Another Apron

While I made gingerbread aprons for the five grandkids who are under five years of age, I knew the 16 year old shouldn't be left out, but he needed something more appropriate. He helps his grand-pop in the kitchen with potato pancakes and so his apron reflects his "apprenticeship" status. A plain purchased apron from a craft store or warehouse type store is a blank canvas and ready to be personalized. In this case, I made a caricature of the young man and put cooking utensils in place of guns. He often wears a three-cornered hat to SASS shooting events and so that added an even more personal touch.

Bow in a Hurry

 When you need a pretty bow in a hurry, think about your crisper. Much of our bountiful harvest of fruits and vegetables come packaged in mesh bags. You may already save the mesh bags (tied in knots and stored in a baggie under your sink) to use as non-abrasive scrubbers for your non-stick surfaced pots and pans, but the mesh bags also make for lovely--and often colorful--bows. Simply snip off any advertising cardboard pieces. Hold at approximately one-half and tie a regular shoe type bow. Pull tight. Be sure to puff the bow out. Attach to a gift and you have a colorful (and useful) final touch.

Gingerbread Man Aprons

Been busy this week. I cut out and stitched five "Gingerbread Man"aprons for five of the six grandchildren. Two are shown here. One "apron" is more a bib, quite small, for the baby--but all of them have the verse: "Run, run, as fast as you can. You can't catch me. I'm the gingerbread man." The last line is on the pocket that contains a felt gingerbread man. I sent them off to the kiddos with a package of gingerbread mix and cookie cutters. These were especially easy to make by using quilt seam binding for the neck loop and ties. I did make adjustable neck portions using two circles as I was guessing on size as three of the grandkids are out of state. Okay, so I said I had six grandkids and made five of these aprons. Well, the grandkids are 5 mo., 1 yr., 2 yrs., 3 yrs. 4 yrs. and--drum roll please--16 years. I knew the 16 year old wouldn't especially want a "Run, run, as fast. . ." apron. Therefore, I made him an apron, but put his caricature on it. His apron is a "Potato Pancake Apprentice" one and since he does help in the kitchen from time to time, I know he'll use it. The felt gingerbread man was easy to make with adhesive backed felt. I folded the adhesive in on itself and used a cookie cutter to trace and outline. Then, I added buttons, magic marker eyes and white trim.

More Fun with Envelopes

As promised, here are some more fun things to do with envelopes. The outside of the envelope often has lovely boxes of lines under the stamp area or else they bear an interesting postmark. Here I have simply taken some of the wavy lines, straight lines and interior patterned papers--cut them out--and lined them up as packages. Then, they have been topped them with bows. (Wouldn't these packages make for a cute front of a birthday card?) Teachers might want students to count the lines and put the numeral under the package. Maybe these shapes could be buildings instead of packages. Or, perhaps several could be combined to make "blocks" for building. It is advisable to cut (or have students cut) some of the patterns from the outside of the envelope and collect them in a clear plastic bag ahead of time so that there are plenty of pieces available when you begin this activity. Or, have a lot of envelopes available for students to choose and share shapes. Have fun!

Where did you get those great papers?

 I just finished doing a Florida Reading Association workshop on the 9th of September. Teachers are a receptive audience and love to discover inexpensive activities that can be coupled with curriculum studies. I will admit, teachers are sometimes surprised at the "trash" I collect and turn into treasures. Recently I discovered that security envelopes have some of the most beautiful patterns on the inside--and that there are many different designs. To unlock the beautiful papers, simply cut off the side edges of an envelope and open it to reveal the inside paper. What a treasure! (Kids will love to look at the patterns with a microscope too.) Just think of all the lovely collages you could make using the papers. Here are just a few samplings from the inside of envelopes. I collect them and put them in a clear zip-type plastic bag. Although a lot of banking and bill paying is now done on-line, it's amazing the number of envelopes that still come to the house. Collect a lot of patterns and let your little ones create interesting and fun shapes and collages using the pieces.

 Most of the patterns are in browns, blues and blacks and many have shapes tucked inside the patterns. I also use the rest of the envelope in some pretty interesting ways. That will be the next two blog posts.  This bottom picture is a close up of several different envelope insides. Some already suggest fabric and/or landscape features.  Have fun!                                                                                          
 What would you make with these designs?

More Mini Gift Cards

Choose a card with a pretty front.

Love those beautiful cards folks send, but hate to throw them away? Here's yet another way to recycle them. Choose a part of the card without writing--usually the front. 1. Trim a rectangle or square from the front. 2. Score the rectangle or square so that will fold easily.
3. Fold it and enjoy your mini card. These look especially cute on small packages just be sure to make the mini card large enough to write a tiny message inside. This particular card also had a nice, simple greeting at the top front. I cut it the saying out in a teardrop shape, made a hole for hanging and laced a gold cord through it. Now it will make a cute attachment to a bottle of wine neck or to a bud vase neck when I want to thank a friend for a kindness.

Score using a straight edge.

Two free mini cards from one card front!

Dotted Easter Egg

Here's a fun way to improve fine motor skills and have fun with the hole-punch dots I've suggested you save. Materials: hole-punch dots, paper, scissors, glue.
1. Cut out an egg shape from white paper.
2. Make tiny glue dots where you want hole-punch dots to go.
3. Carefully place the hole-punch dots on the glue dots.

Create words, shapes or patterns.