Fran and Friends

Christmas is coming fast!

2022-12-07T10:25:00.009-05:00

I haven't posted in a long time. My daughter is seriously ill and Im her full time caregiver. I will try to add new crafts in the coming year and keep my blog as current as I can, considering the circumstances. God bless you all and have a Merry Christmas!

DYI L.O.L. Dollhouse

2020-05-26T13:06:00.000-04:00

I recently made an L.O.L. dollhouse for my niece and then I was commissioned to make one for someone else. The house cost about $75.00 inmaterial and supplies and about 2-3 weeks of manpower to make.The house is very sturdy, colorful and cool! And it comes complete with lights and even a swing! (Which my niece loved!!)

Starting from the bottom floor--there's a living room and kitchen (and stairs).

The 2nd floor-- consists of a bathroom, a small bedroom and a bigger room which can be either a den or a bedroom and contains the stairs. Their are 2 boxes attached that hold the battery packs for the lights.

The 3rd floor---consists of the patio/swing and a big bedroom.

Supplies:

Boxes (about 5 very sturdy all the same size)
Glue sticks (2 large packs)
Strong wide tape
Foam board (about 12-14 pieces)
Contact paper (1 roll of marble, and 3 rolls of wood grain)
Popsicle Sticks (2 packs)
Acrylic paint
Paintbrushes
Save greeting cards or pictures from Band aid boxes or whatever to use for the walls
Fabric glue
3 suction cups with the metal hooks
Decorative flowers or heart sequins
Any type of trinkets such as old Barbie house things.
Stickers that you can use for book jackets
Artificial flowers
Twigs (from your yard)
Fabric (You will need about 3-4 yards of some wood or brick type fabric--for outside of the house)
You will need about 1/2 yard of fabric for each room in the house. So you will basically need 6--1/2 yards of colorful fabrics (your choice). Each 1/2 yard should be a different color or design as each room is different.
6 packs of miniature light from the dollar store.
2 packs AA batteries

We have a Goodwill Outlet here in our city and I'd go search through the bins looking for old Barbie stuff such as tiny miniature bottles, lamps, dishes. These make great add-ons for the houses and really help to make the houses personal and cute.

Directions:

Start by taping and securing the boxes together. (See picture). Once you secure the boxes you will cut holes for the doors. I didn't add windows as it would have taken away from the wall space and decided not to put any into the house.

I kind of change my ideas as I go along. Once I get all the cardboard boxes together then I cut foam board walls, floors and ceilings. I cover each in fabric and then add them to the house. I glue each into place as this helps to make each room very sturdy and strong.

Living Room

Kitchen

Bathroom

Small Princess Room

DYI Town and Roadway for Matchbox Cars

2019-10-03T13:46:00.000-04:00

My little 2 year old nephew loves matchbox cars. Store bought raceways are soo expensive and on a fixed income sometimes you just have to come up with an innovative way to make things fun and creative. My nephew thought this was the best thing since sliced butter. We would sit for house playing cars and riding them up and down the inclines on the bridges.
Supplies:

Glue gun (I use the large gun and large glue sticks)

Glue sticks

5 Foam boards

Acrylic paint

Popsicle sticks (large bag)

Soda, milk lids for the signs

A utility knife

Artificial leaves for trees

Twigs (6-7)

Heavy duty tape

Clear contact paper

Ruler

Pencil

Paint brushes

Compass

Marbleized contact paper for the parking lots and sidewalks

I took some tires off of some broken cars and used them for the auto shop. I thought it made a nice touch.

Directions: Begin by gluing and taping 2 foam boards together to use as the base. Once you glue them together, design how you want you road to be. I forgot to measure the road but I measured a matchbox car and then allowed an extra 1/4 of a inch so that the car could ride on the road. Paint the road in black acrylic paint and after it thoroughly dries cover the entire board in clear contact paper. This will help the track to last longer, extend the useage for your child and keep the paint from messing up.

I apologize for not taking step by step pictures. I forgot and it was already done when I realized I should have added it to the website.

The tunnels were made out of foam board and then I placed popsicle sticks on top with the glue gun thus making it very sturdy. My nephew kind of destroyed the first one when he leaned on the tunnel to stand up---so I knew I had to come up with something more sturdy. I made all the houses and buildings out of foam board and then glued popsicle sticks over to help make them very sturdy. You can paint your buildings any color you wish. I made Nan's Sweet Shop, An auto/tire shop, a gas station etc...

