11-19-09 Gobble up a Turkey Treat Display Board

Friends:

For Eliana’s class, I created a “Gobble Up a Turkey Treat” board. It’s so cute and easy to make.

Materials:
Cardboard display board
Cardboard cake tray
Candy canes
Construction paper
Googly eyes
Markers
Glue stick
Hot glue

11-17-09 Turkey Treat up Close

Directions:
Using a cardboard cake plate turned upside down so that you the brown (and not the silver or gold) is on top, glue a head, beak, wattle, and wings cut from construction paper. Glue the Googly eyes onto the turkey’s head. Glue candy canes in a “heart” shape as the feathers above the turkey’s body. Use hot glue for the heavy items such as the cardboard body and the candy cane wings and feathers. Using markers, color inside the “feathers.” Kids can just grab a turkey treat and pull. It’s a great way to welcome Thanksgiving. Gobble! Gobble!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Boo Book Cover

When Eliana was 4 years old, we created a “Boo Book” for Halloween. She helped me put some poems together and she illustrated inside the book. It was a great coffee table book to display for Halloween. Create your own boo-tiful boo book!

Boo Book Dedication Page

Materials:
2 sheets of orange card stock
Several sheets of regular copy paper
A printer
Decorations such as spiders or Halloween stickers
Crayons and Markers
Stapler

Boo Book Spooky Haunted House by Eliana at Age 4

Instructions:
Create several Halloween poems with your children. Type them on the computer and print them out. Have the children illustrate the poems. Create a book cover and back with the cardstock. Staple the sides to create a book. Decorate with creepy crawly spiders or stickers. Have fun!

9-30-09 Madame Poulet Paper Plate Story Shakers and Roach Party Hat

Friends:

Marita Gentry (Illustrator of The Cajun Cornbread Boy and Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach) and I have created the coolest new book activity/craft for you to make, which goes along with our newest book, Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach! It’s a paper plate story shaker! You can download the template here:

http://www.storyconnection.net/?content=madamePoulet

One side of the story shaker is Madame Poulet. The other side is Monsieur Roach and friends. The paper plate, folded in half, is full of beads (you can also use beans or pasta). The story shaker can be used by children to retell the story as well as make music when Monsieur Roach and friends have their big party.

9-30-09 Madame Poulet Paper Plate Story Shakers up close

In addition, I created party hats for the roaches. These are super simple. Download the Creepy Crawly Cards from the book activities and cut them out. Glue them to plain birthday party hats found at any party supply store. Instant party roaches!

http://www.storyconnection.net/?content=madamePoulet

9-30-09 Roach Party Hat up close

I hope you enjoy this new book activity! Laissez les bon temps rouler! Let the good times roll!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

6-14-09 Paper Bag Pinata

Friends:

For your next party, try this super simple paper bag pinata! This one took me 10 minutes!

Materials:
Paper bag with handles (large gift bags work well)
Construction Paper
Streamers
Glue
Tape
Markers
Stapler
Candy & small prizes
Optional: Glitter

Instead of the usual pinata, try this handmade version. With construction paper, create a picture collage that fits the theme of your party (a pirate for a Pirate Party, a mermaid for Under the Sea, a cowboy for a Rodeo Roundup etc). You can look up images on the Internet for inspiration. Glue the picture collage to the both sides of the bag. For glitz and glamour, add glitter. Glue or tape streamers to the bottom of the bag. Stuff the bag with candy and goodies. Staple the top of the bag closed. Now you have a paper bag pinata for your party!

6-14-09 Eliana & Paper Bag Pinata

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

The Cajun Cornbread Boy Puppet with Alligator - 12-16-08

Friends,

I am so excited! My first picture book for children, The Cajun Cornbread Boy, came in! My publisher, Pelican Publishing Company, is based in New Orleans so my husband picked up a case of books for me today. The books are beautiful! They are scheduled for a Spring 2009 release so getting the books this early is quite a delicious surprise. I have my first book signing on Saturday so, with the help of my daughter Soleil (who is majoring in art at LSU), I made The Cajun Cornbread Boy puppet. He came out better than I had hoped.

Cajun Cornbread Boy puppet w book - 12-16-08

I absolutely adore him! He is made out of felt, 8 inch cardboard cake circles, jumbo craft sticks, chenille sticks, foam, paper, and an enormous amount of hot glue. I have the burn marks to prove it! LOL There was even a bit of hand sewing involved. He was quite labor intensive (about 3 hours from start to finish) but well worth the effort.

I hope The Cajun Cornbread Boy will run into the hearts of many readers and spice up many children’s bookshelves! You can order your own autographed copy of the book from the Story Connection Store. http://storyconnection.net/?content=store If you order by Friday, December 19, 2008, you’ll get it in time for Christmas!

Spice up your holidays with The Cajun Cornbread Boy.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Santa Mail - 12-7-08

Christmas Activity: Santa Mail
My family celebrates Christmas. During the holidays, we send each other “Santa Mail.” We have a big mail box into which we stuff our notes to each other. We know when there is mail because a small tag hangs from the front of the mailbox that says, for example, “Santa Mail for Eliana.” It’s a fun way to communicate with each other, spread the holiday spirit, and practice writing skills!

Eliana's Santa Mail Angel for Mommy - 12-7-08

Presentation Board Puppet Theater - 11-16-08

Presentation Board Puppet Theater
Presentation boards can be found at any super center or office supply store. Find one in your favorite color. The science board can be decorated in any fashion you wish. Just set it up on the floor and you (or your children) can puppeteer from behind the board.

Happy Tales to You! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Shoebox Puppet Theater - 11-15-08

Shoebox Puppet Theater
Sit the shoebox on its side and cut off the top. Decorate the front with a scene. Use small plastic spoon puppets or finger puppets. Another way to create a shoebox puppet theater is by creating a “diorama,” decorating the inside of the shoebox. The hand will be visible as the puppets are maneuvered but children don’t mind. They love creating the scene inside the shoebox.

Happy Tales to you! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Dianne de Las Casas with a lap top box puppet theater - 11-16-08

Lap Top Box Puppet Theater
I learned this method from a school librarian in Houston when I lived there after Katrina. Take a box large enough to sit comfortably on your lap. Cut off the top and the back of the box leaving only the bottom, two sides, and the front. Decorate the front of the box to create any scene you wish. I created a meadow with grass and flowers. The puppets, props, and even a script can sit inside the box until you are ready to use them. It’s simple and ingenious.

Check out “behind the scenes” in this lap top box puppet theater.

Lap Top Box Puppet Theater Backside - 11-16-08

Happy Tales to You! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Lucky the Puppy Stuffed Animal Puppet - 11-16-08

Stuffed Animal Puppets
Old or thrift store stuffed animals can easily be turned into puppets. Make a small slit in the back of the animal, pull out some of the stuffing, and sew a sock into the inside of the animal to slip your hand inside. Instant puppet!

Above, you see Lucky the Puppy. He was a free stuffed animal caught at a St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New Orleans. I removed some of his stuffing, inserted a green children’s sock inside him (all the way up to his mouth) and then sewed the sock to the stuffed animal to close the hole. Here is his underside.

Lucky the Puppy Stuffed Animal Puppet Underside - 11-16-08

Happy Tales to You! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne