Make Monday: Crayon Eggs!

If you have a lot of broken crayons lying around, keep the pieces for melting into crayon shapes. Introduced to us by a friend as their annual Valentine's, Judah and I expanded the idea and used our broken crayons to make Easter eggs for a fun and easy Easter activity.

1. Sort and separate all your broken crayons. Remove any remaining paper from crayons.

2. Place broken crayon pieces into the baking silicone rubber pan of your choice. Choose colors based on designs for a fun melting experience.

3. Bake at 400 degrees for approximately 20 minutes or so. Ovens, pans, and crayons may vary your oven temperature and baking time.

4. Allow crayons to fully melt. Once the crayon has melted, take out of oven, and let it sit to cool.

5. After the crayon becomes cool and solid, remove from pan.

6. Use for decorations, fun gifts, or to simply color. Have lots of fun.

Make Monday: Leaf Rubbings!

Remember doing leaf rubbings when you were a child. This classic craft project is so common. None the less, I almost forgot to do it with Judah this year.

One afternoon, Judah and I took a nature walk around the block looking for different shapes and colors of leaves. Judah enjoyed this science lesson as we talked about the fall leaves blowing to the ground. We also observed other things along the way as part of our unusual exploring on our walks. I let Judah collect which leaves he wanted.

Once we got home, we got out our card stock paper and crayons. Judah's old thick crayons that had the paper off were the perfect choice. We put the paper on top of the leaves and I showed him how to rub the crayon sideways over the leaf. Judah thought the magical appearance of the leaves were neat. He then enjoyed matching the shape of the color imitation to that of the real leaf.



We used different kids of tree leaves with different colors. However, there is no limitation to the endless possibilities to decorating your leaves. We tried different colors over the same leaf. You can also get the glitter out if you are brave or try rolling paint across the leaf.

The rubbings proved to be easy enough for my two year old. Plus the nature walk and science lesson regarding the leaves was invaluable exploration and discovery for little hands and eyes.

And while you are at it, put aside some of the prettier leaves laying them flat in a magazine for next week's project.

Wash Wednesday: MY WALL--Part 2!

Last week I told you about how Liam's art ended up on his wall and I promised an update. So here we go...

TWO, read it TWO Mr. Clean Magic Erasers later, MOST of the marks are gone. I'm still having trouble with some of the pink crayon marks.

Note: Mr. Clean Magic Erasers have a tendency to disintegrate after some good old elbow grease applied. I even tried a blue rag and water, neither really took the pink crayon off.

So, friends, I ask you, what else (other than white paint) can I try to get the darn pink crayon off? I'm stuck!

Wash Wednesday: MY WALL!!

Quite often, when I'm working on my daily political commentary masterpiece, I make the boys play in their room.

Some days they play nice...most of the time, someone is screaming every five minutes interrupting my train of thought.

And some days...it is just WAY. TOO. QUIET.

Tuesday was one of those days.

I had to work and seeing as they kept unhooking the internet (our wireless is in our bedroom) they lost "Mommy and Daddy room" privileges. It's kind of a big deal, because Mommy and Daddy have a TV. And as much as Liam kicks and screams, I swear he will not get a TV in his bedroom until HE buys one. I think TV in the bedroom for kids is a major no-no. But that's for another blog post.

So they were banned to his room. Some punishment. That kid has more toys than I ever could imagine when I was a kid.

And they were playing nice.

And I was getting work done.

I was getting lots of work done.

I was getting too...much...work...done.

And then Baby B came out of Liam's room holding a blue marker. Lid off. *PANIC*

After grabbing the marker from Brendan, I ran into Liam's room. Both he and Sean were on the top bunk of his bunk bed.

And I saw THIS.

MY WALL!

Note it's not only blue marker but also a red/pink crayon. And it's me. Thanks Liam.

Click on the images to see his "art" in a new window.

Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to the rescue. I'll let you know how it all turns out...and if it comes off.

Make Monday: Cute Crayon Craft---GREAT Teacher Gift

I originally came across this craft at Stop, Drop and Blog and thought it would be a cute gift for Liam's Preschool Teacher. I found a tutorial Rainy Tuesday Morning's Blog and the original is at Testosterone Times Three.

I am not a crafty person....repeat, NOT a crafty person. I can draw stick figures. That's about it. So while I wanted to do this, I knew it would take a bit of patience on my part. Seeing this is a project for Liam's teacher, I wanted to include him in this project. Read: More patience required.

I received a shadowbox and crafting glue from my mother in law. Did I mention I'm not crafty? Yeah. Going into Hobby Lobby gives me hives. I traced an outline, cut the crayons with a butcher knife and glued them to the paper. Finally after letting it sit and then placing it in the shadowbox, Ms. Pam's Christmas gift was completed.

I think it turned out okay...don't you?