One thing that I did---my little nephew would get very agitated when the cars wouldn't stay in the lanes so I measure a 1/4 inch foam board and glued them all the way around each roadway. Once I completed that I added popsicle sticks to help make it sturdy. By doing this it helped keep the cars in their lanes and on the road. The yellow strips in the middle of the road are thin popsicle sticks that I split and painted yellow.

ENJOY!!

Painted Rocks

2019-10-01T13:08:00.003-04:00

Every spring I like to plant a garden and this year was no exception. One day my daughter and I were in a mood to do a craft and didn't have money to go a buy things so we decided to paint some rocks. Two rocks became ten and before we knew it people were asking us to make some for their gardens too.

It's a fun simple craft and you can use rocks for many things besides sprucing up a garden. They can be doorstoppers, paper weights, gifts, decorations etc...

Supplies:

Rocks (all sizes)
Guesso
Acrylic paints (various colors)
Spray finishing gloss
Cardboard
A mixing tray
Pencil
Various sized paint brushes
Small fan (to speed up the drying process)

Directions:

Once you choose your rocks, scrub them clean with a dish scrubber and a mixture of dish soap and bleach for disinfecting.
Dry them on a drying mat, an old towel or even a few pieces of paper towels.
Coat rocks with Guesso. Guesso helps the paint to adhere and stick better.
Once the guesso is completely dry you can draw your design onto the rock.
Now you are ready to begin painting. Paint the rock at least 3 coats of paint. Allow each layer to dry before painting the next. My daughter always rushes this process and thinks she can do just one coat but what happens is the rocks fade quickly and the paint does not hold up.
When you are completely done painting spray the rock with clear gloss spray from the hardware dept. You can get a big can for under 4.00 but purchae in the hardware department in places such as Walmart. The craft store will charge more.

Here are some of the rocks we painted. They make great decorative rocks for a garden and gifts too.

Service dog for my daughter

2017-05-04T18:40:00.002-04:00

My daughter has been sick since the age of 11. She has some rare diseases and it's been a real struggle. We are raising money for a service dog. Here is the link where you can read about her and the obstacles she faces.

https://www.gofundme.com/a-service-dog-for-francessca

This is Zayla! She's now 1 year old. We've been working at training but it's a very slow process. She's already trying to alert and help my Francessca. She's very eager and wants to learn. The trainer comes twice a month but she should either go to boot camp or see the trainer more often however with both of us sick we cannot afford to add more.

It might take us longer but she can do it and we are going to keep trying...with or without help. If you find it in your heart to help please click on the link. Thank you!!

PLEASE DONATE

Christmas Tree Advent Calendar

2016-12-03T13:06:00.000-05:00

Materials Needed:

2 poster board
Craft Glue
Glue Gun
Glue Sticks
3/4 Yard of green felt
1 Square of Yellow or Gold Colored Felt
Glitter Glue (Red, and Gold)
1 Foam Board (any color)
Snowflakes or balls for decoration
Utility Knife and blades
Scissors
Pencil
Chalk
Straight pins
Spongee paintbrush for graft glue
Popsicle stick or wooden skrewer
Dog Bones or Candy

Green felt was on clearance at Walmart and everything else we found at the Dollar Store here in Baltimore. This Advent Calendar is rather large and it cost about $10.00 total to make (material only)

Directions

Making the Pattern

TREE: The tree itself measures---from the tip to bottom it measures 22" inches tall by 13 3/4" inches wide.

Fold poster board in half, length wise and draw tree as shown in picture. I used 5 petals. I had to draw it twice to get it "just right" ---it's only your pattern so don't be hard on yourself if you mess up. I was able to get the tree, my base and the dog bone all from one piece of poster board.

BASE: The base is 13.5" inches wide and 5" inches high.

BONE or STAR : The bone is 5"inches in length by 2" inches high (in center) or make a star if you want it for children.

POCKETS:

Measure on poster board to make a pattern. Cut 1 of each

Measure and cut 5 1/2" wide by 2 3/4" high. (This will be for pockets 1 and 2).

Cut 8 3/4 by 2 3/4" (This is for pockets 3,4,5,)

Cut 11" wide by 2 3/4" high (this is for pockets 6,7,8,9)

Cut 13 3/4" wide by 2 3/4" high (this is for pockets 10,11,12,13,14)

Cut 16 3/4 wide by 2 3/4" high (this is for 15,16,17,18,19,20)

Cut 19" wide by 2 3/4 " high (this is for pockets 21,22,23,24)

*There is no pocket for 25.

It will look like this

Now that you have your pattern you are ready to begin making your calendar....

1.Once you get your pattern cut then lay your tree on top of your foam board and trace your tree. The foam board will be the base for your advent calendar.

