Creatively Content

Mixed media art bookmarks. It is well with my soul.

2013-05-24T07:34:00.002-07:00

I hope you enjoy the courage and simplicity of these little pieces of art.

After my last post, I wanted to share these bookmarks I made for some ladies that passed through my home the other day. They too each have situations and hardships in their lives that have or are teaching them to say 'Whatever my lot, it is well with my soul.'

Both these bookmarks are made out of cardboard pieces.

In my west corner using what I have to create courage for my soul,
Becky

It is well with my soul. or is it?

2013-05-22T12:12:00.000-07:00

I have recently started compiling a list of my top 10 things I am grateful for. Things that produce in me an inexpressible joy and inability to ever say thank you enough to the giver. This is causing me to really look and meditate on all the things in my life that I am grateful for and then recognise the weight of some of these gifts.

This excersise has come at a time where I am struggling DAILY with apartment living and being surrounded by no green. I am determined (with Christ's tender reminders) to see truth in my days instead of entitlement!

Our 2013 first... all kids have their own bikes. First day bike riding. :)

I am reading a book that my mother-in-law gave me called Choosing Gratitude. It has been timely for me. I see my need for a heart change and a discipline in the way I look and speak about things in my life.

This old hymn has breathed courage into me these past few days, it has also humbled me greatly.
Oh that this could be my expression of faith as well.

'Whatever my lot, you have taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul. '

This video is the song and story of the writer of this amazing hymn.
Enjoy and I hope it breathes courage into you today.

In my west corner.
Becky

Homeschool Journey and Journal #4 ~ We're connecting

2013-05-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

As I take the time to reflect over this past year of homeschooling and write in this journal within my blog. I think the thing that stands out to me the most is that my oldest daughter and I are connecting at a heart level. I know her, she knows I know her and that I like who she is becoming.

Since choosing to homeschool we have faced some difficult and very isolating and rejecting moments. Even with that I would say that my daughters attitude and heart are so much softer than last year. We have truly connected and I see her in a new way and understand her so much better. She also is learning about me my weaknesses and strengths. Being so close in proximity so often has brought out the best and worst in both of us. I remember one day we both went to our rooms crying after a math lesson. :)

I am so grateful for this past year with my daughter. I have no regrets in keeping her home at all!

I still get concerned if she is learning enough and if I am providing her with an education that is full of life and inspires her to want to learn and is with in her learning style.

I have grown in not worrying about her being behind or ahead, which level she is at and that has been a huge burden off my shoulder (and most likely hers too ;)). My child will learn and is learning and her pace is her own. We have time and so I think next year will be a bit more enjoyable as I am a really learning to stop comparing or pushing my daughter ahead.

Lastly encouraging my daughter to find something she loves has been a bit of an adventure with highs and lows but at the end of this year I see my daughter really delving into this creative passion of Art Journaling, plus she also has started to excel in her piano and is starting to really see the fruit of her labor which is an awesome lesson.

In both of these things, being piano and art journaling we have given her privileges as we have seen her excel in these talents. For art journaling I now allow Autty to have a secret pin board on my Pinterest where she can pin all different kinds of art journaling examples. She has the freedom to pull them up whenever she needs, to use when she is journaling.

With piano we were going to go down to only one lesson a week because of time and money, however after our daughter did her first recital and experienced what practice can bring and the thrill of preforming she asked if she could stay with two lessons a week until at least summer. We agreed to this and have seen a fresh desire in her love for music and piano. With both of these interests they could stay or they may go but the thing that I love is that she has found something that she is good at and loves and it fuels her desire for learning overall.

Autty at her first piano recital. :)

Learning and understanding our kids is an art and it takes time and time being with them, watching, listening observing, putting away my wants to engage in theirs.

I have so much to learn and honestly it makes me nervous sometimes, but at the end of this first year of homeschool (being still a month left), I am hopeful about our homeschooling future. :) I haven't seen results in her math like I was hoping or her writing per-say, she has excelled in reading and spelling but all this is not how I am measuring the success of this past school year. I know my daughter better, we are connecting this is success to me!! She has become confident and has learned to preserver. At the end of this year I would say I am still a bit nervous but very pleased, and grateful to know better how my daughter ticks.

In our west corner, homeschooling~
Becky

Butterfly Study (geared toward ages 7-10)

2013-05-06T02:38:00.000-07:00

For spring I wanted to do a study on Butterflies to welcome in the happy change of seasons and explore something that is related to spring. This study was not only fun but very eye opening to the wonder of creation and the creator. We all enjoyed it completely. I hope someone else can benefit from these links and resources.

Butterfly Study

Mighty book: Metamorphosis song
This is such a peppy song that engages kids as to what that big word Metamorphosis means.

After the kids watched this a few times I told them that whoever could spell metamorphosis without making any mistakes I would give 50 kurus.

Butterfly lapbook
We included a lapbook in our study of butterflies. This one was great. We used several parts of it.

Butterfly Film

This video is $15.00 but it is excellent and the footage of butterflies is fabulous. We throughly enjoyed watching this. It was very informative and I personally learned a lot. It was however at times over my 6 years olds head and my 9 year old sometimes got lost in vocab but the photos and constant motion of the film kept them captive. Butterflies are truly a remarkable creation.

Trailar for Metamorphosis the beauty and design of butterflies

Butterfly Book and reading

We think Ms. Frizz is super cool and so this book was another purchase we made ahead of time. Easy to find online for very inexpensive.

The Magic School Bus #26

Butterfly Battle

We recently discovered Ms. Frizz and the Magic School bus online with full episodes for free. We were even more delighted to find one about Butterflys!!! Yippee for us and creative educational cartoons.

Butterfly Food fun

Nothing too exciting just simple ideas that makes us happy to eat a tasty butterfly that doesn't have warning colors. ;)

I made this. Lunch time

Kids made these. Snack time

Butterfly Craft

I got this ideas from a few different places, which of course I pinned so I could find them later.

Gotta like pinterest for easy finding.

My older daughter used wire and my son used pipe cleaner.

My inspiration.

Here:

and Here:

Source:

Spoonful. Dragon fly craft

Source:

Clothespin butterfly craft

Our next step is to explore outdoors and discover butterflies in their natural surroundings. Now that Spring is really here I think we will start to see more and more butterflies.

Edit May 21st 2013: I just recently found this great FREE Butterfly resource unit!! Worth your time.

In our west corner in awe of Gods design and creative working in nature.
Becky

A rock family for our balcony garden

2013-05-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

Don't they look so cute sitt'in up there as snug as a rock in a sock.

Seriously poetry is like a major gift of mine.

We found a small farm just outside of town so we bought some seedlings:

cucumbers, strawberry plants, lettuce and cherry tomato plants.

We planted our own seeds of basil, lettuce, morning glories and cilantro.

We LOVE our balcony herb gardens we have done in the past.
Here and here

This year it will be fun to see what else we can grow on our balcony in pots and plastic containers. :)

The kids are especially excited about the strawberries.

Of course a rock family for our balcony garden was an obvious next step, right?

Not sure how it happened but it was fun and those painted rocks sure are happy.

They need a few little ones, don't ya think. ;)

Our garden planting ~ rock painting day.

Using the things we have like rocks and plastic containers to create lasting memories and splashes of colour to our days.

In my west corner,
Being me and doing what I do.
Becky

linking up to these parties.

Keepsake correspondence Binders (great for TCKids)

2013-04-29T09:04:00.000-07:00

Living across the ocean, another culture and time zone away from our family and dear friends has its challenges.

There are a few things though that are special to living away from family and one that I want to capitalise on is those sweet cards, notes and letters that come in the mail or other avenues. They can become tiny treasures, especially to your kiddos.

Thus the beginning of our Keepsake correspondence binders for our kiddos.

Each child has a binder that keeps all their cards and note etc from Grandparents, cousins and friends over the years.

A friend of mine started this and I picked up on it and have been doing it now for a few years. My girls especially love this, they get their binders out from time to time and just sit and look through them.

It is a reminder to them that they are loved from a distance.

We also keep notes from friends. I personally love all the ones from school mates that are in Turkish.

What a great keepsake.

