Leaf Man

As a part of our leaf unit, BFG and I read the book Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert. We were just fascinated by the illustrations and decided to create our own Leaf Man book. All you need are some leaves, berries, acorns, etc., white paper, a camera, and photo album. I highly recommend the book, but ya'll could have tons of fun coming up with your own creations.



We took about an hour exploring outside and gathering up our leaves and other treasures. And we set to work seeing if we could recreate Ms. Ehlert's pictures. We had to get creative because we did not have the same type leaves she did and she used color copies of leaves which allowed her to do different things. But it seriously turned out great! Isn't the duck precious?


We did NOT glue the leaves down. BFG created her animal, we snapped a picture, and dumped the leaves back into the pile to start on the next "page". I think the cow is my absolute fave! The udders are just too cute!

The next day we ran to Wal-Mart and printed out our pics using the one hour lab. I put the pictures in a cheap photo album and went through them one by one letting her "write" her story as I typed out the captions. A little print-print here and a snip-snip there and we had BFG's very own Leaf Man book!

She is so, so proud of this book! The whole idea from its conception just thrilled her. She couldn't sleep the night before knowing that when morning came she would get to make a Leaf Man book.

She literally spent hours making the pictures--trying to copy Ms. Ehlert's and creating her very own. The next morning, the materials were still out on the table and she made even more pictures.

I hope some of ya'll try this and have as much fun as we did!

Mama Said (aka Leaf Mama)

MTM: A "Taste"-ful Self-Portrait

Wow! I haven't done a Muffin Tin Monday in ages! This week's theme "All About Me" really got my juices flowing with all the possibilities. I opted for BFG to do a food self-portrait. It was totally fun and BFG was really into it.


First off to the side, I gave her a bowl of buttered spaghetti noodles to build herself. Then, the items for details were: candy cherry slice (Rhett just happened to bring those home from the gas station and I knew it would be perfect for a mouth!), string cheese, sliced grapes, Cheerios, pretzels, and Cheetos.

I gave her a big cookie sheet and let her go to town! She had a blast even making up a story with her picture. You might not can tell, but this is a picture of BFG in the snow (snow falling and snow on the ground) with a radio in her hand and she's next to a fire. She was super excited to show it to her dad and was super excited to eat it! She devoured herself! Isn't it funny how kids love stuff like that?

Go on over to Her Cup Overfloweth to see everyone else's take on the theme!
Mama Said

Happy Mama's Day Gift

I just had a sweet lil' ol' idea for a Mother's Day gift (well, a keepsake really) for the grandmas and myself. First, I stole an idea from Let's Explore for a Mother's Day interview. I decided to ask BFG the questions about her grandmas and I went ahead and did one for me as well. I tried to do the great-grandmas, but I think she just doesn't know them as well. (For them, I did 3 Things I Love About ____) I typed them up in a cute, child-like font and underlined the portion that is her answer. I rounded the corners and glued them on construction paper.




They turned out really cute! I never knew my mom's favorite TV show was Spongebob or that when my mother-in-law goes shopping that she buys acorns! The best prompt is My (Mama, Nana, Whatever) always tells me . . . . BFG's answers were: to clean up (my mom), to eat healthy stuff (my MIL), and when I'm in trouble (me). (I really don't know where she got that! Not me!)

On the front of the construction paper, I made a little flower-thingy with her handprint. We used tempera paint. The flower is her hand, the grass is her fingertips, the bees and ladybugs are her fingerprints. I went back and drew in the details on the bugs with a fine-tipped Sharpie.

I just thought they turned out pretty cute! I'm going to have them laminated tomorrow. I thought about doing it every year for the next several years to get a laugh off of what her answers are. I even thought about doing a modified one for my mom myself with more meaningful, in-depth answers. But all three of us are sick now, so that may wait til next year. I am going to do a version of it for Father's Day though. I'm so excited! Men are way too hard to buy for or even make stuff for.

Happy Mama's Day!

Mama Said

Stained Glass Easter Eggs

Looking for a last minute Easter craft or decoration? This one is super quick and easy! Check out the tutorial below for instructions.



Step 1: Cut ovals out of black construction paper. I used my Coluzzle, but you could use anything as a template even your shape drawing tool on Microsoft Word.

Also, roughly cut out squares of tissue paper large enough to cover the entire "egg".

Step 2: Punch out shapes using scrapbook punches or an adult could cut out designs with an Exacto knife. You could even fold them and cut out designs like snowflakes. BFG had loads of fun creating her "designs"!

Just be sure there is black in between to get the stained-glass effect.

Step 3: Spread glue on all the black areas in between the cut-out.
Crafting With Kids Tip: I cut wedges out of paper plates and squirt some glue on there. Then, the kids use q-tips to spread out the glue. It results in alot less mess!



Step 4: Place your tissue paper on top of the glue pressing and smoothing out.


Step 5: Flip over and trim the excess tissue paper.

Step 6: Decide which window to hang them up in and enjoy!


