Matchbox Fairy House Necklaces

When I was little, I used to make locket-style necklaces using matchboxes, and these tiny felt house necklaces are a darling little idea adaption. They make supersweet gifts for kidlets, and they're ecofriendly, too: the structure is made using an old matchbox, card stock, felt scraps and a trusty glue gun (to take the greeniness up a notch, use old postcards instead of cardstock for the roof, and Crafter's Pick The Ultimate! non-toxic super glue... it's water-based, kid-friendly, and I've found that it works as well as traditional craft adhesives.) Believe it our not, these cottage cuties are fairly easy to make (I've made six, all in different bright, punchy colors... a Fairy Neighborhood!)

Tiny Tooth Fairy Bags

Learn how to make these colorful, superpretty (and simple!) felt toothfairy bags at The Purl Bee.

More Sunday Sweetness

Dreams & Determination

"If you want something and pursue it with all of your mind, you'll get it done one way or another." Maisie DeVore

The Dog Days of Summer

GO AWAY, heat!

Matchy Music: The Dog Days Are Over Mp3 by the always-fun Florence and the Machine (via goldenbloggen.com)

Choose to Be Kind

Personal Library Printables

Print these cuteness cards (perfect for kidlet classroom libraries) over @ Creature Comforts.

Dancing Crazy Banana Man

...Because it's funny...

Alphabet Block Photo Magnets

Aren't these fridge magnets so supercute & colorful? And you can also tweak them into tabletop frames or business card holders, too! Visit the ever-creative Plum Pudding for all the delightfully easypeasy directions.

Matchy Music: ABC mp3, by The Jackson Five (via goldenbloggen.)

Sunday Sweetness

Kid-Friendly Free Food

Finding a kid-friendly restaurant can be tricky business. This site not only lists wiggle-giggle-filled local spots, if you're traveling, you can search your planned vacation areas based on state, city, & day-of-the-week. And (best part) the site's main purpose is to connect families with specific locations where kid meals are actually... free!

Visit MyKidsEatFree.com :)

Back-to-School-Cool Teacher Printables

Take a quick web trip & gather up these fantastic FREE printables:

* Perfectly darling weekly planner pages (shown above), a sweet-silly book wormy reading list, (shown below) and a ready-to-post volunteer sign-up sheet (all from Family Fun Online.)

* A handy, fill-in-the blanks, letter-to-teacher form (from Family Fun Magazine.) Pass out to to parents to keep communication open (& easy!)

*Beyond-adorable, cheery bookplates like these (shown below), and these, and these (for your personal classroom library) from Orange You Lucky.

Yay for cute stuff that makes life easier!

Andy-Inspired Art: A Goldsworthy Gallery

Next week, Ms. Dana's Super Science class will be studying environmental artist Andy Goldsworthy. The kids will then create their own art out on the trails (the picture shown above is from a previous class.) They'll also be photographing their works for a special one-week showing in our gallery space (with viewing open to the public Saturday, August 29 through early Friday, September 4.) This is something we've done for the last few years, and it's always really incredible to see what the children come up with.

Environmental art is easy and fun for kids of all ages to participate in. Not only does it make nature a truly hands-on experience, it also serves as a great starting-off point for discussing otherwise difficult-to-understand art concepts (like balance, pattern, etc.)

Take a look at some of Mr. Goldsworthy's prettiest pieces:

Truly Tiny Fairy Book Printables

These adorable little mini books from Don't Eat The Paste make perfect reading for pixies, sprites, faeries, and dollhouse dolls, too. There are several downloadable editions including Byron's She Walks In Beauty, and the world's tiniest Cookbook (with real recipes!) Not only are they waysuperdarling, you can print 'um for free :)

FREE Printable Pet Adoption Announcements

Aren't these just the sweetest little new kitten cards? The best part?...they're free, and the cards come in several shapes for puppies, too. Visit Martha to download the adorableness, fill in your personal pet info, and... print!

When the River Meets the Sea

Pretty Photo: by Wahliaoweil!

Matchy Music: When the River Meets the Sea mp3, cover version by Rose Polenzani (via Cover Lay Down.)

Baseball Birdies

Dream, Dance & Sing-Along-Songs

Childishy grownup music to kindle your inner-kidlet:

Circles and Squares

Make your own artsy rug just like this one with a planet-friendly, hand-dyed wool kit from The Blue Tulip.

Matchy Music: Circles and Squares mp3, by Houses (via IamFuelYouAreFriends)

Kids For Peace

Have you been to the superduperwonderful Kids For Peace site yet? Each month there is a new positive focus topic, and you can even find out how to organize your own local caring kids community group.




Kids for Peace Pledge:
I pledge to use my words to speak in a kind way.
I pledge to help others as I go throughout my day.
I pledge to care for our earth with my healing heart and hands.
I pledge to respect people in each and every land.
I pledge to join together as we unite the big and small.
I pledge to do my part to create peace for one and all.

Friendly Fairy Doors

These tiny fairy doors aren't only magnificently darling and well-made, they're also well-priced (the one shown above is only $15!) What a delightful way to whimsy-up the garden! Visit NothinButWood's etsy shop for more styles for the buying (& inspiring.)

Or, try making your own fairy doors using:

* Branches & twigs & bark, (glue-gunned, or tied with twine.)

* Model Magic or clay (maybe painted or mosaicified.)

* Wooden dollhouse doors (snazzied up w/ glitter, gems, etc.)

Fairy doors aren't only for supernaturey outside places... take a peek at Urban Fairies for photos featuring city-folk (& indoors doors) versions. These simple urban fairy doors became a unifying Ann Arbor Community Project which helped to boost kidlet spirits (as well as the local economy!)

Maybe start a happy guerrilla art fairy door project in your neighborhood, too...

All-Smiles Sunday

little mugs of love...

Eco-Friendly Favors

These little hanging birdseed hearts are a truly sweet wedding favor. Besides being pretty, 2birdsinlove uses planet-happy, locally grown organic seed & hemp ribbon, too. The favors come in other shapes besides the hearts (like doves, initials, etc.), and they'll even personalize the little gifty tags, as well. Cutecutecute...

Stuck In My Head...

Taller Children mp3, by Elizabeth And The Catapult (via WeAllWantSomeone )