This sweet craft comes from our friend, Laura (@cosy.waldorf.fam), and we are so excited to be able to share it with you today.
These are the supplies for this project:
Step 1: You’ll need some cardboard to draw an egg shape onto. Cut it out.
Step 2: Draw dots along an imaginary line or pattern of your choice.
Step 3: Join the dots with colored pencils.
Step 4: Use a needle and something soft underneath to poke through the holes.
Step 5: Prepare some yarn with a knot at the end and start embroidering the eggs.
Step 6: Have fun decorating and practicing your stitches on your eggs, enjoy!
Our friend Franziska Shelton created this stunning window transparency that we are so excited to share with you.
If you have ever visited a Waldorf school or been to a Waldorf inspired home, you have probably seen colorful window stars or specially crafted transparencies displayed in the windows. But why? Waldorf inspired education focuses on engaging the head, heart, and hands of each child and allows them to express themselves through hands-on learning. Learning origami and cutting out window silhouettes is a fantastic way to learn fine motor skills and to bring seasonal art to life. Window art also presents a wonderful way to bring the seasons inside the home and school. As the light shines through the colorful kite paper, we are reminded of the force of light that is breaking through the windows and warming our hearts.
I get this question all the time and I finally have a typed-up response for you! You will begin by printing the featured transparency templates on regular printer paper or cardstock. Once printed, you can use special silhouette scissors or a fine crafting knife (Exacto knife) on a self-healing mat to cut out the templates. You can also use a pair of straight nail scissors with sharp blades for silhouette cutting. This step should always be completed by an adult as working with sharp tools is dangerous for children. Once cut out, you can use kite paper or transparency paper to line your template. Kite paper usually comes as 6.5 x 6.5” squares and transparency paper usually comes as 8.5 x 11” rectangles. Both work equally well. Use a pencil to cut out appropriately sized pieces and use a glue stick to adhere the kite paper to the backside of the template(s). The more layers of kite paper you add, the more of a 3D effect your transparency will showcase. Display your transparencies in a well-lit window and use a bit of double-sided tape to attach them to the glass.
The beauty of window transparencies is that they can be as simple or intricate as you want to make them. Have fun designing the inside of your template for endless creativity. Start by using scissors and a craft knife to cut out your frame and the white spaces on the inside. Next, you will want to plan out the colors and the design that you plan to use. Use small dots of school glue to attach the pieces of kite paper to your frame.
Once you've glued all your pieces to your frame, allow them to dry for 30 minutes to an hour before carefully taping them on your favorite window. Create multiple transparencies with bright colors and add some kite paper flowers for a lovely spring window display!
This beautiful craft was created by Nicole Shiffler. See more of her lovely work HERE.
These are the ingredients for this project:
Step 1: Choose the colors of your felt roving. Make your bowl all one color or create a fun pattern by layering multiple colors.
Step 2: Wrap your roving around ½ of the foam ball. Hold the roving against the ball and begin needle felting. This process will take a while, so keep at it! As your fibers come together you may need to add more roving to achieve your desired thickness.
Step 3: Continue pushing the needles into the fibers all over the wool bowl shape. At this point you could add a letter or design on the outside of the bowl. Once the fibers are fully integrated gently peel the bowl off of the form.
Step 4: Set your bowl on the foam pad and use the felting needles to work on the fibers inside of the bowl until they are fully integrated.
Step 5: You can create a handle from wool roving by needle felting a rectangle then using your felting needle to attach it to each side, or make a finger knit handle from yarn!
Step 6: Enjoy your new creation!
1 dozen eggs
Natural non-toxic dye or watercolors
A handheld hole punch in whatever shape you like
An assortment of leaves
School glue
Use a spoon to gently tap the smaller end of the egg until it cracks. Use a skewer or the handle end of the spoon to open up the cracked area, carefully removing the small shell parts. Over a glass bowl, gently shake the egg until the egg white and yolk come out. Repeat these steps until all of your shells are empty. Remove any stray shell pieces and save the eggs for cooking.
Wash your eggs shells thoroughly. Color your eggs using whichever non-toxic method you prefer. We used watercolors but dying with natural materials also produces great results.
Grab your handheld hole punch, a handful of leaves, and settle down with a good show or audiobook. This step takes a while! Use the hole punch to create star, heart or circle shapes from your leaves. In the end, they'll look like this!
We had some handmade wildflower seed paper leftover from another project and added a fun plant-able element to our confetti. You can also include other natural elements like dried flower petals or birdseed. Continue until you have enough to put a tablespoon into each egg. Set aside a handful of larger leaves for later.
Remove your eggs from the dye and let them dry completely.
Once your eggshells are dry, place a tablespoon of your natural confetti into each one. Set aside while you prepare the leaves for closing the eggs.
You can either use an entire leaf to cover the opening or cut out circles from your leaves. Using the large leaf created a beautiful finished product but required a bit more patience. You'll need to hold the leaf in place until the glue gets tacky enough to stick on its own. These circle closures were easier to apply. Apply glue all along the edges of the hole in the shell. Place an appropriately sized leaf circle on top and then gently flip it over and set it leaf side down to dry.
Now you're ready for an eco-friendly confetti egg bonanza!
These are the supplies for this project:
Step 1: Trim your egg carton. Remove the top and any tabs off of the base. If you're using a large carton, cut it in half so there are 6 compartments on each boat.
Step 2: Cut a small hole in one of the egg carton's points and push your stick in through the bottom. This will be the mast of your boat. If the stick doesn't stay on it's own, secure it with non-toxic glue and let dry.
Step 3: Find some twine or leftover string to reuse. Punch a hole in the center of one side of the carton to thread your string through. Tie it here and at the top of the stick.
Step 4: Decorate your boat! Cut colorful tissue paper or newspaper into the sail and flags by folding the paper in half and cutting triangles along the fold. Customize your boat with paint or markers.
Step 5: Secure your sails and flags around the stick and string with paper washi tape or non-toxic glue.
Step 6: Add peg dolls or figures and let your imagination set sail! Enjoy!
The beauty of window transparencies is that they can be as simple or intricate as you want to make them. We've created a simple template with a butterfly frame, as well as guides for the shapes you'll fill them in with. Feel free to make your own frame or fill this one with shapes of your own creation! Either way, start by using scissors and a craft knife to cut out your butterfly frame and the white spaces on the inside.
Next, you will want to plan out the colors and design you plan to use. If you're using our template, place the transparent paper on top and trace the shapes in your preferred color. Make sure to create a left and right side for each part. Cut these out and lay them on each side of your butterfly in the numbered order to keep things straight.
Use small dots of school glue to attach the pieces of kite paper to your frame. We started with the body in the center, then from the top of the wing to the bottom. Play with the way the paper and colors layer to decide how you want to glue them on.
For the bottom section, we started at the center, closest to the butterflies body, then layered the remaining three colors from top to bottom.
Once you've glued all your pieces to your frame, allow them to dry for 30 minutes to an hour before carefully taping them on your favorite window. Create multiple butterflies with bright colors and add some kite paper flowers for a lovely spring window display!
