Paper Toy Printables

If you're looking for an insane paper related challenge then check this out.  I found these (and a TON more) amazing paper toy printables on the Canon Creative Park website.  The selection of printable toys on their site is impressive.  I've been too intimidated to try any of the moving toys, but I reeeeally want to.

Did you know that toys like this originated from Japan?  It makes sense, since, you know, origami and stuff.  There are still competitions in Japan to see who can create the most elaborate paper trick box or moving toy.  I think it sounds fascinating.

So if you happen to find yourself with a lot of free time, ink, and paper, pick your favorite paper toy from Canon Creative Park and then let me know how it goes!

some like it hot

My first draft of my first paper is due in the morning. GUYS: I AM FREAKING OUT.

But only slightly, because I fully admitted to all my faults when it comes to writing IN MY ESSAY. Okay, not all my faults, because there are so very many, but my favorite mistakes, I fully admit to those.

Also, I made a hot breakfast today, which is not relevant to anything at all, other than 1)I haven't made a hot breakfast AT breakfast time in YEARS and YEARS and 2) there is no two.

Seriously though, getting back into the swing of things is going a lot better than I expected. And, for the first time since moving to the East Coast, I'm finally on East Coast time, and not West Coast time. Because, you know. My 3am is my BFF's midnight, and midnight is not late. Except for when it's three am.

I got out of the habit of making breakfast during my pregnancy with Blayne. I was just too sick to care, and Thaddeus was an infant, so he only ate bottles, so... I just stopped. And then, when the kids were old enough to eat food, Troy would get them a bowl of cereal before he left, so that I could lay in my bed and continue to be sick for a few more hours. He's such a nice husband to me. At any rate, I don't want to eat cold cereal, THEREFORE, I need to be up early enough to make breakfast, THEREFORE, my children are overly excited to wake up in the mornings now. I guess food is a good motivator.

Eeny Meeny Miny Moe Printable

I'm pretty sure this is the best saying of all time.  How could it not be?  It has a tiger in it and includes the word "miny".

This is an 8x10" printable that would probably look fabulous in a nursery or kid's room or, I dunno, the kitchen?

Gestures

I really like my art class. It's fun and freeing, and fun some more. Today we worked on gestures, which wasn't at all what I had in mind.

Gestures is basically a fast drawing, like, two minutes or less, that is more or less to get the feel of the space in whatever it is your drawing. So there was a still life scene set up, and we drew what we saw as we saw it. I think the purpose is to get you to see beyond the shape, like you're not looking at an iron or a table, but you're trying to capture the space between the two. Does that even make sense? All I know, is that from this morning, to this afternoon, my drawing has improved, because I look at the subject different. Usually, I get lost in the details... I can never get the nose right, or the hand, or the hair, or whatever. But by putting a time limit on the sketching, you get the overall FEEL, and have a much more natural result. Again, does that even make sense?

So, here's a photo of a charcoal gesture I did in class in 1 minute:

And then just a few minutes ago, I set the microwave timer for two minutes and grabbed my sketchbook, and got this:

Which is not too bad for 2 minutes. It's not perfect, but it's not supposed to be.

ANYWAYS: ART. I LIKE IT.

P.S. My teacher was impressed with me today too. Which made me feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. She was all, "You've never done this? Never?" And I was all, "Sometimes... I color with my kids."

What Did I Dream? Printable

This is a seriously awesome nursery rhyme about dreams.  I very much love it because I am always dreaming weird stuff that makes me laugh.  My favorite line is "the fragments fly like chaff".  Except that I needed to remind myself what chaff is.  (It's the protective coating on seeds and grain - so now you don't need to ask wikipedia, you know, if you needed a reminder too.)

AND

So let's talk about school.

It's AWESOME.

And art is going to be my hardest class. (Mostly because of all the homework.)

Also let's talk about how I've been practicing to wake up to an alarm clock, because I have been.

I've also been going to bed at a fairly reasonable hour BECAUSE, as it turns out, when my mind is required to work, it makes me tired. Not that I'm saying that parenting and motherhood are brainless jobs, it's just that  they require a different sort of focus and energy.

ALSO: I'm the oldest person in my classes. AND I'm older than the art teacher. AND I'm probably older, or at the very least, the same age as, my English teacher. Good news is that at least my software teacher is older than me, and I don't meet my psychology professor until tomorrow.

ALSO: let's talk about how much art supplies cost, because I didn't even get the full list, and WHOA NOW.

ALSO: let's talk about how I have to write a paper using proper grammar and punctuation. HOW will they HEAR my VOICE if I can't type LIKE THIS? (just kidding... I'll make it work)

And now, I'm going to go to bed. AT NINE O'EVENING.

Printable Label Stickers

Depending on where your kids go to school you're burdened with THE LIST OF SUPPLIES.  It can get a little ridiculous when they need 4 folders, a pencil case, a pack of markers, 380 crayons, a ream of paper, 29 notebooks, seventy #2 pencils with pink erasers, a cauldron, and a copy of "Advanced Potion Making".

So you spend all the time and money gathering everything, your kids take it to school, and instantly they've lost it among the other 20 student's things because they all look the same.

Frustrating.

Which is why I'll be printing these labels on sticker paper (found at any office supply store) and adhering them to EVERYTHING.  The labels are 2x3" so they also fit in business card sleeves that can attach to backpacks.  There are two lines on each label - one for a name and the other for a phone number, address, or email address.

If my kids still lose their stuff this year I think I'll sick my copy of "Care of Magical Creatures" on them.

Things of Pinterest: Back to School

When I searched Pinterest for back to school ideas it seriously didn't disappoint.  There are so many fabulous ideas on this subject that it was a little overwhelming.  So I decided to pick three pictures I found on pinterest that led me to a collection of even more ideas.  Because why bother putting together a bunch of ideas when someone else has already done all the work?

http://www.thedailybuzz.com.au/2012/01/10-fun-ideas-for-the-first-day-of-school/

Make the first day of school really exciting with this list from Daily Buzz!  There are ideas for the countdown, first day photos, and even a cute invitation for a mom-only celebration.

http://sassysites.blogspot.com/search/label/teacher

 Not only does Sassy Sites have a list of great teacher appreciation gifts, there's a linkie at the end where even more ideas are listed!

http://www.tipjunkie.com/end-of-school-year-activities-homemade-gifts/

Technically this is an end of year post, but I think it also applies to the beginning of the year.  If you like to give a teacher gift at the beginning of the new school year you are going to want to check out Tip Junkie's list of 35 ideas.

And that, dear friends, is enough back to school ideas to last you to college.


You can check out more of our favorite school related ideas on our "School Days" Pinterest board.

Encouragement School Lunch Notes Printable

I don't know if your kids get nervous when a new school year starts, but mine sure do.  So I'll be slipping one of these notes of encouragement into their lunches for the first week just to remind them how incredibly awesome they are.

Seasons Change

Troy is working from home tomorrow and Thursday, and we've arranged babysitting for the kids next week, and OH MY LIFE, I'M IN COLLEGE. 

It feels weird. I'm nervous and apprehensive, but super excited at the same time. And since school starts on a Wednesday, my first class is software design, which makes me heave a big sigh of relief, because that's my happy place. 

In other unrelated news, I haven't spent any money this week. I know that probably seems like a dumb thing to be proud of, but I generally grab a drink from somewhere, or I pick up a pack of gum, and I haven't done ANY of that, and I am really proud of it. The thing is, I noticed that my kids don't know a whole lot about money, and since I always use a card, they don't equate my card with cash. Which in turn makes them a little bit spoiled, and, you  know? I JUST DON'T LIKE IT. So I've stopped getting them treats, and now when they want a candy, they have to earn their money. And I don't pay for chores. So they're actually going out and working. (So far, we've had a bake sale, a drink stand, and a car wash) They are really protective of the money that they've earned, and when they DO go to use it, they try to make sure they're getting the best deal. 

Meanwhile, I know that I start school tomorrow, but I cannot WAIT for September 4th, when the kids go back to school. I'm done with the pool, I'm over the heat, the sprinklers have lost their luster, and my kids need the structure and social interactions that school provides.... I'm so glad that summer is almost over. 

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go pick up my books. 

