Once upon a time, we made the modern version of botanical easter eggs using regular dyes. Today we bring you the real deal for your egg-dyeing enjoyment.

My daughter asked my gma if we could dye eggs using her traditional onion peel and plant clipping method. So, without further ado, here is the process that will yield shiny brown eggs with a unique design.

Instructions + play-by-play pics below. Just click on Read More                ↓↓↓

When I was six, we made an igloo in the yard one snowy winter. It was big enough that four of us could fit inside. We hung photos inside on the walls and I pretended there was a tiny fire where we could roast marshmallows, the swirls of smoke swirling out of the non-existent chimney.  

I don't enjoy spending hours outside in the cold anymore, especially surrounded by snow. But I still love igloos. So yesterday, as the snow fell outside, we had an awesome time making an igloo inside. 

But wait- There's More! Click 'Read More' to get play-by-play instructions   ↓↓↓

Baby, it's cold outside = the understatement of the century! Where does that leave you when the kids are begging to play outside when the temperature hits 15 below? 

Take the doldrums outta winter and go camping. Although my daughter loved it, I Do Not enjoy sleeping in subzero temps- AT ALL- so, we settled on indoor camping this time.

But wait- There's More! Click 'Read More' to get the play-by-play...         ↓↓↓

Detroit Design Festival 2013 featured the awesome concept that attendees could create their own path, meandering around town to check out any combination of the 60+ latest designs, innovations and installations from cutting-edge artists and designers. Happenings were conceptualized by a huge range of avant garde artists, including fashion and product designers, gallery and studio owners, cinematographers, interior and graphic designers, performance artists, boutique owners- the list is endless. 

Paths included varied categories such as the Youth Path, Community Path, Exploration Path, Enthusiast Path, Consumer Path and Practitioner Path. Stick with one specific path and attend coordinating events or choose a few from each to make your own way. Exploration promotes learning about new things and this was a excellent way to introduce children to art and design concepts. There was an amazing array of activities and interactive exhibits for all ages to discover.

Children were able to draw and crawl through a cardboard city from Neighborhood Fort, check out a Lego exhibit which depicted some of the city's iconic skyscrapers, create their own mask, and scribble at an artists studio created by coG-studio, an architectural design firm which specializes in creating spaces for youth.

Bid farewell to summer in the sweetest of ways- by running to the nearest meadow or unkempt roadside and have some fun picking all the flowers you can handle. A favorite tradition for the end of summer, white Queen Anne's Lace transforms into bouquets of color in a few simple steps.

Take these delicate flowers home and cut them properly with sharp kitchen shears. Find an array of vases- we use the vase pictured above exclusively for this project every summer. Next, put a few drops of food coloring into each vase, then fill with water. Place the flowers into the water, and you will almost instantaneously see the microscopic petal change color.

This fun and educational and can be done with help from almost any age range, just delegate tasks for the appropriate for each age. This activity can be used to teach some basic ideas about science, the different parts of plants and how flowers stay hydrated- kids can actually witness the stems moving the water as it travels upwards- than as it changes the white to a rainbow of colors.

Coming at you live- it's the Rolling Stones and their Rock & Roll Circus! The Stones themselves are created from clothespins, while the big top circus tent [with removable lid] is a project we did last week, and is made from plastic containers covered with papier mache.

To Make the Clothespin Stones:
5 Wooden Clothespins
Acrylic [or similar] Paint
Paintbrushes- All Sizes
Photo Paper + a Pic of the Stones from the Rock & Roll Circus Era

Paint the Circus version of the Stones using a photograph or movie poster for reference. Print out the photograph & cut their heads out. Glue each head onto the corresponding Stone. You are done and ready to recreate your own Rock & Roll Circus.

If you are really into it, add other cast members, such as Jethro Tull, John & Yoko, + Eric Clapton. Don't replicate The Who- unless you are looking to wage a Rock & Roll war- this is the rumored reason that the Rock & Roll Circus film was placed into the vaults until the 80s- Mick thought The Who's performance overshadowed the Stones. And you know the Ringmaster likes to share the spotlight with no one.

To Make the Rock & Roll Circus Big Top Tent:
Follow the Instructions here.

Stay tuned for more musical recreations- you should see what is next!

Now that the Stones are on tour- it's time to resurrect their grand musical extravaganza- The Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus! The current tour is only hitting a select group of cities & probably not yours. So let's recreate the past, when Mick was the ringmaster- wearing glam makeup and holding a whip.

Let's start with the big top. Find an old ice cream container- the tub kind with the convenient handle. This is awesome because you- I mean the kids- can store the Stones inside when it's time to put everything away. Grab an old juice jug- the circular kind is preferable, but a rectangular shape will do. Carefully cut it off with a serrated knife. Cut an opening for the entrance into the big top. Place the juice top onto the ice cream lid, keep it in position with tape or hot glue. Now you are ready to begin the papier mache.

Use the recipe for papier mache listed here for the Skrillex Train project. Cover the lid with long strips of paper, keeping in mind that it should resemble a big top. Then cover the main tent. Allow to dry. Paint with acrylic paint. You can add a curtain to the entrance for added ambiance.

Next time we will work on The Stones themselves, well- clothespin versions of the Stones. Maybe a couple special guests will pay them a visit- Clapton, Tull, Lennon, did someone say Yoko- just like in the original Rock & Roll Circus.

Springtime is here and what better way to celebrate than to create chocolate bird nests- using extra chocolate bunnies that are probably hopping around the house. Children can help with this entire project; it's simple and hard to mess up.

Tear the foil wrapping off of the chocolate bunnies and break them apart into pieces. Melt the chocolate, stirring frequently to avoid scalded chocolate. [chocolate chips may be substituted for Easter chocolate]

Throw some coconut into the melted chocolate concoction- add more if needed. Just estimate the measurements- you should be  should be able to spoon a large dollop of the chocolate and shredded coconut mixture onto a cookie sheet. Place some eggs [whatever candy at home that resembles an egg- jellybeans, malted eggs, etc] in the center of each nest. Place in refrigerator until set. 

Who's gonna run this town tonight, your kid, of course! 

Have a ton of boxes sitting around, remnants from the holiday season? Put them to good use and create a "Cardboard Box Town."  This project is especially welcome in the midst of winter- when the weather is frosty and the kids are inside more often. This activity comes in handy for snow days and rainy days in the spring and allows them to use their imaginations and put their artistic skills to use.

Ingredients:
Large Cardboard Boxes
Crayons or Markers

Grab empty boxes. Place markers, crayons, and whatever else you can think of- and have the kids get to work designing their own town. Hours of fun, first drawing and coloring, and then playing!