Sweet Valentines!

Valentine’s Day Crafts

Fun recipes and crafts for your little Valentines!

 

Cake Pops!

We can’t get enough of them … rich and delicious and so easy to make! For Valentine’s Day, try making cake pops from Red Velvet cake. Just make any yellow cake from a mix, adding red food coloring to the batter before you bake in a regular cake pan.  Then crumble the cake, mix with a scoop or two of whipped cream cheese and roll into balls. Place a lollipop stick in each ball and dip in melted white chocolate, placing them on a tray lined with parchment or wax paper. Chill for at least 30 minutes. Then decorate with tiny red hearts or other frou-frou. Enjoy!

 

A Heart and a Kiss

 

Reader Jennifer Wolman, arts and crafts expert and mother of two, gives us the scoop on how to make Valentine’s Day extra choco-licious.

(Note: You might want to make sure your kids have a meal before playing this game, in case they stock up on too many chocolates!)

 

1. Cut out paper hearts. You choose the quantity and variety of colors!
2. Hide the paper hearts around the house. It might work best to hide them in places the kids would naturally go to search for them.
3. Once your kids find a paper heart, they can trade one in for a kiss. Here, they have two choices: they can either get a real kiss from Mom or Dad, or they can select a Hershey’s Chocolate Kiss.
4. There’s no limit, until the kids run out of paper hearts! (Of course, you can modify the game so they don’t have so much sugar.)

 

The activity “can involve the entire family if the spouse wants to get in … but in mine it’s just fun with the kiddos,” Wolman notes. “I’m a big heart lover, so oftentimes I’ll have my kiddos decorate paper hearts and hang them from the chandelier in our dining room. When I’m done, I use the hearts as part of my scrapbooking the holiday.”

Another idea is to decorate paper hearts and deliver them to friends and family in place of store-bought valentines.

It’s a great way to satisfy the sweet tooth and capture memories at the same time.

 

 

­­Create Your Own Valentines

Contributed by Ruth Klepach

 

Giving someone a handmade card can be a very special expression that can create a lifetime bond between the giver and receiver. Making cards with your child will do the same, while creating lasting memories and teaching the value of giving to others.

Cards that are personalized are especially nice. Be creative and use your imagination. The possibilities are endless. Cards can be as simple or complex as you want them to be.

Things you may need: scissors, glue, paper, paper heart doilies, pens, pencils, markers, stickers, adhesive letters, adhesive gems, ribbon, card stock, computer to type verse/clipart, and scrap wrapping paper.

 

Be Mine Valentine Card

Get a 4-inch white heart doily. Cut a 3-inch heart out of white paper. Paste it on the doily.

Cut out a bear with heart from wrapping paper. Paste it on heart.

Use computer to type the sentiments. Paste on heart.

Happy Hearts Day Card

Cut card stock to 6 1/4 inches x 9 inches. Fold in half (you can also get pre-folded cards).

Cut decorative paper to 6 1/4 x 4 1/2 inches. Paste.

Cut ribbon to 6 1/4 inches. Paste.

Place decorative adhesive sticker on ribbon.

Write or type a sentiment. Paste.

Think about writing a poem or verse inside!

 

Heart-Shaped Card

Cut an 8-inch heart out of card stock. Paste two 4-inch paper heart doilies onto the big heart. Apply adhesive stickers. Cut out clipart and paste on the hearts. Write/type sentiments and paste on heart.

 

Princess Card

Cut a piece of sparkling card stock to measure 6 inches by 6 inches. Cut corners so card will become octagon in shape. Get clipart/stickers and place on center of card. Write/type sentiments. Paste above and below pictures. Cut two, 4 1/4 inches of sparkly, velvety ribbon to the top and bottom of the card.

 

Lacey French Lace Doily Card

Get a 6-inch red heart paper doily. Paste on a 4-inch white doily. Paste photograph/picture and frame it if desired. Apply adhesive ribbon with sentiment. Apply adhesive letters and gems.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’re Nuts About the Nutcracker!

THE NUTCRACKER

All of your favorite Nutcracker characters — the Sugar Plum Fairy, the Pirate Mouse King and the Nutcracker Prince — come to the stage in the Eugene Ballet Company’s performance of The Nutcracker. The EBC is collaborating with The Capitol Theatre and the Yakima Symphony Orchestra.

 

Prepare for some impressive dancing and acrobatics, inspired by different cultures of the world.  Local kids make up part of the cast, including angels, ladybugs, dragons, cavalry, party guests, flowers and mice. Three siblings of Yakima’s Teegarden family will be performing on stage. Alexis Teegarden, 12, has two parts: a member of the cavalry and a party guest. This means she will be onstage during a war between mice and soldiers for one part.

While this performance is Alexis’s fourth (she was a mouse at age 6, an angel at 8, and a ladybug at 10), she has understandable pre-stage emotions.

“I’m excited and nervous,” says Alexis.

Alexis’s 9 year-old sister, Hailey, is cast as one of the angels.

“We get wings,” says Hailey, who was in The Nutcracker two years ago as a mouse. “We get to wear a red dress.”

Their brother Jordan, 5, is a mouse for his first time on stage.

“We’re gonna be next to a bed,” says Jordan about his and his fellow mice performers. “And the mouses have to be really quiet to go around the bed. We have to have a mouse face.”

Performers have been practicing for weeks leading up to the Dec. 10 performances, which include matinee and evening showings.

 

If you go:

Saturday, Dec. 10.

2 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The Capitol Theatre

19 S. Third St., Yakima

Cost: Adults $10-$40, students and seniors $5-$35

Tickets available at theatre box office or 509-853-ARTS

capitoltheatre.org

 

Make Your own Nutcracker!

 

• Clothespin Nutcracker magnet

Materials: clothespin, felt in a variety of colors, scissors, glue, magnet, markers

Instructions:

• Draw/trace the nutcracker’s face on felt, and cut out with scissors
• Create facial features on other colored felt, cut out and glue on face
• Use markers to color the clothespin “body” (use either one solid color or multiple colors)
• Glue felt to clothespin
• Glue magnet to back of clothespin
• Hang on refrigerator to display!

