Happy Summer Solstice! This week we are making a golden sun using cardstock and paint chips.
You will need white cardstock, different shades of yellow or gold paper (we used paint chips!), scissors and glue for this craft.
Glue your circle on the page, deciding on how you would like your composition to look. This will be your sun. Then begin cutting out strips and arranging them around your sun to create the rays. We included a variety of colored paint chips to cut up in different ways. Do not worry if they go off the page. Once you like how they look, glue them down. Lastly, trim any edges hanging off the page. The picture below will give you some inspiration:
Since Father’s Day is on Sunday, June 20th, this week’s craft will be centered around honoring the father figure/s in your life with 5 things you love about them.
You will need markers, 5 popsicle sticks, a glue stick, construction paper, and scissors for this craft.
Take your 5 popsicle sticks and decorate them however you wish with your markers. Then line them up horizontally. Take your piece of paper and measure how much you need to trim by laying it over your sticks. You want the decorations of the sticks to show evenly on the sides, and you may leave a little extra along the top and bottom for more writing room, but not more than a popsicle stick width.
Once your paper is trimmed, line it up again and take note of where each stick begins and ends through your paper. Use the top or bottom extra space above the sticks to write “Five Things I love about _____” Write your 5 thing you love about the father figure in your life, lining each up so it is one per stick.
Glue your paper to your sticks once your message is written. Take your ribbon and glue it down the center vertically on the back. Then, fold the extra paper at the top over the top stick and fold the extra paper at the bottom up over the last stick and crease in those spots. Then just fold your message up and tie it.
This craft is available as the second take-n-make kit for teens participating in the Teen Summer Reading Challenge. ( Ages 13-20). Registration is required and that opened on June 9th. Once they are gone, they are gone! Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSew0_VmOA_4rNMQcx0VuPoSxKZcjZxOuH5F1-XS2jv7mLYsow/viewform?usp=sf_link or stop in at the library to register. For anyone else wanting to make their own bubble tea using their own materials, the instructions are as follows, which include what was in our kits, and how to make it with your own supplies:
Bubble Tea, also known as pearl milk tea, bubble milk tea, or boba tea, is a drink that was made popular in Taiwan in the 1980s. It has become a fun and popular drink in the US in the past few years. Bubble tea drinks come in a wide variety of flavors, from traditional tea with milk to tea with juice or fruit smoothies. Drinks can be enjoyed hot or iced. The defining feature of bubble tea is the addition of chewy “pearls” made of tapioca starch.
The kit we used was prepackaged with one milk and tea powder packet, 1 straw, and 1 package of tapioca pearls. The kit has enough to make 1 serving of matcha bubble tea. Adding sugar and milk is up to you! If you would like to create more bubble tea uncooked tapioca pearls can be purchased at many local Asian markets or online retailers.
Note: This kit requires the use of a stove or microwave! Please make sure you have permission and/or supervision from your parents/guardian to use those before you make your bubble tea!
Materials needed to complete project
Included in kit ( You will need to purchase these items if you are making it on your own) :
1 wide bubble tea straws
1 serving of uncooked tapioca pearls
1 packet of matcha tea milk powder
Extra goodies we included:
Cheddar gold fish snacks
1 charging cable buddy for your phone, tablet, or headphones
1 book
Not included in kit:
Kettle/saucepan and a mug OR large microwave-safe mug to make tea
Saucepan with a lid OR microwave-safe mug to cook tapioca pearls
Colander to drain the tapioca pearls
Spoon
Sugar or other sweetener (optional)
Milk of your choice (optional)
Ice (optional)
Cup to drink it from
Instructions:
Brew your tea
(Note: If you want your finished drink to be cold, make your tea first. If you want your finished drink to be warm, cook your tapioca pearls first and make your tea second.)
Stovetop method:
If you have permission to use the stove, boil water in a kettle or in a saucepan.
Add milk tea powder in a large mug.
