Fun In My Neighborhood

I cannot think of a better way to spend the dog days of summer than with great neighbors and their children, around a table, making art.  Lucky me because that's what's been happening; check out what we've been up to so far this summer...

Tie-Dye T-Shirts



Tie-Dye was a big hit, even with the parents!  All you need is a box of Tulip One-Step Tie-dye and white t-shirts.  The great thing about this kit, it included 2 sets of dye packets, so we were able to make more shirts with our cousins over the Fourth of July weekend.  The kit was $19.99 (minus 40%; I always make sure to bring a coupon when I go to Michael's Craft Store!)

Designer Logan

Happy Results

Magic Tree Houses

My two boys would love an actual tree house but we don't have any trees!  I guess that's why I fell in love with Tiny Tree Houses, another great idea found in Disney's Family Fun Magazine.  I have made 2D and 3D versions of this idea several times with my elementary art students, renaming them "Magic Tree Houses" after Mary Pope Osbourne's book series Magic Tree House - a perfect text to art connection. 

Here is a 2D version made by one of fifth grade students a few years ago. I love the people climbing the steps and the tissue paper flowers!

Here is a 3D version that was made today by 4.5 year old Caitlyn.

Great job Caitlyn!

Caitlyn's House

A terra-cotta pot with a piece of floral foam pressed into the center made a great base.  Sticks were gathered from the woods; the best ones to use are the thickness of your index finger, straight and letter "Y" shaped.  Simply sink the sticks into the foam to create an interesting visual arrangement. 

There are many different things you can use to create the house.

We used recycled cardboard items- soap boxes, ribbon circles and paper towel centers along with craft items- Popsicle sticks, ribbon and sequins.

Logan's Castle

Rachael's Zen Paradise

Hot glue works best to instantly bond, it was used to secure the house to the sticks (try to nestle the house on a letter "Y" stick for support) and to attach the Popsicle stick steps.  Tacky glue was used for all of the other craft items that make the tree houses so magical! 

The best part of this project, it's endless.  One can always add things like tissue paper flowers on the branches, another house or two (depending on stick space) and people!  Great use for some of those lego mini-figures, army men and plastic insects/animals.

You decide, is it a decoration or a toy?

Enjoy,

Tracey