 

• Paper towel/toilet paper roll Nutcracker

It’s amazing the number of things one can make out of a toilet paper roll.

Materials: paper tower or toilet paper rolls, construction paper, markers or crayons, glue, scissors. Optional: felt, pipe cleaners.

• Draw/color nutcracker face on paper. Make sure the face isn’t too small or too large compared to the size of the roll you’re using. Cut out face and set aside.
  • Draw/color nutcracker body. Consider how your nutcracker should be dressed. (You will want to consider the size of your nutcracker’s body, so when you cut this out it wraps around the paper roll completely.)
  • Glue paper around the paper roll. Glue face to the top of the paper roll.
  • Use paper or a second paper roll (cut vertically and rolled tighter) to create the nutcracker’s arms and legs.
  • Next, add other features. Consider using felt to make the nutcracker’s belt stand out, and a pipe cleaner to serve as the nutcracker’s sword, which can be glued to his arm.
  • Make a family of nutcrackers! The adults can be made using paper towel rolls, and the youngsters can be made from toilet paper rolls. Add a nutcracker princess … all you need is pink!

 

 

Father-daughter “Nutcracker” Winter Ball. 5:30-11 p.m. Jan 21. Fathers and daughters get to dress up and dance and dine the night away! Cost: $70 for dad and daughter (ages 4 and older), and $15 extra for additional daughter. Price includes dinner, dessert and entertainment that includes a DJ, a dance floor and a smoke machine. Photos also available. Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, 1507 N. First St., Yakima. Email Steve Emhoff at steve@emhoffgroup.com. dancewithdad.com

 

The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum. Open weekends Nov.1-April 30, the museum offers scavenger hunts for kids to search through the 5,000-piece nutcracker collection for kiddy favorites from Mickey Mouse to Darth Vader. Those who complete the task receive a prize. “The Nutcracker Lady” at the museum, Arlene Wagner, was even featured on “The Conan O’Brien Show” last year!

 

If you go:

Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum

735 Front St., Leavenworth

509-548-4573

Admission: $2.50 adults, $1 students, free for children 5 and younger

nutcrackermuseum.com

 

Mary Engelbreit’s Nutcracker Check out Mary Engelbreit’s darling Nutcracker (HarperCollins, $17.99 for hardcover edition) released in November. The book, written and illustrated by Engelbreit, is a great addition to the other Nutcracker titles out there, thanks to Engelbreit’s colorful illustrations and cheerful presentation.

 

Sugar Plums

Yes, we suppose you can make your own sugar plums by purchasing that particular fruit and sprinkling sugar on them (Yum!). But sugar plums, made famous by The Nutcracker and ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, can mean a few different things.

 

Many recipes call for a combination of ingredients, especially almonds, walnuts, dried dates and apricots or other fruit. From our findings, it looks like you can make your very own sugar plum recipe by mixing in other ingredients, too, such as honey, nutmeg, cinnamon, orange peel, and other spices.

It’s a Victorian Christmas!

 

Text and photos by Jill St. George

 

On Dec. 4, the Yakima Valley Museum will open the historic H.M. Gilbert Homeplace for “A Victorian Christmas.” Get transported back in time with the sights and smells of an old-fashioned holiday, complete with a Christmas tree candle-lighting service. 1-4 p.m. Candle-lighting services at 1:15, 2:15 and 3:15 p.m. Free, but donations accepted. H.M. Gilbert Homeplace, 2109 W. Yakima Ave; 509-248-0747. yakimavalleymuseum.org

 

Crafts to help you decorate for your own Victorian Christmas. (And we tried them with a 3-year old – they’re easy!)

 

Victorian Hand Stencil Wreath

Materials:

Patterned scrapbook paper

Scissors

Hot glue

4 feet of ribbon

Pearl embellishments

Wicker wreath base

 

Instructions:

Using four different scrapbook paper designs, trace and cut out eight child and eight adult hands. Hot glue adult hands around wreath, slightly overlapping one another. Next, hot glue the child’s hand patterns on top of the adult hands — again, slightly overlapping. Glue pearls to the tips of each finger and then slightly bend the child’s fingers up. Using about 3 feet of ribbon, randomly glue in a circular pattern around the center of the wreath and then add pearl embellishments. Tie a ribbon from the wreath and hang.

 

Victorian Ornament

 

Materials:

1 doily

Patterned scrapbook paper

Pearl embellishments

Hot glue

Ribbon

Personalized photo/printer

 

Instructions:

On your computer, choose a photo and edit it by changing its color to sepia and giving it an aged appearance. Using quality paper, size photo to 3.5×5 inches and print. Next, cut out the figure in the photo. Using a doily, cut a half-circle to fit the bottom half of the child and then fold edges back and then around to give skirt fullness. Add pearl embellishments with hot glue. Next, using scrapbook paper, cut wings in an almond shape and glue to the back of the figure. Add a bow to her hair if you prefer. Last, glue ribbon to the back of the ornament for hanging.

65 Fun Fall Crafts!!! (And they’re easy, too!)

Each edition of Playdate magazine is on newsstands for about two months, and the October/November edition will be on newsstands for exactly 65 days. So here’s a list of 65 fun arts and crafts projects, kid-friendly recipes and easy activities that families can whip up in an afternoon or over a crisp fall weekend.

Sept. 21: National “Dog Week” is Sept. 19-25, so celebrate by making your dog homemade dog treats.

Sept. 22: Make quacky – ahem – whacky soap with a duck. Melt glycerin soap in microwave. (Look at the directions — one brand states to microwave on high for 40 seconds, with 10-second intervals. You can also use a double broiler.) Pour into disposable, rectangular plastic dish. Add a few drops of blue coloring and stir. Set squirt toy on top. Leave in cool, dry area to set (about 2-4 hours). Get sudsy!

Sept. 23: Bath time! Why not make your own bath salts? Combine 4 cups of fine sea salt, 1 ½ cups of Epsom salts, 1 cup of course sea salt and throw in some essential oils. Vanilla, jasmine and sandalwood are exotic oils, while lavender, sweet orange, fennel and rosemary are soothing. Birch, ginger and peppermint oils can help relieve pain. Great too for parents who need rejuvenation!