Through knitting a scarf or crafting a wooden toy, students learn to channel their creativity into tangible forms. This hands-on approach allows them to explore colors, textures, and shapes, developing a keen aesthetic sense while gaining confidence in their ability to bring their visions to life. In a world filled with distractions, Waldorf handwork instills the values of focus and patience. The rhythmic movements involved in crafting require a child's full attention, teaching them the art of concentration. Whether it's threading a needle or carving a piece of wood, the process itself fosters a sense of calm and mindfulness. Children also learn to correct their mistakes, value hard work and develop patience. As children complete increasingly difficult tasks following small steps, they begin to feel the joy of accomplishment which creates the self-confidence needed to tackle much bigger and more complicated tasks as they progress through life.
As if those overarching benefits weren’t enough, there are still more! Handwork allows a connection to the environment and helps children develop a sense of gratitude for the earth as they craft with natural materials like wool, plant dyes, wood, and cotton. Children also develop appreciation and an understanding of how to care for and use tools safely, from knitting needles to tapestry frames to early woodworking tools. And finally the big ones in the Waldorf philosophy, handwork helps children develop a sense of reverence and wonder and builds their “sense of life,” an inherent component of becoming a whole-hearted and integrated human being.
With all of those big benefits, handwork is surprisingly simple to introduce at home. For young children, handwork encompasses a wide range of simple everyday activities that get children working with their hands, both through doing practical activities and more artistic ones. Examples include: kneading bread, playing in sand or mud, modeling with beeswax, drawing, wet on wet watercolor painting, and introducing seasonal crafts.
Adding fiber work into handwork play, also called “soft handwork” is another way to engage little hands while promoting sensory learning. Simple ways to introduce soft handwork to young children are helping them learn how to roll balls of wool, making pompoms, learning how to finger knit, and rolling beeswax candles. As they grow and develop more dexterity you can introduce simple sewing projects, nature weaving and simple potholder loom weaving, and wet felting. Keeping a variety of handwork materials available will allow children to incorporate them into their play and continue to develop their skills. As they begin to master these early handwork skills, they are then introduced to more advanced and complicated crafts like knitting, woodworking, crochet, and candle making.
Every child learns to knit in a Waldorf school and they are taught to knit even before they learn the alphabet. Knitting perfects fine motor skills, has been said to improve memory, works both sides of the brain, and prepares children to be better readers when they are ready for that important step. The rhythmic repetition of knitting and crocheting enhances a child’s concentration and develops hand-eye coordination. Knitting can also help enhance math skills through counting rows and stitches, measuring out patterns, and through making three-dimensional items. As children pick out their yarn and plan their knitting projects, they develop a relationship to each color and they learn to “play” with each color and learn about contrast, tone, and shades. And when they have finished their first hat, scarf, or mittens, nothing is more joyful than the feeling of accomplishment and knowing they can work through hard things to get to the end. This simple act gives children the confidence to achieve even more challenging projects as they grow up. At Bella Luna Toys, we celebrate the deep impact that handwork makes on children. Our curated selection of handcrafting materials and kits reflects our commitment to providing tools that inspire creativity and support the holistic development of every child.
Download the Printable March Activity Calendar Here
March 1 - Make a Spring Window Transparency
There are many telltale signs of spring when you look out your window. The grass turns green, crocuses sprout out of the ground and birds chirp and poke out of their nests. Celebrate the magic of the season ahead with your very own spring windows - regardless if those first signs of spring are there yet or not! Find the tutorial HERE.
March 2 - Bake Spring Flower Shortbread Cookies
We reached out to KC in search of a recipe that was inspired by the season, but also easy enough for little hands to help with. These shortbread cookies check all the boxes: one bowl, press-in shortbread cookies that children will love to help making! Find the recipe HERE.
March 3 - Go on a Spring Nature Walk
Take some time to explore the sunshine today! Go on a nature walk and see what treasures you can find.
March 4 - Fold a Waldorf Star Lantern
Looking to add a little light to your nature table? Fold a Waldorf inspired origami star lantern! This is a wonderful way to recycle old watercolor paintings and transform them into pieces of art that enliven mantles, window sills, dinner tables, desks, and more! These candle holders look beautiful no matter where they're placed. Find the tutorial HERE.
March 5 - Create a Springtime Fairy Home
Spring is just on the horizon and all of the fairies are coming out to play again! What better way to welcome more whimsical imaginative play than to construct a fairy house? We invited our friend and collaborator Leah Gaeddert to create a tutorial for the Fairy House Building Kit with her children. They spent a few afternoons curled up on the floor of their room, imaginations running wild and their mat covered in hot glue, sticks, and moss. Every morning her boys would wake up and ask, is it time to work on our fairy house yet? Find the tutorial HERE.
March 6 - Begin Planting Seeds in Cups
Summer will soon be here! Make sure your seeds are ready in time to be planted in the ground, by starting them now in cups.
March 7 - Draw Your Favorite Toys
Bring out the crayons, pencils and watercolors and have fun drawing your favorite toys! Imagine them in the forest, or maybe they're in a magical ocean world? The possibilities are endless for your little one!
March 8 - Have a Dance Party
Welcome back the sun with music that gets your dancing feet moving!
March 9 - Go to a Local Library or Event
The library is an amazing resource for discovering new books, activities and getting involved in the community. Visit your local library today and take advantage of this amazing resource!
March 10 - Decorate Wooden Eggs
Get ready to transform ordinary wooden eggs into Easter treasures using the charming art of découpage. With the help of colorful napkins, we'll bring these eggs to life with intricate designs and playful patterns. Whether you're a seasoned crafter or just starting out, this activity promises fun and creativity for all ages. Find the tutorial HERE.
March 11 - Create a Mandala with Loose Parts
The amazing art of mandala making dates back centuries. This mindful practice is a wonderful way for children and adults to slow down, stretch their creative muscle and practice fine motor skills. Try these tips to get started! Find more information HERE.
March 12 - Create Watercolor Spring verses for Your Nature Table
Seasonal verses are a cherished part of Waldorf education, both in the classroom and at home. Today we are sharing some of our favorite spring verses and showing you how to create wet on wet watercolor cards to display on your nature table. Find the tutorial HERE.
March 13 - Learn About Birds and Bird Nests
Today take some time and discover the beautiful world of birds and nests! As spring unfolds all around us, celebrate the chirping of your favorite feathered friends! Need a little inspiration? Try our selection of A Year and a Day Magazines.
March 14 - Have a Cup of Tea with a Good Book
Is there anything better than a cozy cup of tea and a good book? We don't think so! Take a moment today and snuggle up with the magical world of reading and see where the pages take you.
March 15 - Egg Dyeing with Floral Prints
This stunning egg dyeing tutorial finds inspiration in the likeliest of places - our own backyards! Find the tutorial HERE.
March 16 - Give a Friend a Hug or a High Five
Sometimes all you need is a hug! Give a friend a hug or a high five today.
March 17 - Celebrate St. Patricks Day
From all of us here at Bella Luna Toys, Happy St. Patrick's Day!