Back to School: New Teacher Takeout Gift Box

Are you ready for school to start again?  I'm not.  But that doesn't mean we haven't started preparing (we just prepare grudgingly).  So we're dedicating this week to BACK TO SCHOOL with a few essential printables, and other school-ish stuff.

First off, the new teacher gift.  Because it's never too early to brown nose.

This is a printable takeout box - fill it with treats and you're good to go.  You can make a handle out of ribbon or wire or even just leave one off.  It's more about what's INSIDE the box.  If you really want to suck up, I suggest Godiva chocolate or a stack of cash.

August 17

I got dressed up nicely today, because I was going to get my student ID. And I KNOW it's just an ID, but STILL, PHOTO. So I wanted to look my best. And I looked pretty danged cute, and was a teensy bit excited about getting my dumb ID, until the girl handed it back to me. I don't know how, but somehow, I managed to get a nice jaundiced suntan going on, and my hair magically transformed from blonde with a hot pink bang, to yellow with a big fat orange stripe. All in all, NOT an attractive look. AND! You couldn't even see my cute shirt.

Naturally, I came right home and changed into my crap shirt. What is the point of looking cute if there will be no documentation?

Meanwhile, I went walking yesterday, because I am trying to retain mobility (how do you like them apples?) and muscle memory and ALL THAT NONSENSE and I happened to be wearing capri pants, which means that I had about 6 inches of leg showing between the hem of the pant and my sneakers, which was apparently an open invitation for all bugs in the area to come and have a feast.... on my flesh.... OH THE ITCHING.

(That was one sentence up there. Does my ability to misuse the English language ever get old? I think not.)

Also: I start school next week. WHAT. THE. TRASH.

Cubees Printable Characters

Have you heard of Cubees?  I hadn't until I came across a way awesome website that has tons and tons of these printable Cubee characters.

All their characters are free.  Basically, you pick your favorites, download and print, then follow the super easy instructions to put them together.  They have Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Star Wars, and Princess Bride, and the Tardis, and more and more and more characters.

And you don't even need glue or tape to keep them together - it's purely a notch and flap system (so you will need to be accurate while cutting).

I decided to make Harry Potter and Voldemort.  But only because they had the Tardis, but no Dr. Who.  I'm thinking about making my own Matt Smith and David Tennant Dr's just because I WANT TO (and because I'm a humongous geek).

Would you guys want some original Peonies and Poppyseeds Cubees?  And, if so, what kind of characters would you be interested in?  Please do tell!

Wait. Wait. Wait.

I already failed at blogging every day. This is because I am spectacular at not doing things. This is also because I was still sick, and my friend Serena took my kids, and I went to bed, and next thing you know, DadGuy was home and all, Where are the kids? And I was all, *turnoverandgobacktosleep* 

BUT! Today I don't have a headache! So there's that! 

I also went to the grocery store. It was a double cart kind of trip... You know, when you have to get toilet paper and all that jazz. 

And now I'm trying to decide what I want to make for dinner. I know I want to do some kind of spinach enchilada, but since there's about 100 different ways to go from there, I'm stuck. 

I'm also waiting to find out just when I can access my financial aid awards, because I'm pretty sure that I have a class starting NEXT WEEK and I could maybe want to rent a book or something. 

Isn't life so glamorous? 

Kids Craft: Painting with Marbles

We like messy activities at our house, and painting with marbles is one of our ultimate favorites.  Plus it has really cool results, and you can even display it without it looking like a 3 year old made it (even though they did).

First of all you need supplies:
• paper, cardboard, posterboard, or whatever surface you want to paint on
• a box, or cookie sheet, or in our case a big dry erase board covered in plastic wrap (because it's going to get messy)
• finger paint, acrylic paint, or whatever kind of paint you want to use (I think acrylic works best)
• marbles (of course) but you can also do paintings with hotwheel cars, or plastic dinosaur feet, or lots of other creative things.

So, put your paper (or whatever) on your white erase board (or whatever you're using).  And then squish some paint onto it.  At first I started with really huge glops which actually made the marbles get stuck easily, so I would suggest using smaller and more dispersed paint glops.

