Book Garnish

The Story of the Easter Bunny by Katherine Tegen - Easter Basket

2012-04-01T16:54:00.001-05:00

Easter Basket

Project Difficulty Level - **

In The Story of the Easter Bunny you discover just how busy this bunny is as he prepares for his yearly holiday. There are baskets to be woven, eggs to be painted and dyed, chocolate treats to be baked, and many deliveries to make. I wasn't prepared to take on all the tasks that the Easter Bunny does, but I did try my hand at basket making. My basket was inspired by All New Crafts for Easter by Kathy Ross, with a few alterations and additions. Kathy's book is full of fun Easter crafts if you want some more ideas!

What you will need:

4 Coffee filters
3 Pipe cleaners
Thin ribbon
Foam brush
Washable markers or Water colors
Saran wrap
Cup in the shape that you want your basket to resemble
Elmer glue
Hot glue gun
Scissors
Water
Paper to protect work surface

1. Mix together Elmer's glue and water in equal parts. I used about 1/8 cup water and 1/8 cup glue.

2. Put down paper to protect your work surface. Stack the 4 coffee filters together and color the outside filter with your markers or paints.

3. Cover your cup with saran wrap to protect it from the glue mixture. Then place the filters on top of it and cover the surface of the filter with the glue/water mixture. I found that the colors turned out best if you begin your brush stroke on the edge of the filter (were the color is) and move inward.

4. Let the filters dry for an hour, then tie a ribbon around them. The filters should still just be slightly damp at this point, and at the perfect stage for you to mold the basket into the shape that you want. Leave them to dry on the cup for a few more hours, or speed up the process with a hair dryer,

5. Twist 3 pipe cleaners together; this will be your handle. I also cut off about 2 inches of the pipe cleaner to make the handle more proportionate to the basket.

6. Using a hot glue gun, secure the handle to the inside of the basket.

7. Fill with eggs and candy, enjoy!

Happy Easter!

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - Bread

2012-03-18T20:18:00.003-05:00

District 11 Bread

Project Difficultly Level - ***

Panem is a nation centered around bread; in fact, its very name means "bread" in Latin. Each of the 12 districts that form Panem have a bread that they are known for (with the capitol being the only exception). One of the breads that plays an important role in the first novel of this series is the crescent rolls from District 11. Katniss receives these rolls as a gift of gratitude in the arena and instantly recognizes who has sent them and the special significance behind the the gift. The bread is described as ration grain rolls, shaped into crescents, and sprinkled with seeds.

What you will need:

3 cups water
2 (.25 ounce) packages active dry yeast
2/3 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon salt
5 cups bread flour
5 cups whole wheat flour (divided use)
5 tablespoons butter, melted (divided use)
3 tablespoons sesame seeds

Makes about 20-25 medium sized rolls.

1. In a large bowl combine yeast and water according to directions on yeast package.

2. Mix in 3 tbsp melted butter, honey, and salt.

3. Add bread flour and 2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour.

4. Knead in additional whole wheat flour until the dough pulls away from the counter but is still sticky to the touch (about 2-4 cups of flour).

5. Cover and let rise in a warm place until the bread has doubled in size (45 min.-1 hr.).

6. Prepare a greased cookie sheet.

7. Flour your hands and start forming the crescent rolls. Sprinkle the tops of the rolls with sesame seeds.

8. Preset oven to 350 degrees F.

9. Let the dough rise a second time for 30 minutes.

10. Bake for 20-30 minutes.

11. Melt 2 tbsp butter and brush onto the rolls.

12. Let cool and enjoy!

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater - Peppermint Hot-Coco

2012-03-04T19:20:00.002-06:00

Peppermint Hot-Coco

Project Difficulty Level - **

Shiver features a pack of werewolves that is highly affected by the changing seasons. In the summer they are human and in the winter they are wolves. To stay human, they need to stay warm. One way that Grace and Sam fight off the chill is by drinking peppermint hot-chocolate at Sam's favorite sweet shop. Just like everything else in the store, this hot-coco is amazingly delicious. Here is my version of the recipe.

What you will need:

(For a single serving)

2 tsp unsweetened coco powder

2 tsp sugar

Dash of salt

Peppermint syrup to taste

Milk

Whip cream

In a microwavable mug, combine coco powder, sugar, and salt. Add 3 tsp of cold milk. Stir everything together until it is smooth. (Don't stress if there are a few lumps, these will disappear once you warm up the milk.) Add a dash of peppermint syrup to taste. Stir. Top the mug off with milk (I fill mine almost to the very top). Place in the microwave for 1 - 1 1/2 minutes. Stir to blend and top with whip cream. Enjoy!

Note: I think this drink would also be delicious with some crushed peppermints sprinkled on top.

World Book Day

2012-02-26T19:55:00.002-06:00

Join in the celebration of reading on World Book Day, March 1st. The event will be happening in the UK and Ireland; however, even if you live in another country you can still participate through the website: http://www.worldbookday.com/

Join the fun by attending an event live or via webcast, using a World Book Day token, playing online games, listening to online story-time, or by downloading the World Book Day app. Happy reading!

Beauty by Robin McKinley - Rose

2012-02-16T22:06:00.001-06:00

Rose

Project Difficulty Level - **

An essential part of the Beauty and the Beast story is the rose. Robin McKinley's retelling of the classic fairy tale is no exception. In this book Beauty's troubles begin long before her father comes home with a mysterious rose, but things take a turn for the worse with the appearance of this flower. In order to avoid the temptation of stealing flowers out of other people's gardens (and thus acquiring your own beastly woes), I have figured out how to create a paper rose.

