Homemade Water Colors

Needed:

1 Tablespoon white vinegar

2 Tablespoons baking soda

1 Tablespoon cornstarch

¼ teaspoon glycerin

Food coloring

Mix vinegar and baking soda in a small bowl. When mixture stops bubbling, add cornstarch and glycerin. Mix well. Pour mixture into bottle caps from 2-liter soda bottles or into egg carton cups. Let dry overnight. Wet your paint brush and rub it along the paint to paint your pictures

Homemade Bird Treats

Here are some fun recipes the birds will enjoy

High Protein Birdie Treats
4 cups suet or solid kitchen fat
1 cup cracker or bread crumbs
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup millet
1/4 cup dried fruit such as raisins, currants or dates
1/4 cup peanuts or peanut butter
1. Melt the suet or fat in a large, heavy saucepan until it is liquid. Remove from heat and allow it to cool until slightly thickened
2. In a separate bowl, combine the rest of the ingredients and pour the cooled suet over the mixture. Stir thoroughly
3. While the mixture is still warm and pliable, you can spread it onto tree trunks or tree limbs, pack it into the spaces in pinecones and hang them from tree limbs, or spread it into a baking pan or several cake pans and refrigerate overnight. When the treats are hard, cut them into squares that will fit your feeder.

Soft Peanut Butter Treat
1 cup suet or solid fat
1 cup peanut butter
3 cups cornmeal
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup bread, cookie, or cracker crumbs
1. Melt the suet or fat in a heavy saucepan and when the fat is liquid, add the peanut butter and cornmeal. Stir and mix completely. Remove from heat. Add flour and crumbs and allow cooling and thickening slightly before packing or smearing on tree trunks, as described above.

More Valentines Ideas

Heart-Shaped Cupcakes (Adult Supervision may be needed due to using the oven)

Make your favorite cupcakes. Put a marble or rolled piece of aluminum foil between the cupcake liner and the cupcake tin to make an indentation in the cupcake batter. When it is baked, it will be heart shaped.

Ribbon Bracelet

Needed:

Ribbon with hearts, flowers, butterflies, etc

Scissors

Self-adhesive, circle shaped, Velcro

Tacky glue

White office label

Pen or marker

Measure and cut a length of ribbon long enough to go around a child’s wrist, plus enough to fold under the ends. Fold down one end the of ribbon and attach one half of the Velcro circle then turn the ribbon over. Fold down the other end and attach the other Velcro piece. Add a drop of glue under the

Velcro pieces if needed to make them more secure. Cut a piece of office label and write a message on it. Stick it to the inside of the bracelet. (To:____ From: ____)

Childrens Author at the Library

Maurice stopped by Putter-A-Round yesterday to let me know he was setting this up at the library. I had the pleasure of meeting him last year. I am excited to see his new book. If you don't make it to the library on Saturday, you will get another chance to meet Maurice and Hopper Squirrel here at Putter-A-Round. Date to be announced later.

Children’s Author Maurice Lamont and his gregarious character “Hopper SQUIRREL” stop by to share fables & tales on Saturday, January 19 @ 2pm.

See What's Happening at the Library

I am an advocate of reading. Libraries are stocked full of great books for every interest, but they offer so much more. Looking at the library schedules around the area, they are offering crochet clubs, Lego nights, crafts for kids, visiting authors and so much more. I have been to readings of ghost stories and lectures on subjects that interest me. Look into your local library. You might find something fun for your family to do....unplugged.

Valentines Necklace and Flower Pot

Candy Necklace: Lay out 3 feet of plastic wrap and cut it in half long-ways. Place wrapped candy (peppermints) or a group of two candies (candy hearts or M&Ms) 3 inches a part. Roll the plastic wrap over and tie bows of ribbon between each candy. Tie the two ends together and cover the knot with another ribbon. Make some for your friends.

Valentines Flower Pot

Needed:

3 inch terra-cotta flower pot

Acrylic craft paint

Heart-shaped sponge

Potting soil

Plastic sandwich bag

Ribbon

Seed package

Using acrylic craft paint, sponge paint hearts onto the flower pot. Put tome potting soil into the plastic bag and tie with a pretty ribbon. Add a packet of seeds and give it to your special Valentine. These can be used all year round and given to teachers, grand parents or friends.

candyphoto