Science Experiment: Dyed Flowers

From Michelle of himamma.

Science … we love it. Many times when we have gone past the flower area at the grocery store we smell the sweet scent of fresh roses and dainty daisies ... the girls have been fascinated with the flowers that are in an array of colors that are dyed but yet they know that they are not naturally that color … and have wondered “how do they do that?”

Well, we made it our science experiment last week! So now they have a much better understanding and can visualize how the flower petals changed colors.

Steve Spangler Science shares a great tutorial on dying flowers, in addition to other experiments he has done…but most importantly the details and why they work make sense on his website that kids understand.

Our science experiment was over a course of several days. We started out using some older daisies that we had purchased later the week before. We recut the bottom of the flower stems and placed them in the colored water glasses. The older flowers did not dye as well as we had hoped, but we knew that might be the case going into the experiment. A few days later we purchased new flowers and this time they did much better and the color was obvious.
One question the girls had asked was how soon do you think we will see the color in the petals? Within two hours, it was amazing to see the colors showing in the white petals. By dinner time, the flowers were fully dyed and in a brilliant shades of yellow, blue, red and green.

We even wondered if certain colors would dye the petals quicker than others. It seemed to us that the blue and the green food coloring dyed the white petals the quickest. I know in the printing world, that when you print with blue ink, it takes longer to dry than any other color just due to the pigment. I know it doesn't relate to the experiment but it is an interesting fact that makes you wonder about inks in general.

Do you have a favorite science experiment book/curriculum that you use? Please feel free to comment below or send us an email. We are always enjoying and reading science books and would like to share with other families in the journey of learning.

In addition to the Steve's website we also enjoy the following:

• The Magic School Bus series. We will reserve DVDs and library books from our library and/or watch the various topics that we are studying via YouTube. Last year, I purchased The Magic School Bus Science Experiment books that take each of the episodes and relate it to an experiment/participate in an observation. On the MSB website they also have a Parent/Teacher section that is very helpful. Ms Frizzle and the gang are always a hit with the girls. I must admit...I love the series too.
• I recently have exchanged emails with a mom I met through a workboxes group. Via our email workboxes group, Colleen shared that she has written several books, with one particularly focused towards science. Colleen has a blog called Raising Lifelong Learners as well as her writing website called Colleen Kessler. I strongly suggest you visit her blogs to learn more.

As we prepped for our experiment we talked about how flowers/plants drink water to survive, how the flowers use their roots, and the water travels up through tubes in the stem. By coloring the water, we will then see the water move up the stem and into the flower petals over a course of a couple of hours. Steve Spangler Science shares a great tutorial on dying flowers, in addition to other experiments he has done…but most importantly the details and why they work really make sense on his website that kids understand.

You can find Michelle online here ... Facebook, Twitter, her blog Hi Mamma and of course her Etsy Shop:

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Introducing Pholkart Blessings

Today We Introduce You To Patti from Pholkart Blessings

Q: What motivated you to start your shop?

I started my shop back when my sons were still in their teens and I knew they’d soon be moving on toward college and the work world. I realized at that point that I wanted to begin transitioning myself toward “something art related” that would give me a sense of satisfaction and joy. I had filled up many sketchbooks over the years with cute, kid-friendly illustrations, and, when I learned about Etsy, I thought it would be so much fun to share my artwork there!

Q: What is the story behind your shop name?

I fell in love with children’s illustration when my sons were little! And as a result, I spent hours and hours teaching myself to draw. I thought the name “Pholkart” was appropriate for me since, like a folk artist, I’m entirely self-taught. The “Blessings” part of my shop name simply grew from my desire to share art that focused on the good things, the simple blessings of life. Thus, PholkartBlessings was born.

Q: Do you have a favorite Etsy Shop (non-child related)?

Gosh!... There are so many! I tend to love whimsical, colorful, humorous artwork. DudaDaze, Whimsy Studios, and ButtUglee are shops I enjoy visiting over and over again!

Q: What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?

I would have to say the ongoing learning curve that having a successful shop requires. Not only do I need to create quality artwork I’m happy to place in my shop… I also need to learn to present my work to the world in an appealing and continuing way. I am still learning a lot about promoting my artwork through my blog and by networking through social media sites.

Q: W hat do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?