What you will need:

Twisted paper cord, green and red (can get at craft store)
Scissors
Stapler
Scotch tape
Clear glue

1. Cut off a section of red twisted paper that is about 2-3 inches. Untwist the paper.

Twisted paper cord

2. Fold the paper in half.

3. Roll the paper up to form the center of the rose. Start to roll at either the left or right side, with the folded edge at the top. Staple at bottom to secure.

4. Cut another 2-3 inch section off of the red cord. Unroll the paper. Then cut the paper down the center.

5. Fold both pieces of paper in half. These are petals.

6. Using a scissor, round out the corners so that the paper looks more like a rose petal.

7. Tape or staple the petals around the center of the rose.

8. Repeat steps 4-7 so that you now have 4 small petals around the center of the flower.

9. Cut 4 more 2-3 inch sections of red cord. Unroll them, but do not cut them in half.

10. Fold them down the center and shape into petals.

11. Attach them to the rose. If you are using tape instead of staples for this, be careful not to use too much, that way you wont see the tape in the final product.

12. I stopped making petals here, but feel free to add as many as you feel necessarily.

13. Cut off a long piece of the green cord (about 8-9 inches). This will be your stem.

14. Unroll just the first inch or so of the cord.

15. Cut triangles out of the unrolled portion so that it looks like the bottom of a rose.

16. Glue the bloom inside the unrolled portion of the stem.

17. Cut off additional green cord to make leaves. Simply unroll the cord and use a scissor to form the paper into leaf-like shapes. Glue the leaves onto the stem.

18. Wait for your rose to dry and you are done!

Madeline and the Gypsies by Ludwig Bemelmans - Lion Mask

2012-02-05T16:16:00.000-06:00

Lion Mask

Project Difficulty Level - *

When Madeline is stranded at the top of a ferris wheel (forgotten by Ms. Clavel) she is terrified. Thankfully, a gypsy family takes her in and she travels with them as they move with the circus. When a worried Ms. Clavel comes back for Madeline the gypsies do not want their new friend to go back to Paris, so they disguise Madeline in a lion costume. However, as soon as Madeline realizes that Ms. Clavel has come for her, she takes off the costume to reveal her true identity. If you want your own feline disguise you are in luck, because this week I made a lion mask in honor of Madeline's circus costume.

What you will need:

Paper plate
Black maker
Blending chalk or crayons to color with
Scissors

1. Draw a sideways "C" to begin drawing the nose.

2. Draw a tiny dot in the center of the "C".

3. Draw two more sideways "C" in-between the dot and the big "C".

4. Draw a line down from the middle of the nose.

5. Draw another line, perpendicular to the line from #4.

6. Draw some dots on the lion's cheeks.

7. Draw whiskers from those dots.

8. Draw the ears. Again using sideways "C".

9. Draw the eyes.

10. Color the lion. I used blending chalk, but you could use anything you like.

11. Cut along the ridges on the edge of plate. This will create a fluffy mane.

12. Add a popsicle stick or string if you want a way to attach the mask to your face. And you are done!

Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi - Bird House

2012-01-29T18:51:00.002-06:00

Bird House

Project Difficulty Level - *

When the Grace children knocked a hole through the wall of their new home they were searching for a mouse, but what they found was the nest of a brownie. Brownies are normally helpful creatures, but when angered they turn into boggarts and begin to cause mischief, and this brownie became very irate when the Grace children destroyed its home. In hopes of returning the boggart back into the more friendly brownie, the children construct a new home from a birdhouse and placed it where the boggart could find it. I followed their example this week and made a paper birdhouse incase I should ever encounter a similar problem.

What you will need:

Scrapbook paper (2 sheets)
Scissors
Glue or tape
Template provided below
Markers or stickers to decorate the house

1. Print out the template below.

2. Trace the template onto scrapbook paper and cut it out. Also, cut out the roof in the dimensions provided on the template.

3. Add details. I drew a design around the door and cut the edge of the roof with craft scissors.

4. Fold the sides of the house up and fold the flaps back. Fold the roof in half (hamburger style).

5. Glue or tape the sides together.

6. Fill in the house with bits of strings, paper or fabric that the brownie might like.

7. Attach the roof, and wait for your brownie to move in.

I'm Gonna Like Me by Jamie Lee Curtis - Paper Activity

2012-01-22T21:16:00.000-06:00

Paper Activity

Project Difficulty Level - *

I really enjoyed Jamie Lee Curtis' book I'm Gonna Like Me. This story is all about liking who you are, during both the good times (when you are feeling brave on the first day of school) and the bad times (when you are picked last in gym), so I created a handout to go with the book. The challenge for this handout is to finish the sentence "I'm gonna like me when..." and to draw a picture that depicts your sentence. Have fun!

(Click on the "Fullscreen" button and print.)
I'm Gonna Like Me When

Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh - Notebook

2012-01-08T21:50:00.002-06:00

Notebook

Project Difficulty Level - ***

Harriet is training to be a spy. As part of that training she has decided that she should observe the suspicious actions of her friends, classmates, and neighbors, all of which is carefully recorded in her special notebook. I wanted to create a notebook that was small enough for these sorts of espionage missions, something that could easily be hidden in a pocket and kept top secret, this was the result:

What you will need:

5 sheets of thick paper
Scrap of fabric (at least 3 1/2'' x 10'' big)
Hole punch
Scissors
Pinking sheers (optional)
String
Spray adhesive
Sewing machine and thread for machine
Thread and needle
Medium sized button
Metal decorative piece (optional)

1. Cut four sheets of paper into 3 1/2'' x 8'' strips. These will be your pages. You should end up with 12 strips. Then, fold the paper in half, "hamburger style" (as shown below).

