Dog cake and some Birthday 'magic'

8 years old has arrived for our tip toeing middle girl.  Dog loving has also arrived and so you guessed it, a dog cake was the appropriate animal cake of choice this year.  We tried to do a dog themed party with some fun entertainment.

We also added a little bit of a talent show from the parents... it was a hit! Enjoy the pics. 

Here he is one and all:  Jock Illuzion... the magician. 

The kids LOVED this and David was so hysterical. This was the hit of the party.  I think we have found some hidden talent. 

If you would like to see a YouTube video of Jock Illuzion in action view here: 

Birthday magic :)

I was the comedy act but the act before me put me in for a pretty expectant crowd. 

Their favourite joke: What do you call an alligator in a vest? An investigator. (ba ha ha)

The theme of our family party was dogs. 

I made a cardboard doghouse for Lydia's presents and

 I also threw together a 'Dog dress up kit'.

In the 'Dog dress up kit': Head bands with felt dog ears I made, a ribbon collar and

 a small doggie treat of candy dog bones to snack on during the show. 

Here is our 8 year old with her cute little birthday present. Yep a little puppy. Tonight the puppy has found a new home in the cardboard doghouse next to Lydia's bed. :) Oh how we love you lovely Lydia.  Happy Birthday. 

This was just a family party and what a precious time with our family it was!

In our west corner - using what we have and who we are, to bless each other,
Becky

Pallet couch for our Home school room

OUr new PLace and SPace:

Here are a few pictures of our upstairs. (some are pretty grainy) We made it into our Homeschool/everything room. 

It is also where I give english lessons to a small class of boys. 

Well here we are: our homemade couch (pallet couch) and it is used ALL the time and is comfy with the thick foam. One day I would like to make a patch work cover for it ...one day. 

It also stores our Math -u- see blocks and certain board books. David found where they make pallets here and bought me 4 as a surprise for 9 lira a piece (that is about $4 each).

FOUR pallets?? - I wasn't to sure what I was going to do with 4 but I was excited and we have successfully used three - 2 for this couch and one for a desk we made. (pictures on that another time) 

I don't know if you can see it so well but I stencilled on our terrace door window. I used a stencil I found online for free and then used water colours and dabbed and sponged. It created a fun little design and is easily wiped off without scrubbing. So if you ever want to stencil a window... 

use water colours with just enough water to create a paste and dab and sponge away. 

Quick story: 

Although I have lived in Turkey now for 9 years there are still moments and situations where I feel intimidated by the culture, sometimes a little and sometimes a lot. 

This chair you see below is an example of me overcoming some of that fear and intimation I feel at times.  

In my little corner here there are a few used furniture places that are down a narrow alley in the downtown area.  It is a street with about seven or so little storefronts full of used furniture and household items. It is not a bad part of the town but for some reason it has always intimidated me and I have never went without Dave. (even though I love the thought of finding some treasure there)  

Well, I needed foam for our pallet couch and when I found out the price, it was more than we could afford so I decided to get over my 'I don't feel like I belong, intimidation issue' and head to the narrow street.  Let me mention that it is hard to get our big van in and out of the narrow street, and it is usually all men sitting about and drinking tea watching you walk up and down and into their shops. However I went and I was successful! I found foam for 10 lira ($5) and this adorable chair with wheels that I bargained for from 30 tl to 15 tl (about 7 dollars) from a very kind shop owner, mind you. So a victory for me and a huge savings on my upstairs furnishings!!! 

Here is the full span of the room. Yes it is huge, yes it is aMaZIng. We do not need this space for learning because I believe learning should and can happen in every room in our house but there are NO complaints from me. It is so nice to have an upstairs and not be worried about keeping the kids quiet all the time. So while we have this space we are using it to the fullest. 

The kids do lots of dancing shows, magic shows, forts and 

everything and anything else you can imagine. 

Here is a picture of two little boys I give english lessons too every Monday and Thursday. :) 

This Monday I am adding one more little guy.... we shall see how three,  5 and 6 year old boys do! 

Well Happy Mother's day to all you moms! 

I had breakfast in bed - homemade scones, green tea and fruit and was smothered with homemade cards. :) I am grateful that my husband and kids have shown their appreciation for me today. It is a gift to be appreciated and loved; not a right. 

