Friday

Story Stones

One of the hottest trending children's "toys" out there is a simple stone, a Story Stone.  Story Stones are all over Etsy, Pinterest and local markets too.  They are simple to make and give hours of creative fun for your entire family.

A Story Stone is simply a stone that has an image on it that helps spark a story.  To play with them you paint or Modge-podge a collection of images onto rocks and place in a bag.  You can play with one person by having them choose a rock and start a story, pick another rock and add a little more until your tale is told.



In a group setting have one person pick a rock and tell a sentence and then pass the bag onto the next person who chooses a story stone and adds another sentence, and so on.  For children who are very young, you can have them draw their story after choosing a rock.  I love this game because it gets everyone talking and laughing together...and the stories never end!



The materials are simple.  Rocks that can be found outside or at your local craft shop, paint markers, Sharpie Markers, acrylic paint, some clip art and Modge Podge.  I love to paint the rocks and if you need a little inspiration look up Story Stones on Pinterest and you will find plenty of ideas.

If you are not the artistic type, you can use clip art images Modge Podged onto the rocks.  It's super simple.  Just lay down a thin layer or Modge Podge to glue the picture to the rock and then brush over it again to seal it.  Let dry, and you are ready to play.

I found my little bags at the local craft store in the jewelry section.  They were super cheap..about $3.00 for a set of four.  I like to decorate my bags for whatever theme rocks I have in the bag.  


There really are no "rules" to how these Story Stones are used.  I know my kiddos will want to mix and match and play with them a characters.  It's just how they roll, but getting them to come up with their own bedtime stories is a treat...and it helps Mom who flat lines when it comes to making up my own story.

Ps -- They also make great gifts!



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Monday

Wildflower Necklaces

It's summer time and the fields are full of wildflowers!  We've been out hiking and collecting wildflowers of all kinds.  It's one of my favorite summer hobbies.  In fact if you pick up a random book in my house you will most likely find a flower stuck in it's pages from some trip.  I love flowers and I like to use them as souvenirs of places I've been.  

Preserved wildflowers are all the craze now and you can find them on cell phone covers, acrylic nails, wall art, floral backdrops, and jewelry.  On today's KUTV's Fresh Living we are making wildflower necklaces.


These are super easy to make and relatively inexpensive.  It costs about $1.50 per necklace. My favorite supplier for the necklace parts and resin is a little Etsy Shop I found called Candytiles Studio.  They had everything I needed and it cost me about $19.00 for 24 necklaces and they shipped within 24 hours.  

For these necklaces you will want to find small little flowers.  I keep a little book or paper towel in my nap sac to protect the flowers until I get home.  You can dry and press flowers by placing them in a book and letting them dry for a week or two.  Or you can use your microwave and preserve them in minuets!


To preserve your flowers with a microwave you will need two ceramic tiles and some paper towels.   Place your flower face down on a paper towel and sandwich between the tiles.  Place in your microwave on 50% power for 1.5 minuets.   




Open up the tiles and check the flower to see how dry it is.  If it still feels moist return to the microwave for a minute or two more.  You can over cook the flower and have it turn brown so keep an eye on it.


Once it is dry remove it from the towel and it's ready to go.  I love this method because it is quick and the flowers retain their color.


To make the necklaces;

1.  Cut a paper background that fits the jewelry piece and glue in place.

2.  Use a little E6000 to glue the dried flower onto the paper background.  Let dry.

3.  Once it is dried, you can either cover it with the glass top or with my favorite resin called Diamond Glaze.  If you are covering it with the glass top adhere is with the E6000 and press into place.  It you are using resin, follow the instructions for the product and let dry.


My youngest daughter was married last week and I am taking little pieces from her bouquet and making her a necklace to remember her day.  This is a quick summer project that can be completed from beginning to end in one afternoon.  

To enter to win a kit to make your own necklace, Leave a comment below of your favorite wildflower.  The winner will be chosen on Sunday!

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