Fairy Wings: Fun and Easy to Make

At some point in almost every little girl's life they dream of being a fairy, and it is not always easy to find fairy wings. When you do eventually find them they are either uncomfortable or they are expensive, but fairy wings are easy and fun to make. This is a great project to do at birthday parties or just for fun.

To make fairy wings you will need foam sheets, ribbon, a hot glue gun, felt, scissors, glitter glue, pipe cleaners, and gemstones. Sometimes it is a good idea to look at pictures of fairy wings and butterflies in order to get a better idea of what you want your fairy wings to look like.

To start you will need to cut butterfly wings out of the foam sheet. In order to make simple shaped butterfly wings fold the foam in half evenly. Next using a marker cut a v shape in the opposite side of the folded side. Next unfold the sheet and cut a v shape in the top and the bottom. You can add other details by cutting the wings into differently shapes and angles but these three cuts will give you a very basic wing shape.

Now that you have your wings it is time to make them stand up; first you will need to decide which side is the front and which side is the back. Use pipe cleaners to add strength to the back of the wings. Start by gluing a pipe cleaner to the center where all the wings meet. Glue three or four pipe cleaners from the bottom of the wing through the middle. Repeat this process for all of the wings, and you can curve the end of the pipe cleaners for a prettier effect if you like.

To make these wings wearable you will need to add some ribbons. Cut a square of felt that fits in the center of the wings. This piece of felt will also cover the ends of the pipe cleaners. Now cut two lengths of ribbons that are long enough to fit from your back to around your shoulders. You will be tying these ribbons so make sure to leave enough room for that as well. Now glue the middles of the ribbons to the part of the felt square that will be glued to the wings. Next glue the felt to the wings and allow to dry.
Now use the glitter glue and gems to add details to your wings, and when they are dry they are ready to wear. Just tie each side to your shoulders and you can be a fairy whenever you like!

Fun Kid Crafts with Seashells

If you are like me you collect shells when you go to the beach. If you are also like me you always end up wondering what am I going to do with all of these shells. Seashells are awesome materials for craft projects, and here I will describe four fun projects that you can complete inexpensively using shells.

Seashell candles are great uses for seashells and you can reuse old candles to make them. Simply buy wicks from your local craft store, gather old pieces of candle wax, and deep shells that can fit on upside down without wobbling. Now glue the wick to the inside of the shell and melt the candle wax. After the wax is melted but not too hot you can add some fragranced oils to make the candles smell nice. Fill the shell with wax and let the candle cool. Trim the wick and your seashell candle is ready.

A sea shell organizer is fun and a great addition to any desk. You will need a block of wood or something suitable for a base. Next glue 2 scallop shells to the base standing up with enough room in between to fit papers and mail. Now add some sand and other shells to the base for decoration and you will have a great seashell organizer.

A seashell herb garden is beautiful and an awesome way to reuse shells you have collected. You will need deep shells that can stand up without wobbling, potting soil, and herb seeds. Make sure the shells are clean and dry and add potting soil to the insides. Add some water to the soil so it is moist, and sprinkle the seeds lightly over the dirt. Set your shells in a sunny spot on a windowsill and water frequently but not excessively. The seeds will sprout quickly and you will have a lovely little seashell garden.

Another fun seashell craft is the sea shell butterfly magnet. It can be created using only glue, a pipe cleaner, pompom, magnet, and four shells. Make sure that each set of two wings are similar to create a symmetrical looking butterfly. You can paint the insides of the shells if you like, but I have found many of the shells are already so pretty on the inside I do not want to paint them. Now twist the pipe cleaner to serve as the long cylindrical body of a butterfly and glue the pompom on for the head. Next glue the shells together to simulate wings and glue the body and head onto the shells. Glue the magnet to the back, and your beautiful butterfly is done!

There are many crafts you can create using seashells, and I hope this article has inspired you to use the seashells you collected at the beach this summer!

3 Fun Recycled T-Shirt Crafts

 

Everyone has t-shirts that they love but they no longer wear. Maybe you outgrew your favorite t-shirt, or maybe it got a hole in a very unflattering place; either way there are some awesome ways you can recycle your t-shirt to make it last many more years. There are several fun ways to reuse old t-shirts, and this article will inspire you to bust out your old shirts and get crafting.

My favorite simple t-shirt craft is the t-shirt pillow; it is easy and a great item you will use for years to come. All you will need for this project is an old t-shirt, needle, thread, scissors, and some stuffing. Now simply cut the sleeves of the shirt and the neck of the shirt so it makes a square. Next you will need to turn the shirt inside out, and thread your needle. Start sewing at the left or right side corner of the shirt where you cut the sleeve off. Continue sewing until you have sewn completely three sides around the square. Now sew half of the final side, and turn the square right side out. Fill the pillow with stuffing until it is a good density, and sew until the square is completely sealed. This project makes an awesome pillow out of a shirt you might have thrown away.

Another fun shirt project is a shirt purse. This project is easy, and it is a good way to recycle; all you will need is a shirt, scissors, and needle and thread. Simply turn the shirt inside out. Sew the top edge of the shirt, where your head would go, shut. Next cut the sleeves off of the shirt, and sew the holes shut. If this shirt is long sleeved this is helpful, but you can use short sleeved shirts as well. If the shirt has long sleeves you can use them as a strap; if not you can use a strong ribbon or piece of felt. Just sew the sleeve ends to the sides of the bottom of the shirt, and you have an awesome bag.

Another fun way to save a t-shirt that means a lot to you is making a t-shirt pot holder. For this project you will need a piece of felt, an old shirt, scissors, needle, and thread. Now simply cut out the part of the shirt you like. If there is a picture or a fun pocket cut out a square that is suitable for a pot holder. Next cut a piece of felt slightly bigger than the t-shirt piece. Now lay the shirt on top f the felt, and sew around all of the edges. Cut a small strip from the felt and sew it to one of the corners of the square. Now you have completed your potholder, and you have recycled one of your favorite shirts.

