Summer Reading Log

A summer reading log... complete with a very scientific rating system for the first page.

what you'll need:

• composition notebook
• adhesive
• patterned paper or fabric
• gold stars

 

Each time you add a new book to your reading log, add the correct number of stars next to each review.

Making Snowflake Crystals from Borax

We have no snow outside so we are going to make our own inside. Ever made borax crystal strings or snowflakes? I haven't, but I am assured that this is a fun project. Be aware tough -- Borax is poisonous, especially to roaches and babies.

Directions:
In a wide mouth canning jar, add 3 Tbsp of borax per 2 cups of boiling water.
DETAILS:

1. Add borax one tablespoon at a time to the boiling water, stirring to dissolve after each addition. Remember the amount used is 3 tablespoons borax per cup of water. It is okay if some undissolved borax settles to the bottom of the jar.
2. Stir to dissolve.
3. If desired, you may tint the mixture with food color.

Make a shape using a pipe cleaner, and hang it from a pencil suspended across the jar mouth using a piece of yarn (don't let it touch the bottom).
Be sure water is high enough to cover.

Leave overnight.

Pull out and let dry.

Once dry, carefully hang in a window!

Tips:

1. Borax is available at grocery stores in the laundry soap section, such as 20 Mule Team Borax Laundry Booster. Do not use Boraxo soap.
2. Because boiling water is used and because borax isn't intended for eating, adult supervision is recommended for this project.
3. If you can't find borax, you can use sugar or salt (may take longer to grow the crystals, so be patient). Add sugar or salt to the boiling water until it stops dissolving. Ideally you want no crystals at the bottom of the jar.

What You Need:

• string
• wide mouth jar (pint)
• white pipe cleaners
• borax (see tips)
• pencil
• boiling water
• blue food coloring (opt.)
• scissors

Thanks to Mom in Madison for this post idea.

Credit also to About.com - Chemistry

Hands Print Paintings on Canvas

This idea is straight from: Mom in Madison.
Try painting canvases rather than just watercolor paper. You can creat hand print paintings on canvas & they will look great.

We started with 6" square canvases. These artists are small, so these were just the right size for small hands. If you have an older child, get a bigger canvas.


Trace each hand on canvas, and then carefully color them in using oil pastels.
When done, outline the drawings clearly with an oil pastel to help the image pop in the next step.


Next paint over the image, using good quality watercolors . I don't believe regular cheapie watercolors would have enough pigment for a canvas. The oil pastel drawings resist the watercolor, so kids can paint all around them, and the hand image remains as well.

After they dry, use a water based acrylic varnish (optional) over the top to preserve the artwork.


what we used: canvas | oil pastels | watercolors |

Clay Textured Shapes (to Wear!)

Here is an example of work with clay. This is from Mom in Madison & she says explains that is a variation on texture stones they did a few months back.

• First roll out clay (they used an air dry clay, but you could easily use super sculpey).
  
• Using metal cookie cutters, cut out shapes.
• Smooth the edges a bit and let them dry on a tray.
• Clip leaves and herbs (for example: dill flowers, sage, raspberry bush leaves, lemon balm, oregano, thyme).
• Gently roll/press the plant into the clay to make an impression.
• Push a skewer through each one.
• Let them dry for a few days.
  

Paint them. (A gold metallic acrylic used here)


Using a moist sponge brush some of the paint off to give a burnished look. Spread the paint around the edges and on to the back.


After letting them dry brush a water based varnish over the top and let that dry.
The last step is to loop a leather cord through the holes and knot!


This imprint is a sage leaf.

Sewing Hoop Wall Hanging

H/T to: Day to Day! She is "One (self proclaimed) Crafty Mama!" :-)

I created this wall hanging for my daughter's room with my bits and pieces of goodies.

Puppet Link

I found a wonderful Puppet Link over at Just Call Me Jamin'.

If you like puppets you must go visit!

Here is a sample:

Puppets Menu

Bag Puppets	Sock Puppets	Hand Puppets
Stick Puppets	Finger Puppets	Marionettes
Other Puppets	Puppet Patterns to Sew	Puppet Scripts
Puppet Stages	Other Puppet Resources	Shadow Puppets

Blue and White Tiles for Our Lady

A beautiful project idea from Cottage Blessings.

We began with a wooden plaque, holy card, container of tiles, tile glue, and a gold-leafing pen.

It only took about two minutes to gild the edges.

After planning the location of the tiles, a special glue was brushed on the wooden surface and the back of each tile square.

Gluing the tiles did not take long at all.

Here you have it, a partially finished product. It is incomplete because, being a novice at tile work, I thought the mosaic glue would also act as grout. No such luck. I will need to return to the craft store some time soon--or make my own grout from a mixture of white sand and glue. (This photo was taken before the glue dried so you can still see a bit of it round the edges.)

Knowing it might take a month or more before we return to the craft store, I decided to post the project as is, because it is quite pretty already. I am thinking about turning it into a holy water font eventually or putting it on the front door.

Bird Softies

Bird softie: How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. This mobile is gorgeous, but if it's too ambitious for you how about a bird rattle, garland, ornament or catnip-filled cat toy? There are endless possibilities.

All one needs to make this bird is:

• a small bit of fabric
• some stuffing
• a needle and thread
  
• the free PDF dowload pattern from Spool - a sweet, litle Philly fabric shop.

And here's another take on a DIY bird mobile from our archives.

source: http://www.ohdeedoh.com/