Cat Stuck in a Tree

What will we do with our girls?!

Hummingbird has a loft bed, and Bumble Bee has a toddler bed beneath it.  They were playing around instead of sleeping tonight.  So, we took Hummingbird's ladder away until they fell asleep.  Or so we thought...

Until Hummingbird came out and said, "Bumble Bee needs help.  She's stuck."

"Why is she stuck?"

Using the chair at the right side of the photo and the desk, Bumble Bee climbed up the side of the bed, and Hummingbird pulled her over the rail!  It was sort of funny and amazing that they did it, but of course, they got in trouble because of the danger factor.

What will we do with these two?!

Stained Glass Cross Craft

Finished Crosses

Stained Glass Cross instructions are here.

Palm Sunday to Pascha Magnets

During Holy Week there is an abundance of opportunities for adults to pray and participate in the procession of days leading to Pascha.  Children are often dragged along through the litany of services as well, but for them the significance of each day can easily be lost as their attention spans grow shorter through the week.  With that in mind, I've put together some crafts that can be done throughout the week.  Many of the crafts below can be adjusted to use whatever craft supplies you have on hand, and you can even repurpose old magnets for these projects.  So if you are missing some supplies, don't be afraid to improvise.  You can do the crafts before a given service to prepare your child for what's to come or as a review afterward.  Read on to make your own collection of Holy Week Magnets.

Palm Sunday Frame Magnet

Supplies:

Craft Foam (green and choice of other colors)

Precut Foam Frames (optional)

Entry into Jerusalem Icon (or photograph from Palm Sunday liturgy)

Scissors

Glue Stick or Glue

Leaf and Heart Templates

Glitter or Glitter Glue, Mosaic Tiles, or Other Embellishments

Magnet (strip)

Directions:

1. Prepare the foam by cutting out leaves and hearts.  If you are not using a precut frame, cut 2 pieces of foam 4.25 x 5.5 inches, and cut a rectangle (2.5 x 3.5 inches, or sized to your icon/picture) from the center of one piece.

2. Glue leaves and hearts around the edge of the frame.

3. Insert the icon or picture in frame.  If you made your own frame, center your picture on the solid foam and glue.  Then, glue the front to the back of the frame.

4. Secure a magnet to the back of the frame.

5. Read the story of Jesus's entrance into Jerusalem.  Talk about what's happening in the icon or at the service. 

Holy Monday Multi-colored Coat Magnet

Supplies:
Coat Template

White Lunch Bag or Coffee Filter (brown will work if you don't have white)

Thin Cardboard or Cardstock Paper

Pencil

Markers

Spray Bottle with Water

Scissors

Magnet (strip)

Directions:

1. Color the bag with markers, and spray lightly with water.  Let any excess water drip off.

2. After it has dried, cut a coat shape out of the cardboard and bag.

3. Glue the coats together, and glue to the magnet.

4. Read the story of Joseph, the son of Jacob, in Genesis.  Discuss how Joseph is a model of Jesus.

Alternate ideas for decorating the coat. 

1. Simply color the coat without running the colors together. 

2. Glue small pieces of colored tissue paper to the coat.

3. Glue strips of ribbon or felt to the coat.

Holy Tuesday Oil Lamp Magnet

Supplies:

Gold or White Cardstock Paper

Oil Lamp Template

Black Marker

Scissors

Glue

Glitter, Mosaic Tiles, Embellishments

Magnet (small strip)

Directions:

1. Trace and cut out the oil lamp, and draw the center opening (see template).

2. Decorate.

3. When dry, glue magnet to the back.

4. Read the Parable of the Ten Virgins, and discuss how we must always be prepared to receive the Lord when He comes again by trying to be good and repenting when we fail.

Holy Wednesday Silver Coin Magnet

Supplies:

1 or 3 Silver coins (foreign coins that you couldn't exchange would be great)

Glue

Magnet (round)

Directions:

1. Glue the first coin to the center of the magnet, and glue the next two to the edges of the first.

2. Read the story of Judas's betrayal.  Explain that the coin(s) represent the money given to Judas to betray Jesus.  Discuss how we betray Jesus when we sin, but because we ask for forgiveness, we are forgiven.  Judas did not seek forgiveness. 

Great and Holy Thursday Prosfora Magnet

Supplies:

Template of a Prosfora Seal

Craft foam (neutral color)

Scissors, Xacto Knife, and/or scrapbook circle cutting tools

Glue

Crayons

Fine Tip Marker

Magnet

Directions:

1. Print and color the prosfora template.  Cut out the center lamb with Xacto knife.

2. Cut two foam circles – one 5 inches in diameter, the other sized to the template. 

3. Glue the template onto the second circle, and cut the square out of the center.  Glue the lamb to the square.

4. Glue the two circles together.  Write "Take. Eat." in the square on the larger circle.

5. Insert the lamb but do NOT glue.

6. Secure a magnet to the back.

7. Read the story of the Last Supper.  Discuss how we participate in the Last Supper through the consecration and receiving communion.  If you have the supplies to do so, let your child bake prosfora with you to bring to church for liturgy.

Great and Holy Friday Cross Magnet

Supplies:

2 Craft Sticks (colored or plain)

Paint/Markers (optional)

Gemstones, Sequins, etc.

