Back from Vacation

I finally returned from the beautiful mountains of Montana.

I am working in getting my things together to bring you more summer projects.

Summer Activities: I Spy Book

My son Mr. I loves I Spy books and I couldn't wait to come up with some way to keep him entertained with a cool book. I was so excited to come up with a way to make our own. 

I hope you have fun making one for your child. 

Supplies:

Card Stock 8x11

Magazines

Glue

Laminating sheets

Scissors

Hole punch

Ball keychain

Computer and printer (optional)

Directions:

Take the cardstock and measure out four squares. You will need 7 squares. 

Take one square and make a cover. Come up with a title and use your computer to print it out or use your own handwriting. I used letter stickers and stars. 

Next think of a theme you would like each page to be. Cut out objects from magazines to complete a theme. You will need 6 themes.

Now organize all your clippings into categories.

Take a square and start organizing the pictures in a collage pattern. Once you get an idea of how you want it you can start gluing.

Glue all the pictures on your cardstock. 

Once you get all your squares covered it’s time to make a list of things you want to spy. Depending on the age of your child you may only want to do 3 to 5 things. 

Type the list on the computer like this:

I Spy

A Butterfly

Three Paw Prints

Five Animals with Fur

Five Insects and

Four things that Fly

Print out the lists. (Check your list 2-3 times before you print it out.)

Cut out the lists and glue them to the backside of the picture. 

Next laminate the pages so that the book can last a long time.

Punch holes in the top corner and put the keychain through them to keep it together. 

You now have a cool “I Spy" book. Take it along in the car for long drives and bring along a dry erase marker to circle the objects when you find them. 

Planning for Trip

I'm sorry. I got super side tracked today with planning for my trip. I'm going to try to update everything tomorrow and have posts for you for the rest of the week.

I will be out all next week so I don't know if I'll have updates everyday next week or what. I will let you know for sure.

Thank you for stopping by and looking around. I appreciate all the visitors.

Summer Activities: Place Mats

Place Mats are a good thing to have if you have a messy child or if you are just trying to keep your kids entertained at the table, restaurant or their grandparents house.

Mr. I really likes to make food groups so for our place mat I drew the food plate from the http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ and then we cut out food from magazines. You could do any theme you like or you could just draw a picture. It's really up to your child what they like the best. 

Supplies:

Paper

Glue

Scissors

Markers, Crayons or Paints

Contact Paper 

Directions:

Take the paper and make a design using writing utensils or gluing magazine clippings. 

When you are finished measure out some contact paper and cut. 

Remove the backing of the contact paper and put it on top of art work. Repeat on the back side. 

Cut off access contact paper. 

Display your play mat on your table or keep for visits. 

Here's another idea. Use draw erase markers to draw on them and wipe them off.

Summer Activities: Story Time

I've been told that children loose part of what they learned in school over the summer. In order for us to help our children keep their brains active and learning we need to feed them. Reading a great way for children to learn. 

I compiled a list of resources for reading whether it's story time at the local book store or swapping books online.

Story Times

Barnes and Noble – Check your local store for dates and times. 

Pottery Barn for Kids – Offers of weekly book club. Children will receive a gift after attending five story times. Check your local store for dates and times.  

Check your local library, malls and museums for more story times.

Online Story Time

Barnes and Noble – Offers a free online story time with authors and celebrities each month. 

Story Time for Me  - Get a free personalized book for your child and free online storybooks. Registration is free.

Storyline Online – Books are read by actors and actresses. Each books has activities and lesson ideas available. Books read by Camryn Manheim, Melissa Gilbert, Amanda Bynes, Betty White and many more. 

Book Swaps

Does your family like to read? Would you like to find new books without paying a lot of money? People around the world get rid of books everyday. Try some of these websites for getting new books.

Paper Back Swap - Membership is free, and the only cost is the shipping of the book to other members. In return other members send books to you. 

Swap.com – This site is free to register and you can swap books and more through them. Swap local or across the world.

Bookcrossing.com – This site is a little different. You register your book and put it out somewhere in your neighborhood for someone else to find it. Track your book online to find out where it’s headed. There are books out hiding in different places maybe you can find one close to home. Registration is free.

Books Free Swap  - Registration is free, and recipient pays for postage.

Book Mooch – Register books you have and earn points for more books. You pay for shipping books to other members. Registration is free.

Listia.com – An online auction site. It’s free to register. Earn points for each book you auction off and use the points to get books. You can get books with free shipping or you can pay for shipping. There are also other things available on this site.

Free Books

Free Book downloads for your Kindle, Nook, IPhone, IPad, IPod Touch or Android devices. .

Amazon  - Find a ton of books available for free download.

Free-ebooks.net – Get unlimited reading from independent writers and rising authors. Registration is free.

ManyBooks.net – Free registration. Over 21,282 eBooks.

Summer Activities: Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Supplies:

Chalk pieces

Water

Cups

Rolling Pin or hammer

Teaspoon

Paintbrushes

Plastic storage baggies

Directions:

Gather all the chalk pieces and put into a zip-loc bag. Separated by color.

Next use a rolling pin to finely crush the chalk up. (Make sure children use a hammer with supervision)

Put 1 teaspoon of chalk dust into a small cup and add 2 teaspoons of water. Add more or less water and chalk dust to make yours darker or lighter.    

Next let your child use a paintbrush to paint with the new water colored chalks. 

You can also paint on paper or pine cones. 

 

Summer Activities Week 2:

Sunday: Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Monday: Story Time

Tuesday: Place mats

Wednesday: I Spy

Thursday: Websites for Kids

Friday: About Me Collage

Saturday: Celery Science Project 

 

Summer Activities: Pet Rocks

Rocks are neat. They come in many shape and sizes. The texture is different on each one. They make great pets and gifts.

Here's what you need to make your new friend. 

Supplies:

Rocks

Google Eyes

Glue (hot glue optional)

Paint, markers or crayons

Directions:

Give the rocks a good bath. Lay them outside to dry.

When the rocks are dry decorate them using paint, markers or crayons.

Let them dry. 

Glue on the eyes, if you are using them.

Put your friend in a special place. Pet rocks have fun playing in the garden, on your dresser or on top of your desk. You could make many rocks and give them to friends and family. Make your Dad or Mom one for their desk. A great paper weight. 

Summer Activities: Root Beer Floats

Nothing says summer better than a root beer float. They are so cold and yummy. Perfect for a summer day.

Ingredients:

Can of Root Beer

Vanilla Ice Cream

Frosty Mug

Straw

Directions:

Take the frosty mug and put 2 scoops of ice cream or more if you like.

Pour the root beer in slowly. It makes a lot of foam.  

Put the straw in and enjoy.

Frosty Mug:
Take the mug and run it under the water. Don't shake the water off. Put it directly in the freezer and let it sit for about an hour. You got yourself a frosty mug. Don't have a mug use another glass.