Nature Art and Activities

Hazel's Pine Cone Fairy

Today was a fun packed day at our house. Hazel did not take a nap, so it was also a long day. We started our morning with an early play date, though both kids slept in so it was later than usual. During which we played inside and outside. Hazel wanted to take a walk with her little wagon so she could collect nature treasures. Of course to her all the leaves are treasures so we didn't get very far.

After our playdate Hazel and I headed over to the Farmer's Market. I promised to buy her some apple cider doughnuts and some apple cider. It was the last week of the Farmer's Market in our town, so it was our last chance. Then we came home and had lunch and tried to nap. I almost fell asleep, but apparently Hazel didn't want to and decided she wanted quiet time today instead. Quiet time is at least half an hour of alone time in her room. She can play with her dollhouse or read her books in there, but shouldn't call me unless it is an emergency. She is getting much better at this. I feel it is important for each of us to have a little down time in our day and a change of pace as well as time to be alone.

Acorn and Pinecone Paintings

Then we started to do some crafts. (Well actually I guess we continued to do crafts since we had done some before our playdate this morning.) These crafts however were done in the garage. I would have done them outside, but after our Father's Day experience outside crafts do not work for us. We started with the acorn painting similar to what I saw on Tippytoe Crafts. However I didn't look to see what they did in awhile, so I went with my own intuition. We also did not have many complete acorns so we threw in some pinecones. We put a piece of white paper in a shirt box and then dipped acorns, acorn caps, and pinecones into fall colored paints. The result was interesting.

Hazel's Fall Treasure Wreath

My First Nature Person

Next we took some of those leaves, pinecones, flowers, acorns (well mostly caps) and glued them onto paper and a cut paper plate wreath.

My Maple Leaf Fairy

Our Oak Leaf Fairy

Then we decided to make leaf people which we then made into leaf fairies. Oh, and Hazel decided to use a pinecone instead of a leaf for one of them.

Then Hazel really wanted to go dig in the garden, so I let her. Yesterday she got to dig to help plant fall bulbs. And I was very glad she wasn't worried about getting dirty like she use to be.

Hazel's Digging Adventure

After digging, we decided to try some more painting. This time we used flowers, leaves and anything we could find as our brushes. We had a great time. Hazel got sick of the flowers, etc. and decided to use her fingers and hands.

Choosing a flower

Dipping it

The Result of Flower Painting

Painting with her hands

Her hands and painting

While she had her hands in the paint I pulled out more fall colored paper and got her to do her handprints for handprint turkey cards for Thanksgiving. I will stash them away for a bit. Then I hosed her off. She somehow ended up with orange paint in her hair. It was definitely a bath night tonight. We did some more painting and crafts, but we will safe those for another post. I figured while she was already dirty to do footprint paintings too. They are our Halloween cards. I'll share our Halloween crafts tomorrow.

Enjoy!

Halloween Children's Book and Needle Felted Characters

21 Days left until Halloween

Last night I made Hazel four characters from Erica Silverman's book, Big Pumpkin. When we had this book out of the library we read it at least three times a day. It is a Halloween story with a witch, ghost, vampire, bat and mummy, but is not scary at all. The overall story is the witch plants a pumpkin seed so she can make pumpkin pie for Halloween. Her pumpkin grows and grows, and when she goes to pick it hours away from Halloween it is too big for her to pick. Each of the other characters come along and try and only the little bat comes up with the idea that works (working together). Then they all enjoy her pumpkin pie at her Halloween party.

I told Hazel that the Pumpkin Fairy must have left them. I'm not sure if she believes me or not, but she has been a bit afraid of fairies due to the toy fairy story, so I want her to see some good in fairies as well. To make the ghost, I started with a small bit of white roving and folded it up small. Then I needled it into a ball. Next I took pieces of roving and draped them over the ball. I needled them into the ball and shaped the ghost how I wanted it. I tried to turn the ends out so it could stand on its own. Then I took small pieces of black to be eyes and a mouth.

For the witch, I made a ball out of biege roving and then shaped a piece of it for her nose. I added green hair--needling it on. For the hat I spiraled the black for the bottom and made it as flat as I could then I used a styrafoam cone to help get the shape of the top, but in the end it was too big so I folded it over and needled it flatter until I was happy. Then I attached the two pieces and attached the hat to the head (with the needle of course). Then I made arms by folder a long piece of black over and needling it into the shape I wanted. Then I used the cone to help with the body. Attaching long pieces at the top and draping it over the cone. I attached the arms to the head and the body to the arms. Once all attached I made adjustments until I was happy. Again I tried to stiffen the bottom outward to make her stand. She is a bit tall to stand on the roving, but can a bit.

I did the bat in a similar fashion making a small ball out of black and the wings were similar to the arms but flatter.

For the vampire, I used white for the face. Then I used black and red for the eyes and mouth. I tried to add fangs, but they blended in with his face a bit. Then I did the arms and body similar to how I did the witch.

I haven't figured out a way to do the mummy yet, which is why she didn't get one. Still thinking about it.

Today I'm hoping to plant some fall bulbs and the lavender plant I bought at the farmer's market this weekend. I'm hoping to get Hazel out digging in the dirt with me. She hasn't been as afraid to get dirty as she use to be. Have a great day!!

Decorations, Giveaways and other things to check out!

Picture of Shadow--Taken from Little Elf Toy Shop

Natural Kids is giving away a needle felted black cat (see above) from Little Elf Toy Shop.

Tatertots and Jello summarizes 17 Halloween Countdown Calendars and Decorations.

