Monday with J: The Kindness Tree

Wikipedia tells us Kindness is...

...Kindness is the act or the state of being kind, being marked by good and charitable behavior, pleasant disposition, and concern for others. It is known as a virtue, and recognized as a value in many cultures and religions. Research has shown that acts of kindness does not only benefit receivers of the kind act, but also the giver, as a result of the release of neurotransmitters responsible for feelings of contentment and relaxation when such acts are committed. [1]

What's not to LOVE? 

What's beautiful about Kindness is that it comes in all shapes and sizes. We don't need any special qualifications, education, status, or resources to offer it...it's all within US. We can be kind to friends and family, we can be kind to animals and the environment, we can be kind to strangers and we can be kind to ourselves. Good news...we're all in!

Let's treat our souls, release some neurotransmitters, and teach our kiddos Kindness as a way of life. 

I'll call this project...The Kindness Tree

Supplies: 

- Small plant pot (thrift store is a great place to look if you need one)

- Handful of small-medium sized rocks (think mini candy bar)

- Sticks or branches (love the color of Dogwood branches. I saved what I pruned this fall)

- Dried moss - optional

- Expanding insulating foam sealant (from hardware/discount store - about $3)

- Paper heart doilies or decorative paper

- Marker

- Tiny clothespins (found at craft stores/departments)

Start by prepping the base of your Kindness Tree. I saw this idea as a base for round wedding topiaries last fall and loved its versatility. I decided it would be a great display for the handmade hair accessories I make as part of my children's clothing/accessories line, J Designs. 

First, add a layer of rocks to the bottom of the pot to help stabilize and prevent tipping, and to take up some of the extra space in the pot. The sealant expands and hardens to fill the pot and hold the branches in place permanently. Carefully read the directions on the can of foam sealant, each is a little different. Trust the advice they offer about the estimated expansion of the product. They are not lying to you. If you don't, your foam will take on a life of its own...I've heard. 

You may want to have a second set of hands (wouldn't that be AMAZING?!) to help you position the branches in the pot as you add the foam and it begins to firm up. I set the pot on the floor next to a bench and propped the branches up again it to ensure they didn't flop while drying.  

This is the expanding, insulating foam sealant. Cheap. Easy.


















It's aliiiiiive!






Allow the foam to dry overnight and harden completely. Ours sprouted a large horn overnight and we had to saw it off the following morning. The kiddos thoroughly enjoyed the production. 

*note: if you don't have any lovely crimson dogwood branches on hand, and you'd like to add some flash, you could spray paint plain branches for a pop of color, although this is a bit more difficult if you are in a cold weather region like the current frozen tundra of MN! Please ventilate properly, people. 

It's time to cover and decorate the foam at the top of the pot, if you so wish. Use glitter paint, felt, puff balls, dried moss, etc. 

I found paper lace doily hearts at the big red bullseye store (dollar section - score!) but you could also have the kids cut our their own hearts. Remember folding a square of paper in half and tracing a half-heart for cutting? My kids still find that fascinating. You can also add embellishments such as flowers, gems, decorative paper inserts, etc. 

Now, this is when things get warm and fuzzy...it's time to brainstorm acts of Kindness. Offer your kiddos a few ideas to get their gears moving and see what they come up with from there! If they are learning to write have them help you add one kind act to each heart. You will be surprised by the innocence and magic of their ideas - melt. Remember, no act is to small! Make as many as you'd like. 

Now, decide how you want to spread the love...will you choose one act of Kindness a day from the tree to complete? Perhaps you'll add the hearts as you complete the deed and 'grow' a bountiful bouquet? Your Kindness Tree will make a beautiful Valentine's centerpiece and serve as a constant reminder to care. 

Here are a few acts of Kindness we chose: 

-Hold the door open for someone

-Visit someone who may be lonely...make them smile

-Bring your teachers tea

-Draw a special picture for a loved one and mail it to them

-Adopt a soldier - send a letter

-Make a friend with someone who is shy

-Shovel the snow with mom

-Write someone a special note or letter above why you love them

-Be kind to your body...eat healthy

-Feed the birds - make them treats

-Clean my room, make my bed

-Send a care package to a loved one - or a stranger in need

-Walk the dog

-Leave money in a candy/snack machine

-Bake a treat and bring it to your neighbors

-Pay for someone's tab anonymously

-Pay someone a compliment

This list of ideas could have gone on for days...and you feel better inside just dreaming them up!

Clearly children respond to tangible reward, and there may be a time and place for that. 

THIS time let's model the best form of Kindness - unrewarded kindness - let's challenge them to embrace a reward that is not material, but felt on the inside, knowing that they've made a difference in someone's life. 

XOXO, 

J 

Visit J's full blog at:  http://livingfromthisdayforward.blogspot.com 

I'm J...a now-single mama of two, who hit a big bump in the road, navigating my way down an unexpected new path one day at a time. My babes are my light and my lens to see the best in everything. We play, we create, we explore, we laugh, we love. The laundry is a little backed up, and dinner may be less than impressive, but our hearts are full and we'll sleep well tonight. Grab your munchkins and join us for some fun...this is what we're up to today! 

Monday with J: Love Rocks...let's spread some!

Love Rocks...let's spread some!

It is my desire for my babes to love and to learn to be comfortable expressing their love. I want them to grow 'living' kindness, compassion, and honoring others. Why is this form of expression so hard for so many to do? There are numerous reasons, I imagine. I'm willing to bet there are many a proclamation of love or friendship just floating around in minds and space, or at the tips of tongues, that have shamefully never been shared. I've recognized, in the past, that I didn't express near the level of adoration I had for loved ones around me (clearly excluding my children who must tire from the outpouring at some point). I've been working on turning that around. It should be simple...have pleasant thought, acknowledge thought, express thought to loved one, hug. Moving along...

