Cardboard Tube Firefly

Lately, I've become a little bit obsessed with state symbols. I know all of California's, having grown up here and then taught my 4th and 5th graders about them back in my teaching days, but it wasn't until Steve and I started making an effort to take Trevor to all 50 states that I started really caring about other states' symbols. For example, it was very important to me to eat Maryland's state dessert, Smith Island Cake, during our visit last fall. I'm glad I did. It was delicious. 

I noticed that a lot of states (including California) have a butterfly species as their state insect. But only one state, Pennsylvania, has named the firefly as its sole state insect. (Tennessee has named the firefly as one of four state insects.) I did a firefly craft way back when Trevor was in first grade and writing a report about fireflies. They are such interesting insects! I challenged myself to make a cardboard tube version of a firefly. 

I love how my firefly turned out! If I were an elementary school teacher in Pennsylvania or Tennessee, we would make these in the classroom as part of a study of state symbols. Then I would hang a string of blinking Christmas lights on a bulletin board or window, putting one firefly over each lightbulb. Wouldn't that be awesome?! If you know any elementary school teachers in Pennsylvania or Tennessee, tell them about my idea because I really think this should happen!

---------

Cardboard Tube Firefly

Materials:

• cardboard tube
• scissors
• acrylic paint (black, red, yellow)
• paintbrush
• black cardstock or construction paper
• craft glue

Steps:

Cut the cardboard tube in half. You only need one half for each firefly. 

Paint the firefly, using an image for reference. It helps to do a base coat and let it dry completely before adding the other colors. I experimented with different base colors and it didn't make much of a difference. 

I also experimented with rounding off the tube before painting it vs. after. My suggestion is to do the base coat in red or yellow, use the scissors to round off the head, and then paint in the details. When it's dry, use the scissors to perfect the head shape and to add slight rounding to the wings. 

Turn the firefly upside down. Cut eight thin strips of construction paper or cardstock. Two are antennae and six are legs. Glue them in place - antennae on the head and pairs of legs on the in the half closest to the head. 

Now hang some blinking lights and position the fireflies above them. And then send me a photo because I totally want to see how that looks with a whole classroom's worth of fireflies on display! 

Autumn Colors in Eastern Canada and New England

I've been completely overwhelmed by the prospect of scrapping our epic Canada and New England adventure from fall 2014. I'd already decided to divide the trip into two layouts (the train travel portion and the cruise portion), but I still had too many fabulous photos that I wanted to include. I pulled all of my favorite photos of the gorgeous fall color and put them together into this layout. 

Autumn Colors (affiliate link)

I've selected the photos for the rest of the trip and will be working on those two layouts soon. Stay tuned!

Exploring Illinois Through Little Passports

Trevor and I are now 35/50 of the way through the Little Passports USA Edition and enjoying it just as much as when we started! Our most recent virtual trip took us to a state I've visited in person, but Trevor has not: Illinois. We started by learning about four of Chicago's skyscrapers and building a model of Chicago's skyline. Someday I want to take Trevor to Willis Tower. I went to the top in 1988, when it was Sears Tower and the tallest building in the world. They didn't have those glass boxes sticking out from the 103rd floor back then. I *think* Trevor and I would be OK stepping into them, but I know for sure that Steve would NOT be joining us! 

Next, we worked on the craft - an origami baseball jersey. Chicago has two baseball teams, so Trevor made one team's jersey and I made the other. Continue on to learn how to make your own!

  

---------

Origami Baseball Jersey

Materials:

• white copy paper, cut into a square (ours were 5" x 5")
• ruler
• pencil
• colored pencils

Steps:

Fold the paper in half horizontally, open it up, and then fold it in half vertically. Use the ruler to fold just the very edge of each side inward. Make sure to crease the folds well. 

Turn the paper over. Fold each side in so that they meet at the middle fold line. 

Fold the bottom half of each side outward to make a triangle, as shown below. 

Fold the triangles you just created backwards along the fold line that's already there. 

Fold in the top corners of the jersey to create a v-neck collar. Now it's ready to decorate! To make the Cubs jersey, draw a blue circle on the player's left. In red, add a large C inside the circle, then add a smaller UBS next to the C. With the blue pencil, draw buttons down the placket. Finally, use the ruler to add vertical stripes.

Here's Trevor decorating the White Sox jersey. He used a regular pencil, but you may prefer a black colored pencil. 

Draw the Sox logo on the player's left. Add buttons down the placket. Finally, use the ruler to add vertical stripes.

Obviously, you could decorate your jersey with whatever team you like. We live in the Bay Area, where the Giants and A's are the hometown favorites. 

Our next activity in the Little Passports State Journal was a Sodoku puzzle that taught us fun facts about Chicago. We solved a logic puzzle inspired by the Cahokia Mounds in Collinsville, Illinois, believed to be one of the first Native American cities. We read about the Mazon Creek fossils, including the Tully Monster, first discovered in 1958 and now the state fossil. Speaking of the state fossil, the next activity was a hidden picture puzzle featuring Illinois' other state symbols. I love that the official Illinois State Snack Food is popcorn (and I love that they have an official snack food!).

Trevor did a dot-to-dot about President Abraham Lincoln (who spent many years living in Illinois and is buried in Springfield). Then we learned that Ronald Reagan was born and raised in Illinois. There are a lot of places in the state that celebrate his life. We did a clever overlapping word search, then inserted the words we found into a story about Reagan's life.

We read all about the important events in Illinois history, looked over the timeline, and then solved a puzzle about the Route 66 attractions in Illinois. And then it was time to cook. The recipe? Deep-dish pizza! YUM!

We had such a good time on our virtual journey through The Prairie State and I look forward to eventually taking Trevor there. Thanks again, Little Passports!

Camp Chawanakee

As a Cub Scout, Trevor went to the same summer camp three years in a row. He loved it, but was excited to visit a different camp. As expected, he had a blast at Camp Chawanakee. I loved seeing the photos and hearing all his stories. 

Camp Chawanakee (affiliate link)

This summer, Trevor's troop is going to Camp Emerald Bay on Catalina Island! I'm already looking forward to hearing about their adventures. They're going to have such a great time. 

12 Things You Can Do with Coloring Book Pages

If you or your kids got into the coloring book craze, chances are you have a lot of completed pages still in the book rather than out on display. Here are twelve fun ways you can show off your coloring!

---------

12 Things to Make with Coloring Book Pages

1. Faux Stained Glass

It's ridiculously easy and the effect is so cool. The secret is something you'll find in the kitchen!

2. Pencil Holder

Wrap an empty box or can with a completed coloring page and you have a handy organizer that is as functional as it is fashionable!

3. Place Cards

Do a little bit of fussy cutting and turn your coloring pages into a set of themed place cards. You could even leave them uncolored for the guests to color before the meal!

4. Wrapping Paper

Use blank coloring pages to wrap a gift! Add pens or colored pencils on top to make the gift extra fun. Of course, you could also use completed coloring pages as gift wrap.

5. Greeting Cards

Turn completed coloring pages into pretty greeting cards, suitable for a variety of occasions. You can get 4+ cards from a single coloring page.

6. Jar Toppers

Top homemade jam with hand-colored art for a gift that anyone would love to receive!

7. Napkin Rings

Making napkin rings from coloring pages couldn't be easier! Make sets for holidays, seasons, or everyday use. The colored images add so much beauty to the table.

8. Decorated Gift Bags

Coloring pages turn a plain bag into a totally unique gift bag that looks great! Anything goes!

9. Egg Cups

Decorate the Easter table with bunny egg cups holding colored eggs. Or use more evergreen designs for the breakfast table year-round.

10. Labels for Food Gifts

Turn images from coloring books into labels for food gifts or other treats. There are a lot of ways to do this - be creative!

11. Bookmarks

Turn a single coloring page into 5+ pretty bookmarks. Keep one for yourself and give the others as gifts!

12. Gift Boxes

Add a coloring page to a gift box with a window for a quick, easy, and beautiful way to give a gift.

How do you use your completed coloring pages? If you haven't used them before, are you inspired to get those coloring pages out of the books? I'd love to see what you've made!