While you wait for the water to boil, put your unopened bag of tapioca pearls in another heat-safe container.
After the kettle starts whistling or the water is boiling, pour the boiling water into the container with the tapioca pearls and let sit for 1 minute. Then add boiling water into your mug with the powder. (Leave a little room at the top for the tapioca pearls and some additional liquid)
Stir well while you wait for the pearls to be ready.
Add contents of the tapioca boba bag into your tea powder mug. Then add a splash of hot water, iced water, or milk depending on if you want your final drink hot or cold, or extra creamy.
Enjoy!
Microwave Method for if using a prepackaged kit like the one we used:
Pour hot water in a cup leaving room at the top. Add milk tea powder and stir well.
Add contents of tapioca boba bag into Step 1 and stir well. Heat in the microwave 20-30 seconds.
Pour any additional hot water, cold water, or milk, depending on if you want your final drink hot or cold, or extra creamy.
Enjoy!
If you liked this project and enjoyed the drink, you can recreate it by buying bulk tapioca pearls online or at a local Asian Market section of a grocery store. For the tea, any bagged black or green will do! Just steep the bags in boiling water for 2-3 minutes. Then remove and your cooked pearls following the directions below. Or type in “boba kit” online and find premade kits like the ones used in this project.
Special note if you go on to buy your own tapioca pearls to make more:
Cook the tapioca pearls
Stovetop method:
If you have permission to use the stove, fill a saucepan with 6-8 cups of water, and put it on the stove on high heat.
Measure out the amount of tapioca pearls that you want to cook. Most bubble tea drinks use about 1/4 cup of tapioca pearls.
Once the water is boiling, put your measured amount of tapioca pearls in the boiling water. Stir the bubbles with a spoon to keep them from sticking together.
Once the pearls float to the top of the water, lower the heat of the stove to medium, put the lid on the saucepan and let the pearls cook for about 5 minutes.
At this point, you can start checking the pearls for your preferred doneness by scooping out one and (carefully!) chewing it. If you like your pearls a little chewier, turn off the heat and proceed to the next step. If you like them a little softer, let the water boil for another 2-3 minutes and check them again.
When your tapioca pearls are at your preferred doneness, remove the saucepan from the heat and drain the pearls into a colander. Rinse with cold water.
If you want your pearls and finished drink to be sweet, put the warm tapioca pearls in a bowl and stir in a couple of spoonfuls of plain sugar, brown sugar, honey, or other sweetener. Let them sit while you assemble the rest of your drink ingredients.
Microwave method:
(Note: microwave tapioca pearls usually turn out a little chewier. If you prefer your pearls on the soft side, use the stove.)
In a microwave-safe mug, pour in 3/4 cup of water.
Microwave water on high for about 3 minutes. Take the mug of boiling water out of the microwave (Careful! It’s hot!)
Pour 1/4 cup of tapioca pearls in the hot water.
Put the mug with water and tapioca pearls back in the microwave and microwave on high for 1 minute.
Take the mug out of the microwave and cover with a plate for 1 minute.
Drain the pearls into a colander, rinse with cold water.
If you want your pearls and finished drink to be sweet, put the warm tapioca pearls in a bowl and stir in a couple of spoonfuls of plain sugar, brown sugar, honey, or other sweetener.
Assemble your drink
Using a spoon, put the tapioca pearls at the bottom of your cup.
Pour in your prepared tea in your cup on top of the pearls.
Add your ice and milk if you choose to have either.
Put in your straw, give everything a stir, and enjoy your tea!
Cooked tapioca pearls need special storage, otherwise they get hard and unappetizing. If you have extra cooked tapioca pearls, they can be stored in sugar syrup for 1-2 days. Make sugar syrup by boiling 1/2 cup of water on the stove or in the microwave. Add in 1/2 cup of sugar, and stir until dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool. Put the pearls and syrup in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. Uncooked tapioca pearls can be kept in an airtight container for 1-2 months.
