Making a Zine

Chloe and I made little zines over the weekend. With one 8-1/2 x 11 sheet you can make a cute little book - all without staples. This will give you a front and back cover and 6 interior pages.

Step 1: Holding the paper with the long edge to the top, fold the page like a book so the two short ends meet.

Step 2: Fold the book from top to bottom.

Step 3: Fold the left side to meet the right side.

Step 4: Unfold the last two fold. It will look like it did at the end of Step 2 with the first fold still folded.

Step 5: Cut the horizontal fold you just unfolded halfway across the page (from the fold of your paper to the vertical crease- between the pages numbered 3 and 8).
Step 6: Unfold the paper completely.

Step 7: Draw the story. (see numbered panels for orientation of drawings.)
Step 8: Fold the paper in half this time so that the long end meets the other long end.

Step 9: Push the two ends in to make a diamond shape from the cut-out area. Push the diamond closed, and press the pages making the front and back covers the exterior of the book.
And you're done!

Cute craft to do with your kid

Chloe and I made this cute blanket. To do this project you will just need two coordinating pieces of fleece, each measuring 5' x 3'.

Holding the two pieces together (right sides facing away from each other), cut out a 7" square from each of the four corners of the fleece sandwich.

Along the uncut edges of the fleece, between where you cut the squares out, still holding the two pieces together, you will cut the blanket fringe. The fringe strips should be about 1" wide and cut about 7" into the blanket, so that the interior cut end of the fringe aligns with the interior edge of the square you just cut out.

Tie a knot in each of the fringe pairs and you're done!

Recipe for First Grade Fun

My first-grade daughter had a great group of friends in her class last year. This year, she only has one of the original group in her class, so we had a get-together for the old gang on Friday.

All five girls came home together on the bus. After a snack and lots of girl-talk, they played while I set up a few crafts for them. I had gotten some plain black hats at Michaels and some fabric paints. They had a great time painting them (although fair warning, I also got a painted chair in the bargain!) Here are three of the hats.

I had also gotten some Halloween themed wooden shapes and foam pumpkins. The girls painted these, and then I applied magnets on the back.

We had pizza and make-your-own sundaes and finished off the evening with sparklers and glow sticks.

My daughter's best friend spent the night, and we had our usual sleepover breakfast of chocolate pancakes.

Chocolate Pancakes (adapted from Recipezaar)

makes 10 pancakes

1 cup milk
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
mini-chocolate chips

In a small bowl, combine milk, egg and butter; whisk until blended.
In another bowl, combine flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda and salt; mix well.
Add milk mixture; whisk just until dry ingredients are moistened.
(Batter will be slightly lumpy.)
Heat griddle over medium heat until hot. (Drops of water will sizzle, then evaporate.)
For each pancake, pour scant 1/4 cup batter into griddle.
Sprinkle pancakes with mini-chocolate chips.
Cook 1-2 minutes or until batter is set around edges.
Carefully turn over pancake; cook 1-2 minutes or until pancakes are cooked through.
Repeat with remaining batter.

Serve sprinkled with powdered sugar or (as my daughter prefers) with whipped cream!


Everyone had a great time, but I'm glad for a quiet Sunday now!