In my little west corner in a not so 'little' apartment,

Becky

Rest in the warmth (cardboard art)

This is the latest piece of cardbard art I have been working on...

Capturing the process

Picking and adding warm colors.

     This is what I have so far...

REST IN THE WARMTH ~cardboard art

 I am not ready to call it finished...something is missing. I put it away though because, well I needed to clean up my dining room table for guests and I am hoping that time away from it will bring fresh ideas when I see it again. Thanks for sharing in this process with me.   

 Be patient in the storm as you rest in the warmth...

In my west corner. 

becky

Homeschool j & j #2 - Puppet Theatre and show Part #1

Hey. So I have been thinking for some time how fun it would be for a puppet show.  I have been saving this big ole box for some time and I belive the time has come for a little theatre. a little show. a performance of sort. to happen right here in our home. So watch and be amazed as we transform boxes and felt into an amateur display of the arts. :) 

We are going to take a few hours of school each week to plan and put together a puppet stage, homemade puppets and a story or poem of some sort for the script. We are hoping to have it all ready before our wonderful and dear freinds who have lived in this city with us for the past 8 years pack up and go home. We would love to perform it for them...so two weeks is our goal.

Here is Part 1 of our Puppet theatre in pics:

Cute kid waiting.

Cutting and taping. 

Testing it out.

If you are interested in making your own puppet stage like this check out this you tube video it is perfect! (just need a big box)

Make a Cardboard Puppet Theater

You would think that both my girls would be completely delighted with this project. Well not so...nope one of them (who I will keep anonymous) is struggling that the results are slow and it takes steps and planning to make it come together, she wants it to go faster. This is going to be a great learning tool for her in follow through and how forethought and hard work pay off. 

 This idea involves thinking thru steps, math, reading and crafting to name a few. Not to mention learning to work together.  So I am feeling pretty good about taking our school time and putting this together. We shall see how it all goes...as this momma also is learning that 10 yr. olds and 7 yr. olds have lots of great ideas that are sometimes different than mine and wearing flexibility is imperative. 

So long for now. In our west corner. Using another cardboard box.

Becky

Cardboard Super hero house tour :)

Well as I shared a bit ago..(here).. that I made this super hero cardboard house for my little guy. 

I semi- promised I would show you more of it, so here it is. 

Enjoy.

The fun features are the trap door at the top and the workable jail.

I made the jail with a tea box. Also it has a secret passage on the side. :)

The beds are made out of cork board hot glued together and painted and the mattresses from foam and I sewed the bedding. The table is a lid and spool of thread. I have yet to make a few chairs for the 

super heros to rest their weary heroic bones. 

Here is the tea box and a pic to show you how I attached it.

Truth is Isaac loves that I made this for him but it is not on his list of favourite toys. It gets played with on and off. I think it would help if I made a few more pieces of furniture. However it was ALOT of fun to make and he often calls it 'special'. I love my little fellow and all the boyishness that he brings to our home!

Hope this is inspiring to someone. :) Here is the girls carboard dollhouses from years ago, (we still have one in good shape after 4 years!!) and another homemade toy from cardboard that I made for Isaac a few years ago can be found HERE.


In my west corner, Good night.
Becky

Mixed media houses

Here are a few mixed media houses I have worked on over the past several months on and off.
I guess you could call them recycled pieces of art. :)

Now that they are individually done I am trying to figure out how to work them as a corporate piece?? 

I am not too sure if I should do them together or independently.

These pieces were made primarily from cardboard and acrylic paint. Pieces of burlap, magazine clippings, pages from an old book, scrap book paper, ribbon, small pieces of wood, hemp, felt and fabric. Oh yes a a few beads and buttons too.  All the pieces  held together with Mod Podge, thread and a glue gun. 

I have thought a lot about how each family/household has a distinct thumbprint (personality) and these houses represent that to me.

 Each family has a unique style and way about themselves, not needing to compare themselves with the next household because that household is made up of uniquely different individuals with their own set of strengths, weaknesses and style.

Anyway there you have it. I would love any input if you think I should do a piece with all the houses or do 3 individual ones....?