A couple of things really stand out. While I LOVE working from home, there are times (like when my husband travels) when I can feel isolated. My lab, Winnie, is a pretty good studio buddy… but once in a while I’d love to have another Etsy artist in town to grab coffee with and compare shop notes.

The second thing that is hard for me is dealing with discouragement. There can be times when not many customers visit my shop or purchase my artwork. During those times, I have found there is a lot of value in reminding myself that my job is just to show up in the studio each day, no matter how I’m feeling, and keep making art!

Q: What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?

I love that I can be an artist who creates my own original designs and then offer them directly to buyers who enjoy them! I get to set a warm, friendly, positive tone in my shop. I’m the one-and-only person creating the artwork and helping the customer, and I find that very satisfying!

Q: How would someone (other then you) describe you?

Quiet, friendly, creative, and resourceful. I enjoy living a very simple life and I love being with my family.

Q: What music do you have on while you are creating?

This may be surprising, but I don’t listen to music while I’m creating. My husband and I both work from home, and we find we both concentrate best in a quiet environment. The “music” I most often hear while creating is the swish-swish of the washer and the hum of the dryer! ;)

Q: What do you do when you aren't working?

I’ve always loved to draw, so I doodle in my sketchbook anytime just for fun! I have decorated our old bungalow in “Design on a Dime” style and find that to be very creative and satisfying! I’m learning to knit & crochet (nothing very fancy yet!). My husband and I love to hang out together with our lovable lab and watch movies in the evening. And, as often as we are able to, we spend time enjoying our two grown sons and their families.

Q: Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?

I feel very blessed to be able to stay at home and do what I love to do every day! I have “met” so many talented people online through the Etsy community who have generously shared their knowledge and experience with me. And I hope I can continue to pass along the support and help and encouragement that I have been given.

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Father’s Day Tie Bookmarks

By Cori of Peace, Baby! Batiks

Got an hour between now and Father’s Day (June 17)? Then you have time for the kids to make fun bookmarks for the dads and father figures in their lives. My husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather all love to read, so this idea was a no-brainer for us!

To start, I drew simple tie shapes on cardstock. I drew a triangle with rounded edges for the knot, and a long rectangle with a point at the end for the tie. I drew two per page, but I probably could have squeezed three or four on there. (I'll be the first to admit that my tie shapes are not perfect, but I think that only adds to their charm!)

Then, I set my son to decorating with crayons and markers. The first couple were simple, but he had a great time with patterns and shapes on the last two.

Once they were decorated, he stamped “Happy Father’s Day” onto the back of each and signed it. I dated them so the dads would remember. Then, I laminated them in clear contact paper. Add a loop or ribbon, and you’ve got a gift Dad will love!

We’re also going to fill out one of these fun questionnaires for my husband for Father’s Day. My son is four, and I can’t wait to see what answers he comes up with. I imagine it’s going to be hysterical. I think we’ll do it every year.

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Book Nook:: Summer Reading Programs

As a little kid my mother took us to the library every week.  It was a staple in her daily routine (one of her many techniques for maintaining sanity) and was a place we loved to go!

My siblings and I outside the public library, circa 1983.

Last week was our first week of summer, and the kids and I made the first of our weekly trips to the the public library.  We came home with a stack of books for each member of the family:

The 6th grader is loving the series, The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, by Michael Scott, the 5th grader is blazing through all the Harry Potter books, the 3rd grader is captivated by Percy Jackson and just started Rick Riordan's 2nd series, Hero's of Olympus, the Kindergartner picked up a stack of Star Wars graphic novels and beginning readers, and the preschooler and I had great fun picking out great story and picture books.

We also got everyone in the family (even mom an dad) signed up for the public library's summer reading program.

Summer reading programs are all around ... each with their own set of rules and incentives for finishing the program.  In most cases you read a certain number of books or minutes within a time frame set up by the sponsoring organization and when you turn in your log they will give you incentives/prizes/discounts for turning in your completed reading log.

Summer reading programs help encourage children to continue reading throughout the summer to help prevent regression in the progress they've made in the classroom.  They also provide added benefits for those kids who love to read, and needed incentives to those whose first instinct isn't to pick up a book.

Here are just a few of the summer reading programs you might consider taking advantage of in addition to doing your local public library's summer reading program.

• Half Price Books, Feed Your Brain. 
• Barnes & Noble, Imagination Destination. 
• Scholastic Summer Challenge. 
• Pottery Barn Kids Summer Reading Challenge. 
• Chuck E. Cheese, Reading Log. 
• PBS Kids and iVillage team up for Summer Reading Sweepstakes.

We want to know what books your children are reading, and let us know of other great national summer reading programs we should . 

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How to Travel with Kids ... and avoid yelling

From Emily of BusyChickadee. 


My family lives a little over 4 hours away and I like to go visit about every other month.  I recently decided to go and visit for almost a week. My husband couldn't take that much time off … so we left him at home.

That meant I needed to plan well to avoid…yelling! Grouchy mommies don’t make the best drivers, right? If I have happy kids I have a happy mommy.

Here are 8 tips and tricks I used to have a happy family drive:


1. PACK a LUNCH

I decided to pack a lunch to avoid having to get fast food, and to avoid having to PAY for fast food! That adds up quickly. I packed peanut butter sandwiches (no cooler needed), apples, and water bottles.  Packed in individual lunch sacks, means everyone has their own trash sack and trash stays where it should and not strewn across the floor of my car. 

2. HAVE a CONTAINER FULL of TOYS and BOOKS

I always pack a crate of some kind with small toys and lots of books. Yes, they will end up all over your vehicle because they will drop them after they grow tired of them! I figure this is a mess well worth keeping them occupied. Also, I make sure the container is close to the older ones so they can hand them out to the younger ones. When I was the only older one, I kept it close to me so that I could keep handing them back.

3. The POTTY - NEVER LEAVE HOME without IT!  

When my kids are potty training, I never travel without it. It makes it much easier to attend to “MOMMY, I have to go…NOW!” It is also easier when your kids don’t like public bathrooms. I stop the van and put the potty chair in the middle of the van. I let the child go and then I dump it outside when it is just pee. (Animals do it, right??) I bring along grocery sacks and dump it in there if it is…more substantial! (heehee) Then I throw it in the nearest trash. I wipe it out with wipes when they are done.

4. GO RUN!!

Kids are kind of like puppies…they like to run! When we do stop to go to the bathroom and there is open space, I yell, “Go RUN!!” I like to let them get out some of that energy. Sometimes I even chase them around or walk the stairs in the area around them to get out energy of my own. This helps us get back into the van with less tears.

5. PACK SNACKS

I make sure to fill up a bag with snacks. You never know what is going to be that one thing that keeps everyone together. I like to pack things that can’t get too squashed into the carpet. I bring things like: pretzels, popcorn, Goldfish, dry cereal and maybe fruit snacks. I bring bowls or cups to put the snacks in to make it easier to hand them back. A friend of mine packs them in little baggies and I think that is a great idea too.

6. MUSIC

Bring along the children’s music. This can sometimes bring someone back from the brink of a meltdown. If you don’t have some, just start singing together. Songs like “Wheels on the Bus” and “5 Little Monkeys” are great ways to pass the time.

7. DVD PLAYER

We finally broke down and bought the DVD player for the van. I was one of those people who said, “But I didn’t have one when I was little.” That lady left one day when I realized it would just make long trips easier.  If you haven't broken down and done it yet because you don't travel as much as we do, see if you can borrow one from a friend if you have a long ride coming up this summer. They really do make it easier.

8. GAMES

As I was driving today and thinking about what I would write for this post, I thought about some things I would have done differently. I think next time I will make sure to pack some travel games like tic, tac, toe and car bingo.  The board game isle has travel games you can purchase and small electronic handheld games like battleship, 20Q or yahtzee that are inexpensive and great fun.  You can also look around pinterest and blogs for games you can make or print yourself.

Find Emily online at Facebook and Twitter, by visiting her blog - Raising Busy Chickadees and her Etsy Shop - Busy Chickadees:

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Introducing Pish Posh Creations

Today We Introduce You To Dana from Pish Posh Creations

Q: What motivated you to start your shop?
My mother in law bought me my first sewing machine right before my first son was born. At the time I thought I would just mess around with it to fix hems and make a few throw pillows. But it was such a rush seeing what I made that it became more and more of what can I do next. Next thing I knew family and friends were asking me to make something for them or for a gift they needed. It kind of just blossomed from there. I've never looked back since.

