How to Make a Nature Themed Picture Frame with Sticks and Twigs

Nature in all its beauty and glory offers us all sorts of art and craft supplies – all you have to do is find and collect them. One of the most functional items you can make with natural twigs and sticks is a picture frame. You can make this as big or as small as you like; you can keep it or give it as a gift. You can make several in graduated sizes, or using different types of twigs.

Here is a list of supplies you’ll need, and directions on how to assemble the frame. Use your imagination – take the following suggestions and individualize them to make a frame that fits your style.

Supplies:

* Twelve straight sticks in two different lengths (for example, six 8-inch sticks and six 6-inch ones), from 1/4 to 1/2 inches thick. For a square frame, use sticks that are all the same length.
* Natural twine
* Glue gun and hot glue
* Ruler
* Moss, small pine cones, feathers, acorns, etc. (optional)
* Newspaper, large piece of brown paper, old sheet, etc. (This is to protect your indoor work area from bits of twigs, glue, and such)

Directions:

1. Gather various twigs, sticks, and optional decorations, making sure the sticks are as straight as possible.
2. Lay out the newspaper or sheet over your work area.
3. Strip leaves from sticks.
4. Break sticks into uniform lengths.
5. Lay out the sticks in a rough square or rectangle, using three sticks per side.
6. Use the ruler to obtain a frame opening that is the size of the photo or picture you want to frame. The twigs and sticks can overlap at the corners as much as you like.
7. Using the glue gun, glue the corners of the frame together and leave it to dry.
8. When the glue is dry, wrap the twine around the glued corners – you can tie it in bows on the front of the frame, or tie the twine in the back in a knot, or some other creative look.
9. On the front of the frame, glue pieces of moss, pinecones, and other interesting things you found outside. You can use these items to cover gaps in the twigs.10. When your decorations are dry, turn the frame over so that the back is facing up. Glue the photo (or use poster putty for a less permanent mount) to the back of the frame so that it faces forward.

These directions are basic; there are all sorts of creative ways you can make a picture frame from sticks. You can adapt this project to your classroom if you are a teacher, or as a fun project for any group of kids. Adults can enjoy this project as well, working in groups or on your own. As people are becoming more interested in natural, eco-friendly furnishings and decorations, this project fits right in.

Photo Credit: JeanM1

A Snowball Maker

and the perfect tool for making snow forts… a Snow Block

Snowball fight!

In a day and age of distracting electronic gadgets and social networking online, playing board games with friends and family is a simple and fun way to reconnect with others. Many people today communicate via email, cell phone, or mobile device, and it can be easy to forget or neglect to learn real life communication and social skills. Here are some ways that playing board games can encourage these skills.

-Problem solving is something that board games can help teach. Learning how to deal with dilemmas is an important life skill, and board games like checkers, chess, and others require players to look ahead to solve problems, and consider the consequences of their choices.

-Learning to win and lose gracefully can go a long way in encouraging healthy socialization. No one wants a sore loser for a friend! Someone who knows how to win without taunting and lose without griping is more likely to form healthy interpersonal relationships.

-Interactive board games require players to communicate effectively, and with some board games (such as those that involve having to discern a hidden term or word), the more effective communicator is the winner. There are very few times in life when good communication skills are not necessary.

-Family time is so important – the skills you need to learn for the world begin in the home. Board games are a wonderful way for family members to learn from each other and develop those interpersonal skills that will follow them into life. Playing board games with your family can bring family members together in ways that may not have been considered before. Gaining insight into what makes your friends and/or family members “tick” can be invaluable in promoting healthy friendships and family harmony.

-Teamwork is a social skill that is applicable in school, the workplace, and in families. Board games encourage effective teamwork, and players with the best team skills are more likely to be winners.

-You will learn more and gain knowledge with some board games, such as those that test your knowledge of specific facts or concepts. This can be a significant asset for children in school.

-Healthy competition is a motivational concept that is helpful for everyone in the family, from school-age kids to grandparents. Competition encourages you to improve yourself and strive to be better.

Board games are not expensive and are readily available. Try declaring family game night, take the whole family shopping for a board game (or more than one to make sure all ages are covered), and enjoy the time together. Or the next time your friends get together, bring a board game or go out and buy one together. You’ll be glad you did!

