Crafts

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

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

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

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11-15-09 Giving Thanks Tree

11-15-09 Giving Thanks Tree

TOGETHER TIME ACTIVITY: THE “GIVING THANKS” TREE
This year, I am creating a “Giving Thanks” tree. As thanksgiving guests walk in, they will be asked to write down, on a maple leaf, one thing they are thankful for. These leaves will be affixed to a large tree. When the tree is completed, everyone will be able to read all the blessings on the tree. It is a beautiful way to give thanks for our bounty.

Materials:
Science Display Board
Large paper bag or brown butcher block paper
Paper in autumn colors: red, orange, yellow, green, brown
Maple leaf pattern http://familyfun.go.com/printables/turkey-maple-leaf-pattern-for-thanksgiving-703422/
Cardstock or poster board
Glue stick or school glue
Double stick tape

Instructions:
Freehand draw a large tree on a large paper bag or on butcher block paper. Glue it to the middle of the display board. Create a maple leaf traceable pattern on cardstock or poster board. Fold a sheet of “autumn” paper into four, trace the maple leaf. Cut it out. This will yield four maple leaves. You can also trace a small child’s hand and use that as a “leaf” pattern. Create leaves in various Autumn colors. Write the words “Giving Thanks” on each side of the display board or print them out and glue them to the board.

As guests come in, have them write one blessing on a leaf. Use double stick tape to affix the leaf to the tree. Soon, the tree will be full of blessings, things they are thankful for. May those leaves “fall,” fly away, and become someone else’s blessing.

To make the Giving Thanks Tree even more special, consider donating money in the amount of the leaves on the tree to a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter, a battered women’s shelter, the Red Cross, or your favorite charitable organization.

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Boo Book Cover

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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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Madame Poulet, Monsieur Roach & Friends puppets w Dianne

Madame Poulet, Monsieur Roach & Friends puppets w Dianne

Friends:

To accompany our newest book, Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, Marita Gentry (illustrator) and I have created printable puppets you can use to enhance story time! Here is the link where you can print the puppets – http://www.storyconnection.net/?content=madamePoulet. The puppets came out so cute. Here are the instructions.

Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach puppets (other roaches are hiding behind Madame Poulet's back)

Madame Poulet & Monsieur Roach puppets (other roaches are hiding behind Madame Poulet's back)

Madame Poulet chicken puppet

Materials:
Madame Poulet puppet pattern
http://www.storyconnection.net/?content=madamePoulet
Small paper plate
Jumbo craft stick
Construction paper in four colors

Directions:
Cut Madame Poulet from the pattern provided. Don’t forget her feet. Trace a child or adult’s hand on four different colored sheets of construction paper. Cut out the hands. Glue the chicken to the paper plate. Glue the jumbo craft stick to the back of the paper plate (bottom of the chicken). Glue the chicken feet to the bottom of the chicken. Position hands behind the chicken’s head and attach with glue, creating feathers. Done!

Madame Poulet, Monsieur Roach & Friends puppets

Madame Poulet, Monsieur Roach & Friends puppets

Monsieur Roach & Friends Puppets

Materials:
Monsieur Roach & Friends puppet pattern
http://www.storyconnection.net/?content=madamePoulet
Card stock
Black glove (you may use any inexpensive dark glove – gardening gloves work well)
Chenille sticks in blue, red, orange, yellow and green (2 sticks each color)
Hole punch
Hot glue

Directions:

Print out the roaches on card stock. Cut out the roaches. Punch holes where the dots indicate on each roach, being careful not to get too close to the edge of the roach. Create antennae, arms and legs, threading the chenille through the holes. Curl antennae by wrapping the chenille around your finger or a pencil. Hot glue roaches to the glove. The largest roach, Monsieur Roach, is blue and brown and should be glued to the thumb of the glove.

Alternatively, you may also glue each of the roaches to small craft sticks so that the roaches could be played by multiple children or adults.

Find the puppet script here!
http://www.storyconnection.net/activities/mpmr/MadamePoulet_MonsieurRoachPuppetTheaterScript.pdf

Watch the book trailer here!
http://www.storyconnection.net/?content=videos

As Monsieur Roach says, “Laissez les bon temps rouler! Let the good times roll!”

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Eliana & Camrynn rock out on heart guitars 2-16-09

Eliana & Camrynn rock out on heart guitars 2-16-09

Originally, this was a Valentine activity. But why not let someone know that they rock your world any day of the week?!

