Seashell Ornament video

 I do believe there is a great supply of art and craft ideas using seashells. I have decorated mirrors, (for the hospital I worked at) decorative pots and many more. Here is a video of one of my seashell ornaments.

I hope you enjoy it and gather your shells and have a creative day!

I love the beach! 
I love the sun on my face, I love the sand between my toes, the waves coming on shore, the sound of the shells singing in the waves...all the animals you can see... I just saw an osprey looking for dinner!
I grew up in Florida and now being back I love my walks on the beach!  Expecially during a full moon.  Beautiful!  Whenever we went on vacation we were off to the beach and bringing back treasures from the sea.  You can see me walking along in the waves now that I am back living in Florida with my red bag picking up seashells...and I have buckets...yes buckets, baskets, bowls, pots....ect, ect,ect...of seashells...I go on walks on the beach and I always say to myself  "self, no shells today you have plenty at home"...but then I started collecting flat rocks to paint my animal totem rocks and then driftwood...Oh well I don't listen to myself very well..

   Here are some of my completed shells ornaments

Another  Beach Christmas Ornament

Fill the glass balls with sand and shells.  It's super easy and makes a perfect gift for your favorite beach lover!!!

 I am also selling these on my etsy account if you are interested in ordering.  www.etsy.com/shop.brendanickolaus



Leafy Crafts

 A leaf...

 Fall is a great time to introduce children to different trees in the neighborhood during this cooler and colorful time of year. Kids  love a scavenger hunt so you can make a game of it to look for a variety of leaves.Take a walk along a leafy lane with a young one and you simply can’t help having fun and learning something new.
I am recieving beautiful leaves at storytime from the kids as they walk along the path!

There is so much to talk about and a way to nuture their love of nature....

why the leaves are falling, what colours you see, the different shapes of the leaves....

Do you know the names of the trees around you? Can you catch a leaf as it falls?

Collect some favourite shapes and colours and bring them home to make a leaf picture.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

I have done many scavenger hunt games with my kids in the neighborhood and my girlscout troops.  It is a great way to get the kids to look for nature around them.  My Junior Naturalist are starting to enjoy getting out and walking around at the sanctuary and with the weather cooling off, I am always looking for ways to get my kids groups at work interested in our pineland trail and found this great idea link here: Scavenger Hunt.  I am going to print up some cards for the plants and wildlife on our property and send them in search!  I hope you can find this inspirational for you and your kids!

Post-It frame up

I have made a few of these framed post it note holders for the local craft fair and I have given a couple out as gifts already.   It's really a very inexpensive and a functional little gift.  Super easy, and in my opinion...super cute! I found this while blog hoping around.

What you need:  

clear frames (I bought mine at Dollar store  for, you guessed it...$1.00)

post-it's (I bought a generic pack at Wal-Mart for $1.74. Had enough in this one pack for 5 presents) scrapbook paper/embellishments (Already had these.)

I think it's pretty easy on how to do this little project, but here ya go...: )
Cut scrapbook paper to fit frame, stick post-its on the front, and attach ribbon or embellishment.


Here are some examples of how you can personalize! so many ways to go with these~!

I made a set!  little notebook covered in matching paper! so cute.




this one I hot glued some seashells to the frame!
great for anyone who loves the beach!  a great way to use up the shells from vacations too!

 

Love the fall colors. These I added some die cuts from the package of matching paper.

Celebrate Earth Day Everyday! April 22,2011

Celebrate Earth Day G.O. - Go Outside


Get out and play for Earth Day! Take advantage of warmer weather to get outside with your kids and experience and re-connect with the beauty of nature with these Earth Day traditions.

 April 22, 2011 10am- 4pm at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary 2500 Jupiter Park Dr, Jupiter, Fl

Children everywhere are sprouting into environmental stewards and are looking for ways to appreciate the nature that surrounds them. In celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Busch Wildlife Sanctuary has partnered with G.O. get outside and with the Jane Goodall Institute's global environmental and humanitarian youth program, Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots to create a list of Earth Day activities families can enjoy outdoors.

Jump! Whether you call it skipping rope or jump roping, it's a great activity to improve strength and fitness and can be performed on grass or pavement.

Retreat to the Beach Instead of driving to the beach, recreate a piece of the coast's serene atmosphere with a sandbox in the yard.