March 18 - Make a Card for a Friend or Family Member
Today, try your hand at making your own card for a friend or family member. It can be for an upcoming birthday, or just to say hello!
March 19 - Make Kite Paper Flowers
Waldorf window stars are a beautiful craft to decorate windows with color. But, did you know it's not merely stars you can create with kite paper? There are endless designs to create out of the waxy, window star paper (kite paper and window star paper can be used interchangeably to call this type of paper), and today we share how to create tulips and daisies to welcome Spring. Create an entire garden right on your windows! Find the Tutorial HERE.
March 20 - Make a Fresh Loaf of Bread
Dinner gets even better when there's a fresh loaf of bread ready to be eaten! Try your hand at baking up a loaf and see what yummy creation you can make.
March 21 - Make Your Own Felt Leaf Treasure Pouch
There is so much to celebrate now that spring is here! The trees are in bloom, seedlings are sprouting and fresh soil is ready for planting. This nature-inspired felt leaf craft is from our friend Hannah of Sunny Little Co. who created this tutorial just for our Bella Luna Toys community. Find the tutorial HERE.
March 22 - Say Hello to a Neighbor
Take a moment today to say hi to a neighbor!
March 23 - Volunteer at a Local Aid Center
Connect with your local community today and see how you can give back by volunteering at an aid center.
March 24 - Have a Slow Morning with a Pancake Breakfast
Take it slow today with a yummy pancake breakfast!
March 25 - Decorating Ukrainian Pysanky Inspired Eggs
Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming and there's a hint of spring in the air. For Cathy Heck and her family, this means egg decorating season is at hand! She has been creating Ukrainian inspired Pysanky eggs for many years now through dozens of egg-making sessions, some of which have turned into full blown Egg parties with friends and family. Find the tutorial HERE.
March 26 - Play Dress Up with Playsilks
In most Waldorf classrooms, you will find a basket of playsilks. Many parents often seem confused at first by how a simple square of fabric can be a toy. These silks require seeing beyond what is right in front of you, a hallmark of open-ended toys. They require children to think creatively and expansively. Today we would like to share with you 50 ways to play with play silks to spark your imagination and help you dive into playsilk play. Read more HERE.
March 27 - Have a Fun Family Game Night
This month is really about being together! There is almost no better way to connect than sitting down and playing a game that is fun for the whole family. Need a little inspiration? Browse our curated collection of games HERE.
March 28 - Have a Calm Meditation Moment
Take a moment to slow down and meditate on things that you are grateful for today.
March 29 - Craft a Spring Chick & Treasure Egg
Cheep cheep! Do you hear that? It's the sound of spring! To bring some springtime cheer to your home, we have a very special craft created by Isabel of @thefeltedacorns! With this tutorial, you can make a fuzzy Easter egg with a fun surprise inside--a cute little chick. Add this little egg to a nature table or as a fun surprise in an Easter basket! Find the tutorial HERE.
March 30 - Create a Watercolor Drawing
Bring out the watercolors and spend some time painting the day away!
March 31 - Happy Easter
From all of us here at Bella Luna Toys, we hope you have a very Happy Easter!
Explore some of our favorite Waldorf books and Classic Picture Books paired with cozy stuffed animals that will deepen your child's love of reading.
]]>We can’t think of a better combination than a sweet new stuffed friend and a wonderful book to curl up with at bed time. A special stuffed animal can turn a story from exciting to magical. Children love to bring their story books to life through play, connecting with the characters, and forming special bonds with their favorite bears, bunnies and gnomes. Here are some of our favorite Waldorf-inspired and classic books and stuffed animal pairings that will deepen your child's love of reading.
Alex is reading Children of the Forest by Elsa Beskow and
cuddling his Organic Waldorf Baby Doll.
The Midsummer Tomte and the Little Rabbits by Ulf Stark is a special story about a house tomte named Grump and a family of woodland rabbits and a midsummer celebration that gets turned upside down. Will Grump the Tomte help the rabbit family save the Midsummer celebration? Children will enjoy acting out the scenes of this timeless classic with these adorable Hide and Seek Bunnies in a Carrot Pouch.
There's no gift more classic than an heirloom teddy bear. Our Organic Floppy Beige Teddy Bear is handmade with organic materials and makes a perfect first best friend. Pair it with the ultimate classic picture book, Blueberries for Sal to create a gift that will last for the ages.
Children love imitating the funny sounds that farm animals make! Add this sweet organic Senger Sheep Teething Ring for a lovely new baby gift and a pairing that will make the colorful Hello Farm How Do You Do? Board Book even more engaging.
To extend the farm theme, we couldn't resist sharing one of our favorites, Farmhouse, by award winning author and illustrator, Sophie Blackall. Follow along on a journey of the lives lived in this farmhouse over time including the lines on the wall that mark the children’s growth; the “serious room” where the family gathers to discuss important things, the attic where all the children sleep, and the farmhouse where the cows must be milked “no matter the weather.” Cuddling a linen Maileg Lullaby Pig with Blanket will make this story time extra sweet and snuggly.
Prance through the day into cozy story time with this delightful deer pairing. One of favorite Elsa Beskow stories is Rosalind and the Little Deer which tells the story of a young child who loves to play with her little deer under the shade of a lime tree until the deer is captured by the mighty king. As your child follows Rosalind's journey to free her deer friend, your little one can hold onto the steady comfort and warmth provided by the Senger Deer Warming Pillow.
Fly on the wings of dragons and enter the world of magic and wonder with this perfect set for dragon-lovers and fantasy enthusiasts. Our bestselling book, Dragonology is filled with amazing dragon facts and illustration and our Tikiri Midnight Dragon stuffed animal is a whimsical starry dragon that is organic and has a super soft plush body, making it extra snuggly and certain to not breath fire!
For another timeless classic pairing and ideal baby gift, this combination hits all the marks. Pair our board book version of the Beatrix Potter's beloved The Tale of Peter Rabbit with the vintage quality of our Organic Floppy Senger Bunny that gets softer with the more cuddles and love it receives and watch as your little one hops into bedtime cuddling their favorite floppy friend.
Pelle's New Suit by Elsa Beskow is a classic spring story about a growing boy who needs a new suit and a lamb who needs a haircut. Children can read this seasonal classic while snuggling a sweet Organic Senger Floppy Lamb who won't need to be sheared but will enjoy hearing about the other lambs that get haircuts!
Field of Flowers Swing Bolga Baskets
Woods and Waters Swing Bolga Baskets
Northern Coast Playsilk Collection
Senger Organic Floppy Bunny Rabbit
Ukrainian Pysanky Easter Egg Kit
Earth Paint Pigments Egg Dyeing Kit
6 Piece Grimm's Pastel Rainbow
Curious Critter Butterfly Garden Kit
Hello everybody, my name is Sunny of Northwoods Folk and I am so excited to be here with Bella Luna Toys again today putting together some Easter or spring baskets using items that have been thoughtfully curated by them. We have been such big fans of Bella Luna for so many years. We honestly have a number of these products and use them almost every single day. I love knowing that when I shop from their store that the majority of items are going to be sustainable, ethically-sourced, just intentionally chosen to inspire wonder and creativity in our kids. It's just so important.
