I used a piece of scrap wood (for my template) and pre-cut the scrap wood to the angle that I would need for the valley of the dollhouse roof.

Using my handsaw I cut the shingle angles.

Next, using a thick solvent-based glue I began to place my starter row of shingles.

I continued adding each row of shingles staggering the seams.  To get the shingles to stay I had to use a lot of Liquid Nails.  As you can see from the picture there is a lot of excess glue showing.

Once all the glue was dry and the shingles were installed I covered the Liquid Glue remnants with acrylic paint.  As you can see from the picture below none of the excess glue is showing.

The shingles for the roof were quite a process and it took several days but I am very happy with the results of my patience and hard work.

To read all of my posts chronicling my adventures of building the Victorian Farmhouse Dollhouse, for my grand-daughter, click here.

Beads aren’t just for jewelry and bags of plastic beads for kids can create hours of fun. In additional to stringing beads on a variety of threads or yarn, you can also use beads in collage projects, chenille stem sculptures and accessorizing anything you can add glue to.

assortment of beads

There are different types of beads for kids, but some of the favorites are called Pony Beads. I have no idea what the history is behind the name, I just know the kids love to use them, so that makes me happy!

Pony Beads come in a wide variety of colors as well as glow-in-the-dark, glitter, translucent and opaque. You can even find pony beads in different shapes. They are easy for smaller hands to string, making for a fantastic crafting supply kids of almost any age (not recommended for children under 3 without supervision).

Some materials to consider combining with your beads:

• wire
• yarn
• chenille stems
• twine
• plastic laces
• glue on fabric, paper or craft foam
• resin
• clay

In my house, my preschooler and I love to sort the different colors, make bracelets for our friends and glue the beads on to our projects!

Check out the amazing selection of pony beads that ConsumerCraft.com carries today!

Here are a few of our favorites:

Grow crystals for your science curriculum.

The Growing Crystals UnderSea World by Creativity For Kids® is a little science and a lot of fun! You can set up your aquatic environment, add the special solution and watch the crystals grow like magic! This kit includes liquid crystal solution, paper coral reef, color-in fish stickers, markers, wiggly eyes, aquatic backdrop and a tray. The crystals begin to grow in as little as two hours and measures 7 x 5.5 inches. $12.97 per 1 Kit pkg.

Combine science and "magic" for fun!

The Magic Science kit comes with everything you need to unleash your inner wizard! Make your own spell casting wand, mix up glowing bubbling potions, and make a crystal ball in a test tube. There are 10 magical activities perfect for a wizard-in-training in this kit. Take part in this fun and educational science with the help of an easy to read activity guide. $15.97 per 1 kit pkg

Learn about Hydroponics!

Hydro-Dome Plant Science Kit: Growing hydroponically is the newest thing in gardening! Learn how to grown your own plants hydroponically with this miniature water wonder. Grow plants in specially designed pots for maximum growth. This kit comes with everything you need to let your inner green thumb out. $16.97 per 1 kit pkg

Spa Science: Kick your baths up with this fun science kit. Make foaming and frothing bath fizzes, fresh oatmeal soap, and mix up a natural rose bath balm, among other fragrant activities. Make your own line of bath products with recipes from nature. Kit has natural and organic ingredients to experiment with your own secret formulas. Great for gifts and as a fun learning experience! $15.97 per 1 kit pkg

These kits also make great birthday and holiday gifts, or just fun projects to keep on hand for rainy days! Buy a few today and you’ll always be prepared!

Tips for using these fabric paints:

• Always cover the word area thoroughly to prevent staining.
• Always wear a paint shirt or protective clothing as these products are permanent fabric color.
• If you are coloring a two sided item, place something in between the layers such as a piece of cardboard to prevent bleed-through to the second side.

I posted this review on CraftTestDummies awhile ago, but since ConsumerCrafts.com sells this kit, I thought I’d share it here, too.

My crafty daughter loves to play with clay and loves to mold soaps, so I thought this would be a great Christmas gift- the “Make Your Own Cupcake Soap” kit by Creativity for Kids.

This kit is jam-packed with product it includes

• White Soap Clay
• Brown Soap Clay
• Yellow Soap Clay
• Light Pink Soap Clay
• Red Soap Clay
• Purple Soap Clay
• Green Soap Clay
• Pink Bath Salts
• Iridescent Glitter
• Plastic sculpting tool
• 3 Paper cupcake liners
• 3 Plastic cupcake storage containers
• Instructions and ideas pamphlet

Now, grated, there isn’t a TON of any one color of clay, but the selection of colors was great- little girl just couldn’t wait to dig in and play. We opened the first package of “soap clay” and found that it had the texture of a “cloud clay” or puffy clay- very soft and silky to the touch, with barely a trace of residue on the hands. Actually, it was fun to handle.