2. Fold your green felt in half so that you have two pieces. Now lay your foam board on top and trace your tree BUT and this is very IMPORTANT trace your tree but after you trace it trace again but measure 1 1/2 inches so that you have 1 1/2 inches of space around your original trace line. When you get doner you will have two chalk lines and you will be cutting on the second line. This extra space will allow you enough fabric for when you glue.

3. Now cut your fabric. After fabric is cut you want to sandwich the foam board in between the two pieces of fabric. Using your craft clue and paintbrush glue the felt onto the foam board (the foam board is in between each piece of felt).

I rolled a piece of 10" felt to make it look like a shoe lace and then I glued it to the back of the tree so that it could hang on the wall.

5. Cut 5 pieces of green felt for your pockets. I didn't make individual pockets

Each pocket will be 2 5/8" so stick a straight pin and you can either eye it up or mark with chalk. I pinned the pockets onto the foam board and then I carefully marked with chalk and glued them onto the tree moving along very slowly using the glue gun. I used a skewer to push it down as it got quite hot on the fingers. Once dry you can add numbers. I drew them lightly in chalk and then just traced over it. ***Let sit overnight to dry fully.

Finished product!

My niece wanted a "Doggy" advent calendar but you can make it for Children too. This one has a bone for the star but you can make a star if you want to do it for children.

School Year Template

2016-10-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

This is my adorable niece. Adorable with a capital "A"!! I'm prejudice I know but this little girl is such a sweetheart and she's not just cute she has a heart of gold.

My niece (her Mom) Brandi made this. She found the idea on Pinterest and she and her sister recreated the idea.

Materials Needed:

Large Foam Board (from the Dollar Store) or Cardboard
Aluminum Foil
Scissors
Large Marker
Compass
Tacky Glue
Craft Paints (White, Yellow, Red and Silver)
1 piece of chalk

Directions:

Depending on the size of your poster board cut a rectangle shape about the size of 12 x 18 out centered and about 3 inches from the bottom of the board.
Cut 2 large circles out. The circle will need to be approximately 4"
Next--cut 2 small ovals and 2 larger ovals and then 1 extra large oval.
Paint the two smaller ovals with silver paint.
Glue everything in place using the photograph as your guide.
Once everything is glued you can add the grade. Write it in chalk so that you can use again and again.

stencils for bus

Modpodge Picture Coasters

2016-10-12T07:00:00.000-04:00

My niece made these for Christmas presents. Her husband is a contractor and had leftover ceramic tiles.

Supplies:

Ceramic Tiles or even blocks of wood will do.
Choose pictures, a magazine photo or print one on your computer (cut to fit)
Mod Podge
Felt
Flat paintbrush or sponge brush

Directions:

Position the picture onto each tile
Glue in place.
Once it dries coat with Mod Podge Give it several coats. You must let dry between each coat. Be careful so that you do not get air bubbles. If you do you can smooth it out with your finger.
When the tile is completely dry add a felt backing so it doesn't slide or scratch your tables.

In case you don't know what mod podge is this is what it looks like and it can be bought at Walmart and any craft store.

DIY Decorative Lamp Shade

2016-10-10T19:33:00.001-04:00

I had a small lamp on my vanity that had a tiny lampshade. I tried to add a larger shade but it just didn't look right yet the little one didn't look right either so I had to improvise. Since I love anything that shines and glitters. I decided to add beads to it. I bought some tiny crystal beads from Walmart and strung about 12-15 per string. I knotted the first bead so that it wouldn't slip off and then I just continued stringing them and sewed them onto the lampshade.

It turned out so cute and looks perfect on my vanity. I wasn't planning to add it to this page but I thought someone might like the idea.

So enjoy!!

Here is a link to the crystal mirror I also did awhile back that's also on my vanity.

http://franandfriends.blogspot.com/2013/03/mirrormirror.html

Remembering Our Furry Friends

2015-01-17T09:53:00.002-05:00

It's winter time here in the United States. The temperatures are frigid and there is ice everywhere. I thought it would be a great time to think about animals outside who have no home and our wildlife.

Today on the news there was a woman from the SPCA and she had a great tip for stray cats. She took a Styrofoam cooler and cut a hole in the base. She filled the bottom with some shredded papers and put a brick on top so it wouldn't blow away. She said don't put blankets because they freeze and become hard.

Another idea is feeding the birds. My daughter and I used to make bird feeders. Even though I posted this before I think it's worth mentioning due to the frigid temps.

