Category Archives: Projects

Seedling Flip Book

20 Friday Apr 2012

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We just did our yearly planting of Morning Gloria seeds in our window.  (Ada’s name for them from when she was two).  Planting the saved seeds reminded me that we’d taken photos of the growth last year in order to make this flip book project.  You will need:

*Growing Plants (We started the photos with newly planted seeds)

*Camera

*Card Stock

*Double-stick Tape

*Scissors

*Hole Punch

*Ribbon or Yarn

1. Take a daily photo of the plants.  Be sure to stand in exactly the same spot and try for the same time each day.  (You may want to mark the spot with painter’s tape).

2. Print all photos once growth is complete.  It is important that the images be the same size.  (We used a regular printer to make our 2″x4″ photos).

3. Cut card stock to fit around photos, leaving a 1/8″ boarder on three sides and 1/4″ on the left for binding.  Make one extra for the cover.

4. Mark two spots for holes to be punched in one piece of the card stock.  Holes should be about 1/4″ in from the left side in order to put the ribbon through.

5. Punch holes in one piece of card stock and use this as a stencil to mark the others.  It is important that all holes are in the same place.

6. Put double stick tape on the back of a photo and line it up on the card stock.  Stick down, and repeat.

7. Stack photos in order of growth and thread ribbon through holes.

8. Hold book in left hand and flip to watch the garden grow!

Neighborhood Alphabet Book

18 Wednesday Apr 2012

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We have several versions of Alphabet books at our house and decided to make our own custom version.  We took the camera along on our daily walks and Ada pointed out each letter in the series.  It was fun to turn the alphabet into a treasure hunt and Ada loved getting the finished book back in the mail.  (She even spotted a V made out of her carrots at lunch time).  It took us about two days to find all 26, but could be a longer project depending on the signage in your hood.  You will need:

*Camera

*Access to Photo Site.  (We used Iphoto, but there are lots of options)

1. Walk around and let your child find the alphabet.  (This can be done with little or lots of assistance depending on child’s age).

2. Take photo of each letter.

3. Upload photos, lay out one letter per page.

4. Add Title, Author, Locations, etc.

5. Order book. (The cost of our paperback book was under $30 with shipping).

*These would make fun gifts for kids and could be done for numbers, shapes, landmarks…So many possibilities!*

Wisteria and Violets

17 Tuesday Apr 2012

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Chris was cleaning up in the back yard this weekend and found Wisteria in bloom!  We had it on our planting wish list, and there it was.  We must have missed it in August when it was done flowering and surrounded by the overgrown jungle in the back yard.  It has opened up all across the neighbor’s back shed and grown two stories up into the trees.  We can see the purple blooms from all of the back windows in the house.  Who planted it there?  The vine looks old.  Who were they?  Who planted the tiny purple violets in the yard that exactly match the ones on the old teacup that I use every morning?  Someone cared about this place a long time ago.  We are excited to uncover more about the lives that went on here before us.

Planted Can

16 Monday Apr 2012

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I like buying groceries with beautiful packages.  It makes me happy see bright little compositions behind the cabinet doors.  In honor of Earth Day this weekend, we reused these colorful tomato cans as geranium pots.  The graphic labels are printed on and will withstand drips from a watering can.  You will need:

*Recycled Can

*Can Opener

*Geranium, or other small plant

*Potting Soil

*Small Stones or Broken Clay Pot Shards

1. Wash and dry can.

2. Turn can over and punch a series of slits on the bottom to allow for drainage.  Our holes are about half an inch long.

3. Put one inch of stones inside can.

4. Put in plant and fill in any space with potting soil.  Soil line should be half an inch from the top of can so that it will not spill out when watered.

5. Place a tray or dish underneath when watering.

*These would make sweet Earth Day or Mother’s Day gifts.

Ribbon Dress

13 Friday Apr 2012

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I got this dress at American Apparel with plans to decorate it for Ada.  I was going to make little flowers out of vintage ribbons down the front of the dress.  When I asked Ada to help me pick out the ribbon she said she wanted all of them.  Then she told me they needed to go down the back and not be sewn down into petal shapes.  I was annoyed at her for not listening to directions.  I finally asked what the heck she was going to do with the ribbons hanging off the back of her dress.  “Spin and Dance, Mama.”  Duh.

