5-19-11 I Love You Little Monkey Paper Plate Mask

Friends:

Have fun monkeying around with this cute craft! It’s a paper plate monkey mask. Ooh ooh ooh, Eeh Eeh Eeh! Grab a big banana for me!

Supplies:
2 paper plates
Glue stick
Crayons
Pencil
Scissors
Cups – 1 small, 1 medium, and 1 large
Black marker – 1 fine tip and 1 thick tip
Jumbo craft or popsicle stick

Directions:
Color one of the paper plates brown. On the second paper plate, with a pencil, trace the small cup twice for the eyes. Then trace the medium cup twice for the ears. Finally trace the large cup once for the monkey’s mouth area. Make a black circle inside the eyes (small cup circles) for the pupils. Color the ears (medium cup circles) and the mouth area (large cup circle) a tan or beige color. Draw a C inside the left ear and a backwards C inside the right ear. Use the glue stick to attach to each side of the monkey’s head. Glue down the eyes and the mouth area. Next, with the thick tip black marker, make two dots inside the large circle for the monkey’s nose. Underneath, draw a curvy smile. To finish the monkey’s face, draw a semi-heart from one side of the top of the big circle to the other side. The dip of the heart should be between the monkey’s eyes. Write “I Love You, Little Monkey!” on the craft stick. Glue the stick to the bottom back of the paper plate. Now you’re swinging!

Here’s what I did with my mask… I placed it on the front door to greet my 10 year old daughter on her way to school. What a fun surprise!

5-19-11 I Love You Little Monkey Mask on the front door

I’m bananas about monkeys! How about you?!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

2-15-11 Marvelous Mardi Gras Mask

Friends:

Here is a fun and easy Mardi Gras mask you can make to celebrate Carnival Season! This year, Mardi Gras falls on March 8, 2011.

Supplies:
1 large paper plate
1 sturdy drinking straw
Markers/Crayons
Sequins
Feathers or chenille sticks (pipe cleaners)
Ribbon
Glue
Scissors

Directions:
Cut paper plate in half. Cut out triangles around the outer edge of the round part of the paper plate, making it look like a sun. Cut out eye holes. Decorate the paper plate with markers, crayons, sequins, and feathers. If you don’t have feathers, curl chenille sticks around a pencil and attach them to the top of the mask to simulate feathers. Finally, secure a drinking straw as the mask’s stick or handle. Curly ribbon can be attached to cascade down.

Enjoy and parade around!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

2-12-11 The AMAZING There's a Dragon in the Library cake at our Octavia Books Launch Party

Friends:

This past Saturday was our book launch party for There’s a Dragon in the Library, illustrated by Marita Gentry. We had our fabulous launch at our favorite indie bookstore in New Orleans – Octavia Books. It was our largest book launch at Octavia to date! There were so many people in attendance that some people couldn’t see the performance!

2-12-11 The awesome audience at Octavia Books

I had an amazing dragon cake made (Thanks, Lana and Dana) and it was DELICIOUS!

2-12-11 The Dragon cake table

Here is a close-up of that up-ROAR-ious cake, which was chocolate cake with raspberry filling. YUM!

2-12-11 A close-up of the Dragon cake!

As is our signature method, Marita and I entertained the audience with interactive storytelling and live illustration.

2-12-11 Audience participation is so much fun and Marita's dragon comes to life on paper!

I made puppets out of oven mitts, which came out sooooo cute. The templates for the puppets are on my website in the book activities. Marita did such a marvelous job on the puppets.

2-12-11 The oh so cute boys in my story, There's a Dragon in the Library. Marita is illustrating and Eliana is page-turning.

This time, instead of drawing several illustrations, Marita decided to do something different. Because the dragon is a very complicated character to draw, she decided to draw and color one enormous dragon. It came out sooo cute!

2-12-11 The whole cast comes up for a final bow

Here is a close-up of Marita’s illustration. It’s a little blurry because there were so many people that my photographer (hubby Antonio) couldn’t get close enough to even zoom in on the picture. But you can see how cute it is! Marita is incredibly talented! I’m so lucky to team with such a great illustrator!