I'll call this project...Love-yata (maybe)  

The basis for the project is the good 'ole Pinata. My own mom helped me make paper mache art growing up and it was always one of my favorite crafts. We experimented with different shapes and subjects. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, and love to be shared, we'll focus on the heart. Rather than filling them with candy, we are going to fill them with LOVE. We've added personal messages, compliments, and proclamations of love on mini paper scrolls. 

  

Supplies: 

'Goo' (equal parts flour & water - I used 1 cup of each, and a couple pinches of salt to help prevent molding)

Balloons (I found small balloons offer the best shape)

Bike Pump (read on, trust)

Tape

Newspaper Strips (about 1/2 - 1 in. wide)

Paint

Embellishments

Small paper strips (for love messages)

I suspected two half-blown balloons would be a great base for the shape of a heart. The smaller balloons worked well, we had a few water balloons on hand that worked well for the smallest size pictured above. Note: they are REALLY hard to blow up, like humanly impossible due to their strength. We ended up using our bike pump to inflate them...good luck, it got a little weird ;) I used a bit of tape to join the two balloons. I also taped them to the prepared surface table (covered in wax paper) to stabilize them as I added the first layer of paper mache, aka 'goo'.  

Mix up the 'goo' with a whisk in a container that you can seal. The project will take a couple days considering dry time between layers and decoration. Dip the strips in the goo and skim off the excess. Place the strips in rows, slightly overlapping. Add some diagonally to cover the lobes of the heart and also at an angle along the bottom to create the point. You will need to set/prop the heart up on a bowl or cup and let the first layer dry in a warm place before adding more. I wouldn't add more than 2 layers for this particular project since you won't need quite the stability required by loads of candy. 

Yes, Puppy Chow in the background...creative fuel, swear. 

When the heart is completely dry it will be a hard shell (unlike your own). Now it's time for the bling to begin! Start by adding a coat of acrylic craft paint in your color of choice. My daughter gave me one option: pink. You may need an additional coat if the newspaper print shows through. I wondered what Mod Podge over the newsprint would look like, or covering with scraps of crepe paper, perhaps another day. Next, cut a small door in the back to add your love notes. Use a sharp cerated knife, and try to avoid crushing the form as you cut a flap just large enough for fingers to fish out the notes. 

From here, play! You can add sequins, glitter glue/paint, puff balls, artificial flowers, feathers, small pictures, or hand paint a message. Focus mainly on the front half of the heart. 

 

Now it's time to open your own heart and spill the lovelies. Whether it's your partner, friend, child, or neighbor...tailor your messages to your subject and really push yourself. Dig deep. Pay a genuine compliment. Let them know specifically why you love them. Share a quirky characteristic that makes you smile. Offer a blessing. Handprinted notes from your children would melt the recipients heart and be a wonderful emotional exercise for your babes :) 

XOXO, 

J  

Our friend J also plays on her own blog at... http://livingfromthisdayforward.blogspot.com/

Monday with J

Meet our friend J

I'm J...a now-single mama of two, who hit a big bump in the road, navigating my way down an unexpected new path one day at a time. My babes are my light and my lens to see the best in everything. We play, we create, we explore, we laugh, we love. The laundry is a little backed up, and dinner may be less than impressive, but our hearts are full and we'll sleep well tonight. Grab your munchkins and join us for some fun...this is what we're up to today! 

My daughter is one of my strongest creative inspirations. She is whimsical, free-spirited, artistically confident, has a distinct sense of personal style, and oozes creativity. Oh, she also just turned 4. It's in her blood and I love to see what's ticking in that beautiful little mind as she heads for the art cabinet. She allows me to relive pieces of my childhood all over again. 

Here is the cabinet. It's packed. It's an art hoarder's dream. It's bulging with goodies and lacks organization because I simply can't keep up with the artist. 

We were nearing the end of Christmas break. We were bored...so we made a friend! Meet wrapping paper roll, Princess Stacey. 

Shortly after Christmas my daughter came to me holding one of the two wrapping paper tubes I kept for the kids, for an undetermined craft project. She asked for fabric and tried desperately to explain her grand idea...putting things here and having a thing on the top and adding something there. Her ideas were pouring out faster than she could grasp the words. I said, "you want to make a doll?" Relieved, she said "yes." And so we began...

Since then, we've adapted the project to paper towel rolls for pint-sized pals.

Supplies:

Scraps of fabric

Scraps of felt

Yarn

Glue gun (tacky craft glue also an option)

Markers

Embellishments

I started by folding over the top edge of a rectangular fabric scrap (think dress) about an inch to create a ruffle accent to the top of the dress. Find the center of the piece of fabric and tack it to the tube with a spot of glue, allowing enough room at the top of the tube for a face (think neck position). Scrunch the fabric a bit toward the center point, in say 1/2" increments, and tack with glue. Continue around to the back side of the tube creating a gather effect. You have a dress. 

For the hair I wound yarn around the length of my forearm to a desired thickness. For smaller friends, you may scale it back to the width of your hand with fingers spread. I then cut the top and bottom of the loop and divided the yarn into two sections - one for each side of the head. Lay the yarn on the table and spread into an even row. Place a line of glue along the top half of one side of the tube and gently place the row of yarn hair onto the glue (caution: for the novice crafter who may still have feeling in your fingertips...glue may squeeze through the yarn when pressing into place, be careful to avoid burns!)

I cut two small circles of felt for the eyes, a crown shape to glue over the rows of hair on the head, and my little lady added the rest of the facial detail with her markers. The ideas are endless...super heroes, fairies, monsters, etc. 

All that's left is to give your new friend a name. 

Cheers!

J & babes

J also plays at http://livingfromthisdayforward.blogspot.com