Mimi & Lorelei make a spring collage

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Annual Christmas Ornaments


This year's ornaments include a foam penguin (from Target craft kit), handprint snowmen on a clear ball, ice cream spoon Christmas cats, and craft stick and felt reindeer.


Genevieve and Lorelei  proudly display their reindeer.
Genna wanted hers to have a sad face.
 Both girls liked the floppy ear style.


As often happens, I learned some tips for doing these crafts in the future.I will say that the cat ornaments had too many steps for young children. We had to paint one side, wait, paint the other side, wait, and so on. It would be better if they had been spray painted different colors in advance so all the kids have to do is select the ones they want and focus on decorating. I plan to make them with my kindergarteners next year. The snowmen balls are easy but it is difficult for very young children to draw the fine details of eyes, nose, etc. with paint pens. I drew most of the details but Lorelei did do half of hers. Even so, parents will love the fact that their child's little handprints are on the ornaments and will love getting them out in years to come. The reindeer were easy to make but I did go behind the girls with hot glue to redo the felt pieces. They don't adhere well with Elmer's glue. We made several sets of ornaments. As always, I saved a set for the girls. When they get married and get ready for their first Christmas, I wll give them the saved set. I also have a few for our tree at home. They as well put a few on their own tree. The girls will be wrapping and giving the snowman ornaments to their parents for Christmas.



Saturday, December 24, 2011

Look out! Volcano Erupting!


Lorelei painting the cone...

Adding the vinegar...


Lorelei and Genevieve have been fascinated with volcanoes ever since they fell in love with a silly movie called "Shark Boy & Lava Girl" as well as being fans of "Dinosaur Train." Lorelei said she wanted to make a volcano so I promised I would on the next visit. I kept my promise and we built a volcano using Lizella clay molded around a large medicine bottle. The girls painted the cone. Inside I added a mixture of warm water, drops of dish detergent, food coloring, and baking soda. Then the girls took turns creating the erupting lava by adding vinegar. We learned that by adding it slowly the lava would flow thick and bubbly. The girls were amazed at the eruptions and I caught some of their expressions. Instead of making the dinosaurs flee, they tried to put them inside the cone. Lorelei asked me what is that inside the volcano and I explained that magma is the lava before it comes out of the earth. We made the volcano erupt over and over. Chad saved the volcano to take to Lorelei's class. It was a great memeory made!
Wow...the eruption!!!