Beads & Baubles

As part of our "Mommy Camp" activities, we have done some extended-period arts and crafts projects, and I thought I'd share this one because it was so easy and resulted in such a cute finished product. Plus, whenever one activity can take up 3 time slots - you know it's a goodie! :)

Freida had been fixated on jewelry, and she had a really great time making a few pieces with this jewelry kit last month, so I thought I thought I'd bump it up a notch and show her how to make beads from clay (I've recently read a lot about child-led learning and felt like this was a great way to incorporate that).

She was in awe about the fact that we were going to be making a necklace from clay, and she jumped right it and got rolling. I used Crayola Air Dry Clay in white - it was easy to manipulate and it held form very well. Once I showed her how to roll balls in different sizes and poke holes in them with a wooden skewer, I let her mess around and make them any way she wanted...

She was very into her "marshmallow" beads - once the skewer was in the ball she rolled it along the table to make this shape before removing the stick. I get a kick out of watching kids find shapes they recognize in different places (like when she was a baby she would take the foam bath toy letter "E" and try to use it as a comb!), and her marshmallow beads just cracked me up!

When we were finished with the beads, we set them aside to dry. It said it takes 3 days so I did this with her on a Thursday so that over the weekend I didn't get too much nagging and the beads were ready to paint on Monday morning. It was really neat to feel them everyday (I have a sensory fetish :)) and see how they seemingly became heavier the more dry they got! By Monday morning they felt like regular ceramic beads and I think I was more excited them Freida to get paint on them!

We used a set of shimmy acrylic paint from Kid Made Modern, and it went on sleek and smooth. Naturally, the 8 colors weren't nearly enough for my 3 year old, and she went on to mix up her own purple formula. Which I loved. Obviously.

But the best part about the project was when she cried out "Mommy, it's like we have Color Me Mine in our house!!".

The painted beads dried overnight, and we went on to lace them into necklaces the next day...

Anyways, the result was super-cute and the project was cheap and easy. Thought I'd share the goodness so you can give it try!!

Square Foot Gardening

Yesterday I mentioned a square foot gardening idea. This morning I discovered this - awfully pretty - tutorial! (I've been browsing some raised-bed gardening concepts because I'd love to create a kids garden for PLAY.) Anyways, if gardening has piqued your interest at all recently, or if you'd love to be growing some plants or veggies but feel like you have 2 black thumbs (like me!), this may be just the tutorial to try:

Weekend Round-up!!

I'm having one of those weird Sundays... The ones where nothing really happens, and nobody really wants to go out. So we end up staying in thinking we'll be relaxing and watching movies all day, which obviously doesn't happen because, well, we have kids. So then we just end up lounging in the back, complaining - to keep ourselves busy, and eventually cracking up from Freida and her attempts to snap us out of it. :)

Today we ended up caving to her "bike wash" - there was just no way to say no to her; bikini-clad, on her radio flyer trike, pink goggles on and all! So we cranked up the sprinkler and got on line for the ride. Anyways, while I take a few minutes break to dry off and feed my 4 month old brood who just woke from her afternoon nap, here's a few links I've been loving:

- Paint chip animals look like a great doctors office activity! (you can even bring along a crayon and draw up a farm on the paper-covered exam table.)

- Sandbox up-cycling. #iWish

- Can't wait to drive to Arizona to meet my new niece this weekend!! Freida is staying behind for this trip, but if she were coming along I would totally attempt this!

- This deliciousness should help jumpstart my "lose 10 lbs" summer goal!

- I found the two sides of his face fascinating.

- Denim + Blueberries - perfect.

Hope your Sunday was better than mine!! :)

Happy summering!

P.S. This bubble machine creates instant backyard magic!

Weekend Round-up!

What are you up to this weekend? I've been breathing in some fresh free air - I have a week or two in between work projects and it feels so good to have no deadlines this week and just to take it slow and easy... On the other hand, in my free time I've been thinking about and chalking up some "family goals" for the summertime (give Freida swimming lessons, start Hudi on solids, lose 10 pounds, sleep-train both girls etc.), and while it's lots like a bucket list - it's not nearly as much fun, and much, much more rewarding. While I take a break from thinking about goals, here are a few things I thought you might enjoy:

- Do you watch Parks and Recreation? I just love Amy Poehler!!

- This totally made me laugh!

- The cutest DIY play kitchen ever!!

- Taking color-wheels for granted...

- How genius are Tube toys?

- I'm smitten by dots.

- 50 shades of fabulous :)

- Hoping Freida goes for Gazpacho - summer lunch at it's best!

- What guy wouldn't love to entertain with these as cocktail kickers?

Anyways, enjoy your weekend - hope it's filled with heaps of summer-y promise!

P.S. There is no ice cream in town better than this guy's! I swear - you'll be in old-school creamery heaven!

Art Stock!

I'm always on the lookout for more organized ways to minimize any stash of stuff in my home - be it a new form or organizing spices, the best way to arrange a bookshelf, or how to store bath toys. I especially love lists and methods that help me reduce what I've got - clutter is my enemy. When cleaning out a closet or cabinet I generally go the "if I haven't touched it in 6 months it's garbage" route, but when it comes to art supplies I'm always a little on the fence about it. I use this drawer unit to store our artistic stock, and I keep 2 top drawers filled with random and crazy supplies (some that I haven't touched in a year - but still hope to explore). The other drawers are pretty much filled with these basic go-to supplies.  I though I'd share the find - especially for these weeks in between school and camp! :)