Let's Get Crafty--The M Project

So I collect letter Ms and the M is for Muhammad! Sounds silly, but I do. We pull them out every year for Saviours' Day as decor along with our glittery candles, string lights, a pendant banner I made 6 years ago. How do you decorate for Saviours' Day?

Let's Get Crafty--Islamic Leather Bracelets

Finding crafts that my son would like can sometimes be a challenge. These burned leather bracelets were a HIT!

You'll need

Premade plain leather bracelets (Got ours at Micheal's Craft Store)
a wood burner
Imagination!

We wrote what we wanted to say on the bracelets first and then trace it with the wood burner. Enjoy! 

The Singing Saviours Debut!

For the past 3 months, my children along with 2 other families have practiced and sang their little hearts out in preparation of the debut performance of the children's choir, The Singing Saviours. They did an awesome job at our mosque's Evening of Gratitude event sharing 2 selections. I could not be more proud of their dedication and enthusiasm for praising Allah (God) through song. 

Wordless Wednesday---Hassana's Photography

Mandalas

 I've incorporated coloring mandalas into our "peaceful" routine. Along with yoga, meditation, and breathing and relaxation exercises, the children are learning to find peace and calmness of mind by creating art. Mandalas are series of shapes and patterns that come together to create beautiful pieces of art. They can be found in the ancient Native American and Indian cultures. I also incorporate mandalas and their equally awesome cousin, labyrinths in my childbirth classes.

Making Paper_Fun, Fun, Fun

Our paper maker; I found it at Goodwill.

Torn tissue paper soaking in the crock pot.

We blended up our soaked tissue paper.

We used the "sifter of sorts" to create a sheet of paper.

This was the children's favorite part.

Ok, so why did I not take any pictures of our finished paper?! I'll post later . . .

Robot Man

Amir asked me to paint his chest. So I did. The joys of homeschooling!

Paper Quilts

Here's another summer boredom killer. I used a ruler to some "equal as possible" squares and allowed the children to quilt their papers. They really liked it.

Our First Trip to the Symphony!

It was an excellent performance. The passion and love for music we witnessed from mere 14 year olds had me in tears. I loved it. Amir went to sleep at one point (LOL), but said he enjoyed it. Yasina, on the other hand, loved every minute. She was especially impressed with a young pianist. She's starting lessons soon!

Art, Anyone?

I saw this great organizational tip on The Crafty Crow. It's an art basket. We do alot of art projects in our homeschool, but I never thought of putting our more frequently used supplies altogether. I had them separated by use and stored in shoebox containers. Now, when it's arts and crafts time, I just pull out the basket and it's on!

19 Days of Saviours' Day Countdown 2010

We're doing it again!

Below I have listed the crafts and activities my children and I will attempt this year. Feel free to mix and match to suit your own ideas, needs, and schedules. I tried to provide a link for projects so you can “see” what I mean. Also I blogged daily about our 19 day adventure last year, so check out my blog for more project ideas under the label/connection, “Islamic Studies.” Our countdown will begin Saturday, February 6 and conclude Wednesday, February 24 as we plan to begin our travel to Chicago Thursday February 25. Please feel free to email me with any questions, lakisa_muhammad@yahoo.com.

So use what works for you and leave what doesn’t, but most of all have fun in the name of Master Fard Muhammad, his Christ, and his Messenger among us!

What is fun? Fun is us watching intelligence develop. Fun is feeding intelligence to create the creative mind that the child will be able to say like God, “Be” and it is. That’s fun!

The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan

Closing the Gap p 374

Febraury 6 Field Trip to Shamrock Farms (a working dairy farm including organic milk production)

Febraury 7 Make star-shaped pretzel bites (You’ll need cookie and a recipe.)

Febraury 8 Make candles (I’m using a kit from Michael’s craft store)

Febraury 9 Make tissue paper covered candle holders (Use watered down glue to apply tissue paper to glass candle holders. Show off their work in your home.)

Febraury 10 Make cake-lollipops

Febraury 11 Create homemade birdfeeders then birdwatch

Febraury 12 Make Treasure Ball Saviours’ gifts for friends (Cards would be great too.)

Febraury 13 Field Trip to the Hall of Flame Museum

Febraury 14 Freezer Paper Stencil T-shirts (Great technique to use anytime. Check out the purses we made last year on the blog.)

Febraury 15 Have a Family Talent Show

Febraury 16 Create no-sew fleece blankets (Allow the children to pick out the fleece and tie the knots)

Febraury 17 Sew travel pillows (All mine like to do is stuff the pillow!)

Febraury 18 Start an indoor herb garden

Febraury 19 Create a game—The Race to Saviours’ Day (Provide cardstock paper, markers, crayons, etc and just let them create and come up with their own rules.)

Febraury 20 Star and Cresant clay dough necklaces (Boys can make one for Mom or younger sisters as a gift or choose a different project.)

Salt Dough Recipe

Take about 1 cup salt and dissolve it in about 1 1/4 cup water (or a little more). Then stir in about 3 cups flour ( one cup at a time), until it's a nice soft dough.

You can shape it or cut it out with cookie cutters. Let it harden or bake it at 200 degree F until hard. Then paint with regular acrylics.

Febraury 21 Sew bandana quilts (The children can pick the colors and pin the work together.)

Febraury 22 Make homemade ice cream and have a sundae bar

Febraury 23 Write and illustrate a Saviours’ Day story

Febraury 24 Take a break from packing and whip up a batch of edible playdough. (Use sunflower butter instead of peanut butter.)

Edible Play Dough

•1 18-oz. jar creamy sunflower butter
•6 tablespoons honey
•3/4 cup non-fat dry milk

Instructions for the project-Mix all of the ingredients together, using varying amounts of dry milk for desired consistencies. Kids also enjoy adding other foods like M&M's or peanuts for eyes, mouths, etc. It is important to note that when you are not using this play-dough it must be stored in an airtight container

Tissue Paper Suncatchers

These were really fun to make. We cut circles out of construction paper, then hole punched them to death. Next we glued tissue paper squares on one side. We hung them on the window using suction hooks from the dollar store. Cheap and easy project to celebrate the sunny days of summer.

Tuesday's Creation ~ An Ode to Prayer

"Touch it no one, Amir's plate" LOL

The children decorated medallions (paper plates) featuring The Refuge Prayer. They used ribbons, markers, and beads. They also had to weave the ribbons around the plate. They came out very nice and are currently hanging in their bedrooms. Good job, Toya.

Tuesday's Creation ~ Painting and Sculpture

Last week my co-op partner, Shuntoya, hosted arts and crafts. The children were introduced to some famous pieces of art as inspiration for creating their own masterpieces using finger paints. Then they used playdough, feathers, and beads to create some fun people. Drying Masterpieces

Even Babygirl got in on the action with help from her big sister.

Mine and Sana's person

Yasina's family

Amir's people with wings

People with carrot noses.

People with lots of feathers.

The children had lots of fun, and got to play outside afterward. Good Job, Toya!