Sept. 24: Great for a ‘tween girls spa day or slumber party: Make a facial scrub. Combine 1 cup almonds, 1 cup oatmeal and ½ oz. lavender. Put ingredients in blender (Mom or Dad, not the kids!) and grind until smooth. Mix with water or milk to make a paste and scrub face lightly for one minute (avoid eyes!). Rinse and pat dry. Then gossip all day about boys!

Sept. 25: Keep that toddler busy with an exploring set. Gather six 8-ounce water bottles, removing labels. Fill each bottle with something for baby to discover. Some ideas: a mix of water and glitter; or go snow globe style with tiny toys, water, glitter and a few drops of food coloring and glycerin; jingle bells; fluffy pom poms or dried beans. Once you’ve filled them all, glue the lids on tight for safety.

Sept. 26: Sept. 25-Oct. 1 is national “Keep Kids Creative Week!” Let’s write a haiku. Haikus are three lines, remembering the 5-7-5 rule: the first line contains five syllables, the second line features seven syllables, and the last line has five syllables. Here is an example: Playdate magazine / Celebrates the coming fall / Enjoy the season! Send us your kids’ haikus!

Sept. 27: Jot down words and ideas to create a story. Big ideas are fun, but the details can be daunting. Try helping your child make a list or jot down ideas in some form. You can transform these notes into a story later on. Provide details of a scene and explain thoughts, actions, and emotions. Focus on sensory details — the five senses — unless your child wants to venture down the path of exploring what a sixth or seventh sense might look like! (Perfect for Halloween!)

Sept. 28: Help your little bards. Write or type your child’s ideas down as he or she tells them to you. This teamwork might reduce pressure on your child to “complete” a book or story project on his or her own. Emphasize working together. This teamwork aspect will still allow your child to have a primary role in the creative process.

Sept. 29: Create your child’s own book. This can be out of standard paper, colored construction paper or a combination of both.  Sometimes having a homemade book in hand is encouraging enough to get someone motivated to write down the ideas and see (and hold!) his or her own book!

Sept. 30: Create a ’zine or chapbook. If construction paper isn’t your thing, you can mix up the materials. Try a chapbook, or even a “’zine,” and be as artsy/crafty as you and your child want to be! Encourage your child’s imagination, so he or she can include drawings, photos, cutouts, stickers and so on to combine with words, sentences or an overall story. Here are some instructions on how to make a chapbook: www.pw.org/content/diy_how_make_saddlestitched_chapbook

Oct. 1: Today, believe it or not, is “World Card Making Day.” Make your own “Mandala” greeting cards. Gather the following materials:
• Old CDs (outdated software is a great source)
• Markers, pens, colored pencils or crayons
• Rulers, protractors or French curves
• Strathmore 5 x 7 blank greeting cards with deckled finish (Or something similar. Available at local art and stationary stores).

Instructions:

1) Take a used CD and recycled paper.
2) Have the kids practice tracing a circle on recycled copy paper with pen or pencil.
3) Ask them to offer you a fraction. (This is great for helping teach time with analog clocks.)
Most will offer “1/2″ or “1/4.” Demonstrate drawing those portion on your example sheet.
4) Ask the same question. Demonstrate breaking the large pattern into smaller patterns.
5) Don’t get too technical, just show them how to create patterns with a couple of fractions.
(Most of them catch on pretty quickly and want to start the card right away.)
6) Have the children explain to you their “plan” or “direction” from the recycled paper.
7) Now offer them the Strathmore greeting card. The CD fits on one side with the deckel (a colored strip of green or red that looks ‘ripped’)
Have at it! Depending on their level and patience, the possibilities are infinite.
For older kids, have them research “Serenpinski’s Triangle” and fractal math for ideas.

Oct. 2: Have little actors in your house? Act out a story. Dress up, make it a play and perform!

Oct. 3: Did we say cake pops? Yes we did. Here’s an easy recipe for a delicious and fun dessert:

Ingredients & Recipe:
~ 1 box cake mix (and necessary ingredients to bake it)
~ 1 container frosting
~ 12 to 16 oz candy melts or chocolate wafers; they have chocolate and colored. For best results, don’t use chocolate chips; they don’t harden & won’t create a very good shell.
(Wafers & melts are available locally at Cake Decorator Shoppe or Michael’s.)
~ sprinkles or candies to decorate
~ package of sticks for pops and bags if wrapping individually (Available locally at Cake Decorator Shoppe or Michael’s.)

•Bake cake of choice. Let cool completely. Cut into four sections, rub two sections together so they crumble. •Crumble entire cake into bowl. Mix in container of frosting.
•Roll dough into 1-inch balls and chill for 15 minutes.
•Microwave chocolate wafers according to package directions (Melt slowly, 30 seconds at a time, otherwise chocolate will burn).
•Insert sticks halfway into balls of dough.
•Chill 15 more minutes.
•Dip into chocolate and add sprinkles.
•Chill a few more minutes so chocolate sets & enjoy!

Oct. 4: Have a wood-burning fireplace? Make a fire starter out of egg cartons, shredded paper, lint, wax. Take a small handful of shredded paper and put it in the egg carton, then take a pinch of lint and put it on top of the paper. Make it compact. Melt wax from candles in a double broiler, and then pour a tablespoon of wax in each cup. (If you notice it begins to seep through the carton, that’s good! It will bind together.) This is a quick, messy and fun craft!

Oct. 5: It’s Balloons Around the World Day. Send a message attached to a balloon — write something inspiring to whoever may find it!

Oct. 6: Throw a “Merry Unbirthday” party to celebrate Mad Hatter Day. Make a cake, bake cookies, play games, dress up or have a tea party. Act goofy!

Oct. 7: Turn that frown upside down … it’s World Smile Day. Go outside and smile at everyone! See what happens and record your findings!

Oct. 8: Sing…sing a song…sing out loud…sing out strong! Make instruments with empty glass bottles, using sticks to make drums sounds and using your lips to blow into them for tones. Fill one bottle ¾ of the way from the top, one half full, the other only ¼ full, and one empty. Compare sounds. Change it up. Make music!

