Point Me In The Right Direction

Here's one more beaded craft---AN ARROW

Here's some photo's that Fran took so that you can see how it's done step by step.

Books related to our topic---

                                 Robin Hood And The Golden Arrow 

Robert San Souci retells the classic and humorous tale of Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow. Acclaimed author Robert San Souci and Caldecott Honor illustrator and Coretta Scott King Award winner E. B. Lewis retell the classic legend of Robin Hood and the Golden Arrow.

Robin Hood and his loyal band create a plan to outsmart the Sheriff of Nottingham by attending an archery contest in disguise. In the end, it is Robin Hood and his friends who have the last laugh.

Kids of all ages will cheer for this classic tale based on the traditional story of Robin Hood.

Available through Amazon

                                             The Apple and the Arrow 

The year is 1291, and Walter is the twelve-year-old son of William Tell, the greatest bowman in the land of Uri. Walter lives happily in the remote heights of the Alpine Mountains, caring for his family’s goat herd and practicing his marksmanship in the hopes of making his father proud. But as the end of the year approaches, Walter’s peaceful life is shaken as his country enters a revolution, and Walter must carry a secret that could threaten the life of the father he loves so dearly.

More than seven hundred years have passed since the day Walter stood in the marketplace balancing an apple on his head while the Austrian tyrant Gessler commanded Walter’s father, William Tell, to take aim at the apple with his great crossbow. The dramatic tale of William’s arrest and escape and the daring revolt of the Swiss against the Austrians has become a legend around the world.

Available through Amazon

Froggie Went A Courtin...

Thursday at IV infusions the Child Life Specialist gave Fran several craft projects. One was a beaded frog. It took about an hour to complete.

This is the finished product---

Some books related to our topic---

A Frog Named Waldor

Written by Jacqueline  Rankine-Van Wassenhoven

This picture book story is for everyone who is young at heart or older. It’s about a young girl called Jennifer who loves to read books, especially books about water fairies. One summer’s day sitting by the pond near her village she meets a talking frog named Waldor. Waldor is quite a charming character and introduces Jennifer to some of his friends, the water fairies and Mrs. Nightingale. How does Jennifer get onto the lily pad with Waldor?…And the story continues.

Available through Amazon

Amazon Review--"Everyone loves to be taken away to another place and time. A Frog Named Waldor will give you just that chance to escape into the magical enchanted forest with Jennifer,the fairies and a quite lively pond frog named Waldor! Enjoy this read as I definitely give it 5 stars!!"

The Fabulous Adventures of Fred the Frog
Fred is a friendly frog that lives in a pond he calls home. He is surrounded by many caring friends including Betsy the Butterfly, Hermit the Frog, and the well-known Mr. Flyman and his band. They pass their time singing and dancing to many favorite songs. On Fred’s seventh birthday he blows out his candles and makes a wish. To his surprise his wish is granted! Come join Fred and friends on his journey to many fabulous adventures and discover if he chooses to live in the magical place he wishes for.

Available through Amazon

Amazon Review--"Our 2 year old grandson received this book as a gift. He chooses it to be read to him over other books he has. He really enjoys the pictures!"

Key Chain---Flower Power!

Today while we were at infusions the Child Life Specialist gave my daughter a very cute beaded flower key chain to work on to pass the time during infusions.

The photo to the left is the finished product. The key chain took less than an hour to make. And it's so cute. 

Here's the directions and photo's that my daughter took along the way. I'm not sure how many beads you will need to complete the craft since it came packaged. 




Supplies Needed:

• 42 beads for petals
• 6 beads for center of the flower
• Cord
• key ring

Here are the directions--

Books related to the project---

Flower Power! (DC Super Friends) (Little Golden Book)

Girl—and flower—power! Wonder Woman and Batgirl team up to stop Poison Ivy in their first-ever action-packed Little Golden Book. Girls ages 2 to 5 will love this all-new Little Golden Book featuring the female superheroes of the DC Super Friends.

Available on Amazon

Just Grace and the Flower Girl Power (The Just Grace Series)

Fresh, innovative, and loaded with laugh-out-loud wit and humor, Just Grace is a series that stands out from the pack, just like Grace herself. Author Charise Harper weaves together distinctive, quirky illustrations and vibrant characters in fast-paced stories that capture familiar school and family situations that every young girl can relate to in a truly authentic voice. Artist, comedian, animal-lover, environmentalist, cook, sister, good friend —Grace is the quintessential 3rd grader… just a little bit… different.

   In this eighth addition to the series—Grace has major problems. Her neighbor is getting married and she has to get over her disappointment at not being chosen for a flower girl, not to mention figure out what to give as a wedding present! But with a touch of girl power, Grace musters up a fantastic idea that takes a lot of planning and a little help from all of her friends; her dog, Mr. Scruffers; and Crinkles the cat. Will her plan go off without a hitch on wedding day?

Available on Amazon

Best Dish Cloths Ever!!

My daughter and I make our own dishcloths. It actually happened by accident. Fran had scrap yarn and asked what she could make and I said make me a dishcloth. One day I didn't have any cloths left and needed to use it. I found out it was super absorbent and worked great so I made more. I decided to make my Dad a few and he loved them too. 

They are made with Sugar and Cream cotton yarn. It's like $2.00 a spool. This material soaks up spills better than paper towels or terry towels. The dishcloths are simple,very absorbent and do the job. I have several for my dishes and the old ones I use for cleaning. They are better than paper towels and sop up a messy spill in no time. I crochet and Fran knits them. They aren't fancy but they are the best cloths ever. You can buy it at places like Walmart, Joanne's, and craft shops.

Learn to crochet

Books related to topic:

Natural Cleaning Recipes available through Amazon

available through Amazon

Grandma's Are The Best!

Grandma's Are The Best! Some of our fondest memories are with our Grandma's, or maybe a special Aunt, our Mom and Dad. We did lots of crafts with my Mom. She was an avid knitter and crocheter. She loved crafts and really had a knack with designing her own projects. She made all sorts of Barbie dresses and doll accessories. Some of her love for designing crafts wore off on my daughter and I. My favorite things to make is doll furniture and Barbie houses. Maybe you and your special someone have a special craft or project that you like to do too.

 

One of my favorite sites for any idea is PINTEREST.

Here are some ideas that you can do with your Grandma. Please also check through my previous blog posts as I have a ton of craft and food ideas.

 

STEPPING STONES 

 

JEWELERY

 

BOWLING PINS FROM CANS

 

Books related to our topic--

 

 

Baby Duck's New Grandma

 

Baby Duck loves her grandma very much. Her grandma is in heaven now and Baby Duck feels very alone and sad. Her grandpa has a surprise for her and she is bubbling with excitement.

What could it be? The big swimming pool he's been dreaming to buy? Maybe a vacation with the family? Baby Duck is about to discover the surprise and isn't going to be happy.

Available https://www.createspace.com/4795175 and AMAZON

 

How to Babysit a Grandma

When you babysit a grandma, if you're lucky . . . it's a sleepover at her house! And with the useful tips found in this book, you're guaranteed to become an expert grandma-sitter in no time. (Be sure to check out the sections on: How to keep a grandma busy; Things to do at the park; Possible places to sleep, and what to do once you're both snugly tucked in for the night.) From the author-illustrator team behind the bestselling How to Babysit a Grandpa comes a funny and heartwarming celebration of grandmas and grandchildren.

Available on Amazon

 



DIY Non-Toxic Paint

Kids love to paint and be creative. Here's a non-toxic natural paint recipe that you can make for your children.

Here's what you will need:

• 1 cup salt
• 1 cup flour
• 1 c water
• food coloring
• empty squirt bottles

Mix well and add to each bottle. After you add to each bottle add the food coloring and shake well.

Found on Pinterest

Books related to our project--

Mr. Pickles Paints the Town

Peter Pickles went to bed one night and woke up to find things had changed. The sky was not blue. The birds were gone too. The world had been rearranged. All the colors had disappeared. What could Mr. Pickles do?

