ROCKS AND WIRE AND PICTURES

The children and I got a head start on a gift for the dads today using rocks and wire. It is a very simple craft, although not as easy for the younger children as I thought it might be, so I helped. . . a great deal :) 

First, you find rocks that stand up well. The children chose their own rock.

Then you gather wire. I used what we had on hand. I wanted to use colorful telephone wire that we have but it's hiding somewhere in a box. So I settled for regular silver wire that bends fairly easily. And perhaps the silver wire was a better choice anyway.

Next, cut off a good amount of wire and start to wrap it like you would ribbon on a package, pulling it as taut as you can . . .

and bringing it up to the top side, twisting it tight together all the way up. Make some adjustments, if you have to, so it will be somewhat centered and stand straight.

Then you bend some of the twisted wire down into a spiral, that's the part that will hold the picture, note, recipe, etc.

The children chose the pictures they wanted and glued them onto heavier paper. We used watercolor paper. They wrote a note to dad on other colorful paper and glued it onto the back of the picture.

I think some dads are going to be very happy. What do you think?


You can experiment with different rocks as well as different wire and different methods of wrapping it.. I want to use some of the rocks I have collected already and make a whole display area for pictures. I just love decorating with nature. I got my inspiration here.

MEW MEW MEW

The newest members of our farm, Romeo and Juliet, are adored by the children. 

Who can resist kittens ?

They play together and then the two kittens go off for another slumber time. After all, growing takes a great deal of energy.

Soon they are ready to play again!

We decided to make a very simple toy to use when they woke.

The children tied a long piece of ribbon to a jingle bell. It was good practice for them tying knots.

Then they tied shorter pieces of ribbon onto the long ribbon.

They were quite happy with the result,

and so was someone else!

The children were so proud they had made a useful toy, and had great fun playing with the kitten.

EGG CHARACTERS

The older children were just as eager to make the simple egg craft as the young ones. It just goes to show you we are all creative souls and love to make and create.


We used our organic duck and hen eggs. Can you pick out the duck egg?

We opened the eggs by poking a clean nail in the top to make a hole large enough to allow the insides to slip out and then broke the shell down a bit more with our fingers and the children started drawing faces.

And we saved the luscious, golden yolks for baking.

The egg shells were filled with potting soil and wheat seeds and were watered very gently.

Then we waited  :)

The children can also give their eggs a haircut with scissors.
 And cats love to nibble on wheat grass.

MAKE UP A STORY

Storytelling is universal. Children are born storytellers with their immense imaginations and their sense of wonder.

Marilyn, The Toymaker, has some delightful puppets to print out for the children. 

The finger puppets are adorable and so are the mermaid and friends.

Imagine the little children having a magical time , creating dialogue with their characters outdoors on the grass, under the trees or even in the sand. The children can play while  parents tend to the garden or other outdoor tasks nearby.


To make the puppets last longer with little children, print them on heavier paper and cover with clear contact paper. And if they don't work well on little fingers, you can always tape them to popcicle or craft sticks, and even stick them in little balls of clay to stand upright.


Savor each moment with the children and enJOY !