sand castles

Bee and Lou came home from bible school back two weeks ago I guess (good grief this summer is flying by!) with these cute sand castles.  They built them out of a sandy playdoh, decorated them with shells and glitter and such and then they dried hard.  I asked the craft leader to please share the recipe and she very sweetly explained how google worked.  She perhaps just discovered it. 

So I googled it and found it was a probably a family fun recipe.  I would know that, except I canceled family fun last summer.  It was hard, but it's been ok. Anyway, here's the recipe:

• 1 cup sand
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1 teaspoon alum
• 3/4 cup water
• Shells (optional)

1. Add the sand, cornstarch, and alum to a saucepan and use a wooden spoon to combine them completely.
   
2.   Add the water and stir the mixture until it is smooth and the cornstarch is dissolved.
   
3.   Cook the clay over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. The clay should start to thicken within a minute or two. Stir more vigorously, being sure to scrape the mixture from the sides and bottom of the pan.
   
4.   After about 3 minutes of cooking, the clay will have thickened to the consistency of play dough. Remove the clay from the pan. Once it's cool enough to touch, you can start sculpting. (For best results, use the clay within a day or two of mixing it.)

Our castles have dried so nicely, I'm just not real sure how to best display them.  Currently, they are on display on the kitchen counter, but I fear it's a seasonal exhibit. I really want to try this with my preschoolers.  I think letter s comes in the winter.  Sand might be a nice break from snow!

yard sale stuff and my vent

I'm slightly frustrated this evening.  My camera card isn't reading.  I have bunches of pictures to upload.  I'm trying to get a weeks worth of posts done in the next two evening and I can't get any of the needed pictures.  But, I'm trying to remind myself that it's not lost pictures of a wedding or birthday or really anything that matters.  All of the shots can be replaced.  I just might not have photos or posts ready to go.  It could be my computer not working or my camera or a ton of other things.

Similarly, at 3:45 this morning when the power went out when another large branch fell from our tree onto the power line running in the back of our yard, completely pulling it down, all I could think about was how the power company was probably going to take their truck right through our fence and my garden and how we were going to loose all the meat in the freezer, I should have been really thankful that at 4:00 in the morning,  while my children slept soundly,  three men were in the dark fixing my power line assisted by spotlights and headlamps so that I could have a warm breakfast and run the air conditioning. 

Regardless, we have power and I lost no meat or garden plants and I have photos of this weeks yard sale finds.  

I picked up two shirts for myself for $1.50 each and a glue gun and bunches of glue sticks for $2.00.  Mine is at least 17 years old and a mess.  At least this one has a trigger.

I also found a box of cute linens.  I'll cut up the fabric for future projects.  Amongst them were these two cute his and hers pillowcases. 

I'll cut them up... or keep them... or sell them... no keep them. 

These were part of the mix that I got for 75 cents total.  

And these guys.  They are washed and ready to go. 

almost done

I feel like I have a dozen in progress projects.  Here's one that's stalled.  I'm hoping that if I share it, I'll get back on it and finish. 

Here's the before.  It's a screen door insert.  We had two that we found in the attic. I gave one to another crafty friend and kept this one.  We toyed with the idea of using it in the garden, but my dear husband had a better idea. 

like I said, it's not done, but here it is, a super large message center.  I misjudged how far the cork board was going to go, so only 4 squares got finished with that.  I thought the dry erase board was going to going to fill two squares also.  I would like to have more of the fabric covered squares with ribbon also.  I might do some chalk board too.   We'll see when I get back to it.

winners

I just stink at giveaways.  I'm not sure what the deal is.  But because I stink at giveaways (and I say that because I had all of three entries) and am not the best business woman, I am making all of my entries winners.  That right, all three people who entered are winning a lovely prize:  my new Diego bag and Dora pattern.  

So, I'm emailing Monday the pattern and directions to Danielle, my sister in law's sister in law, who blogs over at Thrifty Craftin' Mama. Also to Jess_Hak, who other than my grandma seems to be my most loyal reader, who blogs over at The Preschool Experiment.  She shares my love for the _ underscore_ and for garage sales.  Also to e.e.b.wyatt who I spent a lot of time in art class with in high school and I think was on my soccer team.  You think I'd be able to remember that better.  She found out about my giveaway from facebook.  Well, congratulations.  

I guess that's that then.

