tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32464725411392928922024-02-18T21:48:40.596-08:00A Little CraftyCrafty ideas to do with, or for young kidsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger136125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-58664227292249492552017-06-07T21:53:00.000-07:002020-07-17T14:48:09.334-07:0010 Best free busy bags for long haul flightsWe've done multiple long haul flights (24+ hours) with our kids at various ages between 11mths and 9 years. Here are 10 of our favourite busy bags for the 1-3 years ages group, made using things from around the house:<br />
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1. Beach balls. Hands down BEST toys we've ever taken on a plane. We took two and and used them A LOT at the stop overs in Hong Kong airport. We had so many random kids join in or look longing at our family playing with them. Great for all ages 2 to 42!<br />
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2. Things in a bottle. First version was paper beads made from junk mail in a bottle. This was definitely the favourite for our 13 month old. Second version was pipe cleaners in a spice bottle, which was more interesting for my 3 year old.<br />
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3. Letter writing. This is my 3 year old's favourite busy bag, plane or no plane. We made a bunch of tiny envelopes and packed them in a zip lock bag with some pens, stickers, little notebook and stamps. Hours of fun writing "letters" to all his favourite people. (note: Christmas cards can be a good source of little envelopes) <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free printable tiny envelope - just for you!</td></tr>
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4. Small bag of figurines. We used old trashies that the kids had mostly grown out of. They acted out all sorts of adventures in the plane seat.<br />
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5. Fishing game. Made with soy sauce fish with an old screw glued in the neck and a magnet.<br />
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6. Buttons and a toy ute (pick up truck) and digger. A little bag with a collection of old buttons, and matchbox size cars was a big hit. We include a pair of eyebrow tweezers for non-airport travel, making it great for fine motor control play!<br />
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7. Small box with loom bands and hook and different coloured box sections. Sort the loom bands by colour. Even better if you can find someone to take turns with!<br />
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8. Threading. Pipe cleaners and melty beads in different colours. Match the beads to the pip cleaners.<br />
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9. Books. Any little book that your child might like. We particularly like tiny Pixi books and Thomas and Friends.<br />
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10. Apps! Our favourites include Mini Sago, Dr Panda and Lego Duplo apps.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-51312664416398859772016-09-15T21:16:00.002-07:002016-09-15T21:16:40.381-07:00Busy Bag - Ice Cream Cones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This busy bag cost nothing and took less than 5 minutes to put together.<br />
The aim is to scoop ice cream into a cone and pretend to eat it. <br />
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The cones were made from rolled up half circle of paper. The pompoms, spoon and box were all lying around the house.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-31255767514428849172016-09-15T20:57:00.000-07:002016-09-15T20:57:57.392-07:00Long haul flying with a 14 month old or 15 month old toddlerSo we booked our tickets for a long haul flight (24 hours including stop in the middle) plus road trip of more than 17 hours in total (over a week or so) and of course the returning flight. With 14/15 month old toddler, a 5 year old and 7 year old.<br />
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Then I started googling what to do with said toddler in a plane. Lots of things people planned to do, neat little toy bags etc, but very little feedback of what actually worked.<br />
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We've done the flight a few times before so the big kids didn't worry me, we packed their toothbrushes and a tablet, and told them they could have as much screen time as they wanted in the plane. Easy.<br />
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Mr 1 was more of a challenge. He didn't like to sit and read books, had a typically short attention span, and his favourite hobby is moving, preferably while holding onto something big and long like a pool noodle. Not useful in a plane.<br />
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I packed 4 boxes/bags of bits I hoped like anything would entertain him in the pane and at the different houses and restaurants we'd visit along the way. The pick of the bunch:<br />
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The Wiggles.<br />
He'd never seen the Wiggles before, but likes music.He maganed to drift easily off to sleep a couple of times while watching the Wiggles. I just put the sound on very low (and had hubby check that he couldn't hear it from the chair beside). Headphones seemed to irritate him too much, despite the fact that he likes them when he's not tired.<br />
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Socks.<br />
For the last hour of the flight over, we played socks on socks off. Boring for me, but kept him seated and quiet when he was at his wits end from sitting still so long. He also laughed when I put his socks on his hands.<br />
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Cars.<br />
A couple of matchbox cars that could drive around the table and arm rests.<br />
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Things in a bottle.<br />
In one bottle was paper rolls (strips of magazine rolled up tight and then end glued down) and in the other was pipe cleaners. We've also done it with straws or pegs. We tipped them out and he carefully put them back in. This kept him quietly concentrated for ages, and it didn't matter if the bits got lost. <br />
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Plastic stickers.<br />
I stuck them on the tray, he pulled them off.<br />
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Wind up toys.<br />
Ones I'd found lying around the house or bought for 50c. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-56282055917825212192014-03-12T23:28:00.000-07:002014-08-22T17:13:39.613-07:00Homemade Dinosaur Eggs/ Geology eggsGeology eggs, paleontology eggs, dinosaur eggs, gem eggs, dig your own fossil eggs... You know the type. You get the kits where, with a small tool, you can dig a treasure of some sort out of the plaster mix.<br />
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I thought they'd make a terrific party favour for Miss 4's birthday party, however the bought ones cost too much. So here's how we made our own.<br />
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I tried a bunch of different recipes: flour, coffee grounds and plaster (became VERY smelly after a few days), flour and plaster of Paris, cornflour and plaster of Paris, plaster of Paris with a small bit of sand together. They all turned out VERY hard. and although Miss 4 had an absolute blast using a hammer to smash them to pieces and extract the treasures, they weren't what I wanted for a party bag.<br />
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The successful recipe:<br />
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(makes around 6 palm sized eggs) <br />
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2 cups of sand<br />
4 heaped teaspoons of plaster of Paris (approx. 1/3 cup)<br />
Powdered tempura paint to colour<br />
Water<br />
Treasures, dinosaurs or gem stones. <br />
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First mix the dry ingredients together. Add water a little at a time until the mix would make a good sand castle or has the consistency of cake icing.</div>
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Put a spoonful of the mix in the palm of your hand.</div>
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Add the treasures.<br />
I've shown the gems here, but I also made some with plastic dinosaurs and with real gem stone (from a cheap box of mixed stones).</div>
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Add a second spoonful of the mix and then mould into an egg shape. I found gently tossing the egg from one hand to the other made it all come together nicely and smoothly.</div>
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Leave to dry for a few hours, or overnight depending on your drying conditions.</div>
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I made the digging tools from chopsticks cut in half and sharpened with a pencil sharpener.</div>
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Usually with party favours I worry about how many to buy and how many I'll have left over, but this time I've made plenty because I'm sure my kids will have a blast with the ones left over... perhaps we can even use them for an Easter Egg hunt in a few weeks time, Or they could be hidden in the sandpit for discovering later.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-74592782518593501202013-11-21T18:21:00.001-08:002013-11-24T19:34:23.533-08:00Painted Wooden Spoons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-Fo8E1EO48ogWtyEa4qF0zGwx8_9cF-bhlKXQWike0s2nDSBn8I9D68TBTb27IrRbypBLnrbwihg1RIs6IwNKPFUt-hcmZIpTWSFQtCv6v0Ry7lADiAH2wsT72hsAaACHCdVxQzzWYTK/s1600/IMG_8933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv-Fo8E1EO48ogWtyEa4qF0zGwx8_9cF-bhlKXQWike0s2nDSBn8I9D68TBTb27IrRbypBLnrbwihg1RIs6IwNKPFUt-hcmZIpTWSFQtCv6v0Ry7lADiAH2wsT72hsAaACHCdVxQzzWYTK/s400/IMG_8933.jpg" width="300" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnzzl6ut7JBoQ8QkzePAzbHFeEugwAr2PfRLeEQiqAcYZ94xo2dH1OsSiIrJqp2p9jCzYiLOGN8TkKFXFzVXZI6UACCQy2IfNhcOijN48wi6Grs0zFSb9WonkcCxQaCHE8V1vO2KBnLPt/s1600/IMG_8962001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfnzzl6ut7JBoQ8QkzePAzbHFeEugwAr2PfRLeEQiqAcYZ94xo2dH1OsSiIrJqp2p9jCzYiLOGN8TkKFXFzVXZI6UACCQy2IfNhcOijN48wi6Grs0zFSb9WonkcCxQaCHE8V1vO2KBnLPt/s400/IMG_8962001.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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So it's that time of year again. Time for craft and teachers presents. These are some spoons Miss 4 and Mr 6 painted up for teacher gifts. They had such fun doing it, and are very much looking forward to giving them to their teachers. Mr 6 is usually not a painter, but this is a project he really enjoyed.<br />
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I bought a couple of nice wooden spoons, and used sticky tape to give some stencil patterns. We mixed the acrylic paint, trying to get a colour match with the chosen tea towels, and then the kids painted the handle and removed the sticky tape. For the green diamond spoon, we just cut the stencil out of clear contact paper.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnllxnzNQUtJ-MU04TsntQB7vFC6TqAmQm1aVuCS_EDoplgBbK7w99UC3RdFR91b_jZdWOc28dkXmmejsBDgeoYspUOWN-J_Q67m7wsk9141tAoIRLZgxABF1nnk0INVp9Lz29TMWwyK3p/s1600/IMG_8924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnllxnzNQUtJ-MU04TsntQB7vFC6TqAmQm1aVuCS_EDoplgBbK7w99UC3RdFR91b_jZdWOc28dkXmmejsBDgeoYspUOWN-J_Q67m7wsk9141tAoIRLZgxABF1nnk0INVp9Lz29TMWwyK3p/s320/IMG_8924.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JivRFvb5Y8MUFKLXvxy7s_wMkyJECokr_FO43pqYLL_V7B0Bak8P4dOLKJ-kiHUCgaCBxthfuJp8VdTUegAHG8_8nbp26FYMQ3eRbiU6UHupaf46zyIg2j3icXAniRTeykExb8uhHTU5/s1600/IMG_8917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4JivRFvb5Y8MUFKLXvxy7s_wMkyJECokr_FO43pqYLL_V7B0Bak8P4dOLKJ-kiHUCgaCBxthfuJp8VdTUegAHG8_8nbp26FYMQ3eRbiU6UHupaf46zyIg2j3icXAniRTeykExb8uhHTU5/s320/IMG_8917.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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Miss 4 thought they needed an extra heart, so we used clear contact to make a stencil and on went the hearts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvgO8oXrim21ZQhA1bTSD0j3A4bqQJ7XcW4up6yivgESUmd2NvmVL7uX5OAyNSzTv-lbDlWNPKw4Bj8VW-zf7MQ8nLZHGeeQv-RFDZV5PKwmkOUkoH1FP18xWGR2FVo7MuNm3glNuOWJv/s1600/IMG_8930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgvgO8oXrim21ZQhA1bTSD0j3A4bqQJ7XcW4up6yivgESUmd2NvmVL7uX5OAyNSzTv-lbDlWNPKw4Bj8VW-zf7MQ8nLZHGeeQv-RFDZV5PKwmkOUkoH1FP18xWGR2FVo7MuNm3glNuOWJv/s320/IMG_8930.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSXfLaXeo_sppIRGKfmxW_I3KcNmojEyqIPulfrnoAtsNBMqMemCnh2uv5IvcTTRUsX0xGZHESSCcWbGr4V8myIcETmj-R5kXHmodKBSzKxOc-NTYzJ2-Avbyfl3zMHjWjT1dVftC9Bwv/s1600/IMG_8928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhSXfLaXeo_sppIRGKfmxW_I3KcNmojEyqIPulfrnoAtsNBMqMemCnh2uv5IvcTTRUsX0xGZHESSCcWbGr4V8myIcETmj-R5kXHmodKBSzKxOc-NTYzJ2-Avbyfl3zMHjWjT1dVftC9Bwv/s320/IMG_8928.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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As a final touch I sprayed the handle with a bit of clear acrylic, taking care not to spray the food end. Very easy and fun! Thankyou to <a href="http://fun.kyti.me/index.php/2013/09/geo-painted-wooden-spoons/">Funky Time</a> for the inspiration.<br />
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Note: if you're painting the food end, make sure you use things that are compatible with food!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-2578453322293962562013-10-27T20:31:00.000-07:002013-10-27T20:41:38.215-07:00Dinosaur carry bag with play mat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iia977a_YaAuDHNDc03oWxM59RwRjS4ziQLOTsSPMMVaiWNngnXrNo1S4kIznIVYGZ9ZSeJFlzGz9FyXA-3Qz8x5JPoMFSIqTkUG2IG-sGZZYGxzB4IW07aHS7v_KH-8aGXJ8uQ5lAaB/s1600/IMG_8680.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1iia977a_YaAuDHNDc03oWxM59RwRjS4ziQLOTsSPMMVaiWNngnXrNo1S4kIznIVYGZ9ZSeJFlzGz9FyXA-3Qz8x5JPoMFSIqTkUG2IG-sGZZYGxzB4IW07aHS7v_KH-8aGXJ8uQ5lAaB/s400/IMG_8680.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Here's the dinosaur carry bag with play mat I made. I think the pictures mostly speak for themselves.</div>
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I drew a lot of inspiration from <a href="http://www.funathomewithkids.com/2013/02/dino-world-playmat-preschooler-s-loves.html">this beautiful play mat</a>, although the lack of black felt meant we had to have a sinking sand pit, rather than a tar pit.</div>
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The making of: </div>
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The finished bag: </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-77798921891548182412013-10-20T23:30:00.003-07:002013-10-20T23:30:53.771-07:00Simple Rubber Band Gun and Ammo Pouch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I made these simple wooden rubber band guns with Mr 6 today. It was declared to be "epic" so many times I thought I'd share. I made a second one when Miss 4 came home, and the whole process (including "helping" took about 10 minutes)<br />
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Ingredients:<br />
26mm diameter dowel stick. 7cm long*<br />
1cm square stick. 18.5cm long* <br />
1 wooden peg<br />
2 nails <br />
*note: all the measurements are approximate, done by eye, and measured later. We used scraps we had handy.<br />
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You also need: <br />
wood glue<br />
sandpaper<br />
hand saw<br />
hot melt glue <br />
<br />
1. Sand all edges<br />
2. Saw a small groove horizontally across the end of the square stick (for the rubber band to sit in)<br />
3. Wood glue and nail the other end of the square stick to the round dowel.<br />
4. Hot glue gun the peg to the top of the square stick<br />
5. Test it out and paint it.<br />
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For the target, we made holes in the side of a cubby house box, and I taped plastic bags to the back of the holes to catch the rubber bands. It made it easier to see which hole the rubber band had gone through, and easier to get it back.<br />
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I also made an "ammo pouch", which consisted of a simple rectangle of
fabric sewn into a tiny bag (sew sides and a triangle across the bottom corners). I sewed a pipe cleaner in the top hem,
which gives it a stiff feel, so the pouch can be pinched shut or kept
open.<br />
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Good quiet fun that's not going to actually injure someone when the rubber band hits (unlike the wooden sword which was Mr 5's first suggestion for a wood work project). And all done before the kids lost interest. Definitely a great thing to make on a quiet or rainy day.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-76386780761658924202013-09-15T19:03:00.000-07:002013-09-16T03:32:22.356-07:00Portable Dolls House<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-79870437075877752432013-09-10T19:15:00.000-07:002013-09-10T23:37:20.775-07:00Monster cans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6ne7cf51O8JPIUmD1gRrL8HxMjfok2be5V0rOwyUU1JxdbIbqruTWn29Xcsw4fBGrGs5dkCh8xGyx41NuVg4FM-CRkyex-lBk4dz6Fyhb6WIQT2Dg4ynW8lIWpL2YT-wapuIvRs_bfB_/s1600/IMG_8174.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Funny Faces" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6ne7cf51O8JPIUmD1gRrL8HxMjfok2be5V0rOwyUU1JxdbIbqruTWn29Xcsw4fBGrGs5dkCh8xGyx41NuVg4FM-CRkyex-lBk4dz6Fyhb6WIQT2Dg4ynW8lIWpL2YT-wapuIvRs_bfB_/s320/IMG_8174.jpg" title="Monster Cans for Knock 'Em Downs" width="240" /></a></div>
I was decorating the cans for the school fete knock 'ems stall. At first I thought I'd use things from computer games, but not wanting to breach any copyrights I eventually decided to make up some monsters instead. So here are my monster cans, made by cutting shapes out of coloured paper, gluing them on and using a marker pen to outline them. Finally I covered the cans in clear contact plastic.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-47100076612292963562013-09-09T21:03:00.001-07:002013-09-09T21:03:50.937-07:00Tessellating Lions Canvas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnw9vifgJwvdNtReDFrsomoo2W58pW7KaMNjVr62BSZTyv32CYxLxFbkcpqsmgF35zQXv0P6F7TPYvTwM5eI9fh6fNl8IEZSKHPwUW6feGPPv9X_Plul0mp2-b7r28kp9Xu12e8MfA5am/s1600/IMG_8199crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBnw9vifgJwvdNtReDFrsomoo2W58pW7KaMNjVr62BSZTyv32CYxLxFbkcpqsmgF35zQXv0P6F7TPYvTwM5eI9fh6fNl8IEZSKHPwUW6feGPPv9X_Plul0mp2-b7r28kp9Xu12e8MfA5am/s320/IMG_8199crop.jpg" title="Tessellating Lions Painting" width="320" /></a></div>
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The finished product of our lions tessellation canvas. Inspired by the lizards on <a href="http://margaretbearden.com/euharlee/blog/2011/11/05/math-e-magical-tessellations-by-m-c-escher/">Mrs Bearden's Art Room</a>. Each child painted their own lion and then they were glued to the canvas. Let me know if you're interested in the tessellating lion, and I'll have a go at uploading it.<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-3782632211916724662013-09-01T18:57:00.000-07:002013-09-01T18:57:25.888-07:00School Bag Packing List Keyring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLMsuh2Sj7Gz0zOBNdCGz0tF4GgAtpfsBBVk4e7ZRoOMEh525p0gcp6fxzS9gP0V7wCbZn8a3287F4Ud9ZFtrIynTS11oJQGMs0DJgG_38C9Au5LbZhpRgRU6g1-Rgc-KaOrzwsIza-Cy/s1600/IMG_8138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLMsuh2Sj7Gz0zOBNdCGz0tF4GgAtpfsBBVk4e7ZRoOMEh525p0gcp6fxzS9gP0V7wCbZn8a3287F4Ud9ZFtrIynTS11oJQGMs0DJgG_38C9Au5LbZhpRgRU6g1-Rgc-KaOrzwsIza-Cy/s320/IMG_8138.jpg" title="Organizing the school bag packing list on a keyring" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXBkK6NtlpFS8dg1t7LMC-n3UWEXT-D03icRuIXaH3RoglFw7cA96XAcTyQ4tBf5jUjx0UKmfzoftaZ9x1CxtI5aykGg8-wxa-0_jwcp5fgP_jlaFQk0HpdW90zkEM5gzNkMsQ-5QobR-/s1600/IMG_8139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRXBkK6NtlpFS8dg1t7LMC-n3UWEXT-D03icRuIXaH3RoglFw7cA96XAcTyQ4tBf5jUjx0UKmfzoftaZ9x1CxtI5aykGg8-wxa-0_jwcp5fgP_jlaFQk0HpdW90zkEM5gzNkMsQ-5QobR-/s320/IMG_8139.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our house can get a bit chaotic some mornings. Trying to remember which bits are meant to go into which bag on which days was proving to be a challenge.<br />
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So I made up these key rings so that no matter who was packing, they could check off all the contents before leaving. Even better, Mr 6 could check the checklist and (fingers crossed) bring everything back home again at the end of the day.<br />
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So simple and quick to make. Using Word I wrote up a list of things the kids needed every day, and a second list of things they needed on particular days. I made them roughly rectangular in shape, and printed them out. I cut them out and put them back to back before laminating, cutting out, and using a hole punch and key loop to finish them off. <br />
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<br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-78447955222424321312013-08-11T18:35:00.000-07:002013-08-11T18:40:20.273-07:00Kaleidescope Tutorial<div style="text-align: center;">
Cheap, easy and quick; making your own kaleidoscope is a great activity to do with the kids. It took us about 20 minutes to gather the materials together and make 2 kaleidoscopes and the kids were very impressed with them.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluihDmRC-10IHjyIbh5aS-iK1lx_dHGoKUCqZH5HqdxE1HWHI_GXZmAZzvpDIQk5Sw1smJX51uUaMs-IcMj10He5D1CKIwKqnO9yNCz9jyvpL60eEWE3Noy-1ZmbxfO1tVknB55Lmnd-D/s1600/IMG_8054.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluihDmRC-10IHjyIbh5aS-iK1lx_dHGoKUCqZH5HqdxE1HWHI_GXZmAZzvpDIQk5Sw1smJX51uUaMs-IcMj10He5D1CKIwKqnO9yNCz9jyvpL60eEWE3Noy-1ZmbxfO1tVknB55Lmnd-D/s400/IMG_8054.jpg" title="Easy home made kaleidoscope" width="400" /></a></div>
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We found the idea <a href="http://www.frankie.com.au/blogs/craft/frankie-exclusive-diy-colourful-kaleidoscope">here</a> and made our own like this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bhUIiAbNrJd7KMuYte7wf4BzsgQJ4Th-Qxl9KocAABwWEE_tuIbxNG91kVvtkRBeYOsNHbg2n-nUxVJN-dLDzWmnoroi4qy7RDGnjKInnaZSDD5JeaiIGK1DiaMllnjFJwqbblaW97HL/s1600/IMG_8024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bhUIiAbNrJd7KMuYte7wf4BzsgQJ4Th-Qxl9KocAABwWEE_tuIbxNG91kVvtkRBeYOsNHbg2n-nUxVJN-dLDzWmnoroi4qy7RDGnjKInnaZSDD5JeaiIGK1DiaMllnjFJwqbblaW97HL/s320/IMG_8024.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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1. Find a cardboard tube and some shiny reflective cardboard which is about 5-7mm shorter than the tube (if you have big beads you might want it to be a bit shorter, small beads = longer). </div>
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Note: we used toilet paper rolls which were just a fraction too short for our adults eyes to see the beads in focus giving it a lovely blurry colour effect. Although I don't think the kids had the same issues.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0Z_y333Rd1JeYFB-sBcMf8BiQCpqwjBiipuhmAwZs79POAZLQFv9DXdTocWKg5i4uZHL56_uSv8TFHr4w3Kz4ZCz3eEvGjtHKTrlTrm-Bd-_dRQ9HLncU2H9HoPgqpyFTGe08JaSRc0m/s1600/IMG_8025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-0Z_y333Rd1JeYFB-sBcMf8BiQCpqwjBiipuhmAwZs79POAZLQFv9DXdTocWKg5i4uZHL56_uSv8TFHr4w3Kz4ZCz3eEvGjtHKTrlTrm-Bd-_dRQ9HLncU2H9HoPgqpyFTGe08JaSRc0m/s320/IMG_8025.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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2. Fold the cardboard so that it makes a triangle which fits snugly into the tube. Shiny side goes in.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWKxkNptKbVe_dfBHKWdCZfDQXp5fgCpRHRPt8_gT-Ers1Ijm8bJaIagTkzbNduTWB7sxv3OW0jQqx60ixsHUoAQP_A3K_zS5R1MUTqulcOFwSlfiT91_WDjS4nz5Zp_j_5EoN1WL_lha/s1600/IMG_8027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWKxkNptKbVe_dfBHKWdCZfDQXp5fgCpRHRPt8_gT-Ers1Ijm8bJaIagTkzbNduTWB7sxv3OW0jQqx60ixsHUoAQP_A3K_zS5R1MUTqulcOFwSlfiT91_WDjS4nz5Zp_j_5EoN1WL_lha/s320/IMG_8027.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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3. Find some fairly stiff clear plastic (an old bit of toy packaging worked perfectly) and cut a circle the same size as the tube.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBB2joCshZx-bGVpAPHwsgDDvnkiwV9cMnP0-pxkygbW3M6bU3uYIXF5lBomUMbxwrFYa9qf7CT6u9Myv8W23tBb6g8QtPh4d8c6FmYW53ota4ThYVqA6Wls8vOVkeme_S2e9edyROiWt/s1600/IMG_8029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyBB2joCshZx-bGVpAPHwsgDDvnkiwV9cMnP0-pxkygbW3M6bU3uYIXF5lBomUMbxwrFYa9qf7CT6u9Myv8W23tBb6g8QtPh4d8c6FmYW53ota4ThYVqA6Wls8vOVkeme_S2e9edyROiWt/s320/IMG_8029.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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4. Fit the plastic circle into the tube up against the triangle. There should now be a little room at the end of the tube to fill with beads.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XWIV8NmKnI0WTkbDm_OM4c373Y5q94kO8CeHR9WLZTa8sMKDHGkWP2mnwbo0WMD42tyyiR5FmXaUzQONelDE1wOuy72vCnR9BZoaBychzpOOxu8g9Le6zi8ShQTIMqcdz-j7NOXwWK0C/s1600/IMG_8033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XWIV8NmKnI0WTkbDm_OM4c373Y5q94kO8CeHR9WLZTa8sMKDHGkWP2mnwbo0WMD42tyyiR5FmXaUzQONelDE1wOuy72vCnR9BZoaBychzpOOxu8g9Le6zi8ShQTIMqcdz-j7NOXwWK0C/s320/IMG_8033.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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5. Fill with beads of your choice (or any small shiny things you have). See through things are very effective. Leave a bit of room for the beads to tumble around when you turn the tube.