Monday, June 27, 2011

Cub Scout Cool Scarves

My daughter and I have been making Cool Scarves to sell to raise money for my little man's Cub Scout Pack.  (Yes, I am trying to get out of selling popcorn!  LOL) 

Here is what we came up with...

This one is still dry, and the one below has been soaked in water for 30 minutes.  They will stay wet for days and feel great on a HOT day.

The little white piece of twill tape is so a name and pack number can be written on them.  They are filled with  non-toxic water storing crystals you can buy at the plant nursery.  It runs about $10.00 a pound, but you only need 1 tablespoon of it in each scarf!  It absorbs 400 times it's own weigh in water! I made a bunch of these years ago when we had a Summer VBS that was all outside,  The kids and I wore them to Cub Scout Camp earlier this month and everyone wanted one.  So I figured it was a good fund raiser to make some out of Scout fabric and sell to the people in the pack. 

If you would like to make your own you can get the pattern here:  http://soldiersangels.org/uploads/CoolScarvesHowTo.pdf 

You can also make these as a service project to send to soldiers fighting in the HOT, HOT desert!  I would like to make some more later to send overseas. That information is here:  http://soldiersangels.org

I just LOVE all the projects we can get done over the Summer!

Happy Homeschooling,

Jamin

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Chalkboard Math Clock

I have been wanting a clock for the school room for quite some time.  Then a few months ago I saw THIS ONE in a museum gift shop.  I really, really loved it!  But, it was around $40.00 and I thought the math problems might confuse my littles since they were pretty advanced.  So I decided that if we made our own we could even change the math problems every once in awhile.

Here is what we came up with...

This is what we used to make ours...

The lid from a round box, clock kit and chalkboard paint.

The kids had fun painting it.  (Make sure to follow all the directions on the container.)

And then my husband found the middle and poked a hole in the middle for me with a nail.  I used a pencil to make the hole big enough to fit the clock works through.  Then all we had to do was figure out what math problems we wanted to write on with chalk.

The kids love it and it looks really cute on the wall in our school room! (Oh, and our total cost was $15.00!)

Happy Homeschooling,

Jamin


Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Another Jean Bag

I know, I know I am obsessed with making jean bags!  LOL  but, they are so CUTE and sturdy and fun to make.  This one is a gift.  For a very sweet friends 30th birthday. (Yes, I was 16 when she was born!  But, who's counting?;^)

For the bottom part I strip pieced it.  There are 2 quilt fabrics and chenille.  I cut a butterfly out of one of the fabrics and appliqued it with a piece of chenille under it to give it some body.  Then I made a belt to finish it off. I am very happy with it!  As a matter of fact my daughter and I BOTH want one just like it! :^)

Happy Homeschooling,

Jamin

Monday, June 20, 2011

Monster Knees!

I tease my 7 year old that I think he has razor blades hidden in his kneecaps!  He blows through the knees of jeans like nothing I have EVER seen!  So when I saw THIS idea a few days ago I knew I had a project to do!

So here it is...MONSTER KNEES! 
LOL  My little man LOVES them!  His teenage brother even wants a pair!  I did mine with polar fleece instead of felt.  (I thought it would wash better.) But other than that I (actually!) followed the directions at the link above.  It's all done by hand, but it's pretty simple.  Which is GOOD because I have about 6 more pair to make! :^)

Happy Homeschooling,

Jamin

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Rag Flag Wreath

My daughter and I made this fun wreath over the weekend.  It's SUPER easy.  All you need is fabric, a wire hanger and scissors. 

Basic directions are HERE.

Happy Homeschooling,

Jamin

Thursday, June 16, 2011

June

June is passing like a FLASH!  I can't believe we are already half way through the month!  Life here has been busy, busy and BUSY!  My oldest son is already half way through his first College class! (You can read more about that HERE.) My youngest son has completed a week of Cub Scout Camp! My daughter and I hosted our very last American Girl event with a family night.  We have made quite a few trips to the water parks and a few trips to the lake. Yep...busy, busy BUSY!

Here are a few picture that sum up our Summer so far.  :^)

My with the girls at American Girl Family Night.
 The littles swimming.
 Shooting BB Guns at Cub Scout Camp.
 My little man shooting archery at Cub Scout Camp.
 My oldest getting some love from some little Cub Scouts!
 Our garden is looking good!
And it's starting to feed us!

Yep, we are enjoying Summer so far!  It is going TOO fast though!

Happy Homeschooling,

Jamin