It also is a great storage/organiser saver. :)

Truth is being away from those we love and them being away from us is difficult. However it is good for the soul to be able to see and touch all those bits of love being sent our way from close or across the sea. I also think for our kids it is a tangible help to feeling connected with family.

Just a little added note. I think for the grandparents it is an inexpensive way to keep in touch without sending an expensive package. :) Also if it is difficult for a family member to write letters, cards are a great help. :)

Using our challenges to find sweet memories. Hope this helps you all to create your own memories.
In our west corner,
Rebecca

Turkish subway art

2013-04-24T11:04:00.000-07:00

Made my first piece of Subway art for our office this last week. :)

I cut part of it off because I tend to be pretty secretive about my present location. ;) he he

It looked super cute too.

My husband got it printed out 60x60 and then we framed it with a black frame. :)

I also went in with a black sharpie and added a few extras to some of the turkish lettering that was lacking because of the fonts I chose.

Happy subway art for Turks and English speakers a like. :)

Thinking of making one for you all ....all you Turkey dwellers that is.

We shall see.

In my west corner....in Love with my creator/saviour/friend who has set me free!

Becky

Roll-O your sibling.

2013-04-23T11:34:00.000-07:00

Here is a Cardboard box we scored...it has been awhile since I have brought a big ole cardboard box in the house from the dumpster. I have slightly neglected my love for cardboard boxes these months. ;)

Roll-O your sibling game
What you will need:
a big box
siblings (brave ones)
strong arms

This cardboard box was played with for I think a week of fun filled ideas....like sticking your two siblings inside and rolling it? Go figure.

Sometimes boxes need to just be played with by the kiddos without all my creative ideas. Kids come up with the best games. :)

Really I don't think I would have thought of the great game roll-o your sibling. :)

I am finding that I have less time these days than I like to enjoy my kids and just do things with them that are not intentional or for a purpose. I like just hanging out with my children and I miss it. The other day my som was talking to me and I was preparing dinner. I was nodding and saying my 'oh's' and 'really's' and then it hit me I wasn't looking this little guy in the eye, I wasn't given him my full attention at all. So I stopped knelt down listened and said some more 'really's' and 'oh's' but this time he knew I had really heard him. It seems to be so easy to engage in tasks that need to be done instead of the dear people (especially those little ones) who need to be heard and loved on.

Desiring to focus my eyes on the 'people' this week and not so much the tasks.

In my west corner,

Becky

RAndOm fUN foR the DaY and Cardboard art. :)

2013-04-20T05:02:00.000-07:00

Here is what I am working on....

My heart was so happy to have time this last week to create something.

RAndOm fUN foR the DaY

This song has made me smile way down deep. I had never heard it have you?

Crayola Doesn't Make a Color For Your Eyes.

Celebrating the fun of life today. Sometimes you just have to choose to celebrate to say THANK YOU GOD for this time in life.

off I go to take my girls to there FREE gymnastics class that they ADORE and then to help my husband bring a little life to that office of his. :)

In my west corner choosing to dance just because God is doing thing even though I don't see it all.
Becky

Homeschool Journey and Journal #3 (with some fun links)

2013-04-16T08:46:00.000-07:00

Our newest thing these days is adding knitting and typing

to our weekly scehdule. :)

My sweet friend has Autty come over for 1/2 hour once a week and teaches her how to knit. This is something Autty really has wanted to do so we are both excited about her learning this skill. (and I am excited to have someone else teach her something;))

The 2nd thing I decided on was teaching Autty how to type. She has been receiving and sending
e-mails to friends and cousins and since we live overseas typing and computer use are a must. I love the site we found that is fun, interactive, effective and free. Also she can do it independently. So we have added that to our rhythm of the week also. :)

My favourite quote these days regarding Homeschool is:

Success is the sum of small efforts -

repeated day in and day out." - Robert Collier

This quote as literally breathed a bit of hope and the desire to persevere.

Enjoy these following links:

This has been a great free program for teaching Autty how to type.

We have now put typing on her schedule twice a week 10-20 minutes. :)

Dance Mat Typing

Autty loves audio books. Here is a free site we found with some classics. There is a fair selection of books that you can down load and listen to on your computer or iPod.

