Unfluffy PC project

Last week I mentioned Diane Gilleland’s new plastic-canvas-project e-booklet, Hook, Needle, Pencil Case. Since then, I’ve had a chance to step through the project instructions and experiment with most of the techniques.

Wow. Diane continually amazes me. This guide — like all of Diane’s work — is stepped perfectly, explained thoroughly, and illustrated beautifully. I almost had a few questions; but just as I approached the point of confusion, Diane stepped in with either info or reassurance. See the ideally staged photo above? It comes at a point when a mistake would be easy to make and frustrating to correct. The words that accompany the photo: “In this photo, I want you to notice where the seam in the tube is – right behind where we began stitching. That’s important! Make sure you begin stitching in the same spot. I’ll explain why in a moment.” Just-in-time information + reassurance. Instructions just don’t get any better than this.

As for the project itself: It’s practical, giftable, and beautiful. Diane’s stitching technique and color choices produce a plastic canvas project that looks nothing like a fluffy tissue cover. In fact, I can easily imagine finding something similar in our local fair-trade import shop. The cases are that classy — modern and yet somehow almost ethnic.

Go to Diane’s online home, CraftyPod, for information about ordering the e-booklet.

Read These Next

With summer coming on in the Northern Hemisphere, I feel like we all need some fun activities we can do with one kid at home or a bunch in a classroom when it’s too hot to go outside (I guess you can say the same for if it’s too cold to go out in the Southern Hemisphere, too).

This disaster island Lego challenge from Lego Librarian was designed to be done with a Lego club, but you can do it in a classroom if you have bricks handy, or at home with one or two kids.

The idea is that first the kids each design their own island, with a given amount of time where that is the only prompt.

Then each person draws a disaster card. You can use the ones from Lego Librarian or make up your own. These are things like there’s a storm coming so you need to build a strong shelter, or there’s a rescue plane so you need to build something so they will see you.

There’s a whole bunch of ideas, which should get kids thinking creatively about ways to alter their islands for whatever situations you throw at them.

If you’re doing this with just one or two kids, the idea is the same, or you could have them draw several cards over a session if they want to keep the fun going.

This is a great low prep STEM activity for kids that should get them thinking creatively about how to solve problems. It’s a great idea to have the kids explain what they did to solve their particular problem, too, and why they think that will help.

Even though it won’t be a surprise what’s going to happen after the first time you play it, this is one you can do again and again because the kids will probably draw different cards.

Get all the details and a printable list of challenge prompts at Lego Librarian.

[Photo: Lego Librarian]

Read These Next

Have you read?