2. Create a template for punching holes through your pages. You will later run a string through these holes to bind the book together and this template ensures that all the pages will have holes in the same place. I punched the holes for my template about 3/4'' from the outside edge. Line the template up with the folded edge of the pages and punch the holes.

Template and folded page

3. From the same paper, cut out the cover for your book, 3 1/2'' x 10''.

4. Spray adhesive onto one side of the paper and attach the fabric to the cover. The picture below shows the cover from the back.

5. Trim away the excess fabric.

6. Sew along all the edges of the cover with your sewing machine. I used a fancy stitch for the long edges to give the notebook more character. I also added additional detail by cutting the short edges with pinking sheers.

7. Place the template (from step #2) on the cover about 5 1/2'' in from one of the short sides, and punch the holes.

8. Run string through all the pages and the cover to bind everything together. Using a large needle to help guide the string through the holes will make this much easier. I ran the string through several times to give the binding more strength. Then, tie the string in a double knot.

9. Fold the cover up around the pages and punch a hole where you want to place your button.

10. Cut out a 1'' x1'' square from your paper. Then punch a hole in each of the corners. This will help to reinforce your button.

11. Using a thread and needle, attach the button and decorative metal piece to the cover. First send the needle through the button, then the metal, then the hole in the cover; next, place the paper square (step #10) on the inside of the book and run the needle through one of the corner holes. When you go back up through the cover send the needle through a different corner, alternating corners with each pass of the needle so that you eventually pass through each corner. Finish with a knot.

12. Cut a 24'' string. Fold it in half and tie it to the button, so that there are two 12'' strands of string coming out from under the button.

13. Wrap the string around the book, and then around the button to close up your top secret notebook.

Update

2012-01-08T12:43:00.003-06:00

Just wanted to put up a quick update. Sorry I haven't posted in two weeks, my computer crashed and then I found a litter of kittens on my porch. (Here are the kittens in the sink. I had just interrupted their nap.)

However, I now have a new computer and the kittens are going to their permanent home this afternoon, so I should have a post up by tonight!

Hope you had a wonderful start to the new year.

How the Grinch Stole Christmas! by Dr. Seuss - Hand Warmers

2011-12-18T13:29:00.001-06:00

Heart Hand Warmers

Project Difficulty Level - **

With a heart 2 sizes too small, the Grinch loathes Christmas. He hates the presents, the decorations, and most of all the singing. However, when the Grinch learns that Christmas is about more than bows and wrapping, more than simple holiday trappings, he feels his heart grow 3 times in his chest. Finally he is able to join the Whos' in their celebration on Christmas night. My craft for this book in a set of hand-warmers with hearts sewn onto the front. Just as the Grinch's heart grew warm when he realized the true meaning of Christmas, so will these warmers help keep you toasty over the holiday.

What you will need:

Red cotton fabric (scraps)
Green cotton fabric (scraps)
Green sewing machine thread
Red embroidery floss
Sewing machine
Embroidery needle
Fusible interfacing
Iron
Chalk pencil (or any pencil made to draw on fabric)
Scissors
Computer paper
Rice
Essential oils (optional)

1. Cut out 2 squares from the computer paper paper. One should be 4x4 inches and the other 2.5x2.5 inches.

2. Fold the smaller square in half and draw half of a heart onto it. Cut out the heart.

3. Iron the fusible interfacing onto the back of your read fabric. This interfacing will stop the fabric from unraveling. Then, using the heart pattern you just made, cut 2 hearts out of the read fabric.

Fusible interfacing has been ironed on.

4. Using the 4 inch square pattern, draw four squares onto the green fabric with the chalk pencil. Center the hearts onto 2 of the squares and pin them down securely.

You can just barely see the pink markings from my chalk pencil.

5. Sew the hearts to the green fabric with the red embroidery floss. I used a "blanket stitch" (see instructions below for this stitch), but you can do this with any stitch you like.

For the blanket stitch: White numbers mean the thread is coming up though the fabric and black numbers indicate that the thread is going back down through the fabric.

a. Bring the needle up through the back of the fabric (#1) and then down through the fabric to form a loop (#2). Do not pull it tight yet.

b. Come back though the fabric (#3), parallel with #2 as illustrated by the black line. Then send the thread through the loop you created in step "a".

c. Pull tight.

d. Go back down through the fabric to make another loop and start the process from the beginning.

6. Once you have finished sewing on both hearts, cut out the four square you drew with you chalk pencil. This will allow you to make 2 warmers, the heart pieces will be the front side and the all green pieces will be the back side.

7. With the right (or front) sides of the fabric together, pin the two sides of both warmers together. Make an "X" with the pins on one side (on bottom side in picture); this will help remind you not to sew over that area, as you will need to leave an opening where you can fill up the warmers with rice.

8. With a sewing machine sew around the edges of both warmers. This pattern allows for a 1/2 inch seam allowance. Then go back around the edges with a zig zag stitch for added durability. If you are sewing by hand make sure to keep your stitches tiny and tight so that they do not let any rice through. Cut the corners off, being careful not to cut into any of your stitches; this will make your corners more pointy when you turn the warmer right side out.

9. Turn the warmer right-side out.

10. Fill the bag up with rice. Use a funnel to help with this, or make a cone with a bit of scrap paper. You can also add herbs or essential oils in with the rice for a nice scent.

