DIY Hand Kites (Ribbon Ring)

It's that time of year again in my household: Birthday season!

Luckily all 3 of my kids' birthdays are two weeks apart, so we are able to have one big celebration for everyone. This year I decided to go with a colorful "rainbow" theme.

For the party favor bags, I wanted to be sure to include a handmade element for each child to enjoy. I love providing children with lovingly handmade things to pay with.

But, there were a few requirements. For one, it needed to be something that I could easily produce and in a short time. Also, it had to go with our colorful rainbow theme and be inexpensive.

So, created small Waldorf inspired ribbon rings. These "Hand Kites" were the perfect addition to our favor bags!
They are great fun for throwing and watching them soar through the air, or for simply dancing around with dancing around with. Plus I love that they are also an open ended toy.

Here are the supplies I used for this project:

Wooden rings:

Clored ribbon. (I used two packs of this to make about 20 rings)

Sharp Scissors 

From there it was super easy to make these!

First:

I chose 3 coordinating colors to use for each ring. Usually I used analogous colors (or colors that are next to each other of the color wheel). Then, I empty an entire spool of ribbon, and cut the length of it exactly in half.

 

Each (half length) strand of ribbon was the perfect length for one ring. 

Then: 

The next step was super easy too. I looped the ribbon through itself to secure it onto the ring, leaving one side much longer than the other. Then, I pulled it tight. 

 

To make sure that they held up to rough play, I further tied one end of each ribbon securely onto the wooden ring. Then, I snipped off any access  ribbon (from the short ends) near the knots. 

Lastly:

To dress them up a little, and keep the ribbon from unraveling, By making one diagonal cut, I cut a "v" shape in the end of each ribbon. Sharp sewing scissors make this step much easier.

Simply hold the ribbon between your fingers, pinch it in half and make a diagonal cut across the folded ribbon (pointing towards the wooden ring). Essentially you want to cut out a small triangle.

Lastly, enjoy and share your colorful creations! They are great for tossing through the air, dancing or anything else your imagination can think of.

That's all, and thanks for stopping by!


Linking up to these great parties:

http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2017/02/wow-me-wednesday-287.html
http://www.mygirlishwhims.com/2017/02/your-whims-wednesday-295-and-features.html
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2017/02/wow-us-wednesdays-314.html
http://www.colorsandcraft.com/blog/2017/2/share-it-link-party-258
http://thediydreamer.com/from-dream-to-reality/share-crafts-diy-projects-255/
http://www.uptodateinteriors.com/2017/02/the-creative-circle-no-104.html
http://staceyembracingchange.com/2017/02/23/creative-inpirations-linky-party-and-features/

DIY Playsilks

How to make your own playsilks!

Since my kids were very little, playsilks (classic Waldorf toys) have been a big hit. They’ve functioned as everything from superhero capes, to playscapes and tent building supplies. I love that they are open ended, made from natural materials and that they encourage children use their imaginations. One year we even made them as gifts for all of our friends!

Playsilks can be purchased ready made (Sara’s Silks https://www.sarahssilks.com) but they are usually pretty pricey. Luckily, they are super easy to make on your own! There are many methods and techniques out there for dying playsilks (for example with Kool aid, fabric die and so on).
I’ve tried them all. Here is what works the best!

I have found that the following method produces the longest lasting and most vibrant colors.


Here’s what you’ll need:

White vinegar
Get at least a gallon of it if you plan on making several scarves. I usually keep a few gallons on hand, just so that I don’t run out. It’s cheap and easy to get in the grocery store (look near the distilled water).



Good quality food coloring
I like to use gel color, and in particular this brand:



A medium size pot



Water

Optional: rubber gloves to protect hands from dye



White Habotai Scarves
I like to use a variety of sizes. There are many different sizes available. Here are a few examples:







This website is also a good source for plain silk scarves (you will just have to pay shipping):
http://www.dharmatrading.com

Rubber bands (if you want a marbled/ tie-die effect)




First:

Wash your scarves in warm/ hot water. I just toss mine in the washing machine with regular detergent. Or you could wash by hand, but you must wash them. I skipped this step once, and the color didn’t stick nearly as well. You can dry them too, but it’s not necessary.

Next:

Heat up a pot of 1/2 parts white vinegar, 1/2 parts water (I usually use about 1 cup of each). Then add a generous amount of food coloring, in the color of your choice. I usually heat mine to boiling (or nearly boiling).

Make the magic happen:

Gently add one of your scarves to the hot mixture. I like to swirl them around with a whisk to ensure uniform color. I usually turn down the heat and let it sit in there for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  

Finishing:

Remove your playsilk from the pot and place in the sink. Rub it under cool water, rinsing until the water runs clear (or nearly clear).

Then, to seal in the color even more I like to run my (wet) scarves through the dryer on a hot setting. They should be dry within just a few minutes.

Lastly:

They will come out wrinkled, and perhaps not as “silky” as you’d hoped for. Luckily a quick once-over with a hot iron easily changes this! Sometimes it helps to use the steam setting on your iron.

Play and enjoy!


Variations:

While solid colored playsilks are a lot of fun and have many uses, you can easily create even more intricate ones with there methods!


For a marbled look, before placing it in the die bath, scrunch up sections of your scarf and secure with rubber bands. I especially like to do this when dying a scarf blue because it produces an effect that resembles clouds and sky.

To get a classic tie-die spiral, first die your scarf one solid light color (I like to use yellow). Then rinse, lay the wet scarf flat and pinch the middle. Holding onto the middle, begin to twist and rotate the fabric until you have a circle/ disk like shape. Secure the disk by wrapping several rubber bands around it. Then place in a darker color dye bath (as described above). I like to use dark blues and or vibrant rich greens. Let it soak for a few minutes, remove from hot water, cut off rubber bands, rinse and dry.

Rainbow (or multicolored) silks seem daunting, but they are actually very doable too.

Starting with red dye (for example), dip just one end of your scarf into the dye bath. let it sit for a while, and then rinse with cool water. Miix up another batch of die bath in the next color you’d like to use, for example orange). Then dip the next section into that color. It’s even okay if the two colors overlap a bit, as this gives it a nice blended look.

Sometimes I like to mix up smaller batches of die for this purpose. I just use mason jars and then lower them into a larger pot of hot water (see pic).

A word of WARNING: Be SURE to turn off the burner on your stove before attempting to dip sections of your scarf into the pot (and leaving other sections out). Chances are that sections of it will drape over the side, and they can catch fire, easily. I speak from experience!

 

Lastly, the issue paper method can be a neat way for making unique playsilks too. Using this special tissue paper you can get some really neat looks:



Simply lay down some cardboard (or use a surface that you don’t care about getting messy). Then lay down some sheets of this "bleeding" tissue paper. It’s fun to use a variety of colors. Next, lay your scarf on top of the paper and cover the top with more tissue paper. Take care that the colors on top correspond with the colors on the bottom.



Then, using a spray bottle, generously spray the whole thing with white vinegar. Really soak it!



Allow it to sit and dry for at least ten minutes. The rinse under cold water, dry and iron.



Then, create a fun way to store you silks, play and enjoy!

That's all for today, thanks for stopping by!


Linking up to these fun parties:

http://www.gingersnapcrafts.com/2017/02/wow-me-wednesday-287.html
http://www.savvysouthernstyle.net/2017/02/wow-us-wednesdays-314.html
http://www.colorsandcraft.com/blog/2017/2/share-it-link-party-258
http://thediydreamer.com/from-dream-to-reality/share-crafts-diy-projects-255/

http://www.uptodateinteriors.com/2017/02/the-creative-circle-no-104.html

http://staceyembracingchange.com/2017/02/23/creative-inpirations-linky-party-and-features/

Narwhal Natural; A Great Subscription Service!

Left to their own devices, my kids would probably chose to play on the computer all day long. But, that is not the childhood that I want for them. Screen time overload is not the hope and dream that I have for their days.

Instead, I want them to love learning and to experience nature and all her glory. I yearn for them to interact with and “get to know” the natural world.

This is why I am SO EXCITED to be a part of a new subscription service for children! Starting immediately, a dear friend and I will be offering this lovely service to families nationwide. 

I am so pleased to introduce:

Narwhal Natural

Narwhal’s mission is to create unique opportunities for children to unlock learning and creativity inspired by a love of nature. We strive to nurture a child’s creative spirit, while simultaneously connecting them with the natural and scientific world. 

Our monthly mail order subscription service (The Terra Crate) uses natural items like wood, shells, rocks, etc. combined with quality arts and crafts supplies to guide students in creating hands on projects that are beautiful, educational and often functional. Our projects are open ended and leave plenty of room for imagination. We bringing together art and the natural sciences through the study of nature and hands on experiences.

  

We also offer a regular blog with creative project ideas for both children and adults. Please stop by anytime to check out this free and fun resource! 

Tutorial

You can find the Narwhal Natural blog and tutorials here:

Get Crafty!

Tutorial

We look forward to providing your children with hours of creative inspiration!

Thanks for stopping by, and happy crafting!

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Waldorf Train Track Hack

My kids love trains, and playing with model train tracks. Meanwhile, I love the dreamy quality of a Waldorf inspired play environment, and the natural materials that most Waldorf inspired toys are made form.

