Weekend Art -- Suminagashi for Kids It is very rare that we feature a project here on Inner Child Fun that requires a trip to the art store, however this is the MOST requested project Emily has asked to do during Clara’s nap time. Suminagashi has kept Emily happily creating beautiful prints for hours!! Here are some tips for trying Suminagashi for kids. Suminagashi is an ancient Japanese technique for decorating paper with inks. You can learn more about this technique here. I used a 40% off coupon and found it at Blick Art. (around $15). Next, you will need a dishpan filled with plain ol’ water about 2 inches deep, a few paint brushes and either a plastic or styrofoam egg carton to hold a few drops of the ink used to load up the brushes. Emily used two brushes for each print. She can be completely mesmerized by this!! Lift it up to reveal your beautiful (and very unique) design! Experiment further by blowing gently on the surface of the water either directly, or with a straw. And this was the scene in our kitchen today….
InnerChildFun Need a quick boredom buster that will keep the kids entertained for a good long while? Try making a batch of homemade grape scented play dough, then add some glitter for “galaxy dough”!! Clara adores anything shiny and sparkly, so this was a HUGE hit for her! This play dough kept her entertained for HOURS! To make your own grape scented galaxy dough, you will need: 1 cup water 1/2 cup salt 2 tsp. cream of tartar 2 tbsp. oil 1 cup flour 1 packet unsweetened grape flavored drink mix Combine water, salt, cream of tartar, and packet of drink mix in a medium saucepan. We used plenty of gold, black, and blue glitter to make our galaxy dough, but you can use whatever colors you’d like. The girls loved adding glass gems and sequins to their galaxy dough to make stars and constellations! Have fun!!
Five Fun Things To Do With Buttons. Good start, but I need another 500 ideas. Five Fun Things To Do With Buttons. Good start, but I need another 500 ideas. Nichole Heady #PTI "Love you" card. 20 Lovely DIY Fashion Ideas - Cut Out Bandaeu Aw. Paper Bow: How to Make Paper Bows from Recycled Wrapping Paper Recycled Wrapping Paper Bow How to Make Recycled Wrapping Paper Bows by Jane Lake Wrapping paper usually litters the floor on Christmas Day, and you will often have paper left over after wrapping birthday gifts or anniversary gifts at other times of the year. Here’s a creative way to recycle all that surplus gift wrapping paper; you can use it to make beautiful paper bows. This is a nice recycling craft idea for the kids to do after Christmas – just give them the supplies and let them make you a stash of gift wrapping bows for the next holiday season. Supplies: left over wrapping paperinvisible tape such as Scotch Tapesmall piece of cardboardscissorsruleroptional: small piece of double-sided tape for each bow Project Instructions: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
6 Insect Repellent Plants To Grow – repel: mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, fleas & more… Six insect repellent plants to grow – includes plants that repel biting insects such as: mosquitoes, gnats, ticks & fleas; and plants that protect other plants from aphids & mites etc. Planting and growing insect repellent plants provide a great opportunity to get out in the garden and plant some plants which are a perfect mix of beauty and functionality. Some people are sceptical about using plants to repel insects, whilst others are 100% convinced of the insect repelling properties of many garden plants. The thing is – if you take natural plant based insect repellents out of the equation; the only really option is DEET based products. There are serious health concerns about the toxic effects of DEET as it is absorbed into the body through your skin. Children are thought to be most at risk from side effects, as children’s skin absorbs more DEET than an adult’s. Feverfew is great for repelling mosquitoes and other flying biting insects. (Photo from: Wikimedia Commons)
Explorig Andy Goldsworthy with kids If you're new here, you may want to join us on Facebook or Google +. Thanks for visiting! Did you like this? « Previous Image | Full-Size Image | Main Gallery Page | Next Image » Making Life Easier One Tip at a Time Here is another post full of amazing tips to help you make life a little easier. Use flower pots to keep bugs and dirt off of your food during an outdoor BBQ. Tie a loop in a length of rope and slip it through the hole in the bottom for a simple handle. Source Waste less water. The water you use to boil vegetables, eggs, and pasta is full of nutrients that your plants will love. A simple way to hang a heavy item on the wall. If you accidentally burn your gravy just transfer it to another pan and continue cooking it. To soften butter quickly, place it between two sheets of wax paper. Recycle a soda box to organize cans in your pantry! Add grommets around the edge of a vinyl tablecloth. A simple way to squeeze lemons is by placing them between a pair of tongs. Glue a magnet to the side of a paintbrush. Use a light bulb carton to protect photos when sending them through the mail. For perfect French tips, wrap a rubber band around your nail and stretch it tight. Thaw out meat quickly.