I used a paper cone to help fill the bag with rice.

11. Hand sew the hole in the bag shut. Make your stitches tiny and tight so that the rice will not fall through.

12. Put your warmer in the microwave for 30-40 seconds and enjoy toasty hands for around 10 minutes! To keep the warmers heated for longer try slipping them inside of your gloves.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis: Turkish Delight

2011-12-10T19:28:00.001-06:00

Turkish Delight

Project Difficulty Level - ***

When the White Witch asks Edmund to name his favorite desert, he instantly answers "Turkish Delight". This is a sweet of middle eastern origin, which has the consistency of a gum drop. From what I have read, this desert traditionally comes in rose or orange flavors, but the possibilities are endless. Sadly, making this candy is not as simple as the Witch makes it seem; you will need to do more than drop a bit of potion into the snow, but the results are well worth the effort.

What you will need:

4 cups granulated sugar
4 1/2 cups water (divided use)
2 tsp lemon juice
1 1/4 cups cornstarch
1 tsp cream of tarter
1 1/2 tbsp orange extract
1 drop of read food coloring
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Candy thermometer

Time: 2 hours of work, and needs to sit over night.

1. Combine granulated sugar, lemon juice, and 1 1/2 cups of water over medium heat. Stir until the sugar dissolves. Once the sugar has dissolved, brush the sides of the pot with a pastry brush to avoid crystals forming and bring the mixture to a boil.

Sugar, water, and lemon juice

The sugar has dissolved.

Bring to boil.

2. Let the mixture continue boiling until it reaches 240 degrees Fahrenheit. Do not stir.

3. When the sugar mixture has reached around 220 degrees, start combining 3 cups of water, cornstarch, and cream of tarter in a separate large pot.Whisk until there are no lumps. Then place the pot over medium heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Whisk constantly, until the mixture becomes thick and pasty. It will take a few minutes and it will seem like nothing is happening, but then the mixture will suddenly transform.

Mixture is thick and pasty.

4. Soon the sugar mixture should reach 240 degrees, at which point you should remove the pot from the heat. Then begin to carefully add the sugar mixture to the cornstarch mixture, and whisk until the two are fully combined.

5. Leave the pot on the stove, but reduce the heat to the lowest setting. Leave the mixture simmering for 45 minutes to an hour, whisking every 8-10 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat when the mixture turns a golden color (see picture below).

6. Once the desired color has been reached and the pot has been removed from the heat, mix in 1 drop of read food coloring (to make the Turkish Delight a vibrant orange) and the orange extract.

7. Prepare a 9x9 pan but covering it with foil and spraying it heavily with non-stick spray.

8. Pour the mixture into the pan and leave it uncovered overnight.

9. The next day, prepare your work surface with the powdered sugar. Lift the foil out of the pan and flip the Turkish Delight onto the powder sugar (it is now upside down on the counter-top). Peal the foil off the candy. Flip the Turkish delight right side up so that both sides are now coated in powdered sugar.

Upside down in the powdered sugar

10. Cut the candy into squares with an oiled knife. Coat all sides of the individual pieces with powder sugar.

11. Turkish delight is best right after you have finished coating it in powdered sugar, but you can also store it in the fridge. I would recommend separating the layers of candy with wax paper if you stack them on top of each other, and re-coating them in powdered sugar when you are ready to eat them. Enjoy!

Bible - Random Acts of Kindness

2011-12-01T11:30:00.001-06:00

Random Acts of Kindness

This week the book that I was inspired by was the Bible. Around this time of year I always feel that I should be putting out an extra effort to give back, and a few months ago I saw this post on the {tsj} photography blog, which gave me the idea of an advent calendar featuring "random acts of kindness". So for every day though December 25th I have come up with an act of kindness that I can do for someone else. I wanted to post my ideas in the hopes that others might join in. Some of my ideas are specific to me, but most of them anyone could do. Also is you have any ideas of your own I would love to hear them!

1 Smile at several strangers

2 Leave the close parking spot for someone else

3 Give away football ticket

4 Make food treat for co-workers

5 Send Christmas card to pen pal in Compassion International program

6 Leave a quarters at candy machines

7 Leave a copy of an interesting book for someone to find

8 Pick up trash

9 Donate used clothing

10 Give stray cats who visit my porch special food treats

11 Make a positive comment on a website or blog

12 Make bird seed feeders

13 Put away someone else’s shopping cart

14 Donate used books to library

15 Write a note of appreciation to someone who has been there for me

16 Click for a cause (ex. http://freerice.com)

17 Write a note of appreciation for the mailman

18 Give lottery ticket to a stranger

19 Visit an animal shelter

20 Make someone laugh

21 Do a household chore for someone

22 Send a thank you not to local fire station

23 Donate teddy bear to police station for traumatized children (http://www.projectsmile.org/)

24 Take the family dog on an extra long walk

25 Leave a gift on someone’s doorstep anonymously

Also, here is a image you can print off to leave when you commit a random act of kindness (ex. tape it up next to the quarters in the candy machine). Just right click and copy it into a word document to print!

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale - Linder Necklace

2011-11-26T12:48:00.001-06:00

Linder Necklace

Project Difficulty Level - ***

On Mount Eskel everyone's lives revolve around one precious stone, linder. This stone, bright white with shimmering veins, is said to be more beautiful than any other in the kingdom. The veins change from one generation to the next, as different mines are opened and closed; some stones have blue veins, others pink, and some (most lovely of all) silver. I was inspired by the description of this stone to made a necklace that showcases linder's beauty.

What you will need:

For the stone:

White polymer clay
Sliver polymer clay (or whatever color you want your veins to be)
Something to protect your work surface with (ex. parchment paper)
Oven

For the necklace:

I made my necklace with both silver and gold findings because it looked best with my linder, but if you want to spend less money on supplies, just get silver chain and wire (or just gold).

Gold chain (get a delicate looking chain)
Silver chain (get a delicate looking chain)
Gold wire (24 gauge)
Silver wire (24 gauge)
Eye pin (gold or silver)
Needle the same thickness or thicker than the eye pin
3 jump rings (gold or silver)
2 needle nose pliers
1 rosary plier
Wire cutter

Stone

1. Roll white and silver clay into balls. Use about 2x the amount of white clay than silver. Note: The clay will be very brittle at first, just keep on working with it and it will be come workable.

Very brittle at first.

2. Roll both balls into snakes.

3. Push the snakes together.

4. Twist the clay.

5. Fold it into thirds.

6. Roll everything back into a snake.

7. Repeat this process 3 times.

8. Roll the snake into a coil.

9. Roll the coil into a ball.

10. Flatten the ball out and fold it in half.

11. Roll it back into a ball.

12. Keep on doing any of the above until you are happy with how the clay looks. I stopped at this point and molded my clay into a stone. I also left imperfections in the clay to make it look more like a real stone (notice the cracks).

13. Push the needle through the stone where you want the eye pin to go. Wiggle the needle around if you want to enlarge the hole. Remove the needle when the hole is big enough.

14. Put the clay into the oven according to the directions on the package.

15. When the clay is finished baking, cover it in a thin layer of clear nail polish. This will give it a stone-like glint. With this step the stone is done!

Necklace

1. Put the eye pin in the stone, then form the unfinished end into a loop. Leave some room for the stone to slide up and down on the pin; you will want the extra space for the next step.

2. Wrap the silver wire around the stone. Every time I passed the eye pin I would wrap the wire around it for extra security (see picture below).

Close up

3. Do the same with the gold wire.

4. Put a jump ring through both "eyes" of the pin.

5. Cut the chain for the tassel of the necklace. I cut my chain into 3 inch segments, with 3 silver strands and 2 gold.

6. Put all of the chain segments onto the bottom jump ring. Alternate the chain colors (silver, gold, silver, gold, silver).

Close up

7. Cut a 28 inch gold chain.

8. Run the chain through the jump ring on the top of the stone. Then connect the two ends of the chain with another jump ring. If you cut your chain shorter and can not slip the necklace over your head, instead of a jump ring, use a lobster claw to connect the 2 ends of the chain.

Close up of back of necklace

9. Wear you linder out on the town!

The Knight and the Dragon by Tomie dePaola - Stained Glass Coloring Page

2011-11-19T15:37:00.001-06:00

Knight and Dragon Stained Glass

Project Difficulty Level - *

This story is about a knight and a dragon as they both prepare to fight one another. The dragon practices his tale swinging and fire breathing techniques, while the knight hones his sword and horse riding skills. However, this tale may not end the way that you expect. For this book I put together a coloring page that is inspired by dePaola drawings and stain glass windows.

What you will need:

PDF provided below
Color pencils
Scissors
Removable double-sided tape

1. Print out the PDF.

2. Color the picture with color pencils.

3. Cut out the images.

4. With removable double-sided tape, attach the drawings to a window and let the sun shine through them.

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - Mockingjay Pin

2011-11-12T21:56:00.001-06:00

Mockingjay Pin

Project Difficulty Level - **

Katniss receives a Mockingjay pin from a friend before entering the arena. The Mockingjay is a cross between the familiar Mockingbird and the Jabberjay, a genetically altered bird used by the Capitol to spy on its enemies. Soon this symbol becomes the emblem for rebellion, and Katniss is touted as "The Mockingjay". This week I attempted to create a cheap and easy version of the Mockingjay pin.

What you will need:

Shrinky Dink Ink Jet
Ink Jet printer
Scissors
Pin backing
Hot-glue gun
Oven
Top-coat nail polish

1. Scan in the cover of the book.

2. Crop the picture so that you only see the image of the Mockingjay.

3. Manipulate the image following the directions on the Shrinky Dink package. I had to lighten my image and make it three times the size of my desired finished product (6 inches become 2 inches after baking).

4. Print the image out on normal printer paper to test the size and color.

5. Once you are happy with what you have, put the Shirky Dink into the printer (again following any directions on the package) and print.

6. Cut out the image. I tried to do this several ways and what worked best for me was to only cut around the outside of the circle and leave the black areas inside untouched (see image below). Without the black areas intact, the circle becomes deformed. Also, I would suggest leaving a thicker line of black around the arrow point than shown in the picture below; soon after I finished my pin, the arrow point snapped off.

7. Bake the pin as directed on the package. Have skewers or chopsticks handy to use as tools in case the Mockingjay begins to fold onto itself as it bakes.

8. Let it cool.

The colors become much more vibrant after baking!

9. Using a hot glue gun, adhere the pin backing to the back of the Mockingjay.

10. Protect the printed colors with a sealant. I used top-coat nail polished and that worked well.

11. It is ready to wear!

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins - Plants

2011-11-05T17:38:00.000-05:00

Plants and their Uses

A craft for Hunger Games is currently in the works, but I wanted to take this weekend to post about an aspect of the book that I find interesting: plants and their various uses. One of Katniss' greatest strengths in the Games is her ability to find and identify plants. I may not be as knowledgeable as Katniss in this arena, but here are some of my favorite resources about plants.

