Entries Tagged as 'Projects'

Spring Break DIY: Milk Art

156

17.3.12

Science & Art swirled up into one! This is my favorite project yet, and the last in the series! A huge thank you to Shannon (A Mom’s Year) for suggesting this art project. I was eager to try it, and I’m excited to share it with you!

All you need for this project is the following:

1. A plate 2. Milk (2% or higher) 3. Food Coloring 4. Dish Soap (That’s it!!)

1. Fill the plate with a thin layer of milk. Next, put in drops of food coloring.

2. Then, add a few drops of dish soap into the center of the food coloring, sit back, and watch! (I should mention that I tried this first with eco-friendly dish soap and it didn’t really work, so stick to the hard stuff for this!)

KA-POW! The milk fat instantly reacts to the soap, creating art!

Wow, right?! It will spin for quite a while, and if you add more drops of dish soap into the dark areas of food coloring you can keep the action going for quite a while.

If you want to see milk art in action, you can check out this video that I found:

Looking for more DIY’s to do with kids? Here are some more good ones:

Banana Tattoos / Eyebombing / Make a Volcano / Wire Sculpting

Photo Credits: Rosa Pearson (FlutterFlutter), Video Credit: Evie S

Spring Break DIY: Wire Sculpting

9

15.3.12

At a doctor’s appointment recently, my oldest was entertaining himself with a paperclip, bending it into shapes to pass the time. When we got home I found these images online, and was able to show him examples of amazing things that can be made with wire, skill and some creativity.

Just to give you an idea of age appropriateness, my seven year old was able to make this bone by himself, but my five year old would have needed help if he had been home. Supplies for this DIY project are easy, you just need some thin wire and a pair of pliers! I tried to make a chair and found out that constructing anything three dimensional was harder than I’d imagined. That’s where skill would come in handy! Regardless, it was so much fun to play with a new medium! I’ll definitely try this again!

Here are some of the inspiring pics that got us started – aren’t they amazing!

Artist: Masao Seki Photos copyright FIVE FROM THE GROUND

Spring Break DIY: Make A Volcano

18

13.3.12

I like projects that are simple and easy to prepare. In my opinion, the set up should not take all day if the enjoyment only lasts ten minutes. This is the easiest volcano you can make, believe me! And kids of all ages like to see things explode! All you need are the following:

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

1. A tray, or dish, that is large enough to catch all the “lava” that will come out! 2. 1 tablespoon baking soda 3. Red food coloring 4. A can, or plastic cup 5. Paper bag 6. Vinegar

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut halfway up all four sides of the paper bag.
2. Put the paper bag upside down over top of the can or cup.
3. Tear a hole in the top of the bag, above the opening to the cup.
4. Push back the torn edges and tape to the inside of the opening.
5. Fill the cup 3/4 full of the vinegar.
6. Add in a couple drops of food coloring.
7. Have the kids decorate the tray for full effect.
8. Finally, add in the baking soda and watch it go! You can add more baking soda and vinegar to keep the “lava”, and the fun, flowing.

As you can tell from the smiles this activity was a hit! (My oldest is fishing out the Lego Ninjago skeletons that he’d thrown into the volcano as it was exploding… yes, boys will be boys!) I’d definitely do it again!

I hope the Spring Break DIY’s this week help to make any rainy days a lot more fun! I know I’m having fun making them. And there are more to come…!

Spring Break DIY: Eyebombing

32

12.3.12

I would rather jab my eye with a fork than play Pokemon cards again. Really. Can anyone else relate? Thanks to some quality phone time with a good friend, I know I’m not alone in this. I just needed to change my attitude and step it up a notch… for everyone’s sake! If you’re in the same boat, and are looking for activities that you can do with your kids over Spring Break, or on rainy weekends, I’ve put together some sanity-saving DIY’s this week!

Have you heard of yarn-bombing before? I posted an example of it here… but I’m not a knitter, so I won’t be doing that. When I discovered eyebombing last week, I thought “HOW FUN! The boys would love this!” And I was right! My oldest and I spent a half hour placing eyes strategically throughout the house to surprise his younger sibling. It was really fun for us eye-bombers to watch all the faces being discovered with glee. And, now the younger one is excited to surprise his brother the next time he’s out.

This one’s good for the kid at heart too, don’t you think! I would love to hear what YOUR favorite activities are to do with kids! Oh, and stay tuned for more, because I’m only just getting started!

Photo Credit: Rosa Pearson (FlutterFlutter)

Backyard Project: Patio Demolition

5

02.8.11

Our backyard is the poster child for this quote! Or, in our case, “Things will likely get messier before they get prettier.” I think the concrete and dirt piles in our backyard illustrate this well!

As you can see, we got a little carried away. We decided that since we were tearing up the backyard already, and would need to get a bin anyways, that we might as well keep on going! So, Jason took out some frustrations with the sledgehammer, and the ugly slab of cement that comprised our small patio is no longer! Win, win situation!

And it didn’t stop there! Next, we thought that if we were putting in a new patio that we should bring it all the way out to the rocks, so bye-bye retaining wall… thanks to our amazing friends and family that helped us out!!

Stay tuned for the big reveal!!

Photo Credits: Rosa Pearson Design

Backyard Project: Drainage

8

28.7.11

Jason has been working hard digging trenches in the clay after work, and now we’re filling them back up! Some readers with similar issues commented, asking what the next steps were going to be, and so here’s the play by play!

First, dig out a trench 16″ down and 12″ wide, with 1″ of slope per 100ft to get the water in the direction you want it to go.

Then, add 2″ of 3/4 crush in the trench and lay in 4″ perforated PVC pipe. We were warned not to use Big O, since it tends to fail.

After connecting the pipes, wrap them with permeable landscape cloth.

Cover the pipe with 3/4 crush. And then cover with a layer of landscape cloth.

Top with 2 – 3″ of topsoil, and you’re done!

Backyard Project: Tree Takedown

1

27.7.11

We have struggled with a dark and soggy backyard since we moved into this house. This tree has been topped so many times by the previous owners that it is shaped like a giant mushroom, and blocks the sun from coming in, keeping the ground soggy and kid free… and that is not what you want in a backyard! Time for the chainsaw to take down this huge tree!

Here is what it looks like now, bare, and messy from trench digging. I have to say that I love trees, and I fought to keep the tree for quite a while. But, Jason won, and I am happy now that he did. We now have a spot in our backyard where we can grow veggies! There are currently eleven tomato plants up there waiting for some sunshine. Jason, you were right. ; ) (Yes, those words are an early birthday present for you. Enjoy.)

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