Home Made Tee Pee

This was such a fun project, and Mia got to help with almost all of it!
Ages 2 and up with adult help.
Materials:
Bamboo or dowels (6)
Fabric for panels: we used felt scraps for more structure. Felt, canvas, or any thicker fabric will hold up best.
sewing machine and thread
Ribbons and decorative accents (we used pipe cleaners, and sparkle tulle and lace)



Step one: We cut down Bamboo and trimmed it and cleaned it ourselves, but it would be alot easier to buy dowels! We cut them about 6 feet tall and cut 6 of them. If you use bamboo, be sure to cut the branches close to the stalk or sand them down so they are not pokey.

Step two: Gather the rods at the top, about 4 or 5 inches down and tie with twine or rubber bands.
Step three: Stand the structure up and spread them out evenly to your desired width to get your basis for your fabric panels. Easy to do this on a rug so the ends dont slip. Measure the distance between the bottoms of the rods. Ours averaged out to about 20 inches. Then measure up from the base of one rod, to the place where the ties/rubber bands are. This will be the measurements for your panels (plus seam allowances). We added a half inch on each side for seam allowances.

Step four: Cut six triangle panels. We alternated colors for a circus look. Then cut panel number 6 for the back in HALF longways for closing up.

Step Five: Fun part! Pick lots of ribbons, fringe, etc., and sew onto the individual panels how you choose. We just made a huge pile and Mia picked a few of her favorites. I sewed them in horizontal stripes

Step Six: Sew all of your panels together at the side seams, right sides together leaving the whole thing open at the back where the two half panels will meet, you will sew this closed at the end. I did not do it like this in my picture, but it will make it easier for you!

Step Seven:Sew channels over each seam on the inside except for the back closing seam which is still open to make this easier. I used ribbons and scrap pieces of fabric about 2 inches wide to allow for passing the bamboo through. Leave the top and bottoms open. You can finish the ends by folding under.


Step Eight:Sew the back seam together, right sides together.
Step Nine:Untie your rods and thread them through the channels. Stand the whole thing up again and spread it out, aligning the rods and evening it out. Then retie it at the top where the ends of the rods stick out. Be sure to catch them individually as well as in groups. If you just wrap the whole thing, it will not spread out easily and the middle ones will slip. IF you are using dowels, rubber bands will hold it better. Also be sure the fabric is all the way down to the floor on each one before tying.

Step ten:. Cut the front panel about halfway up on both sides INSIDE of the channels you have sewn for the door. IF you are using a nonfray material, this will be fine, but if not, you might want to finish the edges before assembling, after sewing the channels. We tacked some ribbons at the top edge of the cuts to hold it up when it is rolled up!

Step Eleven:Extra decorating. We made stars out of silver pipe cleaners and hung them on the inside, and Mia picked a purple sparkly tulle for an outer addition. We use it on a plush rug so there is a nice seating pad :)

I have not yet taken a picture of the actual completed project, but will add it soon!

Have fun and feel free to send me pictures of your own to add!

Polish Wycinanki Paper Cutting

MATERIALS:
Construction paper and White paper
Scissors
Pencil
Glue

DIRECTIONS:
Fold a piece of Construction paper in half
Draw a design along the edge of the paper with the fold
Leaving paper folded, cut out design
Glue design to a piece of white paper larger than the design
Glue White paper to a larger piece of colored paper

NOTE:
This project evolved into making paper dolls with 3 year old Mia doing the drawing and me doing the cutting.

From "Folk Art Projects Around the World"

Japanese Star Streamers

Tanabata is a popular Japanese festival based on a story of a Star Princess who was a weaver. She fell in love with the cow-heard star and neither star did their work. The star princess's father sent them to opposite ends of the Milky Way, only allowed to meet on the 7th day of the 7th Month. During the celebration, children write poems on streamers tied to the trees and streets are decorated with streamers made using origami folding techniques.