So, of course, we're going to need a basket and Bella Luna has this magical selection of baskets on their site including these new ones that have been made exclusively for them and you'll see that the colors are really important in a second.
But we've got this blue and green one and this yellow and pink or this pink and orange one and these baskets are made by a non-profit fair trade organization. They're all handcrafted, uniquely woven, so beautiful and unique and it's just so meaningful and I love that so much.
All right so we have our baskets. Oh by the way, they have these really fun leather swing handles and honestly we have a number of these. Our kids use them all the time to collect their toys, nature treasures, take outside for picnics, you name it. There's so many uses for these.
Okay so we have our baskets and then we're going to fill them with some sort of grass or something right. Bella Luna has a couple different options. One is this beautiful wool roving material that can be used as almost a fake grass and then used to craft or create with afterwards or used again for the following year if you'd like. Our personal favorite for filling baskets and just our personal favorite toys in our household are these lovely Sarah Silks.
What's most exciting about these and you'll notice this is what I referenced about the color of the basket, is these are colors unique to Bella Luna toys. This is their Northern Coast Collection and they're just these beautiful earthy pastel colors, they're so beautiful. You've got the large size and the small size, this one is the fiddlehead, and this is gooseberry color, so pretty like a peachy color, this is their rosehip it's like a dusty pink, so pretty, this one is their tidewater, it's a pretty blue, and then we've got this lighter green color, this is the moss agate. They have such fun names! I love them so much. Our kids like I mentioned use these all the time. We have three little boys and so more often they're used as like capes tied around their neck, folded diagonally like this and tied over their head for being pirates. We also like to use them as like the background for puppet shows or nature tables. There's so many uses for these. It literally is a definition of open -ended. They're just so wonderful. And Bella Luna also carries a number of other items in the Northern Coast colorway. We've got some really fun magical capes. This again is that beautiful agate, the moss agate color. And you can of course use these just as a filler on their own if you'd like. If you already have some silks or just want to purchase these.
But there's a couple of these capes here that I know our kids are just going to love so much. They haven't seen these things yet. So we've got the capes and then we also have these really beautiful silk garland crowns. They're all crafted with 100% silk, so soft but durable and really meant to be loved. And yeah, just inspire creativity and imagination. And a little bit of magic, right? So we're going to put some of these inside.
And then we also have some other really fun additions from Sarah Silks. We've got this lovely reversible colored crown. So this can be flipped inside out like this. It's made with this pure silk, but it's been hand painted with a Jacquard type pattern on it. Again, meant to just really inspire so much imagination for our kids. It's so fun. And then of course, this is so perfect for spring and Easter, right? These little bunny ears with the elastic band on the back. So fun for pretend play, especially during springtime. We'll put that in here. And then the last item. from Sarah Silks are these lovely silk wands. These are the mini wands, you can also find some other ones on the site. These are the mini wands that come in the northern coast colorway. They're just so fun we have some of these rainbow ones, they're just so magical and I love them so much. So we'll put those in there.
This is one of my personal favorites. This is actually the Senger organic cotton and lamb's wool bunny and one of my favorite things about this product specifically is that when you get it it might be a little stiff but what happens with these natural materials is the more it's loved on the softer it gets. It's really just meant to be loved and used and it's just so special. Again it's 100% organic and it's made by a really sweet family in Germany.
All right now of course it wouldn't be an Easter basket without some sort of egg, right, and Bella Luna carries a really lovely selection of wooden eggs that can be colored or dyed or just left plain. Our kids love to play with these in their little play kitchen. That's so fun. Now of course you can put in your regular dyed eggs in here as well but for today we're just using some reusable items.
They also have this great kit from Natural Earth Paint where you can use some beautiful non-toxic eco-friendly Earth pigments to make your own paint and then paint some little wooden eggs. Now of course you can use this to paint regular eggs if you like. I personally love Natural Earth paint for crafting because I often use a lot of elements from nature and I want to be able to return those elements to nature when I'm done with them and their paint allows that to happen.
Okay, the last option that we have for decorating eggs that Bella Luna carries is this Ukrainian Easter egg decorating kit. So it comes with this great guide that has all you need to know to get you started and then a bunch of different designs to use and if you're unfamiliar, essentially what you do is you melt this beeswax and use this cool little tool here to etch a pattern on the egg and then dye them normally. So this kit has all you need to do to get started doing that.
We've got some of these little Ostheimer animals out in front. My kids love these for pretend play, they're also great on a nature table. There's just not enough space in my heart for the Ostheimer little animals. It's such a fun heirloom toy to collect each year or each celebration or holiday and giving your kid one that fits. These ones are obviously perfect for spring, the little lamb and bunny and chick.
Also, we have these eggs from HABA, my kids have had these for years and they're so much fun, these are their colorful musical eggs. Each one makes a little bit different of a sound. This one obviously has like a rattle, this one's a rattle, this one is like a twisty sound, this one is my favorite. Yeah these are so so fun and it's great for musical play for toddlers and older kids alike.
This item is one of our personal favorites and we actually have a number of these because they're so much fun. You use this solution to make a bubble mix and then you get these big wands that you dip in and open up and it just creates these massive bubbles. It's seriously so fun, we use them almost all year round unless it's really, really cold.
This one's super fun for our little gardeners out there. We've got the butterfly garden, a seed kit, so it's basically made up of non-invasive seeds to make a really fun wild flower garden and to go along with that we also have the gardening tool set. Of course you can take these out and put them in. I'm just going to set them right here. These are made of just metal and wood and I love that they're made with natural sustainable materials as are most of these items here.
Speaking of which we've got this lovely wooden Grimm’s rainbow, my kids love playing with these. These are so much fun.
We also have this sweet little butterfly house that you can put in your garden to give your your butterflies that visit a place to rest. We can't wait to put this in our garden this year.
And then this next item is one that our boys especially love. It's a little wooden slingshot, and what comes with these are just perfect, these fun rainbow felted balls which just look so cute in the basket. They add a nice bright cheery color in there. You can obviously leave them in the little pouch if you'd like to but I like putting the colors in there like that.
Then we have a number of other items for little explorers. We love this line of products. We use our little magnifying glass like this all the time. This is a little wooden and glass pocket magnifier, it's got two different magnifications in there and it's just it's so perfect for little hands. You put it on their wrist or put it in your pocket or your little explorer pack. Seriously, I love these so much. And then they also have this sweet little compass too. That'll go in here. And this one my kids are going to be so excited about, it's a little pocket fishing kit. That's so cute, the kids love to go fishing. Then we have this sweet little pop-up net, like that isn't that great, it's perfect for little packs or pockets or whatever and then you can just fold it right back up like that. And then this is the last item for little explorers. We've got this DIY Kaleidescope which is just so fun. You can put your little nature treasures or flowers or leaves in here and then make your own Kaleidoscope, so cute.