Books should be free/Children

My younger two still love picture books. Here is a site that is great for younger kiddos to enjoy some free books and read alouds. There are several books that are read aloud...including Fancy Nancy. :)

Read to me

In my west corner enjoying learning and teaching with my kiddos,

Becky

Sleepytime Extra

2013-04-10T03:09:00.002-07:00

Throat so sore this has been my new diet: Sleepytime Extra. So glad for this little tea.

Being sick does provide something I am grateful for... REST.

There are certain things I need to do but I just can't and so I let them go and that at times is a good thing. I have been laying in bed organising my thoughts for homeschool this year and into next.
It is so nice to have time to actually start a thought and finish it. ;)

I didn't even get to start my M&M rations or my daily sunshine... guess that will have to wait until I am healthy.

Waiting for Spring to stay,

In my little west corner.

Becky

My new diet

2013-04-04T03:01:00.002-07:00

Sunshine and imported M & Ms from Greece.

sigh, smile, sigh

Need I say more?

So how should I ration them? 20 a day, 50, 75?

Maybe instead of counting them one by one it could be more like 1 or 2 fist full. :)

It will be my new diet for the week: a face full of sunshine and a fist full of colour pieces of chocolate.

Using what we have ...the Greece border oh so close and my fist. ;)

In my west corner...

grateful for a new day with sun and sweet love,

Becky

Visit my food Pinterest board for lots of healthier chocolate goodness. :)

So what are you, a peanut or plain kind a gal?

Homeschool Journey and Journal #2 ~ I can not rescue her from this.

2013-04-03T13:23:00.000-07:00

These past few days of homeschooling have brought out some things I am so sad to know.

In Turkey of course there is NO concept of Homeschool at all. Especially in our small town.

The first month of us returning from the States and not enrolling our oldest daughter was a whirlwind of gossip in our community. I really felt protected from it and have tried hard to keep a positive attitude and spin on it all for the sake of my daughter. We have several friends who have accepted us in this they just don't understand.

We are still very active in our neighbourhood and Autty still gets to see several of her friends from her old school. However she shared with me that she doesn't like going outside a lot these days because she feels weird and that people talk about her.

Also a few of Autty's closest friends from her school last year have said lots of cutting words

to her about not being in school.

Today I learned in more depth that all these things are NOT rolling off her back but striking her heart in a painful way.

In our town there is no other homeschooler. She is it.

How do I comfort her and help encourage her?

She feels very alone and I feel unsure how to help her right now.

(Autty has picked up on Art journaling and loves it. This is the front cover she made.

The pages are full of her own designs and trials and errors.

I adore watching her in this process of finding her our niche )

She is so precious, so confident, so brave and unique. She is also such a people person and yet right now she just wants to hide from others.

~I know that sometimes just spilling it all out and being able to cry and be heard can be part of the healing and beginning to moving forward. I am so grateful my daughter shares her heart with me.

Thank you sweet Autty, I am honoured to know your inner thoughts.

I can not rescue her from this struggle. We are walking through this together.

Right now I am praying and trusting.

I feel sad.

In our west corner... trusting and walking.

Becky

My first Softie and bloglovin

2013-03-23T14:01:00.001-07:00

My first softie happens to be a little bunny and he is an Easter gift for a very little friend of mine, who is celebrating his first Easter this year.

Get the free Pattern here: This is sunny the free bunny

I am starting to thinkI am becoming a softy for softies. (cheesy, thats me)
They are a super fun, simple and great scrap busting projects.

Here are a few more softies I am looking at on my pinterest board under sewing.

I am starting to collect free patterns for these sweet cuties. :) Maybe I will start pumping these guys out by the dozens, by the double dozens...or maybe not. I do know my next one will be much better.
Oh the joys of trail and error.

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Now back to the Bunny.... using what I have to make a softie this week! Enjoy. In my west corner, Becky

Peace symbol cake & Perfect every time Carrot cake recipe

2013-03-16T13:44:00.002-07:00

Well as most of you who follow my blog know I post pics of our birthday cakes. We have a tradition of making our cakes some fun shape or size, done up each birthday just tacky enough and unprofessional enough that they are certain to be called a labor of love. :)

So without further ado I will now post my oldest daughters Peace Symbol birthday cake which was

4 months ago. Yep I am on top of it all over here.

My 9 year old is very into peace symbols. :) She is such a sweetie that girl.

This time with my fabo cake pics I have a recipe for you too. ;) If any of you like Carrot Cake this one comes out perfect EVERY time and is sooooo simple. You can serve it as a Birthday Cake with frosting or with no frosting with tea/coffee. I am always complimented on this cake!

This cake was to celebrate my husbands birthday, 1 month ago. (a little more on-top of this one. ;))

Man I love that guy (my husband that is)!!!

Perfect Every Time Carrot Cake

*1/2 cup oil

*4 eggs

*2 cups sugar

*2 cups all-purpose flour

*2 cups grated carrots

*2 tsp. cinnamon

*2 tsp. baking soda

*2 tsp. baking powder

*1 tsp. salt

Cream cheese Frosting

*1/2 stick melted butter

*1 8 oz. package cream cheese

*3 cups or so of confectionery sugar

Pre-heat over to 300 degrees F, Prepare 10' x 10" baking pan or two round or square pans

- Grate carrots, Mix all of the wet stuff, then mix in the dry stuff. Pour the batter into your prepared buttered baking pan(s) and bake for 45 min to 1 hour. (when toothpick comes out clean)

If you would like to see more fabo cako pics to inspire you here is the most recent besides these.

The bike cake

In my west corner feeling random and goofy,

Good night.

Becky

Surprised them...with coloured pancakes.

2013-03-08T23:13:00.001-08:00

If you want to surprise your little ones and hear oohhs and aahhs,

add food coloring to your pancake mix.

Family breakfast this Saturday was rather colourful. :) Enjoy the pics and inspiration.

My favourite part was when my little guy came in the kitchen and saw that the pancakes were different colours, he went running to find his sisters yelling excitingly "the pancakes are coloured,

come on come look what mom did. " :)

YES, Super mom for the moment.

Oh and P.S. The coloured pancakes defiantly taste better don't ya know. :)

Have a wonderful weekend and mix it up with something simple.

In my west corner using what I have...this time it was food colouring and pancakes.
Becky

Keeping my body moving

2013-03-07T12:23:00.001-08:00

This stationary bike has been a life saver for me this winter.

In the winter here there is coal heat, so going outside in the morning (when I usually walk) feels like inhaling packets of cigarettes. So this bike has been a wonderful addition to my life. :)

At 8:30 my two youngest are out the door to school, after my last farewell from the window waving them off I head to this bike. First it was 10 minutes now it is 20, soon it will be 30.

Then I jump off and scurry to be ready at 9:15 when Autty and I start homeschool.

Taking time to stay healthy and keep my body moving as a mom is something I feel passionate about. Exercise is much more than a fit body to me, it releases stress, stabilises my hormones, emotions and keeps my mind clear. As a mom exercise can be one of the first things to go because so many other important things push out time for caring for me. There have been seasons (usually during the winter) where I have quit exercising and then start up again in the spring. The thing is I don't grudge a small beginnings anymore. I have learned over time that getting out there, even if I only have 10 or 15 minutes, is worth it and helps me build a lifestyle of caring for myself.

Today I didn't want to visit my bike but I did and I do because I need it.

As I take care of myself, I am taking care of my family. This is something I feel like I need to remind myself of often.

How about you how do you take care of yourself with all the busyness and demands in your life? How do you get time in for exercise? If don't have a routine do you have a plan, if so what is it?

Would love to hear from you all...

In my west corner ~using my little bike to keep my heart rate up,
Becky

Investing in the Neighbourhood school - # 5

2013-03-02T10:46:00.000-08:00

I visited my 1st grade daughters class the other day to do a craft. Yes I was invited to come into Lydia's class this year and do crafts like I had done with my 1st daughter for her 1st and 2nd grade years.

I was so grateful that I was able to go. 1st grade in Turkey can be very difficult. They go from Kindergarten where there are toys, games and singing to having 2 or 3 hours of homework a night depending on the teacher. In 1st grade here the main topic of study for the first semester is learning to read and write Turkish. Every child will learn to read by the time they leave 1st grade.