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsF7OTHqJbUhcOzUMgBXOsh8XVZgyZqlWb1LnxZf4LRsg16jshwWgS8xHX4msaN01QRllAfJVZ_CpatQzIgZYdlxwIpMzWZ6oiKZ5bxe-6KZnYMHDBzM5ptxKxxDJq_YQP0HZhjuJuFS9A/s1600/IMG_8034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsF7OTHqJbUhcOzUMgBXOsh8XVZgyZqlWb1LnxZf4LRsg16jshwWgS8xHX4msaN01QRllAfJVZ_CpatQzIgZYdlxwIpMzWZ6oiKZ5bxe-6KZnYMHDBzM5ptxKxxDJq_YQP0HZhjuJuFS9A/s320/IMG_8034.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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6. Use a piece of white tissue paper to cover the end up, so that the beads are safely in between the plastic layer and the tissue paper layer. You want the tissue paper to be thin enough for light to shine through.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEinNppp47Zc4DoaKRkRRMJnG8j5XIAEyv9jUxW2JcGOxUyIy6kDocREH7oIMUPIt_S5nuHpb8EoxKEOe5c2ZtuXZGyGqP5ZidZATw4VJNFRa6BAV3QhZbySDKMGMHnm8D_A5bFaYjYPSk/s1600/IMG_8035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEinNppp47Zc4DoaKRkRRMJnG8j5XIAEyv9jUxW2JcGOxUyIy6kDocREH7oIMUPIt_S5nuHpb8EoxKEOe5c2ZtuXZGyGqP5ZidZATw4VJNFRa6BAV3QhZbySDKMGMHnm8D_A5bFaYjYPSk/s320/IMG_8035.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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7. Stop and check that you like what you're making. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqxe8MmyCqa0LUFTfnPa58mWNb0EogP8m6m0k4nNwxiOPzOyrtaFJd2i1rgqxJOm7pe85YLwehtJaJIsEy7oo9BoE4ICT_3VSIpSLEpfSIZNBVlXeoQQ2YJfZVE_R1r5ZQ2JgB8yJCfPU/s1600/IMG_8037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqxe8MmyCqa0LUFTfnPa58mWNb0EogP8m6m0k4nNwxiOPzOyrtaFJd2i1rgqxJOm7pe85YLwehtJaJIsEy7oo9BoE4ICT_3VSIpSLEpfSIZNBVlXeoQQ2YJfZVE_R1r5ZQ2JgB8yJCfPU/s320/IMG_8037.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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8. Cut a piece of heavy paper to go over the other end. Cut a small hole in the middle. Press the cardboard gently against the tube so an imprint of the tube size shows up.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_mG_Glc_A-SUwd770f9du9one_19oRjkqzlGXQ5lwdO_LEaw3ERDhxwXmODhrZS8UnBT7Oak4rvcQ_FAiGrcIhw0Va7aRPzMaXyeZZDXdSsPT3D6tfqYEg9-B_ouCciJM-w50LCC6VnV/s1600/IMG_8039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_mG_Glc_A-SUwd770f9du9one_19oRjkqzlGXQ5lwdO_LEaw3ERDhxwXmODhrZS8UnBT7Oak4rvcQ_FAiGrcIhw0Va7aRPzMaXyeZZDXdSsPT3D6tfqYEg9-B_ouCciJM-w50LCC6VnV/s320/IMG_8039.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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9. Cut lines into the tube imprint circle.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyr2rFY9BDJUHosufjdDqMP9DHp1dnXIGBUmAejqRA2FZkgz-38xeVzzWzcZvyzmBjGKCDFqCi9mjIDRYk_hLVTBzkNjWtiPuETsSqgdFWlypEwnxJwVVzzzQi39YXMySS7E_Hgzqpd6yt/s1600/IMG_8040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyr2rFY9BDJUHosufjdDqMP9DHp1dnXIGBUmAejqRA2FZkgz-38xeVzzWzcZvyzmBjGKCDFqCi9mjIDRYk_hLVTBzkNjWtiPuETsSqgdFWlypEwnxJwVVzzzQi39YXMySS7E_Hgzqpd6yt/s320/IMG_8040.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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10. Sticky tape down every second tab.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Jc52X1fPUoSbzFz6tjFGY7_eWl8Yus9WeJR4bJbfu8J9dHnhJRhOSl9z8xJtvn7rnCdew3iWQi7SVA6aYtxH-9hlcEsrXbwkbi9Uv2CwddL1pA7UuNT2c37aSDgOUEP1AEMHo_ix5sNN/s1600/IMG_8049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Jc52X1fPUoSbzFz6tjFGY7_eWl8Yus9WeJR4bJbfu8J9dHnhJRhOSl9z8xJtvn7rnCdew3iWQi7SVA6aYtxH-9hlcEsrXbwkbi9Uv2CwddL1pA7UuNT2c37aSDgOUEP1AEMHo_ix5sNN/s320/IMG_8049.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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11. Sticky tape down the rest.</div>
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12. Decorate with your choice of pretty paper.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgluihDmRC-10IHjyIbh5aS-iK1lx_dHGoKUCqZH5HqdxE1HWHI_GXZmAZzvpDIQk5Sw1smJX51uUaMs-IcMj10He5D1CKIwKqnO9yNCz9jyvpL60eEWE3Noy-1ZmbxfO1tVknB55Lmnd-D/s1600/IMG_8054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcWZxifIQuM3X3gHPSyyiI3E0reebUo2OuwffcGeWux0y5R7nzf28u_DGNz43fvJNhpJlaeJP0R8ZiBML_2vxfksYNcDNcncbUC-sP55NfDA0EWcoa9109P4DhzwioGU7-fjDANTML8Cu/s1600/IMG_8056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwcWZxifIQuM3X3gHPSyyiI3E0reebUo2OuwffcGeWux0y5R7nzf28u_DGNz43fvJNhpJlaeJP0R8ZiBML_2vxfksYNcDNcncbUC-sP55NfDA0EWcoa9109P4DhzwioGU7-fjDANTML8Cu/s320/IMG_8056.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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13. Use a small piece of clear contact plastic to make the tissue paper strong enough to stop small fingers from accidentally making a hole in it.</div>
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14. Ta-DAH!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-33070637028214702972013-07-28T18:20:00.000-07:002013-07-28T18:25:12.520-07:00Hammering Out Flower and Leaf Prints<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZ2xKDiBdMmztKeRHAxIvEDYLlcYyCD0PA4cKxqMubSa1e6TzNUx89MjtqhGaxPLVvcuL8S9qi8eAmonpNGO6fLrTW-xNA8wJtmjKoJHbrEfS-ZLnSy1lgFK_VJkAJq4h_oVpu4HTa5-j/s400/IMG_7916.jpg" title="Hammer prints of natural things" width="400" /></div>
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I saw this idea on <a href="http://buildmakecraftbake.com/2009/04/how-to-hammered-flower-and-leaf-prints.html">Build/Make/Craft/Bake</a>, and had to give it a go. I mean seriously, it's using a hammer to squash the colour out of natural things. How much fun could that be?<br />
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I did it with Miss 4 and Mr 6, who both had an absolute ball collecting different things from the garden and taking turns whacking them until they were a semi pureed blob. F.U.N.<br />
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The general technique:<br />
1. Take and old flat wooden board <br />
2. Put some heavier paper on the board (the heavy paper withstands hammering better and absorbs more of the plant colour) <br />
3. Grab some leaves and flowers from the garden (glossy leaves don't work very well)<br />
4. Put the samples on the paper and cover them with 2 layers of kitchen towel.<br />
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5. Hammer everywhere on the sample but keep your fingers well out of the way of enthusiastic hammering children!<br />
6. Remove the paper towel and the sample and admire your print. <br />
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We didn't have a fancy hammer, so we just used an ordinary, smallish one. <br />
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Just think of the fun you could have making pretty cards for Mother's Day or a grandmother's birthday.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHo8L1Fr1Mrd72J3qu8qqP47AOqdMxL0EodHKu5fqn007lMEWR0JgR1GafZ8e9vR4AG9u6OJoBUbvXnm-7m4c5sjBGU_5O-LlzAUwr14SP8p76BC2QXDjv1FLw8FPS3glvxwzLRRmTFzxE/s1600/IMG_7908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHo8L1Fr1Mrd72J3qu8qqP47AOqdMxL0EodHKu5fqn007lMEWR0JgR1GafZ8e9vR4AG9u6OJoBUbvXnm-7m4c5sjBGU_5O-LlzAUwr14SP8p76BC2QXDjv1FLw8FPS3glvxwzLRRmTFzxE/s320/IMG_7908.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TzXN-dngMDZCFg3h-NFqKtfN7t0hdhyphenhyphenaOvsDbyRHPzdfx3qHWnv3XBsRfjMV0Lal0NZ_-c0zqZmGQ0ml5vIOra-KjNPWpiWrU6bZPwF9xpjmtJgREvN_t3suj15Js_fsZXhKImW2toLu/s1600/IMG_7917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5TzXN-dngMDZCFg3h-NFqKtfN7t0hdhyphenhyphenaOvsDbyRHPzdfx3qHWnv3XBsRfjMV0Lal0NZ_-c0zqZmGQ0ml5vIOra-KjNPWpiWrU6bZPwF9xpjmtJgREvN_t3suj15Js_fsZXhKImW2toLu/s320/IMG_7917.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-86588367064325178662013-07-14T19:48:00.003-07:002013-07-14T19:48:32.984-07:00Melty Bead Christmas Tree Ornaments<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBjeKOg5eDl2hlb5enR6Kx3NV2sc_agR21hMnq_8-9ALHp318R1XliUovuMKa8NlVB3kzb6EOF60LFtcKVZUZt_Ep0_LGaGR7ON6BRVnD9fjEyv_tHCWUPtqjJT3CcoELb5IzUIT_D4gEr/s1600/IMG_7664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a>So it might not be Christmas season right now, but it is cold and
wintery weather, and perfect for a bit of quiet indoor craft time.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNvkXAvFO7e2aA0tkYlAlV0FF-UaqHUZMbGvT-uITk6LqRbLrQM3StUvwLpMLmapI47QJ68rPweQJX9dUVpRNBAmm_jgCXweXB2KJ43rfGqj9w8bF97Gj0UbjSGAr-QLlmTncNVHKZa4lU/s320/IMG_7665.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" title="Melty bead christmas tree ornament" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was very proud of Mr 6's own design of Christmas tree. I think he worked on it for a couple of hours.</td></tr>
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Melty beads are great for fine motor skills, and also for a bit of quiet companionship as both adults and kids can enjoy it together. And now when we decorate the Christmas tree at the end of the year we can think back to the lovely day we spent together in the Winter holidays.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qxU3Ft1GBR9UF81L8Nyk8kN1r0LlQQwEvHjmkUqnd8wNPbV6_ZeQIv11g6arUwkLt6LjVB7YDpP5w4Y0LhCJ0XRqKMhCSPtKnjyraV2b2VBPDWXBCImhE2s09d2bF9Fi6BXot6I2sq9j/s1600/IMG_7836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qxU3Ft1GBR9UF81L8Nyk8kN1r0LlQQwEvHjmkUqnd8wNPbV6_ZeQIv11g6arUwkLt6LjVB7YDpP5w4Y0LhCJ0XRqKMhCSPtKnjyraV2b2VBPDWXBCImhE2s09d2bF9Fi6BXot6I2sq9j/s320/IMG_7836.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miss 4 also found it was a fun and relaxing activity to do.</td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-80898163981519372982013-07-14T19:40:00.002-07:002013-07-14T19:48:49.133-07:00Water Colour Pencils and Raindrops<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHI5HSyz23pJ2WiKB-xiNxFyghSeY6Y0gzHZHTJyavmNRIzss-3j6lPLCOd2rFti2R44nTA_Muj_OfPSrd-u4AHQ3VPNHbbA5PEgATC1rIkHtVqMaRW_38IJ-1sDmNIcYvdVglldvA9-9p/s1600/IMG_7548001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHI5HSyz23pJ2WiKB-xiNxFyghSeY6Y0gzHZHTJyavmNRIzss-3j6lPLCOd2rFti2R44nTA_Muj_OfPSrd-u4AHQ3VPNHbbA5PEgATC1rIkHtVqMaRW_38IJ-1sDmNIcYvdVglldvA9-9p/s320/IMG_7548001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNlgXUN7REDaX88aA9UJnUEOm6p2maXCyGHmJQfb299E9IrTKpWWrX_mute-0Vu4LYhXitO1nuPgmD8gpbTNdv9_dMtwnrQyUHsh9iQ3xK12868mLWM4HGWDeiTSCpftD748P-qNvYIjS/s1600/IMG_7553001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNlgXUN7REDaX88aA9UJnUEOm6p2maXCyGHmJQfb299E9IrTKpWWrX_mute-0Vu4LYhXitO1nuPgmD8gpbTNdv9_dMtwnrQyUHsh9iQ3xK12868mLWM4HGWDeiTSCpftD748P-qNvYIjS/s320/IMG_7553001.jpg" title="Water color pencil and raindrop painting" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
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This is the perfect activity for yet another rainy afternoon. The technique is easy, colour in a page using water colour pencils, take it out and hold it in the rain until you've collected enough raindrops on your picture.<br />
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A couple of points worth of note:<br />
Use heavier paper if you've got it, as it will cope with the water better.<br />
You'll need to lie them flat to dry or you get little coloured droplets or water underneath your drying rack.<br />
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Mr 5 found it a bit overwhelming to try and colour a whole page. So did marker lines and a few artistic spots coloured in. <br />
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Miss 3 couldn't resist patting hers dry with paper towel. It removed a lot of colour, but she was pleased with the results, so I thought that counted as a success.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-49061284989885763962013-07-11T23:14:00.000-07:002013-07-19T13:59:41.959-07:00Balloon painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'd never seen balloon painting before (I've since seen a beautiful caterpiller on Pinterest using balloon painting). Anyway I thought I'd share Miss 4 and my experiences with it.<br />
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We used a big piece of paper on the floor (and a wet cloth to clean up the floor afterwards).<br />
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If you push the balloon down a little when you make the print you get fantastic patterns in the paint (and a satisfying boingy balloon feeling on your fingers).<br />
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We did an interpretive "Monet's waterlillies" painting (although you might have to close one eye and squint a little to see that in the result).<br />
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<i>Note: You get some great affects when the colours on your palette aren't thoroughly mixed together. </i><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-84901542387029910852013-07-11T21:24:00.000-07:002013-07-19T14:00:31.361-07:00Tactile ChemistryWe started off with the plan of making <a href="http://tottreasuresnorthbay.blogspot.com.au/2012/08/fluffy-stuff-sensory-play.html">fluffy stuff,</a> using cornflour, shaving cream and food colour. We made up a bowl of pink and then made a second bowl of purple fluffy stuff.<br />
