Both my kids LOVE crafts of any kind. We even have a box of random stuff known as the craft box at our house, which is used to construct random things. Basically the craft box is the dumping ground for any leftovers from previous craft projects, so there's a real variety of stuff in there.

A few craft things that were popular here last week:

Make your own T-shirt: K got a kit as a birthday present from a friend. This one was a Disney one with Tinkerbell on it. Basically, you colored the design with crayons, including a special glitter crayon for Tink's wings. You could then iron the T to make the colors permanent. After washing, it still looks pretty good! The directions also say that you can re-color and iron the shirt if the colors start to fade. You could do your own with a plain T-shirt and fabric markers, which are available at most craft stores.

We also have an overabundance of fusion beads. For the uninitiated, these are tiny tubular plastic beads in different colors. You put the bead on a form with little spikes (not sharp) to hold the beads, and then you can iron them to get them to stick together. You use parchment paper over top of the beads while you iron them so they don't stick to the iron. These darn things will occupy my kids for HOURS. If you're careful about the design, they would make cute Christmas ornaments/gifts for family. Maybe if I'm really organized (ha ha ha) I will have them create a few as gifts for the grandparents.

During a recent trip to see my mother-in-law, she taught my oldest to embroider. My MIL both embroiders and makes quilts by hand. I was surprised that J wanted to learn this, but she actually picked it up very quickly and does a great job! She is planning to make designs for a friend for a gift in the future. She's already completed a small elephant design. I was seriously impressed--this is something that I just don't have the patience for. I hope she decides to continue with it. It was also nice that my MIL was able to pass along this to J.

So get crafty people! Ask a grandparent or relative to show a skill to your kids that you may lack. The results are always beautiful.

It's the week before school starts for everyone at our house, which means a lot less time for our activities and blogging.  Back to school means not only shopping for clothes and school supplies for our daughters, but also for my husband and myself.  Teachers need the same things, especially when both of the teachers in this house recently lost weight and have no clothing that fits properly.  Our budget is just about busted, but hey, we look good!

I can tell it's back to school time because the ambient level of bickering in our house has intensified this week.  I know that this is actually a good thing, because both girls are ready for a change of scene.  Mom staying sane while putting up with it is another story.

K and I have a book recommendation:  Kindergarten Rocks by Katie Davis.  It's a cute tale of a boy who is a little nervous about the first day of kindergarten.  Luckily he has a big sister to explain things to him, reminding him that "Kindergarten Rocks!"  He eventually relaxes and has a good day, until he temporarily loses his favorite stuffed dog, Rufus.  Rufus is eventually located in the block area of the room, and Dex realizes that from now on Rufus needs to stay at home.  In the end, he is excited to return for more kindergarten fun.  Having the stuffed dog stay home was a good lesson for K:  she has carted a toy Woody Woodpecker around since birth, and we are constantly reminding her that Woody will need to stay at home.  I think she gets it now, and has been more willing to leave Woody at home or in the car when running errands. 

Today we also made our own ball and cup game using plastic cups, masking tape, string, and plastic knives.  You can find an instructional video at www.FlowCircus.com/srp2010.  I found this site in a roundabout way--our library was giving out free bookmarks, which had this site listed on them.  It's an extremely simple craft and time occupying toy all in one!  It doesn't get any better than this, folks.  If you want more fun, you can also make your own juggling balls, or go to www.fundama.com for more easy to make skill toys.  K got easily frustrated by the game, but I think will come around on it.  J was into it, but also needed a fair amount of practice before having repeated success.  Apparently, this game exists in some form in just about every part of the globe.  You can find out about more history at the Fundama site as well. 

PS--speaking of the library, our lovely state government has once again cut funding to public libraries.  Our library made the news since they are being asked to stay open this week (after planning to be closed the entire week) despite the fact that they are not being funded to do so.  Please, please, please contact Governor Rendell, your state senator and representative, and local government officials and let them know that our public libraries are vitally important to our children and our community members. 

On Thursday, we're scheduled for a trip to the Hershey Gardens, which will likely be our last blog activity for the summer.  Hope you are enjoying your remaining days of summer fun.  Thanks for reading.