Ghostie--Picture taken from We Bloom Here

We Bloom Here is giving away a Ghostie doll (see above) on Wednesday.

Autumn Cards--Taken from Creating a Family Home

Pouch Pattern & Yarn--Taken from Creating a Family Home

Yarn--Taken from Creating a Family Home

Fall Needle Felted Decorations--Taken from Creating a Family Home

      Creating a Family Home had a week's worth of giveaways. All are recapped on this post. See all four prizes (well actually five since the pouch is two different colors being given away) above.

R. Morales Mug--Taken from Earth Mama

Earth Mama is sponsoring a R. Morales Pottery Giveaway. See to the left.

Women Living Well

Check out Women Living Well's 31 Day Fall Challenge. Week 2's challenge just came out. What a nice way to refocus ourselves to what is important! Week 1's Challenge can be found here.


A craft we are definitely going to try soon from Living, Loving, Learning Naturally.

Toilet Paper Bat--Taken from Living, Loving, Learning Naturally

Toilet Paper Bats (with hand print wings)! 

Reading Confetti celebrates National Pizza Month--October--with a book and a craft.

Monster Pillows--Taken from One Artsy Mama

One Artsy Mama has a tutorial to make these adorable Monster Pillows.


The Idea Room has many, MANY neat oreo pop ideas for anyone having a fall party. (Bats, Frankenstein, turkeys, apples, eyeballs, Mickey Mouse and more!) Also a recipe for Homemade Slime! And a recipe and decoration ideas for Homemade Halloween Playdough--great for party favors!--By the way, Crissy's Crafts sent me to The Idea Room because she made some Mickey Ghost Oreo Pops for her Not So Scary Mickey Halloween Party.

I Heart Crafty Things has some great Halloween decoration ideas for kids to make--Haunted house displays, eyeball frames and more as well as a book to go along with the crafts.


Lil' Luna has a guest blogger with some great ideas for pumpkin decorating (the craft pumpkins)

Thanksgiving Wreath--Taken from Beneath the Rowan Tree

Beneath the Rowan Tree has a great tutorial for a Thanksgiving Wreath made up of scrap fabric. (Maybe I should send the link to my Mom since she is trying to figure out what to do with hers!)

Ok, I think I have caught up with all my blogging. Well now I have to go check all the linky parties I missed this weekend. Some of my favorite ones for kids' activities happen over the weekend.

Busy Weekend

This weekend, Hazel and I headed to Cape Cod to visit my parents. We had a busy Friday morning of doctor's appointments and Move and Groove at the library, then came home for a quick lunch and hit the road for our two hour drive. My mother is attempting to clean through her fabrics and wanted me to look at some in case I would be interested in them and I had two large quilts to layer and it is always easier to layer with someone else (especially someone more experienced than me) and on my mother's bigger cutting table. Plus she offered me fabric for the backings. So up we went.

My father played with Hazel while we worked. Though Friday night was more sorting than anything. Saturday morning we hit the Farmer's Market, and then my father and I moved the cutting table to where my mother wanted it (out of the basement). Then while Hazel and my father napped we went to the fabric store for more safety pins (and I of course bought more fabric).

Saturday afternoon we spent the day preparing the backings. Having such large quilts, the backings took a long time. Then we layered the largest one. We finished it by 9:30 p.m. and decided that was enough for one day. We did the other one this morning including piecing the batting. But the two large quilts are layered and ready to be quilted. Now to find time to do that.

Of course after finishing them, I had to take Hazel to one of her favorite places to go--Snow's. They have model trains set up and buttons the kids can push. They already had their Christmas trains added to the mix. A child's dream to visit. But of course, if we are going to the center of town, we have to stop at the Hot Chocolate Sparrow. They have delicious coffee, tea (chai in particular for me), chocolates and candies made there, and ice cream (made near where I live). What more could you want from a store? Needless to say this is a daily stop when we are up there. My mother and I got iced chais and I splurged and got a caramel and chocolate covered apple (my fall weakness) and got Hazel a chocolate witch pop and chocolate covered sunflower seeds. Then my mother and I had the chais as we watched the trains and did a little shopping. I got some Christmas gifts at Snow's and some a sticker book for Hazel and some fake pine trees for Hazel and I to decorate for her dollhouse at Christmas time.

Then it was time to go for lunch. We had BLT's with tomatoes from my father's garden and tomato fresh mozzarella (from the Farmer's Market) and basil salads. Then it was time for the drive home. It is good to be home, but I'm tired! Hazel slept on the way home, so she is full of energy.

We came home to see a tree was gone (Steve had it cut down while we were gone), and he did a lot of yard clean up so it looks great. And of course two cats who missed us as well as Steve. Now it is time to start quilting, but I guess I should unpack first.

How was your weekend?

Hazel Has a Little Lamb

25 Days Until Halloween!

Today I share another pair of pants. Hazel has been into the nursery rhymes so we have changed Mary Has a Little Lamb to Hazel Has a Little Lamb occasionally when we sing it. We also love Baa, Baa Black Sheep. I saw this fabric and thought it would be a perfect fabric for funky pants. I used a basic toddler pant pattern to make these, but wanted to jazz them up with a pocket--a must have for Hazel these days. I used some quilt applique techniques to make and add the pocket. The sheep itself came from Microsoft Word Clip Art. I didn't add the black tail or legs out of laziness and fear of it looking too busy.

The pants are just the correct length now, but with how fast she is growing I plan to add a ruffle when they become too short.