Directions:
Using construction paper in the color of your choice, cut out a heart about 5 1/2 inches in diameter (A). This will be your guitar’s body. Cut out another heart in a different color to fit inside (with about a one inch margin around) (B). This will become your guitar’s sound hole. To create the guitar’s neck, cut out a 9 X 2 inch piece of construction paper (C). To create the headstock (top of the guitar), cut out a heart about 3 1/2 inches in diameter (D). Cut out another heart to fit inside (E).

Assembly:
Glue the neck (C) to the back of the large heart (A) and the headstock heart (D). Glue the sound hole heart (B) inside the middle of the large heart (A). With a marker, draw 6 strings from the bottom of the big heart (A) to the middle of the top heart (D). Draw frets across the neck of the guitar, all the way down. Using the last heart (E), glue over the string lines in the top heart. Create tuners by drawing 3 small hearts on each side of the headstock heart (D).

Yes, it sounds complicated but look at the pictures and it becomes very clear. Now rock someone’s world with love!

You Rock My World Heart Guitars 2-16-09

You Rock My World Heart Guitars 2-16-09

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Craft: Spoon Puppets; Sunday, November 16, 2008

by dlcasas on November 17, 2008

Plastic Spoon Puppets - 11-16-08

Plastic Spoon Puppets - 11-16-08

Spoon Puppets
Spoons make great puppets, both plastic picnic spoons and wooden cooking spoons. The spoon’s round end makes a perfect face while the spoon’s stem makes a great handle with which to maneuver the puppet. Children can draw the faces on or affix facial features with glue.

Eliana with Turkey wooden spoon puppet - 11-12-08

Eliana with Turkey wooden spoon puppet - 11-12-08

Small plastic spoon puppets are perfect with shoebox puppet theaters while the larger wooden spoons work well with door frame puppet curtains.

Shoebox Puppet Theater - 11-16-08

Shoebox Puppet Theater - 11-16-08

Happy Tales to you! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Doorway Twin Sheet & Shower Rod Puppet Theater - 11-16-08

Doorway Twin Sheet & Shower Rod Puppet Theater - 11-16-08

Doorway Puppet Theater
Using a tension rod or shower curtain rod across a doorway and a curtain or bed sheet, you can create an instant and inexpensive puppet theater. Kids love being behind the curtain. I used this method to entertain my youngest daughter and her cousins. I found a twin sheet that looked like a night sky. I cut slits on each side of the largest seam and threaded a shower curtain rod through the pocket. The extra length at the bottom is folded and brought back over the top of the rod to create a valance. It makes a perfect puppet theater.

Happy Tales to You! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Craft: Sock Puppets; Sunday, November 16, 2008

by dlcasas on November 17, 2008

Dianne de Las Casas with Sock Puppet - 11-16-08

Dianne de Las Casas with Green Sock Puppet Snake - 11-16-08

Sock Puppets
Puppets made out of socks are classic. Nowadays, socks are so colorful that you can be truly imaginative with your sock puppets. Hot glue some yarn hair and googly eyes, and you have an instant friend. I developed a sock puppet skit for a summer reading program one year. The stars of the show were Pinky (the girl) and Stinky (the boy). Pinky and Stinky were a huge hit, giving out tons of hugs and kisses to little boys and girls.

Happy Tales to You! Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Eliana's Spookover Door Sign - October 18, 2008

Eliana's Spookover Door Sign - October 18, 2008

Friends:

Saturday was a blast! The night of my 8 year old daughter, Eliana’s Spookover, finally arrived! Eliana was ready for some swashbuckling fun. Argh, matey!

Pirate Eliana - October 18, 2008

Pirate Eliana - October 18, 2008

We worked all day cleaning, decorating, and cooking. I set up my spooky backdrop and decorated the table full of frightening food – bloody pigs in a blanket, petrifying pizza party pinwheels, Jack-O-Jam cookies, popcorn chicken parts, witches brew and more. Check out the table. I love the mummies marrying under the Tree of Terror.

The Spooktacular Table - October 18, 2008

The Spooktacular Table - October 18, 2008

This is what the Witches Brew (lime sherbet ice cream in 7Up) looked like…

Witches Brew - October 18, 2008

Witches Brew - October 18, 2008

All the girls had their own cups with their names on them. The girls came in costume. They are so adorable!

