Earth Day Celebration in Leonardtown MD 2011

Posted Apr 21, 11 -Filed Under children's crafts (recycled materials), gifts from recycled materials, local environmentalism (doing our part), reuse sheets, bed sheets, use for fabric scraps | Leave a Comment

Fun in the Making was at the Earth Day Celebration in Leonardtown MD again this year. The weather was perfect!

This year the free “green” craft was braided bracelets made from strips of recycled bed sheets. Lots and lots of children came by to make themselves one or more of these cool accessories.

This little girl showed off the head band that her mom made.

Sweet Spring Basket Craft: Wheat Grass Growing In Recycled Tray

Posted Apr 18, 11 -Filed Under children's crafts (recycled materials), crafts (recycled materials), garden (gardening info and eco-friendly project ideas), gifts from recycled materials, holiday crafts: Easter, plastic, seasonal: spring, use for natural stuff: vines, sticks..., use for yarn scraps | 3 Comments

This is a craft that is good for large groups of kids like school classes because the mushroom trays can be saved by the parents and the overall project will be very inexpensive. The handle for your “basket” can be made with a lot of different materials but I like the natural ones best. The photos show a basket handle made with a twisted piece of drift wood. You can grow grass seeds or wheat grass berries.

I waited too long to take these pictures: the grass is getting too tall. When we are done enjoying our grass baskets, I let my chickens enjoy the greens ! No wasting.

Note: This project is meant to be a centerpiece and is not meant to be carried around by the handle.

Follow this link for tips on growing wheat grass.

One more note:

I like growing wheat grass because it doesn’t take a huge amount of planning ahead. The plants will sprout in just a few days. When I grew the wheat grass in these mushroom trays, I soaked the seeds overnight and then put them on top of the potting soil, watered it, covered the tray with plastic for the first day or two and then watered only as needed. -Very easy child project.

Scrap Lattice Used For Shading Garden Vegetables

Posted Apr 12, 11 -Filed Under garden (gardening info and eco-friendly project ideas), reuse wood/ lumber | 1 Comment

I put to good use two pieces of scrap lattice that were given to me. Sometimes newly transplanted plants need to be sheltered a bit for at least a day depending on your plants and weather conditions. It can be helpful to provide these plants a little shade to help them transition to their new growing spot.

My lattice pieces are about 2 feet tall and 8 feet long. I put the lattice at an angle to shade the plants and used a stick to hold in place.

Here are a lot of heirloom lettuce plants that I transplanted out into the garden. It was unusually warm that day.

Playing Card Streamers

Posted Apr 10, 11 -Filed Under party décor (recycle and upcycle), party: Mad Hatters Tea, reuse cards, playing, sewing | 2 Comments

Using a sewing machine, simply sew down the middle of a playing card. When you reach the end of one card, add another. Do not cut the thread; rather keep sewing to form long streamers. I used a deck that was missing a few cards. Why use new cards when you can use an incomplete deck. If you know people with kids, chances are someone has a deck with a card missing.

I used these card streamers for décor at a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party but they can also be used for a Poker party.

Eastern Wormsnake: A Fun Snake To Find

Posted Apr 4, 11 -Filed Under Nature: plant and animal identification | 3 Comments

I disturbed this Eastern worm snake Carphophis amoenus amoenus when arranging soil in my garden beds. I see a few of these each year here in Southern Maryland. They are non-venomous and do not bite.

They spend their time in the soil, rotten logs, leaf piles etc. You are not likely to see one slither across your lawn.

My daughter holds this wiggly Eastern worm snake while I snap a few pictures then she takes some with my hands in the photos.  It was less than 8 inches long.

Check out the tail on this worm looking snake: it is pointy and helps it burrow into the soil.

(Be sure of the identity of any snake before handling. Ask an adult to help.)

Mad Hatters Tea Party: Half A Cup Of Tea?

Posted Apr 2, 11 -Filed Under crafts (recycled materials), party: Mad Hatters Tea, reuse cups, tea | 1 Comment

Sometimes a person only wants a half cup of tea. You need a special cup for this in Wonderland. I thought this would be an amusing addition to my Mad Hatter’s Tea party.

This is my cup of tea: creative, fun…

This cup was originally part of a night light that I got second-hand. I simply detached it from the light bulb: carefully. Then I used some bathroom calk to “glue” the half cup to a saucer. You can actually glue it if you prefer but I wanted the option to easily make it back into a night light.

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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