My Cute Tot on Totally Tots

Ocean Life Theme

For most of the month of August we have been talking about Ocean Life. I posted a couple of the things that we did just to give you some ideas. But the ones I didn't post pictures of I will list at the bottom of the page.

Jellyfish
(wow..look at the picture to the right...of me...do we look related??)

Hannah made this jellyfish, which we found in the family fun magazine. It was pretty easy for her to do with some instruction and it came out so pretty!

• Empty plastic single-serving fruit cup
• Mod Podge (or white glue or diluted tacky glue)
• Glitter
• Colored tissue paper

• Yarn and ribbon pieces, each about 1-1/2 feet long
• 2-1/2-foot length of yarn or ribbon

1. Brush the inside of the fruit cup with a layer of Mod Podge, then sprinkle on some glitter. Tear the tissue paper into small pieces. Add the pieces to the inside of the cup, brushing more Mod Podge over them as you go. Allow the cup to dry.

2. Poke a hole in the bottom of the cup. I just used the end of sharp scissors.
   

3. Gather about 35 (1-1/2-foot-long) pieces of yarn and ribbon into a neat bundle. Tie the 2-1/2-foot length of yarn around the bundle, about 1-1/2 inches from one end. Thread the ends of this piece of yarn up through the hole in the cup. Tie the ends together for a hanging loop.

Fish Bowl Aquarium

Add ripped up tissue paper of blues and greens with glue and then sprinkle with glitter if you so dare.

Cut out a piece of contact paper a little bigger than your paper plate. We used "ocean life" stickers that I got from Joanns at about 40% off and just put them on sticky back to stickiness of the contact paper. (I figured out afterward that I could have used cling wrap because the stickers could have stuck to it. And it was a lot more clearer (See-through) than the contact paper).

I cut a hole in one paper plate so I could see the fishies. Also something that is helpful is to cut the hole first and put it over the contact paper before you put the fishies down. This helps so the kids put the fish where you will be able to see them once the project is finished.

(Hole punch two holes at the top and put string through it to hang up.)

And HERE is the finished project. Happy girl and all!

Other Ocean Life Activities (these are all of the things that we did but I didn't take pictures!):
1. Octopus Cut out a large (I mean large) Octopus. I used brown craft paper from a roll. Have the child make a face. Get white paint and small suction cups. Dip the suction cups in the paint, lightly and then on the tentacles "suction" them with the paint.

2. Ocean in a Box - I got it from Pink and Green Mama. Container of small aquarium rocks, shells, and a couple of mermaids. Tons of lasting fun! (Side note: I LOVE LOVE LOVE this blog)

3. Paint Sea Shells - This was fun and SUPER easy but went by too quickly. My plan is to take a painted stick (similar to the walking stick) and add string to the shells and hang it up like a wind chime.

4. Paper Mermaid and Merman - I found this idea from LakeShoreLearning.com... and Hannah LOVED it! It ended up being the mommy and daddy to the little clothespin mermaids in the "Ocean in a Box". Click on the link for directions.

5. Ocean Mural - We made this but about half the size. Really cool idea because it brings in different textures in the material. I didn't do it exactly, of course, but close to it.

6. Random print out coloring pages that have to do with ocean life.

7. TONS of books from the library relating to Ocean Life. Fun Fun Fun!!

8. Videos - The Little Mermaid and Finding Nemo

I am hoping to get to these before the month is finished...looks like I need to get chopping.

Paint Sample Magnet Fishing Game (Fire Flies and Jellybeans)

Homemade Japanese Kite (Pink and Green Mama)

Stuffed Paper Bag Whale (DLTK)

Bubble Wrap Printmaking: Ocean Scene (Pink and Green Mama)

On My Summer Journey: Flowers

Painting Our Step Stool

So, we were painting a walking stick and decided to paint our foot stool...why not? We had the paint and the time. This is a stool we got from Ikea and had it for 2 years so it could use a face lift.

We painted it blue like our basement and then hot glue some Rhinestones and glass beads! Awesome! Hannah LOVES it!

