Building Tips for your "Fort in a Bag"

Building a Fort is pure fun and a great way to encourage imagination.  This post is written especially for Adults needing to kick start their imagination and keep pace with those kids.  I have compiled a list of tips that will help you create a unique Fort every time.  My most important tip, remember to get down to the child’s eye level and experience the Fort from the inside.  This is where the memories will be made.  It will be an amazing encouragement to your child in preserving a Heritage.  A Heritage that will be remembered and passed from them to the next generation.  

Your Fort in a Bag comes with the basic tools you need to get started.  Additional furniture is an option but not required.  By using the Clothesline included you can get height for your Fort.  Tie the two ends to a piece of furniture, chair, curtain rod, or my favorite, a door hinge.  Of course you are the judge of where the kids can or cannot attach their Fort and what is a safe location. Score 1 for the Fort in a Bag!  Furniture usage is optional.   

Other items for your infrastructure could include couches, chairs, table (card), bunk beds, or Rubbermaid totes.
Choose a building spot that is not in a high traffic location.  I guarantee you will be much more open to having the Fort up for a few days, or weeks, if it is not in the middle of the Kitchen.

Add your included bed sheets to the Clothesline.  There are ribbons sewn to all 4 corners of your sheet.  It cannot slip away on you!  The simple straight and easy tent uses 1 of your sheets draped over the Clothesline and anchored to low lying furniture at all 4 corners using your ties. 

 

To increase the size of your Fort to a Fortress use one sheet per side.  Attach the sheet to your Clothesline with your included clothespins.  Remember to use your corner ties on the Clothesline for more strength and longevity.  Score 2 for the Fort in a Bag!  The sheets will not be continuously slipping away on you. 

Remember back to your days of building.  Books are great anchors and elastic bands will work to cover chairs with your sheets if you have run out of clothespins.  

Extra walls could probably be found in your Linen Closet.  However, chances are better that the Fort to last longer if you stay out of the Closet.  The sheets provided in this kit are especially for Fort building.  You will not be looking for these ones or having to rationalize with a 2 year old about dismantling his Fortress.  Score 3 and 4 for the Fort in a Bag! Your Linens stay in your Closet and there are no 2 year old meltdowns.

Consider creating an entrance and an exit for your Fort.  Once you get the little people and the Adult(s) in you may feel claustrophobic and be looking for a quick escape!  

Be sure to add a pillow and favorite Stuffies to the Fort.  It will make it a little more comfortable to sit on once you get in.
Bring snacks into the Fort if you plan to stay awhile.

Bring a few books into your newly built Fort.  Read a few stories and maybe inspire a non reader to become a reader.  Score 5 for the Fort in a Bag!  Your tent is helping to promote literacy.      

Create a special name for your Fort with your child.  Your Fort in a Bag comes with a temporary name until you can decide on a family one.  

Consider a flashlight as an additional gift with your Fort in a Bag.  This is now a bonus gift included with your Fort in a Bag purchased in 2013!  

Stay and share a few extra minutes with your child. Cherish the memories you have just created in your uniquely designed Fort.  Score 6 for the Fort in a Bag!  Your child has a new piece of Heritage they will remember and share with their children in the years to come.

Finally, your Fort in a Bag is Eco-Friendly.  The bed sheets chosen are always repurposed and many times they are vintage pieces. Score 7 for the Fort in a Bag! Thank you for considering my product.  You made the world a little greener today.  

Best of Luck on your Fort building Venture!  It will get easier each time you create, I promise.

Danine

Mother's Day Kid's Class

Here is a class I offered a few times over the past 3 weeks leading up to Mother's Day.  A project that was set for Mother's Day but could really be used for any occasion or non-occasion.

I prepared a portion of the project and then the kids did a little painting, sanding, and gluing.   

Here is the room nicely organized before one of the classes started.

Here you can see the blocks were prepainted.  The kids then painted the letters.

I had a special request for MUM.

Painting started cleanly!  It took a long time for this particular set to dry!

My boys all attended one of the sessions.  Mommy chose the papers they would be using.  Yes I am a little controlling.  

The blocks were sanded an the edges a little to give that distressed look.

Then the papers were "glued" to the blocks with Mod Podge.  Straight to the block and then coated across the top.

A hot glue gun attached the letters onto the blocked once they were dry and sanded like the blocks.

The ribbon was tied around the full block and into a bow.  There was then a little extra length tied in a knot around the original bow.  I added a little hot glue to secure the bow from coming undone.  

If you are interested I have a few extra sets left over!  Kits are $12.00 and will come with pre painted blocks.  

Thanks for visiting, 

Danine

Mother's Day Card with the Grade 1 Class

Tomorrow I am going to spend an hour with my oldest son’s Grade 1 Art Class.  I have designed a Mother’s Day Card that 22 of the kids will be making for their Mom’s. 

Each child will receive an envelope with their supplies.  In making this blog post I am actually cheating a little.  The kids are going to follow along the post as a tutorial on the smart board in their classroom.  Image the way things have changed.  Follow along for your step by step instructions as there are still a few days to create instead of buy.  

Fold your Red paper in half and press your finger along the fold.    

Glue the creme paper with the ribbon on it to the middle of the Red paper.  The torn edge should be facing up.  You can use a glue stick for this.

Go to the Stamp Station and choose a stamp for the inside of your card. 

 Stamp the back of your card too.  

Take your pink paper to the Big Shot Station to emboss and cut out the Top Note shape.  Mrs. Regenwetter will help you do this step.  

Glue the pink paper to the front of your card over top of the ribbon.

Use pencil crayons to color your Mom Stamp and cut out along the edges.  

Your teacher will give you 2 pieces of puffy tape to stick it to your card.

Bend the 5 butterflies and then glue one of their wings to your card.  Make your own design with the butterflies.  

Go to Mrs. Regenwetter to get your rhinestone added.  

Put your card on the counter to dry.  Remember to put the envelope with your card too.  

You are all finished.  

Clean up your desk and help clean up the Big Shot Station or the Stamp Station.

I am really looking forward to working in the classroom and I know I am going to be receiving a beautiful Mother’s Day Card in exchange!  I already have a smile thinking of how many happy moms there will be on Sunday when they open this card handmade by their child.  

Thanks for joining me,

Danine 

Advent Book Calendar

This has been a fabulous idea for the past 2 christmas’s at our house.  Originally passed on to me as an idea from a friend who read about it at www.ohdeedoh.com   I rounded up all the Christmas books we had on our bookcase and started wrapping.  I did not have enough books to fill all 24 days required but that is where the library comes in.  A quick trip and I had all I needed.  

I wrapped the books using a kids craft paper roll from Ikea.  A $5.00 roll will wrap alot of books.  There was plenty left over, enough for maybe 3 years of wrapping books.  I marked the outside of the packages with an “L” for Library to be sure I used those books at the beginning of the calendar.  This way I was not going to pay for late fines once we reached our 3 week borrowing period.  

The kids then helped to stamp all the days of December on the upper right corner with Riding Hood Red ink from Stampin’ Up!  it was a fun way to get the kids involved without it being overwhelming for me (the oldest of my 4 boys is 6).  This project truly took an hour from start to finish.  There was the trip to the library but that is a regular activity for the kids anyway.  

It made it real easy to decide which book was going to be read at bedtime and now the kids look forward to the tradition of opening one book each night before bed during the month of December.   

Danine