MATERIALS:
Origami paper or squares of construction paper or wrapping paper 4-5 " on each side
18" of string for each streamer
beads or cheerios, fruit loops, etc
Needle with an eye large enough for your string or yarn
Strip of paper to tie to the bottom long enough for a poem

DIRECTIONS:
To make one paper triangle:
Fold square in half (colored side in)
Fold that rectangle in half again
unfold completely
Fold in half diagonally (colored side in)
Unfold completely
Fold in half diagonally the other direction
Open completely, then using crease lines allready created, fold adjacent corners in making back to back triangles.
REPEAT !
Divide all your triangles into three sets
Thread needle and string triangles and beads. Put at least 3 beads or 6 cheerios in between triangles to keep them apart. Leave extra string at each end.
Knot at top and bottom to keep them from sliding around
Write a poem on slip of paper and tie to the bottom of the streamer
Hang using top end of string

From "Folk Art Projects Around the World"

Indonesian Wayang Shadow Puppets

MATERIALS:
Heavy paper or light card board (cereal box, poster board)
2 skewers, sticks, rulers, or dowels
Tape
Scissors
Notebook paper fasteners that spread apart in the back
Markers or crayons

DIRECTIONS:
Draw a body onto the paper MINUS one arm (use example or make one up)
Draw separately a bent arm and upper arm piece
Cut out pieces and color (optional)
Attach (LOOSELY) arm to upper arm, and upper arm to shoulder using the fasteners
Tape skewers to body and hand

From "Folk Art Projects around the World"

Indian Toran

MATERIALS:
Large piece of felt (12" X 5")
Colorful and contrasting felt scraps
5" piece of drinking straw
Aluminum foil
15" yarn or string
Glue
Scissors
optional: Embroidery thread and needle

DIRECTIONS:
Cut out two pieces of contrasting felt 5" by 2" for ends of Toran
Cut out designs, animals, flowers, etc., out of the felt scraps
Move them around on your base till you are happy
Glue each piece down (OPTIONAL you can embroider them down around the edges)
Cut small circles of aluminum foil and glue onto Toran
Glue one strip to the bottom of the Toran (one inch on the front, one inch on the back)
Fold second strip in half, gluing only the edges, making a tube
Glue only the secured edges to the BACK of the top of your Toran leaving tube free
Insert straw into the tube, thread string through, tie and hang.

From "Folk Art Projects around the World"

Peruvian Mask

MATERIALS:
Thick paper, file folder, or thin cardboard
Aluminum foil
Notebook paper fasteners (the ones where you spread them apart in the back)
Scissors
Markers
String or elastic

DIRECTIONS:
Draw basic mask shape like the one pictured and cut it out of the base
We opted to cut out eye holes so it is wearable
Decorate the mask with colorful designs
Cut small ovals out of the aluminum foil
Use the fasteners to attach them all over the mask loosely. You may need to use scissors to help punch the hole in your base.
Optional: Cut a small slit at the chin,overlap sides and secure and cut the base of the nose so that the mask has dimension.
Tie string or elastic on each side so it can be worn.

from "Folk Art Projects Around the World"

Mexican Beaded Bowl

Borrowed idea from the Huichol Indians of Mexico. Originally produced using dried half gourds, beeswax, seeds, kernels, pebbles, shells, etc.

MATERIALS:
Small lid or saucer (jar lid, plant saucer)
Modeling clay
Lots of big beads, beans, macaroni, pebbles, etc.

DIRECTIONS:
(ADULTS OR OLDER KIDS) Cover lid on the inside, up the sides and over the rim with clay at least 1/4" thick
Draw a design into the clay or let kids place freestyle
See pictures below for design ideas


From "Folk Art Projects Around the World"

Columbian raised line sculptures

Originally made by soldering gold wire to a flat sheet of gold.

MATERIALS:
Thin cardboard (poster board, cereal box)for
Black posterboard, or paint some black for background
Thin cotton cording or thick yarn
Scissors
Glue
Gold spray paint


DIRECTIONS:
Cut a circle from your thin cardboard
Cut a square bigger than your circle out of the black or painted cardboard
Draw a design similar to the one pictured onto the circle OR glue freehand
Glue cording over the design or let the kids just make designs on their own
Let glue dry
Spray paint entire circle with gold spray paint (ADULTS)
Glue gold circle to black background

from "Folk Art Projects Around the World"

DIY Humungo World Map: Culural learning tool

DIY World Map. Large felt map with velcro backed pieces for learning different cultural dress, flags, native animals, landmarks, history, etc. 6 X 3 feet
Appropriate Age: 3 to 9
Sewing skill: Beginner
Materials needed: 2 yds blue felt, 1 yd olive or green felt, 6 different brightly colored threads, printer, clear contact paper, sticky back HOOK velcro - 1 yd. Large paper for continent patterns. OPTIONAL: Green/blue cotton for border, grommets, setter, and ribbon for hanging.