To make a similar dress you will need:

*Plain Dress

*Assorted Ribbons and Buttons

*Needle and Thread

1. Wash and dry dress to account for shrinkage.

2. Let your designer direct placement.

3. Sew down buttons and ribbon.

4. Put dress on child and let the spinning begin.

Baby Food Cap Beads

12 Thursday Apr 2012

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I always feel conflicted about buying baby food in pouches instead of glass jars.  The pouches are amazingly convenient and organic and kids can feed themselves…but the packaging is not recyclable.  (I don’t understand why someone hasn’t come up with responsible packaging amidst all of that amazing design).  I realized that the colorful caps would make great beads and keep some plastic out of the trash.  Ada made this for Josie yesterday and it is her new favorite toy.  The colors are bright, it makes noise and it is super fun to take on and off over your head if you are a toddler.  You will need:

*Baby Food Pouch Caps

*Leather Cord or Cotton Shoelace (Nylon will snag on the caps)

1. Wash caps.

2. String caps onto cord through holes.

3. Tie at the ends.

4. Show off to your friends (or your sister).

*The pouches would also make great little ice packs for the summer: Rinse thoroughly, fill 2/3 of the way with water, twist on cap and freeze.*

April Showers Card (A Two-Part Mailing)

09 Monday Apr 2012

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We designed this card for my sister’s April baby shower, but it is also a fun spring card for kids to make and send.  Ada liked discovering what colors could be made by overlapping the raindrops.  You will need:

*Tissue Paper in various blues and greens

*Scissors

*Card Stock or blank card

*Gluestick

*Vellum Envelope to fit card

1. Fold tissue paper into width of eight layers.  (You can do more or less depending on the sharpness of your scissors).

2. Cut out raindrop shape through all layers.

3. Repeat until all raindrops are cut and then separate individual drops.

4. Cover front of card with glue.

5. Stick down raindrops one at a time and then let glue dry.

6. Print this message inside card:  “April Showers Bring…”

7. Place card inside envelope and drop it in the mail.

8. Keep checking the blog.  The next step in the two-part mailing will be posted soon!

Play Mat

05 Thursday Apr 2012

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We are so excited to welcome a new cousin into our family soon!  I have been wanting to make this project for a little someone and it is finished just in time for the shower this weekend.  The pattern is from Joelle Hoverson’s More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts.  I wish I’d discovered the pattern when my own kids were tiny, because I am in love with the finished project and there are so many color possibilities.

I used Malabrigo Worsted Merino 210 yards, 3.5 oz. which comes in amazing colors and is super soft.  (Purple Mystery and Lettuce are two of the colors and my kids seem to have hidden the other tags somewhere – sorry).  The needle is a 60″ (150 cm) long circular in 10.5 (6.5mm).  I’d never used such a long circular before, but it was fun once I got the hang of it.  Hooray for a new baby!

Easter Egg Surprise Ball

04 Wednesday Apr 2012

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I have been wanting to make a surprise ball since I spotted one at Kiosk a few years ago.  And then this week our friends brought us an amazing swan version from Tail of the Yak in Berkeley.  (More on that beautiful surprise ball in a later post).   Ada had so much fun unwrapping the swan that I decided to make her an Easter version for her basket.  This is an easy project that can be customized for any recipient.  You will need:

*Crepe Paper Streamers (at least 3 colors)

*Tiny Goodies (We wrapped: a vintage bracelet, stickers, vintage buttons, temporary tattoos, a dollar coin, a tiny rubber stamp, a bag of glitter, tin bird pins)

*Felt (or stickers or rubber stamps to decorate)

*Glue stick

*Scotch Tape

*Pinking Shears or Scissors

1. Wrap crepe paper around the first treasure and form a rough egg shape.  Remember this will be the last to be unwrapped so make it a good one!

2. Continue wrapping until first object is completely covered.

3. Cut crepe paper with pinking shears and use masking tape to attach a new color.

4. Insert the next goody and continue to wrap.  Be sure to gently pull the crepe paper taught as you go.

5. Repeat, changing the streamer color with every new object.  Position objects to create a rounded egg shape.

6. Once all objects are inside, use the glue stick to stick down streamer end and apply felt circles or stickers for decoration.

7. Let the fun begin!

Collage Eggs

03 Tuesday Apr 2012

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We made these eggs for our friends last year.  They are simple for kids to decorate and a good way to use up some scraps from past projects.  You will need:

*Card stock

*Scissors

*Glue

*Collage Materials (We used scrap yarn, fabric, cupcake liners, glitter, sequins, googly eyes, doilies, watercolors and crayons).

1.  Draw large egg shape on card stock and cut out.  Our eggs are 4″x 3″.

2.  Trace this egg pattern onto the other card stock pieces and cut out.

3.  Hand over the glue and let the kids decorate away.

4.  Wait for glue to dry and place in vellum envelopes.  These make great Easter cards or basket treats for the grandparents.