take a closer look

Kids LOVE magnifying glasses and Spring is the perfect time to use them!  While they are analyzing tiny buds and small bugs, they are actually doing scientific observations and developing language as they describe what they are seeing.  So break out those magnifying glasses and go on a bug hunt!

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

Panda Zen Garden

It's been a week of low energy and sickness here in the Nanny house.  So, I decided to be a little zen about the whole thing.  We made a panda zen garden for relaxing.  It took only a few items.

The wooden tray, I actually found at Walmart in the craft section.  It's supposed to be a wooden canvas, but on the flip side, it's a tray.  Perfect for our little garden.  (I am going to use it again in later posts to create playscapes, so keep your eyes peeled.)

Simply pour in salt, sugar, or sand - any of these work.

Place your pandas (these are from a Safari Ltd toob) or rocks or other small objects.

Then, rake through, making designs or patterns...and relax.  I have to admit that I too played with this after the kiddos were done. 

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Safari Ltd. Toobs Terrariums

We made terrariums yesterday.  They are simple and easy to make.  Kids LOVE to make them.  I mean, come on, you get to play with dirt!  After we layered rocks, potting soil, and plants, we played around with what we would put in them.

Of course, I have a lot of Safari Ltd Toobs - toobs full of possibilities!  I snapped a few photos of the different versions that we made.

We also used Dress It Up buttons and Safari Ltd Good Luck minis.  Kids (and adults!) will enjoy creating these mini worlds and taking care of them.  There's something magical about terrariums, something that makes the imagination start buzzing!

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

Easter Egg Stuffers

I am planning an Easter surprise for a couple little ones in my life. The plan is to stuff a TON of these plastic eggs on Saturday. Then, late Saturday night hide them in the yard, so when they wake up on Sunday...it looks like the Easter bunny was there!

I am not a big fan of giving kids candy. I will fill the eggs with some Safari Ltd Toob animals, pennied, coupons for McDonald's treats, stickers, etc.

Have a fun and playful day
Mel

Baby Food Jar Terrariums

 Remember this hint from yesterday?  No, there will not be a new baby in our house.  We are making mini terrariums with baby food jars!

 It's sooo easy.  Layer pebbles then potting soil then plants.  I used a plant called "baby's tears" available everywhere.  I went to my local nursery and they had tons of it.

 Now, comes the fun part.  Add in any small animal, rocks, gems, fake mushrooms, etc.  Use your imagination or "borrow" some of my ideas.  I used these teeny tiny mushrooms that I found at Micheal's Craft Store - a bundle was $2.99.  The deer is a button from Dress It Up buttons. You can find them at Hobby Lobby, JoAnn, or at shellysbuttonsandmore.com

 The rabbit above is from a Safari Ltd Toob.  Very woodland, right?  AND just in time for Easter.

 The blue butterfly is from Safari Ltd as well - it's in a "good luck" pack found at Michael's.  They also have dragons and unicorns and animals - very tiny not recommended for kids under 3. :)

 I call her Cinderella, but she is a princess button from Dress It Up.  There are 3 princesses in that pack - purple, yellow, and blue for $2.00

This bear is also a button - how cute are these??? - from Dress It Up.  I cannot get over the cuteness level of their buttons!

The fun thing about terrariums is...1) they are easy to make, 2) kids will enjoy making them, 3) it's creative and imaginative, 4) if you can out the animal or button, it's a whole new scene!  I love creating terrariums, because you don't need much of a green thumb to keep them alive.  They cost very little to make.  And it's like you are creating this tiny new world.  Plus, it's science.  It's nature.  It's fun...and kinda messy, too.

Have a fun and playful day!
Mel

A box from Safari Ltd

Okay, you all know that I looove Safari Ltd toys.  I talk about them alllll the time, have used them in my teaching for year, and am always finding new things to do with them.  So when the good folks at Safari Ltd. asked me to review an item for them, I first did a happy dance in my head then said, "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

I didn't have to wait long.  I arrived home last week to a boxful of happy!  Not one item but 5!  I know, right?  They sent me 3 Toobs - Dinosaurs, Exotic Birds, and Rainforest plus 2 Incredible Creatures - the Eagle and Penguin with chick.

I will be photographing these items and posting my review this week.  I am honored and so happy to do this for Safari Ltd.  They make quality Toys that Teach (that's their motto).  I am also compiling a list with photos of fun things that you can do with their toys.

If you have a young child in your life, you cannot cannot cannot go wrong with Safari Ltd toys as a gift, stocking stuffer, Easter basket filler, special treat, etc.

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

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

More St. Patrick's Day Cards for Kids

I am putting happy in mailboxes this St. Patrick's Day!  I simply photographed some Schleich animals with buttons from shellysbuttonsandmore.com (they are Dress It Up buttons by Jesse James) then printed at CVS.

A 4x6 photo can be sent as a postcard with a single stamp.  These are going to my nieces and nephews this week.

They are fun and playful!!!

I love the quality of Schleich's animal toys.  Each one is hand-painted.  They can be found online and at Toys R Us.  I have been playing with these toys for years.  I used them in my classroom for years and now as models for holiday cards.

I need to find a calendar that has all kinds of wacky holidays on it - like Pancake Day or Celebrate Ice Cubes Day.  And send cards for EVERY occasion.  Snail mail is gonna be "in" again!

Have a fun & playful day
Mel

St. Patrick's Day Cards for Kids

For Valentine's Day, I made cards for my nieces and nephews, my daughters (in high school and away at college), my husband, and friends & family.  They were a BIG hit.

So I decided to do it again for St. Patrick's Day.  I gathered up some random toys that I had (Lalaloopsy, the fox is from Target, Schleich meerkat babies, Schleich elephant, Carebear, aliens from Toy Story, Hello Kitty, Tinkerbell) and paired them with shamrock buttons from Joann.  ta-da!

So cute, right?

I paired them with corny sayings like "I'm so lucky to be your Auntie Mel!"

Who doesn't like to get good mail, right?  I mean like NOT the electric bill :)

I printed the photos at CVS in a 4x6 standard size.  At CVS, it gives me the option to add a white border, so it looks postcard-ish.

A single stamp...

and you've got a happy mailbox!

Who will you send a St. Patrick's Day card to?

Justin Timberlake may have brought sexy back, but I am going to bring snail mail back!

Have a fun & playful day!
Mel

Craft Day Tuesdays - St. Patrick's Day

Here's some St. Patrick's Day Craft inspiration from Pinterest!  Happy crafting.  We have freezing rain here in Ohio - great day to stay in and craft the morning away!
Have a fun and playful day
Mel

St. Patrick's Day Inspiration by melanieshanks featuring traditional home decor

Love Notes for Kids

I am not a perfect mom.

I'm not.  By no stretch of the imagination will I win a Mother of the Year contest.  Being a mom is hard.  Being a mom of two teenage girls - it's hard.  Being a mom of a child any age, at any stage - it's hard. But being a mom also makes me happy, so unbelievably so. 

One thing that I know that I am good at when being a mom is encouraging,  My Grandma Helen always wrote cards for EVERY occasion - birthday, Christmas, if you had a car accident (not kidding. She sent me a card after I wrecked my first car).  She was a woman of Faith, a true Christian, an encourager through and through.  I think that's where I get it.

I leave notes for everybody - my high schooler, my college kid, my husband, nieces and nephews, friends, and family.  That's what I do.  It's my thing.  I am sure that it'll be on my gravestone - Mel sent a ton of cards.

This week is Valentine's Week.  Give a card on Valentine's Day, but do it on a Tuesday or a Friday - any day!

 Say "Thanks for being a great kid" or...

Today's a great day to have a great day - one of my favorite sayings from Joanna Gaines of HGTV's Fixer Upper.

Any day's a great day to encourage your little ones (or even your grown up ones!) What a great way to build self confidence and give them that little boost to get through the day.

Have a Fun & Playful day
Mel