I posted this Nest & Eggs building tutorial in March of 2011, and I thought I would share it with you again today. Wouldn’t be fun to make gold eggs, hot pink eggs, and maybe even spotted eggs? And, isn’t this the perfect way to encourage garden clean-up? You can make nests and wreaths with…
A Summer Kids’ Craft: Nature Bundles
While we were away on our vacation, the children invented a Nature Bundles game where they found lots of different tiny bits of nature and packaged them up with gorgeous, natural wrapping. Each one was unique and interesting, and each had a story to go along with it. Some were spells, some remedies, and some…
Spring Story Stones
Spring is finally in full force in our Massachusetts valley, which means my family has been in search-for-signs-of spring mode. In the past, we’ve collected our signs of spring, traced our signs of spring, and made non-dominant drawings of our signs of spring. This year I decided we should make spring Story Stones! First, find…
tiny pine cone garland
Remember two weeks ago, when we went searching high and low for fall with our finding fall box? We are searching no longer. There is now blustery wind and orange leaves blowing through our yard. The nights are cold and we have been finding ourselves wrapped in blankets while sitting in the house. Pots of…
f a i r y
Chick and I made fairy houses or as she likes to call it, “the big fairy hotel.” She spent lots of time loading up their abodes with crab apples just in case they happen to find themselves a little snacky. This kind of outdoor play makes me think of The Girl From the North‘s recent…
finding fall box: remake
Since today, at around 5:30, marks the first day of autumn, I decided that Chick and I should go on a finding fall search in our backyard while Miss. Mouse naps soundly in her bed upstairs. We found yellow leaves, seed pods, acorns, a gazillion tiny pine cones, and lots of flies and bugs that…
two little birds on my doorstep
The bird on the left makes me smile because he is unintentionally wearing a red beret. I’m now inspired to create a Paris series with two french birds, a little baguette, a cup of coffee, the Eiffel Tower, and a bottle of wine. Yes! I think I will. In the meantime, we have plans to…
Story Stones: Fairy Tale Series & a tiny blog update
These are some more story stones from the new Fairy Tale Series. Stay tuned for magic beans, a basket of magic stones, and more. Oh, and I created a flickr photo group page (in the sidebar) for those who would like to share pictures of projects that were inspired by a Red Bird Craft design….
nests
Have I mentioned that creating story stones is super addictive? I spent some time designing and making some new characters and props this past week. This little house is part of my newly designed Story Stones: Create Your Own Fairy Tale series. There are lots of little people, critters, and items that complete the series,…
apple stamping on fabric tutorial
I’m hearing lots of complaints about all of the clouds and rain that have been hovering over our New England town, but I’m finding that I’m genuinely enjoying the cool days. We’re bound to have a whole array of those 95 degree, humid days this summer, so I figure I should savor every cool, comfortable…
tidal
You would think that this piece of coral, which serves as the model for my vertical garland, would have some kind of wistful, summer adventure tale to back it up. But, no – I found it by peeking behind a bush in front of our house. There it was laying along side some other…
dried flower candle holder: remake
Chick and I have been spending time during Miss Mouse’s nap collecting flower petals, rocks, and other backyard treasures. The spring weather seems to be eliciting a new interest in building little homes, roads, baths, and rivers for tiny imaginary creatures (fairies, gnomes, etc.). I find her new play really exciting because it is…
more story stones
Some birds and dinosaurs have joined the picnic. I was scheduled to have jury duty this morning at 8:00 a.m. sharp, but as I was closing the car door, a court guy leaned outside of the courthouse and told me it is canceled and that I should just go home. Tom was sure that he…
story telling stones: mouse picnic
After months and months of drawing pictures of mouse picnics with Chick, I decided that we should make a mouse picnic for her to play with. This project began with peaceful stone gathering and then turned into an excuse for indoor water play since all of the stones needed to be rinsed. The very very…