Enter: Hand painted toy train tracks!

While there are many lovely brands and wooden train products available on the market, most of them are above our price range. Plus, many of the trains themselves are mechanical. I like the idea of having "back to basics" toys that don't use batteries. If my boys want their trains engines to roar, then they can use their own voices to make that happen!

Keeping these goals in mind lead me to Ikea of all places! Over the years, I've grown to regret most of my furniture purchases from this Swedish giant. But, I've found a lot of nice wooden toys there, and even a some good nature inspired kid's books.

One of our favorites is their inexpensive wooden train sets.

If you don't live near an Ikea store, you can order them from the manufacture on line. Or, since their shipping can be expensive, you can also find the trains on Amazon:

I am very inspired by the ideas and concepts of Waldorf education, and I make an effort to create an environment for my children that reflects this philosophy. One of the things that intrigues me visually about a Waldorf inspired space is the color. Dreamy rainbows and soft colors grace many of things in a Waldorf classroom.

In fact, one of the main mediums for creating art (in the Waldorf method) is through the use of watercolor paint.

Looking at our wooden trains stretching across the floor one day, I had an idea. I could use watercolor paint to add some beauty and magic to an otherwise plain looking toy!

I knew that the transparent nature of watercolor pigment would add lovely color, while still allowing the natural beauty of the wood to shine through.

Supplies:

Unfinished wooden toy train tracks

(If you don't want to use the Ikea ones, you could also use these):

Watercolor paint

A soft watercolor brush (sable is the best)

Jar with water (for rinsing brush)

This turned out to be a rather easy project. Both kids and adults could participate, and enjoy creating their own unique train set. Also, you could use any wooden train tracks for this project, they don't have to be the Ikea version.

Because I knew I wanted an ethereal airy quality, I decided to use two colors for each track. My goal was for them to blend together, and have one hue fade into the other.

To make this "blended" effect more seamless, I chose only analogous colors (colors that are next to each other on the color wheel, or in the rainbow). 

This lead me to chose from the following color combinations: 

Red and orange, orange and yellow, yellow and green, green and blue, blue and purple, and purple and red. 

To start, I covered one end of a track with one color (in this case green). I wanted the pigment to be saturated near the outer end of the track so I applied a heavy coat (more paint, less water). 

Then, by diluting the paint with water, I pulled a small amount of the pigment toward the middle of the track. Eventually, it included such a small amount of color that it was practically clear. 

Also note that, if your brush is too wet, you can always remove a bit of the water by dabbing it on a paper towel. 

Next, starting at the opposite end of the track, I did the same thing with my second color choice (this time yellow).  I made the paint thicker at the end, and then thinned it as I worked toward the middle. 

I over lapped the two colors for about an inch. In this way the two hues blended together, one fading seamlessly into the next.

Or, if you would rather keep it simple (or perhaps if you are working with young children) you could simply paint each piece of track one color. The result will still be lovely! 

Some tracks are two sided. So after one side is dry, be sure to paint the other side too.

This is such a great way to create wonder and intrigue, and a beautiful play space.

Assemble your tracks, and enjoy!

Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

Linking up to these fun parties:

http://www.funkypolkadotgiraffe.net/2016/07/too-cute-tuesday-linky-par-tay-294.html

http://myuncommonsliceofsuburbia.com/inspire-monday-121/

http://cornerstoneconfessions.com/2016/07/titus-2-tuesday-216.html

http://www.sugarbeecrafts.com/2016/07/show-tell-link-party-time-56-13.html

http://thecraftyblogstalker.com/create-link-inspire-linky-party-138/

http://www.carolynshomework.com/2016/07/the-inspiration-board-creative-party_19.html

http://tidymom.net/2016/salad-recipes/

http://pintsizedbaker.com/two-cup-tuesday-no-184/

http://www.skiptomylou.org/made-by-you-monday-11/

http://diyshowoff.com/2016/07/24/diy-party-91-8/

http://titicrafty.com/2016/07/bewitchin-projects-block-party-158/

http://www.sewcando.com/2016/07/share-your-projects-at-craftastic.html

http://www.thecasualcraftlete.com/2016/07/24/the-creative-gallery-190/

http://www.oneprojectcloser.com/giveaway-creativity-unleashed-link-party-week-132/

http://www.flourmewithlove.com/2016/07/mix-it-up-monday_24.html

http://www.simplysweethome.com/2016/08/friday-favorites-week-332-breakfast-delights/

http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.ca/#

http://www.raisingmemories.com/2016/08/august-2016-sharing-time.html

http://thecharmofhome.blogspot.com/2016/08/home-sweet-home-283.html