Oct. 9: It’s Leif Erikson Day, so make a boat. Take a piece of bark, insert a leaf with a stem, and let it sail!

Oct. 10: I’m on a boat! This time, make believe for Columbus Day. Make a boat out of cardboard boxes, a sailor’s hat out of newspaper, and sail the ocean blue in your imagination!

Oct. 11: Recycle those stubby crayons, Mom and Dad.

Classic version: Gather broken crayons, removing paper labels. Put about four full crayons’ worth of pieces into each cup of a muffin tin. Put tin in a 375-degree oven for about 6-7 minutes, then let cool. New fun crayons!

Fun version: Swirl colors with a toothpick when they come out of the oven. Or melt crayons in small cupcake cups in the microwave, then pour into candy molds for fun shapes! (But be careful-HOT!)

Oct. 12: Betcha’ didn’t know it, but today is International Top Spinning Day. Show off by making your own spin top with a toothpick and any plastic bottle cap. Puncture a small hole in the cap so the toothpick can fit snugly inside. Decorate the cap as you like it, and let the spin begin!  Visit this link to see a video!

Oct. 13: It’s an oldie but a goody: build a fort. Use boxes, blankets, chairs and pillows. Make popcorn and enjoy a movie through an opening in the blankets, or take your laptop with you inside the fort to watch a movie. Invite the dog in, too. Make your fort as big, creative and elaborate as you can, and send us pictures!

Oct. 14: Two greats come together: eggs and Dr. Seuss. To celebrate World Egg Day, make green eggs and ham and read the Dr. Seuss book!

Oct. 15: Sweetest Day. Outdo everyone else in the house by being the sweetest of them all. Do a kind act or give someone a compliment. Make sweets for your friends, neighbors and family!

Oct. 16: Nothing quite tops a Yakima apple, so to commemorate World Food Day, try this crunchy sweet Apple Crisp recipe, courtesy of the folks at Fresh Taste Meals.

Ingredients & Recipe:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, gently fold together the following ingredients:
4 cups peeled sliced Granny Smith apples
3/4 cup white sugar
1 1/2 Tbs lemon juice
1 1/2 Tbs flour
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

•Spread apple mixture over the bottom of a large greased pan.
•In a medium bowl use your hands to combine the following ingredients:
1 1/2 cups oats
2 1/4 cups flour
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups melted butter

•Crumble this mixture over the filling in the pan.
•Drizzle caramel sauce over the top of the crumb mixture.
•Bake in oven for 45 to 60 minutes. Apple mixture will bubble and topping will be golden brown.

Oct. 17: Make a princess or a party hat! Get a circle to trace – the diameter of the circle determines the height of the hat. Trace the circle onto a sheet of pretty craft paper or poster board that’s not too thick to bend. Draw a “pie piece” into it that’s about a ¼ of the circle. Cut out the circle without the pie piece. If you used craft paper, roll into a cone and adhere with glue or strong tape. If you used poster board, you can cut the same shape out of material and glue the material onto the poster board before you roll into a cone. Decorate with pom poms, glitter, ribbon, artificial flowers, old jewelry or whatever you have on hand. Look adorable!

Oct. 18: Make a wand. Take a dowel or stick, wrap a ribbon around it, and tie ribbon around the top to make streamers. (Wave wand and practice saying “Bippity-boppity-boo!”)

Oct. 19: Let’s go camping…at home!  If you have a fire pit, make s’mores. If not, use the microwave or grill in aluminum foil on the barbecue. Make up spooky stories around the fireplace and enjoy the treats.

Oct. 20: Fall Tree Print. This one is messy, so kids love it! Add brown finger paint to a paper plate, then dip child’s hand and wrist, palm down, into the plate. Have them make a hand/wrist print onto a big piece of white paper. That’s your tree. Then have them dip their fingers into plates of green, yellow, or orange paint, and use their fingerprints to make multicolored fall leaves.

Oct. 21: Got a pillow case? Make a costume with it! Cut a hole in the top and on the sides. Glue on buttons and ribbons.

Oct. 22: Mix up a ghoulish Halloween punch. Mix lemonade, a blueberry drink mix, ice cubes and gummy worms. You should get a lovely green “slime” color, and the gummy worms can either hang off the edge of the bowl or just be in the punch!

Oct. 23: Make a pumpkin man, man!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oct. 24: Enroll your kids in Monster Fighter training. See story by Courtney Crutcher on how.

Oct. 25: This one’s gross…and your kids will love it. Make a meat head!

Ingredients:

1 full-sized plastic human skull

1.5 lbs. thin-sliced deli meat (your choice!)

Cream cheese, BBQ sauce, or cranberry sauce (see below)

2 hard-boiled egg yolks, round mini-mozzarella pieces, or cocktail onions

2 slices of pimento-stuffed green olive

Instructions: 1. Buy a plastic skull. Wash the skull with soap and water and allow to dry.

2. Spread a “base” over the skull. BBQ sauce and jellied cranberry sauce give the skull a bloody, gory look as your guests lift away the lunch meat. Cream cheese is not as fun, but probably tastes better with most meats. This is entirely your choice.

3. Evenly distribute your lunch meat over the prepared skull, leaving openings at the eyes and mouth. Smallish pieces of meat work better than larger ones, as they’re easier to manipulate and form. You may need to use toothpicks to get some of the meat to stay in place.

4. For eyes, place one hard boiled egg yolk or small mozzarella cheese ball in each eye socket. Top with a slice of pimento-stuffed green olive.

6. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until ready to eat.

 

Oct. 26: Make your own magnets — they’re so attractive! Get it?

Mix up a basic salt dough. (Recipe below or use your own.) Roll out the dough, having kids use leaf-shaped cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Let them air dry (or bake, depending what type of recipe you use). Then just paint and glue magnets to the back. Perfect to hang school art on the fridge!

Salt Dough: In a big bowl, mix 1 cup salt and 2 cups flour together. Slowly add 1/2 cup of cold water and mix. Knead the dough on counter, adding a few more drops of water if needed, but don’t let it get gooey. Takes a day or so to dry.

Oct. 27: Make a regular ol’ red velvet cake into a VAMPIRE CAKE! Just color the frosting red too! (If you put raspberries in the middle, it’s kind of healthy.)

