Dear Parents, Friends and Family ...Can you help us?

Recently I had a friend ask me. "How do you find all these cool supplies to make things with?" You must spend a fortune on craft paper etc." Then I told her "Actually a lot of the materials I use are recycled or recycled items  from friends and family." "Really?", was the response I got "All of this is recycled?"

Yes, you can make some of the most beautiful thngs from recycled materials. No need to spend a fortune on expensive craft paper, you don't even need to waste ink printing pictures ! You can start yourself by recycling boxes, magazines, scrap paper, you can create a post on craigslist looking for recycled items , or even check out your local Freecycle and make a post there asking for specific items.

If you are looking for a prefect craft especially with Earth day coming up why not try this. Get some scrap paper together and glue some recycled items on it or have your child draw some cool recycled items on the paper. Then write a letter to friends and family asking them to help you out by collecting recycled items for you .

Here is a Sample letter:

Dear Friends,

Could you please help me? I would love to have a collection of recycled materials to use to make collages and sculptures. Do you think you could save me the following items so I could make crafts with them?
Thanks so much!

Pie tins
paper bags
pine cones
buttons
sandpaper
ribbon
newspapers
sponges
seashells
yarn
wood scraps
eggshells
crayon pieces
coffee cans
computer paper
cornhusks
clothespins
egg cartons
material scraps
candles


You can basically add whatever you like to the list. This is also a lot of fun to do with preschoolers. You can create a special box at home and before throwing things out see if it is something that can be reused first and have them start adding things to the box. You will be surprised at how fast you can fill the box!

Here is a Sculpture we made out of some stones and an old pie tin:

Meditation Tuesdays

At night before going to sleep, enter into a meditative state and once you are deeply relaxed project yourself into space looking back at Earth.

 

Although our planet will appear to be so beautiful and peaceful from a distance she is in much need for loving, healing energy so as to help her find a way to manifest peace, love, healing and harmony.

While meditating, extend your arms (Even if only in your imagination) and imagine Earth suspended and rotating between your two hands. Imagine projecting healing energy  from your right hand to your left. Imagine this healing energy going right through and completely surrounding Earth.
As you are doing this, think of all those who are involved in wars and suffering and with all your heart think to yourself mentally,

"May love, health, healing, peace and harmony come to all who are involved or better."

Imagine Earth absorbing the energy and then healing through time. From then on, every time you think of wars and suffering, immediately picture Earth suspended in space, rotating and emanating this healing energy. From time to time, in your meditations project Earth through time getting healthier and enjoying peace.

Happy Earth Day!

So for Earth day this year the kids picked up 2 garbage bags full of trash from our street! Ben took the kids down the road and back. Wow, that was a lot of nasty trash. "It felt great to clean it up!" said Gabe " We love letting Mother Earth Breathe!" said Brook.

We also made an Earth Day poster. It is called "Using our hands to help the Earth Grow!"