Experiment: Flush It!

Today we wanted to know why we don’t flush tissue and napkins down the toilet so we did an experiment. We decided since everything that goes into the toilet has to make it through a the twist and turns of pipes we should test what dissolves the best. Our hypothesis was: a toilet paper will dissolve better than tissue and napkins. To test this we filled four cups with water and labeled them.

For extra fun we used colored tape and made a key!

We then cut our materials all to the same size and put them in their correct cups with water and stirred. We waited five minutes and stirred again to see if they dissolved more.

Then waited five additional minutes before looking at our final results!

Our hypothesis was correct!

Toilet paper dissolved much better than napkins and tissue and that’s all we will be putting in the toilet from now on😉.

Paper Candle Kids Craft

This Little Light of Mine!

Supplies: Paper, Scissors, Glue or tape, Markers (Optional: Glitter, Paint, other embellishments.

Directions:

Cut two strips of paper about one inch thick the length of the paper. These will make your candle so decorate them as you please!

Place one strip horizonal and the other vertical and matching up the corners. Glue or tape the strips together making an L shape.

When the corners are secure begin accordion folding the papers by folding one over the other until you reach the end. Trim the extra and secure the ends with glue or tape.

Pull your ends apart carefully creating your candle.

Cut out a flame for the top of your candle and decorate both sides of it leaving the bottom space to attach.  Fold the very bottom and glue it onto your accordion candle.

Fold the end.

Glue the tab.

Attach it to your candle!

If you would like to use your candles to decorate a fake cake, or tuck into a birthday card stop here. If you would like to add a candle holder continue on!

Cut out a circle with a long tab and color both sides.

Fold the tab over and glue it to the base of the circle creating a handle.

 

Attach your candle in the center of your candle holder and enjoy!

 

Bible Connection: Being afraid can be like being stuck in the dark. We don’t know where to go without light to show us the way. Jesus is our light and if we ask He will show us the way through difficult times. Place your candle somewhere it will remind you not to fear because God is always there to show us the way.

¹²When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

DIY Play House : Framing and Fabric

Ever since our playhouse fell apart in a storm last year I’ve been wanting a new outdoor play space. This week I was inspired to make my own after helping build a platform for my sisters playhouse.

(Warning: Some measurements may vary slightly be sure to fit you pieces before making final cuts and securing.)

I started by building my own platform.

Materials:

-5′ treated pine 6×2 board (x2)

-4’9″ treated pine 6×2 board (x3)

-5′ treated pine 6×1 boards (x8)

-4×4 or 6×6 treated wood post. The size depends on how high you need you platform and if it is located on a slanted or level area (x4)

-3″ deck screws

First, I built the frame by screwing together the 5 frame boards into a square with a center support.

Next, I added the decking, trying to keep it evenly spaced and attaching each board on the ends and to the center support.

Once the platform was complete I flipped it upside down and attached my post. My post had to be uneven due to the hill it was going to be placed on but this would vary depending on where you choose to put your playhouse.

With the platform ready we took a break, put on a few performances, and rested up for our next day of work.

The playhouse frame was quite simple and took very little time to get together.

Materials:

-4′ pine 2×4 boards (x4)

-4’7″ pine 2×4 boards (x4)

-3’6″ treated or untreated pine 2×4 boards

The two walls were created by building basic squares and then attaching them directly on top of the platform.

The roof was created by cutting one end of each 3’6″ board at a 30 degree angle and screwing them together.

Next I attached the front and back roof pieces to the wall Framing.

To attach the top roofing board I used two metal stud connectors (one on each side). This also reinforced the already connected boards.

The last step was attaching my outdoor fabric. I measured and attached one edge of fabric to a pine 2×4 cut to fit directly between the side frames on the playhouse.

I stapled the fabric to the board, rolled it completely one time and stapled again.

With both boards ready I stretched it over the house fit them snugly into place and attached with screws.

Since being built the playhouse has been used as a stage, a home, a hideout, and even the location for Jake and I’s blue apron meal date night!

It has also survived its first storm in windy Waconia so things are looking bright!

Update: The play house is still up and holding strong after 2 summers and a full winter!

Classroom Door Decor

Christmas 2018

Mermaid Surprise Cupcakes

For this post I’m going with the “a pictures worth a thousand words” approach. While the photos show you just how to make these adorable surprise cupcakes, please keep in mind you don’t have to use bracelets like we did. You could use rings, small toys, sprinkles, or Swedish fish. The possibilities are endless! If you try this out please be sure to add some photos of your finished product in the comments below. I’d love to see your work!

Flowers, Flags, and Grass Centerpieces for under $3

Recently we had an event at our church and were in search of reasonably priced center pieces that would be able to hold down the large space. We ended up with these beautiful grass and flower center pieces mixed with hanging flags. The bowls came from the dollar store as did the bunches of flowers we pulled apart and stuck into the grass. We bought sod from the local nursery and cut it to fit the bowls. In the end the centerpieces cost less than $3 a piece!

 

Paper Craft: Easter Egg Hunt

Supplies:

-1 piece of green construction paper

-1 piece of blue construction paper

-Easter Egg and Spring stickers

-Sissors and Glue

Directions

-Step One: Cut the green paper horizontally into four sticks and then fringe each strip.

-Step Two: glue the strips over lapping each other on the blue paper. Start 3/4 of The way from the top and work your way down to the bottom.

-Step Three: Add your stickers! Tuck eggs under that layers of grass to make them look hidden.

When your done use your scence to play I spy, count the number of eggs and flowers, or give it as a card!

Design Gallery

Quick Fix for a Floor Gap

Its been about three years since we moved into our home and slowly with the changing seasons our laminate flooring has shifted. This shifting caused a large gap between boards and no matter how hard I pushed, my amazing strength was unable to make the boards budge. The gap showed the yellow pressed board board beneath and stood out like a sore thumb. I don’t have a before picture because I randomly had the brilliant idea of coloring it with color pencil to make it blend in. See below…

The color only seemed to draw your eye the the depth of the gap. While I could have possibly used a stain pen for a better cover up I decided to patch the gap instead. I happened to have some linoleum floor samples laying around (who doesn’t?) and a pair of kitchen shears so I went to work.

 First I choose the color that most closely matched my floor and cut a slice the size of the gap. The sample wasn’t long enough so I ending up needing to pieces.

 

The cutting was easy and I was even able to shave a bit off the original to ensure a tight fit. Seeing as the linoleum sample was thinner than my floors I simply put another piece below the first to get it level.

In the end the gap is hardly noticeable, it was super easy to complete, and it cost me $0.

*Update: The quick fix has been in place over a week now and survived vaccuming and mopping. I ending up with a pretty snug fit but if your pieces weren’t perfect you could consider glueing them in place.