications.blogspot.com
What a cute idea!
ReplyDeletewhat a fun idea!
ReplyDeletemegan
craftycpa.blogspot.com
Wow! This is a great idea. I am totally going to steal this idea when my kids return to school> Thank you so much for sharing this!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet idea!
ReplyDeleteHope you will please drop by and enter my $50 Overstock.com Gift Card Giveaway!!
These are so cute... my son would LOVE them. It is especially fun that the message doesn't show up at first. I would love it if you would stop by and link up this idea at my crafty link party I just started at http://linesacrossmyface.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThanks! Rachel
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing at Creative Bloggers' Party and Hop, I am co-hosting this week and it was so great seeing you there!
ReplyDeletecreativecarmella.blogspot.com
How clever!
ReplyDelete-caroline @ c.w.frosting
ahhhh, that is such a sweet idea! thanks so much for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday! I use pinterest for storing ideas, but haven't really started poking around too much, I see it's dangerous!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cute! Who doesn't love a surprise message? Well done! HomeSavvyAtoZ.com is your newest follower! Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteLove this!
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute "back to school" idea!
ReplyDeleteFun idea!
ReplyDeleteThat is very cool. What a great way to leave a note for the kiddies :).
ReplyDeleteBTW I'm hosting a 12 FAT quarter giveaway. Come by and check it out when you get a chance :)
Q @ http://www.jaqsstudio.com/
What a sweet idea.
ReplyDeleteI did this to our bananas this morning and my husband was so impressed! He thought I drew it or something. Very fun! Will post this tomorrow on my blog.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to let you know that I love your blog and gave you a shout out on mine! Have a good day. http://racingandsavingmama.com/2011/07/24/free-homeschooling-planner-plus-my-favorite-sites/
ReplyDeleteWhat a cute idea! Extra special lunch treat for sure!
ReplyDeleteThat is just so sweet! I would be thrilled if you would link up to my Tuesday Confessional linky party going on now: http://www.craftyconfessions.com/2011/07/tuesday-confessional-link-up-party.html.
ReplyDeleteSee you soon!
~Macy
This is a super cute idea! Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeletePlease stop by www.laughloveandcraft.com and link up to my Share the Wealth Wednesday Link Party! I'm your newest follower!
How cool! This goes perfectly with a great inside joke in my family! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSo freaking cute! I'm going to file this away for when I have kids because its so amazingly sweet!
ReplyDeleteFun! It's like invisible ink. Now if only one of my kids could read... :) In a year or two! Thanks for sharing. Jess (at) OlyMomma
ReplyDeleteMy grandsons are going to love this!! Very clever. So nice to find your blog.
ReplyDeleteMy stepdad used to do this when I was a kid, but he'd name the bananas with silly names, instead of writing messages. It's one of my favorite memories of him.
ReplyDeleteAmy @ A Little Nosh
What a fun idea! My kids would love to find this in their lunch!
ReplyDeleteI am visiting via Today's Creative Blog.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic project! Thank you for sharing.
Happy Tuesday!
I'm sneaking this into my husband's lunch tomorrow (the little one isn't old enough to read). Love it!
ReplyDeleteThis is sooo cute! Thanks for sharing such an easy trick!
ReplyDeleteNow Following!
~Mikey @ Shabby French Cottage
www.shabbyfrenchcottage.com
haha, great idea!
ReplyDeletevery cool!
ReplyDeleteWow. Who knew?!?
ReplyDeleteThis is a great idea! I always noticed that scraping a banana caused dark lines, but I never thought about writing something on it! So smart!
ReplyDeleteNEAT! how special to find that in their lunchbox!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant! I'm glad I found your wonderful blog, and I'm happy to be your newest follower!
ReplyDeleteCool tip. Now I have to find the right time to use it. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLaura-
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS ADORABLE! I just love the sweet messages you wrote on yours! I would love if you would link this great tip to "The Mommy Club" Linky below- I bet other moms would love to brighten their kids lunched with these!
http://milkandcuddles.com/2011/07/share-your-resources-solutions-and-tips-wednesday-linky/
I love it! I'm pinning it!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis is so fun! When I was younger we used to draw flowers and hearts on our bananas with our fingernails. I made one for my husband (he's the banana lover) and I can't wait until he discovers it! I am posting my banana-grams on my blog and will definitely be linking back to you! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteGenius! Can't wait to try this out when my daughters go back to school. Found you via Craft Gossip..you have a wonderful blog!
ReplyDeleteThis is so cute!!!
ReplyDeleteNeat idea - I'll pass it on to my sis so she can do it for her twin lads
ReplyDeleteHa! This is brilliant, must buy bananas!
ReplyDeleteHa! I've been doing this with my kids. I ask them to say a magic spell an choose what they would want on their banana. They still believe it's all magic (age 4 and 5).
ReplyDeleteSometimes I use a needle and stick it in the banana. Move it around until you feel the peel on the other side. You're actually slicing the banana. Repeat several times at different places on the banana. When they open up the banana, it's alreay sliced?!! True magic!
If only my 14-year-old son would not be embarrassed, I would so do this for his lunch. How sweet! I featured your banana messages on my weekly "Metamorphosis Monday" post today.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.imbusyprocrastinating.com/2011/08/metamorphosis-monday-4.html
Sweet !!!!
ReplyDeleteLast year I would put a note on my daughters snacks all the time.
She loves it!!
It really makes a difference and it's so simple but precious :)
So cute! I think my 8 year old will love it... I do wonder if a banana note would embarrass him? I guess I will find out when school starts.
ReplyDeleteHihi so fun! A classmate of mine always had cute messages written on his banana. His girlfriend had written things like "I love you." I found that to be adorable.
ReplyDeleteI love the 'invisible ink' idea. but I have also found that an ordinary ballpoint pen writes really well on it too - useful when I'm in a hurry. As for teenagers, just drawing something funky that they are into on it seems less embarrassing for them and still gets the message of I love you across without actually saying the words. XXX
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun and clever idea! :D
ReplyDeletesuper fun! can't wait till tomorrow morning when my husband has his breakfast :)
ReplyDeleteI really love the overall idea, very lovely, cute and creative! I am sure my husband and kids will love to get such a surprise another morning :)
ReplyDelete