Oct. 28: Play the Gross Out/Guess What game to celebrate Frankenstein Friday. Place “mysterious” food items in paper bags and have kids guess which gross item it is. Grapes are good for eyeballs, cottage cheese for vampire vomit and spaghetti for zombie brains. UGH!

Oct. 29: Make a butterfly out of a regular empty coffee can. Wrap can in pretty craft paper; cut heart shaped “wings” from a different craft paper, taping to either side of the can; then tape  strips of paper (or sticker strips) around the can; add eyes to the front and a smiley face. Put rocks, jelly beans or candy in the can, adding squiggly pipe cleaners for the antennae!

Oct. 30: Make a jack-o-lantern! Then send us photos!

Oct. 31: Mmm…caramel apples. Melt caramel (either caramel candies or make it from scratch) and dip apples (on a stick) in the caramel. Perfect since it’s National Caramel Apple Day (hey – and Halloween!). You can decorate them too. Or if you don’t have a lot of time, just dip slices of apples in melted caramel for a nice snack.

Nov. 1: Halloween may be over, but the fun doesn’t have to be … kids can dress up like a favorite super hero, doll or character and help mom and dad with chores!

Nov. 2: “Leaf” the candy in the house and get outside! After all those sweets, kids need some exercise. Rake up as many leaves then dive in the pile (you, too, Mom and Dad)! Breathe in the new November air!

Nov. 3: Grab some plain clay pots at a craft store and make simple hand-print decorations on the outside.

Nov. 4: Use tracing paper to trace all the different shapes and sizes of leaves in your own backyard or nearby park.

Nov. 5: Press fall leaves in a heavy book, wait until they’re dry, then make a colorful collage on construction paper.

Nov. 6: Head to a fabrics store to get materials for a “no sew” blanket, just in time for the chilly weather! These are easy to make, but you can find directions on our website!

No-Sew Fleece Blanket

Materials Needed: Fleece blanket, scissors, yardstick, ruler

1. Pick your fleece. You can pick a pattern for the front side and a matching fleece with a solid color for the back side, but any combination that you like will do. You will need 2 ½ feet of fleece material for each side of the blanket (this would make an adult 6 ft. blanket). OR: You will need 1 ½ ft. to 1 ¾ ft. of fleece material for each side of the blanket to make a kid-sized blanket.

2. Lay both pieces of the fleece, with the wrong sides facing each other, on a table, and cut off the rough edges. Cut both pieces of fabric at the same time to the same size. Make sure your edges line up together and handle the fleece gently, since it can stretch out of shape easily.

3. Cut a 4-inch square out of each corner of the fleece.

4. Go down each side of the fabric and make 1-inch cuts all along the borders. It may make it easier if you lay a yardstick across the side at the 4-inch so you know how far to make each cut. You may also use a ruler to mark off the one inch points where you cut. Make sure both sides of the fabric are laying together flat as you cut.

5. Once you have cut the 1-inch strips around all four sides, you are ready to tie the two pieces of fabric together. Taking the two strands together, raise them up and then bring them back through the circle, from the back to the front. Tie a firm, but not tight, knot. Once you have all of the strips tied, your project is done!

Nov. 7: Practice writing skills: start writing those letters to Santa Claus!

Nov. 8: Make a picture frame out of popsicle sticks. Take four popsicle sticks, glue them together to form a square, and color and decorate the sticks as you see fit. Glue a photo behind the frame, and glue a magnet on the back so you can hang on your refrigerator.

Nov. 9: Get that blood sugar up with this Yakima Apple Pie Snack Mix. Combine a couple of cups each of three different favorite cereals — we like Apple Cinnamon Cheerios and Cinnamon Toast Crunch — to a big bowl.  Melt ¼ butter and add 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp of cinnamon and 1 tsp apple pie spice to it. Pour over cereal and mix up. Then cook, stirring often, in microwave another 3-4 minutes. Spread on wax paper to cool, then add 2 cups dried apple slices, plus your choice of walnuts, white choc chips, sunflower seeds or raisins. Enjoy in the fall sunshine!

Nov. 10: Choreograph a dance. Perform for friends and family. Involve props, music and costumes.

Nov. 11: Veterans Day. Make a patriotic wand or flag. See direction on Oct. 18, and modify to use red, white and blue colors.

Nov. 12: Make your own Playdough. You’ll need:

2 ½ cups flour

½ cup salt

1 tablespoon alum

2 cups boiling water

5 tablespoon vegetable oil

Food coloring

Mix together the flour, salt and alum. Add boiling water, oil and coloring. Being careful of hot dough, kneed. Cool. Store in a plastic bag. Have fun!

Nov. 13: It’s International Tongue Twister Day. Read Dr. Seuss’s Fox in Socks. Or Joyce’s Finnegans Wake. No, stick to Fox in Socks.

Nov. 14: Craft a homework helper. Get an empty tin can, sanding the top edge for safety. Let kids cut out comic strips, toys from Sunday’s newspaper ads or tissue paper. Use Mod Podge to glue the paper on, adding a top layer to seal. If you want, add ribbon and tie a small favorite toy around the holder too. Now they have a great spot for pencils on their desks!

Nov. 15: …Or a chore money jar. Rinse out and dry an empty baby formula container. Decorate with fun papers and Mod Podge, similar to above. Cut a small slot in the top of the container to drop change through

Nov. 16: Help them organize their lockers, too, with a magnetic locker organizer. Use metal or plastic band-aid boxes, cover with craft paper and decorations (or just keep plain). Then add sheet magnets to cover the whole backside of the container. Just attach to the inside of locker.

Nov. 17: Another oldie but goodie…using any type of pretty paper, make paper snowflakes and put them in a bedroom window.  Use lots of colors.  You can find patterns on the Internet.

Nov. 18: It’s Mickey Mouse Day … make Mickey Mouse pancakes. Easy and delicious!

Nov. 19: Make your own Sidewalk Chalk. Coat the inside of an old ice cube tray with petroleum jelly. Mix up 1 cup plaster of paris and 1/2 cup of water in a disposable plastic container for about a minute. Quickly add a couple tablespoons of liquid tempera paint and mix. Scoop it into ice cube tray, and tap to make sure it packs in firm. Dry overnight before using.

