BIRDHOUSES

This project required the use of an

electric saw. . .not my area :/

My husband volunteered and made

a total of 7 cedar birdhouses for our

grandchildren and some of their friends.

We purchased several 6 foot lengths of

1" X 6" untreated cedar.

We gleaned a number of plans from

free on line printables and Youtube

instructions.

The cost of each house was

approxametly 4 dollars.

The bottom of the houses are screwed into

place to allow for removal of last year's nests.

The remainder of the house is glued and nailed

into place.

An angled screw hole at the back of the

house allows for hanging with a nail.

A new home waiting for its new family.

We had a number of our grandchildren together

to help with the painting.

And to help Grampie with hanging 

the houses from our backyard trees.

Our backyard has been transformed into a

little bird community with colourful little abodes

to choose from.

This morning a chickadee was taking a look

at the green one but hasn't yet made an offer!

:)

I'm thinking that at least one of these will

be pink.

PLASTER CRAFT

This medium allows for endless creativity

and is gratifying for all ages.

Start with dry mix PLASTER OF PARIS.

Large bags may be found at local building supply stores

for between $15 and $25 dollars.

Craft stores sell in smaller quantities.

I mix 2 parts dry plaster to 1 part water.

2:1

Do not mix until your mold is ready,

Roll out your PLASTICINE and place it

on a piece of wax paper. Make your impressions

 by pressing objects into the clay.

Once your impression is to your satisfaction

you are ready to mix and pour your plaster

and water mixture.

For this size of work, approximately

6" by 7", you will need 1/2 cup of

dry plaster to 1/4 cup cold water.

Spread evenly over the clay working quickly

as it starts to thicken rapidly.

Even with measuring my mixture may be thick

as in this picture or may be slightly thinner. The

thicker the mixture the sooner it will set.

Immediately after spreading you mixture evenly,

place a fabric backing pressing lightly into the plaster.

I like using utility burlap. The fabric adds strength

to the finished product making it less apt to crack.

It also gives you something by which to hang it.

Allow at least an hour for it to set.

Gently peel back the clay revealing

your work.

Ready to paint or colour with markers.

It is only your imagination that will

limit what you might choose for your theme.

To make these flowers I used a

pinched paper roll to get the petal shape.

The centre of the blossoms I made with

the end of my paint brush. The centre

stem is from my neighbours hedge.

My Grandson is colouring the piece

he made from his Grandfather's

African chess set.

Immediately after colouring. . .

Two hours later the damp plaster

has drawn some of the colour out.

I especially liked this effect and tried to

reproduce that in my work.

If the plaster was too damp the

colour might be completely gone by

morning. If that happens just colour

it again.

MARBLES

BUTTONS

CHICKS,FACE, SCREWS

3D DRAWINGS

3 D DRAWINGS

Lightly trace around the hand.

Draw curved lines

across wrist, hand and fingers.

Draw straight lines across paper from left to right.

Children as yound as 4 can enjoy this activity.

The Grade Two class came up with

some very interesting variations.

A different approach. One of my favorites!

I love when kids "think outside the lines"

ARRIVAL OF SPRING

Matthew's Bird Drawings

Joshua's Bird Drawings

Bird songs herald the coming of Spring.

See step by step how to draw a bird

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYjkTDJ4OFA

To The Thawing Wind

By Robert Frost

Come with rain, O loud Southwester!

Bring the singer, bring the nester;

Give the buried flower a dream;

Make the settled snow-bank stream;

Find the brown beneath the white;

But whate'er you do to-night,

Bathe my window, make it flow,

Melt it as the ice will go;

Melt the glass and leave the sticks

Like a hermit's crucifix;

Burst into my narrow stall;

Swing the picture on the wall;

Run the rattling pages o'er;

Scatter poems on the floor;

Turn the poet out of door.

HE IS RISEN

The angel said to the women, " Do not be

afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus,

who was crucified.

He is not here; HE HAS RISEN, just as He

said."

Matthew 28:5-6

Joshua's Easter lily

step by step how to draw an Easter lily.

http://www.dragoart.com/tuts/11602/1/1/how-to-draw-an-easter-lily.htm

CROWN OF THORNS

" They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe

on Him, and then twisted together a crown of

thorns and set it on His head. . .

They put a staff in His right hand and knelt in

front of Him and mocked Him. "Hail, king

of the Jews!" they said. They spit on Him, and

took the staff and struck Him on the head

again and again. . .

After they had mocked Him, they took the robe

off and put His own clothes on Him. Then they

led Him away to crucify Him."

Matthew 27:28-31

My grandsons and I have been

preparing our hearts for Good Friday

and Easter Sunday.

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZwbpBa86pQ for step by

step how to draw a crown of thorns.