Making chenille bugs @ WBCL

These were a little complicated but turned out really well. I found excellent directions and pictures at AOK corral  http://www.aokcorral.com/projects/how2jan2004.htm and we went on from there. Most of the participants were able to create a lady bug or spider without much difficulty. Then the fun began. The spiders needed to have webs and the lady bugs needed fancier feet than just bent chenille stems so tiny sparkle beads became feet. Some of the bugs got fancy eyes too. as you can see from the picture, one of the creations grew into a whole family of spiders climbing into a web.

May brings mother's day cards and bug boxes

The group started the month making Mother's Day cards and envelopes. We used the library's new cricuit machine and fabric to create the cards with flowered cutouts. To keep the cards a secret for the mom's we did not capture them.
This week we used folding and cutting to create boxes to catch real bugs or house the chenille ones we are making next week. Each box has 2 windows with net to look thru at the bugs. Many of the kids drew pictures on their boxes so the bugs would know it was their box.

Learning to make a recycling center with the Recycle Lady

Miss Sue, the Recycle Lady came to the class and shared information on recycling and instructions on how to create a recycling station at home that would help their families identify what could be recycled. She also gave a lot of information on resources in the library and locally. The kids came up with lots of suggestions on how to repurpose a variety of items.

Treasure / Jewelry boxes from recycled items

In a spirit of repurposing the group continued on from Kristin's Wacky Science class making paper beads and used berry boxes, CDs and other found items to create treasure or jewelry boxes to hold their creations. Others used oversized cardboard tubes and scrapbook paper to create bracelets. All these shiney things are very popular with the group.

Creating a creature from our recyclables

In the past we have created all kinds of space creatures and robots but this time the group created cats, horses, snowmen and more. Styrofoam and glue are a real incentive to the imagination.

Birdhouses are completed a@ WBCL

Almost everyone returned to complete painting and decorating thier birdhouses this week. We used Patio Paint, an outdoors paint on them so they would stay bright and colorful for a long time. As you can see it is really a family afair working on these projects with moms and dads joining their kids in painting and decorating.
One of the kids even brought pom-poms to put on her house.
We discussed the kinds of birds that might build nests in the houses from information I found on the Texas Parks & Wildlife site. You can look there for the birds that might live in the houses.
The arts and crafts class meets every Wednesday at 6pm at the Wells Branch Community Library for families and kids age 7+.