Like most children, mine love the yearly tradition of dying Easter eggs.  Since being inspired a couple years ago by the beautiful Pysanky eggs made by Babushka in the book Rechenka’s Eggs we wanted to step up our decorating methods.  Luckily I found methods that are child-friendly and don’t require special equipment.

We’ve used two different techniques: one is a bit easier and suited to younger children, and the other is more precise, takes longer, and is better suited to older children (or moms!) who enjoy the more detail-oriented process.

I’ll explain the steps for the more difficult process…stay tuned to the end for how to simplify for younger children.

A Child-Friendly Pysanky Egg Using Melted Wax

This technique uses melted wax as a dye resist, much like traditional Pysanky.

1.  Melt wax to use as a resist for the dye.  I used a tea light wax melter to melt another tea light with the wick and metal case removed.

2.  After the wax melts use a tool to apply wax to the egg.  We made our own tools by sticking a sewing pin into a pencil eraser.  Applying the wax this way is a slow process requiring frequent dipping of the tool into the wax.  Starting with a plain egg, wherever you add wax will remain white.

3.  Dye the egg, taking care to start with lighter colors.  In this case my daughter started with yellow.

4.  Add more wax before dying again.  This time the wax will protect the lighter dye from being covered over with darker colors.  You can repeat the process of applying wax then dying a few times, moving from lighter to darker colors.

5. When finished remove the wax.  It’s a tricky process involving an open flame, so I did this part for my children.  I warmed the egg over the flame, being careful not to burn myself or make a burnt spot on the egg, then wiped with a paper towel.

At the end you have a beautiful egg with layers of color and pattern, reminiscent of the beautiful Pysanky eggs!

Simplified Version using a Wax Crayon

This technique is perfect for younger children because it is not much more complicated than dipping in one color and does not involve hot wax.  Simply use a white wax crayon (they come with many egg dye kits) to draw patterns on the egg.  The wax crayon will protect areas from accepting dye just like the melted wax.

Be sure your child presses down carefully with the crayon to apply a thick layer of wax.  Obviously you can’t get the fine details with the crayon, but it still allows for creativity and layers of color.

Removing the wax is easier: just wipe down the egg with a paper towel.

In addition to being very proud of our finished eggs, I appreciate how these techniques encourage my children to slow down and focus on the process.  Each year we look forward to a relaxing afternoon during the Easter season making just a few eggs, instead of dying a dozen without particular attention to an individual egg.

We love the sweet story of Norman the Doorman by Don Freeman.  Norman is a hardworking doorman in the basement of a museum.  When he isn’t guiding mice through the artistic treasures he pursues his hobby: trying to “create something pleasing or beautiful.” Wouldn’t that be a great pastime for us all?

During the story Norman creates a wire sculpture and enters it into a sculpture contest at the museum. Inspired by Norman’s creation we tried our hand at wire sculpting.  I had been wanting to try this with my kids ever since I saw the “Drawing with Wire” article in Family Fun Magazine last year.

For supplies you simply need:

• paper and pencils for sketching your ideas
• wire: you can find it in most craft stores, often in the jewelry section (ours was 20 gauge)
• wire cutters
• something to hold your wire creation like cork or modeling clay, or you can hang your finished product
• safety glasses would have been a good idea (but I forgot)
• needle nose pliers can come in handy, but aren’t necessary

On a way-too-hot-to-be-outside summer afternoon we reread Norman’s story, then gathered at the table to create.  We found out it wasn’t as easy as we first thought and why Norman worked “all through the day and far into the night.”

Family Fun’s suggestion of sketching on paper without lifting your pencil helped get our ideas flowing.

We twisted and bent the wire until we felt we had created something pleasing.  The wire was very forgiving–if we didn’t like our shape at first, we just tried again!  Leave some wire free for mounting unless you plan to hang your sculpture.

To finish we used a large pushpin to make a hole in the cork before sticking in the free end of the wire.  We didn’t find it necessary to mount our corks to a board like the article, they stood just fine on their own.

Norman says “all pieces must have titles” so it was time to name our creations.

My daughter created “Tribute to Treble.”

My creation is “Bird in Wire.”

My son’s creation is “The Cross of Jesus.”

It was fun to create something beautiful and we’re very pleased with our results!

This post is part of a fun iHomeschool Network Blog Hop where we’re all sharing A Book and a Big Idea. I know I’ll be looking for more ideas to fill those too-hot or rainy summer days!

The topic for this week’s iHomeschool Network Top Ten Tuesday is toys!  Why am I talking about crafts, you ask?  Well, my children are by no means short on toys but I hate the clutter and single-purpose types of toys that fill the shelves these days.  Toys that support open-ended play like Legos and puppets are the only toys I don’t try to sneak into the yard sale pile.  Something I love to see my children use their free time for is creating something.

