kids, be thankful
that has been the theme of our last two family nights. we're trying to get them to understand thanksgiving as much as they can. even more, i'm really trying to push the spontaneous (rather than prodded) "thank you." no major progress so far.
last week: thanksgiving jar
jar decorated with pieces of tissue cut mostly by eve and glued on by both girls (when i could get ruth to stop using the glue stick like chapstick). filled with strips of paper listing all the things we're thankful for. some of eve's: jungle book, "smashmallows," drawing on paper, princesses and all paraphenalia she owns or could think of relating to princesses. some of ruth's: eyes, clothes off and "didi boots" (dora and boots). once she thought of dora and boots she wouldn't say anything else, so that's in the jar about seven times.
the plan is to continue adding to the jar until thursday morning when we will read them all to each other and then put a candle in the jar for a "very bootiful" thanksgiving light.
yesterday: the first thanksgiving flannel board story
more felt pieces to tell the story of the pilgrims, mayflower, plymouth rock, the wompanoags, planting, harvesting, feasting and (naturally) being thankful.
i ran out of time for a few major pieces like a turkey and squash/pumpkin, but the rocks and fish i made for the oregon commemoration came in very handy in telling the story in crossing the ocean and plymouth rock, so it all evened out. not sure how much they got from the "we can help and be so thankful and happy for each other" lesson, but they haven't stopped playing with the pieces this morning. and i'm ridiculously happy to have more pieces for the flannel board. i really love the flannel board.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007 at 05:55AM
Reader Comments (14)
I LOVE your flannel pieces... I may have to embark on that project, next year. :)
funny to read this post because I just went to Joann's today dreaming of making a flannel board. But, since I am not very crafty (meaning not at all crafty) I really didn't know what I was doing. When I asked a sales lady she said, "I think you mean felt." So, I bought a yard of felt to make my flannel board. Was it really supposed to be flannel afterall?
you are so inspiring!
Katie, I'm in love with your flannel board creations - they are too cute. Also too cute are your girls' responses for what they are thankful for. I hope you guys have a fantastic Thanksgiving! :)
you make me sick. sick, sick, sick. (: but i love you anyways-
Happy Thanksgiving wonderful Rich family!
How did you make the flannel board? Did you glue the felt to cardboard? I am really slow when it comes to making crafts, etc...
here's how i made our flannel board:
ikea frame (discard glass)
piece of thin masonite (came with frame)
piece of foam core (cut to same size as masonite)
piece of flannel (although megan, i'm sure felt will be fine)
i tightly wrapped the flannel around the masonite and foam core, then stapled the flannel in the back. inserted this into frame. voila! flannel board.
you could go much simpler and just wrap the flannel around one or two pieces of foam core or even cardboard and keep it at that, but i like the look of the framed board. i wouldn't glue the fabric. stapling worked well for me. or you could do like my mom did for ours growing up and duct tape it in the back. lasted for years.
i use 100% wool felt for all my pieces because i'm a felt snob. but i am sure that acrylic felt will stick to the board just as the wool does.
ooh! thanks for posting how you did the flannel board- i'm pretty sure you just freehand all the pieces? if we get brave and if we can find a craft store, i got to thinking this would be a really fun project with the kids.
patria-
i do freehand the pieces. i often "draw" the outline of the pieces with the sewing machine and then cut around them. but sometmes, if i can't first get the shape right with the sewing machine, i will cut out the felt and then sew the border/outline along the piece.
the outline isn't altogether necessary, but i like the way it looks and it helps things not be awkward when a shape or figure involves more than one piece that is sewn together. if you are ever in a rush, or just not interested in sewing tiny pieces of felt together, you can always just use glue for the pieces.
I am so impressed (and jealous) of your flannel board. I have wanted one for years, but have been too intimidated by the thought of making all the pieces .... I was going to ask you where you got the great pattern - of course, you freehanded them! Well, I guess I still feel intimidated, and my poor kids are destined never to have a flannel board.
Oh, and I forgot ... we have a jar almost exactly like that, that Rebekah made years ago. We re-use it every year, and I just LOVE the things my kids (& husband) say they are thankful for. Also, I'm a felt snob too - 100% wool is the only way to go - + you seem to be able to get much better colors that way.
Homemade flannel board stories? Seriously? Your talent never ends! Love the Thanksgiving jar idea, though. I'm going to use it in Primary next year fo' sho. Hope T-day was delightful and delicious.
wool felt, 100% where??? I only could find two colors on the bolt at Joann's. I saw some on ebay that came in squares of lots of colors, but it was coming from Australia, and I have no idea what a good price is...
I am going to Ikea next week and I will get a frame, and dollar tree had the foam core, YAY, it is all coming together... (insert mad scientist laugh here...)
come back and blog kate, come BACK!!
:)