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Good fun in the making. <br />
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<i>NOTE: Put the food dye on the shaving foam, not cornflour, this helps it to spread out rather than making a mixture with lots of little spots.</i><br />
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We moved the activity outside as it was obviously going to get pretty messy pretty quickly (and this helped the smell of the shaving foam dissipate too)<br />
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I gave Miss 4 a tray to get playing, and popped inside to get my camera. By the time I came out again, the two colours were mixed into one.<br />
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For a while this was great, but after half an hour or so Miss 4 found she couldn't really build the things she wanted to build with it.<br />
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We tried adding baby oil (as I'd just read a recipe for moon dust that used that). No improvement.<br />
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Miss 4 was quite sure that water would fix our problem.<br />
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It didn't make it easier to build with, but it was fantastically tactile and great hands on science (it turned it into a slightly oily cornflour gloop - a non-Newtonian fluid). And Miss 4 was very much pleased.<br />
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To finish off I let Miss 4 use the hose to wash it all down with. Occasionally I just feel like one of those awesome pinterest mums ;).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-38321551814789677212013-07-06T22:21:00.000-07:002013-07-07T20:54:32.106-07:00Peg Board Fairy Garden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I recently saw this lovely post at <a href="http://madebyjoel.com/2011/01/branch-trees.html">Made by Joel</a> to use a peg board and twigs to make a play scene. The idea was still fresh in my head when we happened to be visiting relatives, and I noticed a couple of large peg boards beside some twigs collected by the fireplace.<br />
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I started the idea off with the twigs and a few little animals, but
Miss 4 and her grandmother took it one step further, collecting a whole basket full of berries, flowers and greenery and getting out some little fairy
figurines... Half an hour or so later we had one lovely fairy garden and one
very happy little girl.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-48242832095801072102013-06-23T21:12:00.001-07:002013-07-10T00:13:10.085-07:00Birthday Funny Face Biscuits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A quick treat for Mr 6 to take to school to share with his class mates for his birthday. Quick, because he only decided at 5pm the night before that he'd like to take something.<br />
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I used a gingerbread recipe (the biscuits don't spread too much when cooking) and then iced them and added a malteser nose. Apparently they went like hot cakes. It's always nice when a last minute decision works out nicely.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-70821080691887798002013-06-20T21:36:00.000-07:002013-08-04T18:28:30.999-07:00Minecraft birthday partyMr 6 is right into anything he can play on the tablet right now, especially minecraft. So for his birthday party we had a bit of a computer game theme.<br />
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The cake was candy crush (because it was made with lollies, surely you can't get a much easier cake than that!)<br />
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We had one party game. I wasn't sure how it'd go, seeing as I'd just vaguely invented it in my head, but it worked brilliantly and all the kids, from the 1y/o to the 14 y/o wanted to line up and have a go.<br />
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The basic idea was we made a giant slingshot (using 8 pieces of 1m long 2x4cm pine, duct tape, dress elastic and a piece of fairly stiff material). We made a pile of old boxes (semi angry birds style) and taped balloons onto some of the boxes. Some balloons had angry birds or pigs drawn on, some had TNT or creepers drawn on. Others were plain. We used the drawn on ones first. The kids thought it was pretty awesome, especially the TNT ones. The original idea was to put chocolates inside the balloons, but that was being a bit too labour intensive, so we just sticky taped the chocolates to the outside.<br />
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Each child had a turn of shooting 2 tennis balls at the tower, one at a time. If they knocked down a balloon, they got the chocolate. After everyone had patiently waited 2 turns anyone who hadn't got a chocolate took one from the bag, and then we kept the game going until the adults got sick of supervising.<br />
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We made some slice to look minecrafty. Unfortunately my photo doesn't look nearly as good as <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Minecraft-Crispie-Treats/">this</a> one, but the slice went down really well.<br />
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Mine craft slice box recipes:<br />
Sand (mix approximately 4 cups/160g rice bubbles with 180g melted white chocolate and 2 or 3 tablespoons of coconut, press into a slice tray and refrigerate).<br />
Grass (hedgehog slice with green icing sprinkled with green coconut).<br />
Water (blue jelly with a couple of tablespoons extra gelatine to make it strong enough to pick up in fingers).<br />
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And last we made up some ginger bread biscuits to go in the party favour bags. Some with green icing to be "grass" and some with white icing for "snow".<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-28734308850895347112013-06-20T21:10:00.000-07:002013-07-07T20:55:02.704-07:00Student parting gift<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-98WhJQhmWiS3zUd6x-fktiSCahAZuHFL2yaC0TV3xyB86DHo0YACKru6OD2JER-DOp2yR7kHDHxg3sH9bm_xmqNhRb3ZDX2KcUmYXgc6Uai95vgJLBpSk3DIVVnrhkIqpB24XtejTJt/s1600/IMG_0775001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-98WhJQhmWiS3zUd6x-fktiSCahAZuHFL2yaC0TV3xyB86DHo0YACKru6OD2JER-DOp2yR7kHDHxg3sH9bm_xmqNhRb3ZDX2KcUmYXgc6Uai95vgJLBpSk3DIVVnrhkIqpB24XtejTJt/s400/IMG_0775001.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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I was so happy how this one turned out. The photo unfortunately doesn't really do it justice. One of the students in my son's class at school is leaving soon, and so I asked the teacher if the kids could all write a few adjectives down to describe her, and I would make a word cloud key ring as a parting gift.<br />
