Sea Shell Moblie/ Chimes

On our adventure on the Space Coast- at the beaches near

Kennedy Space Center

during the last Shuttle- Atlantis-

We collected a bag of cockle type shells with holes in the top.

I knew I wanted to do a fun craft and use

them as a souvenir from that most awesome experience-

This is what we came up with-

A Sea Shell Mobile- Chimes

 

We started with 3 sticks from the yard.

They are between 12 and 16 inches each

I just broke them off where I wanted them-

each a little different than the other.

I made a loop at the top for hanging - out of fishing line.

(we have plenty of that around)

I connected the sticks to each other with the line

leaving about 5 - 6 inches in between each stick.

They don't have to hang perfectly

just "aim" for the center!

Once you attach the shells

you can balance the sticks to hang straight!

At this stage - you can recruit the family to help!

We used varied lengths of colorful strings to hang our shells.

We doubled up the string by placing each cut end together and

then pull them through the hole and tie a knot by the shell

that gives you a loop to hang over the sticks.

We placed the entire loop over the stick and then

pulled the shell through it

This way, they can be moved around

until they are balanced right and to your liking!

Add as many as you like-

The shells will "clink" together if you

hang some of them side by side -

Others can be spread out for balance and aesthetics!

Birthday Bug Theme Fun

Two years ago now (hard to believe) we celebrated my son's 3rd birthday with a "Bug" theme - We used different colored fondant - also used some plain white that we colored with food coloring- here's our little "how to" :

Treat it just like play-dough - roll it into little balls and then shape it however you like. I rolled out a couple of long strips - placed them together, one on top of the other- and then rolled them up in a spiral to make some of the cutest little snails ever!

We used cookie cutters to cut the flower shapes and the frog as well. It is so much fun - you can't loose! Oh, one tip we learned the hard way is that you don't want to use tootsie-rolls in the bodies or eyes - or at all- turns out that they melt! You can however use other fun candies to make any bugs you like!

 Lay them out ahead of time on a tray and practice putting them together- you can save them in the refridgerator overnight covered with plastic wrap- then after icing your cake- just transfer your little critters to their new home!

I have recently learned that fondant can be left out to keep any moisture off because that is not a good thing with fondant. If I have to keep it overnight and I have an iced cake- I'll wait to add the decorative fondant pieces. They are made of powdered sugar, marshmallow, and Crisco- so you can just cover with plastic wrap to keep off the air.

The point is- anything you can shape out of play-dough....... you can shape out of fondant! I posted an easy fondant recipe on Adventurez In Child Rearing - I'll have to dig it up and post it here as well.

Have Fun!

"Space Chase Multiplication" by P-diddy the incredible mathematician!

Get Your Game On! I recently bought a small package of foam stickers and 4x6 foam cards (together) at Walmart for about $6.00. We have trouble with memorization of the multiplication tables at our house. My son is a brilliant mathematician (of course) but no matter how many times we drill flash cards, or write out, and study the X's tables- he just wants to "compute" instead of memorize. Although, I am sure we will find great and mighty ways to use his extraordinary talents- I am still requiring that he memorize his multiplication. Mean mean momma- I know I know.
He created the above little card out of those handy foam stickers and we decided that the rules are to start at one end and roll the dice. Immediately shout out the answer by multiplying the two numbers together from your roll and move one space forward if you get it right. Unless, of course your quotient ends in a zero- then you get to move forward 2 spaces!! We go up the card and back. We also each say the whole problem out loud- "4 x 6= 34". Guess momma looses again. Actually, I do try to trip him up sometimes by purposely giving the wrong answer. He just loves "busting" me! And it's a fun little math game and art project combined.

                                                            

This second card was designed by my 6 year old. Yes, they really are particularly talented. Feel free to send money if you need a creation like this of your very own and they will be more than happy to oblige. We haven't made up the rules to this game yet. Uh, any ideas? (please.....)

O.K. - we also made some pictures to celebrate the first official day of Spring!

 This cute little guy:

Made this cute little picture:

Crafting with the kiddos doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. The total cost for the sticker project was about $6.00 & a pair of dice borrowed from an old game.

I bought a stack of colored construction paper from Sams club that will last us a year for about $12.00.  I've seen smaller stacks of construction paper for $1.00 at the Dollar Tree.

I drew (very quickly- so quickly that I should probably tell people it was the kid) pictures of a few flowers, a jagged line across the paper for him to cut out grass, and a simple tree. He cut and pasted his own design and used the scraps to make "our house". The clouds were his idea as well & cotton is cheap!

We hung out, worked on these simple projects and talked about Spring! They thought it was great-