History of Play-doh Inspiration for Bloggers

History of Play-Doh: Play Dough

Have you seen The High Calling's Weekly E-newsletter? I was asked to visit the site and give a review. Yeah, I usually dread doing reviews. I have to find something positive to write about it whether I like it or not. I dread it so much, I've actually gone back and respectfully declined when I didn't like the material. Not this one; I loved the story on the history of Play-Doh. Enjoy!


History of Play-Doh Play dough story
Inspirational Play-doh?
Click the image by Dennis Brekke to read more from, The Weekly High Calling.
Hooray! I love this newsletter. It's an inspiration for all people but especially for bloggers, writers, and dreamers. The very first post I stumbled on had me hooked! Someone certainly guided my hand to click on the link. It led me straight to a post about Play-doh.

What you don't know about Play-doh will truly surprise and inspire you. Of course, I love Play-doh; so I had to read more.


So, I scrolled down and clicked on this title for another post:  Don't Mistake Doing What You Love With Doing What's Important

Well, someone had given me this advice about a year ago and it resonated. I had to read the article. Awesome. The author, Bradley J. Moore, weighs his options and decides he has done what is best for his family. Who knows where the other path may have lead. 

The newsletter is full of conversations about work, life, and God. Each post in the e-newsletter was inspirational, relevant, and well written. I hope you enjoy it too!


I have been compensated for this post.*


Recommended:

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ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)


Pumpkin Mania: 12 DIY Things to do with PUMPKINS

12 things you can do with your favorite, fall gourd: the Pumpkin

12 diy things to do with pumpkins for Halloween and gourds
DIY Pumpkin Carving Crafts.
There are so many things you can do with gourds! I like pumpkins, p-p-p-p pumpkins. I like pumpkins 'cause pumpkins are so fun! Pumpkins aren't just for carving.

1.   Happy Accident Painting with Gourds and pumpkins
2.   Creative Pumpkin Activities from Hands on as we Grow
3.   Pumpkin Eating Dinosaur
4.   Cute Online Pumpkin Carving
5.   The original Pumpkin Chalkboard :-)
6.   Phineas and Ferb Pumpkin Carving Templates
7.   Fall Funtastic: Pumpkin Patches, Haunted Houses, and Fall Fun
8.   Harvest Pumpkin Skillet Recipe
9.   How to make an easy kid size scarecrow
10. Song about Pumpkin Pie, Over the River and Through the Woods.
11. Halloween Turnip? The Legend of the Jack-o-Lantern
12. Snowman Pumpkin Decorating

Recommended Reading:


The Three Friends and the Pumpkins by Tomie dePaola

The Biggest Pumpkin Ever

Looking for THINGS TO DO with Kids? Check out our Pin it to Win it ~ Online Scavenger Hunt. Resource for Preschool Curriculum Ideas

Each month we search  for new words related to kids crafts or Preschool/Homeschool curriculum THINGS TO DO. Players pin their favorite ideas from blogs or their classroom. A winner is chosen and announced  on Pinterest.

For more details and to chat with teachers and kid bloggers join our Facebook Forum. New rules and how to play preschool scavenger hunt on Pinterest.

Things to do with Kids Preschool Curriculum Pin it Online Scavenger Hunt


Creative Country ~ Nifty, Rustic Items from a Country lover's Decor

Some of our fall fun journeys take us to magical places. Recently, we visited the home of a family friend. These are just a few of the awesome, rustic antiques on display.  Ah- the good life.

Horse Dinner Bell
Hoisting Hook



Westwood Washer. An old-fashioned washing machine.






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How to Make a Basic Color Wheel and Primary Art Lesson Homeschool

THE PRIMARY COLORS: ROYGBIV 

How to Make a Color Wheel Homeschool Art Lesson.

If you're following Jake's Journey in Art this homeschool art lesson isn't from 3rd grade art. We've been combining lessons and working on everything together to make it more like a classroom and easier for the teacher (me). This is the 1st grade Primary Color Lessons for homeschoolers, but we added a science component and more to make it more interesting for the older elementary kids too. Enjoy!

This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links for your convenience.




Sesame Street teaches Primary Colors.