Be Farm and Garden Fresh Get to know your local farmer and enlist the kids to join you at the local farmers' markets. Better yet, plant your own garden that everyone can care for and enjoy all season long.

Let's Go Fly a Kite! Show the kids how to soar into a colorful sky with only the force of nature to power your kite. A centuries-old activity, kite flying can be enjoyed at any age—with a little wind, of course!

Give Back Gather the family for a volunteer day dedicated to beautifying the earth. Many communities have organizations that champion environmental protection and regularly organize events like stream and trail clean-ups.

Be Bubbly! Invite the neighbors to create bubble wands out of objects found around the house like straws, pipe cleaners, strawberry baskets and coat hangers. Take the kids outside and have your own bubble party!

Take a Hike Locate a nature trail near you and take the kids on a woodsy adventure. Hiking is a group activity that provides great exercise and hands-on experiences with the natural world.

Start a Kickball Game All it takes is a rubber playground ball, make-shift bases and some friends to start a kickball game.

Observe Backyard wildlife Birds are some of nature's most beautiful creatures, although they aren't easy to observe when they flutter in the sky. Hang a bird feeder and observe the birds that visit.

In celebration of Earth Day, consider what you and your family can do to incorporate outdoor and eco-friendly activities into your own routine. Walk your kids to school instead of driving. Grab sidewalk chalk and color on the driveway instead of sitting inside and using an entire package of construction paper. Turn off the television and head outside with roller skates or a ball.

It's easy -- and fun -- to green your routine.

Brenda Nickolaus Mother Nature's Messenger

Decorating for Fall/Autumn Wreath

With  Fall firmly here I tend to think of wreaths.  It is a great way to use natural wild materials and I usually have alot of choices on my property.  I noticed I have alot of grapevine on my property and it does tend to take over...so now and then I need to cut them back from my flowering trees.  But so you know they do not go to waste. If you are looking for something to do with the kids this is a great way to get them outside and  let them scout out for vines and decorations for the wreath...they always find the magical good stuff!   

Crafting the wreath is easy.  I start gathering the grapevine up and I will sometimes strip the leaves from the vines, sometimes not (I like the green leaves on them) then I bend and twist the vines into a circle. I add more as I go around and the wreath tells me how big it wants to be...(I have some really cute little ones too you can decorate, add a magnet and it is ready for the fridge!)  I then secure the stems by tucking them in and around the other stems and then I can add decorations if I want...

I added some sunflowers and some ribbon to mine and used this wreath as part of my mother nature costumn for Halloween at Busch Wildlife Sancturary.  And now it is hanging on my wall!

           If you want to preserve its color, hang the wreath away from bright light and heat and enjoy!
I would love to see what you have crafted for fall! Please add your picture to the comment page!

                                                         

January 22,2009

Winter craft fun: Snow Jar Globe

Are you having a cold day inside with nothing to do? You can teach your child about reduce/reuse/recycle by transforming a glass jar into a snowy decoration. I was looking through my Winter Craft Files and came across this snow craft that kids love to make (and me too). I remember making these when I was little and again in a day care I worked in. We had a lot of baby food jars and we were always trying to find ways to use them for crafts. I always try to teach about recycling in crafts and this is a fun one to do. I wanted to share with you a way to create your own glass menagerie with these easy-to-make snow jars.

1. Rinse a glass jar with warm, soapy water. Let dry. (I used a pickle jar)

2. On the inside of the lid, make a tiny snow-covered “mountain” with Sculpey, a modeling clay available at crafts stores. Then, affix a plastic animal or toy to the lid with a glue gun or epoxy.(I have tons of little what-nots from kids meals or nick nacks from old games)

3. Fill jar with water and 1 tsp glycerin/or mineral oil—it makes the “snow” fall more slowly.

4. Now for the sparkly fun... just add silver glitter.

5. Fasten the lid and wow!!!!—instant snow fall.

This is the only snow I will see in South Florida. My son did call me to go outside today in our 30 degree weather and look at the frost on the lawn!...He was excited to see it...there was a pretty frost on the leaves...

I hope you all are staying warm up north...and I hope you have fun making this winter wonder land. Please post your pics and leave a comment...smiles Brenda