A set of seashell wind chimes is a great reminder of a summer vacation at the shore. Kids and adults love to collect shells, and here’s something creative to do with them!

Supplies Needed:
Whole Seashells (get more than you think you’ll need, because a few may break)
Clear plastic thread (fishing line)
A Phillips-head screwdriver or any tool with a point
Scissors
Sharpie
Something to hang your shells from, like a curved branch or a short wooden dowel

Directions:
1. PREPARE THE SHELL: Wash them! Clean out the sand, the bits of seaweed, whatever debris is stuck to the shell.
2. MAKE THE HOLES: Pick the spot you want the hole to be. You will need one hole at the top of the shell and one hole at the bottom. — mark it with a pen or marker if you need to. Using a twisting motion, bore a hole in the shell. Some shells are thicker than others; don’t use too much pressure or the shell can shatter.
3. STRING THE SHELLS: Measure out the string at desired length. Using plastic thread, thread shells by threading through both holes on each shell and tieing off securely before going on to the next shell. Leave enough string at the top to make a big loop that will be the “hook” to hang on the branch/dowel.
4. HANG THE SHELLS: Using loop on top of the sting of hanging shells, loop around branch/dowel.

Optional: Decorate Shells with stickers, markers, photos, colored sand, glitters, etc..

Below are a few at home ways you can create your own bird feeder with items that you may already have in your home.

Be sure to hang your bird feeder somewhere peaceful, sheltered and away from cats and squirrels!

Empty peanut butter jars:

Empty plastic soda bottles with spatulas:

Peanut butter and seed covered pine cones:

Orange Bowls filled with seed:

Supplies Needed:

• 2 sheets of waxed paper
• Fall colored tissue paper (orange,brown,red,yellow)
• Scissors
• Paint brush
• Iron
• Modge Podge or watered down glue
• Construction paper
• A pencil
• Raffia or string
• A hole punch
• Window hanging suction cups

Supplies:

• 1 Wooden popsicle stick
• Moldable clay or play-dough
• Thin bendable wire
• 2 Pipe cleaners
• 2 Google eyes
• Heavy duty scissors to cut wire (if needed)
• Liquid glue

Directions:

1. Wrap the wire near the bottom of the popsicle stick and leave the ends out to act as legs.

2. Secure and “hide” the middle of the wire with one pipe cleaner

3. Add small quarter size ammounts of clay to either size of the wire

4. Wrap other pipcleaner around the top of the popsicle stick while leaving the ends out on either side to act as arms

5. Glue google eyes to top of popsicle stick.

6. Make sure both sides of clay are even, you may need to add more clay.

7. When finished, balance the bottom of the popsicle stick on middle or index finger and “Bob” should balance!

Supplies:

• Flowers
• Muffin tin
• Yarn
• Water
• A Tree to hang wishes

Directions:

Place flowers in the muffin tin, add yarn and freeze.When frozen and ready for use, place the tray in warm water to loosen the flowers from the muffin tin.

Wishing Rules:

1. Make your wish as you hang the flower in the tree. The object of this game is to catch the flower before it hits the ground.
2. You are not allowed to rub the ice with your hands in order to make it melt faster, however, you may use your breath. And catching icy drops with your tongue is a MUST!
3. Watch over your wishes, you’ll want to keep a good eye on that piece of yarn! Making predictions by looking closely at the yarn can be a big help in determining which wish might fall next.
4. If you catch the flower before it hits the ground, your wish will come true.

Supplies:

Long piece of white butcher paper

Tempura paint in blue,green,white

White paper plate

Various colors of tissue paper squares

White liquid glue

Sponges/Paintbrushes for mural background

Pencil

Scissors

Directions:

*This is somwhat of a longer project, it may take two days to complete.

1. First create the paper plate fish by cutting a triangle shape on one side of the paper plate to act as the fish’s mouth, with the newly cut off triangle glue to the back of the other side of the plate to be the tail.

2. Glue tissue paper squares to one side of the paper plate by dipping/applying glue, use the eraser end of a pencil to act as a utencil applicator (its easier to apply the paper).

3. Afer the fish is covered completely set to dry and work on mural!

4. Create a textuired look with the paint to be the “sea” water.

5. After the paper has dried, use a child’s handprint in a stacking order to act as the “see weed”

6. When the mural is dry and the fish are dry, simply glue the fish to the mural and you are finished.

Supplies: ( All can be found at any craft stores such as Michaels)

• Stepping stone molds ( We used mini soap molds)
• Pebbles, stones, beads, buttons, glass, anything you want to decorate your stepping stone and make it personal to YOU!
• Cement or stepping stone mix
• 1 Plastic disposable spoon
• 1-2 large disposable bowls for mixing

Directions:

- Here are two common ways to create stepping stones:

1. Way number one is to glue your chosen pieces to the base of the mold then pour the mix over the pieces.

2. Way number two is to pour the cement, then decorate by laying pieces on top of cement and pushing them gently.

To make ours we chose to pour the cement then have the children push in their desired items. This does take less time so if you want a quick day project this is the way to go. The directions below are for exactly what we did.

1. Mix cement with disposable spoon as directed on the box/package in disposable bowl so that it is the consistency of sour cream

2. Spoon cement into molds

3. Smooth out top with spoon

4. Decorate with desired items! I have seen that the smaller the item the more likely it will get “lost” in the cement so choose items that are about the size of a penny

5. Let dry at least 24 hours. Best if placed in the sun outside

6. Do not step on stones after 2-3 weeks mix still will need to set

Ingredients:

• 4 C all purpose flour
• 2 C non-iodized salt
• 4 C water
• 8 tsp cream of tartar
• 4 tbsp cooking oil

Directions:

• Cook and stir on med-low til forms. Careful not to burn. If coloring, mix food coloring in water first. When cooled down, knead dough and put in sealed container.
• To add glitter just use craft glitter and knead into dough. Keep adding glitter til it is as ’sparkly’ as you desire.

Visit Rockin the Stove’s post on how to Compost HERE!

Supplies:

• Smooth oval shaped rock
• Acrylic paints in red, black, and white

Directions:

1. First paint the lady bug red and let dry.
2. Paint a black line across the top 1/4th of the rock for the head.
3. Paint a line down the center of the body and a small triangle at the other end so that the red looks like wings. Dot black dots onto the red area.
4. Dot 2 small white eyes and let the paint dry.