Craft Gossip

Independent craft blog since 2007

Upcycled Glass Solar Garden Mushrooms – A Whimsical DIY Delight

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Looking to add a touch of magic to your garden? The Upcycled Glass Solar Garden Mushrooms tutorial on Instructables by CrazyClever is a fantastic project that combines creativity, sustainability, and a bit of whimsy.

This DIY guide takes you through the process of transforming old chandelier glass parts into enchanting mushroom-shaped garden lights. The bell-shaped glass diffusers are perfect for this project—they naturally resemble mushroom caps, have ample openings to let sunlight charge the solar panels, and emit a soft, ambient glow rather than the harsh brightness of standard LEDs.

The stems are crafted from cement, shaped around the solar light stakes using cling wrap. This method not only gives each mushroom a unique, organic look but also ensures they are sturdy and weather-resistant. The project is designed to be loose and organic, encouraging creativity without the need for precise measurements.

  • Upcycling Techniques: Transforming old glass items into functional and decorative pieces.

  • Mushroom Crafting: Creating unique mushroom shapes using simple materials.

  • Outdoor Lighting: Incorporating solar lights into your garden décor.

If you’re looking for a fun, eco-friendly project that adds charm to your outdoor space, these upcycled glass solar garden mushrooms are a delightful choice. The tutorial is easy to follow, and the results are both practical and enchanting.

Ready to get started? Check out the full tutorial on Instructables.

How to make a recycled solar light Fairy house

How to upcycle a plain solar light into a stylish one

How to convert an old purse into a solar panel power station

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Corn Learning Activities

Years ago I did a post all about using Indian corn (or flint corn) in learning activities, but I don’t think I’ve ever done a post about regular corn learning activities, so let’s get into it. 

Print out this corn number recognition activity from I Heart Crafty Things and use yellow dot stickers for kids to match and cover the numbers from 2 to 12 that they get when rolling dice. Or do some corn kernel math with these ideas from Gift of Curiosity. Kids can guess how many kernels are in a cup or bowl, then count them, and learn about grouping 5 or 10 kernels together and using skip counting to count faster if they’re ready for that. 

I think the only language arts corn learning activity I found was this letter recognition activity from My Pre K Box. Print out the corn shape and use round stickers to match the letter on the kernel to the one on the sticker. 

I found a lot of printables that include the life cycle of corn and other activities, like this one from MomBrite, which includes a word search and other activities; or this 16-page Montessori inspired corn unit study that includes life cycle, labeling, three part cards and more from Only Passionate Curiosity; or the corn worksheets from Simple Everyday Mom, which includes writing practice, a letter identification maze and a label the parts of corn worksheet. 

Tina’s Dynamic Homeschool Plus has a free for subscribers printable life cycle foldout that is a fun way to present the information. They used it in a sensory bin but you can just use it as a part of teaching about corn if you’d rather. 

Dancing corn is a classic science activity done with baking soda and vinegar. Get the instructions from Fun Learning for Kids.

Kids Konnect has a set of printables and facts all about corn mazes, which is fun if going to a corn maze is part of your fall tradition. 

And you can craft a funny ear of corn with this printable from Craft Corner DIY.

14 Mexican Street Corn Recipes [Edible Crafts]