Teddy Forest is a place of magic, wonder, and discovery. Here in the Westcoast temperate rainforest, we have fun everyday and always make new friends. Won't you join us? Check out my monthly West Coast Creature Features and the Weekly Bear ATC Project
Tuesday, 31 July 2012
Thursday, 26 July 2012
DIY Craft- Fun block stamp prints with recycled materials :)
do it yourself recycled block printing by smallgirl |
What you need:
Scissors
Ballpoint pen and pencil
Thin foam, like an old take-out container or scrap funfoam
Piece of thin cardboard, cut from a cereal box or cardstock will do
Glue
Washable paint
Paper to print on
What to do:
1. Draw your shapes/picture on the foam with a ballpoint pen and cut them out with scissors.
2. Scratch additional detail onto the shapes/picture using a sharp pencil. Try to go deep, so that the paint won't fill the depressions.
3. Glue your shapes onto a piece of thin cardboard. You now have your block print stamp!
4. When the glue is dry, spread paint on your shapes. Acrylics work well.
5. Press your stamp onto paper. You may need to practice a few times to find your desired amount of paint, as it can spread with pressing.
Bears in starlight by smallgirl |
Voila! You have a fun, beautiful print! If you carefully wipe off the excess paint with a bit of water, you can use your stamp again and again.
Happy crafting!
As seen on: http://stamping.craftgossip.com/tutorial-make-a-stamp-from-recycled-materials/2012/08/21/
Thursday, 19 July 2012
West Coast Creature Feature-The Terrifying Carnivorous Round-leaved Sundew
It looks as though Teddy Forest is fast evolving into a nature blog, but fear not! The bears still live in Teddy Forest and will be reporting soon. It's just that now that nice weather is finally upon us, I'm spending more time outside exploring than inside making. So, here is an amazing plant I want to share with you...
Strictly, the round-leaved sundew is not a West Coast "creature," as it is a plant and a widespread species in Northern Europe, Asia and North America. Here, it lives in the Pacific Northwest and southern Alaska. It is fascinating to observe as it devours mosquitoes and damselflies. Like our friends the bats and birds, this plant is beneficial to humans in its control of insects. In my area, it is considered locally rare as urban development has destroyed much of its wetland habitat. Lately, I have been involved in restoring a bog, one of only two remaining bog habitats in my city, and home to the round-leaved sundew.
PS: I am absolutely loving West Coast bogs and wetlands lately. I've been reading David M. Carrol's Swampwalker Journal, about wetlands in the Eastern States, but we have our share on the West Coast too, so get out there to respect and enjoy them and all that lives there!!
Happy bogging!
Round-leaved sundew, by smallgirl |
PS: I am absolutely loving West Coast bogs and wetlands lately. I've been reading David M. Carrol's Swampwalker Journal, about wetlands in the Eastern States, but we have our share on the West Coast too, so get out there to respect and enjoy them and all that lives there!!
Happy bogging!
Monday, 9 July 2012
West Coast Creature Feature-The Beautiful Barn Swallow
barn swallows in nest, photographed by smallgirl |
Fly high and have a lovely day today!
Friday, 6 July 2012
Hope has eyes!
Hope, needlefelted and photographed by smallgirl |
needle felted moon bear, Hope, by smallgirl |
To find out more about moon bears and how to protect them from cruelty and the medicine trade, please visit: http://www.animalsasia.org/index.php?UID=2J0NIOGTVCWA
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