 

 

Paint It! (Art Smart)

Gr 3-6-An emphasis on technique distinguishes this bright and colorful series. Twelve attractive projects per volume, many of them resulting in useful objects, give kids a chance to learn and practice techniques such as weaving, stenciling, and frottage. Specialized materials are not required, and most kids will be able to achieve success with the majority of these projects, regardless of their level of artistic talent. The books were written by art teachers and it shows. Tracing and collage are offered as alternatives to drawing, and many drawing and painting projects are abstract or begin with random shapes. The trickiest skills are the various stitches used in Make It!, and, unfortunately, the instructions, which are usually quite good in this series, are not quite up to this task. Photographs often show the finished projects while drawings illustrate the process

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DIY Cat Bed

I love this simple idea and can't wait to imply it to make my Millie a new cat bed. There really isn't much to it,this is what you will need:

• A wicker basket
• Foam
• Piece of material or an old blanket
• Nails and hooks to secure basket on wall

You have to measure your basket and then measure and cut foam (length and width) accordingly. I plan to use an old piece of fleece blanket to cover the foam rubber. I have plenty of fleece blanket's that have holes in them or have stains that I can make use of and I'm sure Milley will enjoy the softness of the fleece. You can sew by hand but I plan to sew mine on the sewing machine so that it looks more professional. I plan to hang this in my daughter's room and I might make one one for the upstairs.

Books related to our project:

Chester's Back!

In this uproarious sequel to Chester, the battle of the picture-book makers continues. Which author-illustrator will come out on top -- Chester or M?lanie Watt -- is anybody's guess! This time, there's no denying (in Chester's mind) that he's the star of the show. His already outsize ego has ballooned even more due to a spate of "fan mail" on the heels of his self-titled debut. As Chester sees it, who needs Melanie Watt when they have Chester? He's got no shortage of his own storytelling ideas. With heavy paw and red marker, this control-freak cat does not hesitate to commit them to paper. When Chester starts acting far too Hollywood, Melanie calls an open audition to replace the high-maintenance feline. This isn't a move that Chester will take lying down. Get ready for a seesaw comedy of dueling author-illustrators. Who will come out on top is anybody's guess! Available on amazon

 

Kitten's Summer

A beautifully illustrated picture book introducing toddlers to animals in the farmyard and the woods on a rainy summer day. It's a rainy summer day, and Kitten is meeting all sorts of animals taking shelter from or enjoying the warm rain, including a fox, a turtle, a beaver and many more. As in the two previous titles in the Kitten series, rhyming couplets capture the animals' actions, making this book another fantastic interactive read-aloud. Young readers will delight in discovering animal habitats, picking out seasonal details in the exquisite mixed-media art, and searching for and finding Kitten on every page. Available on amazon

Avaialble on amazon

Available on amazon

Jello Pudding Pop

From Pinterest
JELLO PUDDING POPS 
1 PKG INSTANT PUDDING 
1 1/2C MILK 
2C COOL WHIP   

DISSOLVE PUDDING IN MILK, WHIP IN COOL WHIP.
SPOON INTO 3 OZ DIXIE CUPS
INSERT POPSICLE STICK.
FREEZE.


Books related to project---

I Scream! Ice Cream!: A Book of Wordles

What do "I Scream!" and "Ice Cream!" have in common? Nothing—besides the fact that they sound the same! The ever-surprising Amy Krouse Rosenthal unleashes her prolific wit in this silly and smart book of wordplay. Perfectly complemented by equally clever illustrations from the talented and internationally renowned Serge Bloch, this mind-bending book will have young readers thinking about words in an entirely new way! Available on amazon

 

I Am An Ice Cream Truck

A board book shaped like an ice cream truck with a sound chip that plays a familiar ice cream tune!
I am an ice cream truck.
I have lots of cold, sweet treats!
Press play and watch all the kids line up when they hear the popular ice cream truck jingle in this fun and sturdy board book shaped like an ice cream truck with sound! Read along and go inside the ice cream truck to see where all the different kinds of ice cream and other frozen treats are stored! Everyone with a sweet tooth will love seeing this big machine in action. It's a book and a toy in one! Available on amazon

 

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More Father's Day Ideas

Many of you know I'm a huge fan of pinterest and it's my "go to spot" for ideas. They have a huge selection of ideas for father's day ideas so I'm just going to add all kinds of links on this page for ideas and I hope you all find them helpful. I don't have any small children any more but the ideas are just adorable whether you use them for a dad or a grandpa (which is usually what I used them for since my daughter's Dad was absent.)