The class has recently been looking at clocks and working with telling time so we made Tp tube watches. We used pipe cleaners and a hole punch to secure them on their wrists. :)

This picture is of my little girl laughing at her mom! (I think she is a little embarrassed;))

Here we are singing the wheels on the bus (well I am singing)...and we are all doing the actions. :) They loved this and we did it twice!

I have committed to going once a month to Lydia's class and doing a craft with them the last hour of their school day. Of course I do this to serve our school and because these little kids get very little of crafts and projects in 1st grade but I mainly do it to help my little girl feel secure and confident in her environment.

I think that it really has helped both my girls to see me step out and do things that is outside of my realm and watch me fumble and bumble in my Turkish while I explain and share in their classes. I want to be an example of stepping out and serving others for my kiddos. My oldest that I am homeschooling came with me and helped me with the project. Her help was GREAT and needed.

Here is my helper Dilek. Her daughter was in Autty's class and now her son is in Lyida's class. So she has helped me every time! Soooo grateful for her. :)

Off I go to put my kiddos to bed. Enjoy your morning, afternoon or evening...whatever it may be for you right now. :)

In my west corner investing with what I have,
Becky

Homeschool Journey and journal - #1

2013-02-26T11:43:00.000-08:00

Well here begins my journey and journaling into homeschooling. As I live in Turkey I have supplemented my children's education with English for years, however this year is my year to homeschool completely. As of September 2012 I am a homeschooling mom. :)

I am homeschooling my oldest daughter who is 9 years old. We are experiencing this adventure together with the good, bad and the ugly days. :) My other two children are presently in Turkish schools, 1st grade and kindergarten.

I have wanted to start sharing about my days and I feel that journaling our homeschool days is very beneficial for me 1) it will log all we are doing for when I homeschool my other children eventually
2) it will help me think through things I may be missing and lastly 3) it just could benefit someone else.

So you will see these post titles on and off from now on: Homeschool Journey and Journal.

For any of you homeschooling parents that could chime in along the way I would LOVE it. I am a rookie and I am a learner and love to learn from others. So please share away or feel free to give helpful links.

Much love to each of you Mamas as you seek what is best for our kids and their education. It is not an easy or simple task, especially living overseas...grace and encouragement to you today!

Here we go on our journey homeschooling in this west corner of Turkey,
Becky

Clothes pin dolls and sweet childhood

2013-02-21T03:19:00.001-08:00

Found these little dolls the other day hanging around my girls bedroom. We made these 2 years ago!

Cute little peg heads don't you think? :)

My daughters creations.

Felt for the hair

tp tube cut and shaped and glued for the cowboy hat

scraps of ribbon and fabric for the clothes

Sharpies for the faces.

Oh the little things that make me smile. :) Childhood is one of them. Look for the sweetness in your kids childhood today, it is there!!

In my west corner finding sweet little things in my home.
Becky

10 minutes of deleting a day...Who's with me?

2013-02-18T12:49:00.001-08:00

Yep, pics like these have to GO. Seriously I had several of this lake, and this "lovely" pole from like 5 years ago.??

Since I started blogging I now have pics of projects that I NEVER posted about.

For example:

So who is with me???? Anybody. Come on lets make it viral. 10 minutes a day sit down and delete.

I soo don't want to do this but the time has come and boy would I love it if others joined in on the "fun". :)

Just think 10 minutes of deleting a day will give you: not stronger abs or a tighter fanny...(maybe a sore fanny) but you will have a happy computer and you will be organised and life simplified.

Well off I go .... to delete, erase, get rid of unwanted pictures 10 minutes a day every day this week. :)

In my west corner blogging about crazy things,

Becky

IF we never slow down...

2013-02-16T04:06:00.003-08:00

If we never slow down we may never be able to hear God calling to us to come deeper. We may never enjoy loneliness where Christ becomes our all. Business can keep us from being effective.

In Turkey things moves at a much slower pace, I have gained wisdom from this culture in this, even if it has at times come painstakingly. Oh my sweet country America, you too could learn from Turkey in this.