BIRD FEEDERS

As well as pine cone,peanut butter feeders

PINE CONE/PEANUT BUTTER FEEDERS

If you have pets please bring them inside.

Point Me In The Right Direction

2014-07-18T08:00:00.000-04:00

Here's one more beaded craft---AN ARROW

Here's some photo's that Fran took so that you can see how it's done step by step.

Books related to our topic---

Robin Hood And The Golden Arrow

Robert San Souci retells the classic and humorous tale of Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow. Acclaimed author Robert San Souci and Caldecott Honor illustrator and Coretta Scott King Award winner E. B. Lewis retell the classic legend of Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow.

Robin Hood and his loyal band create a plan to outsmart the Sheriff of Nottingham by attending an archery contest in disguise. In the end, it is Robin Hood and his friends who have the last laugh.

Kids of all ages will cheer for this classic tale based on the traditional story of Robin Hood.

Available through Amazon

The Apple and the Arrow

The year is 1291, and Walter is the twelve-year-old son of William Tell, the greatest bowman in the land of Uri. Walter lives happily in the remote heights of the Alpine Mountains, caring for his family’s goat herd and practicing his marksmanship in the hopes of making his father proud. But as the end of the year approaches, Walter’s peaceful life is shaken as his country enters a revolution, and Walter must carry a secret that could threaten the life of the father he loves so dearly.

More than seven hundred years have passed since the day Walter stood in the marketplace balancing an apple on his head while the Austrian tyrant Gessler commanded Walter’s father, William Tell, to take aim at the apple with his great crossbow. The dramatic tale of William’s arrest and escape and the daring revolt of the Swiss against the Austrians has become a legend around the world.

Available through Amazon

Froggie Went A Courtin...

2014-07-16T07:00:00.000-04:00

Thursday at IV infusions the Child Life Specialist gave Fran several craft projects. One was a beaded frog. It took about an hour to complete.

This is the finished product---

Some books related to our topic---

A Frog Named Waldor

Written by Jacqueline Rankine-Van Wassenhoven

This picture book story is for everyone who is young at heart or older. It’s about a young girl called Jennifer who loves to read books, especially books about water fairies. One summer’s day sitting by the pond near her village she meets a talking frog named Waldor. Waldor is quite a charming character and introduces Jennifer to some of his friends, the water fairies and Mrs. Nightingale. How does Jennifer get onto the lily pad with Waldor?…And the story continues.

Available through Amazon

Amazon Review--"Everyone loves to be taken away to another place and time. A Frog Named Waldor will give you just that chance to escape into the magical enchanted forest with Jennifer,the fairies and a quite lively pond frog named Waldor! Enjoy this read as I definitely give it 5 stars!!"

The Fabulous Adventures of Fred the Frog
Fred is a friendly frog that lives in a pond he calls home. He is surrounded by many caring friends including Betsy the Butterfly, Hermit the Frog, and the well-known Mr. Flyman and his band. They pass their time singing and dancing to many favorite songs. On Fred’s seventh birthday he blows out his candles and makes a wish. To his surprise his wish is granted! Come join Fred and friends on his journey to many fabulous adventures and discover if he chooses to live in the magical place he wishes for.

Available through Amazon

Amazon Review--"Our 2 year old grandson received this book as a gift. He chooses it to be read to him over other books he has. He really enjoys the pictures!"

Penguins!

2014-07-14T14:21:00.000-04:00

My daughter spends two days a week at infusions. The Child Life Specialist at John Hopkins is very good with the kids/teens. She gives them cool crafts to help keep them occupied and for the younger children they have things like Lego's or movies on DVD etc...

Today Fran got a cute beaded penguin which she put together in about an hour. Here's the completed project and materials you will need. It looks like this--

Here's the materials you will need to complete this little penguin--

1 Metal ring
18 white beads
3 orange beads
31 black beads
4 feet of black cord

Instructions:

Here are some step by step pictures to show you the progress.

And of course the finished Product!

Books related to our project:

Available through Amazon

KIDS BOOK OF BEADS

Let your child’s creativity run wild with Kids’ Book Of Beads, the book that brings beading to life. We have an array of designs for you and your children to enjoy.

If you’re brand new to beading then our handy guide to tools and techniques will help you get started. Make pretty pendants, wire bling rings or bring to life a beaded bunny.

Each simple and fun design comes complete with clear, concise diagrams and colourful images to aid the creative process. Experiment with colour and shape to add a personal twist to projects. Your child will never look at beads the same way again.

Whether you’re 8 or 48, there’s something here for everyone; boys, girls and parents too!

Available through Amazon

Key Chain---Flower Power!

