Silly Clown Dress-Up Game And Vintage Suitcase Reuse

Posted Jan 31, 11 -Filed Under children's activities (recycled materials), party: Circus, reuse cloths, reuse suitcase | Leave a Comment

Make your own silly suitcase dress up game- Clownin Around. You should look for an old suitcase to hold the clothing for this game. You also need to find stuff to fill the suitcase. : oversized pants, skirts, hats, shoes, necklaces, shirts, dresses, scarves. Gather unwanted clothing from around the house, ask friends for castoffs, and/ or go to the thrift store or hunt yard sales. Seek out funny cloths like Hawaiian shirts, and “clown” shoes (oversized possibly mismatched).

This clown dress up game is really fun to play at a clown or circus themed party (or any party really).

To play the game: Two contestants at a time compete to put on as much cloths from the suitcase as possible. They must stop when the allotted amount of time has passed. We use the sand timers from other games for this purpose. The one we use most often is a three minute timer. One at a time, the now clowned-up contestant pulls off the cloths and accessories one by one while the others count them. Then the next “clown” takes off his or her extra cloths while others count. Someone will need to keep track of the numbers. Then two new contestants give it a try until everyone has had a turn. The winner is the person who was able to put on the most cloths and accessories in the allotted time. The Clown-tastic winner is…

This game isn’t really so much about winning because the fun is in the playing (and the watching). Have a camera ready!!

These pictures were taken at my daughter’s circus themed party. More about the picture frame here: http://www.funinthemaking.net/2010/05/17/use-an-old-fame-to-frame-a-picture-before-it-is-even-taken/

Rules:

Make up your own rules and agree to them before starting.

For example: A contestant must have his or her legs in one or both pant leg hole. Shirts must be “worn” by covering your torso or otherwise have both arms in one or both armholes. Scarves must be tied on (anywhere). Hats must be able to stay on when the game stops (head, elbow, whatever).

Or -Have no rules and see what happens!

Salvaged Number Game Tiles Used On Birthday Cake

Posted Jan 22, 11 -Filed Under Eco-friendly living ideas, party décor (recycle and upcycle), reuse game pieces | 3 Comments

I wanted to share an idea I had to use number game tiles on a birthday cake. I can’t remember the name of the game that I got these tiles from. (A friend of Fun In The Making reminded me the game’s name is Rummikub.- Thanks Alicia.) Use tiles to put the age of the birthday person. Next time, I might repaint the numbers another color. I got a game second hand and it was missing some of the pieces so I put what I had to use in other ways. More on that in another post.

Dominos might make an attractive addition to your cake if you don’t have any number tiles. And who says you can’t use the tiles, clean them, and then put them back. It doesn’t have to be from a trash bound game.

Re-Use A Frozen Vegetable Bag For A Sandwich Bag

Posted Jan 21, 11 -Filed Under Eco-friendly living ideas | 3 Comments

Reduce waste!

Here is an idea. Why not reuse the plastic bags that your frozen vegetables come in? After eating the vegetables, simply cut one end off the bag with a pair of scissors. Then rinse out the bag and you’re good to go. The bags can also be washed out with soap and water and used again. Eventually, you will recycle the bag.

You will need some way to hold the bag closed. I have these clips (see photo) but paperclips will work too.

Reduce the amount of plastic you use by reusing something you already have. Works well too!

Upcycled Plastic Pots: Beautiful Bark Covered Pots

Posted Jan 16, 11 -Filed Under Eco-friendly living ideas, crafts (recycled materials), gifts from recycled materials, home décor (recycle and upcycle), reuse pots, plastic plant, use for natural stuff: vines, sticks... | 5 Comments

Something as simple as covering a plastic nursery pot with bark can have wonderful results.

Adding a ribbon around the pot is a nice touch.

Nice for a house-warming gift or teacher gift.

Beautiful for a wedding or dinner party.

Add bark in a horizontal pattern or a vertical pattern.

We have a wood burning stove so I’m able to gather bark from around our log pile. Alternatively, you can harvest some from fallen trees. Using a hot glue gun, attach strips of bark. I used a pair of pliers to break the pieces to the appropriate length. Work your way around the pot: adding strips as you go. Reuse plastic pots you have hanging around your garage or find some secondhand. This blog is about wise use of resources so ask around and reuse items as much as possible.

I used 3 inches tall pots with square tops for a windowsill herb garden and I used a 4.5 inches tall round pot for a centerpiece.

Clock Collection: A New Years Eve Party Display

Posted Jan 9, 11 -Filed Under holiday crafts: New Year's Eve (recycled stuff) | 2 Comments

Happy New Year!

I thought I’d share my small collection of eclectic clocks. I love vintage clocks. I add a few every year. Many don’t work but I don’t need them to. I put them out to signify the passing of time while celebrating the coming New Year. Start your own collection of second hand clocks.

Clock collection

Sometimes people give me their unwanted clocks. I collect clocks that do not have a digital display.

This is the year I decided to start collecting vintage clocks. January of 2008 was also when I started this blog. This was a New Years Eve bar display. On the left is a vintage blender light- perfect for a bar.

Fun In The Making Tea Cup Mouse Workshop

Posted Jan 8, 11 -Filed Under workshops and classes | 1 Comment

At the end of December, I had a Tea Cup Mouse workshop. My students had varying degrees of sewing experience from first time using a sewing machine to experienced quilt maker. These middle schoolers did a fantastic job. Each mouse turned out unique. Each student added something different. Some of the mice had button eyes and some embroidered. One was made with pretty plaid fabric and one had the cutest whiskers that stuck out.

This mouse, made by a student that day, was very stylish. She has a retro Smiley face mug. I think she is a teenager mouse.

Hello world!

Making friends

Friendly hug

Observing Nature: Black Vultures Haunt Local Library

Posted Jan 3, 11 -Filed Under Nature: plant and animal identification, children's activities (recycled materials) | 3 Comments

Black Vultures Coragyps atratus in Maryland December 2010.

If you live in Southern Maryland, you should definitely check out the wake behind the St. Mary’s County Public Library in Lexington Park. A wake is the name of a group of vultures. They are also collectively called a committee. You will find an impressive number of Black Vultures there. Don’t be spooked by their large size, black bodies or their eating habits: they feed mostly on the carcasses of dead animals. They won’t be that interested in you. Therefore, getting relatively close shouldn’t be a problem if you approach slowly. Bring a camera.

I love the way they walk: what funny characters they are. You have to admit that they are interesting at the very least.

More about vultures:

According to Wikipedia: Vulture stomach acid is exceptionally corrosive, allowing them to safely digest putrid carcasses infected with Botulinum toxin, hog cholera, and anthrax bacteria that would be lethal to other scavengers.[5] This also enables them to use their reeking, corrosive vomit as a defensive projectile when threatened. Vultures urinate straight down their legs; the uric acid kills bacteria accumulated from walking through carcasses, and also acts as evaporative cooling.

O.K. that was gross and cool at the same time. Vultures are amazing. They are needed too. Scavengers like vultures along with decomposers keep the earth clean of stinking dead things and break them down into components used to make new living things.

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    Are you having any trouble understanding some of the instructions? Feel free to send me a quick e-mail at HesterJane@FunInTheMaking.net. I’ll do my best to answer your questions. Do you have any suggestions regarding a specific post? Maybe you have a better way and would like to share it with the other creative people visiting this site? -Hester Jane