Wicked Plants by Amy Stewart

Wicked Plants was a fascinating read for me. I was expecting the writing to be a bit dry, as it usually is in non-fiction books, but was pleasantly surprised when I couldn't put this one down. If you are interested in the dangerous side of plants, then this is the book for you. Wicked Plants details poisons that Katniss might put on the tips of her arrows, plants with terrifying histories, and deadly varieties that disguise themselves as common edibles (as a certain player of the Games discovered to her peril). Also, you can order a signed copy from Amy's bookstore on her website: http://www.amystewart.com/order.html!

The Herb Quarterly

My sister got me this magazine for my birthday and it is a treasure trove of information and recipes. If you are traumatized by Wicked Plants this quarterly will ease you back into the idea of eating green and growing things. Reading through the articles in The Herb Quarterly has inspired me to take after Prim and try my hand at creating a soothing balm or relaxing tea. If it goes well I will post to share the results!

To close, here is a bit of Hunger Games related plant trivia that I found on the "Hogwarts Professor, Thoughts for Serious Readers" Blog. Katniss mentions that she is named for a plant, but did you know that her namesake also goes by the title "Sagittaria", which means "belonging to the arrow" in Latin? This plant is hardy, with arrow shaped leaves, and an edible root - qualities that bring to mind Katniss' own attributes and skills. Prim is also named for a plant, but her plant is know for its medicinal value and cheerful aspect, very reminiscent of the gentle Prim who aspires to be a doctor.

Katniss

Photo courtesy of: http://www.nps.gov/plants/pubs/chesapeake/plant/324.htm

Primrose

Photo courtesy of: http://www.revitaliseyourhealth.com/evening-primrose-oil-for-hair-loss/

May the odds be ever in your favor.

Halloween History and Turnip Carving

2011-10-29T20:54:00.000-05:00

Project Difficulty Level - *** (you are going to need some muscle!)

Something that I have always wanted to try is turnip carving. Originally, in the United Kingdom (where Halloween has its origins), pumpkins were not carved, but turnips. The tradition started with a legendary Irish man named Jack. Jack was a trickster and often played pranks on the devil. When Jack eventually died Heaven did not want him and hell could not stand him, so Jack was doomed to wander the Earth for eternity, traveling through the dark night with only a small lantern to guide him.

Thus the idea of Jack-o'-lanterns was born. For many years Jack was carved into turnips, but when the Irish arrived in America they found that native pumpkins thrived at the right time of year and were perfect for carving, and today the pumpkin is a Halloween icon. However, I wanted to return to the roots of this tradition and try my hand at turnip carving this year.

You can find out more information on this as well as other facts about Halloween in these books (click on the pictures below to go to amazon.com and learn more):

Turnip Carving

What you will need:

Turnip
Spoon
Butter knife
Pumpkin carving knife
Newspaper
Battery operated tea-light

1. Cover your work surface with newspaper.

2. Figure out where you want the bottom of your Jack-o'-lantern to be, then cut a circle out at this spot. You can throw away the piece you just cut off; you will not see the hole you have created as it will be at the bottom of the Jack-o'-lantern.

3. Start scooping the inside of the turnip out. I started with the spoon and then used the butter knife to get rid of the tougher bits. The knife is also good for scraping the sides to get them thinner and ready for carving. You are going to need to use some muscle for this; it is not as easy as cleaning out a pumpkin. (However, I do think it is less messy, so it has that in its favor.) And be careful!

4. Stop when the sides are about 1/4 of an inch or thinner.

5. Draw your design on with a pencil.

6. Once you have the face how you want it, go ahead and carve it out with your pumpkin knife.

7. Put your battery operated tea-light inside and enjoy! (Note: don't use a real flame or your home will smell like burnt turnip.)

8. Your Jack-o'-lantern should last about 1-2 days at indoor temperatures and longer outside in the chill.

Happy Halloween!

Skeleton Hiccups by Margery Cuyler - Skeleton Puppet

2011-10-21T21:48:00.001-05:00

Skeleton Puppet

Project Difficulty Level - **

Skeleton Hiccups is a story about a skeleton that wakes up one morning with an awful case of the hiccups. He tries all different sorts of things to get rid of his hiccups, but they refuse to go away. Eventually, with the help of a ghostly friend, he comes upon a unique solution. This week I made a skeleton that "hiccups" (jumps) when a string is pulled. Hic, hic, hic.

What you will need:

PDF (provided below)
Clear milk carton (gallon size)
Black permanent marker
White paint pen
String
Brads
Small hole punch
Scissors
Painter's tape

1. Clean out your milk carton.

2. Print out the PDF below.

Skeleton

3. Cut out the skeleton template. This does not need to be perfect.

4. Cut up your milk carton so that you have 3 sheets of plastic, one for the body, one for the legs, and one for the arms.

5. With painter's tape, adhere the templates to the back of the plastic sheets. You should be able to see the design through the plastic.

6. Using the permanent marker, trace the skeleton design onto the plastic.

7. Remove the template and tape.

8. Flip the plastic over, so that you are now looking at the backside of your drawing. Color in the the skeleton with the white paint marker. By painting on the back of the plastic you will still be able to see the white color when viewing from the front and your black lines will remain crisp. The paint pen with eventually scratch off, so if you think this skeleton is going to get a good deal of use you might also want to apply a sealer over the white paint.

