Summer Crafts for Kids #3: Gaudi-inspired Coaster

Since we’re always at the beach these days, we got to collect a lot of sea glass. At a certain point, we had one too many. So, we thought of another super simple craft to make use of these beautiful beach finds.

Level of Difficulty: Beginners

In this craft activity, you will need:

Used paper bowl (cleaned and dried)

Sea glass

Scissors

Silicon

Acrylic paint

Paint brush

What to Do:

  1. Cut the bottom of the paper bowl.
  2. Flip it and paint the sides with acrylic paint. Set aside to dry.
  3. Once the paint is dry, fill the bottom with silicon. (Note: silicon sets very quickly so your sea glass pieces should be on hand).
  4. Decorate with sea glass. Leave overnight to dry.

My Daughter, My Inspiration

As usual, my daughter got me inspired to write “Just Give Me Bubbles.” I remember during one of her birthday parties, I (being the over-planner that I am) set up a slightly elaborate party. We even hired puppeteers to do a show. As an afterthought, I added a small bubble machine (the ones you could buy in any toy store). And of course, all the kids flocked to that tiny bubble maker, popping the bubbles faster than the machine could spew them out. Almost nobody paid attention to the puppet show. I learned my lesson there–kids are really easy to please. They don’t need complicated set-ups (those are for the adults to enjoy). So, for the first-time parents out there, remember that though it sounds cliche, kids have simple joys and we should appreciate these times because it will get harder to please them when they grow older. In the meantime, just enjoy them and have fun yourselves!

Just Give Me Bubbles

You ask if I want a party hat

Honestly, I think It’s not all that

You say, what about a fancy cake?

I shrug, just get me an easy bake

You think, clowns, puppets, a magic show!

How many times must I say no?

Please don’t buy me a sparkling new dress

There is really no need for this stress

I’ll tell you one thing my heart beats for

A tub of bubbles and nothing more!

To blow pink bubbles and watch it float

Just sends giggles down my throat

A rainbow of colors in each sphere

I chase them until they disappear

It doesn’t cost much to make me grin

Blow me bubbles and watch me spin!