For a couple of months now I've been trying to stick to a schedule of tasks for each day--my housekeeping, crafting, paperwork, exercise etc. It has helped keep things running smoothly and allows me to focus more during my playtime with Nora. But it's always fun to be spontaneous when something special presents itself in your day--something like Monday, which dawned encased in a fuzzy coat of frosty ice.
The weather man called it "Frozen Fog." We call it "Frog," and surprisingly the sugar coating of icy loveliness lasted into the next day as the sun hid behind a thick veil of "frog."
Nora and I decided it was a great day for a nature walk, so I armed myself with my camera and she found her magnifying glass.
We tracked wildlife
found interesting compositions in the trees
and tasted them too!
The next day presented even more unexpected events. Ice on the roads cancelled preschool, so Nora was treated to extra TV time while Mom finished work on another knitting needle organizer. There was still time for a special craft project to keep us busy, however. My friend Erin shared this idea on her own blog a couple of weeks ago, and I've been dying to try it.
(Note the snazzy home-made sweatband made by my little crafter from an old sock and some markers!)
You'll need a recycled tea tin, or if you just happen to have a little Havana Honeys cigar container, which I'm sure you do, they work even better--just make sure they're made of metal and have an attached, hinged lid.
Help your little one find some largish letters to cut from old magazines and then glue each to a sheet of magnetic backing with a glue stick. I used a magnetic vent cover, which you can find at a hardware store for probably less $$. Cut each letter out with scissors. We also threw in some Sesame Street characters for fun.
Then you'll need to prep your tin. I covered the inside and outside of the lid with thin scrapbook paper using one of my very favorite (guilty pleasure) craft supplies: photo-mount spray. It's volatile and toxic, but it adheres paper to almost anything like magic. I also personalized the lid with Nora's name in shiny black sticker letters. She's been carrying her little laptop alphabet kit with her everywhere for the past two days, asking me how to spell everything! They're great for the car, restaurants, Dr.'s office, etc. But I would suggest using at least two of every letter in the alphabet--even more of the vowels. I still need to add another "R" to our kit, so we can spell the dog's name properly!
Happy crafting!
