Butterfly Metamorphosis

Here's a craft I used to teach Mister about metamorphosis.  He already knows a lot about how a butterfly comes to be, but this was a way to have fun, reinforce what he knows, as well as add a little more detail. 

The caterpillar is something I used to do with my grandma when I was little.  I simply took an egg carton and cut it in half (one egg spot was also cut off so it would fit in the chrysalis).  Mister painted the egg, then we added pipe clear legs and googly eyes.

I had the egg carton next to the pringle can and noticed how perfectly an egg caterpillar would fit in the can.  This gave me the inspiration to use the can for a chrysalis!  The can is simply painted with washable paint; you can still see a little through the paint, but Mister and I don't mind.

We are working on a butterfly as well, but Mister was tired of crafting after finishing these two.  The butterly will have wings decorated by Mister, made with traced handprints.  The body of the caterpillar is cut from a piece of foam...the kind used for crafting that come in different colors, as well as shapes and project ideas.

Here are some age appropriate facts we used when making this craft:

• a butterfly starts as an egg, then hatches as a caterpillar, builds a chrysalis, then comes out as a butterfly
• caterpillars build a chrysalis and moths build a cocoon
• caterpillars eat lots of plants as it grows big enough to make its' chrysalis
• as a caterpillar grows bigger, it sheds its skin several times, and can change in color and shape
• when a caterpillar is ready to make its' chrysalis it hangs upside down on a branch, then wraps itself in silk
• caterpillars have wing buds growing under their skin, which push out when inside the chrsysalis
• metamorphosis is when an animal changes into something that looks completely different

Van Gogh's Starry Night

Mister and I have been busy outdoors and haven't done any crafts, but I wanted to post something.  So here is something Mister did in school.  They learned about van Gogh's Starry Night, then made their own version.  That was a few months ago, but Mister still remembers both van Gogh and the name of his painting, randomly bringing them up.  I thought it was a really cute idea so I thought I'd share for anyone who might like to do the same at home.  The picture was too big to scan, so here is a picture of the picture lol. 



Homemade shirt

Today Mister and I used fabric paint to design shirts.  I had a coupon for 50% off one item at Michaels and got a package of 6 1oz bottles of fabric paint for $3.  I wanted to try out making freezer paper stencils, but had no freezer paper and Mister was eager to make the shirts...so maybe we'll do that next time (like for Christmas gifts for grandma and grandpa).  For more information on how to do this, check out I Am Momma Hear Me Roar.  I happened upon this site and she has some GREAT stuff.  I haven't formally followed her blog, but I'm constantly checking it out and will do it soon. 

Anyways, here are the shirts Mister made:

He used a paintbrush for this one.

This drawing was directly squeezed out of the tube and the guy in the corner (a rockstar) was thick with paint, so he smeared when I moved the shirt =(

This is the one I made.  The bass drum has Mister's name, but I prefer to keep that private.

Thanks for stopping by, hope your weekend's great!

Crocheted Remote Holder with Pattern

I'm ALWAYS losing the remote for the tv, so I figured if I made something to keep it in I wouldn't lose it so much (we'll see).  Monday I made this, and thought I would share the pattern in case anyone is interested.  It's super simple and easy, and doesn't take long at all to make.

Materials:

WW yarn in 2 complimentary colors (I used Vanna’s Choice)

H hook, and F hook

Needle and thread

In main color, Ch. 40

Row 1:  ch 2, dc across

Row 2-3:  ch2, (2 bpdc, 2 fpdc)x10

Rows 4-33:  repeat rows 1-3, 10 times

Finish off, weave in ends

Fold up to make front flap with first 12 rows

Starting at bottom right corner, sl st through front flap and back flap, all the way up and around to the other side; finish off, weave in ends

Edging

In contrast color, starting in bottom right corner, (2 sc, ch2, 4 dc in next stitch of main color) repeat all the way around; finish off, weave in ends

Flowers (make 3 in contrast color and 1 in main color[using F hook])

8 sc in magic ring

Ch 2, 4dc in first stitch, sc, ch 2, 4dc in next stitch, sc, ch 2, 4dc in next stitch, sc, ch 2, 4dc in next stitch, sl st; finish off, weave in ends

With matching thread, sew smaller flower in main color onto a flower in contrast color.  Sew flowers on top right-hand corner of flap.

And there you have it!

 I also wanted to add a pic of something from my son.  Mister made me the bracelet on the right...all by himself!  I made the one on the left for him with beads that he picked out for me (green is his favorite color).

Bye!

First Post

Hi!  My name is Jess and I decided to start this blog at the urging of my 5 year old son, whom I affectionately call "Mister".  I have always loved crafts, a trait that has been passed on to my son.  He's always asking me if I can put pictures of his crafts on the computer for others to see, so I decided to use this as a way to show off his crafts, as well as mine.  Obviously I have no one visiting as of now, and if I don't have others looking that would be fine, just so I can show him how his pictures are online...however if I eventually got some nice comments for him that would be awesome!  Anyways, until I get the hang of things, I'll say bye for now and show a couple pics.

Here is something Mister made using perler beads.  The skull and crossbones was from a template and the one on the left is a Mario mushroom he made on his own.

This is Boo and Megaman I used from looking at pixelated images (with the help of Mister of course!)