2014-07-11T06:23:00.000-04:00

Today while we were at infusions the Child Life Specialist gave my daughter a very cute beaded flower key chain to work on to pass the time during infusions.

The photo to the left is the finished product. The key chain took less than an hour to make. And it's so cute.

Here's the directions and photo's that my daughter took along the way. I'm not sure how many beads you will need to complete the craft since it came packaged.

Supplies Needed:

42 beads for petals
6 beads for center of the flower
Cord
key ring

Here are the directions--

Books related to the project---

Flower Power! (DC Super Friends) (Little Golden Book)

Girl—and flower—power! Wonder Woman and Batgirl team up to stop Poison Ivy in their first-ever action-packed Little Golden Book. Girls ages 2 to 5 will love this all-new Little Golden Book featuring the female superheroes of the DC Super Friends.

Available on Amazon

Just Grace and the Flower Girl Power (The Just Grace Series)

Fresh, innovative, and loaded with laugh-out-loud wit and humor, Just Grace is a series that stands out from the pack, just like Grace herself. Author Charise Harper weaves together distinctive, quirky illustrations and vibrant characters in fast-paced stories that capture familiar school and family situations that every young girl can relate to in a truly authentic voice. Artist, comedian, animal-lover, environmentalist, cook, sister, good friend —Grace is the quintessential 3rd grader… just a little bit… different.

In this eighth addition to the series—Grace has major problems. Her neighbor is getting married and she has to get over her disappointment at not being chosen for a flower girl, not to mention figure out what to give as a wedding present! But with a touch of girl power, Grace musters up a fantastic idea that takes a lot of planning and a little help from all of her friends; her dog, Mr. Scruffers; and Crinkles the cat. Will her plan go off without a hitch on wedding day?

Available on Amazon

Happy Independence Day

2014-07-04T19:36:00.000-04:00

Hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!!

Best Dish Cloths Ever!!

2014-06-28T10:10:00.002-04:00

My daughter and I make our own dishcloths. It actually happened by accident. Fran had scrap yarn and asked what she could make and I said make me a dishcloth. One day I didn't have any cloths left and needed to use it. I found out it was super absorbent and worked great so I made more. I decided to make my Dad a few and he loved them too.

They are made with Sugar and Cream cotton yarn. It's like $2.00 a spool. This material soaks up spills better than paper towels or terry towels. The dishcloths are simple,very absorbent and do the job. I have several for my dishes and the old ones I use for cleaning. They are better than paper towels and sop up a messy spill in no time. I crochet and Fran knits them. They aren't fancy but they are the best cloths ever. You can buy it at places like Walmart, Joanne's, and craft shops.

Learn to crochet

Books related to topic:

Natural Cleaning Recipes available through Amazon

available through Amazon

Girl Power!

2014-06-22T09:00:00.000-04:00

There are some strong female character role models in literature and on television. Both fiction and non-fictional. This is just a partial list of some that people I remember.

Fictional:Mulan,Katniss Everdeen, Ariel, Malificent, Anne of Green Gables,Pinky K. Henderson, June B. Jones, Madeline, Pippi Long Stockings,and so many more.

Non-Fictional: Joan of Arc, Harriet Tubman, Jane Erye, Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth, Mother Teresa, Hiliary Clinton, Helen Keller, Amelia Earhart, Oprah Winfrey, Indira Gandhi, Marie Curie, Rosa Parkes, Florence Nightengale and the list goes on and on.

Here is a link to some really terrific educational books that have strong girl characters.

Here are a few crafts for girl power.

Paper Nunchucks

Make a punching bag

Books related to our topic--

Amelia Earhart

The legend of the Lost Aviator

The ever-fascinating story of the legendary pilot is given new life in this vividly told true-life adventure.Ever since Amelia Earhart and her plane disappeared on July 2, 1937, people have wanted to know more about this remarkable woman. Amelia Earhart follows the charismatic aviator from her first sight of an airplane at the age of ten to the last radio transmission she made before she vanished. Illustrated with original artworks, contemporary photographs, quotes, and details, this is a great introduction to the famous pilot. The book includes a bibliography and an index.

Available on Amazon

I am Rosa Parks (Ordinary People Change World)

“Kids always search for heroes, so we might as well have a say in it,” Brad Meltzer realized, and so he envisioned this friendly, fun approach to biography – for his own kids, and for yours. Each book tells the story of one of America’s icons in a vivacious, conversational way that works well for the youngest nonfiction readers, those who aren’t quite ready for the Who Was biography series. Each book focuses on a particular character trait that made that role model heroic. For example, Rosa Parks dared to stand up for herself and other African Americans by staying seated, and as a result she helped end public bus segregation and launch the country’s Civil Rights Movement.