I have always enjoyed crafting, so I’ve kept a craft cupboard stocked with supplies my kids can use since they were preschoolers.  I don’t like to have them always following my (or someone else’s) exact directions to arrive at a prescribed end product, but I’ve found that when introducing craft supplies it helps if we work together at first, or I provide a book or video with instructions for their first project or two.  Once they get their feet wet they’re ready to branch out on their own and create to their heart’s content.

Here’s my list of 10 types of craft supplies to keep on hand for creative inspiration:

#1 Drawing Supplies

Drawing may be the simplest craft, but having some extra supplies on hand makes it a little more interesting.  I stock mechanical pencils, colored pencils and fun drawing tools like actual drawing pencils that make shading easier, pens of different thicknesses for line drawings, and gel pens for fun.  Invest in some how-to-draw books for instruction and inspiration.  What is nice is that you can find how-to books for just about any interest your child has (for my son it was military vehicles).   Chalk pastels are as simple to use as crayons with a lot more ability to mix and blend.  Tricia at Hodgepodge posts wonderful pastel lessons to get you started.

#2 Painting Supplies

Each of my children uses one of Daddy’s old shirts as a smock and I stock various types of paints:

• Watercolor: Tray and liquid watercolors are both fun.  With watercolor pencils your child can use them like regular colored pencils then use a wet brush to blend.  With any watercolors it’s best to use a heavier-weight paper.  Sometimes we just use white cardstock, but other times we break out the real watercolor paper.  (Kids love using grown-up supplies.)  Klutz has a nice beginner watercolor book that teaches some beginning strokes.
• Tempera: I buy the washable kind and it’s great for thick coverage on paper.
• Acrylic: I stock up on different colors when they’re on sale.  We use acrylic if we’re painting on something other than paper: wood, cardboard, rocks, you name it!
• Don’t forget specialty paints: We’ve made great gifts for grandparents out of plain mugs, coasters, place mats and tote bags using glass/ceramic, metal and fabric paints.

#3  Sculpting Supplies

Don’t let the fancy term frighten you, there are many options to try that aren’t difficult.  First off there is gold old homemade playdough.  I’ve shared our personal favorite recipe before, and I must say my son still plays with it most days.  He reenacts battle scenes from our history studies or runs trials with his creations (he’s a big fan of Mythbusters right now).

If your children want to keep their creations there are two great options:

• Air Dry Clay:  We’ve used air dry clay during history studies to make candle holders.  It’s easy to mold and you simply leave it out to dry.  After drying it can be painted.
• Sculpey Polymer Clay: This is one of our all-time favorite craft supplies.  It comes in loads of colors (or buy white and paint it after it’s baked).  It’s a little difficult to soften when you first start, but using a little muscle it’s easy to sculpt.  After the creation is finished you bake it in the oven to harden it.  My daughter uses Sculpey to make food and accessories for her Victorian doll house.

#4 Duct Tape Crafting

Just about every kid enjoys crafting with duct tape.  As an independent craft your kids should be a little older because you have to use a sharp knife to cut the tape.  We use a self-healing fabric cutting mat as a work surface.  The book Tape It and Make It helped my daughter with basic construction skills and some cute projects to get started.

#5 Stamping Supplies

My son doesn’t always enjoy drawing so stamping is one of his favorites.  From his own rubber stamps of vehicles and bugs, to sets I’ve bought with letters and holiday images, he has fun using them to make pictures and cards for people.  I buy washable stamp pads for using with rubber stamps and it’s also fun to use them with your fingers like Ed Emberly to make pictures.

#6 Card Making Supplies

I purchase packs of blank cards and envelopes at the craft store.  (I use a coupon or wait for them to be on sale then buy a pack of 25 or 50.)  I keep lots of supplies on hand for decorating: fancy edge scissors, paper punches (the that work almost like scissors are easiest for their hands), colored card stock, and of course they can use our other supplies like paints, gel pens, and rubber stamps to decorate them.  I lay out the supplies after Christmas and birthdays and have them create their own thank you cards.

#7 Recyclables!

In our basement I keep a large cardboard box where I throw things that would normally go in our recycling that my kids are free to use any way they wish.  Egg cartons, oatmeal canisters, orange crates, glass jars, bottle caps, shoe boxes, cardboard tubes (I prefer ones stronger than paper towel tubes–like the ones from plastic wrap and aluminum foil), and any other odds and ends that look promising.  They build all sorts of things and I don’t have to worry about overseeing what supplies are being used.

#8 Sewing Supplies

Don’t be turned off just because you don’t sew!  I have two easy recommendations to get you started.