Okay. the last items that we're going to put in here are a little book. Bella Luna has a lovely selection of books. This is the Flower Fairies of the Spring, it's got really beautiful illustrations and poems and of course they have other ones like this for different seasons, but spring is perfect for our baskets.
Bella Luna also has these really sweet Waldorf alphabet cards and what I thought would be super fun is you could put them in like this and fan them out like a rainbow or you could choose your child's initials or initial and just put it in like this, if you'd like. So many different possibilities and so fun for little learners.
And then the very last item and probably one of the sweetest is this cute little chick in the egg necklace. How adorable is this! He just goes right inside, oh my gosh so cute, all right we put that in on top like that. Now, of course you could add some little chocolates or candies to these if you'd like. But I just think these are just so perfect and so cute and they're sure to be enjoyed all year round. Again you can find all of these items on the Bella Luna website along with so many other thoughtfully selected items that are sure to inspire so much wonder and curiosity in your kids. I have so enjoyed putting these together with you today. I hope you go check out their items and I also sincerely hope that you have the most magical spring and Easter season.
]]>These are the tools we used to create our Découpage Wooden Easter Egg Craft:
Cut out your designs of choice from your napkins (or fabric). TIP: If using napkins remove the excess layers of the napkin, so that you have the thinnest layer of the napkin as possible with the design.
Place a thin layer of Mod Podge on your Bella Luna Toys Wooden Eggs and lay your cut out design over it. Paint a thin layer of Mod Podge on top of the napkin piece to secure. Continue until the egg is decorated to your liking!
Let your eggs dry completely and enjoy! Use to decorate or play for a fun filled Easter and spring season!
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The story of Ten by Three began in 2002 when founder Theresa Carrington experienced a particularly difficult time in her life. She stored the caring notes she received from loved ones in her Bolga basket, which she called her ‘blessing basket,’ and turned to this basket for daily reinforcement. Theresa soon began talking to groups of women and sharing motivation and inspiration. She used her blessing basket as a prop and at every gathering people wanted to have their own blessing basket. This gave her an idea and soon Theresa looked for a way to curate a connection between the people making the baskets and the recipient. And even more importantly, she pursued a way for these makers to be paid fairly and not lose the majority of their profit to a middleman. Although finding the right path to these artisans took over a year, Theresa persevered and The Blessing Basket Project® vision became a reality launching a remarkable endeavor that proves how one person can truly change the world.
In 2018, the company renamed itself Ten by Three based on the innovative prosperity wages formula they’ve created. When Ten by Three purchases 10 products a month from an artisan over the course of a few years, the artisans are able to fund 3 businesses of their own and reach a sustainable end to poverty. This means that the artisans directly grow the economy and help lift their neighbors and fellow artists up and become entrepreneurs while doing this. Also, wages paid to the artisans at Ten by Three are often 2 and a half times average fair trade wages, and in some countries up to six times as much. Prosperity Wages are paid to the artisan in their home village so they never have to search for a market. Without a middle man, the artisans are completely in control of their working conditions and creative process. Ten by Three has also built schools and wells and provided school supplies and medical equipment allowing for families and communities to thrive and prosper.
When you receive your Bolga Basket, you will find an artisan card attached that tells about the person who made your specific basket. It is signed and has a picture of the artist. For most of the artisans, it is the first time in their life they have ever had their picture taken. You can then go to the Ten by Three website and look up your artisan by their name and your basket’s id number. You will learn how their prosperity wages have helped them and their family. For example, Abane who has used their wages to pay for their children’s school fees, built an extra room onto their house, and purchased health insurance. This connection to a single maker is one of the strands that makes buying these baskets feel so regenerative and empowering.
There are endless stories about how this company has enriched the lives of the people who create for them. For example, a school for girls of 20 students who met under a tree was transformed into a thriving school for 120 girls happily studying inside a classroom built with the support of Ten by Three. And their parents can pay for their school fees and uniforms thanks to purchases of Ten by Three products.
At Bella Luna Toys, our collection of Bolga Baskets made in Ghana have long been bestsellers and customer favorites. In fact, we love them so much we have developed our own exclusive line of Bella Luna Bolga baskets. The three baskets we have designed as Bella Luna exclusives mean we are directly contributing to the success of this company and the artists who create these amazing baskets. Using our custom palette, we designed a blue and green basket and a rose and coral basket and a natural basket. And we couldn’t be more proud to not only add such exquisite baskets to our line but to know that with every basket sold we are filling the world with a bit more hope, beauty, and financial freedom.
The Lunar New Year is a celebration of the arrival of spring and is the most important holiday in China. This 15 day celebration is marked by many traditions and is often spent amongst family and loved ones. Learn more about Lunar New Year HERE.
2024 is the year of the dragon! To celebrate, we created this simple and fun craft! With just a few simple materials like an empty egg carton, paint, and some imagination, children can transform an ordinary egg carton into a magical dragon. Not only is this craft a fantastic way to encourage creativity and fine motor skills, but it also provides hours of imaginative play afterwards. Get ready to soar into a world of mythical adventures with your very own egg carton dragon!
These are the tools we used to create our Egg Carton Dragon:
Cut out the individual sections of the egg carton.
Paint the sections with your dragon color of choice. We used the Stockmar Watercolor Palette.
Poke a hole through the top of the section and thread your twine or pipe cleaner through. The pipe cleaner will make it easier for the dragon to keep a shape, but with twine you can make longer. Knot at one end. Tip: if you leave a lot of extra twine you can attach to a stick at the end and fly the dragon around with you.
Turn the last section on the chain into a dragon head! Challenge your older kids to see how fun they can make it using the rest of the egg carton. We used glue and pieces of the rest of the egg carton to make our dragon head. For little kids, try fun googly eyes and just paint!
For a challenge, add a bit of fire to your dragon. You can also have fun decorating your dragon with anything your little one can imagine!
Once happy with your dragon, make sure your twine is knotted on both ends to avoid any pieces falling off.
Take your dragon on all your magical adventures! Will your knight take on the magical beast, or will you have a dragon rider, perhaps your dragon will be a gardener! The only limit is their imagination!
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Before getting started, you should prepare your surface with recycled paper or cardboard. Gather your materials and begin by painting each of your eggs red on one side. Allow them to dry, then paint the other side. Once dry, add decorative dots, dashes or any design you'd like to represent the seeds.
Next, you will cut the leaves and stem out of wool felt sheets. Feel free to get creative with this step! 4, 5, or 6-point star shapes work great for this. Add dimension by layering a second smaller star shape on top. Cut the little stem out of scraps.
Adults and older children can use a hot glue gun to fix the first star onto the larger part of the painted wooden egg. Glue about ¼ of the way down each of the leaves, so they point downwards.
Finally, add the second layer of leaves and stem. Layer a leaf over the bottom of your stem to hide the glue from sight.
Now you’re finished! Admire your beautiful craft, put them on display, or play hide and seek with them outside like we did! Enjoy them throughout the warm summer months and beyond. These berries will never go bad!
Thank you to Sunny, a talented maker, and mother who draws inspiration from nature and Waldorf life. Follow her on Instagram for more whimsical crafts and tips on slowing down and enjoying life's special moments.