DIRECTIONS:

To draw your own world: Print a flat map. Grid to be an increment of 6 across to 3 high.


Then grid your large paper, one continent at a time, and hand draw the continents. I can also send my original patterns for $25, but due to their size cannot upload them for free. Draw each continent this way, enlarging, and then cut them out.



Cut your blue felt 6 feet long by 3 feet high. Then trace your continent patterns onto the green felt. Cut each one out and position onto your blue felt, matching borders when neccessary (like asia and europe).




Pin allover because it will be moved around a bit to maneuver through the sewing machine. Then stitch ( a close zig zag if you have it for optimal display)each continent in a different color.

After stitching each continent and removing pins, sew on your binding. This is optional, but recommended for a finished look. You can bind however you wish. What I did was cut strips of cotton twill in a green/blue paisley to the length of each side, press under each edge, as well as the center seam, and just sewed it on! Sorry no pics of this but feel free to ask if you are confused by this step.

FOR THE PIECES: I wanted interesting stick ons that Mia could play with as well as learn about the region and history while playing. Originally, I wanted to hand sew flags and little dolls out of felt. Well, the flags were too hard, and the dolls were even harder (at 2 inches each) and the dolls got their heads ripped off in 5 minutes.

I modified my vision for the best and printed paper dolls dressed in ethnic clothing and country flags, and interesting landmarks and animals. I printed on cardstock, then laminated with a heavy duty clear contact paper for sure durability. They turned out great!



What I did was take free clipart, put it into an art program where I had them all on one page and could resize them all, then print, cut out, sandwich between the contact paper, cut out with a 1/4" border or so, then stuck a tiny 1/2" piece of sticky back hook velcro on the back. I also threw in some mermaids and octopi and stuff for ocean fun...

I also created a book to go along with this, as some of the things I wanted to teach Mia about, I had only a vague idea of! I made a list of my 24 main flags, people, animals, and landmarks. I numbered each one, then wrote that number on the back of the corresponding stick on piece. I then used a really valuable site called www.enchantedlearning.com to print out related activity sheets for EACH area, animal, culture, etc...I cannot say enough about that site!

As well as the list and numbers, I printed a blank map and put each number in the right place to use as a control key....mostly for when Mia gets older and can learn more on her own. (and for myself) :)

Here are a few of the fun things I included in my map...this can totally be personalized, too!

The Pyramids of Giza near Ciaro Egypt
The rainforests of South America and the Toucan bird
The American Buffalo
The totem poles made by the Tlingit Indian tribes of NW America
The South American Flag
The culteral dress of Scandinavia
The Korean traditional dress
The Giant Panda of China

and more!

Enjoy and please feel free to contact me if you need help or would like me to mail copies of my printouts (for a small fee).

Happy Mappy!

Make your own Wooden Learning Bike

While searching for Christmas presents to pass on as ideas for the grandparents, I came across the wooden balance bikes. No pedals, great for helping kids learn balance, and can grow with them. BUT, these bikes are pretty costly. I thinkyou might be able to get one for around a hundred, now, but why not make your own like this guy did. Here is the link to his flickr photos, and here is the link to his patterns and ideas.

Silky Play Fairy Wings

Sewing Skill: Beginner

These are so fun. Heres the link for directions. I acutally just used an old sarong scarf. Anything that is as long as your child's "wingspan" will work. A bit of ribbon and some silky material is all you need! These can easily be hand sewn as well. I did not bother with making mine nearly as neat as the original ones, Mia didnt really mind the small details and it took me 5 minutes!!

Practical Life - Dress forms

Practical Life Dressings forms: Zipper, Button, Snap, Lace and Buckle

MATERIALS: Picture Frames, staple gun , old clothing or fabrics. I used one dollar unfinished frames from Michaels arts and crafts and fabric scraps and clothing. Center the frame over the portion of the clothing that will be used and cut around it about an inch or two away from the frame (depending on the thickness). Wrap edges to back of frame and staple, being sure to hammer in any loose staples or sand rough wood. For the buckle frame, I just covered it, then used ribbon and old buckles of varying sizes stapled to the back.

USE: Child brings form to mat or table. If new, you can demonstrate once how it is done, working from left to right or up to down. (Buckles need to bepushed with fingers out so they dont get pinched!) Back to its home when they are done.