Star Wars Invasion at the Glen Burnie Regional Library

Star Wars Invasion at NCO!! We had over 180 people come out to see the 501st Legion and to make some wonderful crafts! Thank you to everyone that helped to make this happen, especially our wonderful volunteers!

Glove Puppets

I finally had time to create a few glove puppets! Yay! For the Monkeys and the Frogs, I hot glued some Velcro dots onto the glove tips, then added them to the pre-made felt monkey and frog stickers. Now I can use one glove for several themes!

For the Snowmen/Birds (Looks like both!!), I hot glued white pom poms onto the tips, then googly eyes and foam carrots (beaks) onto them. This one isn't interchangeable, but it is cute!!

Thank you Pinterest!!

Wintertime Display at Glen Burnie Regional Library

It is that time of year when the librarians make fun displays from old books! Check out what I made with some of my co-workers last week! We used weeded books that fit our color scheme. We even had to dive into the sale books for paperbacks for their smaller size.

This display also made the header on the AACPL Facebook page! How awesome is that!!??

I am really enjoying my new job at the library. I get to do the Toddler Storytime every week, make crafts with my ELS co-workers, and help decorate the library! Life is pretty good right now!

Train Storytime at the Library

I have bee invited to do storytime twice a month! I am very excited! It has been so long since I had a job, or did storytime without my own kids present. It is nice to have adult time even if kids are still present!

The other day was a train theme. Here is the outline that I used.

Reminders - 

Wiggling kids can step a way

magic line

Hello -  “Clap and Sing Hello!” (Tune: Farmer in the Dell)

     We clap and sing hello,

     We clap and sing hello,

     With our friends at storytime,

     We clap and sing hello!

     (Wave and sing hello; stomp and sing hello.)

Train activities in area and home

     Railway Museum in Ewa

     Train at Dole

     Monorail at mall and sometimes have a train

     Cardboard boxes to paint and color 

     Tissue boxes and TP rolls

Book - Engine, Engine, Number Nine by Stephanie Calmenson

Song - THE WHEELS OF THE TRAIN

The wheels of the train go round and round, (Elbows bent at sides, make circle motions)

Round and round / round and round /

The wheels of the train go round and round

Clickety, clickety clack.

The engineer toots his horn … Toot, toot, toot. (Mime pulling cord)

The crossing gates come right on down… (Arms up, elbows bent…)

Clang, clang, clang.             (Hands move down toward each other

The people on the train get bumped around. . . (Body moves up and down)

Bump, bump, bump.

Book - Meeow and the Little Chairs by Sebastien Braun

Action Rhyme -  CHOO CHOO

Choo, choo, choo, choo,

Choo, choo, choo, choo,

Up the railroad track.

Choo, choo, choo, choo

Choo, choo, choo, choo

Then we come right back.

First we go to _______’s house

And then we go to ______’s house

Then we go to _______’s house

And then we come right back.

(repeat 1st verse)

Flannel - The Little Engine That Could

Book - Freight Train by Donald Crews

Goodbye Song - Goodbye, so long, farewell my friend

Craft - Train on TP rolls

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The Little Engine that Could Flannel

Here is a clown. He wants to travel and visit boys and girls. So he looked for a train.

He came upon some bright colored train cars and loaded them with delicious food and toys.

Now he needed an engine. So he waved his little red flag at a big black coal train. But the coal train had worked all day and couldn't pull the cars.

Next the clown waved down a very old engine. But he was too tired to pull the cars.

The next train was a shiny engine, but he only carried passenger cars, not clown cars. 

The clown waved down a pale green car but he was too sick to help.

Finally, the clown waved down a small happy train. This happy train would help!

So the cars were hitched to the train and off they went.

But they came to a very big hill. The little train's load got so heavy. He didn't know if he would make it!

But he said to himself...I think I can, I think I can.

He made it over the hill and said "I thought I could!"

They made it to town and had a great party for the kids! 

Mother's Day Storytime @ the Library

I was able to sub for the children's library again last week for the Mother's Day Storytime. Here are the books and songs that I used:

Hello - 

“Clap and Sing Hello!” (Tune: Farmer in the Dell)

We clap and sing hello,

We clap and sing hello,

With our friends at storytime,

We clap and sing hello!

(Wave and sing hello; stomp and sing hello.)

Talk about mommies, encourage kids to look at pictures of mom. Show mine.

Book - Mama Hen's Big Day by Jill Latter

Song - Mother's Day Song

     (Tune - You are my sunshine)

     I love you mommy

     My dearest mommy

     You make me happy

     When I am sad.

     I want to show you

     How much I love you.

     Here's a hug

     For Mother's Day!

Book - Is Your Mama a Llama? By Deborah Guarino

Action Rhyme - Moms Are Best

     Teddy Bears are nice to clutch

     To hold, to feel, to love, to touch

          (pretend to hug and pet toy bear)

     But mommies are the best of all

     To hug and kiss when you are small.

          (Give a big hug and kiss)

Flannel - Five Little Ducks

Book - I Love My Mommy by Giles Andreae

Goodbye Song - Goodbye, so long, farewell my friend

Craft - handprint flower craft (already assembled)

It was a lot of fun and I hope they let me volunteer in the future!

Jessica

Back at the Library Again!

After 4 years staying home, I am back at the library doing storytime! I loved it! I am filling in for only 2 storytimes, as a volunteer, but I am hoping that means more involvement over the summer.

I got there about an hour early to set up. Didn't need that long, but it was nice talking with the branch manager about library stuff! And the awesome thing about our conversation...he offered to write a letter of recommendation and/or be a reference. I also plan on helping him with the library scrapbook.

