Decoupage Shamrocks

These were super easy (and a bit messy for the littlest one), and the supplies needed were minimal.   Because I didn't get this exact project idea from any one source, I'll give you the step by step.
1. Trace a shamrock on cardstock (important that the paper is thick - cardstock or posterboard) and have kids cut them out.
2. Take one napkin (I literally only used one, and there we many many leftovers) and cut it into tiny squares.
3.  Have kids put a thin layer of glue on the shamrock about the size of one square, put down one square, and then have them put another thin layer of glue over the top.  Repeat until as much of the shamrock is covered as you wish.  
4. Once they were dry, I put them under a book for the night to help flatten them.
Here are our results!

To learn more about decoupage, you can check out a link like this one: http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/decoupage/a/012201a.htm

Have fun, as always, feel free to copy!!
Stacy

p.s. Just for grins, here is a shot of "day after" hair - remember the zig zag braids?  Taken out, her hair got wavy!!  We put it into two quick piggies, snapped on some bows, and were done in less than five - that's my kinda hair!! 

Handprint Rainbow

Okay, aside from the obvious - that rainbows don't really have anything to do with Saint Patrick's Day - other than there seem to be a lot of rainbows seen in Ireland - I loved this craft for so many reasons.  The "teacherly" part of me loved it for the fine motor skills practice - cutting out six handprints and staying on the lines takes some serious concentration/hard work.  The "homeschool mom" part of me loved it for the ease of preperation (all I had to do was help them trace their hands, then they were on their own!), and the fact that throughout the day they could work on it independently.  This is one of the benefits I find in doing crafts with my kids. When I'm working with one child on something like reading, and another is working on math, and the third has finished their current assignment and is showing signs of escape  - they always have something to work on at their desk!  All of them finished this craft by the end of our day - so they quickly saw the results of their hard work - and they turned out really beautifully!   I did two things differently than this website suggests:  http://www.dltk-bible.com/mhandrainbow.html   First, I did all the colors of the rainbow.  Second, I had them start with purple and work backwards to red.  I did this so you could see more of each handprint.  You'll see what I mean if you click on the link and see their photo example and then look at mine.   Overall, I loved this one.  I hope some of you try it!   Here are ours!

Have a blessed Sunday with your family.  Ours will be spent at church, Lowes, and in our kitchen -  in that order.  I'm hoping to finish getting the walls prepped for paint today.   As always, feel free to copy!

Stacy

Leprechaun Wall Hanging

I intend to be fair in this blog - I won't tell you that I love everything I try to make or do - sometimes hairstyles or craft projects just aren't worth the effort.  It was my intention to blog about that very thing today. The project we did this week  - and when I say that I mean it literally, because we started this project on Monday and just finished it last night - was tedious.  There were (it seemed) a billion tiny pieces to trace and cut out.  We used crayons instead of paints, which took a bit of time.  Certain parts could be glued with a glue stick (my favorite) but many had to be glued with liquid elmers glue (not so much a close friend of mine).  You would have to wait for a part to dry before you could move on - this isn't a "sit down once" kinda project. We had to do it several times a day for four days in a row to complete it.   Add to that the fact that leprechauns have nothing to do with St. Patrick's Day - I mean, it's a stretch.  It rains often in Ireland with the sun shining, thus there are lots of rainbows there, and I guess more pots of gold at the ends that are being protected by little green men?
So while every part of me wants to tell you NOT to do this project, I had a change of heart last night when they were completed. (Sorry Jeni!)  You see, they are SO CUTE!   And my kids love them. They even named them!  And now they hang in our classroom, a cheery reminder of St. Patrick - a man who loved God so much he went to a place where rainbows and mythical leprechauns lived, a place where he was once enslaved, to tell people about Him. You can learn how to make your own leprechaun here: http://crafts.kaboose.com/leprechaun-wall-hanging.html

Here are ours!

  So we're snowed in today.  We'll still do a bit of school (I know, mean homeschool mothers around the world can unite on this one!), but then they'll get out in the snow again.  I hope you all stay warm, and as always, feel free to copy!

Stacy

Tie - Dye Shamrock

This craft was easy, and my kids had so much fun with it!!  It was more a lesson for Jake (blue and yellow equals green) but the big kids had just as much fun using the droppers. 

First, we practiced with plain water just dropping one drip at a time.  This step is important, and not listed here:  http://crafts.kaboose.com/groovy-shamrock-tie-dye-paints.html where I found the craft.  We waited until the filters were dry before we cut them out, but I did trace the shamrock on the filter with pen before they started "painting" them.  If I did this again, I would use far less water so that the colors are brighter when they dry.  Quick Tip: We did this project on a paper plate, and then trasnfered the filter to the top of a thick set of newspapers to dry.  You'll find that the plate they used will be full of colored water (at least ours were).  You could try to control it more than that, and not have the extra water, but I think it would take away some of the fun.  Here is our end result:

You can get the droppers at any craft store - I'm already thinking of how we can use them again soon. Overall  I liked this craft.  The look on Jake's face as he watched the colors blend before his eyes was priceless.  Thanks for sharing your photos with me!  I can't wait to see more!  And as always, feel free to copy!!
Stacy

St. Patrick's Day Craft - Handprint Shamrock

This Christmas, I started a new tradition (thanks to my dear friend Kendra) of "a craft a day until Christmas".  My kids thought this was great, and a new yearly tradition began.  Or so I thought.  You see a few weeks before Valentine's Day, they started to ask when "a craft a day until Valentine's Day" was going to start.  With their cute round precious moments eyes, and looks of  "our mom can do anything", I couldn't say no.  So we did it.  For the past several weeks (before starting this blog) we did several cute Valentine's Day crafts.  Again, thinking I was completed, I reorganized and put away our crafts.   Then yesterday morning, we were having our circle time (calendar, bible, pledges, talk time, morning message, etc.), when my oldest asked when we would begin our "craft a day until St. Patrick's day".  Oy.   You start one little thing...   :)  But really I don't mind.  I did let them know that we wouldn't be doing a craft every day (there are only so many things to do for St. Patrick's Day), but that we would do a few. 

That brings me to my copy cat for today.  First we a read this book:

Then, we did this shamrock craft from this website: http://familycrafts.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ/Ya&zTi=1&sdn=familycrafts&cdn=parenting&tm=18&gps=203_257_1277_714&f=10&tt=14&bt=1&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.thefamilycorner.com/family/kids/crafts/stpatricksday.shtml

Because my kids are a little bit older, we modified the project a bit, and they did most of it on their own with just a bit o' guidance from their mama.  :)  We used handprints instead of hand cut outs, and after putting it all together, added green glitter glue as an outline.  Little mister's glue got a little globby - as I had moved on to math with the big kids and he was left alone.   I think they turned out pretty cute!  Send me photos if you tried this with your little bugs, and as always, feel free to copy!
Stacy