Tag Archives: diy

Paper Puppets

07 Monday May 2012

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I love these paper people.  Leslie first introduced them to us when our kids were in a preschool co-op together.  They are great for some DIY puppet making and this batch kept our kids busy for almost an hour.  The cutouts are made of card stock so they can handle some heavy decorating.   We used markers, glue, paper, plastic gems, feathers, metallic confetti, card scraps and pom-poms.  Popsicle sticks can be added as handles for a puppet show.  Older kids can cut out clothing shapes and add more detailed features.  I would love to see a full kid-designed family tree!

Organizing Art Work

27 Friday Apr 2012

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Two of my favorite ways to organize kids’ artwork come from the hardware store.  Clothespins are perfect for hanging things from Metro Shelves.  If you don’t have shelves you can stretch heavy twine between eye hooks and hang from there.  Painter’s tape makes easily removable frames for rotating pictures.  Both of these methods work well with bulky collage pieces.  If you still love a piece after it has spent time on the walls it can be moved to a large folder such as this by Alex Toys.  There is nothing like time staring at a piece on the wall to help with the editing!

May Flowers Card (A Two-Part Mailing, Part Two)

26 Thursday Apr 2012

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Here is the second half of our April Showers/May Flowers tutorial:  (If you missed the first part, you can see it here).  You still have time to get the April card in the mail before May shows up!  To make the May Flowers card you will need:

*Felt in various colors

*Scissors

*Card Stock or blank card

*Glue

*Crayon or Colored Pencil

*Vellum Envelope to fit card

1. Cut out petal shapes from felt.

2. Glue petals in circle to form flower and let dry.

3. Draw in stem and center of flower.

4. Print this message inside card: “…May Flowers!”

5. Place card inside envelope and drop in the mail.

*These two cards would make great invitations for a May party.

Happy Spring!

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.

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!