Nov. 20: Go on a pinecone hunt! Get a few big ones for upcoming crafts. See what other cool things you can find (unusual leaves, colorful rocks, funny looking sticks, etc.).

Nov. 21: Make a pinecone bird feeder. Take a giant pine cone you found on the pinecone hunt on Nov. 20, and saturate it bird seed mixed with peanut butter. Take a string or ribbon and tie it around the top of the coated pinecone to hang on a tree branch, and watch the birds rejoice! (Just be sure to hang it high enough so it’s out of reach of the dog or the kids!)

Nov. 22: Make a pinecone turkey. After finding the pinecone of your choice, use either colored  craft feathers, cut-out construction paper, or colorful pipe cleaners to create the tail feathers. For the turkey’s head, you have a few options: glue an acorn, add some googley eyes, cut out a piece of felt for the beak and gobbler (or use construction paper). There are plenty of other ways to decorate your turkey, so be as creative as you can!

Nov. 23: Make a clay turkey using your kids’ hands! Sculpey Clay works well, but use your own preference of baking or hardening clay. Squish the imprint of your child’s hand on a rolled-out piece of clay, and then use an Exacto knife and cut around the outside of the print. Cut out shapes for the turkey beak and gobbler and add to the thumb of the handprint. Bake clay according to what type of clay you have (follow directions with specific product you use). Let your kids paint the cooked product!

Nov. 24: Thanksgiving. Eat turkey! … and think about everything you’re grateful for. Practice your best gobbling imitation – without food in your mouth, of course!

Thank you to the many readers who contributed to this list: Jennifer Wolman, a stay-at-home mom and arts/crafts expert; Meagan Paullin, local mom and owner and creative director of Sunshine and Sippy Cups (sunshineandsippycups.com), Doug Johnson, director of Cave Moon Press and local teacher; Ryan Miller, Alex Mitchell, Kimberly Klepach and Yakima Herald-Republic staff members.

Make Love Bugs for Your Little Love Bugs!

Love Bugs!

Want a fun, cute, and inexpensive craft to make and give to a loved one for Valentine’s Day? Try making love bugs! You can make ladybugs, butterflies, or both.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• an empty toilet paper tube
• construction paper (choose your colors!)
• scissors
• glue
• glitter
• pen, marker, crayons or pencil

Here’s how to make a Love Bug:

1. Cover an empty toilet tube with construction paper to make the body of the bug.
2. Cut two ovals (for the lady bug) or hearts (for a butterfly) to make wings.
3. Attach wings with tape or glue on either side of the body.
4. Cut circles to make the faces.
5. Encourage your child to draw a face on the circle or at the top of the tube.
6. Cut strips of paper and fold in a zigzag pattern to make antennae and legs. Cut two small hearts and glue to the tips of antennae. Or, pipe cleaners are great for antennae as well.
7. Write a cute message on the wings or on a cut out heart that the Love Bug holds.
8. Decorate with glitter, feathers, or whatever else you desire. Have fun!!!

Decorate a Mini Dream House

No doubt about it, kids love decorating gingerbread houses. It’s a sweet holiday tradition, for sure. But baking and building the house from scratch is also quite the project.

Understandably, store-bought kits have become incredibly popular the last few years. They shave off hours of mixing, baking and cooling versus a homemade house, which also has potential to burn or buckle.

And, frankly, kids likely won’t appreciate the extra effort.

That’s why I love this pint-sized project that’s just perfect for a preschool playdate (though older kids will love it, too). Mom can assemble these no-bake graham cracker structures the night before the party, giving the icing time to set up a bit before the kiddos get to work.

Because it’s hard to share, everybody gets their own. Remember to build a spare or two since little hands aren’t always so gentle.

To make the houses, gently break graham crackers in half into squares. You’ll need six squares for each house; one box of crackers makes about eight houses. Fill a pastry bag with buttercream icing (see recipe below).

We used a paper plate, turned upside down, for the base.

Using icing as glue, assemble the walls of the house. To help with structural stability, wait about 30 minutes before adding the roof. (I build all the houses, then come back and add all the roofs.)

When it’s time to roof the house, pipe icing along the top of two facing walls. Rest two graham cracker squares against each other at an angle and pipe a line of icing across the peak. If you need more structure, use 1/4 of a graham cracker as a center beam.

Let the project stiffen up overnight.

When it’s time to decorate, give each kid a dollop of icing and a plastic knife and let them design their dream house.

HOME IMPROVEMENTS
Shopping for miniature edible decorations is definitely part of the fun. Older kids, especially, will enjoy helping with this.

Here’s a list of some of our favorites:
* In lieu of gingerbread men, Teddy Graham cookies are the residents of our tiny houses.
* Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal makes nice shingles. Try Triscuits or mini wheats for a more “thatched” look.
* Licorice bites are a perfect little chimney. Add a puff of icing for smoke.
* M&M Minis (find them in the individual-sized candy section) or Nerds are ideal for holiday lights.
* Dots or spice drops are a good size for bushes.
* Butter snap pretzels make good windows.
* Pretzel sticks are handy for roofing material, fences or making a stack of firewood.
* A green Life Saver or striped peppermint makes a good wreath. Tiny Christmas tree sprinkles and red nonpareils, grouped to look like holly, add a special touch.
* Fruit by the Foot is handy for doors, stained glass windows, pathways or scarves for the bears.
* Miniature candy canes make a scene more festive.
* Shredded coconut or a dusting of sanding sugar looks like a fresh layer of snow.

____________________

Buttercream Icing

1 c. vegetable shortening
1 tsp. vanilla
2 T water
1 lb. confectioners’ (powdered) sugar
pinch of salt

Using a mixer, blend shortening, vanilla and water. Add sugar, about a cup at a time, and mix on medium speed until thoroughly blended. Blend an additional minute, until creamy.

If mixture is too stiff, add a small amount of water — one teaspoon at a time — until reaching desired consistency.