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Adjectives are currently part of their curriculum, so the teacher thought it was a terrific idea, and in 4 groups the kids sat down and each came up with a huge number of adjectives describing nice things about the girl who is leaving. I couldn't just use a dozen of them in a key ring and leave the rest un-used, so I bought a $5 frame, painted it pink, decorated it a little and made one large word cloud with all the words.<br />
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I hope it makes her feel terrific while she's starting at her new school.<br />
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It would also make a terrific teacher's gift. <br />
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(Note: the swirl in the middle is where her name went, but I've removed it for privacy sakes.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-47206677970485708612013-06-10T20:26:00.000-07:002013-06-10T20:28:52.081-07:00Paint and Pastel Self Portrait<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is a portrait Miss 4 did a while back (when she was 3) using the beautiful tutorial at <a href="http://www.deepspacesparkle.com/2013/03/25/chalk-and-tempera-primary-portraits/">Deep Space Sparkle</a>. Such simple technique but I really love the results. We used poster paints instead of tempera paints (not sure if/what the difference is there) but it seemed to give us the right results.<br />
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The best things about this technique were: starting with a U shape (rather than an oval), using 3 circles for eyes, mixing the skin colour and then testing it by putting it on Miss 3's skin, and the look on her face when she'd finished. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-10657532115298181182013-05-28T21:16:00.000-07:002013-05-28T21:16:06.262-07:00Nature Rainbow Tree<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A simple nice art activity. First we had a play outside and collected things of all the colours of the rainbow, plus some twigs.<br />
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I had thought we would just make a rainbow, but Miss 4 was quite determined it would be a tree. Just as determined as she was about the order of the rainbow; <i>Red and yellow, pink and green, purple and orange and blue. I can sing a rainbow... </i>I drew some lines to glue between and she did the rest.<br />
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But regardless of our differences in taste, it was a lovely art activity to do together and she was proud to show the results to Mr Crafty when he got home.<br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-1330972375283598422013-05-23T20:09:00.001-07:002013-07-07T20:57:57.809-07:00Home made board game<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What to do with somewhat sick kids on a chilly windy day? How about making your own board game?<br />
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We started with an A3 piece of heavy paper. I drew a track and Miss 3 coloured it in to match the activities for each square:<br />
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Pink - Go forward x spaces<br />
Light blue - Take a "Spot What" card<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Yellow - Take a "Charades" card<br />
Purple - Maths roll<br />
Red - Go back x spaces<br />
Orange - Take a short cut<br />
Green - Give someone a hug<br />
Dark Green - Have and extra turn<br />
Dark Blue - no action.<br />
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For the maths roll we rolled 3 die and add the numbers together.<br />
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Spot what cards were about 10 cards with tasks like<br />
spot something<br />
- red<br />
- round<br />
- soft<br />
- transparent<br />
- that uses electricity<br />
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Charades cards had really simple words on them with a (fairly mediocre) hand drawn picture. Simple enough that Miss 4 could figure them out by herself, letting Mr 5 and me both be guessers. E.g. Hat, swim, cat, jump, monkey, flower, etc.<br />
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Both kids had a go at making their own board games, but honestly found it a bit too much of a challenge, even with help. However they very much enjoyed playing the one we'd made together.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3246472541139292892.post-66807521260240400772013-05-23T19:56:00.000-07:002013-05-23T19:56:25.389-07:00Super simple landscape painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKH_lV54J6R4Hxemdf52kZMOjgP4GCRooc6mhGrWJn6qJyro5Inl2c29GghlkJdBh7kS681kZVVIBJuK7c5bOfUkNHJ512HWQl5aZNBMU0TAMN5VFoNzQWQNPZCs_OHStDhua1po_ibI5/s1600/IMG_7476.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSKH_lV54J6R4Hxemdf52kZMOjgP4GCRooc6mhGrWJn6qJyro5Inl2c29GghlkJdBh7kS681kZVVIBJuK7c5bOfUkNHJ512HWQl5aZNBMU0TAMN5VFoNzQWQNPZCs_OHStDhua1po_ibI5/s320/IMG_7476.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is Miss 4's painting using the super simple tutorial from <a href="http://preschool-creative-learning.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/beautiful-3-step-landscape.html">Creative Learning</a> (found through <a href="http://www.thecraftycrow.net/2013/05/mothers-day-gift-landscape-art.html">here</a>)<br />
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We did it together, but I actually liked hers better than mine.<br />
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There are just 3 simple steps:<br />
1. Sponge on watered down blue (the tutorial said water colours but we used watery poster paints)<br />
2. Use a playdough cutting wheel to paint on green stripes<br />
3. Use a cotton tip to paint coloured flower dots on.<br />
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A lovely way to experiment with different ways of applying paint, and cute results.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0