Today dear friends hold still a bit longer, know that achieving tasks is not always the end result.

When we fill all our empty times so we never feel uncomfortable or alone we end up missing out on true inner peace and life.

Source: Thomas Saliot

My Pinterest ART

Is there something you could/should take off your schedule for this season?

Do you ever feel lonely or isolated? Do you run from it, try to change it or embrace it?

From my west corner to your corners,
Becky

"A peaceful heart leads to a healthy body..." Prov. 14:30

"For he himself is our peace." Eph. 2:14

Cardboard Mixed Media art with kids

2013-02-15T02:23:00.000-08:00

Hi all. Happy day after lovers day. :)

Here is our novice ideas of mixed media art. :) Enjoy

Each child was given piece a of perforated cardboard.

I just peeled off the top part of the cardboard for this look.

I had them paint the base colour white.

Autty is using a tooth brush here. :)

This part is pretty important I think!

Use a blow dryer to dry the different layers of paint it really helped keep us moving.

Then they used water colours over the base colour.

One thing the kids really liked is holding up there cardboard and letting the water colours run down or across the cardboard to give texture to their pieces.

We used:

Acrylic white paint

Blowdryer

Water paints

Lots of brushes (tooth brush, foam brushes, etc)

Alphabet stamps and black stamp pad

Markers (permanent)

Pieces of paper (scrap book paper, newspaper, etc)

Glue stick

Mod podge

Our Cardboard Mixed Media Art pieces:

I gave a few instructions and then really tried to let them create as they desired.

I also gave it a try the day before and here is what I came up with. :)

(I made this specifically for a friend

who is in need of wisdom.)

The verse on the piece is James 1:5

"If anyone lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives liberally to all who ask for it."

Truth is I am not a Mixed Media artist myself (shocked are you?) ;)...but I love art and these days have a special infinity for Mixed Media art especially.

The electricity went out for about 15 minutes while we were working on this.

Ode to my life in Turkey. It keeps life popping.

The kids and I tried our hand with what we had: Cardboard! (of course)

Thanks for peeking in at our humble pieces. :)

In our west corner of Turkey using what we have to create,

Becky

(Yesterday I went to Lydia's 1st grade class and did my first craft for her and her classmates. :) I'll be starting up my 'Investing in our Neighbourhood' posts again soon. I love that they all call out Rebekah Teyze. :)) (Aunt Rebekah)

Got up early this morning...to listen.

2013-02-13T20:41:00.001-08:00

I got up early this morning so that I could spend more time with my Lord. I wanted to be able to hear, to listen. I spend so much time talking to the Lord or asking for numerous things through out my days I forget to listen and hear what is on his heart.

As I sat and listened I realized the absurdity of it all. There I was in this chair so little and insignifiant and I was saying to God the creator of all things "I just want to know what is on your heart today Lord." Seriuosly can I approach this amazing God in such a simple, humble way? That God would speak to me and answer me? I am blown away today at the absolute absurdity of this privledge we have to approach God and that he speaks to us, to me!

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable are His judgement and unfathomable His ways!" Romans 11:33

In my west corner,

Becky

"That God can be known by the soul in tender personal experience while remaining infinitely aloof from the curious eyes of reason constitutes a paradox...." (A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy)

How are your listening skills these days?

Don't forget~Homemade Play-dough the rainy day necessity.

2013-02-07T14:07:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder, in case you forgot ....

Homemade Play dough on a rainy day/cold winter day.

The day we made play-dough my kids were engrossed for 3 1/2 hours~

Seriously if you have never tried to make your own play dough....go for it!

It takes 15 minutes to make with your kids and is inexpensive.

We made a double batch!

Here is my recipe

given to me by my sweet friend Alyssa.

I have been using this same recipe for 5 years. :)

(I do have to get to Alum from the States. )

I wait until the dough cools down a bit then I let my kids pick the colors and mix in the food colouring with their hands. Messy is fun and the coloring comes off after a few hand washings. :)

Seriously look how happy this little guy is!

Using what we have to enjoy our indoor days.

This time it's home made play dough...go ahead make a double batch life is short.

So do you let your kids mix there play dough colours?

In my west corner,

Becky

linking up here