This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NaturalGoodness #CollectiveBias
With Hazeline’s birthday celebration wrapping up yesterday, I’m finally ready to move into April. I have a whole new party to plan for Greenleigh, invitations to send out, and details to tend to, and on top of it all, it’s Earth Month! Actually, I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned it before, but Greenleigh’s birthday is actually on Earth Day. I remember being in the hospital when she was first born and all the nurses commenting on the fact that the word “Green” was in her name and that she was born on Earth Day. Don’t get me wrong, we had her name picked out months in advance, but the fact that she was born during Earth Month and on Earth Day made it just perfect. Like it was all meant to be.
Since Greenleigh just loves that her birthday falls during Earth Month, we try to celebrate by being a little “greener” each April – we read books about recycling and conservation, we switch out some of our regular products for “greener options”, and even do a craft or two. This year, we’ve read quite a few books, including “Earth Day – Hooray!” by Stuart J. Murphy and “I Can Save the Earth!: One Little Monster Learns to Reduce Reuse, and Recycle” by Alison Inches. Both were instant hits! As for greener products products, Greenleigh happily traded her normal toothpaste for Tom’s of Maine Silly Strawberry (which she just loves!) and I’ve switched to Tom’s of Maine Antiplaque & Whitening Peppermint Fluoride Free Toothpaste, which has a fresh minty taste that lasts long past when you brush in the morning. Best of all, Tom’s of Maine natural personal care and oral care products are made with no artificial colors, flavors, fragrances, or preservatives, which make them better for us and better for the environment.
As for crafts, we decided to whip up some really cute suncatchers to remind us just how big and small the Earth really is! And you can make one too – they’re pretty easy to make!
You will need:
Wax paper
Tissue paper (light blue & green)
Construction paper
Glue
Foam paint brush
Scissors
Compass
Pencil
World map (printed, for tracing)
Step 1 – Using the foam brush, spread a thin layer of glue on a 12 inch by 12 inch sheet of wax paper. Place one sheet of blue tissue paper on top of the glue and press down. Once dried, repeat this step, so you have 2 layers of blue glued down to the wax paper. Allow to dry completely.
Step 2 – Draw a circle – using the compass – on the top sheet of blue tissue paper.
Step 3 – Place the green tissue paper on top of the world map that you’ve printed and trace the outline of the continents that you’d like to include on your sun catcher. The tracing doesn’t need to be perfect, just a general outline. Once done tracing, cut out the continents.
Note: I found mine online and printed from there. Be sure to pick larger maps for younger kids, but keep the size of your map/continents in mind when making the circle in Step 2.
Step 4 – Spread a layer of glue on the top sheet of blue tissue paper where you plan to place your continents. Place continents on top of glue and press down. Once dry, spread a thin layer of glue on top of the blue and green tissue paper “Earth” and place a second piece of 12 inch by 12 inch wax paper on the top. Press down firmly to remove as many bubbles as possible between the wax paper and tissue paper.
Step 5 – Using the compass, make a slightly larger circle than the circle you made in Step 2 on the green construction paper (for example, my Earth was 8 inches and my first circle on the construction paper was 9 1/2 inches). Once completed, make a circle about 1 1/2 inches smaller than the circle on the green construction paper. These two circles form the frame for your sun catcher. Cut out the circular frame, starting in the middle.
Step 6 – Use a small amount of glue to attach the back of the frame to the front of the sun catcher.
Hang it in a place where you can enjoy it every day of April! Ours is in our kitchen so we’ll be able to see it first thing each day during Earth Month!
And if you’re looking to get a little greener this April, be sure to be on the lookout for natural products like Tom’s in the toothpaste aisle at your local Walmart!
Click here to get $1.00 off any Tom’s of Maine product purchase at Walmart.