You will need a piece of cardboard or cardstock paper, scissors, yarn, aluminum foil, a glue stick, and either paints, markers, or crayons to decorate.
Start by cutting a lizard shape out of your cardboard or cardstock. Then cut little grooves along the sides.
String your yarn through the grooves to make whatever pattern you’d like for the lizard’s back. Just tie it off on the backside.
Then cover the lizard evenly with tinfoil. This is the fun part! Color your lizard using paints, markers, or even try crayons. The texture is fun when drawing on tinfoil. If using crayon, just be mindful that you don’t tear through your lizard. Then use leftover tinfoil to make legs and a tongue.
This one was decorated with white crayon and sharpies.
You will need washable markers, a paper towel, a wooden dowel or pencil, and a plate and water for this craft.
Cut your paper towel into about 6 small squares. Then color each square with your markers. These will be your caterpillars. You will use the stick to roll each piece of paper towel into a worm. Scrunch them up while still on the stick. Draw a face on if you like! Then release them from the stick and place them on a plate.
You will take a tiny amount of water and put it on the worms to watch them grow and move! You only need a few drops.
This week we are making cardboard flower presses. There are so many fun activities to do with pressed flowers. This is an easy way to press and keep track of your flowers as you are out gathering them.
All you will need is a piece of cardboard ( whatever size you want for your press to be), two rubber bands, scrap paper like newspaper, copy paper, or even tissue paper, and whatever you would like to use to decorate your press.
To make and use:
Cut your paper sheets to roughly fit the size of your cardboard press. You will fold the cardboard piece in half, so the paper inside will also end up folded with it. It will resemble a book. Decorate the outside however you wish. When you press flowers, try to go for ones that have the same thickness and then just lay them on one paper sheet and close the press. You will rubber band the top and the bottom of the press to keep the paper and flowers inside. Then when you are home, just lay several books on top and let them dry for a week. Check on them and if more time is needed, wait another week.
This craft is available as the first take-n-make kit for adults participating in the Adult Summer Reading Challenge. ( Ages 21- on up). Registration is required and that opens on Wednesday, May 26th. Once they are gone, they are gone! Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdI1gWE6ibn29To2MV-Q6CLJiDgtmuWSzOHWVz442dIhiyCfA/viewform?usp=sf_link or stop in at the library to register. For anyone else wanting to make their metal ring wreath using their own materials, the instructions are as follows:
For our first adult craft, we are going to make these wreaths! Since it is a take-n-make style craft we had to use fake flowers. However, if you wanted to gather your own fresh greenery to use instead, you could totally do that!
We included in each bag:
A ribbon
Sprigs of Eucalyptus and Lavender
A metal ring
Floral tape
Floral wire
A coloring affirmation card
You also will need a wire cutter and possibly hot glue.
To make the wreath:
Decide what you would like to use for your greenery. We wanted to give you options so that is why we included both lavender and eucalyptus! You can see how each of them turned out in the example wreaths. Or, as mentioned above, use fresh ones if you would like!
Once you have decided which you would like to use, I did a mock-up of how I roughly wanted them arranged. I personally enjoyed the slightly asymmetrical look and found the eucalyptus was the easiest to lay out since it is one piece. The lavender needed to be cut down a bit. Once you have a rough idea of what you want yours to look like you can either use the floral tape or wire to begin securing it on the ring. There are a few ways to do this.
For example, the eucalyptus has a very long stem. I had to cut mine down a bit, but you could leave a bit of a tail and wrap that evenly with wire (or jute if you had that) so that it looks nice left visible. You can then do small wraps hidden behind the flowers and leaves in other areas for extra support. The floral tape can be used too, it just depends on how heavy your items are and your personal preference for wrapping.
