A Craft Filled Summer

Taking an entire summer to make a gift that the family will cherish for years to come, and create memory that will stay with them for the rest of their lives is cheaper than you expect, and will make for a great bonding experience.

Though most good craft projects begin with gathering the materials, this project begins by walking in a field with your children. When you go, make sure it is public property, or you have permission to pick flowers. Now boys, you shouldn't stop reading yet, because it gets better! Make sure you bring your camera, and take lots of pictures of your family at play!

Take close-ups of interesting looking insects (like caterpillars, butterflies, and other colorful crawling creatures). Pick some wild flowers that are growing, and keep them in a baggie after you get home. Take this time to take a bath, and have dad do the laundry!

When you get home, now is the time to gather your supplies. Either print or develop your pictures, use a flower and herb press, take the time to press the wild flowers and dandelions that you picked, for multiple uses during this summer.

Take an old insect window screen, or make one of your own by tacking screen mesh to a wooden picture frame, and make a pulp out of recycled paper, the lint from the dryer (thanks dad!) and a few small stems/pieces of wild flowers from your picking. Put it all in a food processor, and make it into a watery pulp.

Fill a bucket large around enough for your screen frame, and dip the screen into the watery pulp. The fibers will begin sticking to the screen mesh. Make sure that you have a decent amount of pulp sticking to your screen mesh, and flip the pulp onto a lint free cloth. Using a rolling pin, the extra water will come out of your felted paper. Place your paper onto another cloth, keep it in a dry spot, and allow it plenty of time to dry.

When the paper is completely dry, using an acid free glue or tape, affix the pictures, and pressed wild flowers onto your homemade paper. Yes, this process is a lengthy one that will take several weeks, but I promise that it will be the prized scrapbook page in ANY scrapbook!

Happy summer!