Henri Matisse loves primary colors.



cute primary color wheel for preschooler or early elementary
Mayhem's second attempt (First Grade).
Preschool Color Wheel Ideas
Mayhem's first attempt: a color wheel cat.
He has all the colors just not in the right position.
He got the letters but not the wheel.  The smudges are  two
primary marker colors blended to create the secondary  colors.

So, what is a technically correct color wheel?


Colorwheel Art Lesson


The colors of the RAINBOW or those that appear in a prism. Here is a fun scientific lesson in PDF form from Stargazers and NASA.

We studied the use of primary colors by the Masters like the Matisse pictured above, and then we chose a farm animal to trace with pencil and paint with only the primary and secondary colors.

Jake's bunny with primary and secondary color complements.

Jake was a champ when it came to the technical aspect of art. He reminded me of the cheat to remember the primary and secondary colors. Red, Yellow, Blue, Orange, Green, Indigo, and Violet better known as ROY G. BIV.  He also knew prisms reflect the light from the sun and radiate these colors. Although, he knew about the color wheel he didn't have a good grasp of the concept of contrasting or complementary colors.

We're going to explore this concept. Math and Science are everywhere in ART. So, my little genius, art critic is going to learn about the golden rule sooner than later. Funny how people tend to be one or the other, left or right brained. I'm taking on the challenge to prove it doesn't have to be either or.

Paint a Primary and Complementary Color Bunny Elementary Art
Mayhem's bunny. They both traced the bunny from an original drawn by me. Yep, she's 6, loves art and hates math.


Click the thumbnails below to catch up on our 
Homeschool Art Journey
 or start here with LESSON ONE.
From Wikipedia:
Complementary colors are pairs of colors that are of “opposite” hue in some color model. The exact hue “complementary” to a given hue depends on the model in question, and perceptually uniformadditive, and subtractive color models, for example, have differing complements for any given color.


The complement of each primary color (red, blue, or yellow) is roughly the color made by mixing the other two in a subtractive system:
  • red complements (blue + yellow) = green
  • blue complements (red + yellow) = orange
  • yellow complements (red + blue) = violet


Recommended Reading:


Tag, You're it! Silent Tagging Game for Sharing Facebook Pages

The Blogger's Club on  Facebook is sharing your pages and you're sharing back! Join us and Like us for a fun game of Grown Up Blogger Tag.



Here's how it works: Every Thursday find this post on The Blogger's Club Facebook Page share the  post on your Facebook Page and leave your page in the comments below our post. Everyone participating will see your post, check it out, hopefully LIKE it, and then you can add your comment on the SILENT TAGGING post on their page. The idea is we'll gain new follower with common interest based on the sharing. It's Thursday, Let's PLAY!

SILENT TAGGING!
*** Please READ the rules below before posting!
Only KID/PARENTING related FaceBook pages are allowed to post.

If you would like to play here's how we do it ....
1. On your page, share that The Bloggers Club is networking by Silent Tagging. Please make sure to tag us in your status! (Invite others to share their own FB page in the comment section below the post.)
2. Tag yourself in the comments below.
3. Stop by the pages shared and LIKE them if you would like to follow them.
You are NOT required to like everyone that posts but hopefully you will and they will reciprocate.

If you like this, you might also like our Pin it to Win it Online Scavenger Hunt on Pinterest.

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Halloween Turnip? Why do we carve Jack-O-lanterns and How to Carve a Pumpkin

Ever wonder why we carve pumpkins on Halloween? 

Why isn't the cartoon called, "It's The Great Turnip, Charlie Brown?" And, why is it called a Jack-o-lantern anyway? Scroll down to find out how the pumpkin carving tradition began. Enjoy!

This post contains Amazon affiliate links.


Halloween Turnip? Why do we carve Jack O lanterns and How to Carve a Pumpkin
Turnip Jack-o-lantern.

Halloween Legend and Folklore

The jack-o-lantern is named after Jack, of course. He needed a lantern. Poor Jack he drank too much. His 18th century, Irish neighbors considered him a drunk and a miser, so they called him Stingy Jack. 

Apparently, Jack invited the devil over for a drink. He tricked the devil into paying (read more about this legend from TLC).  Of course, the devil was angry and he vowed to come back for Jack. Various tales tell the story a bit differently, but it ends with Jack hallowing out a turnip, inserting a burning coal ember, and using it to light his way through HELL or to keep the devil at bay. Afterward, Irish families carved turnip lanterns to keep Jack's ghost away. Thus, the Jack-o-lantern was born.