Have blessed Easter and remember Jesus is the reason for this season, too!
Mama Said

Friday Book Project

In Ellen Stoll Walsh's Mouse Shapes, the mice use shapes to build pictures of everyday objects and animals. I thought this would be a great way to introduce tangrams to BFG since tangrams are awesome for building math skills and analytical thinking. So, I punched out a bunch of shapes with my scrapbooking punches and my coluzzle and we went to work.

First, I had BFG sort the shapes into a muffin tin (sorting and classifying--more math skills!). Then, I turned to certain pages in the book that I wanted her to copy. It worked out great! Of course, BFG had to add her own artistic flair so I'm not really sure it officially counts as tangrams. Oh, well. Close enough!

The Fish--complete with bubbles and a sea flower

The House, Tree, and Sun--

We improvised on the tree 'cause we didn't have the right kind of triangle. But she loved it and added a star on top and presents underneath and topped off her house with a door "knog."

The Cat--

BFG was most excited about making the cat. And right after she glued the ears on, she laughed and said "He looks like a puppy instead 'cause I didn't put the ears going up." Oooh, did we manage to squeeze in spatial relation skills, too?

I'm telling ya'll for anyone who feels any guilt about not sending your child to preschool, preschool is so not necessary. I just taught 4 preschool objectives in one simple craft. And this is the kind of stuff I learned in college to do. Common sense and a little time with your preschooler teaches her all she needs to know. The only difference in a mom and a certified preschool teacher is that the teacher has learned to call basic skills by fancy names. Remember, no one knows your child better than you do!

Okay, off my soap box now! Go check out other ideas at Sandy's!

Mama Said

Snow Bling!

We did the easiest project this week for Friday's Book Project. It was so much fun! I did a mini science lesson with BFG with this book Why Does It Snow? which turned out to be a very good simple explanation for preschoolers.


And we followed it up with a craft: Making Our Own Snow Bling!
All you need is white glue, glitter of your choice, silicone mat (or waxed paper), and a whole lot of time. Oh, and a paper plate to shake the excess glitter onto if you are trying to keep the mess minimal, which is kind of an oxymoron when it comes to glitter.


Create snowflake designs on the silicone mat or waxed paper. Be sure to keep lines of glue thick and go back over any places that bead up and create unconnected lines. Cover with glitter. We used silver and white. Shake off the excess.

After the glue completely dries, it peels right off and you have the coolest snowflakes ever! It will take a long time to dry, but it is totally worth it. And, take my advice, wait for it to completely dry. I peeled up a couple before they were completely dry and the lines broke and messed them up. But after drying all the way, they pop right off.

We hung them up with silver thread. What kitchen doesn't need a little Snow Bling for the season?

Oh, and wouldn't these make good spider webs, too?

Have fun!

Mama Said

A Color of His Own Book Project

I did a quickie book project for BFG today for Sandy's Friday Book Project.

We used the book A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni, which is about a chameleon who is sad because he always changes color and doesn't have his own color like other animals do.

I rummaged through my old scrapbooking paper and cut pieces 5"x6". I cut a piece of cardstock 12.5"x 5.5" and folded in the middle to create the cover. I traced the chameleon from the book onto the cardstock cover (it was some really thin cardstock). Then I took a piece of acetate 4.5"x 5.5" and traced the chameleon with a permanent marker. (If you don't have any acetate paper (which is the old school transparency paper, then try a plastic report cover or any sturdy plastic--I'm thinking like from the packaging of a toy or something.)

I stacked all the scrapbooking papers inside the cover and stapled the edge.

I used double-sided sticky tape and placed an invitation sized envelope on the back. I folded the flap down inside of the envelope to create a pocket. Then I placed the acetate chameleon in the pocket.

After BFG and I read the story, she got to explore with the chameleon and make up her own story for him. I have to say our chameleon went to much more exciting places like when he jumped so high he looked like the sky . . .

Or when he went to the beach to live happily ever after.

For younger kids, this is a great way to explore colors. The chameleon can go all over the house trying to be blue in every room or leaping from red to red, etc.

But be careful, he can hide really well! I think later we will play hide-and-seek with the chameleon! That should keep BFG busy for awhile!

Have fun!

Mama Said

Muffin Tin Monday: Snow Princess Party!

Our theme for Muffin Tin Monday was royalty. I just happened to have bought some muffin tin liners 75% off at Kroger that have snowflakes and polar bears on them and I kept thinking about my silver serving tray and Voila! A Snow Princess Party was born!


I didn't want to buy any special food to pull this off. Plus, it was very last minute! LOL! I collaborated with my sister and we pooled together every white food we could quickly put together quickly.

The foods I'm listing are in no special order. It would be too crazy since we had 1 muffin tin liner per food per each of the 3 kids (BFG, my niece and nephew).

Snow Princess Party Foods: white cotton candy, Laughing Cow Spreadable Cheese Wedge, Saltine crackers, Rice Chex cereal, macaroni noodles with butter and Parmesan cheese, popcorn, mini marshmallows, deviled eggs, white chocolate covered pretzels, bite-sized sugar cookies with blue ICE-ing and snowflake sprinkles, and Aurora Borealis Milkshakes (Neapolitan ice cream blended with milk topped with Redi-whip and crystal sugar sprinkles). Whew! I think that's all.