Pinterest Father's Craft Ideas for Kids

Parent's Mag Father's Day Easy Craft Ideas

Spoonful Craft Ideas for Dad's

Kaboose Craft Dad Ideas

Enchanted Learning Dad Craft Ideas

The Crafty Crow Dad Ideas

Martha Stewart Father's Day Craft Ideas

 

 

 

 

Books related to our topic

 

 Saturday with Daddy

A young elephant and his Daddy spend Saturday running errands, sipping lemonade, and having a cookout. The charming art and simple story make this a perfect summertime book for fathers and their preschoolers.

Available on amazon

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Crafts Made From Old LIds

Ever wonder what you could do with all those old lids? Check out some of these neat ideas. How about gluing A,B,C letters on them and playing word games or possibly adding some cardboard behind them and then gluing magnets to the cardboard this way you can use them on a magnetic surface.

 

On the other hand how about using lids on a science project. The disk make great ideas for a space project.

 How about some silly monsters for Halloween?? Aren't they funny. They are really so cute.









And my favorite these adorable ladybugs. They could be used for possibly a children's game or for a Grandma's garden,whatever the choice the key again is to have a fun. That's what it is all about here at Fran and Friends.

So,ENJOY!!





























Books related to our project:

 

Lift the Lid, Use the Potty!

 

 

 

The Lid

Get Buggy

I don't know a boy (and some girls!) who doesn't like to collect bugs. When I was a kid I used to like to go outside and collect either lightning bugs, catepillars or ants.

Whichever bug it was I'd make their home accordingly. The most fascinating of course was the catepillars because eventually they would make a cocoon, turn into some type of brown moth, and fly away.

The ants were cool too with all the ant hills and mazes they would make. Watching them carry their food that sometimes looked bigger than they were and wondering how they did it. The world of bugs is fascinating and it's definitely a learning experience.

Click here to learn about those noisy crickets you hear in your back yard every night while trying to sleep. In addition, here is a fascinating website about bugs and crickets. They have some fascinating tidbits of information.

 One thing I found out today was this--did you know a cricket has no backbone? Now you will need your math skills for this next one--- did you know that if you listen to a cricket chirp for 15 seconds and count the amount of chirps it makes then add 37 to that number that that's what the temperature will be the next day. Interesting fact huh? I thought that was pretty cool.

 Here are some cool ideas for kids to make:




 

BUG BOTTLE INSTRUCTIONS


 







DISCOVERY KIDS

 

 



Books related to our project:

 

                                The Pink Cricket

Most crickets are green and play the violin, but not this cricket. He's pink and loves the drums, two things that all the other crickets make fun of him for. But he doesn't give up, follows his dreams, and really shows them what a pink cricket drummer is made of!
Available on amazon

Ladybug Girl and Her Mama
Ladybug Girl loves her mama, and can't wait to spend the day with her. They plant flowers in the garden, share a special lunch, and enjoy a favorite movie. Together-time has never been so sweet. This simple story celebrates the special bond between moms and daughters, perfect for the youngest readers.
Available on amazon

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Initially Speaking

Wherever you go now a day you see these huge alphabet letters in the craft aisles at places like Walmart, AC Moore and other big name craft shops.

 You can do many things with these giant letters. You can add fabric like the one you see here on your right. Then you can add some type of trim that you can get at any craft or fabric store. This would be one option.

 
On the other hand, another thing you might try is cover the letter in glitter. You can buy glitter almost anywhere. My favorite is the Martha Stewart brand. She has fine glitter and they are so colorful too. Let your imagination run wild. Think of a chameleon and do it in stripes or maybe polka dots.

 

You could decorate a letter with colorful buttons, or maybe with mosaic squares. Alternatively, even with photographs as you see in this photograph to the right. Yes,...there's many fun and innovative ways you can decorate these letter.

 
The key is just to have fun and use your imagination!








Books related to our project:


Alphabet Fun Children's Rhyming Picture Book Alphabet Fun rhyming book is filled with creative pages that are meant to be silly and have your children wanting to read it over and over again. The book uses colorful pictures that makes it fun to learn their ABC's and all the letters in the alphabet. Available on amazon




ABC Come Play With Me: A Picture Alphabet Book for Young Children

Available on amazon