Glue

Magnet (2-4 thin strips, or single round)

Directions:

1. Cut one stick into two smaller pieces (one a little larger than the other), and cut off the rounded edges.

2. Color the craft sticks if they are plain.  We chose pre-colored purple ones (how liturgically appropriate!), and colored the cut edges purple to match.

3. Glue the sticks together with the larger crossbar at the top, and the smaller at the bottom.

4. Decorate as desired. 

5. Glue the magnet(s) to the back.

6. Read the Passion story.  Explain that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins.

Great and Holy Saturday Linen Cloth Magnet

Supplies:

Scraps of white cloth cut into strips approximately ¼ inch wide and 3 inches long (no need to be exact).

Glue

Magnet (2x3 inch, or similar size)

Directions:

1. Glue the scraps of cloth together on the magnet strip.

2. Read the story of Jesus's burial.  Explain that after His death, Jesus's body was wrapped in linen and placed in the tomb, where His body would rest for three days.  If your child is older, you might also discuss how He went down to Hades to set free the souls of the righteous dead.

Pascha Icon Magnet

Supplies:

Bottle Cap, or 2 Silver/Gold Mini-muffin Cups

White or Gold Paint

Print of the Resurrection Icon (included in template)*

Colorless Packing Tape

Scissors or Scrapbook Tools for cutting a circle

Glue

Glitter or Glitter Glue

Magnet (round)

Directions:

1. Wash and paint the bottle cap.  Or flatten the muffin cups and glue the insides together.

2. Discuss all the figures in the icon.  Then, cover the icon, front & back, with a small strip of packing tape to prevent the ink from running.  Cut out the circle with Jesus, Adam, and Eve.

3. Glue the icon inside the bottle cap or to the center of the muffin cup, painting a layer of glitter glue over the icon.

4. Secure magnet to the back.

5. Read the story of the Resurrection.  Discuss how Jesus rose from the dead conquering death and giving us all a path to salvation.

*I chose this Ethiopian Resurrection icon by iconographer Christopher Gosey because it lends itself beautifully to the style of this magnet, even more so than Byzantine icons of the Resurrection.

Upcycled CD/DVD Coasters

So, we have dozens of unreadable or obsolete CDs and DVDs sitting around.  When something doesn't burn correctly, DH husband usually laments that he's made another coaster.  I've thought about sending them off to a technology recycling firm. Alas, they charge to recycle them, and then any data that is readable is put at risk.  So, I came up with a way to put all of those "coasters" to use.

So, without further ado here are the directions for making easy and adorable CD coasters.

Supplies:
Trash CDs or DVDs
Super glue
Ribbon
Embellishments (optional)
Scissors

Brace yourself; this is the hard part... (Not)

Directions:

1. Gather the CDs you'd like to use and choose which will be the top layer.  This is important because this is the side everyone will see.  Choose enough CDs to fit the width of your ribbon.
2. Super glue the CDs together.
3. Measure and cut your ribbon.  You can wrap it around the CDs if you don't have a ruler handy.
4. Super glue ribbon around the edge of the CD stack.  Add embellishments if desired -- this is particularly useful if you don't want to see the seam.

Lenten Retreat Project Ideas

Project Ideas are now here.

Late Night

After we were all sick last week, I was looking forward to a normal week.  Tonight was going to be a little off as I had a parish council meeting and Hummingbird had gymnastics.  DH was going to have to hangout with Bumble Bee at gymnastics while Hummingbird did her thing.  Alas, life had messier plans for us.

As we drove home from picking Daddy up from work, Bumble Bee announced that her tummy hurt.  I tried to comfort her by letting her know we were close and she could potty as soon as we got home.  That tummy ache was not what I thought it was.  Moments later she had vomited on her teddy bear and herself.  She seems to have had a relapse of last week's virus, only worse this time.  I'm thankful for the bear because he contained the mess.  Miraculously, nothing got on my car.  I unbuckled her entire carseat and carried her upstairs in it.  That is so much harder than an infant carrier!  DH did take Hummingbird to gymnastics still, but I spent the evening helping Bumble Bee and cleaning up the mess.  It's too bad I had to flake out on the first council meeting of the term, but then Tuesday was a hard day to meet in the first place.

Anyway,  she is finally resting in a sleeping bag on the living room floor.  She hasn't been vomit-free long enough for me to feel comfortable going to bed just yet.  So, I've been working on a few projects at the computer.  I'm putting together a French counting book for her, and I've been working on a story for Hummingbird, as well as trying to finish up my next OCN post about kids, God, and money.  I've hit a creative wall, though, so I thought I'd just share a bit of my night... get the alphabet posts behind me as I know a few people are ready to read something else.  I should read something else, too.  Indeed, I have two books that I need to get finished.  Perhaps, I'll actually complete one of them tomorrow since we won't be going to Bonjour! Wiggleworms and our other Wednesday errands.

Alphabet Collage

I'm not sure which I prefer, but here are two variations on a theme...

The Letters XYZ

I know I'm quite late and the party has ended, but here are xyz.

Stencil with marker

Stealing the Eiffel Tower from Mat. Anna:
from a logo I designed a few years ago

and... 

I was thinking an illuminated Z would be a nice finish,
but there's too much flourish for a child's collage,
so here's a pseudo-illuminated Z.