Save the Bees!

I think most of us have been aware that bees are dying at alarming rates and as researchers have found much of it has to do with toxic chemicals or pesticides being heavily sprayed on crops all over the Unites States.

My husband and I like to keep our children informed of environmental issues when appropriate. The boys are 4 and 6 but still care about the world, especially plants and animals AND bugs of any sort!

After I told my oldest son that the bees are dying in part because of pesticides he asked, "Why don't farmers stop spraying pesticides so the bees can stay alive?" I had to explain that not everyone thinks the same way we do. You can read this article, and many others, regarding the problems/pesticides at PAN (Pesticide Action Network).

This bee conversation happened to be right around his 6th birthday and he wanted to take fun snacks to school for a special treat and decided he wanted bees and responsibly told his classmates why he wanted bee themed snacks and told them why the bees are dying off!!

These very simple bees are made from yellow paper glued on clothespins. I drew stripes on the paper with a sharpie marker before I cut out the strips so I didn't have to do it 25 times! Then I glued on googly eyes and bent a black pipe cleaner for the antennae.

Then using resealable snack sized bags fill each side (twisted in the center) with snacks and secure with a bee! The kids in my son's class were thrilled about the bees flying them all over the room! It was adorable!

Save the bees!

Toy Print Dish Towels

Handmade gifts are especially fantastic but when children make them they seem that much more special and precious.

My boys really love to make gifts for birthdays and other holidays. After they make something they are so excited to give the gift and so proud when the recipient opens it. They get to tell their story of the process and what exactly they made.

I have done nature printing (using leaves, sticks, rocks, etc.) with my boys before that they enjoyed but since the weather was not cooperating this time around I had to come up with an indoor craft. As I searched around the house and through toy bins the boys watched with much interest. I didn't tell them what the project was but they already wanted to do it since I was collecting toys and they saw I had out paint!

I came up with the idea of printing dish towels with toys for their Grandmother's approaching birthday. I know she will love them as much as the boys loved making them.

This is a simple and easy project for kids of all ages.

Instructions:
Gather supplies and toys. Pick toys that will stamp with clean lines and basic shapes.

You will need the following items:
- New, unused dish towels
- Fabric paint
- Paint brushes
- Paper plates
- Toys - I gathered trucks with bulky tires, play-doh cans, plastic screws and nails, dice, legos (large and small) car wheels, tinker toys, etc.

When you unfold the dish towels you will see they are very wrinkled so you will want to iron them flat. Once towels are ironed tape them (I used packing tape) to a large work surface so they don't slip around when the kids are making their prints.

Squeeze a small amount of fabric paint onto a paper plate. Using a paint brush spread the paint out into a thin layer. When doing this project with small children I suggest using just one color. If you want to use more than one color try doing a first round and letting it dry and then add the second color after it dries so colors don't smear.

Let the child pick a toy and dip it in the paint and start stamping on the dish cloth. Reapply and thin paint on the paper plate as necessary.

A painting smock or an old shirt is a good idea so clothing does not get ruined. Let the kids do as little or as much stamping/printing as they want. Do not suggest or guide the children as to what patterns or designs to make. They are creating a one-of-a-kind gift. They will have fun and be very proud of themselves. This helps build their self esteem and what could be better than that?!

Let the paint dry before moving the towels from the table. Follow instructions on the paint bottle as to when you can wash the fabric.

Soak the toys in a bowl of soap and water and let them sit for a few minutes before you wash them. This fabric paint was easy to get off of the less detailed toys but harder to get off of the detailed toys like the car wheels and legos.

Here are the completed patterned and stamped towels ready to be given as a gift. My five year old made the red print. He said it is a praying mantis! My three year old made a random pattern black print.