Q: What is the story behind your shop name?
I was looking for something that was fun, whimsical, and sounded kid friendly. Then one day something my grandmother, who I adored, used to say popped in my head. "Oh, Pish Posh!" She used the term as meaning either, "Don't bother" or "That's absurd!". But despite the meaning I fell in love with it. I felt that it would've made her proud knowing that she inspired me to use her favorite term as something positive. Originally, I wanted to just use Pish Posh, but pishposh.com was already taken and I wanted something that I could use as my website address so the Creations was added.

Q: Do you have a favorite Etsy Shop (non-child related)?
I have too many to name and would hate leaving any of them out so I'm just going to plead the 5th on this question and say them all! :)

Q: What surprised you most about having your own craft / online shop?
The thing that surprised me most about having my own etsy shop and website was that it has become so successful. What I see as a creative outlet, a passion, or you could even say my designing getaway, others see as the piece that they've been searching for. To truly see them enjoy what I have to offer is my own little sewing HIGH!

Q: What do you find most challenging about being an Etsy seller?
Finding time to manage my business. Since I'm the sole proprietor of Pish Posh Creations I'm the designer, creator, photographer, writer, customer service, inventory stockman, shipper, etc. And that is all on top of running a household of 3 kids and a husband. (OK, we'll say 4 kids- HA)

Q: What's your personal philosophy behind your shop / products?
I do not sell anything that I wouldn't buy for myself. It has to be high quality and really make a statement. I'm not one to work in an assembly line making 10 of the same items. I enjoy making things different then the one before. Yes, it takes a lot longer, but it is so worth the wait.

Q: How would someone (other then you) describe you?
OH, this is a good question! Um... I would say people think I'm friendly, bubbly, helpful, there when you need me and there when it really counts. That I'm an honest person, therefore I don't steal ideas from other companies or sellers. What I make comes straight from my imagination.

Q: What music do you have on while you are creating?
I love my itunes! I set it on shuffle and crank it up! On even given day you will hear me rocking to anything from Third Day to NickelBack to Katy Perry to Michael Jackson to LMFAO to Rascal Flats to Black Eyed Peas and then to Jeremy Camp.

Q: What do you do when you aren't working?
Is there such a thing as not working (creating)? I do like to read and go to the gym. However, while I'm at the gym I'm daydreaming of the next big thing to create so I guess that doesn't count. Ha

Q: Anything else you'd like to tell us or share?
I truly LOVE the life I live! I have an amazing husband that has a great job so that I can have the freedom and flexibility to stay at home. My 3 boys are now all in school so it makes it easier to work sewing during the day. My nights are a different story because every night is either a practice, game, or club meeting for one of them so I'm a taxi service from 5:00 on. Another thing about me that separates me from most people is that I'm an aunt to QUADRUPLETS! They are so much fun to be around, but also so exhausting, 3 boys and 1 girl now age 8. I really don't see how my sister can do it! You go sis! One other thing that I'm pretty proud of is having one of my crib beddings featured on the Discovery Channel. It was featured on the TV show 17 Kids and Counting (now known as 19 Kids and Counting). We used to live near where the Duggar Family lives and they purchased one of my bedding sets for baby #18. It was so neat seeing one of my creations on TV!

*** Come and play for your chance to win a $50 gift certificate to use at PishPoshCreations.com! Simply become a fan of Pish Posh Creations Facebook Fanclub (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pish-Posh-Creations/91399859372) and follow the link to sign up for your chance to win!

A winner will be chosen at random June 6th and notified via email as well as on Pish Posh Creations Facebook Fan Page.

* $50 must be used on a pre-existing item. Cannot be used toward any custom request.

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EtsyKids Design Challenge: We have a Winner!

Congratulations to the winner of our May's challenge, Twins Backyard Baby Romper & Dress w-Hats by ttykes!

Trendy Tykes is a gorgeous store of exceptional gifts and items handmade for babies and toddlers.  All products are heirloom quality, and feature a special touch of a unique embroidery embellishment.  Please be sure to visit this wonderful Etsy store, right here!

This month we had some fantastic entries.  Many thanks to all that participated and we look forward to seeing more of your wonderful creations next month.

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