You'll use dry needle felting and wet felting to complete your project. While needle felting is best done by older children or adults, wet felting is fun and easy for preschool aged children and older!
Begin by gently pulling two small pieces away from the larger tuft of yellow wool. These will turn into your wings later! Set them aside.
Wrap the large piece of yellow wool tightly around itself and needle felt it into your desired chick shape. My chick is roughly the size and shape of a large plump grape. Just remember the wool will shrink as you felt it in place and your chick will need to fit inside your egg.
Felt the chick by repeatedly inserting and removing the needle into the wool. The little barbs on the tip of the needle will agitate the fibers, felting them together! Needle felt your chick until firm. Do a “pinch test” by pinching the fibers away, if very little pull away then you’re finished!
Next, felt a pinch of orange for the chick's break and felt it into its desired shape directly onto the chick. Then, felt two teeny tiny pinches of black wool for the chick's eyes. Finally, take two pinches of orange and needle felt too small ovals to the base of the chick, on either side of the beak, for the feet.
Using the two pieces of yellow that were set aside at the start we will begin our wings. Fold each wing in half and felt the wing on the foam pad into your desired shape and thickness.
Keep the “top” of the wing unfelted as this will act like glue when it’s attached to the chick. This unfelted bit helps to create a smoother transition from the wing to the body. Do a pinch test to know you are done.
Once you are finished felting one side, peel the wool off of the pad. The backside will be fuzzy, felt this side next. Once both sides are felted you are ready for the next step.
Attach your wings by felting the “glue” of the wing onto the body. I like to felt the top and farside of the wing down while keeping the front of the wing unfelted. Give the wings a little tug to make sure they are secured to the body.
Chirp chirp. Relish in the cuteness of the little chick you’ve created!
Start by wrapping the egg with the inside color wool. I find it is easier to wrap if the wool is in long pieces. Do your best to wrap somewhat evenly, spread the wool out to cover all areas of the egg. You may find it helpful to wrap in different directions.
Use your outer color next. You will want your egg to have the thickness of two layers. If it is too thin it will not hold its shape as well and if it’s too thick it will not felt as well on the inside.
Add accents of little wisps of the third color. Allow the outer color to be visible in areas to create a marbling of colors.
Carefully pull the nylon over the egg. Do your best to keep the wool around the egg in place. It will slide around a little, that is ok. It can be nice to have an extra set of hands helping you here. One holding the egg, the other pulling the nylon over.
Now it is time to begin the wet felting process! First get your hand completely wet and very soapy. Then put your hands AND the wrapped egg into warm water.
This is a perfect time to involve children in the felting process! GENTLY transfer the egg back and forth between your palms. The wool around the egg will feel loose. The nylon will help the wool stay in place and not slide off the egg.
SLOWLY the wool will begin to feel firmer. As it felts you can apply more pressure to the felted egg and begin to agitate the wool more aggressively between your hands. This process will likely take at least 30 minutes. The warm water and soap will need to be replenished often.
When you feel the wool is evenly felted around the egg, carefully pull off the nylon. Yes, it will have felted to the nylon too! Continue to wet felt until the fiber are tightly felted. Do a “pinch test” to see if it’s done! Lastly, rinse under cold water to remove soap. Let dry overnight or put in the dryer.
Once dry, cut the middle of the egg open using sharp scissors and remove the plastic egg. Consider where you want the opening to be oriented and how big. I like to cut across the width of the egg, a little bit less then half way around. Do NOT cut it completely in half.
Pop the egg out of the wool. You may need to apply a bit of pressure to get the egg out, don’t worry the wool is well felted and can be withstand being squished and pulled.
Add a decorative blanket stitch to your egg if you’d like using your tapestry needle and thread. Pop your chick inside the egg and add to nature table.
Isabel of @thefeltedacorns was introduced to felting as a child attending her local Waldorf School on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Years later she rediscovered felting as a therapeutic art form and went on to become a Waldorf Teacher. Thinking fondly of the little egg and chick that always appeared in her parents’ home in the springtime, Isabel wished to teach her class how to make what had become a little token of spring. And now she's taught you too!
In Waldorf education, this is seen through a connection with nature, the senses, the heart, meaningful toys, our families, and the communities we live in. Developing a secure connection between a child and their environment is one of the essentials of Waldorf education. This integration results in children who are hungry for experiences that engage and expand their spirits. Whether your child attends a Waldorf school, homeschools, or attends public school, reinforcing this principle of connection can be made manifest in several easy ways, every day.
“When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” – John Muir
First, go outside! Waldorf philosophy believes that humans are deeply intertwined with the natural world and that children are especially attuned to its beauty and rhythms. Interacting with natural materials provides engagement, comfort, and promotes sensorial exploration while also inspiring creative and open-ended play. The patterns and seasons of nature follow a dependable rhythm allowing children to connect to something beyond them. Noticing patterns, animals, and textures gives children opportunities to interact and connect with their environment in meaningful ways.
The beauty of connecting with nature is that it's so simple. Go outside, look at clouds, gather treasures, count the birds you see, move your body, run around, play in the dirt, the list goes on and on. Where Waldorf takes this further is in how natural materials are incorporated into indoor play and added into the environments through natural toys, nature tables, and natural design elements. Using handmade toys created from wood allows children to connect to the tree and understand the connection of where the toy came from. Playing with a stuffed animal made from wool, not only feels good and warm in a young child’s hands, but can be connected to a sheep.
May wisdom shine through me
May love glow in me
May strength penetrate me
That in me may arise
A helper for humanity
A servant of sacred things
Selfless and true.
As is stated in this classic Waldorf verse, helping is a sacred and fundamental component of Waldorf philosophy and is demonstrated through the teaching of life skills. In Waldorf classrooms, students and teachers clean their space together every day to create a sense of community and social responsibility. At home, incorporating the daily tasks and household chores can easily become a rich source for teachable moments that give children confidence, and encourage self-reliance and self-discipline.
Practicing these daily skills, like setting a table, sweeping, folding, churning butter, and baking bread, will allow kids to learn that they are capable and can trust themselves to solve problems and complete tasks well. And through these activities beautiful moments of connection will create a sustaining family rhythm that will continue to build every day for years.
“When we teach a child to knit or to make something—of course the things he makes must have purpose and meaning—we are then working upon the spirit of the child, and often more truly so than when we teach him subjects that are generally thought of as spiritual and intellectual.” -Rudolf Steiner
Making things with our hands not only connects us to ancient traditions, but it connects our mind with our hands to create something that fills our hearts with contentment. In Waldorf classrooms, knitting is taught before learning the alphabet as a way to connect both sides of the brain, develop fine motor skills, and improve memory to prepare children for the skills needed once they start to read. In other words, this craft works on building connections. Back to those ancient traditions, connecting to cultures through crafting allows children to see their own work in relation to an ongoing history and feel part of something that's timeless and essential.
Handwork in Waldorf loops back to the other two realms of connection; nature and life skills. Baking bread and knitting are skills that can be woven into daily life connecting children to the natural world and making the transformation from natural to man-made easier to understand. Inviting arts and crafts into your life happens through the simplest activities; crafting homemade cards, baking, sewing a small quilt for a doll, or folding a paper suncatcher.
Raising young humans is a time steeped in moments of connection. Some moments are magical and others more challenging. But by incorporating the three realms of connection; nature, life skills, and crafts, you can easily weave in a vital element of Waldorf education into your home that builds off things you already do in your daily lives. With an intentional environment, some natural materials, and a few simple and engaging activities, moments of connection will help both parent and child grow into beautiful, fully complete human beings.
Download the Printable February Activity Calendar Here
February 1 - Have an Indoor Picnic
Even though the weather outside is still too chilly for a picnic, that doesn't mean you can't bring the fun inside! Have a picnic in your living room and enjoy all your favorite picnic goodies.
February 2 - Make Pinecone Flowers
Bring the natural world inside for a cute way to celebrate Valentine's Day with pinecone flowers. Simply paint a pinecone and hot glue it onto a stick. Soon, you will have enough for a bouquet.
February 3 - Make Handmade Paper Thank You Cards
A thoughtful handmade card is one of our favorite ways to give thanks. This simple tutorial for recycled paper thank you cards gives old materials a new life, and the end result is always beautiful. Find the Tutorial HERE.
February 4 - Decorate Candles for Valentine's Day
We love our beeswax taper candles and we love them even more when we have fun decorating them for Valentine's Day.
February 5 - Make Some Wildflower Heart Seed Bombs
Nothing says "I love you," like trying to save the bees for someone! This Valentine's Day, you can give a gift that grows and helps support our pollinator populations. Hand them out with a native wildflower or a recycled paper card, and your loved ones will be thrilled. These DIY wildflower seed bombs are a great project for children, with something to do for every age. Find the tutorial HERE.
February 6 - Paint with Watercolors
Enjoy calm moments by taking some time today to relax and paint the day away.
February 7 - Craft Merino Wool Hand Warmers
Valentine's Day can easily become another holiday full of small, inexpensive trinkets and sweets that are quickly eaten or tossed aside, but we're here to show you that it doesn't have to be that way! Find the tutorial HERE.
February 8 - Bake Fresh Blueberry Muffins
In our opinion, blueberry muffins are the best. And home-baked ones are even better! Today, try your hand in the kitchen to make a fresh batch.
February 9 - Make an Embroidered Heart Garland
This simple craft can be done with children as young as three and can be expanded each year, growing with your family and creating a meaningful heirloom! Find the tutorial HERE.
February 10 - Celebrate the Lunar New Year
It is the year of the dragon! Celebrate with fun crafts and your favorite dragon toys and books.
February 11 - Dye a Valentine's Day Playsilk
A bespoke play silk is the sweetest gift for the special little ones in your life. The craft of dyeing can seem daunting, but don’t worry! Today Jaime from The Barefoot Dyer walks us through creating beautiful bundle dyed play silks for your Valentine with our Natural Dye Kit. This kit comes with all of the materials you will need to pretreat and dye your silk. Find the tutorial HERE.
February 12 - Write a Story About Someone You Love
Inspiration can come from anywhere. Today try your hand at creative writing and write a short story about someone you love.
February 13 - Valentine's Day Inspired Dance Party
We love dancing the day away to our favorite songs. Need a little inspiration for your dance party? We put together a short playlist to get your dancing feet moving!
February 14 - Happy Valentine's Day
From all of us at Bella Luna Toys have a very happy Valentine's Day! We are sending you all of our love.
February 15 - Paint a Set of Story Stones
Today, paint a few found stones with various characters, scenes, and props to create a lovely story to tell.
February 16 - Cozy Up with Tea and a Book
Get cozy on a chilly winter's night with a good book and a delicious cup of tea. Find your next read HERE.
February 17 - Go on a Nature Walk with Friends
The weather is crisp, but it is still nice to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Take a walk with friends and see how many nature treasures you can find.
February 18 - Learn About Honeybees
Honeybees are incredibly important to the world around us. Take a moment today to show them some love and learn all about them!
February 19 - Make Some Nature Collage Easter Eggs
Have fun outside and collect little nature treasures to collage onto an egg-shaped piece of cardboard for a fun early Easter craft.
February 20 - Volunteer at a Local Aid Center
Look for ways to volunteer in your community and get involved with a local aid center. With all the blessings we so often are given, it's nice to give back!
February 21 - Write a Song About Animals
Try your hand at writing a tune today and sing about your favorite animal!
February 22 - Find New Ways to Play with Playsilks
In most Waldorf classrooms, you will find a basket of playsilks. Many parents often seem confused at first by how a simple square of fabric can be a toy. These silks require seeing beyond what is right in front of you, a hallmark of open-ended toys. They require children to think creatively and expansively. Today we would like to share with you 50 ways to play with play silks to spark your imagination and help you dive into playsilk play. Read more HERE.
February 23 - Have a Fun Family Game Night
This month is really about being together! There is almost no better way to connect than sitting down and playing a game that is fun for the whole family. Need a little inspiration? Browse our curated collection of games HERE.
February 24 - Make a Waldorf Window Star
Folding Waldorf window stars is a fun and simple craft. You can make basic designs that are easy enough to involve young children or add additional steps to create more intricate shapes. Folding the colorful kite paper during quiet time is a relaxing way to center and focus your mind. They are beautiful when displayed in the window with light filtering through or hanging above a nature table in seasonal colors. Find the tutorial HERE.
February 25 - Make Some Felted Soap Bars
Felted soap bars also make lovely gifts for friends and relatives, especially when they're homemade! Get the kit HERE.
February 26 - Mend Some Clothing Using Needle Felting
Play is a busy thing and takes a toll on children's clothing, especially the knees of their pants. From crawling on the floor to climbing trees, there are a million ways for kids to rip, tear, or wear out their clothes. We asked our friend Leah Gaeddert to put her creativity to work and show us the sustainable and crafty way she solves this problem. Find the tutorial HERE.
February 27 - Visit a Local Library
Discover the magic of reading and wonder that is all around at your local library. Libraries are incredible places that inspire young readers to explore new worlds, and best of all... it's free!
February 28 - Learn About Flower Anatomy
Flowers are all around us! Take some time today to smell the roses and learn all about flower anatomy as we head into spring.
February 29 - Extra Day
There's an extra day this year! Celebrate with a little treat for yourself. Whether a fresh bowl of berries, a baked good, or a small treasure, find something to smile about today!
Step 1:Have your children gather old artwork, mail, or schoolwork. The colors you choose will affect your final product, so keep that in mind when choosing. Let them rip the paper into small squares and submerge them in a bowl of hot water. Soak the paper scraps in hot water for 20-30 minutes.
Step 2: Place your paper scraps into an old blender and cover with water. Use the pulse function to turn your mixture into a pulp. While that runs, place your strainer into the mixing bowl and place your cloth into the bowl. Pour the paper pulp into the prepared strainer.
