Tonya Staab

Make and Takes: Truffula Tree Watercolor Art

Looking for a fun Earth Day project for the kids?

Head to your local craft store (with a 40% off coupon, of course), buy them a watercolor palette (I got this one for under $10 at Michael's), and have them speak for the trees with this truffula tree watercolor art.

I'm sharing a few tips for watercolor painting over at Make and Takes, along with tips for what you can do with the art once they are finished. Marisol had so much fun creating these ones. We watched a Netflix series together and she painted and painted.

 

Make and Takes: DIY Sherlock Gnomes 'Goon' Slime

If only you could have seen the look on Marisol's face when I told her she was going to be able to make slime for a project for me.

It's the little things around here, and making slime for my girl is way up on the list (along with re-decorating her bedroom every 5 minutes).

So, if you are looking for an extra fun project to do with the kids, then this burgundy glitter slime inspired by the 'Goons' in the new Sherlock Gnomes movie is just the thing. And, I'm showing you how to make these adorable 'Goon' containers to keep it in too over at Make and Takes. They make a great party favor, or endless movie night fun.

 

A Fun Activity That Will Unleash Your Kids Imaginations

 

We are always striving to come up with new, creative activities to do with the kids'. The thought of them hiding out in their bedrooms and spending countless hours playing video games and watching YouTube videos just doesn't fly with me. I don't mind them having a little downtime to do that, but they need to do something else every day that's either educational, fun, electronics-free, involves face-to-face interaction with others, or that gets them moving. 

Although they love to watch videos on YouTube, they've both also expressed an interest in making videos and one day having their own YouTube channels. For a while, Marisol and her friends were making music and fun videos together, but Flynn expressed more of an interest in the technical side of things. He wants to learn how things work, how to create something new, and really get into the behind-the-scenes. Neither of us had tried stop-motion video before, so for a couple of hours recently, he and I decided to make a video together. He put together each of the scenes, while I was in charge of the camera and editing. I think he did a much better job than I did. We ended up doing a combination of stop-motion and regular video, and then pieced it all together.

He was fascinated by how stop-motion video worked and has asked me to create even more with him now. He has a great idea to use a space shuttle he built that we bought him on our trip to NASA last summer along with a space-themed backdrop. Apparently, we have to work on that one tonight. This makes me all kinds of happy that he's found a creative outlet that does use his electronics, but helps him to learn, role play, and have fun at the same time. 

MyPrintly: DIY Vision Board

I have a number of future goals. Not things that are on my bucket list, but things I really want and goals I'm working toward.

Like a backyard that's worthy of entertaining, that I can relax in, and sit outside and watch the rain while I sip a cup of tea... somewhere close to water.

I want to do more in-print work, and travel more, and open a store (Mike and I are already talking about that goal).

So, I created a vision board. It's hanging above my computer, so whenever I need a little motivation, or I need to give myself that extra push to get things done, or to put myself out there, it's right there in front of me, reminding me of what my plans for the future are.

I'm sharing how easy it is to create your own vision board, and I also have a few free printable motivational quotes over at MyPrintly, so head on over and start working toward your dreams too.

This would be a great activity for a girls night in. Collect a pile of magazines, print the motivational quotes, and create motivational vision boards with your friends.  This is also a great activity to do with kids, so they can set their goals for the future too.

Make and Takes: DIY LEGO Terrariums

Our front room is OVERRUN with LEGO. It's everywhere! I'm not kidding. So, I've found myself trying to get more and more creative with how we use it and display it. The kids have a large LEGO table where they've constructed a town, but there's still so much more that hasn't been built and cannot fit on the table.

So, while they were with their dad one weekend, I made LEGO terrariums for each of them for their bedrooms. And, they love them!

The one pictured above is Flynn's. It's sitting on the desk in his bedroom. It reminded me of the trip we took the kids on to Florida last summer. If you want to see how I made it, and check out Marisol's too, head on over to Make and Takes.

 

Fishing at Lake Cumberland with Kids

We absolutely love visiting Lake Cumberland when we are in Kentucky. Mike and I will do short hikes, visit the waterfalls, or rent a boat and head out on the water. Last summer we took the twins' there for a couple of days after promising Flynn an epic fishing trip. Mike had him practicing fishing on the pond at the house first so he could teach him how to cast and reel in the line.

Mike goes fishing a few times a year and always goes out with Lance from Sasser's Guide Service so I was thrilled to finally meet Lance who I had heard so much about, and Mike knew that this would be the perfect way for Flynn to learn from a pro, and have a really great experience for his first fishing trip.

 

The only problem with our plan was that it was going to be an early morning out on the water with a 5 am start from Grider Hill Dock - which was a 3-hour drive from the house. There was no way we were going to have happy children at 5 am if I'd woken them at 2 am to start the drive, so we decided to stay at the Lake Cumberland Resort Cabins the night before, have dinner at the lodge, and then get an early night. Of course, with our last-minute booking, we took the last cabin available which only had one queen-size bed. So there was a quick trip to town to buy an air mattress and bedding and food for the following morning.