9. Cut out the skeleton. Again this doesn't need to be perfect. I didn't cut right along the black lines; instead I cut a few millimeters out, because I wanted my skeleton to be thicker and more sturdy. Don't forget to include the large floating circles as you cut. (See below for picture.)

10. Use a small hole punch to punch out all the circles on the template. There are 13 circle total: 8 small circles and 5 large circles.

11. Connect the limbs to the body with brads. The brads go into the "small circle" holes on the template. Also, the limbs need to be attached behind the body; this will be important later.

12. Cut 2 lengths of string. Make them longer than the skeleton is tall.

13. Run a string through the "large circle" hole in one of arms and tie it in a knot. Repeat with the second string on the other arm. Tie the knot on the inside of the arm, this will make the puppet system easier to manipulate.

14. Tie each string to the "large circle" hole in its respective leg. (See picture below.) Make the String loose and then pull it downward to test if it makes the arm and leg jump upwards. As with the arms, make sure you tie the knot on the inside of the leg.

15. Tie the strings together. (The picture below is viewed from the back of the skeleton. I used red string to help you see what I was doing; later I replaced the string with black embroidery floss to make it less visible.)

16. Tie a separate string through the hole at the top of the head. This provides you with a way to hold or hang your skeleton.

17. Pull the strings to make your skeleton hiccup!

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer - Vampire Cocktail

2011-10-16T13:39:00.002-05:00

Vampire Cocktail

Project Difficulty Level - *

Most of you reading this are probably aware that the Twilight Series features a family of vampires, the Cullens. So for my project this week I made a Vampire Cocktail that might grace a Cullen gathering (a vegetarian cocktail of course). This is an easy drink to make that would be great for any Halloween party.

I made a video for this recipe, or if you prefer, written instructions are included below:

What you will need:

1/2 cup of citrus flavored Fresca
1/4 cup of cranberry pomegranate juice
splash of grenadine

Note: There is no alcohol in this, but if you wanted to add some rum or vodka would work well with the flavors in the drink.

1. Pour a splash of grenadine into your glass.

2. Pour in the cranberry pomegranate juice.

3. Top it all off with Fresca.

4. Stir it up. The grenadine tends to sit at the bottom.

Enjoy!

Scared Silly! by Marc Brown - Monster Spray

2011-10-08T22:21:00.000-05:00

For the month of October, I wanted to focus on books that feature monsters, vampires, skeletons, witches, and werewolves. The crafts and recipes that I have prepared for this month all follow a Halloween theme. Kick-starting October is:

Monster Spray

Project Difficulty Level- *

In Scared Silly! there are several poems, songs, and jokes about the creatures that come out around Halloween. While some of these stories are scary, most of them are more likely to invoke chuckles than screams. Two parts of this book caught my attention right away: an "Official Monster Bedroom Checklist" and "A Magic Chant". The checklist includes a list of places you should check for monsters before heading off to bed and the chant is something you can say to scare away any monsters that you might have missed. For my craft this week I came up with a third defense against those things that go bump in the night: Monster Spray (otherwise know as linen spray). This bedroom is going to be monster-free in no time!

What you will need:

Empty spray bottle
Fabric Softener
Baking Soda
Water
PDF provided below
White sheet of paper
Red sheet of paper
Double sided tape
Ribbon

1. Clean out your bottle very well.

2. Fill bottle with:

3 cups water

1 tbs baking soda

1/4 cup fabric softener

3. Cap the bottle and shake well.

4. Cut out templates provided below.

Monster Away Spray

5. Trace circle template onto red paper.

6. Cut out the circle.

7. With double sided tape, adhere the ghost and circle to your bottle. Note: If you want the paper to be more durable add a layer of clear packing tape on top.

8. Tie the ribbon around the bottle, into a bow.

9. Spray your bedsheets!

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher - Star Projector

2011-10-02T21:06:00.000-05:00

Continued...

Star Projector

Project Difficulty Level - ***

As I mentioned in my last post, Incarceron is a book that often features the stars. Incarceron is a prison whose inmates have never seen the sky. Its prisoners fantasize about the stars: do the stars sing, do they dance, is there really an infinite number of them? The main character of this novel is an inmate who has visions of the outside world, and so he is given the name Fin "Starseer"; he alone can see the stars from Incarceron.

I created a star projector that would project constellations onto the ceilings and walls of any room it is placed in. It might not be the real thing, but it would give the prisoners some idea about what the sky outside looks like lit up with stars.

What you will need:

Balloon
Newspaper
Scissors
Piercing tool or a regular tack
"School" glue (white or clear)
Water
Battery powered LED light (If you want the holes to project exactly as you punched them use an LED light with a single bulb, otherwise the multiple bulbs project each hole multiple times and have an interesting kaleidoscope effect.)
Black paint
Foam brush
Ribbon (about 1/4 - 1/2 inch in width)

1. Blow up your balloon. Stop when the circumference is slightly larger than the circumference of your LED light. Tie off the balloon.

2. Put the balloon into a bowl so that it is stable and secure as you start to work with it. Cover your work surface to protect it. (Warning: cats may be very interested in the balloon!)

3. Cut your newspaper into strips.

4. Mix up a glue medium by combining 3 parts school glue to one part water (ex: 3/4 cup glue and 1/4 cup water).

5. Grab a newspaper strip and paint it with glue on one side. Place the strip onto the balloon with the sticky side facing the balloon. Then paint the outward facing side with glue as well.

6. Repeat. We are trying to get these newspaper strips to form a dome shape.

7. Repeat some more...

8. Keep on going until you have 2 or 3 good layers of paper on the balloon. Try to get rid of any air bubbles (but don't get too frustrated with this; they are inevitable).

9. The "equator" region of the dome was very flimsy so I added some more paper going around the balloon. (If the balloon were a globe we would now have strips going both longitudinally and latitudinally.)

10. Let the paper dry completely. This will take several hours.

11. Pop the balloon and carefully peel it off the paper.

12. Trim up the lip of the dome so that it is level when you place it on the counter.

13. Paint the dome black.

14. Poke holes into the dome. You want these hole to be very small, as tiny as a pin head. I used a piercing tool that I had bought from a craft store, but you could also use a sharp tack and it would give you perfect sized holes. You can punch the holes in the shape of your favorite constellations or just where ever you think they would look good (I did a little of both techniques). Make sure not to poke yourself!

15. Glue the ribbon along the bottom edge of the dome. This is to prevent the light from leaking out under the dome. I used a hot glue gun to do this, but many different types of glue would work. (If you don't like the look of the ribbon, just get a black one and it will blend right in.)

16. Place the LED under the dome and light up a dark room with stars!

The Ceiling

For the Love of Reading

2011-09-28T13:00:00.000-05:00

Bestselling author James Patterson has a website called Read Kiddo Read that is worth checking out. Patterson has created an extensive collection of book titles that he is sure will be page-turners. The website is very user friendly. You first click on the age range that you are interested in, for example "Ages 10 & Up". Then you reach a page where you can choose the genre you (or your kiddo) like to read, be it fictional or factual. I have read several of the books featured on this site and can attest that I have loved them all. He really knows how to pick them.

Patterson also just wrote an article for CNN about how to foster a love of reading in children. Here is a link: http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/28/opinion/patterson-kids-reading/index.html. The article is full of great tips and reading resources for parents.

I think what he's doing for reading is wonderful and wanted to pass on the resources. Leave a comment if you know of any other interesting websites or articles related to reading.

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher - Stars

2011-09-23T23:33:00.001-05:00

The Stars

Next week I will put up a craft I am working on for Incarceron, but this week I wanted to do a post that could provide you with some additional information about one of the major elements of this series: the stars. At the beginning of the book Jared the Sapient shows Claudia a few stars through one of his treasured telescopes. Up in his tower he has stashed away instruments that help him to observe the heavens and he retreats there to contemplate and wonder at the universe. I also find the stars breathtaking and wanted to share a few of my favorite resources with you.

The Hubble Site

The Hubble Site (hubblesite.org) is filed with many different astronomy resources, but my favorite part of the site is the gallery. Below is a sampler of the images that are featured there:

A Star Nursery

In this cloud of dust stars are born. The blue stars in the background are only a few million years old (that is young for a star).

Credit: NASA, ESA, F. Paresce (INAF-IASF, Bologna, Italy),

R. O'Connell (University of Virginia, Charlottesville),

and the Wide Field Camera 3 Science Oversight Committee

Supernova Remnant

This is a supernova remnant, the left overs from the explosion of a dying star. This explosion occurred around 1,000 years ago and was observed by scholars in Japan and China in 1054 A.D. whose recordings of the event are preserved today.

Credit: NASA, ESA, J. Hester and A. Loll (Arizona State University)

Spiral Galaxy

This image features a spiral galaxy, much like our own Milky Way. All the little points of light in the background are other galaxies, and each is filled with millions or billions of stars and many of those stars have solar systems like the one Earth travels round in. The universe is a large place...much like Incarceron.

Credit: NASA, The Hubble Heritage Team and A. Riess (STScI)

Astronomy Picture of the Day

This site (http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110923.html) features a new picture of the universe each day. The pictures are accompanied by explanations from professional astronomers. Here is the picture for today:

September Aurora

Credit: Yuichi Takasaka / TWAN / www.blue-moon.ca

Stars and Planets a Peterson Field Guide

by Jay M. Pasachoff

Stars and Planets is a great field guide to help you get started on star gazing. This book has many maps featuring the constellations, movements of the planets, and changing placement of the stars throughout the year. It also has several chapters about stars, planets, and galaxies that will help you understand what you are looking at through your telescope. I have a copy myself and find it very useful.

Taking time to look at the stars.

I took a class on astronomy as an undergraduate in college and fell in love with the stars. As a class we would go out into a field with our telescopes and try to find the things we had only read about in our books. It was fascinating to read about a star and then look up into the night sky and see it sparkling there. The experience gave me a sense of awe for how beautiful the the universe is. Tonight I wanted to follow the example of Jared the Sapient and take a few moments to just appreciate the night sky.

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon - Fruit Smoothie

2011-09-16T14:28:00.000-05:00

Strawberry-Pineapple Smoothie

Project Difficulty Level - **

Stellaluna is a fruit bat, so when her foster family - a group of birds - insists that bugs are a delicious choice for dinner, Stellaluna is not convinced. Instead of beetles, crickets, and moths, Stellaluna appreciates the tastes of berries, citruses, and melons. This week I made a strawberry and pineapple smoothie that Stellaluna would be sure to approve of.

What you will need:

3/4 cup strawberries
2 tbsp frozen concentrated pineapple juice
1/2 cup milk
1/4 vanilla yogurt
5 ice cubes
2 tbsp sugar

Yields one tall glass or two small glasses. (See picture below.)

1. Put all of the ingredients into the blender and mix until smooth. This recipe also works with a magic bullet blender if that is what you use.

2. Check to make sure that all the ice has been blended into the smoothie.

3. Garnish with a strawberry or two and enjoy!