World

Eco Art Camera: A Quick How To

by Stacy on April 20, 2012

Hey there folks, popping in real quick to share one of my children’s favorite craft projects with you and all Melissa & Doug’s blog readers (hi folks!!!! so glad you’re here, really! Hope you’ll stick around awhile and make yourself at home) This project comes to you just in time for Earth Day as part of a link up with my sweet friends Allie, Amy, Val & Zina.

We call it the Eco Art Camera because it is part art project, part craft project, made of 100% recyclables and all around awesome. Seriously, my guys played with these things for months before they eventually pulled the buttons and lenses off, then we added them back to the recycle bin and who knows what’s become of them now.
Pretty cool right? I was kind of impressed with them to, especially considering what we used to make them:
- an empty box of macaroni and cheese
- the lid from a large jar of spaghetti sauce
- half of a toilet paper roll
- a water bottle lid
- scrap pieces of aluminum foil, newspaper and string

As you’re about to see, tape and tempura paint were also used liberally …

We started by wrapping our box in newspaper and then using our favorite painting technique (not finger painting, but whole hand painting – the messier the better) to cover the newspaper and give the camera it’s color. You could skip this step altogether if you’re pressed for time, but it was my kids favorite part and what gave this project so much personality.

Wait for the paper to dry, we set them outside and went to the park for awhile.

When you get back wrap half of a toilet paper roll and a small piece of cardboard in aluminum foil – a piece of a cereal box or the inside flap of the macaroni box will work just fine. Tape the toilet paper roll to the flat piece of cardboard and then attach the new shape to the front of your camera to make the lens.

Separate the outer plastic ring from your spaghetti sauce lid and hot glue it to the top right of your box to create a viewfinder, anything could be used here really – feel free to get creative with it.

Glue the water bottle lid to the top of the box to act as your shutter.

Carefully glue your neck strap on to the sides, this was the only piece of this project I had to keep fixing for my guys. I never did come up with a really secure way to make it stay … maybe you will! And then you’ll be so kind to tell me about it Thanks.

That’s it, that’s all there is to it. Hand the camera over to your budding photographer and let them get busy snapping. There’s so much fun to be had.
These were a prominent part of our playroom for a very long time, until a toddler got a hold of them. If treated properly, they will last a long time. And if not, they’re simple to make so you can always whip up a new one using items from your recycle bin!

Happy Earth Day weekend folks, tell me have you ever made something using items from your recycle bin? If you have a post or a photo leave it in the comments section, I’d love to see it!

Let me know if you have any questions about any of the steps and do me a favor and join me on Facebook, I’d love to chat with you there.

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Found Things

by Stacy on April 14, 2012

The kids and I have found a new favorite activity. I know it is a favorite because every night when I lay them down to sleep and ask what their favorite part of the day was, they say FOUND THINGS!!!

We’ve been preparing for our Earth Day project. I knew I wanted it to be something we could all participate in and something that would really help the kids to understand what it was that we were doing and why we were doing it. We talk a lot about the environment and the various ways we can do our part, but these are usually things we do in our home or in our local community.

This brings us to the Found Things. The project we’ve been doing in all of our spare time — traveling to and visiting as many outdoor spaces as we can, collecting “found things”. Found things can be anything really, neat little doo dads we find on the ground — bottle caps, squirt bottle tops, shiny things, round things, square things, you name it. Anything we find in nature that is not natural. We keep one bag for found things we want to use in our art project and another for just plain old trash we find along the way. While we’re out, we talk about the birds and the trees and the soil and the Earth and how they all work together. How everything in nature has a purpose and a place and how these “found things” don’t really belong there in the first place. We make sure to emphasize how important it is that we never discard items outside that don’t belong there.

Nature is beautiful. i love the way they see this, but now they are starting to understand how it all works together. The dots are connecting because we started composting this year, it has turned out to be a great learning opportunity. They are starting to understand all the things that can and can not be composted, and it has really translated for them to this experience as well.
These quiet moments together, outdoors, seeking and sharing have really made a difference in the way we are interacting with one another at home too. Our forest walks have taken me back to another time and place, back when I was a child on the Carolina coast searching for shark’s teeth. This may have been my favorite activity of all time and I love being able to bring that sense of wonderment and calm and mindfulness to my children. We plan to keep up our favorite new past time and I hope as they get older they will think back with fond memories of our time in the forests searching for “found things”.

Do you think you’ll try a “found things” walk with your kids?

Next up, Phase 2 of Found Things — the art project. In the meantime, please take a few moments and check out all the incredible Earth Day activities my kid blogger friends have come up with and please feel free to share a link or story in a comment of your own.

Earth Day Blog Hop

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TOMS + FEED = the ultimate shoes for good

by Stacy on March 22, 2012

I am super excited to tell you about a collaboration between two of my favorite companies, TOMS and FEED. These two companies with a similar mission have teamed together to create a shoe with a truly inspiring impact.

Introducing the FEED 12 Classic:

The limited edition FEED 12 Classic not only gives a brand new pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased, but also goes a step further by covering the cost of 12 school lunches. This is a purchase you can truly feel good about, something cool for you — did I tell you the women’s shoes are metallic & burlap?! <- super stylish and something amazing for someone else too. That’s money well spent for sure.

Available at TOMS online starting April 1st.
Selections are limited, so mark your calendars and do something good with your feet.

Available in Womens ($58)
or Toddlers ($34)
{I really love the mini FEED 12′s!!!

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Blessings in Disguise

by Stacy on January 25, 2012

Source: sassyandalwaysclassy.tumblr.com via Stacy of on Pinterest

Beside the gift of time I am finding to be with my children in more and simpler ways , another blessing I am relishing this week is all of YOU! I assure you, your comments on my last post and words of encouragement did not go unnoticed. I am still working on answering each and every one of you, but don’t think for a moment I have not read your words or taken them to heart.

I started this blog with hopes of finding “people like me” and I am happy to say I have done just that. Each time, I open up my normally guarded self … just a little bit, you welcome me with open arms and give me the courage to do it again.

Thank you all for that! XOXO
Always here whenever you guys need me

P.S. - And a great big {{{HUG}}} to you Michelle for helping this pin find me, and for thinking of me when you found it. What a true blessing you are! Folks find more of her awesome pins here and get to know a new friend by checking out her perfectly wonderful blog.

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Wintertime Family Fun

by Stacy on December 22, 2011

Today wasn’t just the shortest day of the year {the winter solstice} or only the official first day of winter, but it’s also the first day I’ve started to notice my mom friends stressing out. Their kids are all home, they are starting to wreak havoc in the house and are looking for some new ways to burn off energy and have a little fun. Sound familiar?

Don’t worry Moms! Nature Rocks is here to help
with an awesome FREE download:

The 2011-2012 Winter Activity Guide

This guide is chock full of ways you can enjoy some quality family time together without a ton of preparation. You’ll be staying active, getting outdoors, making memories with the ones you love and even saving money. Now there’s a great way to spend Christmas vacation.

Download your copy today and you’ll get all the details you need to go on a Photo Safari, make some rain art, build a backyard beach and even watch a sweet potato grow! All this and many other ideas included in the winter activity guide.

A huge shout out to my fellow Nature Rocks Ambassadors Carlene, Debi, Katharine and Lindsey for their awesome ideas and contributions to this guide. These ladies are amazing resources. Check out their blogs and follow the Nature Rocks Facebook page where you’ll see us all contribute ideas from time to time.

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