Then grab a bunch of marbles and start rolling them around in the paint.  If you're using a box you can tilt the box to get the marbles to roll.  We tried doing that with our setup, but it was easier (and more fun) just to roll the marbles back and forth to each other.

My methods are, of course, the messiest possible way to do a marble painting (aside from using your feet, I guess).  But it's also really great for sensory processing and fine motor control, and my boys loved it.

And this is why I covered my white board with plastic wrap.  Also, we painted our kitchen floor a little bit too, but it washed off.

I tried a bunch of different paints and surfaces, and here are the results.  This first one is a paper bag with finger paint:

This is acrylic paint on tracing paper:

This is a regular sheet of paper with acrylic paint:

And this is some bubble wrap with glitter glue - NOT RECOMMENDED.  Because, obviously, it's ugly.  And also, glitter glue?  What was I thinking?  (Plus it's more fun just to pop the bubble wrap.)

My favorite was when we used acrylic paint on blue posterboard.  We're totally displaying it to the world (or anyone who walks down our stairs).  Jackson Pollock, eat your heart out.

The Swing of Things

I've decided that I'm going to blog every day because I need to get back in the habit.

I actually need to get back into the habit of a lot of things, like waking up to an alarm clock. <- not excited about that.

Meanwhile, I am so stinking sick today. Thankfully, I have fantastic friends who just happened to all call me up today and check on me, and upon hearing my voice, decided to save the day and take my kids to the park (Thank you Miriam) and to the Pool (Thank you Angie) and bring me dinner and Dr. Pepper (Seriously Angie. Thanks)

It's been great to not have the kids here, because I can lay on the couch feverish and with ice packs by myself and when I have to run to the bathroom to throw up, there is no pounding on the door and kicking people out to be done first.

Plus, can we talk about how dumb it is to have a headache that hurts so bad you throw up, which in turn makes the headache worse? IT'S SO DUMB.

So are alarm clocks. Which I don't have. Except on my phone, which is fine, but then the charger is never where I need it to be, and my life is so difficult. (not really, but I like to pretend like not knowing where my charger is 1st world problems.)

And now I'm going to go back to bed, and pretend to see out of both eyes, and not vomit. Yay life.

Show me the Money

Let's talk about all the dumb test/evaluation things you have to do BEFORE you can get financial aid. Because I've had to spend way too long answering the same questions over and over and over again, just so I can get a little money to go to school. 

In other news, we hit up the tax free weekend, and got the kids everything they needed for school. Taylor got the most stuff, because after taking a quick inventory, it was noted that her wardrobe mainly consisted of pajamas.... This is what happens when you're the fourth child, you wear hand-me-downs until mommy notices that you look like a hobo.

Meanwhile, next summer, people will be on swim team. I have decided. (That's how it goes in our house.)

ALSO: I received a cute new tunic from Fresh Produce awhile back, and I thought that I had told you about it, but as it turns out, I HADN'T. (Let's blame the MS.) At any rate, I love it, because it's lightweight, and long, and lightweight. (Mostly that's what I care about these days, alright?) Check out their spring clothes (I know it's almost fall... I'M SORRY PEOPLE... MY BRAIN DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK) and please love this swing skirt as much as I do.... in black, por favor. 

And now I'm going to figure out how much textbooks are going to set me back..... $493.45! YES! (no.)

Curly Locks Nursery Rhyme Printable

I'm a huge fan of nursery rhymes.  Especially the obscure ones that only old people and the internet remembers.  Like this one:

Maybe you've heard it before and you're not old, but I hadn't until the internets told me, and I fell in love with it.  We're dating now.  I smile coyly every time I walk past it in it's frame in my hallway.  Just kidding.  That would be weird.

Printable Drink Umbrellas

photo source:  http://www.win7wallpapers.com/view/coconut_umbrella_drink-wide.html

Before summer ends everyone deserves one of these.  Except that we don't actually drink alcohol for personal reasons, so we're pretending that they're fruit smoothies and koolaid.  But that doesn't really matter because the most important part of those drinks are THE UMBRELLAS!

I never have little umbrellas just laying around (although severed raw coconuts with straws in them pop up all over our house!) so here are some printable drink umbrellas so you can enjoy the sun long before the temperature starts dropping.