Recommended: Ticket To Ride and Wildcraft

The winter months can come to be a dreary and dull time if you’re the type that prefers spending lots of time out in the sunshine with your kids. However, with a little creativity, you can make memories and have a fabulous time during the cold winter months just like in the summer months.

Bundle up and enjoy some outdoor activities with the children in winter, especially if there’s snow. Then head back  inside for some hot cocoa or tea and continued indoor activities.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Get cooking! Grab a child-friendly cookbook and make something delicious together. Baking and decorating can prove to be hours of fun during the day, and you’ll have treats to look forward to after dinner. Some great cookbooks for kids include the Pink Princess Cookbook and the Cookbook for Boys.

2. Craft days keep boredom away. Bring out a box of art supplies (paints, crayons, play dough, colored pencils) and make some art or winter themed crafts. You can also make your own play dough and paint!

3. Try Winter sports. There are so many fun and active things you can do in the winter from ice skating to winter hiking.

4. Read. Reading should actually be a year round activity and winter is no exception. You might try reading stories to your children that take place in the winter. Look for books about the winter solstice, snowmen, snowflakes, snowball fights, etc. Check out this list of kids winter books for ideas. Enjoy a good story together as a family and allow everyone a turn to read or a turn to act out the story.

5. Snow painting is great fun for kids. Simply mix food coloring with water to make some “paint.” You can then let the little ones go wild as they create special works of art in the snow. You can also freeze colored water in molds so that kids can make colored ice castles. Your beach molds from summer work great for this.

6. Build an indoor fort. Every kid loves to build a fort! Get creative with your blankets and pillows and build a cozy home within a home for your children. They will enjoy having a special hideout and will forget it may be too cold to play outside. Give them a flashlight and a sleeping bag and let them sleep in there too.

7. Enjoy some karaoke. You can buy or rent a karaoke machine for some indoor fun for the entire family. Feel free to get wild and crazy and join in on the fun with them. While it’s not for everyone, many will enjoy the chance to sing along to their favorite songs. Even kids who shy about performing will often love karaoke in the safety of their home.

8. Feed the birds. Kids often wonder how animals and birds survive in the winter when the vegetation is gone so they might love to make breakfast cookies for the local wildlife. Make up some dough from biscuit baking mix, cut out shapes with cookie cutters, and use a straw to punch a hole at the top of each cookie. Brush with butter and then sprinkle with birdseed (sesame and sunflower work well). Bake for 15 to 20 minutes and let them cool. After they have cooled your kids can thread ribbon or string through the holes and hang the birdie breakfast cookies from the branches of trees.

9. Take a trip to the mall. Remember that you can always go to the mall as a nice treat for the day. While you may not want spend money, it never hurts to look around and get some exercise. Mall walking is a GREAT winter exercise activity. You can even pack a quick snack for them to munch on in the food court.

10. Go to a museum. Museums are great places to visit in the winter. Inquire at the museum about special activities for smaller patrons. Many museums have ongoing programs just for the kids like family nights. Buy a season pass and you can go all winter long for a very reasonable one time price.

Remember that the possibilities for fun and adventure are endless, even in the winter! There’s no reason to stay cooped up and perhaps depressed that it isn’t spring yet. You can still keep the kids active and have a great time.

A great activity or hobby for youngsters is to learn the age old art of magic. It can keep kids entertained for hours as they learn the tricks of the trade. Then it can keep them entertained for hours more as they amaze their friends with their new act. And of course your young magicians can put on a show for the whole family too.

This cool set includes classic magic tricks such as “Disappearing Ball,” “Vanishing Coin,” “Secret Silks,” “Money Maker,” “Cylinder Squeeze” and many more. It comes with velvet bag, magic wand, wood magic box and a few other items. Includes instructions and illustration for all tricks.

Where to Buy: Land of Nod

When looking for something “unplugged” to do, either for yourself, or with your family, what do you hope to get out of the experience? Are you only looking for something that is fun and enjoyable or are you hoping to do something that is educational so you can learn something from the experience. Either option is a good one but an activity that does both is even better. Board games can often do just that if you pick the right ones.

One of the best board games that is educational and fun for adults and older kids the Ticket to Ride Board Game. It is a cross country adventure game that teaches geography in an entertaining way. There is a North American version and European version. You collect train cards to complete train routes and connect cities. The longer the routes the more points you earn and you get points by making city to city connections. The winner is the player who has accumulated the most points.

