Independence Day

Handprints
Family
Pool
Face-plant
Fireworks

So, I'm thinking about starting up the blog again.  My idea is to post 5 words at the end of the day that will intrigue you, while giving myself a little something to remember when I try to elaborate my 5 words in the morning.

Yes, this sounds like it will require some discipline, so we'll see how it goes!

Long White Bones With The Skin All Gone

Remember that lovely little song?  

Something about the Ghost of John...

Anyway, we did a skeleton craft for Halloween.  

It was easy peasy.  

I painted the skulls and cut the q-tips.

The kids glued them on while using an example from the internet as a guide.  

I helped Sarah position her q-tips.  But I'll give her the credit :-)

These lovely bones now grace our front door...scaring away anyone who dares to ring our doorbell.

School Library Pumpkin Contest

Caleb's school library is hosting a Pumpkin Decorating Contest.  You know I love creative outlets, so we jumped on board.

A few of the ground rules:

Your pumpkin is to be decorated like a character from a book.

You may not puncture your pumpkin.

Pumpkins may be decorated by the child or as a family.

Caleb chose Clifford The Big Red Dog.

I let the kids paint the pumpkin completely RED.  This was a pretty tame activity, but we did have one mishap.  Dusty (our dog) stepped in a puddle of red paint!  Thankfully we caught it before he exited the tiled area.

I brainstormed about what to use for Clifford's snout and ears.  I settled on foam sheets.  They were easy to work with, but tough to attach to the pumpkin.  I think the slick surface of the pumpkin hindered their ability to stick.

I let Caleb help with the eyes and hair.  We used Sharpie and white paint.  Done.

Technology Tickets

So, I saw this idea somewhere...probably through Pinterest, considering it's my new addiction.  I cannot find the source now, but here is the scoop.

I printed these tickets meant for DIY lottery scratch-offs.  I wrote "30 minutes" on each one.  I laminated them at Mardel.  I made holders for them by cutting, then folding scrapbook paper in half and stapling up the sides.  Then I used painter's tape to mount the holders. Done.

I wanted Caleb to be more aware of his TV/Wii/Computer time, so I printed out tickets worth 30 minutes each.

On Monday after school, he will receive 10 tickets (5 hours) for the week.  He keeps his tickets inside the cabinet of the entertainment center.

I keep his spent tickets on the wall behind the TV.

To use his tickets, he hands one to me and I start a 30 minute timer.  He knows to turn off whatever he's doing when he hears the timer or that he has to give me another ticket.

I have set a 3 ticket maximum for any given day and I reserve the right to refuse technology time for the day.  This might be due to other activities, behavior at home, or behavior at school.

So far, I love how it's working out.  He's much more aware of the amount of time he's watching TV and I haven't heard any whining when it's time to pull the plug.

But then again this is only the 3rd day.  We'll see how long this works so beautifully.

I may consider giving 12 tickets on Monday instead of just 10.  Also perhaps extra tickets for rewards.

To Do List: Thurs, Sept 8

1. Quiet Time (Beth Moore's Breaking Free)

2. Make Laundry Detergent using a recipe from Great Oak Circle (dot com).

3. Create our fall mantel using inspiration from Sweet Something Design.

4. Finalize a pattern for Advent calendars or banner to place in my Etsy Shop and my booth at the Spring Valley Craft Bazaar.

5. Plan a few meals for the next week or so...you can tell how ambitious I am.

Crafting with Caleb: Seed Mosaic

Wearing Caleb's shoes

Summery Welcome

My sister, Kristin, posted a crafty wreath on her blog a few weeks ago.  She offered to make me one, but I just could resist going out and buying my own supplies in two days flat.

And then, I copied her project, which she copied from someone else.  We'd have been in so much trouble in high school.  Copying is an automatic zero.  Thankfully, you are the only ones grading my work.

Here's the beautifully simple yarn and felt wreath on our front door.

Now, if I could only move this creative streak toward the mantle.  We've still got Easter going on up there...

Crafting with Caleb: Birdseed Cakes (FAIL)

I tried my best to follow the instructions given HERE.

I used Knox Gelatine.

I mixed the same amounts that were recommended.  

We saw the project through, but the birdseed cakes just wouldn't congeal.  

As soon as I tried holding them by the loop, they fell apart.  

I tried leaving them in the freezer for a few hours days, but nothing worked!

Caleb had fun making them either way.  

I tried just laying them on the concrete patio for the birds, but they attracted ants.  

Fire ants = trouble.

Caleb's forgotten about them by now, so they're off to the garbage.

Butterflies

Oh. my. goodness.  I want to do this craft.  I mean, I want to do this craft...whether the kids are involved or not.  

Butterfly 3-D Canvas

Crafting with Caleb: Easter Cubism

This project was meant for us to do two weeks ago, but I've been neglecting the art projects around here.

 This was such a fun and colorful project!

 I printed the rabbit from a Google Image Search.

I used an oval template to trace ovals (or eggs) over the entire sheet of paper. 

 We colored each empty space a different color.

Impromptu Craft: Bird Book

Caleb got a book about Birds from Chick-fil-A on Friday.

In the middle of the book, he found an art project.  And, of course, he wanted to do it.
Here are the instructions from the book, so that you can understand his inspiration:

(You should be able to click the photo to see it even larger)

And here is his creation, complete with his very own factual sentences.  This would be found in the reference section of the library.

All Sorts of Birds, by Caleb Freeman

"There are many birds in the world."

"There is a type of bird called a parrot."

"There is also a black bird."

"There are also different states that have orange birds."