This engaging series is the perfect way to bring American history to life for young children, providing them with the right role models, supplementing Common Core learning in the classroom, and best of all, inspiring them to strive and dream.

Avaiable on Amazon

PINKY
Pinky is a girly girl, but she isn't your average next door neighbor. She's rough and tough and loves to play sports. Her favorite sport is karate. The boys in her karate class think girls are dumb. Pinky is determined to prove them wrong. The big State Championship Sparing Match is about to take place and Pinky has a plan. She's going to fight as the Masked Crusader. This is the only way she can prove her point. Girls are just as good at doing anything including sports. She's going to prove girls rule! Because they do.

Available on Amazon and Createspace

Grandma's Are The Best!

2014-06-20T23:12:00.002-04:00

Grandma's Are The Best! Some of our fondest memories are with our Grandma's, or maybe a special Aunt, our Mom and Dad. We did lots of crafts with my Mom. She was an avid knitter and crocheter. She loved crafts and really had a knack with designing her own projects. She made all sorts of Barbie dresses and doll accessories. Some of her love for designing crafts wore off on my daughter and I. My favorite things to make is doll furniture and Barbie houses. Maybe you and your special someone have a special craft or project that you like to do too.

One of my favorite sites for any idea is PINTEREST.

Here are some ideas that you can do with your Grandma. Please also check through my previous blog posts as I have a ton of craft and food ideas.

STEPPING STONES

JEWELERY

BOWLING PINS FROM CANS

Books related to our topic--

Baby Duck's New Grandma

Baby Duck loves her grandma very much. Her grandma is in heaven now and Baby Duck feels very alone and sad. Her grandpa has a surprise for her and she is bubbling with excitement.

What could it be? The big swimming pool he's been dreaming to buy? Maybe a vacation with the family? Baby Duck is about to discover the surprise and isn't going to be happy.

Available https://www.createspace.com/4795175 and AMAZON

How to Babysit a Grandma

When you babysit a grandma, if you're lucky . . . it's a sleepover at her house! And with the useful tips found in this book, you're guaranteed to become an expert grandma-sitter in no time. (Be sure to check out the sections on: How to keep a grandma busy; Things to do at the park; Possible places to sleep, and what to do once you're both snugly tucked in for the night.) From the author-illustrator team behind the bestselling How to Babysit a Grandpa comes a funny and heartwarming celebration of grandmas and grandchildren.

Available on Amazon

Guinea Pig Crafts

2014-06-19T15:30:00.000-04:00

Piggie and Cuddles

My daughter and I acquired our first guinea pig about 10 years ago. My daughter wanted a pet and after some research I thought a guinea pig would be the perfect pet. We named our guinea pig Ally but soon we changed her name affectionately to Piggie.

Piggie was a baby when we got her from a local pet store. She was very animated and quite vocal. We have allot of fun memories of Piggie and she made a great pet.

I ran across some really cool guinea pig crafts. How about making your sweet little furry friend a house? These houses are so adorable and I'm sure your furry friend would adore one.

I couldn't find any with directions but if you are crafty I don't think these will be very hard. You could use some very thick and sturdy corrugated cardboard. Guinea Pigs like to chew so they might try to eat it. Be careful to use non-toxic paint and materials that don't splinter.

Or maybe a soft bed?? Here are some really cute ideas to assure your guinea pig a super night's sleep.

Guinea Pig Bed

Here's a really nice guinea pig run too. Wish I had one of these years ago. You can find the directions here.

Here is a book I write about my guinea pig, Piggie. It's called---

Piggie Wiggie's Great Adventure

Written and Illustrated by: MJ Daley-Prado

Piggie Wiggie'sPiggie experiences life outside of her safe surroundings where everything seems so strange, loud, and unusual to her. She hears sounds and sees things that she has never seen before from her cage that was situated high on a shelf in Emmy's room. Piggie goes on a ride of a lifetime as she slides behind the wheel of a remote control Barbie car and accidentally presses the button and sets the wheels in motion. Piggie gets herself into some pretty funny, scary and unpredictable situations. Will Piggie Wiggie ever find her way home?

Available https://www.createspace.com/3394904 and Amazon

More guinea pig books--

Guinea Pig Tales

I love Guinea Pigs

Sammy, The Classroom Guinea Pig

are some interesting books related to Guinea Pigs.