It doesn’t take hours to play like some games, it has won many awards, and it has received rave reviews from children AND adults. If you need more challenges you can buy expansions packs to add even more adventure and functionality and you can also buy a different version to explore new areas of the world.

This game is especially loved by homeschooling families for its prowess in teaching while still being fun. If you are looking for TV free activities then check out Ticket to Ride.

Where to buy Ticket to Ride – Save 33% and get FREE shipping!

Listen in to the conversations you hear at the grocery store. You may hear one mother complain that her children often say “I want this” or “I want that.” Another parent may mention that they’re tired of how many different directions their family runs on a daily basis. Whether your family has the “I wants” or is rarely together, you may want to consider the advantages of family volunteering.

One of the many advantages of family volunteering is having your family work on a project together. Not only can you spend time with one another, but you help someone who is less fortunate than yourselves. If you look at it like that, it’s a win-win situation.

Perhaps your family is concerned about the environment. You can probably find environmental projects you can do in your own area. Call the local city park to see if they need help. They may ask you to help pick up litter, plant trees or flowers in flower beds, or place markers to identify the trees along a walking trail.

Another family volunteering activity you can do is to work at a soup kitchen or center for homeless people. They have to feed those staying at the shelter every day so they’d probably be thrilled to have someone come to the center to help cook, serve, or clean up after meals. Many people consider helping during the holidays but there are needs at these shelters and centers all year round.

Is anyone in your family handy with tools? You may want to volunteer as a family to work on a Habitat for Humanity home or some similar project. If you get involved when the project first starts and see it through completion, your family can feel proud of a job well done and see the joy on a deserving family’s face when they are handed the keys to their new home.

What are some other advantages to family volunteering?

* You’re teaching your children about giving to others rather than always asking for something.

* Volunteering allows children to become involved in their community in a tangible way.

* It teaches your family to become stronger, promotes positive values, and teaches them how to work as a team.

* Having your children volunteer while they’re young will probably encourage them to continue volunteering as an adult. They may even pass the volunteering tradition onto their own children.

* Family volunteering can be a lot of fun!

Bring your family together by volunteering. You can strengthen your family, have fun, and benefit others in the process.

In the winter, your garden pond is probably fairly quiet – hoses and pumps have been disconnected, and the pond itself may be frozen or drained. But there are ways to bring your garden pond to life in the winter by attracting wildlife. Here are some ways to attract wildlife to your garden pond in the winter.

1. Construct shelters

One of the things that a pond can offer is a sort of sheltered oasis for cold, hungry wildlife. Shelter is one of the things wild animals need in winter. Put up birdhouses to give birds a place out of the wind where they can roost at night. And you may find a delightful surprise in spring if the birds choose to nest there!

Rock piles are another form of shelter that do well around ponds, and may already be a part of your water-scape. Loosely pile rocks if they are not there already, and allow leaves to accumulate in and around the rock pile. This can provide shelter for ground-dwelling birds, frogs and toads, and small rodents such as chipmunks.

2. Provide drinking water

Water is a resource that is surprisingly hard to come by in winter. Most water sources are frozen or dry, so consider keeping at least some water in your pond. Since your pump and hoses are probably disassembled, you can just pour in a bit of water. Use warm water to thaw any ice, or use an electric warmer. A reliable water source will attract all kinds of wildlife, from birds and squirrels to deer.

3. Food

Food is also scarce in winters, especially in harsh climates with a great deal of snow. You can hang a traditional bird feeder around your pond, or set out a shallow dish of food. Depending on the method of feeding, you can attract chipmunks, squirrels, deer, and birds to your pond.

Remember that high-fat foods are especially beneficial in winter, and include fatty seeds and grains like sunflower seeds, peanuts, and corn. You can also mix dried fruits, grains and nuts with suet or leftover kitchen fats (such as bacon, sausage, or chicken fat chilled until solid) and smear it on your rock pile or food plate.

4. Shrubs

Evergreen shrubs are an excellent shelter for wildlife in the winter, and they look lovely around a pond. Plant American holly for a protective, bristly shelter for birds – its red berries also provide food. Hardy rose bushes provide juicy, red rosehips (berries) in cold weather. Deer are attracted to shrubs that bear berries as well. White spruce and balsam fir are also favorites among wildlife for shelter.