Creating a Walking Stick

This is an adorable walking stick that Hannah and I made last week.
Materials
Long Stick
Paint (Favorite Colors)
Glue Gun or other Strong Glue
Yarn for hair
Googly Eyes
Marker for the mouth
Huge Puff Ball
"Things" to glue onto the stick
(I used colored glass thingies that you put in a vase, Flat Rhinestones and other flat things like butterflies and flowers)

First we painted it, then glued eyes, nose and hair. And then glued the other pieces throughout. I also added a Yellow Puff Ball at the bottom because we have wood floors and it scraped the floor without it.

This craft was a lot of fun for both of us!

Day 2...Cousin Time

I am taking way too many pictures these days and I can't seem to catch up. So, these pictures were from about 3 weeks ago when we spent time with most of the cousins. In case you lost track from the above pictures there are ten cousins with one little guy, Rex, missing.

This was the last of the pictures that I took. We went to a playground and it was late and it was nap time... I waited a little too long for a group picture as you can see from the meltdowns occurring. But "this is life" as one sister-in-law said. It will be fun to show the kids this when they get older.

My Husband...Jonathan

I was thinking....I don't right too much about my husband. So, here it goes.

I fell in love with this quiet and gentle spirit from the beginning. He has kept that through the years and I am thankful. Not sure if I would be a good fit with someone aggressive and loud. God knew what He was doing when He matched us up. Although our personalities don't always link up at times...I feel God put us together....and I am keeping him!

It's funny how when we were dating, both of us felt like we were so similar. I don't know how and when that changed but we are very different from each other in many ways. Maybe that was God linking us up? I think as we get older we change and get to know ourselves more and figure out what we like and don't like and who we are in Christ. I know myself and feel more comfortable being me more now than I did 10 years ago or even 5 years ago.

Thank God for for His love and His forgiveness...I thank Him because it makes our marriage more manageable when we have Christ to learn from. We are selfish people and sometimes want our own way but when we are in tune with God, He can quickly correct us to think of the other person first. My goal should be to serve my husband and not focus on myself entirely. I am "getting" it. Maybe a couple more fumbles and I may get it completely. Until then, I will remember this song I heard on the way to church this past Sunday..He's Not Finished With Me Yet!!

Just Playing around with iPhoto

I have SO many pictures of Hannah that I thought that I could spare a couple of pictures of her and just play around with iPhoto. I use this program when I just need to do a quick fix and get the pictures uploaded to Facebook. Otherwise I use Aperture (iMac) to enhance the beauty of the pictures that I want to give to people or print out..

Here are a couple of them that I played with...

Crafts I would Like to Make....in the NEAR future.

Ocean in a Box
Found at Pink and Green Mama
(I LOVE THIS!! Since Hannah loves mermaids, I just can't wait to get my old fashioned clothespins in the mail to make this container of mermaid goodies!)

Rainbow Wreath
Found at Twig And Toadstool

(I have SO many empty TP rolls that I save because I know I can do something with them. And I finally found a craft that is pretty and something I would keep up...maybe in the basement play area or Hannah's room)

French Enameled Numbers
Found at Can't Stop Making Things (Which sums me up these days)
(I love the of this because of the enameled look and it is such an easy thing to do if you have the material...which I do!!)

Red, White and Blue Strawberries
Found at Oopsey Daisy
I wish I had seen these earlier in the year because I have never seen anything like this made at any patriotic party that I have been to. Could I make them for Labor Day?

What are some of your crafts that you would love to have time to make??

My First Photo Shoot

My friend, Jamie, actually contacted me to see if I would do a photo shoot with her family! And I said "100%...YES"! They are a lovely family and so willing to walk all over Historic Savage Mills to try to get the perfect shot. I learned quite a bit about lighting and shade and shutter speed from this one outing and I would totally do this again....uuhhmmm....if asked.

Where Has My Passion Taken Me?

..........Hair Accessories!!!!

I am pretty much consumed with ribbon, clips, snaps, flowers, beads, and the most important thing...a glue gun...and I am NOT afraid to use it! :-)

This is my adult version of my hair clips. It is all handmade by me. I used an "alligator clip" with some coordinating ribbon.

I am also pretty obsessed with little girl clips and snaps. This is just a few that I have made over the weekend. I could, actually, make clips all day...In fact, that is what I did on Sunday. I'm not even sure what my family ate for breakfast..lunch...and dinner. I am assuming that they ate since they are still breathing. :-)

Be on the look out for another Etsy Shop