Saturday run and a strawberry treat

The kids and I ran in a super fun race Saturday.  It was the colon screening awareness run and was the first race we all ran in just last year.  Several of my teacher friends and families from school were there, so it made for a good morning.  Our colon cancer survivor friend had a whole team there and we were so happy to be part of it.

I got almost exactly the same time I got last year in the 5K and the kids ran in the dash.  The man who gave me the bags in March was there and when I thanked him again and told him that I'd sent them off to Africa, he gave me more bags.  I'll have to show those this week.

We were supposed to go to a cook out that night, but we've been struggling with some behavior issues at our house lately, so we did not go.  I ended up with the treats we were going to take that just needed eaten. 

I made some very similar strawberries last summer for Bee's birthday.  To make these yummy treats you need to have pretty large strawberries.  After washing a drying, cut off the very tip of the 'point' of the berry, so that they stand well.  Cut off the green leafs and gently cut and hollow out the berry a bit.  Fill with the delicious filling  (8oz cream cheese blended up with one container of marshmallow fluff).  I use a plastic baggie with the corner clipped.  These are topped with blueberries.  Last summer I topped them with crushed graham crackers.  They tasted just like cheesecake.  I'm pretty sure that the fact that there's fruit involved makes them healthy. 

Mr. Happy Food Plate

 When Lou comes to the table for dinner, it doesn't matter what is there, he immediately says, "Ewww, gross, I won't eat that!"  Really?  I'm not a bad cook.  I don't make things purposely I know they won't like.  Lou is not picky, that's just his initial reaction for some reason.   He's sweet like that.

Not lately though!   He comes to the table and giggles!  He little baby belly laugh giggles. 

It sets a way better attitude at the table and I love it.

                 (roasted chicken, cooked carrots, blackberries from the yard, ketchup -for the carrots- he's weird)

 It's all because of this adorable gift a friend made for Lou for his birthday. We are calling his the Mr. happy food plate, perhaps he goes by different names at other homes.   I've asked her if she'll work up a guest post for us showing how she made this guy, so hopefully we'll be seeing more of him.  There's rumor there is a Mrs. Happy Food Plate as well.  Bee is certainly jealous.

                             (fish, mac and cheese from a box and stuffed mushrooms that were divine!)

Class Quilt

I just found this sweet idea this morning.  This class quilt from Helping Little Hands would make such a lovely class project for Bee's class next year.  Her school has a silent auction each fall where in addition to really awesome things like vacation packages and such are won, the classes each auction a group art project.  I wonder if I could get this put together in enough time.  

 Do you think her teacher would be overwhelmed if I emailed her in June about a large project we could get started the first week of school? 

pattern added to shop (giveaway closed)

I have listed my first pattern for sale in my etsy shop, Mama Bee Designs.  It's for the Diego Rescue Pack and Dora Backpack.  I'm super excited to have it completed and would love to give away a copy this week.

 If you have a Diego or Dora fan at your house then your little animal rescuer needs their own rescue pack or back pack!

My little animal rescuer decided one day that she HAD to have a rescue pack. I scoured stores and online shops and I was slightly disappointed at the choices available. I decided to make one myself and was pleased at the results. While it does not turn into a hang glider, mud board, or hot air balloon, as does a real rescue pack, it’s pretty good for the amateur rescuer!  That was over 2 years ago.  My Diego rescue pack has continued to be one of my best selling items.  I have been asked several times for a pattern, but have just now finally got one together. 

This pattern and photo tutorial will guide you through the construction of a Diego rescue pack and a Dora backpack. Both bags are made from less than 1 yard of fleece and sewn into a backpack with a top flap and either front or side pocket. It fastens with Velcro. I also included directions for a hand painted rescue patch as well as the 'face' for the front of Dora's bag. The Diego bag has one strap like Diego’s and is worn across the back. Dora's bag has two over the shoulder straps. 

The directions are thorough and easy enough for a even a beginning sewist. Other supplies you will need include a small amount of sew in velcro, coordinating thread, and a small piece of thick fabric or canvas for the optional patch. 

The pattern and directions are broken up into two pdf files. The purchase of this pattern allows you to use this pattern to make as many bags as you like, however I ask that you not email it to others or share or sell the pattern. I am happy for you to make and sell bags at craft fairs and such on a home based business scale. I ask that you not sell the pattern or completed bags on etsy. I already do and it wouldn't be cool. 

So anyway, if you'd like to win a copy of this new pattern, leave a comment and tell me who you'd like to make a bag for.  Leave a separate comment if you are a follower.  I'll randomly choose a winner Sunday night June 26th.   GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED