Thrifty Scissors

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Doll Quotes

“Little girls love dolls. They just don’t love doll clothes. We’ve got four thousand dolls and ain’t one of them got a stitch of clothes on.” Jeff Foxworthy

“Always watch where you are going. Otherwise, you may step on a piece of the Forest that was left out by mistake.” – Pooh’s Little Instruction Book, inspired by A.A. Milne

“Some parents say it is toy guns that make boys warlike. But give a boy a rubber duck and he will seize its neck like the butt of a pistol and shout “Bang!” George Will

“We say that a girl with her doll anticipates the mother. It is more true, perhaps, that most mothers are still but children with playthings.” F. H. Bradley

“You can buy about four hundred tiny fashion separates that mix and match to create three tasteful outfits. In that way, the doll is incredibly lifelike. Chilling, even.” Chuck Palahniuk

“For two weeks I gambled in green pastures. The dice were my cousins and the dolls were agreeable with nice teeth and no last names” Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls

“Only when human sorrows are turned into a toy with glaring colors will baby people become interested – for a while at least. The peoople are a very fickle baby that must have new toys every day.” Emma Goldman

“Stouter dolls than I might have quailed at being pressed into service by a Hindoo snake-charmer. I cannot say it is a stage of my career that I enjoy remembering, but at least I comfort myself with the thought that I did not behave in any way which would bring disgrace upon my kind.” Hitty, the doll from Dorothy P. Lathrop’s tales

“Blessed be Providence which has given to each his toy: the doll to the child, the child to the woman, the woman to the man, the man to the devil!” Victor Hugo

“It is an anxious, sometimes a dangerous thing to be a doll. Dolls cannot choose; they can only be chosen; they cannot ‘do’; they can only be done by.” ― Rumer Godden, The Dolls’ House

“Somebody’s poisoned the waterhole!” pullstring quotes from Woody in Toy Story

“I have been thinking; our mistress gave us the nice dinner out under the trees to teach us a lesson. She wished us to know that we could have had all the goodies we wished, whenever we wished, if we had behaved ourselves. And our lesson was that we must never take without asking what we could always have for the asking! So let us all remember and try never again to do anything which might cause those who love us any unhappiness!” Raggedy Anne

“Figuring weight for age, all dolls are the same.” Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls

FALSTAFF: You make fat rascals, Mistress Doll.
DOLL TEARSHEET: I make them! gluttony and diseases make them; I
make them not.
2 Henry IV 2.4.37 (Shakespeare)

“If the person you are talking to doesn’t appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear.”– Pooh’s Little Instruction Book, inspired by A. A. Milne
“Nothing that grieves us can be called little: by the eternal laws of proportion a child’s loss of a doll and a king’s loss of a crown are events of the same size” Mark Twain

“I just want you to know that even though you tried to terminate me, revenge is not an idea we promote on my planet.” Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story

“A girl is Innocence playing in the mud, Beauty standing on its head, and Motherhood dragging a doll by the foot” Allen Beck

“You become. It takes a long time. That’s why it doesn’t often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are “Real,” most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are “Real” you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.” The Skin Horse speaks with the Velveteen Rabbit

“You know you’ve made it when you’ve been moulded in miniature plastic. But you know what children do with Barbie dolls – it’s a bit scary, actually.” Cate Blanchett

“Some people care too much, I think it’s called love.”– Winnie the Pooh

Friday, January 31, 2014

Mermaid Paper Doll Parts

Mix and match my paper doll parts for creating your next mermaids, merbabies and mermen: Read the Terms of Use before downloading folks!

Aqua mermaid tail, shells, and sand dollar by Kathy Grimm.

Blue mermaid tail, shell and sand dollar by Kathy Grimm

Sepia mermaid tail, shells, and sand dollar by Kathy Grimm

More Mermaid Paper Dolls:

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Illustrated Objects for Designing 1880 Something Doll Houses

A picture book published in the 1880′s by F. Warne & Co. – United Kingdom and The United States depicts objects in the house, city and country. I have included here the few of it’s pages illustrating the following interior rooms: kitchen, master bedroom, hall, drawing room, parlor, nursery, library and dining room, for those of you who are recreating period doll houses.

Items from the entire house

Items from the kitchen

Items from the bedroom

Monday, January 27, 2014

A Summer Snowstorm!

A SUMMER SNOW STORM

It's snowing hard as it can snow

The ground is almost white

And all our pretty orchard grass

Is hidden out of sight.

The wind is blowing from the south,

And coming good and strong,

You'd never think a southern wind

Would bring the snow along!

The sun is shining warm and bright

The flowers bloom in throngs

The birds are flying to and fro,

And singing happy songs.

And if upon their feathers soft

The snowy flakes should fall,

They shake them off and sing some more,

And never mind at all!

The flowers, too, don't care a bit,

It only makes them grow

Because, you see, this summer storm

Is apple-blossom snow!

By E. S. T.

The Lovable Child

The Lovable Child

Frisky as a lambkin,

Busy as a bee--

That's the kind of little girl

People like to see.

Modest as a violet,

As a rosebud sweet-

That's the kind of little girl

People like to meet.

Bright as is a diamond

Pure as any pearl--

Every one rejoices in

Such a little girl.

Happy as a robin,

Gentle as a dove--

That's the kind of little girl

Every one will love.

Fly away and seek her, little song of mine,

For I choose that very girl as my Valentine.

Politeness

A Boy went out to walk one day,

And met a lady on his way;

His cap was quickly off his head:

"Good morning," pleasantly he said.

A little girl went walking too,

And met a lady whom she

knew:

With quick politeness then the

child

"Good morning" said, and bowed and

smiled.

And thus should lads and lasses greet

Whatever friends they chance to

meet,

If they would show politeness true.

Now, who'll remember this? Will

you?

Murals Painted by Students, Young and Old

This mural is one of dozens located in
a elementary school where I once worked.

A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture. Read more . . .
A mural can be temporary as well as permanent. Sometimes teachers are a bit hesitant about letting their students paint directly on the walls. Some schools have policy that prohibits this type of artwork from being used in the school building. However, teachers do not need to go to such extreme measures to instruct their students in mural painting projects. Students can first paint on canvas or butcher paper and then mount these creations onto the wall with a staple gun. By these means, teachers can alter their school surroundings dramatically without offending property managers or breaking school policy.
I will link to fun and interesting mural projects below for teachers to gain inspiration:

Murals By Elementary Students:

Murals By Older Students:

Andee Rudloff - Mural Artist / Facilitator www.chicnhair.com
300+ Kindergarten through 5th Graders - Painting and Mural Elements
Special thanks to Ms. Denton and the Faculty and Staff of Millersville Elementary http://mes.sumnerschools.org
Josh Woodward - Music: "Coffee" and "Violet Wants It Her Way" www.joshwoodward.com
Stacey Irvin - Time Lapse Video and Still Photography www.staceyirvin.com

A Conversational Heart Bulletin Board

This bulletin board hung in the front hall corridor of the school I worked in during 2012 - 13. I love finding ways to incorporate ordinary things into life long lessons. Conversation heart shaped candies have been produced by Necco since 1866 and sold in drug stores and grocery stores all over America during the month of February for Valentine's Day. This teacher took an ordinary cultural artifact and used it in her classroom to teach character. Get it, character lessons based upon conversational hearts? Oh, well, maybe her students will remember the ideas taught with this little object lesson whenever they pick up a box of conversational hearts.

More Lessons Taught with Conversational Heart Shaped Candy:

Teaching Kids About Character:

I love this Valentine door decoration! It was hung on the door of our teacher's lounge at the school where I work.
The teachers posted their pictures inside of the cupcake liners in order to fill the giant box of chocolates.

Many More Links to Additional Valentine Bulletin Board Ideas:

These big and beautifully painted Valentines were created by first graders in our school.
Their teacher decorated a large bulletin board hanging just outside her classroom with them.

Sunday, January 26, 2014

"You're Sodalicious Valentine!"

The phrase used on the ice cream Valentine above, ""You're the cream
of the crop," My little cherry on top!"

Fourth and fifth grade students will be sure to delight in these ice cream treats! I've included a few of my free patterns below for teachers to download, print, trace and craft these valentine cards.

Teachers may adapt the processes in producing these cards according to the abilities of their students and the availability of supplies. For example: the waffle pattern on the cones may be colored by hand, as I have done, or students could find a similar surface pattern and do crayon rubbings on top of construction paper in order to mimic the cone's surface. Students could also use combs or brayers to apply dark brown paint to a lighter shade of tan paper in order to create an interesting 'waffle' design as well.

I chose to hand color some of my the ice cream but it would look just as nice with layered and torn papers. Perhaps even glitter would lend a nice effect for the final finish to these fun ice cream cone Valentines? Use your imagination and have fun!

These ice cream, waffle cones are hand colored to look
like actual waffle patterns.

Additional Sodas and Ice Cream Valentine Cards:

More Ice Cream Heart Cards for Kids To Make:

This ice cream valentine reads, "You Melt My Heart, Valentine." Both Valentines open up to reveal large, bright red hearts.

Two variations of patterns for ice cream cone Valentines. Cut multiple scoops of ice cream according to tastes
and two hearts per student: one in brown paper, the second in red or pink. The dashed line indicates a "fold"
on the heart shaped waffles. Look to the photos above for assembly.

The above ice cream looks as though it has come from a pump, unlike the ice cream above that has been
scooped. Some folks prefer 'soft served' ice cream and some prefer their ice cream hard. No matter which
you desire, these little ice cream patterns are sure to please!

Sodas and Ice Cream Valentine Treats:

Vintage Soda Fountain Themed Valentines:

"Mmm - You're 'Sweet' Be My Valentine Please!" ice cream cone
Valentine card

"Need a Valentine? Soda" card

"Gee Whiz Valentine You 'Melt' Me, Please Be Mine" ice cream cone card

"To My Valentine, Oh You 'Smoothie' Let's Be 'Sundae Dates!" ice cream in a dish Valentine.

"Valentine It Will Be The Last Straw - If You Don't Say Yes!" card

"You're the Sweetest Thing I Know! Be Mine" Valentine Card.

"Meaning No 'Monkey-Shines," Valentine! I offer you choice of peach or vanilla and
that oughta prove I ain't no "Gorilla"!" Valentine.

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Craft a Welsh Corgi Valentine Mailbox

One of my favorite breeds inspired this Valentine mail box. Download the pattern below, print it out, trace it onto construction paper and start crafting! I used a wrapped cereal box for this version. Add layers of shredded brown, black, and white paper to make the hair. I also cut a slit into the side of the box to insert the tail. Both the mask and tail were backed with corrugated cardboard before the dog's body was assembled. The tongue was cut from pink paper and shaped by hand after I shaded it's center with a red and pink pencils.

A close up of a paper dog valentine mailbox.

I used a cereal box to make this sample mail box. I colored the feet of my dog directly
onto the white paper wrapped around the cereal box.

I curled and fringed brown, black and white papers to make the fake fur.

This paper dog has a curled, 3D tongue.

A side view of the valentine mailbox.

Layer the paper fringe down the front of the wrapped cereal box.

The dog's tail was backed with corrugated cardboard and then wrapped with
construction paper. I then glued more fringe to the outside part of his tail.

My free Welsh Corgi pattern for a Valentine Mail Box.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Craft a Paper Candy Posy for Your Valentine

Make a variety of chocolate candy posies with these pretty little paper valentine blooms. All you need is:

white glue
a variety of decorative papers
chocolate candy kisses and chocolate candy hearts
green markers and green construction paper for the leaves
scissors
patterns for cutting and tracing

Cut these patterns, and trace around them onto red, pink, and white papers. Then paste them together in layers to make the blooms. Glue the blossoms to wooden dowels. Use the green markers to color the dowels and then cut and paste on green paper leaves.

These little paper flowers with chocolate candy kisses were made from a variety of cut paper designs. Layer one on top
of the other and paste them together!

Posy patterns for the project; click on the image to
download the largest version.

The chocolates were pasted to the paper hearts. The stems are made separately from corrugated cardboard hearts and
wooden dowels that were glued inside of the ditches of the corrugated shapes. I can slip these Valentines on and off
of the stems if I choose, instead of giving away the entire floral stem.

Far left, chocolate hearts pasted on Valentines and mounted on 'stems.' Middle, stems for posies before these were painted
and the leafs applied. Right, some of the chocolate hearts can be removed from their stems, some of them can be taken
along with the stems.

Finished candy kiss flowers with decorative stems.

More Paper Posy Valentines:

More Floral Valentines Project Ideas:

"Apple Of My Eye" Valentines

The "Apple of My Eye Valentine" card.

On top you see three white apple shaped interior pages and two red
exterior apple shaped pages. Below, left, half of the apple is glued on
to the other, leaving a section open to insert the interior white apple
pages that have been previously folded.

This little tutorial for Valentine's Day was created for those of you who still like to handcraft your own cards and letters. If you are looking for a special Valentine pattern for your classroom teacher, this is a classic prototype. I have also included here the origins of the first "apple of my eye" references as well. Also view a few vintage versions of similar cards (below) from American publishers over fifty years ago.

Materials You Will Need:

white glue
scissors
red, brown, green, and white construction paper
black pen (preferably permanent ink)
pattern
heavy cardboard
a stapler
googly eyes (tiny)

Step-by-step Directions for the Apple of My Eye Valentine Card:

Download and print the pattern for the "Apple of My Eye Valentine."
Cut the pattern shapes out and trace these onto heavy cardboard.
Trace around the smaller apple shape three times. Cut out at least three white pages for the interior of the card. Fold these in half and set them aside.
Cut two larger apple shapes in red, yellow, or green for the exterior of the apple card.
Glue the two red shapes front to back on only one half of the apple. see picture, right.
Now take the folded white interior apple pages and staple these together along their outside edge to form a kind of a pamphlet.
Then glue the outside pages of this little pamphlet into the open leaves of the red apple card. You may like to write a message on these. I have chosen to write mine on the outside of the card.
Now trace and cut out the worm shapes from green paper.
Glue the worm's head on the outside of the front part of your Valentine. Glue the backside of the paper worm to the lower outside, back half of the Valentine card.
Now look carefully at the interior white pages and approximate where it would be best for the worm's body to be threaded through in order for both ends to appear as though they are attached. Cut a hole through all of your Valentine's white interior pages at this point.
Now you will need to weave together to strips of paper that are cut to an approximate width similar to the that of the worm pattern. You will only need about five inch lengths of two colors. One strip should be green and the other white or pale pink.
This art teacher, Mr. Lundgren, demonstrates the accordion ribbon fold technique in his video, that I used in my card. He has made several excellent videos for art students and visitors may access them here.
Now glue the accordion folded ribbon into place after threading it through the hole. Hold the two ends firmly in place until the white glue becomes a bit tacky.
I have also drawn on the pattern sheet a stem and an apple leaf for you to trace and cut. Glue these onto the outside of your card at it's top.
Add details to the worm, leaves, and stem with a thin tipped, black permanent ink marker along with an expression: "You are the apple of my eye," or "An apple for the teacher," or a scripture, all of which are listed below. I also glued tiny googly eyes to my worm for character.


I have cut a hole, left, large enough to insert my accordion folded ribbon. I will "guesstimate" where to glue this in order to make the interior ribbon look as though it is a natural extension of the worm's body.

Here you can see that I have inserted an accordion woven ribbon through the worm hole and glued it in place. The worm now looks as though it has eaten through the pages of my Valentine apple card. Below it a link to an art teacher who demonstrates this simple accordion paper folding technique in a video.

Pattern for the "Apple of My Eye" Valentine Card.
Click on image to download the largest file.

Where does the expression "Apple of My Eye" come from? The phrase "Apple of My Eye" comes from the Bible. It is first mentioned in Deut. 32:10 “He found him in a desert land and in the waste howling wilderness; He led him about, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye,"and then Psalm 17:8 "Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings. . . Proverbs 7:2 also includes the expression, "Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye," and lastly in Zech. 2:8 "For thus says the Lord of hosts: “He sent Me after glory, to the nations which plunder you; for he who touches you touches the apple of His eye."

More Apple Inspired Valentines:

Vintage Apple Themed Valentines:

"Of Core-se You Know You're the Apple of My Eye!"

"You're the "Apple" of my eye Dear Valentine!"

"You're the APPLE of my eye . . . Please be my Valentine! card

We are a secure search blog . . .

The secure search for this blog is turned on and running at all times. The way to check for it is to hover your curser over the "Home" page tab and look to the bottom of the page for the https attached to the web address. If it is there, then the security is turned on and the blog is safe to visit folks. For some strange reason, Ai botts are misidentifying secure blogs and sending warnings about them to users home computers. All of my blogs have always been published with https and always will be.

Pages

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Friday, January 31, 2014

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Monday, January 27, 2014

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Thursday, January 23, 2014

Tuesday, January 21, 2014