Paper Dress: The Glass Window

I have always admired the work of architect and interior designer Frank Lloyd Wright. His belief in organic architecture brings human habitation and the nature into an interrelated harmony. 

His skill to conceive a simple and yet artistic design for stained glass inspired me to let Little E play with the colors and shapes.

Little E picked 5 markers to randomly color the stained glass window pattern.

Then I cut another piece of black construction paper into 6 pieces as below.

We glued the stained glass window on the biggest piece of paper.

I cut out more shapes using origami paper for Little E to glue on the other three pieces of black paper.

When she was done, I glued all three decorated pieces on the skinny piece of black paper to make a skirt.

I also used a piece of white printing paper to finish the skirt and made a belt.

Here is our 17th paper dress made together - The Glass Window!

Paper Dress: Chasing Butterfly

Playing in the park is probably one of Little E's favorite things to do. Although she is still not a fan of the swings at age 4, she really likes the slides,  bike riding, observing insects and birds, or just running around on the grass for no reason.

Recently she has discovered a new activity to do - chasing butterflies! There are some monarch butterflies flying in the neighborhood park. Every time Little E spotted them, she would just took off running excitedly after them, trying to see how beautiful they are and how high they can fly!

I thought it would be a great idea for make a butterfly paper dress during this season. 

I glued 2 pieces of violet tissue paper to make the dress. 

I found a butterfly pattern on line. Little E traced it on colorful origami paper.

She used glitter glue to to decorate the biggest butterfly. 

It's her first time using glitter glue at home - sticky but sparkly!

We let the glitter butterfly dry overnight. 

The next day, we cut out all 7 butterflies from the origami paper.

 Glue them randomly on the violet tissue paper.

Voila! Here is our 16th paper dress made together - Chasing Butterfly!

Storybook: Odor Boy and The Arguing Peas

Big E discovered a couple of chapter book series he's interested in reading from our weekly library visit. One of them is Captain Awesome. The story is about a 8 year old boy who loves comic books and superheroes. He also has his very own secret superhero alter ego - Captain Awesome!

The vivid illustration has inspired Big E to create his own superhero storybook. And of course, I can totally tell my 7 year old boy's humor in his character and plot creation...

Here is Big E's new storybook - Odor Boy and The Arguing Peas

Paper Dress/Vest Party - Butterfly and Dragonfly

Mahika's mother contacted me for the idea of having a nature-themed paper dress making party for her daughter's 6th birthday. The birthday party will be held at their house and there will be 7 girls and 1 boy attending the party.

As I started preparing the paper dress and paper vest pattern cut-outs and all the supplies, I thought about the colorful monarch butterflies and blue dragonflies flying around in our neighborhood parks. So I decided the children will be making butterfly paper dress and dragonfly paper vest together at the birthday party!

When I arrived at their house, Mahika's mother has already prepared the perfect set up for children to work on this craft project!


I taped a sample of the paper dress cut-out on the wall as an example while I instructed the children how to make the tissue paper ruffles for the dress and the sleeves.

After cutting out their own butterfly patterns using the origami paper, the girls used markers to decorate them. The boy was cutting tissue paper strips to make grass and gluing on the dragonflies.

 Look how fabulous the paper vest turned out to be!

All the girls had done a wonderful job making their own paper dresses today! 

I am sure it will be a great memory for Mahika.

Happy 6th Birthday!

Paper Dress: Marjorie the Cow

We had the storybook "The Cow that Laid an Egg" at home since Big E was in preschool. Both kids love this story as the plot is interesting and the illustration is very cute.

The story is a about Marjorie the Cow who laid an egg. The other cows didn't believe Marjorie could lay an egg. The chickens were thrilled to see a cow-spotted egg. The whole world was waiting to see what would hatch out of it. Marjorie took care of the egg like a moo-ther the whole time. Finally, her baby came out  - it's a little chick who moos. Marjorie held her baby tight, said "A cow!" And she named it Daisy.

Last week we found the second book at the library about Marjorie the Cow and her baby Daisy. The kids enjoyed reading it so much that Little E asked if we can make a Marjorie paper dress.

I started by cutting a dress pattern out of big drawing paper. 

I also drew Marjorie, her cow-spotted egg and Daisy.

 Little E used her cup to trace circles on black origami paper and cut them out.

She glued the black circles on the dress to make the spots. 

Then she started coloring Marjorie, the spotted-egg, and Daisy.

Little E cut out 4 strips of used red tissue paper. 

We glued 2 strips at the bottom of the dress to make ruffles. 

Then we taped craft sticks in the back of the egg and Daisy. 

I used the other 2 red tissue paper strips to make a flower for Marjorie. 

Glue Marjorie on a piece of white paper strip to make a head band.

Here is our 15th paper dress made together - Marjorie the Cow!