Last week, lil Allan and Mema made homemade paint.  This week, they are joined by Martha to sponge paint with their new paint!

(Our first “take” with this video didn’t work, so we did it a second time – as he references in the beginning).

So cute… so easy!  To re-cap… you’ll need:

• Homemade paint (or your own watercolor based paint)
• paper (they used construction paper)
• sponges (we picked up a few for a dollar at Walmart)

After the video session, I think Allan and Martha did a bit of painting with paintbrushes too.  If you make more than one color of paint, you are sure to get some really lovely watercolor masterpieces!

Also last week in the comments  we were asked about the “stain” factor with our homemade paint.  Because the recipe calls for food coloring, it’s best to use coverups or old clothes when painting.

Happy crafting!!

Don’t forget… if you and your children/grandchildren create something from one of our Crafting posts, we’d LOVE to see photos (or videos).  Along those same lines, we are also interested in posting YOUR video or photo tutorials, so if you have crafty kiddos and want to share, please send an email to admin@nanahood.com.

About “Mema”: Cheryl Booth has been crafting for more years than she cares to remember, and has shared her love of crafts with kids in her home, in Bible classes, at summer camp, and elsewhere.  You can visit Cheryl’s craft shop online at http://www.mycraftbooth.etsy.com

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This morning I sat down at my PC to find “fun links” for you, and I had four different browser windows open on four different King Tut websites.  Why King Tut, you ask?  Well, because my son is obsessed with King Tut and all things Egyptian.  And yesterday he wanted to write a special message in hieroglyphics, but was destraught when he couldn’t find his special “hieroglyphics code” worksheet.  Google to the rescue!

We have actually been spending a LOT of time “in Egypt” lately – the Natural History Museum here in Las Vegas opened up a new King Tut exhibit last weekend, and Samuel has been there three times already since they opened it.  I wondered briefly, on the third visit, if he would be “bored”… but no.  The exhibit has only fueled the fire for his obsession.  In fact, we are planning a very special King Tut themed birthday party for later this month… AT the museum!

All THAT to say, today’s fun links are a little different than normal (whatever that is)… and I am going to share some fun “kid-friendly” Egyptian links for you (since I apparently can’t get away from them anyway).

• King Tut Fun Activities – http://www.tutsanfrancisco.org/content/fun
• Facts about King Tut – http://www.king-tut.org.uk/life-of-king-tut/facts-about-king-tut.htm
• King Tut costume – http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/mummified-king-tut-662412/
• Write Your Name with Hieroglyphics – http://greatscott.com/down/write.pdf
• King Tut Puzzles – http://www.kingtutone.com/kids/puzzle/
• Pyramid Maze – http://www.kingtutone.com/kids/maze/
• Coloring Pages – http://www.kingtutone.com/kids/color/
• Egyptian Book craft project – http://www.kinderart.com/arthistory/bookofthedead.shtml

And since I realize most of the King Tut/Egyptian links will appeal more to your sons and grandsons, here are a few fun “girly” links (with a Valentine’s Day theme) for your daughters and granddaughters:

• Bottle Cap Locket - http://www.kinderart.com/seasons/locket.shtml
• Egg Cup Flowers – http://www.kinderart.com/recycle/eggcupflowers.shtml
• Candy Rings – http://crafts.kaboose.com/candy-rings.html
• I Give You My Heart collage – http://www.kinderart.com/seasons/giveyoumyheart.shtml
• Lollipop Cozies – http://crafts.kaboose.com/lollipop-cozies.html

And just a little P.S. The above list of links were a little sneek peek into something coming soon…  we”ll be launching a new series here at NanaHood called “Crafting With Mema”, based on my children’s activities and crafting projects with my mother (their Mema).  We’re even hoping to share a video or two!  Stay tuned… and HAPPY FRIDAY!

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This is the first year that I will be making Barbie clothes for my own granddaughter.  I hope she will enjoy them as much as I did.  She has a new baby sister so the saga will continue for at least a few more years.

The wedding dress is a replica of Princess Diana’s gown. It took me an entire day to make it. I could have made myself 3 or 4 dresses in that length of time.   That little bitty sleeve is in three separate parts and that collar is a nightmare to attach. The dress and train takes 1 ½ yards of fabric and that is a lot for a 11 ½ doll!   I have only made 2 of the dresses and do not intend to make anymore!

This wedding dress was made by my mother and is on one of my childhood Barbie’s.  I treasure that dress.  This white lace dress was made by my mother and is shown on my old Midge doll circa about 1964.

I have all of my mother’s old Barbie patterns.  One of my favorite is this nightgown and robe.  I have ordered several older patterns from eBay.

These are two more of my favorites.  I have made that black and white short dress in many different colors but the black and white is so sophisticated!

I love the black velvet evening dress and little girls love to touch it!  Notice all my pretty dolls. I have bought these over the years for around $4 or $5 dollars usually just in a swimsuit.   You cannot find really pretty Barbies anymore unless you buy the expensive dolls. I absolutely hate the ones with pink hair, etc.

I have an entire closet full of fabric suitable for Barbie clothes, yards upon yards of ribbon and lace, lots of tiny buttons, shoes, hats,  and fabric roses.  My mother could look at something and make it, but I am not that talented.  I can put two or three patterns together for a “new” design but that’s as far as my creativity goes.  My least favorite part of Barbie sewing used to be hand sewing on  all those tiny snaps.  Thank the Lord for Velcro!

New for me this year, will be making American Girl size clothes.  A few weeks ago, my sisters and I took a vacation together to the Smoky Mountains.  Since we each have a three year old granddaughter . We found a doll store and went wild!

And before anyone asks no, I can’t make Barbie clothes to sell this year……..I have 5 great nieces  and a granddaughter to sew for this Christmas.   Maybe next year!

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This adorable little guy is Kruz. Sounds like a motorcycle guy, doesn’t it?  Proud mom, Jessica says, “My grandmother, Barbara Curry, made the chaps for Kruz’s 2nd Halloween in 2007. When I was a little girl, my grandmother made all my costumes… I was always dressed up as a cheerleader, so each year she used the same pattern, just a little bigger size.”

This cute butterfly is Martha. Martha’s mom, Char, said that the wings were made by Martha’s nana, Cheryl Booth, after Martha picked out the material. Nana also made Martha’s brother some blue wings but he was too busy playing to have his picture made.  According to Char, “Life has come full circle, I’m attaching a photo of me and my siblings from 1980.  It’s not the best picture, but my sister and I were butterflies… (I’m the one in green, my sis in yellow) and my mom went ALL OUT with making those.  I have such good memories of that Halloween – the wings were HUGE and we loved, loved, loved them!  They had batting and were quilted and we even had little finger loops, so we could spread the wings wide and FLY!  I wish we still had those wings…

Char also says, “I’m attaching some photos of Samuel when he was 2… my mother-in-law (Faye Huskins) made this adorable costume for Samuel.  He has a stuffed Tiger named Bob that is his most prized possession in all the world (and his best friend), so she made him a “Bob” costume.  We still have it and Martha wears it now for fun.

Aren’t these nanas crafty? And aren’t these little trick or treaters cutie pies? I just love watching kids play dress up!

And kids aren’t the only ones who can play dress up….

This is Elle the dinosaur (aka dog). Mom Ginny made her costume for her. Elle has requested dog biscuits instead of candy in her trick or treat bag.

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