There was also a light fragrance to it- not overpowering, but noticeable, and I can only describe it as flowery, and totally appropriate for a bath product.

The instructions are pretty general, with “recipes” on how to make your “cupcakes.” My budding “chef” did a great job of following the pictures and making her goodies. Then she packaged her creation in the cupcake liner and storage bubble. It’s OH-so-cute!

What a sweet treat! I mean, the craft is fun- but the presentation is awesome! She started making plans for making more and giving them as gifts.

The next one we got a bit more creative. I made a butterfly out of soap so  little girl could copy & make one of her own.

This was a thoroughly enjoyable craft for both of us- fun clay, good smelling, and clean-up was a snap! We’ve also been using a “cupcake soap” in our guest room for months now and it’s working fine. It will get a little gummy on the bottom, so make sure you have a little dish to put it on.

The Create-Your-Own-Cupcake-Soap kit retails for $19.99, is available online and in some craft and big-box stores. I’d say that it’s a great value, and it would be a marvelous birthday or holiday gift. I’d love to see a “refill” kit available with more clay, liners, and bubble containers- but I may just go ahead and spring for another whole kit to tuck into an Easter basket.

My little girl still needs crafts with concrete directions- color this, glue that – so that she doesn’t get overly frustrated. These wooden glittery snowflakes are just the ticket! Here’s what you’ll need:

• Wood snowflake cut-outs (1 pack makes 2 big snowflakes with extras)
• Kid-safe water-based markers
• Tacky glue
• Glossy Mod Podge
• Diamond Dust (for a grown-up to use), or glitter
• Foam brush

Have your child color the wooden snowflakes with the markers- in our world, snowflakes are blue and purple! Once the pieces are colored, have your kiddo stack the snowflakes and glue them together with the tacky glue. Let them dry for a few hours.

Once they are dry, have the kids coat the entire front with Mod Podge, and don’t be skimpy. Here’s the grown-up part- sprinkle liberally with Diamond Dust to simulate a frosty look! (Diamond Dust is ground glass glitter, so keep those young-un’s away from it. However, you could substitute regular glitter if your kids are under 5.)

Isn’t this pretty? Now you can hang it in a window or use it as an embellishment on a treasure box, picture frame, or even put a magnet on the back and decorate the fridge!

If you need some extra sick day/snow day crafts, here are a few CraftsUnleashed published last year:

• Kid’s Crafts: Magic Science
• Creative Soap Making Kit
• Lei-making kit (a fun way to bring some summer to these dark months)
• Fabric crafting – decorate some hats and tote bags!

Enter the wonderful line of Foamies Activity Buckets!  For these particular snowflakes, you’ll need:

• Foamies Glitter Baby Bucket of Stickers – Snowflake Shapes
• Foamies Activity Bucket – Glitter Snowflakes

I opened up both containers of these Foamies and literally just dumped them on the kitchen table, and let my three older children, along with a couple of my friend’s children, just go at it.  The larger Activity Bucket contains 24 circle bases, with holes punched in the top (so they can be hung from the included pre-cut fishing line), a large assortment of shapes and sizes of snowflakes (self-adhesive), several jewel-rhinestones, a small tube of white glue, a small tube of silver glitter glue, and a small package of white/iridescent glitter. All of the foam items and “jewels” in the Activity Bucket are in white or blue tones.   The smaller Baby Bucket contains a wonderful assortment of glittered snowflakes in smaller sizes, plus circles in two different sizes – all self adhesive as well.  There were two shades of pink, two shades of blue, and a beautiful glittery white.

Spread on table for kids to easily choose from pieces

The children were all quite creative in how they assembled their snowflakes, each taking different approaches.  I watched as one child even tore the balls off the tips of one snowflake to suit his liking, before sticking it down onto another snowflake.  One of my three-year old twins was content to just tear snowflakes apart – which is par for the course – she enjoys tearing almost anything apart…yet, it DID keep her occupied!  My 5-year old most enjoyed two different aspects – one, the silver glitter glue, and two, stacking as many layers as he possibly could – proudly telling me exactly how many layers he was able to add to each snowflake.

