Those Simple But Easy Wins

Hello, my friends.  I hope that everyone is managing OK. The craft that I'm sharing today is one of Tre's, my youngest son's, past favorites from Camp Create. I chose to share this project today because of its simplicity : ) It totally reminds me of our generation's little Shrinky Dinks!

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I'm finding more each day that it is essential to our mental health to step away from social media and the news, unplug and just Breath.  On one level, worry can become paramount during these times, but in other ways, being home, simplifying and spending more time outside has been therapeutic. In that spirit, I'm planning on giving myself a word to focus on every couple of days.

The word that comes to my mind this morning is ... simplify. Trying to stay focused on the people and things that are at hand in front of me, and leave the rest to do another time. When my little (but bold) grandma was alive, we used to have coffee every Friday morning. On days when I felt overwhelmed or tired, she used to tell me to ... "Only do what is necessary, the rest can wait!"

I'm embracing these words of wisdom today. Hope you can spend time creating with your kids, taking a hot bath, cooking a healthy meal, getting outside, drinking hot tea, gardening, walking dogs, reading good books, resting and SIMPLY breathing and being.

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Here are the details for today's super fun but simple project:

Supplies:

• Colorful array of Sharpie markers
  
• Chinet disposable cups
  
• Aluminum foil
• Oven (toaster or conventional oven)

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How we loaded them in the toaster ovens at Camp Create

The result using thinner stripes of less color

Process:

• Use the Sharpie markers to color on the cups. You can do patterns, stripes, polka-dots or just let them have fun coloring! The more you cover the cup, the more colorful the resulting sculpture will become.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  
• Put the cups on a baking tray and cover the tray with foil.
• Pop them in the oven and watch carefully as they begin to crumple and melt.
• Pull the sculpture out when you child likes how it looks and let it cool.

The result using lots of color, covering the cups

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Helpful tip: While these do look stunning piled in a bowl near a sunny window, at Camp Create we made mobiles out of them. To make colorful mobiles, just punch a hold near the top of the cups using a hole punch before baking them. After they have melted and cooled, the kids can thread string into their creations and tie to make colorful mobiles. To hang, we tied the fishing string to criss-crossed popsicle sticks. You can use whatever you have on hand, but a pipe cleaner worked great to hold the 2 sticks together.

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Image courtesy of Artsy.net

This project idea was inspired by a world famous glass artist named, Dale Chihuly. Miss Holli introduced me to his work. She grew up in Seattle, WA, where Chihuly has his roots. His art is actually on permanent display in Florida's city of St. Petersburg. When things go back to normal, consider scheduling a day trip to see his art. It is something to behold! Here is the museum's website.

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Would love to see what you create with your kids during this down time. Tag me on Facebook or via Instagram using #campcreateartcamp.

What inspirational verses, words or thoughts are you focussing on today?

I Corinthians 14:33 / For God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.