NOTE: We used about 2 1/2 batches of icing to assemble and decorate 10 houses. Be sure to have plenty (you can save the extra for other treats), but make one batch at a time so you don’t burn out the engine on your mixer.

Make an Advent Calendar

With Thanksgiving now behind us, it’s time to pack up the pilgrim plates and flip the calendar to December (yes, already!). In the latest issue of the magazine, I promised to give you a new craft project each week through the end of the year. So, here’s the first project: A homemade advent calendar.

At my house, advent calendars are a big deal. The best part of the season, according to my husband. He’d never even heard of advent calendars until a few years ago — yes, I married a Martian — but now he insists the season wouldn’t be complete without his imported German advent calendar, which I buy online.

A few years back, it was almost impossible to find advent calendars in the stores, but they seem to be gaining popularity now. I’ve seen simple chocolate advent calendars at the grocery store for about $1.99 and the craft stores have all kinds of paint-it-yourself wooden options that you can reuse from year to year.

In case you, like my husband, are also from Mars and don’t know what I’m talking about… An advent calendar is a way to count down the days until Christmas, usually from Dec. 1 to 24. If you’re interested in a little advent history, read more here.

In addition to being fun all month long, I love advent calendars for kids because they help answer the “how many more days” question. So, at the very least, I’d recommend making a paper chain.

You can use anything from recycled newspaper to printer paper to extra pages of scrapbook paper or gift wrap. Just cut 24 strips of paper, approximately 1.5 inches wide by 8 inches long. Tape them together into a chain & hang them on the wall. Each day, through Christmas Eve, you’ll remove one link. (Hint: Before you hang the chain, I’d recommend numbering each link with the date 1-24 so you’ll be able to quickly determine whether a link has already been removed each day. This saves you from counting them over & over again…. learned that one the hard way.)  At my house, we like to make paper chains for counting down other anticipated events as well, such as a birthday or family vacation.

Okay, finally now, I’m going to tell you about the little paper bag advent calendars my family’s been making. I first made this last year for my dad, who said it was the best gift he’d ever received. So, keep it in mind for a grandparent gift as well as for the kids.

Here’s what you need:

* 24 small bags. I got these colorful bags at Michaels craft store. Small lunch bags would work too, and Chinese take-out boxes would be super cute.

* 24 small clothes pins (also from the craft store) or paper clips.

* A 5-foot length of ribbon.

* Stickers. We used number stickers, but you could also hand number the bags with a Sharpie. Also, this is a great use for leftover scrapbooking stickers with a holiday theme.

* 24 items to stuff the sacks (more on this below).

So, the basic idea is that you number each bag 1-24. On Dec. 1, you open bag No. 1 and see what prize is inside, repeat the next day with bag No. 2, etc. I love the little bags (as opposed to the drawers of most reusable calendars) because you’re not so limited in size of items … and the variety of daily surprises is what makes this fun.

I let the kids decorate their own bags, then I secretly stuffed them with the goodies. This year, I also sent each of my parents their own advent calendar. Since I can’t be with them as much as I’d like during the holidays (they live in Oregon), it’s a nice way to be a regular part of their day.

Anyway, here are some ideas for fillers for grandparents: Ornaments, jewelry, pocket-sized tissues, soaps, small office supplies (sticky notes, push pins), seed packets and bulbs, playing cards, fishing lures, fridge magnets, wallet-sized photos of the kids, travel or sample-sized items, coffee/tea bags, hand-written notes or drawings, and — of course — chocolates and other candies.

You’ll want to decide on a budget since the cost for 24 items can get out of control pretty quickly. I’d suggest doing at least five “gifts” and then filling the rest of the days with an inexpensive treat.

For the kids, filler ideas include:

* Candy. Find cute foil-wrapped chocolates at Boehm’s Candy Store in the Chalet Place shopping center, 56th and Summitview avenues, Yakima. Also, Top Foods grocery store at S. First Street and Washington has tons of bulk candies.

* Small toys: Leftover party favors, Silly Putty, toy cars, Bakugan, Polly Pockets. The Clover Leaf at 4110 Main St. in Union Gap has some fun stuff for advent calendars or stocking stuffers. Dollar stores are also a great place to look.

* Holiday ornaments.

* Pencil sharpeners and erasers. We found lots at the school supply store at 302 W Yakima Ave. Other small arts and craft supplies are great, too. A new box of 24 crayons would fit in my bags.

* Items for their treasure box: Shells, colored rocks, marbles, etc.

* Coins.

Now enjoy the Christmas countdown!

Mad Science Goo

Mad Science Goo
Experiment: Investigate a very different kind of liquid

In the 17th century, Sir Isaac Newton conducted experiments with liquids and declared that all liquids have a constant thickness. Well, he never played with Mad Science Goo!

This slime, which you can make at home, takes the shape of whatever container it is in (like a liquid), but can also act like a solid.

What You Need
Newspaper
Large bowl
Cornstarch
Water
Measuring Cup
Food coloring (optional)
Tablespoon

What To Do
Lay some newspaper under your work area. This could get messy.

Place a bowl in the center of the newspaper.

Pour a cup of cornstarch into the bowl. Add a few drops of food coloring if you wish.

Slowly pour some water (start with 1/2 cup) into the bowl, mixing the water and cornstarch together until all the powder is wet.

Keep adding water, little by little, until the mixture feels like a liquid when slowly mixed.

Try tapping on the surface with the back of a spoon. When the Goo is just right, it won’t splash like you would expect; it reacts like a solid! If your Mad Science Goo is too powdery, add a little water and mix again. If it’s too wet, add more cornstarch and mix.

Pick up a handful and squeeze it. Stop squeezing all of a sudden. What happens? What did you notice?

— Carole Jevons, Mad Science of Yakima County

What’s Going On?
The mixture feels solid when squeezed but flows like a liquid when released. This is because Mad Science Goo is a non-Newtonian fluid. This means that it does not have the same properties that most other fluids do (the ones described by Newton). Non-Newtonian fluids all share a unique property: Their thickness changes in response to pressure!

When you tapped the goo with the back of your spoon, you caused a sudden increase of pressure on the surface of the goo and the goo thickened. If you move your hand quickly through the goo, it resists your movement by becoming even thicker.

