When the boys were young, we spent much time creating. One room was reserved for messy projects like painting, cutting, pasting. Sometimes other media were used like wax, cardboard, string, balloons, newspapers, glitter, and more. What fun we had! This was always an integral part of our home school.
Last week when we visited Dad and Alma, one of the boys early projects was sitting on the nightstand in the guest room. So simple, yet sweet, these leaf art pictures have graced the guest room for nearly 10 years now.
If there are young children in your family, this is a great project to do with them! Here's how:
- Purchase small frames. They do not need to be expensive. Frames from a place like the Dollar Store or WalMart work perfectly. Remove the colored 'advertising' in the frame. In it's place, insert a piece of plain white paper.
- At the craft store, purchase a sheet of beeswax. With sharp scissors, cut it to the same size as the 'advertising' paper you removed from the frame. Place the beeswax on top of the plain white paper.
- Sprinkle extra fine "prisma" glitter sparsely on the beeswax.
- Place one dried leaf per sheet of beeswax. Center it carefully, so that it looks like it's falling from a tree.
- Put the frame together, with the glass layer going on top of the leaf and beeswax. Secure tightly and enjoy.
*This project also works well with dried flowers.
Holidays are special events and create opportunities for homeschool children to create! Thoughtfulness is taught by example and practice. Service to others starts with doing simple things at home. Ideas do not need to be complicated or difficult. It is the small things in life that combine and build upon each other to create a multitude of blessings!
Mother's Day is near. It might not be possible for every child to take their mother out for a Mother's Day Brunch or to give her breakfast in bed, but there are other things they can do to show their love and appreciation to their mom.
Here are a few quick and easy ideas for making thoughtful gifts for the "mothers" in your child's life. These are easy enough they can make one for mom, grandma, aunties, and neighbor moms who interface with them. It's not too late to have them ready by this Sunday's Mother's Day!
This is a "Gift in a Jar" idea called Painted Desert Chili. All the ingredients are layered into a quart jar, just like sand art. The layers don't need to be flat, as the desert effect comes from a rippled appearance created by each ingredient as it is layered in. Be sure to add the seasonings carefully along the edges of the jar so they can be seen. Then fill the middle of the layer. This way all the beautiful layers show on the outside of the jar.
Painted Desert Chili
Layer each ingredient in the amount and order given in a quart jar:
1/4 cup dried parsley
2 Tablespoons granulated garlic
2 Tablespoons taco seasoning
2 Tablespoons dried onion flakes
2 Tablespoons taco seasoning
2 Tablespoons cumin
2 Tablespoons paprika
2 Tablespoons white cornmeal
2 Tablespoons taco seasoning
2 Tablespoons granulated garlic
2 Tablespoons chili powder
2 Tablespoons dried parsley
1 cup dried pinto beans
1/4 cup small dried white beans
1/4 cup small dried black beans
Approximately 1 cup dried kidney beans
Attach these directions:
Pour contents of jar into 12-quart pot. Add:
1 medium diced onion
4 15-ounce cans diced tomatoes
1 large can of tomato paste
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2cup brown sugar
49 ounces tomato juice
2 cups textured vegetable protein, re-hydrated
Fill remainder of the pot with water. Bring to boil, simmer for 2 and a half to 3 hours. Add salt to taste.
Add a color circle of fabric to the top of the lidded jar and tie with ribbon or raffia.
This is a gift bag idea called You are a Blessing to Me Mix. These little gift bags present a message of hope and gratefulness to the receiver. Each ingredient represents a blessing. The child who prepares the mix chooses what blessing to assign to each ingredient. A blessing "key" is written on a tag to be attached to the gift bag before it is given away. This recipe makes about 16 blessing mix gift bags containing about one-third cup each. Use a cellophane goodie bag or zip-lock bags to package the blessing mix. Then wrap in a circle or square of calico and tie with ribbon or raffia. Attach tag with words of appreciation and a key to the blessing the child has chosen to apply to the ingredient.
You are a Blessing to Me Mix
2 cups Bugles brand corn snacks
2 cups small pretzels
1 cup candy corn
1 cup dried fruit bits or raisins
1 cup peanuts or sunflower seeds
1 cup M&Ms brand chocolate candy
16 Hershey's brand chocolate kisses
In a large bowl, gently mix all ingredients except Hershey's Kisses. Place 1/3 to 1/2 cup mix in small cellophane treat bags. Add one Hershey's Kiss to each bag. Close bag.
Create a hand-written or typed tag. Cut out tags and attach one to each bag.
Enjoy! And be blessed!
