How To: illusion hand print

It's not quite "later today" but here is the promised instructions, you may notice a lack of color, thats because I had a pencil handy and didn't think about how dull that looked until after waiting 15 minutes for the photos to upload, sorry it's just not worth it to do over, but now I know for next time.  Color is good. Also "how to"s are hard, just when you think you have it all down you realize you skipped a set. Or you start to second guess the order of instructions, this was an easy project, but are my instructions easy?

step one: trace your hand/arm all the way to the edge of the paper, but do it lightly so it won't show later.

Step two: starting at the bottom of the paper draw a curved line "over " your arm.  (this step was tricky for Charry who wanted to draw slanted lines)

Continue up the page/arm until you reach the thumb 

Step Three: When you reach the thumb you will start doing two curved lines.  Now unlike my example it is best if  the curves end straight across fro where they start (this will make more sense later)

Step Four: Have separate curved lines going up each of the fingers.

TaDa! a hand 

Step six: Starting on one side make straight lines from the lines on  the arm/hand the the edge of the paper, continue going up to the tip of the thumb/finger.

Step seven: do the same on the other side

Step eight: connect the finger lines with straight lines (this is where you notice  I was sloppy during step three)

Step nine: draw lines from fingertips to edge of paper

Step ten: draw straight lines across the rest of the page.

Now Charry had a few set backs so I added some extra steps.  After tracing the hand I used a ruler and made dots across from each other for her to connect.  The multicolor was so she wouldn't connect the dots the the wrong dots. Also since she's a lefty I had her draw from right to left instead of left to right.

My biggest piece of advice, "Try it yourself before trying to teach someone else"  Have fun.

Journal Entry 6?

In my life this week…

Life is back to the regular routine and my kids don't seem to be sick any more.  So this week has been a good one.

In our homeschool this week…

We finished up our review of everything we forgot over Christmas break and then started in on new material.  I was excited to start "All about Spelling" with Merry.  She must have been listening when I was working with her sister because She flew through the phonograms!


Charry is feeling very grown up because I am "letting" her start cursive writing.  Because she is a lefty I was reluctant to try and teach her but she is motivated and has not complained at all about her page of practice each day (very different from last year and starting italics.

I am inspired by…

PINTEREST!!!  you can find the coolest ideas by just browsing through pins, just beware, 5 minutes can turn to an hour with out you even noticing.  Also make sure to "like" things you want to see again otherwise they are hard to find twice.  For example I saw a picture of "illusion hand art" that looked so cool I had to try it and I wish I could give credit to the original website. oh well, this is what ours looks like:

I'll have a how to post later today (I hope)

Places we’re going and people we’re seeing…

This week we had Girl Scouts, Dance Class, AWANA, spent time at my dads, and watched to cousins.  But the most exciting person we saw was...

Baby Benjamin!

My newest nephew is two weeks old and my daughters were finally well enough to meet him!

My favorite thing this week was…

Bargain shopping, I found coats for next year at 75% off, and a cool barbie play set at 50% (it got packed away with christmas decorations so I remember to wrap it up next year.

What’s working/not working for us…

I still LOVE "Life of Fred" math, Charry just started book two. Division isn't going quite so well.  But I think if we keep working on the "Wrap Ups" she will catch on.

Things I’m working on…

I'm trying to have the girls work on science together, but knowing what to expect from Merry with out having Charry feeling like she has "so much more work" is hard.  This week we started a weather unit and are making lap books.  I think this unit will be more work for me than for either of the girls.

I’m reading…

No I'm not, I can't fing my "War of the Worlds" book, so instead I am cleaning.

I’m praying for…

Spring, I hope it will be a wonderful season of peace, hope and joy.

A photo, video, link, or quote to share…

Since I haven't had a fastionista post in a while here is my super trendy Merry:

New Month, New Year, New Goals

I know what you are all thinking, "January is half done and you are just now getting around to new years resolutions."  Well first of all one of my resolutions is to be more on top of things next year so hopefully my list will be ready on the first not the tenth.  I have a whole year to work on that one.

The last few years (since we started homeschooling) most of my goals have revolved around schooling.  What changes needed to be made, which subjects we needed to spend more time on, which curriculum wasn't working, etc.  But this year I'm pretty happy with where we are at.  We took a long, much needed brake in December and now are getting right back to things.  So I'm looking at other goals, not school related.

One is I would like to be more in shape, not weight or dress size changing, just better able to keep up with my kids.

Another is I would like to decorate more.  We have lived in this apartment for over a year and the walls are empty, the furniture eclectic at best and little touches could go a long way.

And finally, I want to be more thrifty.  Buy only when the price is right.  If I could make it using stuff at home then I should at least try.  And hunt for bargains at second hand stores.

I hope this is a good year and that any changes are happy ones.

at least we got some schooling done

Despite our eagerness to start back on school, this week hasn't gone well.  Charry decided Monday to have a fever and Tuesday Merry decided to join her.  So Wednesday was the only real "schooling" day so far (I'm hopeful abut tomorrow.)  Now Wednesday I woke up with a "get rid of Christmas" urge.  Of course as every random, creative person knows the fist thing you need to do when taking down seasonal decor is create something new to take its place.      

 So while Charry busily worked on her school I made a valentinesy  wreath for my wall.

 She didn't have quite as much space to work as she usually does but that didn't slow either of us down.

In the end she finished her school in time to go to awana and I finished my wreath (and put away Christmas.)