There are many ways to recycle things found around your home into fun and useful craft projects. I hope these ideas have helped you to reuse some of the items you might throw out.

3 Fun and Informative Earth Day Lesson Plans

 

Earth day can be a very fun and exciting time for children in the classroom. Here are 3 lesson plans that can help students celebrate earth day .

The first lesson plan that is appropriate and fun for teaching children about earth day is the earth day garbage parade. This lesson plan is appropriate for kids of ages 3-12, and it is a lot of fun. Have students collect garbage around their home and school and bring in one small plastic bag of trash. Items that they should save are bottles, papers, bottle caps, and anything they seem to find interesting. Make sure all items are brought in clean, and have markers, paints, and glue available. Now pile all of the garbage on a table in the middle of the room and let all the students pick items that that they would like to use. You can have the students create masks, puppets, and banners. It is a good idea to bring some examples of things they can make. You can also bring in beans and rubber bands and have the students make different musical instruments. Paint and color all of the items brightly, and assemble a line and start your parade. This lesson helps teach students to recycle and have fun!

Another lesson plan that is appropriate for students from the age of 3 to 12 is to grow their own plant. Bring in seeds, plastic cups, and dirt, and have each student plant their own seed, and water it. For older students you may want them to use different seeds and research each plant. Have the students document the plants growth over the course of the month; also have the students document the watering and light schedule for each plant. This is most effective if done with perennial plants so the students can later plant a garden on the school property or a local park. The use of herb seeds works well for this project.

Another earth day lesson plan for students from ages 3 - 12 is paper making. Discuss with the students the use of paper in society, and the amount of trees wasted because of our paper waste. Have students bringing junk mail, and paper that would normally be thrown out at their homes. You will need a small screen that has been attached to a wooden frame, or a small window screen that can be found at a thrift store. You will also need a food processor and a tub or tuber ware. Have all the students rip the paper up into little pieces and soak the pieces in water for half an hour. Next processes the water and paper mixture until the paper is finely chopped. Now mix the paper and water pulp with more water inside the tub. Have the students take turn dipping the frame into the mix. Once the frame is coated let some of the water drip out, and cover it with a piece of cardboard; next you must flip the frame and cardboard over so the pulp will come off. This will take a little getting used to, but it is not very hard. Allow all of the paper to dry completely and use the paper for another earth day project!

These lesson plans can help you teach valuable earth day lessons to your class this earth day!

Fun and Easy Tips for Potty Training Your Boy

 

It is a common thought that potty training a boy is tougher than potty training a girl. This rumor may have some truth to it, there are several ways to make potty training your boy quick and painless. These tips will help potty training your boy go by easy and fun instead of a hassle.

 The biggest concern when potty training a boy is whether to teach the toddler to sit or stand. This is completely up to the parents, but it is easier to start out teaching your boy to sit. This will allow him to start out easier, and when he becomes more comfortable with using the potty and is accident free you can try standing up.

When you first introduce the idea of standing to go potty to your son it can be a little nerve racking, but this tip will turn it into a fun and easy game instead. Try floating some cereal or small bits of food in the toilet. This will provide your boy with something to aim for. For even more fun add different color or shaped items and designate points for each item in the toilet.

When purchasing the potty or adapter seat for your little boy to use, it is important to consider the splash guard. This may seem like a genius idea that can save time and clean up, but it might actually cause a delay in your boy's ability to learn how to use the potty. The splash guard can scrape or bump up against your toddler's penis, and this is uncomfortable for your boy. If you would like to give the3 splash guard a chance try buying a potty that has a removable guard.

Another fun tip that will make potty training easy and a good time is using fun things to increase the chance of success when potty training. Charts, DVDs, and books are all enjoyable ways to teach your boy how to use the potty. Keep books and charts in the bathroom to help your boy spend time in the bathroom getting comfortable on the potty. The more time your child spends practicing and getting comfortable, the easier it will be.

If you make potty training your boy fun, it will be easier than you can imagine. Yes, there will still be accidents, but these tips will make it easy and fun for your boy to learn how to use his potty successfully. These tips will also form a stronger bond between you and your toddler; so try them when it's time to start potty training your boy.

Fun and Easy Easter Bunny Cake

by Sarah Ganly

It is fun and easy to make an Easter bunny cake. This project is so fun and easy that it is perfect for sharing with children. All you need is some basic ingredients, a little imagination, and a sweet tooth.

First you will need cake mix and all of the ingredients that are required to make enough cake to fill to medium round cake pans; you can use what ever flavor cake you like, but carrot cake is always fun for Easter. Next you will need white frosting; you can use vanilla, cream cheese, or butter cream it doesn't matter. A bag of coconut, red food coloring, assorted candy such as jelly beans and or gum drops, and licorice. A handful of green Easter basket grass and a 20 inch piece of card board or platter add a festive touch to the presentation of this cake.

Now bake the cake according to the directions on the package in two medium round cake pans. Once the cakes have cooled place one of the cake rounds at the middle and bottom of the cardboard. Then cut the other cake in half right down the middle. Next place the halves sticking out of the top of the circle like ears. Now ice the entire cake. Mix some of the red dye with the icing and full in the inside shape of the ears with it. Next use the candy to create a face The licorice works as excellent whiskers, and the jelly beans are a great nose. After all of the candy is in place sprinkle coconut over the cake and press it lightly into the frosting.

The final touch is to place the grass round the cake, and sprinkle with some of the jelly beans and gum drops. This will give the cake a very Festive Easter look. This cake is fun and easy and should be enjoyed every year.