I don't know where she gets these ideas, but K wanted to try origami, the Japanese art of paper folding.  She's actually asked repeatedly.  Since J started some of her summer activities this week (basketball camp and summer ballet classes), tonight seemed like a good night to try.  I had some leftover origami paper and instruction books from the last time I did this craft, which was probably when J was younger. 

K's favorites were a crane that could flap its wings when you pulled the tail, and a small paper balloon that you can actually blow up.  I got the paper into the correct position and let her do the actual folding.  It's not as neat this way, but it kept her involved.  After doing a butterfly, the flapping crane, and balloon, she decided she would "do some herself."  Translated, this meant that she would take a piece of paper, fold it a million different ways, then proudly show me and say, "Look, mommy!  I made a (bird/plane/table/sleeping bag/clapping hands, etc.)"  She did notice how folding the paper made different shapes, which surprised me.  The book we used mentioned that Japanese children are taught origami at a young age because it teaches them geometry and improves their calligraphy by making their fingers more nimble! 

If you don't have origami paper, squares of wrapping paper will work, or just regular paper.  If it's not square, you'll need to cut it into that shape, since almost all origami uses square pieces of paper.  Your library is a great source for how-to books.  We have "Origami Inspired by Japanese Prints" by Steve and Megumi Biddle (The Metropolitan Museum of Art:  Viking).  It has easy to follow instructions, great step-by-step pictures for those who are all thumbs, and ties the origami to Japanese prints shown in the book, as well as historical and cultural explanations in simple terms.  Online there are some cute, easy, kid-friendly ideas at http://www.origami-instructions.com/origami-for-kids.html. 

Kids are usually fascinated by this craft, and it does have a magical element to it.  Taking a regular piece of paper and folding it into a bird, rabbit, or panda--it's like creating an instant toy!  Both of my girls enjoy it, even my older one.  Give it a try--the easy designs are pretty forgiving, and chances are your kids will want to try creating their own, like mine did. 

And so, "Sayonara" (goodbye in Japanese) from Lancaster County!  See you next time!

J had the opportunity to spend the day with a good friend, which allowed me some one on one time with K.  Although I still (and probably always will) think of her as my baby, I realize she is 5 years old now, and growing up.  I don't stress as much about building in educational things with her, mostly because she asks about 10,000 questions a day.  I figure me answering all of that is educational in itself.  Seriously, there just seem to be millions of chances to build learning for her every day, so I try to take advantage of the little moments. 

I would like to say a special thank you to the wonderful people at Crayola, who provided our arts and crafts activities today.  Since I was quite tired from lack of sleep the previous night, I was not in a very inventive mood.  We colored with those fabulous Color Wonder markers--you know, the ones that only work on the special paper.  For those looking for extra bling, there are now sets with glitter that you can "paint" over your picture for added pizazz.  Our set features Tinkerbell.  We gave her the proper glitter treatment in her portraits today.

We also used a Crayola Model Magic kit which allowed us to build an alien like creature.  You covered a plastic base with the Model Magic clay, then used a tool to create little dots and starts to attach to the outside of the creature.   You can find more activities, free coloring pages, and product information at www.crayola.com. 

Maybe the best part of doing these things together was just the chance to talk about things.  Of course, a 5 year old's thought process is quite random, but that's part of the charm.  I realized there's a lot going on in that little head when she asked me why Catrina (the baby caterpillar on the Oswald TV show) doesn't ever grow up and become a butterfly. 

Finally, a book recommendation.  K and I both love the Llama Llama books by Anna Dewdney.  We've read Llama Llama Mad at Mama and Llama Llama Misses Mama.  "Misses Mama" talks about going to preschool for the first time.  Although K has attended preschool, she's asking a lot of questions about kindergarten, so this fits our life nicely right now.  "Mad at Mama" was recommended by my sister.  In this one, the little llama must run errands with Mama, but gets impatient.  He eventually throws a fit in the store.  Mama Llama calms him, has him help clean the mess, and then treats him to ice cream.  My sister points out that she needed to remind her son that little llama gets the ice cream BECAUSE he cleaned up, not because he made the mess.  Both books have rhyming prose that's fun to hear, and the pictures are really cute.  Check them out at your local library.

I guess my own little caterpillar is turning into a butterfly before my eyes.  This is just the beginning of a whole new world for her, and I love watching it unfold.  Until next time, enjoy the little moments.