Kit includes rhinestones and glue to adhere them!

Layer upon layer upon layer!!

Even I couldn’t help but make a few snowflakes myself – the glitter just called out to me!  I tried removing the backing from one of the self-adhesive snowflakes, and dipping it in the glitter (much easier than spreading wet glue around and applying glitter that way).  My son watched and then had to try it himself, of course!

Dip adhesive side in provided glitter for alternative effect

I say you can’t go wrong with the Foamies Activity Buckets – and I’d definitely encourage you to stock up on a few to keep on hand for those days when you just may have some “bored” children at home!

Disclosure

Several days ago my 7 year-old daughter and I had a great time doing science experiments with the Mind Blowing Science kit. This time it was my 9 year-old son’s turn to do a little science of his own.  He worked with a great kit, also by Scientific Explorer, called Magic Science. However, instead of doing the science experiments with him I just stayed nearby in case he had any questions. For younger children I recommend helping with the experiments but in the case of my 9 year-old he is a great reader and was very excited to try the experiments out on his own.

He first emptied the contents of the Magic Science kit.

Right away he noticed the long tube that would serve as his wand. He found an experiment that specifically helped him make colored crystals to fill his wand. Walla, magic wand with awesome mystical powers!

The other thing he loved about the experiments is that many of them involved test tubes. He said he felt like a mad scientist!

He spent several hours working on the experiments; mixing ingredients into the test tubes.

Once he finished the experiments he placed the test tubes in his room on display.

I was very impressed with this kit. The instructions were clear and concise and the experiments were perfectly suited for my 9 year old to do on his own.  However, they would also be great for younger children, with a parent’s help.  I loved the fun magic theme that came with the kit. He was able to learn, while at the same time imagining being a wizard or even a mad scientist!

I remember days long ago opening a wonderful package at Christmas that contained a pottery studio.  Boy, did I have fun with that set!  So taking a look at the Do Art Pottery studio item #CFK1627000 is somewhat nostalgic for me, allowing me to relive this little piece of my childhood once again.

So of course I cannot wait to open the box and get the good out on my craft desk!  Let’s take a look first at what is included inside this wonderful package.

Pottery Wheel and food pedal
3 lbs of Synthetic air dry clay
Trimming cord with handles
6 piece sculpting tool set
White base paint
6 opaque acrylic paints
6 transparent glaze paints
2 paint brushes
Sponge
Large table cover
Artists apron
Instructions and ideas

I have to say at this point “my, things have changed in the kids pottery wheel world.”  This set is nothing short of fantastic!  It has everything you need and then some.  You are probably thinking that I picked out this kit for me?  Well in a reliving my childhood kind of way I did, but I got it for my almost 7 year old daughter to experience.  She is quite crafty and loves to try new things.  So we will be breaking this new toy out very soon and seeing what wonderful works of potters clay she can design!

I have a feeling these are going to go fast so if you have a special child on your Christmas list this year, I wouldn’t delay in getting that order in!  This is a fantastic kit!

Happy Crafting,
Lisa

I loved that this kit was broken down into several science projects. I chose to do a few projects and save some of them for another day.

Before we began we discussed the differences between acid and bases. Using the instructions provided I explained that acids often taste sour, sting cuts, and break down other chemicals. Bases often taste bitter and feel slippery. Before we began my daughter made a hypothesis about what she thought was an acid and what was a base.

Next, we emptied the contents of the kit.  I was blown away by the large amount of supplies that were present in the kit.

We used red cabbage powder (provided) as our acid base indicator and then tested citric acid (provided) and baking soda (provided). The color change helped us identify whether it was an acid or a base. We also tested household items like lemon juice, mouthwash, soap, and milk.

I loved that the experiments promoted dialogue between my daughter and I and left it open for further experimenting.

Our last experiment we made “Jiggly Crystals” by mixing our colored solutions with polyacrylamide crystals. The crystals are made of a special super-absorbent plastic. We placed the crystals in test tubes so that my daughter could bring them into school today and discuss them with her class.

There are still several experiments we plan to do next weekend like the color changing volcano and color changing paper.

My advice to parents using this kit is to break the experiments down into several days. The experiments are messy and I highly recommend using a plastic tray to keep everything in one place. Lastly, the powders do not come in sealable bags I recommend placing them in Ziploc bags or Tupperware containers. Overall, we had a great time doing these experiments and look forward to more next weekend.

Disclosure