Did You Know?
The same principle applies to quicksand. If you ever find yourself trapped in quicksand, move very slowly toward the shore. The quicker you move, the thicker the quicksand will become around you, causing you to sink even further.

This one’s not for the birds

The kids and I made some cute and tasty Easter treats yesterday. These no-bake Easter Nest Cookies are super easy!

You just need three ingredients: Chocolate chips, crunchy chow mein noodles and some sort of candy that looks like little eggs. We used speckled Easter M&Ms, but jellybeans or even peanuts could work.  I used a little more than one bag of milk chocolate chips for each 12 ounce bag of chow mein.

Line a couple cookie sheets with parchment or wax paper. This will keep the nests from sticking.

In a medium sized pan, melt the chocolate chips on the stove (medium heat), stirring so the chocolate doesn’t burn. This will only take a couple minutes. Remove from heat and add the noodles, stirring until they’re well coated. Then use a large spoon to drop a good-sized dollop of the chocolate chow mein mixture on your lined cookie sheets. Our nests are about 4 inches across.

Carefully check to make sure the mixture’s not too hot to touch, then use your fingers to shape each drop into the shape of a nest: circular with a little indent in the center. Move on to the next nest.

After you’re through forming the nests, the chocolate should still be sticky but not real warm (don’t want to melt your eggs!). Add a couple egg candies to the center of each nest. The chocolate will work like glue to hold them in.  Chill them in the fridge for at least 20 minutes (we left ours overnight).  To make them into little gifts, I placed each nest in a cellophane bag tied with a ribbon.

My kids are 5 and 3, so they were able to help stir the melting chocolate, help form the nests and add the egg candies (their favorite part). We thought the nests looked great using three eggs that were the same color (shades of blue, for example) or mixing it up. Either way, you can’t go wrong!

Celebrate Grandparents Day

Make a handmade card, pick up the phone or head over the hills to Grandmother’s house: National Grandparents Day is the first Sunday after Labor Day. (No, we didn’t make this up.)

Tthis holiday honoring grandparents was authorized by Congress and signed by President Jimmy Carter in 1978. It’s the perfect opportunity to set aside a few hours for family. Read more

10 outdoor art activities

The Nature of Things: 10 arty activities for the great outdoors

By Jessica Moskwa

1. Capture the Earth’s Textures
Collect your favorite leaves and place them under a piece of typing paper. Use the side of a crayon to capture their texture. Try the same method on the bark of a tree! Supplies: Paper & crayons, leaves & trees.

2. Make & Fly a Kite
Download instructions on the Drachen Foundation Web site (www.drachen.org) to make three different types of kites. Try the Kono Box kite, designed by Seattle-based kite maker Greg Kono. The design (circa 1893) was immediately adopted for meteorological investigation and contributed to the worldwide quest for stable flight!

3. Visit the ArtsVan
This summer, make art in the parks with Allied Arts’ traveling art classroom, ArtsVan! For details, visit alliedartsyakima.org.

4. Adopt a Rock Pet
Always wanted a pet? Make one from a rock! Search for a rock with an interesting shape, and then take it home to paint it into a fdog, bear, or ladybug — anything your heart desires. Supplies: Rocks, acrylic paint.

5. Sketch Outdoors
Looking is one of the most important skills needed in making art. Famous artists often draw from real life. Sit outside and choose something that doesn’t move (a pond, tree or flower). Then, use your eyes to draw what you see. It doesn’t matter if what you end up with doesn’t look like the real thing — your drawing will represent how you see life. Supplies: Sketchbook & pencils.

6. Indulge in Outdoor Summer Cinema
Summer evenings, enjoy viewing almost-new releases and time-tested favorites in one of Yakima’s lovely city parks. Visit alliedartsyakima.org for details.

7. Make Windchimes
Love the sound of the wind? Using a clean, empty 8-10 oz. clear plastic deli tub, permanent markers, clear nylon fishing line, and metal washers, you can make your own windchimes. Decorate the tub with patterns using your markers, punch 4 holes along the rim, and then tie a 12-inch piece of fishing line through each hole. Attach the washers to the bottom of the lines. Clink!

8. Attend Summer Sunsets Concerts
Thursday evenings in the summer, take your blanket and enjoy summer music at Franklin Park. While you’re there, join ArtsVan to make Creatively Green art projects like newspaper origami critters, egg carton bouquets and bottle fish.

9. Make a Boat & Float It
Sail the high seas — or just your bathtub. Using clean plastic-foam trays, cut out a flat base. Then, for the cabin, cut out three rectangles and two squares from another tray. Glue together at sides, then glue to the base. Then, add details like flags, a captain’s chair or ropes! Color with permanent or waterproof markers.

10. Storytelling Yarn Ball
It is an American Indian storytelling tradition to use knots or small objects in balls of yarn to remember important life events. Get a ball of yarn, and as the summer passes, tie mementos of your summer activities to the yarn. Try things like tiny toys, a found stick, ribbons or pieces of postcards. Share the ball with your classmates during the first week of school. It’s a great way to remember your summer!

Questions for Grandparents

National Grandparents Day is always the first Sunday after Labor Day. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about your grandparents’ lives.

Here’s a list of sample interview questions. Be sure to schedule the interview ahead of time so they won’t be surprised. Also, think about taking a tape recorder or video camera to record the memories.

• Where were you born? What year?
• What were your parents like? Were they strict?
• What are the names of your brothers and sisters?
• How well did you know your grandparents?
• Did you have a pet when you were growing up?
• Did you get an allowance?
• Did you have to do chores?
• What were your favorite games and activities?
• Who was your best friend?
• What did your house look like? Is it still the same?
• Did your family have a television when you were young?
• Did your family take vacations?
• Did you like school? What kinds of grades did you get?
• What were your favorite subjects?
• What did you like about grandma/grandpa when you first met?
• How old were you when you got married?
• What was your first job?
• Tell me about my mom/dad when he/she was growing up.
• What makes you proud of my mom/dad?
• Have you accomplished what you wanted in life?
• What advice would you like to give me?

For a more extensive list of ideas, click HERE.

For more information about National Grandparents Day, click HERE.