Book Talk Tuesday - Shadow

When walking through the library the other day, we saw this book and it helped me remember doing an exercise once when I was a young girl in school.

The book is full of illustrations and you make up the story.  On one side of the book is an illustration of what this little girl is doing, and on the other is a wonderful shadow world. 

Eventually that shadow world ends up leaking into her real world and she even changes places to go play in the made up world.

I thought it would be fun to make our own shadow world things.

First we needed a blank piece of paper folded length wise.

Then we wrote our name on the fold (if you do it in cursive it is even more fun...but my baby only knows how to print so we did printing) and traced an outline around our letters.

Then cut out along that outline and open your shape up.

Inside you draw a creature of some sort.  Be creative.

After you are done, admire your creativity and go play with your shadow creatures.

I love how fun this was and how perfectly it went along with the shadow book.

Cheers

Summer Camp - Garden Fort

My Mom has a large garden that she likes to grow. 

She also likes to get everyone involved in the garden.  I saw this article in Family Fun one year and sent her the pages to build a garden fort.  She was thrilled because then the grandkids could play in the garden and eat the beans.  (she likes it when they pick things to eat)

I thought I would share a few photos of the structure so you could maybe see what it looked like.

That was the only photo I took of my kids in there.  Sad isn't it?!

My Mom had put a couple photos of them IN the fort though, so I took a photo of her photo...it was in a scrapbook so sorry for the quality.

It was pretty easy to build and my boys loved picking the beans that grew on and down into it. 

I found a couple more links though to different styles and when we get our land, I am totally doing one or more of these.

Living Den
Willow Den (that just keeps growing)
Using a Trellis to make fort spaces

Enjoy summer!

Cheers

Summer Camp - Painting the Sheet

When we moved to the city we are in now, we lived with my parents for 13 days. 

I joke with people that you should NEVER move in with your parents when you are an adult, but it was really  not that bad.  We had lots of fun. 

One of the funnest (is that a real word?  I tend to speak in child speak and it looks like it is real when it is not...) things we did was totally my Mom's idea. 

She is creative like that. 

We painted a sheet to use as a picnic blanket. 

My boys (who are REALLY young in these photos) loved every second.

Please excuse the undies...that is how they lived in the summer time!

First we hung the sheet on a fence.

Painted some paint on our hands...

...and painted all over the sheet.

Bodies were painted as well!

We left the sheet to dry and then ironed it to make the paints permanent. 

Use frequently as a picnic blanket because summer doesn't last long around here!

Cheers

Summer Camp - Ice Excavation

About 10 years ago I met Amber.  She and her hubby Evan lived below us when they were first married.  We used to joke that living under us was effective birth control!  Fast forward a few years and Amber has become a good friend to me.  When I asked her if she wanted to do a post for me she was excited (I know you must have been Amber!) and knew just what she wanted to do with her kids. 

I first found this idea on pinterest and I knew my kids would love it!! I was right, they loved it and wanted to do more but I had only made two. Next time I will have to make more!! This is such an easy to prepare activity that will give your kids a lot of enjoyment.

Step 1: Gather small plastic toys. I used animals and bugs.

Step 2: Get a container to put your toys and water in. I used an ice cream container that was going in my recycling anyways. I was glad I used this because I just ripped it apart to get my ice chunk out. You can really use any container, like a small bowl, muffin tins, an ice cube tray or a Tupperware container.

Step 3: Place your animals in the container and pour the water over the toys. If you use a lot of water your kids will be able enjoy this project for a long time because it will take them awhile to get the toys out. If they are smaller and have a shorter attention span, pour a small amount of water over the toys so they can get the toys faster!!

Step 4:  Place your containers in the freezer until the water is completely frozen.

Step 5: Remove your containers from the freezer and let sit for about 5 minutes. Remove your ice block.

Step 6: I put all the supplies they would need to excavate their animals on a cookie sheet and carried it outside. They were so excited.

At first we started with the plastic hammers but they weren’t getting the job done fast enough. I had to bring out the real hammers. My kids especially loved that!!

The cookie trays got in the way so we ended up putting the ice on the grass or on the cement.

Clean up was easy. The ice melted on its own and I just gave the toys and tools a quick rinse in the sink. I totally recommend this activity. My kids loved it and ask me everyday if we can do it again. Have fun!!

I am sorry, I just can't get over the cuteness of her son in his little hat!  He is in my nursery and is such a hoot!  Amber has more recipes and ideas on her blog here. 

Cheers

Summer Camp - Using Your Noodle

When I first started discovering this wonderful new world of blogging a few years ago, the very first blog I ever started reading on a regular basis was Montserrat's.  Even now, over 4 years later, I still make time to read her blog as one of my "must read's".  Lucky for me, she has also become a dear friend.  She has wonderful ideas, a huge heart and is just one of the very nicest people you could ever "meet" in bloggy land. 

While waiting an exorbitantly long time at the orthodontist I browsed through a Family Fun Magazine and came upon a summer idea I KNEW my kids would love to do. See we live out in the middle of nowhere.



Yup, that's our farm surrounded by mountains and desert and sand dunes. The only chance my kids get to actually swim is if we drive 40 minutes to town or if their dad fills up our "redneck" swim tank. Recalling the article in the Family Fun Magazine we decided to use our pool noodles for something else.



Gather together six skinny pool noodles, two thick pool noodles {not pictured}, six toilet paper rolls cut from top to bottom, duct tape, and two 1/2 inch thick dowels {not pictured.



Take a toilet paper tube and roll it into a smaller, tighter tube. Stick half into the end of a noodle, bend the noodle into a circle and stick the other end over the toilet paper tube.



Tape closed with duct tape {it comes is so many fun colors and patterns now!}. Do this to all six smaller noodles.



Lay the six circles and two thick pool noodles out as pictured. Tape circles together where they touch and then to the end noodles.



As is it can be placed on the ground for part of an obstacle course.



Or tap the dowels into the ground and place the end noodles over it. Let 'em have at it trying to throw noodles or balls into the rings.



Think outside the box, use your noodle!

Super fun!  I am going to go get some noodles right now from the dollar store!  If you haven't read Montserrat's blog, go check it out.  You will be glad you did.

Cheers

Summer Camp - Tie Wind Socks

Mandy has been a good friend of mine for quite a few years now, since we lived in the same ward at one time, and does some pretty crafty things with her kids.  She also is super creative in sewing.  I have had a lot of fun with her and admire her creativity.  She agreed to guest post for me and I am grateful for that...look at the super fun idea she came up with!

The girls and I decided to make these fun tie wind socks again. We had made one a few years ago, it has long since been blown to pieces, but I have a box of ties left over from that project that have been waiting to be used for something wonderful. So why not recreate the original something wonderful?

So this is what you need; sour cream container, old ties, glue gun, fishing line, scissors, knife, a heavy big needle and pliers.

We actually didn't end up using the stapler this time, we just used the glue gun.

First you cut the bottom off of your container with a knife. 

Cut each tie in half .

Now glue the cut side on the inside of the container and then fold it over to the outside and glue it down. Don't be afraid to use LOTS of glue, especially if you live in a windy area like we do. If you are ambitious you can finish the edges of the cut tie with a sewing machine, or do like we did and just use more glue gun glue to hold it all together.

We alternated between the fat end of the tie and the skinny end. When that was all done, we glued the skinny end of the tie all the way around to give it a finished look.

The next step is to thread the fishing line through the needle and using the pliers push it through the top part of the wind sock to make the hanger.

Now go hang it up and let the wind blow...or go jump on the trampoline with it.

Thanks again Mandy!  Check out Mandy's blog for more fun ideas, recipes and thoughts.

Cheers

Floral Foam Carving

The other day for a field trip we travelled to a school art exhibit that happens here each year.  There were some amazingly talented young artists pieces displayed.

One thing that we really loved was the sculptures.

One of the kinds of sculptures that we saw were made out of floral foam.

I thought you might like to do them with your kiddies.  Mine loved it!

First you need some floral foam blocks.  I got mine in a pack of 6 from Michaels for only $5.  You could even make that cheaper by using your coupon. 

We experimented with a few different ways of carving.  Butter knives were great for cutting off large chunks.

I had an iTunes card that made a great tool for the finer details.

Their first sculptures took them about an hour and a half.  Their second was a bit longer as now they took care.  They knew what to expect with their carving tools and had a better idea of how to do it.

We will be doing this again.  They loved it.

Super cheap and easy.

Cheers

Links and Lists - Valentines Edition

Did you know Valentines was coming up?

Ha ha

We don't actually DO Valentines, because we are grinch-y that way.  But the season of love and service pervades around here.  We do focus more on the love aspect of the month, but hopefully we carry that throughout our whole year as well.

That being said, we do some valentines themed things around here just because sometimes.  (I'm nothing if not flexible!)

Here are a couple things that have struck my fancy (and are going on the "To Do" list) this week.

1.  These little hearts are made from wax paper that have ironed bits of paper in them.  Sewn around with your sewing machine and hung from a string, what a beautiful garland.

2.  Sugar cookies decorated so pretty, sign me up!  These are beautiful, and are sort of simple (ish) for a person who has a bit of decorating experience.  Wouldn't it be fun to surprise your kids with them?!

3.  I pretty much fell in love with churro's in Mexico.  That lovely doughnut like treat, super worth the frying if you ask me!  These are Raspberry Churro's with White Chocolate Sauce...the only thing that would make these more divine would be dark chocolate!

 
4.  Hair stuff seems to be always eye catching to me.  Do you think my boys would wear them for me??!  No probably not.  Good thing I am a girl.  What girl wouldn't love some simple little heart barrettes, or attached to a head band?!

5.  Salt Dough is so easy to use and play with.  These little salt dough hearts are so cute.  They would be fun to leave on pillows, or give away for valentines, or tuck in a lunch box or pocket...the possibilities are endless.

However you celebrate (or don't) these would be fun to do.  How do you spend your valentines?  Do you do anything special to mark the day?  What sort of things are your favorite craft/food/celebration of this day of love?

Cheers

Felted Laundry Balls

Have you ever felted anything?  I have been playing with felting since a couple years ago, (I am sure you may have inadvertantly felted by shrinking a sweater) and have since become rather addicted! 

A few weekends ago, dh and I went to a craft sale for date night.  That's how I know he loves me, he goes to craft shows with me for date night!

Anyway, we bought some cool stuff.  My favorite thing of all was a set of  felted dryer balls.  They are balls you can stick in your dryer to cut down on drying time, and they also work as static reducers.  I was very interested in these as I dislike having the extra chemicals on my clothing. 

I used them and they really worked!  So thrilled.  They cut down the time my clothes dried (jeans that took 90 min took a little less than 70 min with these balls).

So, I was looking at them and figured I could make some more for me, and for Christmas presents.  If you are on my list, pretend you don't see these!

First, you need some wool.  You want it to be as close to 100% wool as you can. 

Wrap around your fingers until you have quite a ball going on.

See, this is a great start.

Take it off your fingers and wrap around the middle now.  Until it is almost all the way covered.

Begin wrapping all directions now.  You are trying to make it round.

Pretty soon it will be all round and a tiny little ball.

Keep wrapping until you have about a tennis ball sized ball.

When you are finished, take a crochet hook (the only way I can actually USE a crochet hook...dh is the crocheter around here!) and pull the end through several of the layers of wool, this way you don't have to tie a knot.

Your balls will  be mostly done now.

Take an old pair of nylons (or new ones if you can find them at the dollar store) and place them in the legs of the nylons, tying off between balls.  If you want to save the nylons for later, use a piece of string you can untie, if not, just tie knots and cut them out.

Now, you need to wash them with HOT water (separately in a load all on their own).  Dry on HOT as well (this can be with other clothes if you actually dry with hot air).  This is how you felt them.  They will look a little matted and will hold together.

When you have them all felted, wrap with another layer of wool.  I made my last layer nice and neat, but you could make it however you want.  I made them a little larger than tennis balls.  Wash and dry a few more times.  They should be nice and felted now and the last layer matted together enough that they will be rather solid. 

Now they are ready for use in your laundry.  Toss them in the dryer to use them with each load.  The more you use them, the more felted they become.

Enjoy.  Let me know if you make them and how you like them.  I love mine and hope they work for you as well.

Cheers