Two new books for use in Kindergarten

If you haven't read the book Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker, you must check your local bookstore or library for a copy.  I can't wait to read this charming little picture book to my classes when the school year begins.   I always like to let my students talk quietly while they create if they wish but for some students,  they can't seem to regulate their talking.  This little book tells the story of Lacey Walker who loses her voice and discovers all she has been missing out on with her non-stop talking!  I absolutely am charmed by the story.  It is written by Christianne Jones and illustrated by Richard Watson.

The second new book for the fall is The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and illustrated by Oliver Jeffers.  If you are not familiar with Jeffers, you will recognize his art from other books you have probably used in your classroom.  You can learn more about him here.  This picture book tells of the frustration experienced by a box of crayons over the way their owner uses them.  Some feel overused, some under used and others limited in what they are allowed to color.    I recommend both to you for your classroom collection.  It has been selected by Amazon as one of the Best Children's Books of the Year.

Have you found these, yet?

I found these today at my local discount store and immediately bought a box of each.  My only disappointment was not finding a box of the orange hues.  I will definitely use these as teaching tools when working with values and tints or color families and warm and cool colors.  Love them!   Anybody else have any ideas for the new, nouveau, crayons?

Writing a children's book in just 5 weeks!

Just came home from the first night of "Create your own children's book" and I can sum it up in one word, or maybe two, intimidated and terrified.   I always feel this way in new situations when I have to put myself out there.  I think I will learn something.   The goal is to create a book ready to present to a publisher for consideration.   My personal goal is to create a book I can share with my students whether it is published or not.  Adam Gudeon is our instructor.  He is a publish author and illustrator.  His first book " Me and Meow " is illustrated based on his own daughter's drawings.  He has a second book in the works and is currently collaborating with another children's book author, illustrating her book.  Oh, and I have homework...gotta get to work!

One more day creating with Metal Foil Tape

Cassette Book, egg and another drawing book

 Another day of playing with the foil tape.  I truly am addicted to all the possibilities!  I don't think I am finished with the egg, yet.  I envision a little patina on it and maybe a few embellishments like charms or chains.



This cassette tape book was the most fun.   I removed all the screws and disassembled the tape case.  I saved everything but the tape because you just never know what  you might be able to do with those things!  : )  A cardboard spine was added to make it work as a book and I also added cardboard to the hollow areas to smooth out the look a little.  The pages were found free on the Internet by Googling music sheets.  They add a little whimsy to the idea of a cassette tape book.

This final piece is another drawing book similar to the one from yesterday.  The textural elements were created from paper cuts.  I applied them to the back of the tape prior to attaching the tape to the book.   I really like how interesting the book looks and think that it adds a bit of mystery to the look.  This will be my final pieces for a while.   I have to take a face painting break tomorrow to paint at a city summer program.  It's a repeat and always a lot of fun.  The kids are terrific.  Tomorrow night I will be beginning a class on children's book writing.  I integrate children's books into many

of my lessons.  I have lots of ideas of books I would like to read related to what I teach but can't always find a book to fill my expectations.
I've entertained writing my own on numerous occasions.  So, this is me taking a giant leap into seeing if this will work for me!  Wish me luck!

Not there, yet!

Metal Foil Tape

As I mentioned in my last post, I am really addicted to this Metal Foil Tape that I found at the hardware store.  I finished covering the globe yesterday, added some fake rivet marks and used inks on it to distress the finish a little before I sanded and scuffed the finish.  I'm not sure where I am taking this piece next.  I have a few thoughts and plans rattling around in my brain.

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The photo is not the greatest because the light from my camera bounces off of the metal finish.  You can sort of get an idea of what it looks like.  I couldn't sit still while I muddled over what to do next with this so I set it aside to conquer more objects with the tape.   I had taken apart some books for a previous project with some 4th grade students in the spring and ever the pack rat, kept the covers.  After selecting one from the pile in the basement, I took out the tape and got to work.  I taped and inked the cover before adding a string to the book to tie it closed and the inside pages made from drawing paper (9 x 12) folded in half.  I wanted to embellish the outside a bit so added some features I had purchased at the craft store in the upper right corner and a tag and lady bug created using a sizzix dye and more foil tape. Here are those photos.

My last project for the day, I was starving and had worked right through lunch, was a small Whitman's candy tin I found in the basement from many Valentine's ago.  I covered the top and then embossed the metal with overlapping shapes.  This was a very similar project to the coins I have done with 3rd grade classes.  I used sharpies to color in portions of the shapes and added texture to other areas.  I discovered that a fine line sharpie could be used for color and texture at the same time.  I don't think I'm through with my search for things to add Tin Foil Tape to.  I'll keep you posted as I keep creating!

What I've been keeping busy with.....

the process

This mess is the product of some creative jewelry making that Kaileigh and I got into this past week.   One of my good friends was celebrating a birthday and I wanted something original to give her as a gift.  I had been surfing a few blogs and discovered a tape transfer process at the blog Balzer Designs.  Click on Holiday Handmade for her video tutorial. It is really an amazing process using colored photocopies and packaging tape to create a clear transfer of the photo.  We then mounted them on a plastic shape called a fragment, finished the edges with foil tape and added jewelry fittings to create earrings and necklaces.   Kaileigh has gotten so into the process that she is still creating with hopes of selling her pieces at a craft fair this weekend.   Here are a few more photos.

Some of our creations

Some work from Kaileigh's original photos
The big one is fireworks from the 4th!

This was the finished gift for my friend

I really loved working with the foil tape.  We cut it into thin strips for use on the jewelry fragments.  We found it at the hardware store and it comes on a roll that is about 2" wide.  I'm trying to discover other ways to use it.  It can be embossed like the Art Foil we used at school and colored with permanent inks and sharpies.  I'm in the process of covering a globe with it.  I'll post a photo when it is finished.

Circulating on Facebook today.....