Flower Petal Suncatchers

We gathered flowers from our garden.

My daughter wanted to do this outside which made the project even more enjoyable.

We pulled off the petals and got creating by placing them onto clear contact paper. We sandwiched the petals with another piece of clear contact paper and cut around the edges. We then taped them in the window.

I was pretty pleased with my butterflies.


Please note: The beauty of this project is temporary. The petals will still wilt.

Inspiration for this project was found at The Artful Parent.

"I like muddy pies!"

* BBD

"Are you proud of me for making mud?"

Yeah, I kind of am.

"It's blllaaaahhhh!"

BBD's:

CB's:

It is a happy face.

Mama's:

After, the pies had baked in the sun, BBD wanted to know, "Can I eat it?"

At least he asked.

Branch Blocks

Daddy cut some branches into blocks. Love him.


All different kinds of wood. Aren't they beautiful?

The children decided they should go in the sandbox.

Of course, they were right.

what tulips are for

My husband bought me some flowers to say I am thinking of you.

They were lovely and smelled divine and made me smile and feel pretty special.

On the ride home, he asked, "What are you thinking about?"

I told him I was wondering what kind of print the tulips would make.

"Like with paint?"

"Yep."

I can't help it. This is how my brain is wired. I teach preschool.

So today, we found out.


Turns out:

Beautiful.

The boy thought I was crazy, I am pretty sure I am a genius. Look at him, turning up his nose at my greatness.

"I like the paintbrush."
Nothing wrong with the classics.

We also made heart prints using a cut and folded tp tube.


The girl had the great idea to fill in the hearts and add centers to the flower prints.

"I am a genius. All my plans are turning out well."

I do not know where she gets her sense of humility.



Please check out some of these fabulous linky parties. Wonderful ideas and inspiration await! Thank you!

Halloween Rock Creations

We have been at it again. Making more rock creations, this time Halloween themed.

Safety first, people.

While I made this cast of characters :


{For a color changing ghost story by yours truly, click HeRe}

CB made this bat. He's kooky.

And BBD is largely responsible for this creepy eye ball. (I added the pupil.}

Happy Haunting!

{linking up with all the cool people found on my linky page}

Rock Creations

We arrived home from the beach with A LOT of rocks or as my daughter put it "a whole rock collection".

And so with a little hot glue, miscellaneous craft supplies, and our imaginations we got busy creating.


Group Shot:


CB made this adorable butterfly


and this fun and funky "yellow stripy zebra".


The boy was more interested in the big stick. (Sticks are cool too. Follow your interests, babe.) So some of our pieces became a little more collaborative than usual.


He made these "alien big eyes" and with his approval I added the nose. I dig it-it's like a friendly swamp creature peeking out at you to say hello.

He made the clouds, I made the rainbow-this rock was the perfect shape, I found this to be kismet.

This is BBD's butterfly (I only helped with the gluing and cutting for this bad boy)


You can also go a more natural route and make a little something like this:

I dubbed him DoDo the Doo Wop bird.

We had a good time and that is really what it all is about.



Totally unrelated side note:
I told my teenage nephew that we made these and he texted "Sure, do the fun stuff when I'm gone." I replied, "I can't stop being cool, just because you go home." And he said, "Yeah, u can." Thereby inadvertently admitting that I am cool! Triumph!

Please check out some of these fabulous linky parties. Wonderful ideas and inspiration await! Thank you!

Carnival of Small World Play

My favorite weather

Sun Showers

Sunshine and rain at the same time...




Love it!

Our Swamp

CoUsIn WeEk

We were lucky enough to have our 11 and 13 year old cousins come visit and even stay at our house for part of their trip.

Admittedly, I was a little nervous about keeping them entertained. Once you are older then 8 you are outside my specialty area.

Turns out they enjoy art and messiness.

Phew! That I can do!

We picked up some plastic dinosaur bone toys as prizes from our trip to Boomtown. I thought these would be perfect for the sandbox. Everyone agreed.

So out we went.

Spray bottles led to water bottles which led to huge lemonade jugs which led to our very own swamp.


Daddy did not approve of our creation.

I pointed out that I did refrain from bringing out the hose. That should count for something.

WATER PLAY link up at NurtureStore

Little Monsters

May 2010

We put to use CB's monsters that on a stormy day she had designed to be used in the future for hopscotch.


The only problem was the little buggers kept trundling off course from the breeze.

We solved that with a little ingenuity, rocks, and tape.


Before we could fully enjoy our own cleverness, however, we were distracted by a different sort of monster.




A: I don't know what he's doing.
M: He's climbing.
A: He's silly! He says, "Is this a jungle gym?"

C: Where is he going?

A: Now he can be snug as a bug! (gives him a leaf for a blanket) If he gets hungry, he can eat his blanket.

C: He's walkin!

A: He doesn't want to go out. Come on little guy. I think he's enjoying his new home. (explaining to the roly poly why he must be returned to the wild) I wish you could stay, but you can't stay alive.

C: Does he want a carrot?