The storytime was great. A mouse theme. All I had to prepare was the book selection. The librarian had the craft arranged, as well as the flannel story. Here is what I did today:

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Hello Song

“Clap and Sing Hello!” (Tune: Farmer in the Dell)
We clap and sing hello,
We clap and sing hello,
With our friends at storytime,
We clap and sing hello!
(Wave and sing hello; stomp and sing hello.)

Book - A New House for Mouse by Petr Horacek

Song - Hickory Dickory Dock

Hickory Dickory Dock
Hickory dickory dock (run fingers up legs)
The mouse ran up the clock (run fingers up body)
The clock struck one
The mouse ran down
Hickory dickory dock
...the clock struck two (clap twice) - the mouse said boo!

...the clock struck three (clap3 times) ...the clock struck four (clap4 times)
- the mouse said whee! - there is no more
(clap hands once over head) (run fingers down body)
(run fingers down legs)

Book - If You Give A Mouse A Cookie

Flannel - Lunch by Denise Fleming

Book - As Quiet As A Mouse by Hilda Offen

Goodbye Song - Goodbye, so long, farewell my friend

Craft - mouse mask (already assembled)

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Here is a picture that my friend snapped of me.

Farm Activity Trays

Here are the activities we are doing this month, with a farm theme. Every morning at 10am, Leo and I work on these, then, in the afternoon after Gwyneth is home, we all work in here again. We also have a ton of different farm themed apps and TV shows/movies. We have also gone on a field trip to the zoo, which has a farm animal area.

Creating a Montessori Inspired Playroom

Since my Mother-in-law, the Montessori teacher, has moved in, she has really motivated me to create a learning area for my kids. Space is tight since now the kids share a room, she has the 3rd room, and the kids have so many toys from Christmas and their birthdays. So we set our sights on the front room, which has been a computer room. Well, the computer has no other location to be except the dining room, and we didn't want to do that. So, we are keeping the PC and office supplies, just moving them into a corner. I hope to get shelves installed above the desk for office supplies.

For shelves, I found some tall ones on Craigslist for $10 each, a steal. They are great. We want to get fabric bins for the upper shelves to put extra learning materials into.

I think we will get another shelf unit, a low one, then relocate the bean bag chair and a rug into there. These are our shelves so far and some close-ups of the jobs themselves.

Have a great day!

Jess

I have another blog!!

I have been getting a lot of traffic on this blog from my Artist Spotlight over at Gecko Galz.  This isn't the blog I meant to be linked, since this is going to be a personal blog, and my scrapbooking/crafty blog is at the following:

Scrap Savings

So just click the above link to see all my crafty goodness!  I have some new goodies coming that I have been working on so stay tuned!

Jess

Getting Crafty Again!

Thanks to my friend Barbara, who introduced me to Gecko Galz, I have been getting crafty again.  Gecko Galz has some wonderful products and ideas, along with an awesome challenge group on Yahoo.  If you get a chance, check it out.

Gecko Galz Website
Gecko Galz Yahoo Group

Here are some things I have made for challenges:

This first one is for a Pretty Plaque challenge, where I made a door plaque for my daughter's room. I used an inexpensive wood plaque from Wal-Mart, painted it with a glaze from Making Memories, added pearls around the edges, along with some lace.  The letters were inked brown then I used Perfect Pearls over them to tone down the brown and to give it shine.  I made a paper flower using my Cricut, added a couple of store flowers and some fancy pins. Hung it with more lace and VOILA!  I just love it!

 This military collage was done in honor of my nephew who just completed USMC boot camp last month.  The silhouette is of him. I used a book page, matted it on black cardstock.  The top fan is a cupcake liner. The labels are Making Memories.  I used Perfect Pearls on the stars. I love how it turned out.

 This is an altered canvas, my first.  There is room for improvement, but not bad for a 1st try.  I covered the canvas with some Distress stain, stamped lightly with some Nick Bantok ink.  Printed a map of Scotland and distressed it. Made a faux wax seal with purple embossing powder. Cut out thistles from some clipart. Added some crowns, buttons, and a bit of doodling (a mistake but oh well). Coated it with Modge Podge.

This is one of my favorites from this weekend.  It is a library catelog card, printed from online.  I stamped with 4 different stamps, the netting, the compass, the zig zags, and the writing.  I inked it all with Nick Bantok ink, used a mermaid image from Graphics Fairy, a fish charm, a shell from Graphic 45, and some letters. Love how it turned out.  Plan on doing a whole series of library catalog cards. 

Diaper Cakes by Gwynberry Designs

Aloha! Diaper cakes are something I make for fun, not a business, so you can be sure to have the best and most for your money. Let me help you celebrate a special occasion with a one-of-a-kind, whimsical yet practical gift.

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Types of cakes I can make:

Cakes can include a blanket, a stuffed toy, pacifiers, washcloths, toiletries, and more.
1 tier
2 tier
3 tier
4 tier

Onsie or receiving blanket cupcakes

Washcloth and spoon flowers

Baby shower favors

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Just e-mail me if you are interested in a unique gift that will sure to bring a smile to the new mama's face! Mahalo!

jessica.m.moore@gmail.com

Gwynberry Designs

Had a table at a kid clothes swap tonight. Only 2 contacts were made but it was free advertising. I love making diaper cakes and other baby shower items. They are so cute and make people happy. Here are pictures from what I made for the swap.

A bit of Montessori at home

This week we are trying out some Montessori techniques at home to prepare Gwyn for preschool. I really like their ideas, mixing practical skills like pouring water with regular school concepts of letters and numbers. As I type this she is using Play-Doh scissors to practice cutting. That way when I pull out the kid scissors she has the basics down.

Other activities are Pom-Pom sorting, blocks, lacing beads, glueing buttons on shamrock, and various counting games. Check out my Pinterest boards for ideas.