How to carve a pumpkin.
Once the Irish immigrants saw the pumpkin, they knew the larger veggie would be easier for Jack to see.

Do other countries carve pumpkins?  Here is a little tutorial for turnip and pumpkin carving in case you're new to the tradition. MARTHA STEWART CARVED TURNIPS



Why do we carve pumpkins?
Why do we carve pumpkins?

  Grab a grand pumpkin or turnip.


Carved Turnips for Halloween.
Carved Turnips.



Get a big carving knife, insert about 3" from the stem. It's difficult to cut, you must poke the knife in and wiggle it a little, pull it out, and then begin again until you've completed the circle. 





Once the top is removed you can begin cleaning your pumpkin. Just dive in with your hands and a large spoon and scoop the stringy goo and seeds out. Only pie pumpkins are edible, but the seeds of all pumpkins can be toasted for a yummy snack.


image of pumpkin seeds
Pumpkin Seeds waiting for roasting.
At first, the turnip seems like it's impossible to carve, but practice makes perfect. Score a ring inside the top layer (from where you removed the lid) and use your knife or a sturdy spoon to scrape out the insides. Leave about a 1/4 inch ring of flesh.


Turnip Jack-o-lanterns ready for candles.
Turnip Jack-o-lanterns ready for candles.

Draw a fun face or artsy, spooky picture onto the veggie. Insert Knife, pumpkin carving tool or even a screwdriver and cut. This is not fun- not for you, not for the littles. It's difficult, but once you've got a good slice going the piece will start to loosen. Let the littles place their hands inside the pumpkin/turnip and push out with their thumb. Oh what fun! It's like a little jigsaw puzzle.


How to carve a pumpkin: Digging out pumpkin guts and seeds.
How to carve a pumpkin: Digging out pumpkin guts and seeds.


Pumpkin clean inside and ready for a candle.

Keep your pumpkin dry! If you keep it in the house it lasts longer. Pumpkin Preservation Experiment. We sprayed ours with vinegar then wiped the excess liquid and patted the rest dry (it didn't work). Glue and Petroleum Jelly are only myths- see the preservation link. 



Decorate gourds for Halloween.
Decorate gourds: Happy Meal Stickers.
Mayhem stylin' with pumpkins.



Pumpkin Decorating Supplies: Stickers from a Happy Meal, Carving ideas, Battery powered Votives from Dollar Tree.

We like to decorate our pumpkins with stickers or felt to keep them thru Thanksgiving season. Don't believe me? Here is our snow pumpkin we decorated for CHRISTMAS with our snowman kit.


How to decorate a pumpkin like a Snowman.
Decorate a pumpkin like a Snowman.

Ahh... Halloween, I love you.


Recommended Reading:

The Little Scarecrow Boy by Margaret Wise Brown

Extreme Pumpkin Carving, Second Edition Revised and Expanded: 20 Amazing Designs from Frightful to Fabulous

October Calendar of Special Days



How to make your own DIY Edible Face paint Ideas & Recipes & Build Self-Esteem: The Thing About Monsters is

How to make edible face paint and recipes for Toddlers and Kids of all Ages

Remember, You Can do it with Creative Play and a Can-do Attitude. Recently, we did a post about Monster Trouble (Our first KCC Kids Video) check out the fun here. SCROLL DOWN to see DIY Face Paint Recipes for face paint/makeup, lip gloss, sensory play and Witchy Me.


Monster Trouble?
Face Paint for Kids
Face Paint Kit by Alex Toys.

In the video in the post, a sneaky monster is made with items from our costume trunk/creative play stash and Alex Toys Face Paint Studio. Not once, have we posted pictures or recipes of our homemade and edible face paints. During our creative play and messy classes playing with face paint has been a staple. So, read on to discover many ways to create self-esteem, a fun day of creative play, how to make less of a mess, and enjoy the little time you have with your littles and not so little ones.


How to make edible face paint and recipes.
Sneaky Monster peeks out of the brush.