Just click to download.  And make sure to sip your smoothies and koolaid slowly to avoid the perils of brain freeze.

Things of Pinterest: Dessert

I'm trying to force myself to be on a diet.  Pretty much, I'm starving.  So what else would pinterest tempt with than super delicious looking desserts?  It's torture, I tell you, TORTURE.

http://www.kwestiasmaku.com/desery/torty/tort_pina_colada/przepis.html

Pina colada cake?  Yes, please.  I think I'm getting fatter just looking at this picture.  You will need to use a translating program to get this recipe in English (unless you can read recipes in Polish, in which case good for you!)

http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2012/07/no-bake-peanut-butter-chocolate-bars.html

 Dear no bake peanut butter chocolate bars, why oh why can't you be low fat, low calorie, sugar free, and still delicious?  WHY?!

http://www.thenovicechefblog.com/2012/06/red-velvet-crinkle-cookies/

These red velvet crinkle cookies are making me all slobbery.  I'm just going to imagine how good they taste.  It's kind of hard because my imagination is really good at visualizing food and I want them for real.

http://picky-palate.com/2009/09/10/caramel-apple-cream-cheese-cookie-bars/

Caramel apple cream cheese cookie bars - are you kidding me?!  How am I supposed to stick to a diet when recipes like this exist?

http://vanillakitchen.blogspot.com/2009/04/coconut-truffles.html

Coconut truffles that taste like Almond Joy candybars = I think I might die.  I love coconut desserts.  Ok, fine, I love ALL desserts.  I don't see this diet lasting very long....


To see more of our favorites check out our pinterest boards!

Gumball Fishbowl Tutorial

I used to have a fish in a blender.  It was an old blender that I had taken the blade out of, and it was just a goldfish, but it was seriously awesome.  Total conversation starter.
Like this:
"Is that a fish in your blender?"
"Yup."
"Why?"
"I dunno."

The other day I saw a picture of a fish in a gumball machine and I totally flipped out.  Because, GUESS WHAT?  I've had a gumball machine just sitting around for like 12 years!  I bought it thinking it was the coolest, and then never knew what to do with it.  I've moved it from house to house thinking that SOMEDAY I might do something with it.

AND THEN I DID.

It's totally cool, right?

This is how I made it:

First, you need a gumball machine.  And then you have to tell your family that you'll be putting a fish in it.  And then your husband and your 7 year old will gang up on you and tell you that you don't know what you're doing and it will never work.  And then you have to prove them wrong so you can say "What was that?!  I can't...what?  I can't hear you over my 'HA!' of triumph. HA!"

You need to completely gut your machine.  There's more pieces than you'd think.

Did you know that even though I've had this gumball machine for over a decade I never knew there were little chickens by the handle until I took this picture?  I'm seriously observant....

I glued the bottom of my gumball machine back on with some "premium silicone glue".  The bottom is unnecessary, but I wanted it on there.  And hey look, the price tag is still on it.

Then I thought and thought about how I was going to seal off the top, because the glass part of gumball machines have a hole in the top and bottom.  I figured I could just plug up the entire hole with the glue, but then I got a better idea and I pulled out a little glass bowl I had gotten at the dollar store.  It sat on top of my gumball machine perfectly, and it was a bit bigger allowing more room for the fish.  So I glued it to the top.  I used lots of glue.  And I put rocks in it while it dried so that it had added pressure.

And I did all of this on my nasty kitchen cutting board.  It gives me germaphobic shivers.  I guess that's what you get when you rent a house built in the 30's that has it's original kitchen.  And no - our food NEVER touches this thing.  But it is great for projects, so there's that.

After the glue was set I added water and a fish.  I also wanted to still have the top on my gumball machine, but the opening was bigger than the original glass top, so I improvised by gluing the machine top to a Yankee candle lid I had sitting around.  It worked great.  (Except that we mostly leave it off because the fish needs to breath, but when people come over I can just stick it back on so it looks all impressive like.)

The kids named the fish Night Crawler because they were on an X-Men kick that day.  (I don't really blame them, because I finally saw the latest X-Men movie where James McAvoy plays Professor Xavier, and I have a pretty big crush on him, so yeah,  I LIKED IT.)