• One is a superb book called Sewing School.  It is filled with wonderfully easy to understand instructions that will help your child with the very basics (like threading a needle and the simplest stitch) and includes instructions for kid-friendly sewing projects with patterns included in a pocket in the back.
• The other tip I have is to keep sheets of craft felt on hand.  You can buy sheets of craft felt very cheaply, it comes in a rainbow of colors, and it’s great for beginning sewers.  I keep a bin of it that the kids can cut shapes out of and sew together using craft thread and a large needle.  They make little creatures, blankets and pillows for dolls and stuffed animals, and anything else they can think of.  Because it’s inexpensive they’re free to try to make things (even if the project doesn’t work out) and they don’t have to worry about the edges fraying like fabric.

#9 Odds and Ends

This is my category for all those random supplies you can pick up and wonder what they could be used for–but don’t worry, your kids will make them into something!  Keep your eye out for inexpensive bags of popsicle sticks, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, yarn, old-fashioned style wooden clothespins, feathers, and pom poms.

#10 All-in-One Craft Kits

All-in-one kits are great to have on hand (and give as gifts).  We’re big Klutz fans and my kids have enjoyed projects like paper airplanes, friendship bracelets, Twirled Paper (Quilling), and Twisted Critters (Pipe Cleaner Animals).  These kits are especially great for craft-challenged households because they’re really designed for the kids to do on their own and come with all necessary supplies.

I hope I’ve persuaded you to stock your craft cupboard if you don’t already.  Now is the perfect time so you can just point the way for a sure summer boredom buster!  What do you keep on hand for those moments when the urge to create strikes your kids?

 Hop over to iHomeschool network to see what toys make other blogger’s top ten lists.

{Every Tuesday for the next 10 weeks I’ll be participating  in a blog hop of top ten lists.}

This blog hop series was inspired by Angie of Many Little Blessings where you’re welcome to link up, too!

Christmas is my favorite holiday, and not just the day but the whole season.  Homeschooling provides the extra blessing of flexibility to enjoy all that this delightful time of year has to offer.  Over the next couple weeks I’ll be sharing how we celebrate the holiday while homeschooling.  Not in spite of homeschooling, but tying everything together.

Advent calendars are a great tool to savor the season.  I use a wooden snowman with 25 drawers that I purchased at a craft store and painted.  I fill each drawer with a small piece of candy and a slip of paper with an activity.  Having our advent calendar has improved our celebration of the Christmas season:

• It gives my children a visual reminder of how many days before Christmas Day.

• The activities give them so much to enjoy throughout the season that they savor it, rather than just wanting it to be over so the big day arrives.

• Coming up with activities for the days assures that we enjoy the holiday season together and it won’t be December 22nd when I realize we haven’t done all that we wanted.

So, are you persuaded that you need an advent calendar?  There are many options for the actual calendars: most stores sell fabric ones with pockets and wooden ones with drawers, and the Internet is loaded with ideas to make them from everything from paper bags to baby socks.

Are you thinking, “But how can I come up with TWENTY-FIVE activities?”  Don’t fret!  Trust me, it really isn’t that hard.  If you sit down and write the things you enjoy doing during the holiday season you’ll probably be half way there anyway.  The activities don’t need to be difficult or time-consuming.  Are you going to visit friends or relatives to celebrate?  What about scheduled events in your town, homeschool groups or church?

Still not convinced?  Let me prove it:

1. Make a paper chain to count down the days.
2. Look at family Christmas photos (or videos) from previous years.
3. Drive around looking at Christmas lights.
4. Put up Christmas lights outside.
5. Decorate our Christmas tree.
6. Wrap Christmas gifts.
7. Write a letter to Santa.
8. Make paper snowflakes.
9. Attend town tree lighting or parade.
10. Have a candlelight (and tree lights) dinner at home and dress fancy.
11. Visit friends to admire their decorations.
12. Deliver homemade treats to friends and neighbors.
13. Play games or put together a puzzle by the Christmas tree.
14. Read the Christmas story in the Bible.
15. Go out for dessert.
16. Decorate gingerbread houses.
17. Make place cards or place mats for Christmas dinner.
18. Go caroling.
19. Attend a Christmas concert or sing-a-long.
20. Attend a holiday performance (check local theaters/schools for a holiday play or ballet).
21. Have hot cocoa with only the tree lights on.
22. Make Christmas cards.
23. Visit Santa.
24. Make cookies for Santa.
25. Decorate a tree outside with food for the birds.
26. Make a popcorn garland.
27. Make a birthday cake for Jesus.
28. Make handmade gifts.
29. Walk around the neighborhood to enjoy Christmas lights.
30. Participate in or watch a church Christmas pageant.
31. Have a sleepover beside the Christmas tree.
32. Attend a church Christmas Eve service.
33. Watch a Christmas movie (many choices for all ages–I use this several times).
34. Make a Christmas craft or ornament (I use this more than once, too).
35. Bake a Christmas treat (I use this one a few times, too).

Now that is THIRTY-FIVE ideas, and I use a few of the ideas more than once!  Are you convinced that this is actually easy?  It doesn’t add hustle and bustle–it stretches and slows the season.  And in case you think I’m super organized, I don’t actually fill all the drawers ahead of time.  I have my list and supplies ready but I schedule specific activities a few days at a time (or the night before!) so I can see what we have time for, add in fun events that come up, and adjust if anyone is sick.

Still think it sounds like a lot?  Remember that the food treats don’t have to take hours–and in fact they shouldn’t if you want to work with kids in the kitchen!  Grab a box of sugar cones, slather them with frosting and decorate with sprinkles and candy.  Making peppermint bark is easy and the kids love crushing the candy canes.  The same is true with crafts.  Pick up some wooden ornaments at the craft store and let the kids loose with paint.  Swirl paint around inside clear glass ball ornaments.  You’ll treasure the memories and the ornaments when you unpack them next year.

Check out my Pinterest Christmas Activities with Kids board for fun food and craft ideas that will help you have your advent calendar filled in no time.

Stay tuned, for I’ll be sharing how we focus on the reason for the season and keep on learning while celebrating!

Our favorite decoration for the Thanksgiving season is our Thankful Tree.

I made the tree from brown craft paper that comes on a roll.  I taped a piece onto a door in our main living area and sketched a tall tree.  Don’t worry, it’s easy–I used this tutorial for how to draw a fall tree from Art Projects for Kids, minus the leaves!  I covered the sketch with contact paper before cutting it out so I can reuse it year after year.  I simply tape it to the door and we’re ready to add our leaves.

For leaves we use leaf shapes I cut out with my Cricut.  If you don’t have a Cricut or similar paper cutting device, there are lots of other options: have your kids cut out leaves (hey, just call it fine motor skills practice), buy a leaf paper punch at a craft store, and I’ve also seen packets of silk and paper leaves for decorating and bulletin boards at craft and dollar stores.

Every night at dinner we each write something we’re thankful for on a leaf and add it to our tree. Our leaves usually include everything from family members and our health to Legos and coffee.

We started doing this a couple years ago and it has become a cherished tradition.  It’s a way to focus on all we have to be thankful for during the Thanksgiving season, not to mention a reminder of our blessings before the season that encourages kids to think of lists of wants.

We’re deep into fall here in Maine: the leaves are brilliant and the air is crisp!  I love fall and one of the ways we savor it is with crafts and art projects.  There’s the beauty of autumn to celebrate, along with Halloween and Thanksgiving.  Making things is a way to slow down and enjoy the season and holidays.  It’s great for fine motor coordination and creativity…and it’s just plain fun!  Here are some projects we’ve done, and some we hope to do this year:

Fall:

1. Fabric pumpkins: We all enjoyed sewing these adorable pumpkins last year.  They’re easy and make perfect decorations to tuck in here and there or give as a gift.  The only thing we changed was using a rolled up piece of brown felt as the stem.

2. Acorn cupcakes: We made these cupcakes topped with a Hershey Kiss and Nilla Wafer acorn at a “Mommy and Me” cupcake decorating class in our town–they were cute, delicious, and easy!

3. Tricia from Hodgepodge generously shares many free pastel tutorials.  We already tried our hands at the chalk pastel apple, and the tutorial for a fall tree looks beautiful, too.

4. Art Projects for Kids has several good tutorials to help celebrate the beauty of the season:  how to draw a fall tree (my daughter used the easy instructions for drawing a tree’s basic shape last year), how to draw a pumpkin, and my must-do for this year, a scarecrow portrait using Sharpie markers, crayons and watercolors.

Halloween:

5. We made these recycled jar jack-o-lantern luminaries last year with a little Mod Podge (love that stuff!) and tissue paper.

6. Bat mobile: This year I want to sew this more-goofy-than-spooky bat mobile.  These will be so cute hanging around the house!

7. Making mini pumpkins from acorns is a must this year–they’ll be perfect for my daughter to use to decorate her wooden doll house.  (Be sure to read the comments on that craft about checking your acorns for insects!)

8. My kids love pop-up cards so these haunted house pop-up cards are a perfect project for a quiet afternoon.

Thanksgiving:

9. These wooden turkeys made from a 2×4 may be our cutest Thanksgiving project yet.  It took a few days to finish and left lots of room to personalize.  You use scrap lumber (mine wasn’t actually a 2×4, but a 1×4), popsicle sticks and a paint stick.

10. Oreo turkey pops don’t even require real cooking.  Some day I want to try making cake pops, but these are darn cute and way easier.

Check out my Fall Arts & Crafts board on Pinterest for more ideas. 

Too many crafts, too little time!