Okay, I went a little over the top for this one. But it did make for a fun party that kicked those winter blues! We had Snow Princess hats . . .


And a crown for the Snow Prince . . . (which as an almost 9 yr. old, he hated it and only kept it on for this photo)

We cut out paper snowflakes. I burned a Yankee candle that I thought was called Snow Angel, but realized later it was called Sparkling Angel. Oh, well. I found a Floamies snow castle I had bought 80% off last year after Christmas (See above pic of table decor.) and BFG had a blast decorating that and has been totally occupied with playing with it and her princess Polly Pockets for days. I even played a tape of Vivaldi's Four Seasons. See what I mean? I think I crossed the line into goofy!

We played Pin the Face on the Snowman, which turned out the be the hit of the party! It really was fun! My sister and I played too which just thrilled the kids. This game was super easy to free-hand cutting it out and to set up. I did use scrapbooking punches for the eyes and mouth, but you wouldn't have to. This pic was one of the better results. The kids got better at it the more they played.

We finished up with a mini art lesson and art project featuring Ezra Jack Keats' The Snowy Day, which you can read more this project and see close up photos, here.

Thanks to Her Cup Overfloweth for giving the challenge! My family had a blast (or would that be blizzard)! Pop on over there and check out how everyone else interpreted the theme.

Mama Said

The Snowy Day Art Project

Friday I did a mini art lesson and art project with BFG and her two cousins. It was part of our Snow Princess Party. I used the book The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. I talked to the kids about how he was the author and illustrator and had won a Caldecott Medal for his awesome artwork. I taught them about part of his method to create his artwork was collage. We looked at the book page by page and I pointed out each place where you could visibly tell he had cut out paper or cloth and used it in the collage (Peter's pajamas, his mother's dress, cotton for the clouds, etc.). I challenged them to use construction paper to create their own collages like The Snowy Day. I demonstrated how they could tear the paper or cut it and I made a tree with snow on it or something being careful to emphasize that their own collage did NOT have to look like mine.



I was so pleased with the results! They turned out better than I had hoped. BFG's is a little rough, but good for a four-year-old. And you can see that she grasped the concept of collage which was the point of the lesson. I think for her age and younger, it would be a good idea to already have various shapes and pieces already cut out to use.

BFG's Snowy Day (age 4)

Boy Wonder's Snowy Day (almost age 9)

Curly Sue's Snowy Day (age 7)

I was so impressed by hers!!! Look at how she pieced Peter together! And if you're familiar with the book, you'll recognize she was trying to recreate the scene where Peter is sitting out during the big boy's snowball fight. And I did not have the book opened to that page during the project! I am just amazed by her picture!

Stay warm and cozy,

Mama Said

Muffin Tin Monday: Turkey Treat

Her Cup Overfloweth had a theme this week of Food Your Children are Thankful For. I had already been planning on doing this turkey for a while, but I can assure you--BFG is definitely thankful for all the "ingredients" used to make her Turkey Treat. On the plate--Oatmeal Cream Pie. In the tin--pretzels, vanilla wafers, candy corn, icing, mini chocolate chips, and Swedish fish candy.

This is super easy to do and you probably have most of the ingredients already or something that would work even better. For the icing, I used store-bought, put a few tablespoons in a ziplock sandwich bag, squeezed it all down to one corner, and made the tiniest of snips to make a small hole in the bag. Voila! Instant decorating icing!

I did this project with BFG (age 3 yrs, 11 mos) and her two cousins, Curly Sue (age 7) and Boy Wonder (age 8 yrs 9 mos). All three of them loved this project!!! Now, I kindly showed them how I had seen it done with an oatmeal cream pie body, nilla wafer head, candy corn beak, choc. chip eye, pretzel feet, and Swedish fish tail tail feathers. Luckily, they just poo-pooed my ideas and came up with their own! Curly Sue even thought of using a Swedish fish for the waddle!!! They were so into it! They even had last words with their turkeys--giving the turkeys one last chance to say something before they gobbled them up. They were so funny I had to get out the video camera and have them redo it. Check out their cool creations below.

BFG's Tri-Eyed Turkey Minus Feet

(uh, they got eaten too fast)

Curly Sue's Waddle Wonder Turkey

Boy Wonder's Basted With Icing Turkey

WARNING: I still had over half a can of icing left at the end of this project. I read on the label that it could be refrigerated and used up to 30 days later. Wow! I thought, We'll definitely be making some cookies in December. Folks, do NOT be fooled by this label. A can of cold frosting sitting in the fridge is apparently the ultimate temptation. If you take one little taste, it's over. And, please, please don't dip the pretzels in it. You'll never forgive yourself over how fast you inhale it. Needless to say, the frosting was almost all gone a few hours later and my taste buds are all sore from relishing every cold, gloppy, smooth dollop of it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Mama Said