The Spookover Girls - October 18, 2008

The Spookover Girls - October 18, 2008

No one had the same costume on – we had Hannah Montana, a princess bride, a mermaid, Sharpei from High School Musical, a pirate, a hip hop dancer, an angel, and an aquamarine princess. 8 crazy cuties ready to party! Here’s a parent-to-parent tip: I had all the parents/guardians fill out an emergency card with all their contact numbers on it – just in case…

We began with The Ghoulish Guessing Game. They each had a Halloween monster pinned to their back and they had to ask 10 yes-or-no questions. The first to guess their monster won. Next, we had a costume contest. My mom, Josie; my husband, Antonio; and I were judges. We judged the girls on three categories: creativity, originality, and attitude. Each category was worth 10 points with a total possible score of 90. The judges had score cards that were totaled at the end. The girls strutted down the “runway” and then had to talk about who they were. The pirate won with 79 points with the hip hop dancer and princess bride tied for second place. The girls loved winning prizes.

The Pirate and the Princess Bride - October 18, 2008

The Pirate and the Princess Bride - October 18, 2008

After that we moved on to “Pin the Hat on the Witch.” I made a witch with different colored hats with double stick tape on the back. The girls were blindfolded with a sleeping mask and spun around 6 times. They pinned their hats to the witch. I took pictures of each hat after they were placed so we could remove the hat and judge in the end whose hat was closest. It was funny to see where the hats were placed!

Pin the Hat on the Witch - October 18, 2008

Pin the Hat on the Witch - October 18, 2008

After that, we moved on to The Creepy Clothes Race, a relay game. The girls were divided into teams of two, with four girls on each team. They were given a bag of clothes that contained a hat, a cape, a shirt, shorts, gloves, and a scarf. Each player raced to the opposite side, dressing in the creepy clothes and then raced back, undressing, stuffing the clothing in the bag, and handing it off to the next player. I played “Ghostbusters” as they raced. It was laugh-out-loud zany fun!

Creepy Clothes Race - October 18, 2008

Creepy Clothes Race - October 18, 2008

Our last game was “Keepin’ It Under Wraps,” a wrapping mummy with tissue paper game. Again, the girls were divided into two teams of four girls. The smallest girls on each team were the mummies. The remaining girls on the team were the “wrappers.” Each wrapper was given a roll of cheap toilet paper. They had to wrap the mummy as quickly and as best as they could without the paper ripping, which it did – plenty! It was hilarious. They wrapped and rolled to the song “Monster Mash.” The team with the best looking mummy at the end of the song won.

Keepin It Under Wraps Game - October 18, 2008

Keepin It Under Wraps Game - October 18, 2008

Afterwards, the girls had a massive tissue paper fight. I wish I could be a kid again! Such uninhibited joy!

Tissue Paper Fight - October 18, 2008

Tissue Paper Fight - October 18, 2008

And yes, they helped clean up the mess too – very quickly! After all the games, the girls were ready to settle down and eat.

Then we began crafting. We made Batty Sock Bats from socks, foam, googly eyes, and chenille sticks.

Crafting Batty Sock Bats - October 18, 2008

Crafting Batty Sock Bats - October 18, 2008

These are the finished bats. Aren’t they the most boo-tiful bats you’ve ever seen?!!

Batty Sock Bats - October 18, 2008

Batty Sock Bats - October 18, 2008

Here is a closeup of the bats…

Batty Socks Bats Closeup - October 18, 2008

Batty Socks Bats Closeup - October 18, 2008

Next, we made mummies out of toilet tissue rolls and Boo Bags from white paper lunch bags.

Boo Bags - October 18, 2008

Boo Bags - October 18, 2008

After our creepy crafts, we headed outside to the screened, covered patio for marshmallow roasting and spooky stories. I told several stories including “The Ghost of Mable Gable,” “Bloody Fingers,” “The Ghost with One Black Eye,” and “Blood Red Lips.” The patio was dark except for several lit candles. It was the perfect spookmosphere.

Gathering for Ghost Stories - October 18, 2008

Gathering for Ghost Stories - October 18, 2008

Finally, around 1:30 am, we headed inside and set up the sleeping area on the floor of the living room. Everyone brought their sleeping bags. I put in the movie, Ghostbusters, and all but three girls fell asleep. The last three girls fell asleep around 4:30 am! That meant that I was up with them!

In the morning, Antonio made Eliana’s Devil’s Food Monster Muffins. The girls had a spooktastic time and I was ready for a nap!! LOL Two of the girls had never been to a sleepover and they loved it so much, they want to do it again! (Yes, maybe next year, girls!! hahaha)

Wrapping the Mummy - October 18, 2008

Wrapping the Mummy - October 18, 2008

It was a successful Spookover and Eliana was elated. And that’s all a Mummy can ask for, right?! Happy Spooky Season!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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