Personalized Bookmarks
9) Scroll down to the style border you like best.
10) You can also pick a color by clicking directly below the Style tab. I like to use a color that matches the paper stock I will use to back the bookmark.
Giant Bubbles Fun Summer Activity with Grandchildren
NOTE: Humidity has a lot to do with good bubble making so you might want to add a little more or less water to get a good consistency. Since it is so humid here in August, a little thinner was better.
Directions: The photos will be a help in making the wand
- Drill a small hole in the end of each dowel.
- Screw the Eye Hooks into the holes you just drilled until they are secure.
- Cut a 70-inch piece of cotton string. Cut another piece of string that measures 30-inches. You can make the string as long or short as you like just as long as one string is longer than the other.
- Put the 3 to 4 nuts through the 70 inch string.
- Put the ends of both pieces of string through one of the eye hooks and tie a knot. Do the same thing on the other eye hook. Now you should have a long string and a shorter one that runs from one dowel to the other.
- Head outside with your bucket of solution
- Put the end of the dowels in the bucket so the string is submerged in the bubble solution.
- Bring the ends of the dowels up from the bubble solution, together until about chest high.
- Then separate the dowels by pulling them outward so the string makes a triangle that points down. The washers will weigh the center of the bottom string down. see photo below.
- Step backward quickly so that the air goes through the bubble solution between the dowels and makes a bubble.
We had to give it a few tries before getting the hang of making the bubbles but as you can see, even little kids were quickly able to master it.
And the big kids couldn’t resist a try 🙂
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Continental Knitting
DIY Wooden Tic-Tac-Toe Game Gift for Boy
I made this Tic-Tac-Toe board game for our little guys, Ryan and Noah but it would work for any age or as a coffee table item. Here is how I made them:
I began with a sanded pine board that was cut to an 8.5-inch square. You can paint this to add color. I like the look of the natural wood to contrast with the paper so I left mine plain.
I purchased a piece of scrapbook paper with a relatively non-busy background and cut it to an 8-inch square.
I had a bag of 1/4-inch wooden rectangles that I cut in half so each measures 1.5-inches. You can purchase little wooden squares or circles that are just the right size. You will need a total of 10 for each game. Again, you can paint these or leave natural.
For the Tic-Tac-Toe pieces I used images with a theme I thought would interest our little guys. I scaled them on a photo editor and printed them to just shy of 1.5-inches. Then I had them copied at Staples. For an easier version, use stickers or images from cute scrapbook paper. Then you can skip the trip to Staples and move right along without interruption 🙂
You will need two different images for each game.
Using Mod Podge, I applied the 8-inch piece of paper to the 8.5-inch board.
I used electrical tape to make the grid. I cut 4 strips 1/4-inch wide x 7 3/4-inch long. It would had been much easier to just cut strips of paper and glue them on but somehow I manage to find a more difficult way to do things 🙂
Then I applied each image to the playing piece.
I glued four little wooden thingies (see pic) on the bottom four corners for feet.
I finished with a couple of coats of water-based varnish for durability.
I tossed the playing pieces in a small draw-string bag and there you have it! Now, who thinks they can beat Ryan at his favorite game?
Paper German Stars Video Tutorial
Do you recognize these folded paper German stars? Many folks remember making them as a child or seeing relatives make them. You might even have one or two from long ago. Would you like to learn to make them? Follow my video tutorial and I’ll walk you through the many steps one fold at a time.