Pinteresting December - Gak or Flubber or Goo or whatever you call it

In lieu of my bloggy advent winter wonderland I decided to go a little more low key for the month of December.  I wanted to do something fun, yet manageable, so I decided that we are going to try some new fun ideas from Pinterest, Thus:

The first project is Flubber, I call it Gak, some call it ooblek.

Source: frugalfunchallenge.blogspot.com via Holly on Pinterest

It only has

• Water

• White Glue

• Borax

• Food Coloring

Making it was a lot of fun.  You mix up two different mixtures, then pour them together, the change from two liquid-y mixtures into the gak is almost instantaneous.  {Click on the picture to get the recipe.} 

Zippy and Little Dude had tons of fun with it.  It isn't messy like play-dough or the cornstarch ooblek.  It is relatively inexpensive, I had everything but the glue on hand.  And it keeps really nicely.  My only qualm with this particular recipe is that it makes a lot.  I would love to find/figure out a small recipe so we can have smaller amounts of different colors.

If you are looking for more fun for the kids follow my Pinterest board, For the Kiddos.

  

Summer Possibilities At Home

Here is a super-duper big list of possible things to do this summer.     

Find  (and photograph) things that start with every letter of the alphabet.  Make a book?

Water Balloons

Make oobleck

Make "play dough" 

Gather and paint pet rocks

Make an appreciation card for someone

Find Shapes in the clouds

Create a water relay with household items

Create a family crest or flag

Build things with toothpicks and mini marshmallows

Story Cubes

Jump Rope

Bubbles

Sidewalk Chalk

Mancala

Make a day in the life picture book or video

Make a 52 things I like about you book.  (or maybe just 5).

Create a diorama

Make fingerprint art or fingerprint art

Make an ATC or a set - trade them.

Sew a beanbag

Play a beanbag game.

Cross stitch your name.

Weave a pot holder

Make a braided headband 

Bake a cake

Make a no-sew, t-shirt market bag.

Make a bookmark

Make a woven bracelet

Make a stamp

Make a paper basket

Go on a scavenger hunt

Go on a neighborhood photo scavenger hunt.

Make pinhole art, use a coloring book as a template.

Paint Trees

Lay on your back and watch the clouds

Make a paper chain - write things you are thankful for on each link.

Make paper from recycled paper

Shrinky Dinks

Make fabric flowers 

Do an experiment 

Sew an apron

Create a city from a cardboard box

Sun Print Paper

Silly Putty

Tangrams

Hot Rock Art

Book Exchange Party

Melty Crayon Art 

Build an indoor fort

Play hopscotch

Color wall

Make a Park Passport.  

Race Cars and Cardboard Boxes

Looking for something for the kiddos to do one day, I was inspired by a box of toy cars that we have and a big ole cardboard box.

I cut the box down one side to make it a big cardboard sheet.

Then I gave the kids markers and colored pencils to draw a road and landscape.

I was thinking that they would make a road that meandered hither and yon,  but they made test tracks, race tracks, train tracks, helicopter landing pads and even a parking lot. 

 

They had a great time playing with their new creation.

Encouraging Teachers

My motto for this school year is:

The first day of school I put together an encouraging gift for Zippy's teacher and a couple of other staff at her school:

7-up Lifting

Ways to start your first week of school

1.     Wake Up – “This is the day the LORD has made we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Ps. 118:24

2.    Dress Up – “Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Eph. 6:11

3.    Stand Up – “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Do everything in love.” I Cor 16:13

4.    Look Up – to the Lord “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” Phil. 4:13

5.    Lift Up – your prayers “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Eph. 6:18

6.    Reach Up – “I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees.” Ps. 119:48

7.    Heads Up – God has great things planned for you this year

I got the idea from Marci over at Let the Games Begin. 

How do you encourage those around you?  I'd love to know. 

Make Friendship Bracelets

This is an actual camp craft that I learned way back when at horse camp at Camp Woodland Alters.

An quick and easy braided version of the friendship bracelet.

Tools and Materials

• Embroidery Floss
• Safety Pin

Directions

1. Cut five lengths of embroidery floss approximately four times the circumference of the wrist.  Put all the ends together and knot.  One end is knot the other end is loops

2. Using the safety pin fix the knot to a couch, chair or pant leg. 

3.  Put a loop through 3 fingers of one hand and 2 fingers of the other.  Hold hands so that the thumb is facing up. 

4.  Transfer the top loop from the hand with 3 loops to the third finger of the hand with two loops.  Move the two loops on the first hand up to the top two fingers. 

5. Repeat step 4 until the braid is a desired length.  Knot.  

Make Paper Beads

Tools & Materials

• Magazines (or paper of any kind)
• Pen
• Ruler
• Skewer 
• Scissors
• White glue
• Mod Podge (optional)

Directions

On a magazine page draw long triangles the height of the page.  The width of the base of the triangle will determine how long the bead will be. 

Cut out.

Put a dab of glue at the point of the triangle.  Then using the skewer, starting at the wide end of the triangle, roll up the bead. 

 

After the glue is dry you can optionally apply Mod Podge to the bead for a shiny finish.  

Let dry for a few hours then, they are ready to put on a piece of yarn or string for a fab camp bracelet or necklace.