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Eph. 2;10  

"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." Gen. 1:27

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Ps. 139:14

Bye for now. :)

In my little west corner,

Becky

Cardboard Super Hero House

Ok so I have a TON to blog about ....but instead of bloggin about all that 'ton', I just had to share this one little pic.  I have been working on a cardboard Super Hero House for my amazing energetic son who is tired of playing doll house with his sisters, and I just have one pic to show. :)  I am so excited about this!

I am not quite finished still working on the top, paint is still drying here and there and a few more details on the inside, but it is coming along.

The funnest part is that jail. The door opens and shuts with a real place to lock away bad guys caught by super heros! Justice will be served with this Super Hero House.  I promise...or rather almost promise to give a pic tour when I am done. Off I go to parent my future hero. ;)

I will be back soon. :) Maybe even tomorrow. 

Using what I have and today it was a cardboard box and some paint. 

In my little west corner,

Becky

PS. Several years ago I made these cardboard Doll Houses for my girlies. I think they have lasted 4 years! Crazy amazing cardboard. 

Egg carton carrying case for LPS

Hi. We are crafting a bit these days. Lydia now goes to kindergarten in the afternoons 1:15pm to 5:00 pm.  This is not my fav however Isaac and I get to have her home with us in the mornings. Today we decided to grab the recycle bin and find something fun to make. 

Lydia made a Littlest Pet Shop carrying case and Isaac and I made some

 tp tube cars that I can share at a later date.

  Hope you enjoy this simple and sweet 'use what you have' creation. 

It started out looking like this and ended up....

looking like this. :)

Important that the LPS's are comfy, don't you think?

We used a silly band to wrap around the case to keep it more secure.

 Later Lydia found two pink silly bands to match.

We used some ribbon to make the strap and some glue and scrap book paper outside. 

For the inside seats we used little pices of fabric.

This idea is original to my knowledge but it was helped along by this fun blog that I follow. 

Check out this DIY Littlest Pet Shop Park made from egg cartons. I love it!!

Ok off I go to prepare for my in-laws coming to visit us for the FIRST TIME here in Turkey. Pretty exciting. They arrive tomorrow evening in our little west corner.

~Becky

Cardboard love #6 ~ Oh for the love...

For all of you following along, you know that my love for cardboard is a tad obnoxious and that it is one of my all time favorites for crafting. So sharing this post with all its cardboard goodness is fun for me (maybe too much;)).  To bring a close to my Cardboard Love Series, here is a round up of the 5 cardboard love creations in the series, plus a quick look of the different cardboard creations we have made over the years. Enjoy! I have included all the links.  

Oh for the love of Cardboard...

5. Polka dot town playhouses 4. Super duper drop box

3. DIY white board 2. Cardboard wreaths made by my girlies

1. Thankfulness mailbox

1. Cardboard chalkboard buddies 2. DIY building blocks

3. IKEA cardboard box Dollhouses

4. Cardboard playhouse 5. Cardboard Kitchen

Oh and lets not forget our SWEET TREATS SHOP 

all made by cardboard and recyclable materials. 

We used the box from our Theater night for the Sweet Treats shop.

and then one of my sons all time favorites the Button slots made from a shoe box.

(I love shoe boxes, perfectly systematical with great lids and so sturdy.)

There are other bits and bobs of cardboard running rapid throughout my posts that I did not include but these are some of our highlights and it is so fun to look back and remember. 

So which cardboard creation is your favorite?
Thanks for all you who followed this series and gave such fun encouraging comments. 

In my west corner dreaming up new ideas for my cardboard stash,

Becky

Look what I scored.. red and white polka dot

 The reddest polka-dot-est largest cardboard boxes ever.  :) 

You should have seen me carrying these babies up 5 flights of stairs because they were to tall to fit in the elevator.  Commitment!

So the kids went:

Sliding

Jumping

Bowling

 and Camping

 In our large red polka dot boxes...

and that's not all.  

Cardboard love series #5 will continue: 

Stay tuned to see a red and white polka dot neighborhood come to life in our own living room. 

Yes I am crazy and especially crazy about cardboard and then you add red and white polka dots and well absolutely crazy!

In our west corner ~ being crazy,

Becky

So what would you have done if you saw these boxes? :)