If you provide these things around your pond, you may be able to view species you have never seen before, such as grouse. Your pond area can be a wonderful oasis for a variety of wildlife, providing needed food and shelter for the animals and viewing pleasure for you.

May 2010 be a year with less time spent in front of the electronic babysitter and more time spent with family and in the pursuit of your passions. Here are my 10 resolutions for TV Free, active outdoor activity and time.

1. Do at least 7 of the 13 organized winter hikes in my community.

2. Go sledding with every big snow this winter.

3. Take some classes at the Metro Parks and through my city parks and recreation.

4. Take more nature photography walks.

5. Do a charity walk or run.

6. Start a walking, jogging, or bicycling program in the spring for me and the kids.

7. Go camping more often and buy an RV or pop up tent trailer to facilitate this.

8. Take a picnic basket to one state or local park every month starting in the spring.

9. Mall walk on the weekends with my mom and the kids all year long.

10. De-clutter, hold a garage sale, and use the money to buy sports equipment like skis.

What are your unplugged goals for 2010?

6 Ideas for Outdoor Family Fun in the Winter

Winter temperatures bring the kids inside for play more often. The temperatures are cold, the wind can be fierce and television and video gaming systems just take on a new level of appeal. It may take some creative thinking and some extra planning but families can enjoy outdoor activities all year long… even in the frozen winters. Before you head out, just make sure everyone is appropriately dressed with coats, scarves, hats, gloves, and appropriate footwear. Packing a bag with extras socks, shoes, and gloves can also be very handy if the clothing you are wearing gets wet. If you can stay relatively warm and comfortable while outside then having fun will be no problem at all.

Winter Hiking – Taking a hike through a state park or local wilderness area can be just as enjoyable during the winter season. Snow and ice may make the trek a bit harder but stick to the trails and enjoy the scenery. Look for birds and signs of other wildlife in the area and take in the picturesque views that are normally blocked by lush vegetation and trees. You can also take a thermos of hot coffee or cocoa and a blanket so you can sit and rest up before you make the return trip. Talk to your kid about the changes that the season brings and see how many animal species you can identify by looking for tracks in the snow.

Sledding – This is an obvious choice right? A good toboggan or sled can be a child’s best friend in winter. Whenever you get a decent amount of powder on the ground take the kids to a local hill and all of you can enjoy a day of sledding. You get great exercise trekking uphill in the snow, pulling a sled, and you make memories that will last a lifetime. Parents who don’t want to sled can bring a camera to capture the moment and make a scrapbook later.

Ice Skating – Going to a local rink can be a great weekly activity for youngsters. You can call your local parks and recreation department to see what ponds they recommend for ice skating. Skate in groups in you go to a local pond and it is always a good idea to use a portable cordless drill to drill holes in the ice in several places to make sure the ice is at least 4-6 inches thick. A cell phone, a rope, and an axe are good things to bring along just in case.

You can also go to a local rink of course but prices can be high. Roller skating rinks have been known to offer coupons and special discounts to lure winter patrons in so that is an option too. You can also make your own ice rink in your backyard.

Winter Camping – Yes, camping in winter can be a muddy, freezing experience but it can also be great fun. During the day you can hike, sled, ski, snowboard, ice fish, or snowshoe. At night you can sleep next to a campfire and look at the stars. Planning one or two overnight trips per month can be a great way for families to get out and enjoy nature… even in the winter. If you don’t feel comfortable camping in the in the winter you can always camp in your backyard and use a chiminea for the campfire.

Shovel Together – One of the hardest parts of winter can be the constant shoveling of snow off of the driveway and sidewalks but it has to be done. Make it a family affair and the job gets done faster and becomes more enjoyable. Make sure you have snow shovels for everyone… even pint sized ones for any small children.

Helping Others is Fun – Giving of your time and energy to help other people can be the most rewarding thing a family does during the winter. Do you have any elderly neighbors who need help shoveling their drives or walkways? Well, after you shovel your own as a family, take trip to shovel the neighbors as well. Do you see the woman next door struggling to dig her car out of the snow? Round up the gang and go help. Show your children how it makes our heart swell with happiness to help other people.

For more ideas check out the Kids Winter Handbook.