But if you want to hide the wire in all places, then I would suggest doing small sections with the wire and using hot glue to add pieces of greenery or flowers over the areas you need to cover up. You can also work with twisting and arranging your greenery to cover most of it and hide it towards the back. The lavender was easier to do this with! I could cut a few flowers and glue them over my wire at the base. I just had to clamp the glue down a little longer to get it to hold.
I started with one sprig and worked from left to right, getting it attached and working on hiding the wire the best I could, then adding the next, going on until I was satisfied with the arrangement and weight. Here are some photos of the backside of the wreaths and how the wire looks:
Once you have your greenery secured, the last step is to tie your ribbon so you can hang it!
Just use a simple larkshead knot for the ribbon. Fold your ribbon in half. Take the end that makes a loop and bring it up under and behind the ring. Bring the loop down over the top of the ring, and then grab the two loose ends up and pull them through the loop. Then pull it tight and you have your larkshead knot.
Lastly, tie a small knot at the top and you are ready to hang and enjoy your wreath!
Here’s a final look at the finished piece!
I hope you enjoyed this project and stay tuned for two more! Registration for those opens on June 23rd and July 21st! The June box will be a tutorial on needle-felting and the July box will be creating teacup moss topiaries!
This craft is available as the first take-n-make kit for teens participating in the Teen Summer Reading Challenge. ( Ages 13-20). Registration is required and that opened on May 12th. Once they are gone, they are gone! Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSew0_VmOA_4rNMQcx0VuPoSxKZcjZxOuH5F1-XS2jv7mLYsow/viewform?usp=sf_link or stop in at the library to register. For anyone else wanting to make their own junk journal using their own materials, the instructions are as follows:
Recycle some cardboard by cutting out a bird shape. Cut a hole in the chest area of the bird. We used a circle punch. Decorate your bird however you wish. Then take a piece of yarn and wrap it around your bird. Just tie it off and hide the knot by tucking the end in.
Take another piece and do the same in another part of the bird.
As our Summer Reading Program is taking off, we had the idea to start adding the take-n-make craft instructions here! That way, if you missed out on any of our offerings you can recreate the crafts at home using your own supplies. Or, if you know of someone who would love the crafts we are doing, but they live far away, they can also recreate them from anywhere!
We have limited quantity for all our kits so they are first come, first serve. They are all optional!
Right now we are offering the following kits for summer:
Every Tuesday we put a new take-n-make out front of the library in our take-n-make bin in the “New Craft” basket. This craft kit is mainly geared towards pre-k through elementary, however, all ages are welcome to participate. We are able to offer a slightly larger quantity of these kits so registration is not required, but once they are gone, they are gone. Any leftovers get moved to the “Old Craft” basket in the bin. And those are also free to take if you missed one! You do not have to be participating in Summer Reading Programs to participate in these ones.
For our teens participating in Summer Reading, there will be 3 craft kits to take home. These must be pre-registered for because there is a limited quantity. Teens must be participating in the Summer Reading Program to get a kit. Registration for the May Kit-Junk Journals, opens on May 12th. To register, either stop in at the library or sign-up through your Beanstack account under “Events”. Once registered, you may pick up you kit. We can also leave them out curbside! The June Kit-Making Bubble Tea will be open for registration June 9th, and lastly, July 7th-Make Your Own Squishie will end our teen crafts for Teen Summer Reading. Registration for each craft opens on the day mentioned above!
The adult Summer Reading craft kits will be similar to the teens. There will be 3 take home kits, registration required before pickup. Must be participating in our Summer Reading Challenge to register. Register online through you Beanstack account under “events” or stop in at the library. We can do curbside or in-person pickup. The May Kit- Metal Ring Wreaths will be ready for registration May 26th. The June Kit-Learning To Needle Felt will be available June 23rd, and lastly, July 21st- Moss Topiaries will round out our crafts for Adult Summer Reading. Registration for each craft opens on the day mentioned above!
So check back in to get instructions on our crafts!!
