Wednesday, March 27th, 2013
As we wait for new, lush, green life to spring up around our home, my children have been collecting dried pods, seeds, and stalks from last year’s growth for observation and play. One of their favorite things to collect are elegant milkweed pods. They happen to have the most beautiful, swooped shape and my two find that they make perfect fairy boats.
After collecting a handful, they brought them home and used paper, glue, glitter, and string to turn them into water worthy vessels.
This one is lined with a leaf of Lambs Ear (found on our walk) and has a pillow and a life preserver.
This one is a double decker!
They sailed their fleet in a puddle behind our house and in the creek at the end of our road. Each new boat was tested and re-designed and tested again until they floated majestically in the wind blown current. We are all certain that the fairies who live behind our home will be so thankful to find new boats for their spring adventures.
xo emily
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beautiful, boat, boats, children, craft, creative, creek, fairies, fairy, glue, Lambs Ear, milkweed, nature, paper, pods, sail, seed, walk | Categories:
Crafts, Everyday Fun, Group Activities, Nature, Outdoors, Science, Seasonal
Tuesday, February 19th, 2013
For many families, this is vacation week, which means different things for different families. It can translate to trips to the slopes and flights to warm oceans or it might mean slow days at home with crafts, toys, and movies. If you happen to be home and are still in your pajamas (ahem!), why not take the opportunity to encourage your children to get creative?!
Pieces of scrap wood are perfect blank canvases for mixed media collages. If you happen to have a few hanging around, sand the edges a bit, and place them on the table. Break out your markers, watercolor paints, paper, magazines, buttons, and other bits and bobbles like tiny pasta, beans, and sea shells, etc. You’ll want to offer some brushes, a little bowl of glue, and a cup of water (for the watercolors). Ask children to consider painting or drawing on the wood before they begin gluing.
I love this project because the layering of colors and textures is captivating and so satisfying!
xo emily
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activity, art, artist, canvas, children, collage, creative, family, glue, mixed media, paint, project, scrap, vacation, wood | Categories:
Crafts, Everyday Fun, Fun, Group Activities, Must Read
Wednesday, February 13th, 2013
On the eve of Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d pop in to share my Conversation Love Rocks project with you. It is a simple, easy, quick project with super satisfying results. Check it out here, and spread some witty, cheery rocks to your loved ones.
Happy Valentine’s Day, friends!
Love,
Emily
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conversation, craft, creative, cute, glue, hearts, love, message, messages, rocks, sweet, valentine's day | Categories:
Crafts, Everyday Fun, Fun, Holiday, Literacy, Must Read
Wednesday, December 12th, 2012
Inspired: Each week I offer a tip for finding inspiration in the world around us. It might be observed in my classroom or found on a walk or whispered in my ear or thrifted or discovered on a dark shelf in the basement. Something. Anything that gives me a creative spark. My hope is that these bits and pieces encourage you and the children you spend time with to search for creativity in your days. This isn’t about spending money or acquiring new things; it is an exercise in motivating us to pay close attention to the bright spots in our world.
Scraps!
See what you can do.
xo emily
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crafting, create, fabric, glue, inspire, make, materials, paper, possibility, scissors, tiny | Categories:
Crafts, Everyday Fun, Fun, Inspired