Father's Day Tool Box

2013-06-15T15:24:00.000-04:00

Father's Day is not far away. Before we know it June 16th will be creeping up on us and so here is another idea for Father's Day. This is a tool box made out of a cardboard box and a ton of creativity. I didn't have a pattern. I used my imagination. There were plenty of mistakes along the way but I really am pleased with the finished product.

Materials Needed:

glue Gun
glue sticks
old Cardboard boxes
craft glue
utility knife
poster board
wrapping paper
wide clear tape
brads

I don't have instructions but it's pretty simple. It's all rectangles and you just glue it together.

DIY Non-Toxic Paint

2013-05-27T10:00:00.000-04:00

Kids love to paint and be creative. Here's a non-toxic natural paint recipe that you can make for your children.

Here's what you will need:

1 cup salt
1 cup flour
1 c water
food coloring
empty squirt bottles

Mix well and add to each bottle. After you add to each bottle add the food coloring and shake well.

Found on Pinterest

Books related to our project--

Mr. Pickles Paints the Town

Peter Pickles went to bed one night and woke up to find things had changed. The sky was not blue. The birds were gone too. The world had been rearranged. All the colors had disappeared. What could Mr. Pickles do?

Paint It! (Art Smart)

Gr 3-6-An emphasis on technique distinguishes this bright and colorful series. Twelve attractive projects per volume, many of them resulting in useful objects, give kids a chance to learn and practice techniques such as weaving, stenciling, and frottage. Specialized materials are not required, and most kids will be able to achieve success with the majority of these projects, regardless of their level of artistic talent. The books were written by art teachers and it shows. Tracing and collage are offered as alternatives to drawing, and many drawing and painting projects are abstract or begin with random shapes. The trickiest skills are the various stitches used in Make It!, and, unfortunately, the instructions, which are usually quite good in this series, are not quite up to this task. Photographs often show the finished projects while drawings illustrate the process

DIY Cat Bed

2013-05-26T10:00:00.000-04:00

I love this simple idea and can't wait to imply it to make my Millie a new cat bed. There really isn't much to it,this is what you will need:

A wicker basket
Foam
Piece of material or an old blanket
Nails and hooks to secure basket on wall

You have to measure your basket and then measure and cut foam (length and width) accordingly. I plan to use an old piece of fleece blanket to cover the foam rubber. I have plenty of fleece blanket's that have holes in them or have stains that I can make use of and I'm sure Milley will enjoy the softness of the fleece. You can sew by hand but I plan to sew mine on the sewing machine so that it looks more professional. I plan to hang this in my daughter's room and I might make one one for the upstairs.

Books related to our project:

Chester's Back!

In this uproarious sequel to Chester, the battle of the picture-book makers continues. Which author-illustrator will come out on top -- Chester or M?lanie Watt -- is anybody's guess! This time, there's no denying (in Chester's mind) that he's the star of the show. His already outsize ego has ballooned even more due to a spate of "fan mail" on the heels of his self-titled debut. As Chester sees it, who needs Melanie Watt when they have Chester? He's got no shortage of his own storytelling ideas. With heavy paw and red marker, this control-freak cat does not hesitate to commit them to paper. When Chester starts acting far too Hollywood, Melanie calls an open audition to replace the high-maintenance feline. This isn't a move that Chester will take lying down. Get ready for a seesaw comedy of dueling author-illustrators. Who will come out on top is anybody's guess! Available on amazon

Kitten's Summer

A beautifully illustrated picture book introducing toddlers to animals in the farmyard and the woods on a rainy summer day. It's a rainy summer day, and Kitten is meeting all sorts of animals taking shelter from or enjoying the warm rain, including a fox, a turtle, a beaver and many more. As in the two previous titles in the Kitten series, rhyming couplets capture the animals' actions, making this book another fantastic interactive read-aloud. Young readers will delight in discovering animal habitats, picking out seasonal details in the exquisite mixed-media art, and searching for and finding Kitten on every page. Available on amazon

DIY Ice Chalk

2013-05-25T10:00:00.000-04:00

Summer Time is almost here and what a nice way to chill and cool off with some ice cube chalk! I bet the kids would love this craft. My daughter always used to love drawing on the sidewalk on out in the street. (We lived on a dead end so I usually sat outside and supervised the kids to make sure they were safe.)

You can the directions on Reading Confetti

Found on Pinterest

Books related to our topic--

Chalk
A rainy day. Three kids in a park. A dinosaur spring rider. A bag of chalk. The kids begin to draw. . . and then . . . magic! The children draw the sun, butterflies, and a dinosaur that amazingly come to life. Children will never feel the same about the playground after they experience this astounding wordless picture book and the power of the imagination. Bill Thomson embraced traditional painting techniques and meticulously painted each illustration by hand, using acrylic paint and colored pencils.
Available on amazon

The Chalk Box Kid (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))

Random House is proud to present the tenth anniversary edition of a book Publishers Weekly called "a gem of a book...a story that goes straight to the heart." When nine-year-old Gregory experiences several upsets in his life, he responds by creating a fantastic chalk garden on the charred walls of a burned-out factory behind his house. As his garden grows and flourishes, Gregory finds a voice through his art and, for the first time, is able to find his own place in the world. The Chalk Box Kid is sure to delight a new generation of children and their parents.

Available on Amazon

Vacation/Road Trip Ideas

2013-05-24T10:00:00.000-04:00

June is coming fast and it won't be long before school will be out for the summer. Parents will be thinking about summer vacations and possibly taking a road trip with the little ones.

It can be quite challenging with all the kids, sometimes a friend or two and even Fido thrown in the car too. The bond,the closeness if you know what I mean....just gets to be a little too much. Gosh,I remember those days!

Then the kids start with the "are we there yet"??? Or Jimmy is looking at me and then there is Katie's shoe is touching my leg. Sound familiar??? haha...

So...why not organize yourself ahead of time and arm yourself with some games, snacks and things to do that keep the kids busy so they don't have time to fight.

My favorite was the BUSY BOX created by Wendy (Utah's Crafty Chick)

Another one I really think is a cool idea----

If you are crafty enough you can even make you own tic tac toe board on the computer or on card stock and laminate it onto a magnetic strip then do the same with some disk or glass rocks from the dollar store. They just have to fit into the scale of the Altoids box. Add some magnet to the backs and voila! you are good to go. You don't have to buy a bunch of stuff just be artistic and use your imagination. Here is the link for this one however.

Here are some ideas to get you started---

Printable from Momsminivan

Classic Road Trip Games from Disney

10 Noise Free Car Games

Kids World Car Games

Pinterests Road Trip Tips

Books related to our topic---

Road Trip

Dad and Ben haven't been getting along recently and Dad hopes a road trip to rescue a border collie will help them reconnect. But Ben is on to Dad's plan and invites Ben's thuggish buddy, Theo. The family dog, Atticus, comes along too and the story is told by Ben and Atticus. When their truck breaks down, they commandeer an old school bus, along with its mechanic, Gus. Next, they pick up Mia, a waitress escaping a tense situation. Only sharp-eyed Atticus realizes that Theo is on the run—and someone is following them.

Available on amazon

Amelia Bedelia Chapter Book #3: Amelia Bedelia Road Trip!

Amelia Bedelia, America's favorite housekeeper, had a childhood full of surprises, mischief, and hilarious misunderstandings. In this illustrated chapter book adventure, just right for fans of Judy Moody and Ivy + Bean, young Amelia Bedelia piles into the family car and takes a road trip with her family. This is the third book in the Amelia Bedelia chapter book series and is just right for newly independent readers ready for a more challenging vocabulary and books with chapters.
Have a safe and fun summer from ever here at Fran and Friends!!

Jello Pudding Pop

2013-05-23T10:00:00.000-04:00

From Pinterest
JELLO PUDDING POPS
1 PKG INSTANT PUDDING
1 1/2C MILK
2C COOL WHIP

DISSOLVE PUDDING IN MILK, WHIP IN COOL WHIP.
SPOON INTO 3 OZ DIXIE CUPS
INSERT POPSICLE STICK.
FREEZE.

Books related to project---

I Scream! Ice Cream!: A Book of Wordles

What do "I Scream!" and "Ice Cream!" have in common? Nothing—besides the fact that they sound the same! The ever-surprising Amy Krouse Rosenthal unleashes her prolific wit in this silly and smart book of wordplay. Perfectly complemented by equally clever illustrations from the talented and internationally renowned Serge Bloch, this mind-bending book will have young readers thinking about words in an entirely new way! Available on amazon

I Am An Ice Cream Truck

A board book shaped like an ice cream truck with a sound chip that plays a familiar ice cream tune!
I am an ice cream truck.
I have lots of cold, sweet treats!
Press play and watch all the kids line up when they hear the popular ice cream truck jingle in this fun and sturdy board book shaped like an ice cream truck with sound! Read along and go inside the ice cream truck to see where all the different kinds of ice cream and other frozen treats are stored! Everyone with a sweet tooth will love seeing this big machine in action. It's a book and a toy in one! Available on amazon