It's Getting Artsy Craftsy Up in Here

Breaking news: Electronics have been banned in this household for the next 2 weeks.  {Or longer if the kids can't get their acts together and fulfill their basic life responsibilities.}  And let me tell you -- they were all THRILLED with the news when we broke it to to them last night.  Hahahaha.  But, consequences must be enforced, and after getting a strike three weeks in a row for not completing their checklists, they're lucky we didn't actually cancel cable like we had threatened to do.  Instead, we're going cold turkey with the screens, which should give them more than enough time to prove to us that they can handle life responsibilities and actually follow our House Electronic Rules.  Not to mention it will also give them plenty of extra time to realize that there are other fun things to do that don't involve watching TV or playing on the computer.

Luckily, they have a kid ornament exchange on the horizon to provide them with inspiration to get their creative juices flowing.  And since they have nothing ELSE to do now that screens are out of the picture, they've been getting awfully artsy craftsy up in here.  Hahahahaha.  :)  Here are some highlights of the projects they've been working on.  Pinterest is becoming our new best friend...

• Up first?  Owls by Jane.  I found a recipe for this clay online, and I have to say it's pretty awesome.  It has a really cool texture, molds perfectly, and dries really hard.  Although, it will obviously still break if thrown on the ground.  Trust me, we know.   Mix 1 c. cornstarch, 2 c. baking soda, and 1 1/2 c. water in a saucepan over medium heat.  Stir frequently until it is roughly the consistency of mashed potatoes.  Dump onto some parchment paper and cover with a wet dish towel until cool enough to knead, and then go to town making whatever you want.  Bake in a 200 degree oven until dried out and hard, flipping over when necessary to let both sides dry.  After the owls were done,  Jane painted them and I Mod Podged them.  Voila! 

 After demonstrating how to make them, Jane really did do almost a dozen of them by herself!  Alex even made one.  :)

 Jane's spacer chamber for her inhaler made the perfect circular stamp for the feathers and eyes.  Hahahaha.

 Aren't they adorably crazy looking?? :)  

• Next up?  Grace.  Our resident creative genius.  After carefully culling through some Pinterest images last week, she settled upon these glass bulb snowmen.  They are rather adorable don't you think?  She is quite pleased with them as well, and is pacing herself carefully throughout the week, so she doesn't get too bored without electronics.  Hahaha.  She finished all the ear muffs today, and tomorrow she will work on the scarves.  After that, I'm really hoping she finds another project to work on so that I don't have a Grace-style meltdown on my hands when I don't let her watch a show.

• Then?  There's Sophie. Whose ornaments are turning out to be a little more labor-intensive than we thought they would be when we found the inspiration online.  Unfortunately, these little mini Christmas trees require a little more finger dexterity than our resident 7-year-old possesses, and a lot of the knot-tying as fallen to me.  She's doing a great job cutting out the ribbons and glue-gunning the "star" on, though!  :)

• Ethan, meanwhile, was the first to find his project.  And even though I initially tried to dissuade him from the task because I thought it would be WAY past his frustration level threshold, I've been surprised and delighted to see him make it work while making these awesome little disco balls.  And I should probably add that he is super stoked about using the glue gun.  :)

• Not to be left out, the little Love Pup came home with a project of his own from preschool today  -- my very first Christmas present of the season!  So cute.  Love that little handprint.  :)  While the other kids were getting their crafts on after school, I remembered some little snowmen ornaments I had seen online that I thought might just be at his skill level -- with a little help from me.  And since we have TONS of empty toilet paper rolls (thanks to leftovers from a Sister Friendly Primary project a couple of weeks ago), I cut out some white paper to wrap them up in, and let Alex get to work, too.   It wasn't long before the girls got in on the action as well.  Hahaha.

 "Alex, do you want black for the eyes?" I said.  "No, I want evil eyes," he said.  "WHY?"  I asked.  "Because I like evil eyes," he replied.  Hahahaha.

 Alex's evil-eyed snowman with an orange "belt."  Awesomeness itself.

 Cute little Jane's.

And super impressive Grace's.  Complete with headband, bow, scarf, ponytail, arms, and a message for mom and dad.

I just love these kids!  Thankfully, I think they still love me, too, even if I am so mean for taking their electronics away.  ;)