2-12-11 A close-up of the Marita's finished illustration of Dewey the Dragon in There's a Dragon in the Library

Afterward, the children participated in a scavenger hunt, looking for a dragon tale hidden amongst the books. The winner received a reading pillow and blanket. We gave away lots of prizes including book bags, a Dragon accordion puppet, and a signed dummy of our book. Then the kids made the cutest Dewey the Dragon paper bag puppets.

2-12-11 The cutest dragon puppet with the cutest little boy!

Marita and I signed books as Judith Lafitte and Tom Lowenburg, the bookstore owners, served cake and dragon juice.

2-12-11 Dianne de Las Casas signing books with a tiara on! Viva la Diva! LOL

Caitlin Smith with Pelican Publishing Company stopped by to say hi and check in on our party.

2-12-11 Dianne de Las Casas, Caitlin Smith from Pelican Publishing, and Marita Gentry

Marita and I have such sweet fans and friends. Jon and Jordyn have been to every single one of my book launch parties!! They deserve a crown just for that!!

2-12-11 Dianne with favorite fans, Jordyn and Jon

The party was such a smashing success. We owe so much to King Tom and Queen Judith of Octavia Books, our benevolent rulers! Thank you, your majesties! Thank you to everyone: fans, friends, and family who came to support us as we unveiled our fun new book, There’s A Dragon in the Library. We even had someone drive in from as far away as Lafayette! WOW!

2-12-11 The Cutie Crew with their paper bag dragon puppets

It was a fantastic day and we look forward to many more book launch parties at Octavia Books.

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

The Gigantic Sweet Potato book, paper bag sweet potato, and cardboard roll mouse

Friends:

Here is a great Book Craft you can do with my book, The Gigantic Sweet Potato, illustrated by Marita Gentry and published by Pelican Publishing Company. They are easy and fun!

The Gigantic Sweet Potato book and cardboard roll mouse

Cardboard Roll Mouse
Materials:
4-5″ cardboard paper roll
construction paper
chenille sticks (white)
Googly eyes
glue
stapler
black marker

Directions:
To make the mouse, from construction paper, cut out a tail and two ears. Pinch one end of the tissue paper roll shut, inserting the tail in the middle. Staple it shut. Wrap the tail around a pen or pencil to create a curl. Pinch the opposite end of the tissue paper roll in the opposite direction (it will look like a triangle). Glue ears at the top and a Googly eye on each side. With a black marker, color the bottom tip, creating a nose. Cut two small white pieces of chenille stick and fold it in half, creating whiskers. Glue on each side of the nose. Your mouse is ready.

Paper Bag Sweet Potato Craft
Materials:
brown paper lunch bag
plastic grocery bags or newspaper
1 green chenille stick
1 sheet green construction paper
orange crayons or orange paint
green marker
hole punch
tape

Directions:
Color or paint every side of a brown paper lunch bag orange. Stuff the bag with plastic bags or newspaper. Cut 3-4 leaves from construction paper and hole punch the top of the leaf. Draw a green line down the middle. Thread leaves on the chenille stick, securing them with a piece of tape. Close the bag by wrapping the end of the chenille stick around the top of the bag. Crumple the bag slightly to give it a less uniform look so that it resembles the misshapen figure of a sweet potato.

The Gigantic Sweet Potato book and paper bag sweet potato

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

Funny Bunny Shaker made from a cardboard tube

Friends:

The “Funny Bunny Shaker” is a cute craft for Easter or any time you need a bunny. And it’s so easy!

Materials:
6 inch cardboard tube
2 Googly eyes
1 cotton ball
Construction paper
Beans, rice or beads
Markers
Glue
Stapler

Directions:
Staple the bottom of the cardboard tube closed. In the opening, drop a few beads, beans or grains of rice. Create bunny ears from construction paper. With the ears in place in the opening of the cardboard tube, staple the cardboard tube closed in the opposite direction. It will form a triangular shape. Now decorate. Glue on some Googly eyes and draw your bunny’s facial features. Don’t forget to glue on the cotton ball tail. Shake your bunny shaker!

Bunny Bags &Funny Bunny Shakers

Have fun!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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