DIY Face Paint Recipe and Monster Face
I see you and your Monster Face paint.
It's hard to see, but he was modeled after the Connect a giant Monster kits above from Alex Toys. The Monster has a purple and green nose and red and orange eyes. This is a great kit for your older kids. Give them a mirror and a book of silly face ideas and let them go wild! Creative Play is a great self-esteem builder. Let them try out different faces, remove the paint with a little water or vaseline on a cotton ball, and be sure to tell them how great it looks. No buts or maybe ifs allowed.



Homemade face paint.
What's that you say? You don't want to have to clean up the mess? Put them in an empty tub the mess will clean itself, but make sure your little Max Factor helps. They might complain, but cleaning up after themselves teaches responsibility and independence. I can do it! Yes, you might have to tidy up- just don't complain about it.  You don't want your child thinking they can't do anything. If they can't even clean up after themselves they'll stop trying! So, count to 10, take a deep breath, and then say, I love how you are learning to clean up after yourself; it makes me so proud!

Do you want to be remembered as the Mom with the spotless house or the Mom who was so fun and positive? Your choice, you decide.



how to make your own face paint recipe
Crazy Blue Face Paint Fairy.

How to Make your own Face Paint (Recipe):

Cold cream, Food coloring, Cornstarch, Egg Carton.

Start with 1 C. of cold cream (Noxzema type)
Slowly mix in 1/2 to 1 C. cornstarch until it is a smooth, creamy consistency.

Divide into an egg carton or muffin tin.
Add 1-2 drops of food coloring. Experiment with more or less and color combinations.

Use cotton balls or paint brushes to paint a masterpiece on your face.

Most colors will wear off quickly or wipe off easily with water due to the cold cream. Sometimes, yellow requires a little petroleum jelly to remove all the residue. 

With experimentation you can get professional results with these ingredients. It does dry and get crackly. Some kids don't like this sensation others think it's cool.

Homemade Face paint and makeup recipes for Toddlers and Preschool.
Homemade Face paint and makeup recipes.

Make your own Edible Face Paint for Preschoolers and Toddlers:

Caregivers, do you need 20 minutes of me time? This is AMAZING. If you don't want to leave the little alone in the bathroom spread an old, white sheet or vinyl tablecloth on the floor. Cornstarch, food coloring or colored drink mix, water, white flour, big spoons, and mixing bowls.

Start with 1/4 C. of flour
Mix in 1/2 C. of cornstarch or powdered sugar (think icing)
1/2 to 1 C. Cool Whip (Readiwhip doesn't work.)
Sift with fingers to mix and enjoy the sensory aspects.
Slowly add 1/4 to 1/2 C. water stir with spatula
Water and cornstarch make an interesting science experiment so make sure to add the flour and Cool Whip first. Mix to a creamy icing consistency ~ Spreadable.
Divide into egg carton and add food coloring or Drink Mix powder (Kool-Aid) works best.

The little will have a blast studying their face and admiring their handiwork  Let them remove their shirt and paint tattoos on their belly or  bugs on their hands. This is a fun way to teach babies eyes, nose, mouth, etc.

The ingredient measurements are guidelines. Warm water vs. cold, warm house vs. cool all of these can affect the makeup- experimentation is key.

Mixing paint is great for fine motor skills and sensory learning.
Mixing paint is great for fine motor skills and sensory learning.


Kid’s Yummy Lipstick Recipe:

Petroleum jelly, honey, maple syrup, or non-imitation vanilla, unsweetened drink powder for color and flavor.

Put Petroleum jelly into microwave safe dish

Microwave the petroleum jelly for 30 seconds to one minute until 

warm, remove and stir.

Add Kool Aid and Honey

Mix well
Spoon into gift containers, refrigerate.

Changing Hair Color:

Experiment with Conditioner or Petroleum Jelly and unsweetened drink powder, & Baby Powder. Spray Aqua Net to set the color. May take several washings to wash out. We found a YouTube Video here.



Happy Halloween and Haunting  or Go break a leg!



Recommended Reading:

Creative Country Saying, Old-fashioned Inspirational Quote for Southern Belle Wannabes

Remember when Ducks and Geese were all the rage, here is another creative country saying and inspirational quote (if you like company, that is)

creative country saying inspirational quote southern signs
Back door guests are always the best.




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