Spider-Man Mask

It’s almost Halloween, and finding a costume that will fit your child might become a daunting task. Instead of running from store to store, why not make your own? Here are directions to make a simple Spider-Man mask, which could also be used as a template to making many other superhero masks.

What you will need:

• A red pullover-type ski mask with two eye holes, but no mouth
• Black fabric paint
•  Paint brushes
• A balloon
• A comic book or something to reference

Directions:

Blow up the balloon and tie it to a stable object. Then, place the ski mask over the balloon. Now use the brushes to apply the black paint. Look at your references, and try to reproduce what you see there. Let your mask dry. Then remove it from the balloon. Since the paint may have adhered to the balloon, you may have to pop it.

-Chris H., 95th St. Library

Baseball Bracelet

Judging from the warmer weather, all the new leaves, and the green grass I think it’s safe to say that spring has arrived!  The arrival of spring brings baseball season and the opportunity to turn your game winning baseball into a cool gift for mom for Mother’s Day. 

To get started you’ll just need a few things, a leather baseball, a sharp blade, and a pair of scissors.

Although you can use a synthetic covered baseball, the resulting bracelet will be much nicer if you use a leather ball since you will be able to straighten the red stitched strip of ball covering.

You might need to ask your dad for help on the first step since it will involve a sharp blade.  Using the blade cut about 1/4 inch away on both the inside and outside of the red stitching.  It might be helpful to use a pencil to mark the cutting lines first.   Be very careful not to cut into the red stitching or the holes during this step.  Do not worry if your cuts turn out a bit wobbly since you can use the scissors to straighten out the cut edge once the strip has been removed from the baseball.

This is what the ball should look like when you remove the unused sections.

Now you can peel off the red stitching and this is what it’ll look like when the strip is first removed from the ball.

Find the spot on the stitching where the red strings begin and end.  Keeping the string ends out of the way use the scissors to cut across the leather to create one long strip.  This is the time when you might want to even out the edges with a pair of scissors.  Find the center of the strip and measure off the circumference of your mom’s wrist.  Now carefully undo the red strings from the stitching holes upto the wrist measurement markings.

Once you have reached the wrist markings, carefully cutaway the leather ends on both sides being careful to keep the red strings out of the way.  Now undo the strings and you will see that there are 4 of them.  Tie the centermost two together and then treating those two strings as one, make a three strand braid with the loose red string on both ends of the strip.   When you are finished braiding tie both ends securely with a knot.  Your bracelet is now complete and ready to give to mom. 

She’ll need to use the braided ties to hold the bracelet on her wrist.  The bracelet will smooth out with time or you can soak it in water to speed the process and soften the leather.  Mom will definitely love your gift  since you made it yourself.   Dad might even enjoy wearing one so you can make another one him for Father’s Day with some help from mom of course.  

Happy Spring!

 

 

 

 

Bubbles, Bubbles in the Air!

You will want to save this one!

Best Bubble Solution:

1 cup water
2 tbsp Karo Syrup or 2 tbsp glycerin
4 tbsp dishwashing liquid

Mix together and enjoy your bubbles while singing some bubbly tunes!!!

The Bubble Song

(sing to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star) 

Bubbles, Bubbles in the air 

Bubbles, bubbles everywhere 

Bubbles, bubbles on the ground 

Bubbles, bubbles all around 

Bubbles, bubbles in the air, 

Bubbles, bubbles everywhere!

Bubble, Hop and Stop

One bubble, 2 bubbles, 3 bubbles, top.
-fingers count up, tap head once on ‘top’, pop up to standing

4 bubbles, 5 bubbles, 6 bubbles, hop
-fingers count up, then hop

7 bubbles, 8 bubbles, 9 bubbles, pop
-keep counting, clap hands at ‘pop’

10 bubbles floating down, time to stop. 
-sit down

 

Be My Little Valentine!

Valentine Crafts by Greta Speechley

Valentine’s Day is a holiday that celebrates love.   We share the love by exchanging Valentines and gifts…usually candy.   You can keep it simple and celebrate by serving heart shaped sandwiches and treats.  But this is also the perfect time to break out your craft stash and let the kids create all types of Valentine gifts for their friends and family.   

Try using paper hearts on doilies and decorate with stickers and crayons.  You can also add some bling by using shiny stickers or glueing on some gems.   One of my favorite online resources is Family Fun.   You can check out Disney’s Family Fun magazine from our collection.  We have the current year and the previous two years on our shelves.  

Skip to my Lou is wonderful online resource for printable crafts that include some cute flower lollipops.

However you choose to celebrate this year please know that the Children’s Department at Naperville Public Library wishes you a very Happy Valentine’s Day!

Pine Cone Bird Feeder

Don’t forget our feathered friends this winter. Make them a bird feeder, out of natural materials, that blends with the environment.  The pine cone bird feeder is decorative and easy to make for the whole family.

Supplies:                                                                                                                                                                                      

• pine cone                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
• smooth peanut butter                                                                                      
• birdseed
• string or yarn
• scissors
• paper plate
• butter knife

How to make:

• cut a length of string or yarn to hang the feeder
• tie on the pine cone near the top
• use the knife to coat the pine cone with peanut butter inside and around the edges
• roll the pine cone in the birdseed on the paper plate
• hang the bird feeder on a tree
• watch the birds eat their seed

Enjoy your many winter visitors, and try to identify the different birds. 

 It’s fun to use these books: National Audubon Society North American Birdfeeder Handbook

                                                 National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds