Fairy Log House Playscape

 This one might just be my favorite Playscape to date.

 I was dreaming up a new castle play mat when I saw this brown felt rolled like a log. An idea sparked.

This wool felt playscape is a landscape of play possibilities. 12 inches around, the hollow log house is all hand-stitched. Ivy is climbing up the side with shades of purple trumpet flowers blossoming. A stone path leads to the front entry. Mushrooms sprout up in the grass. A small vegetable garden is tucked away behind the hollow log house. It's whimsical.

See it at www.mybigworld2015.etsy.com

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Pigeon's Pet Shop Grand Opening

So Pigeon's Pet Shop has been in the planning stages for several weeks now.  But today is the Grand Opening.  Why Pigeon?  Well, because one of our favorite books is Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.  G said, "Oh my goodness, can you imagine if Pigeon ran a pet store? It would be chaos."

So we cleared off the bookshelves.

We organized.

We wrote out the prices. (Good writing skills there!)

We placed all the animals in their "cages".

I love the price amounts that SHE came up with.  Huge price difference but oh well.

All (or most) of the animals are from Safari Ltd. Incredible Creatures line.  We love them.  They are bigger than most of the animals out there, so they are the perfect size fora  pretend pet shop.

We do carry exotic and unusual pets as well - a variety of birds, some snails, pet ladybugs, pigs, frogs, eels, and more!

G took hours deciding the placement of each animal.  too funny.

Once all the animals were in place, she added to our inventory (more birds and lizards and Nemos and Squirts the turtle!)

We worked really hard at creating a perfect pet shop after visiting our local pet store. "We need bedding and toys for the animals and food and money."  I think she will be a great store owner:)

We are ready for the ribbon cutting ceremony with goldfish crackers for snack!

Will you be inspired to create a pet shop in your home or classroom's dramatic play area?

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

Safari Ltd Terrarium

Now that I am thinking about terrariums, I am on a roll.  Safari Ltd has new gnomes out this year that I think would be great in a terrarium.

Terrariums are easy to make and kids will love helping.  It's messy and creative and imaginative.  I once did a whole Earth Day celebration at the local community center.  Kids created mini terrariums with two clear plastic cups, moss, dirt, rocks, and small animals.  They LOVED it.  Parents were like, "I am so stealing this idea or a party or for Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts' projects." 

You give 12 kids the same materials to make a terrarium and you will end up with 12 terrariums that look completely different.  It's an open-ended project that the kids can take in all different directions.  And that's what is great about a project like terrariums - kids can make it individualized.

The steps are easy.
1. a few rocks in the bottom of your container, fishbowl, cup, etc.
2. potting soil on top of the rocks
3. moss and/or small plants on top of the potting soil
4. add small animals like Safari Ltd Toobs or happy meal toys or whatever you have
5. give it a good watering and keep it moist

Easy.

Are you now thinking about making a terrarium?

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

Safari Ltd Terrarium by melanieshanks featuring wide mouth glass jars

Wide mouth glass jar
shopterrain.com

Think Outside the Box

When I was a preschool teacher, I once dragged a Step2 Boat Sandbox into my room, filled it with pillows and called it a Reading Boat.

No lie.

I saw it at a yardsale in perfect condition for $2.  I couldn't pass it up.  I almost couldn't load it into my Chevy Trailblazer! The boat was HUGE.  But I did and it was a hit with the kids.

I had someone high (very high) in administration visit my classroom.  He stood there in his suit, staring at that boat.  "How did you think of that?" He asked.  Excuse me?  "How did you think to make a sandbox into a reading area?"  I had to think about it.  It's just the way my brain works, I guess.  "Well,"  I began.  "It just screamed Summer Reading Nook to me and it was $2.00."

I was always taking something and making it into something else for my classroom.  That's kinda a preschool teacher super power, right?

When I saw the above cake tray or veggie tray, I thought Now, that would be great as a Rainforest Playscape with a few animals and...Luckily, my husband is a teacher, too, so he totally gets my vision!  (sometimes, he even eggs me on!)

I think kids are the same way.  They don't look at a box and think container for mail.  They think spaceship, race car, pirate boat, doll house.

So think outside the box when planning play for your kids.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Think Outside the Box by melanieshanks on Polyvore

A Lesson in Animal Camouflage

Remember those water beads that I got at the Dollar Tree a couple weeks ago? Well, the kids keep requesting to play with them, so...we do.

I decided to talk a little about animal camouflage today? Which animals blend in? If they blend in, how does it keep them safe?

"It's like they are hiding. They are right there, but you can't see them. Foxes can't see them either. Foxes eat lots of things." -G

 It was fun then then Babyzilla dumped the bowl! Oh my. TOTALLY toddler.

I noticed that the water beads were a little slimy and a couple had black on them. Time to wash our hands really well and pitch those water beads.

Note to self : water beads can go bad.

The animals are from Safari Ltd Pets Toob. I bought it, because we are still planning our Pigeon's Pet Shop soon. But these little animals were the perfect size to camouflage.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

My Safari Ltd Wishlist

If you have read any of my blog posts or seen my Pinterest boards, you know that I LOVE Safari ltd. toys.  They have a line called Incredible Creatures (see my St. Patrick's Day card post) which are bigger and chunkier than their other lines.  If they asked me what animals to create (that would be a dream!), I already have my list ready.  I definitely think they need a duckling and a chick for Spring.  I would buy 2 or 20 :).  But maybe some more birds and woodland animals would be good, too.  G age 4 helped me come up with this list.  (I am such a bad influence on her hee hee). So, if you are reading this, Safari Ltd., you know that you have big fans here in Ohio and a couple suggestions!

Have a fun&playful day

Mel

My Safari Ltd Wishlist by melanieshanks on Polyvore

Safari Ltd St. Patrick's Day

Hey Everyone!
I am sooo excited to share this with you.  I am making St. Patrick's Day cards for my nieces and nephews, my daughter at college, friends and family with these incredible Incredible Creatures from Sarafi Ltd.

First of all, these toys are amazing!  If you need the perfect birthday gift...here you go.  Just look at their cute expressions!  I paired them with some St. patty's Day themed buttons and click, click, click. (Yep, I am a bit of a shutter bug!)

I printed these photos at CVS with a white border in a 4x6 size - they make the perfect postcard. Here are a few of them.  I wrote corny sayings on them like "Lucky to have you" or "Lucky to be your Auntie Mel".

The lady at CVS smiled when she saw them and asked, "What are you doing with these?"  I explained and she said, "Oh! my nephew in Indiana would LOVE these."

I mean, who wouldn't smile if they saw these in their mailbox?

Sending out a little HAPPY this St. Patrick's Day!

I think I am going to get one of those calendars that celebrate all kinds of uncommon holidays like International Pancake Day or Wear Silly Sock Day and make cards for EVERY holiday!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Have a fun and playful day!
Mel