Day 19: I Spy Water Toy

The challenge of the day was to create something that floated on water.

I am actually very excited about what I came up with.

Inspired by the water toys for toddlers in Pink Pistachio's Blog, I created an I-Spy toy for older kids (ages 5-8).  The kids have to be able to read to participate in this activity individually.

To do this, I added 20 random things found around the house to a filled water bottle, threw in some glitter, super-glued the lid shut, and taped a list to the outside.

The object of the toy is for the children to spy all 20 items listed on the list.

It's an interesting way to discuss and predict whether and why some things float and some things sink, and a great way to keep kids busy for 10-20 minutes.

Some of the things I included in my bottle were: a penny, a nickel, a dime, a die, a game piece, a paper clip, a safety pin, a bobby pin, a push pin, a sewing pin, a crayon, etc.

The ironic thing about it all... I found the water bottle in my car (see yesterday's project).

I'm excited to try this out at camp and see how they like it!

Enjoy,


Amy

Day 18: Garage Toy Box

I'm still working on catching up on my 365 classroom projects!!  I took care of a big chunk of them today.

For day 18, I was supposed to use the things I found in my car to create something.  Unfortunately, I had recently cleaned out my car and didn't have much to work with.  Plus, I was really in a mood to do something productive and useful, not just make anything.

So I went to the next best thing... my garage.

This is what my garage shelf looks like since Logan's moved in and we're using the boxes to move things:



I needed to use those items in some way, so I decided to ORGANIZE THEM and make a storage box from a rice cooker box that moved in with the boyfriend.  This project is inspired by Mandy's Krafty Exploits and the storage bin she made out of diaper boxes.  The length and depth of that project made me exhausted just imagining it, so I'm making a... shortcut version.

I started this project by cutting off the flaps of the box and spray painting it black.  Tomorrow, when it's dry, I will add a rim of fabric around the top and a label, and be done!!!

I will post a picture when it is complete.


Oh, before I forget!!! I also made something nifty out of what was in my recycling bin:

You'll have to read my other blog, Too Many Crafts Too Little Time to find out what it is though!!!

Check back tomorrow for a toy box update and picture.

Enjoy!

UPDATE: 6/16/12

Here is what the finished  box looks like. I'm actually very pleased with it! I didn't end up labeling it because it's really just 'junk' or small things in the garage.

 Before






                                                              After






Amy

Day 17: Celebration Glasses!

The challenge for day 17 was to make something inspired by or that goes over an eye.

I was ready to take the easy way out and make a quick pirate eyepatch that would go with a pirate costume later on.

But then I thought further about it and decided to put some effort into it, and came up with something original.

That's right, folks, this is a PINTEREST-FREE PROJECT!!!!

I decided to make fun paper glasses that students could use and decorate for any occasion.  To do this, I found a template online at firstpalette.  I used the template so that I would get the sizes and proportions right for little faces.

I printed out the template, cut it out, and traced it onto cardstock.  I then altered the glasses so that they would have a big space that covers the forehead to write on or decorate.

I know kids love wearing silly glasses and getting the attention from them.  The great thing about this template is that you can just trace it onto another piece of cardboard or cardstock and decorate it to celebrate anything (birthday, holiday, student of the week, etc).

I'm definitely trying this at camp this summer and will post pictures to show you how they turn out!

Enjoy!

Amy

Day 16: Potato Stamps

The challenge for day 16 was to make a unique print by making a stamp out of a potato or a sponge.

To relate this to the classroom, I thought it would be a fun idea for students to make their own stamps and create an art project using them.

I personally attempted to make a stamp out of a potato with my initials on it so I could label my books with my initials.

I cut a potato with a knife (students could use toothpicks) and made an intricate AS.



Then I went to stamp something. Umm... forgot that part about it needing to be the other way around to show up as a stamp.  Instead I had this backward S followed by and A.

Oops. Time to start over.

I tried again, and this time made it the RIGHT way.

But when I stamped it on a book, it didn't really turn out as professional as I hoped.

So I started playing with the rest of the potato and making different shapes that students could make.

Such as a smiley face:

And a heart:

 This would be a cool project to do on a fabric material and I think it would turn out best that way.  The potatoes also serve as perfect large stamps for little hands.

Enjoy,

Amy

Day 15: Dollar Bill Elephant

The challenge for day 15 was to use just a dollar to create something.  Automatically, I wanted to fold the dollar bill into a shirt like I have seen people do before.  When I went to search for the instructions to do that, I found out that there is a way to fold a dollar bill into an elephant!

Well, I was up for that. How adorable!!!

So I read through these instructions on squidoo and attempted.  When I got frustrated with those instructions, I tried the ones on e-how.  I STILL wasn't understanding those stupid instructions and was about to give up when I tried youtube.  I found this video. 

I'll admit, I still had to convince myself not to give up  multiple times and had to rewind the video twice as many times, but I eventually got something that looks similar to the elephant in the pictures.

In the classroom, this would be a fun origami project for older kids, even not on a dollar bill.  It's also a good prize to give students who succeed.  Finally, outside of the classroom, it's a great party trick or way to leave tips.

An irritating and time-consuming project, but I'm going to keep practicing so I can get it on my own!

Enjoy!

Amy

Day 14: Mini Album/ Book

On day 14, I was supposed to make something tiny, with the challenge to make it so small I would need a microscope to see it.

Being on vacation, I had very little options.  I pretty much had paper and pencil.

So I made a mini album using the tutorial from Echo Park Paper.  

It's a very easy tutorial involving cutting and folding, and potential gluing.  Students in grades 2 and above could probably handle this independently.  

I just made a quick booklet to try it out using a piece of notebook paper.  In the book, I wrote the instructions for making it so I could remember later.

The book could have major improvements by gluing some of the pages together and adding a cardboard or cardstock cover.

There are endless possibilities for this project in the classroom!!

Enjoy,

Amy

Day 13: Tea-Stained Paper

I know, I know, I've been a horrible blogger.  I'm over a week behind my projects, and I know you're all sitting on the edge of your seat waiting to see what I come up with next, right?

Well, I've had reasons.

Too many crafts. Too little time.

I was on vacation last week, and was still participating and creating projects.

Until my laptop broke. Again.  This time it was the charging port.  So I lost my pinspiration and my motivation.

Over a week and $110 later, my laptop is back and I'm ready to catch up!!!

I'm excited about the upcoming projects because I've started camp and can test out my classroom activities on my guinea pigs... erm... I mean campers.

On day 13, I was supposed to make something using tea, tea leaves, or any form of tea.  Luckily, I'm an avid tea drinker and had tea on hand with my minimal vacation resources.

I decided to make an 'old fashioned' stationary by staining paper in tea.  I tried quite a few different ways of doing this.  I made a big pot of tea, and used 4 pieces of paper.

Paper 1, I crumpled up and soaked in the tea.

Paper 2, I folded in half and soaked in the tea.

Paper 3, I took the drippings from the tea bag and made a splash pattern with the tea.

And Paper 4, I ripped into little pieces and soaked in the tea.

The papers soaked in the tea for about 3 or 4 hours while we were away.

Here's how they turned out:

Paper 2 (Crumpled):

Paper 3 (Dripped):

Paper 4 (Ripped):

 This could be used for historic projects, stationary, books, or other projects.  My favorite was the crumpled paper because it looked very authentic and aged.  I also think the ripped paper would look cool as paper mache.

Enjoy!

Amy