Youth: Make a recycled bird feeder Print page Make a bird feeder from the bottles you would throw away. Stuff you need Plastic drinks bottles, yoghurt pots or milk cartons (make sure they're clean), wire or string, bird seed, scissors. Important notes This will require adult help with cutting. Steps Cut a hole in the side large enough to allow a free flow of seeds, but in such a way that it won’t all fall out on the ground in the slightest puff of wind, and won’t get wet if it rains. Make a few small holes in the bottom of your feeder to allow any rainwater to drain away. Hang it with wire, or even strong string from a tree or your washing line. If your feeder starts to wear out or the food in it goes mouldy, recycle it and make another one! Make a recycled bird feeder This activity counts towards a Wildlife Action Award.
How To Make A Beautiful Rain Chain - Rain chains are not only beautiful, but can help in managing water runoff, reduce soil erosion and water pollution, by channeling water running off the roof into a rain barrel. How much rainfall is needed to fill a typical 55-gallon rain barrel? The typical home with a roof square footage area of 1,200 feet, equipped with four downspouts, each collecting from an area of 300 sq. ft. Only 0.3 of an inch of rainfall would need to fall to fill the rain barrel. Rain chains are simple to make (or buy at Amazon) from a variety of materials, require few tools, can turn gutter system downspouts into beautiful, environmentally friendly features and can be customized. Rain Chain – Tutorial Watch Rains Chains in Action! Begin with this life changing eBook where you will find: Natural Home Remedies - Discover how to live a healthier life with more natural remedies to treat illness you can make at home using natural ingredients like coconut oil, apple cider vinegar and honey.
Youth: Make a speedy bird cake Print page Make this quick and easy cake to keep the birds happy. Stuff you need Good quality bird seed; raisins; peanuts; grated cheese; suet or lard; yoghurt pots; string; mixing bowl; scissors Important notes Not suitable for children with nut allergies. Steps Carefully make a small hole in the bottom of a yoghurt pot. Allow the lard to warm up to room temperature, but don’t melt it. Add the other ingredients to the bowl and mix them together with your finger tips. Fill your yoghurt pots with bird cake mixture and put them in the fridge to set for an hour or so. Hang your speedy bird cakes from trees or your bird table. Make a speedy bird cake This activity counts towards a Wildlife Action Award. All Craft Projects Monday Dec092013 Saturday Dec072013 Nov182013 Jul012013 Dec032012 Tuesday Oct022012 Jan302012 Oct102011 Sunday Jul102011 May222011 Feb062011 Friday Nov192010 Thursday Jul092009 Dec112008 Mar022007
Youth: Make a food chain mobile Print page Decorate your room with this smart mobile and learn about the food chain at the same time. Stuff you need Paper, card, scissors, compasses, paints, crayons or felt-tips, string, pins. Important notes Younger children may need to be given pre-cut shapes and help with threading the mobiles. Steps Practise drawing the different elements of the chain on paper. Draw the smallest food, the hazel nut, in the food chain, and use the compasses to draw a circle around it. Draw the mouse around this circle. Colour your food chain in. Cut out all the circles, and then cut around the outlines of the nut, the mouse and the owl. Carefully pierce a hole in the top of the hazel nut, and thread string through it. Attach the mouse to the owl in the same way as step 6 and find the balance point with a pin.