Step 3: Mix in 1 tablespoon of wildflower seeds. Choose seeds that are native to your area or do well in your climate. Smaller seeds are easier to fold into the paper pulp, so avoid wildflowers with larger seeds.
Step 4: Gather the ends of your cloth and squeeze some of the water out of your pulp. You want them to be wet enough to form into shapes but not fall apart. If you squeeze out too much water you can add some back one tablespoon at a time. Place your paper pulp in a bowl.
Step 5: Here's the fun part! Create your seed bombs by rolling your paper into balls or pinching them into little hearts. You can create any shape you'd like and even use silicone molds to get an intricate design.
Step 6: Once you've shaped your pulp into seed bombs, allow them to dry for at least 48 hours, depending on your climate.
The idea of tossing seeds around our cities and watching them explode with wildflowers in the spring is a fantastic one. Unfortunately, a lot of places aren't well suited for wildflower growth. To ensure you have the most positive impact on our pollinators, be mindful of where you plant your seeds. Your backyard or patio is a great option, especially if you live in a developed area where nectar might be hard to come by. Pop the seed bombs into a pot or flower bed and wait! Another way we like to use our wildflower seed bombs is out in nature. We grab a handful before we leave for the park or head out on a nature hike. Tossing them into a natural area that doesn't get too much foot traffic is ideal. Avoid places mowed by your cities landscapers or areas that are too developed to provide a conducive environment for growth.
We can't wait to see love bloom this spring! Happy Valentine's Day!
Folding Waldorf window stars is a fun and simple craft. You can make basic designs that are easy enough to involve young children or add additional steps to create more intricate shapes. Folding the colorful kite paper during quiet time is a relaxing way to center and focus your mind. They are beautiful when displayed in the window with light filtering through or hanging above a nature table in seasonal colors.
Start by gathering your supplies. You'll need:
You can find this glossy translucent paper, along with tons of other Waldorf craft supplies, on our website. Shop Arts and Crafts here.
The first star is the simplest. This one was made with classic rainbow colors, but they look just as beautiful in a single color or a pattern of two or four different colors.
Tada! You’ve completed your first window star! Fold a piece of tape to make a loop, stick on the back of the window star and hang it up!
1. To create a tulip, you will need one sheet of window star paper in the color you'd like the flower, and one sheet of window star paper in green for the stem.
2. Begin with the flower colored square of window star paper.
3. Fold it in half diagonally to make a triangle shape.
4. Fold this triangle in half.
5. Fold one side of the triangle inward, making the crease in the center.
6. Repeat with both sides.
7. Turn shape over to flat side.
8. Fold corners inward to created a more rounded shape.
Next, we will create the stem!
1. Begin with the green square of window star paper.
2. Fold the square in half diagonally to form a triangle.
3. Unfold to reveal center guide line.
4. Fold edges inward to meet at center guide line.
5. Repeat with both sides.
6. Fold the bottom edge in to meet the center guide line.
7. Repeat fold on both sides.
8. Fold one of the top edges inward to meet center guide line.
9. Repeat fold on both sides, creating a point.
10. Fold point in half vertically, with folded sides of paper on the inside.
11. Fold in half horizontally, with fold on outside to create a leaf shape.
12. Add glue to top of the stem and attach flower. Ta Da!
1. For a daisy, you will need two sheets of kite paper in the petal color of your choice, plus a small piece of yellow kite paper for the center of the flower. Begin with one square of petal colored paper.
2. Fold the square in half
3. Fold this rectangle in half again
4. Open to reveal guide lines
5. Cut on the guide lines.
6. Repeat these steps with both sheets of petal color paper to end with 8 small squares.
7. Fold square of paper in half diagonally to make a triangle.
8. Unfold to reveal guide line
9. Fold one corner in to meet center point and repeat with other corner.
10. Fold one edge inward to meet on center guide line.
11. Repeat with other side's edge to form a point.
12. Fold down top point to create a more rounded shape.
13. Glue all petals together, slightly overlapping one another. Then cut out two circles of yellow paper, one slightly larger than the other.
14. Glue the largest circle in the center of the petals. Glue the smaller circle on top of the larger one to form the center of the flower. Ta Da!
These daisy shaped window stars look wonderful hanging without a stem, but if you would like to create more of realistic Spring Garden look, you can cut out a stem shape from green paper to add to the bottom. Hang your flowers in a sunny window with a little spot of glue or tape and let the Springtime colors fill your home with joy.
To see more things you can create with Waldorf Window Star Paper, see our blog post on Three Ways to Fold Waldorf Window Stars or how to make A Spring Waldorf Window Transparency.
These are the tools we used to create our trinket dish:
To begin, pick out your favorite flowers. Don't forget to get your designated flower sniffer to give them the seal of approval.
Once you have your flowers, pick a few and separate them from the stems. You will use the petals as decoration.
Lay out a piece of cotton, muslin or canvas on a table and begin slowly rolling out a slab of your air dry clay. You can also use your hands to flatten the clay.
Once rolled out (or pressed) to your desired thickness cut out your heart pattern and remove the excess clay.
Use water to smooth out the edges and surfaces (not too much or the clay will be too sticky). Add a cloth napkin (or the same fabric from before) to a small rounded bowl. Place your heart on top of the napkin so that the edges are lifted evenly to create a bowl shape.
Arrange your petals where you would like them and press them into the clay gently with your fingers and a spoon..
Let dry completely! Once the dish is completely dry, seal your piece with your preferred sealant. We used Mod Podge. This sweet tray is the perfect gift to make for mom this Mother's Day to store her favorite pieces of jewelry!
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The Carve-A-Stamp Kit comes with everything you need to create your stamp designs including a rubber block with two sides for carving, a wooden carving tool with 5 different blades, red ink pad, a stamp template with 42 designs as well as two sets of alphabet stencils and two sets of number stencils. You can use the included template or design your very own stamp. The red ink pad is perfect for Valentines Day, but you can also use paint in any color for stamping!
1. First, decide the style of stamp you would like to create. You can draw your design directly on the rubber block with pencil, or if you would like to use the included stencils, simply trace the stencil on the included transfer paper. Once you've traced your design, place the transfer paper onto the rubber block and use the back end of the carving tool to push on the pencil lines to transfer them onto the rubber.
**Important Note: Don't forget that any wording or lettering needs to be placed backward to be legible on the stamp!
The garland in this tutorial has three embroidered hearts, but you can make more or less, allowing each of your children to make one. You can even embroider their name and the year on the heart to create a sweet timeline as they grow. Mari recommends solid color hearts for the embroidery, but you can use any mix of colors or pretty printed fabric for the smaller hearts. This garland is entirely customizable.
These are the tools we used to create our ice lanterns:
To begin, choose your favorite flowers, we recommend red ones for a Valentine's Day twist. Cut your flowers so that they are not too thick.
In the larger tub add a few petals to the bottom and then place your smaller top on top. Secure the tubs together with twine. Once secure finish placing your flowers in. Add water until the tup is filled.
Place the tub in the freezer until your luminary is completely frozen. Once frozen, place outside with a tealight and enjoy your ice lantern! Note: the colder it is, the longer your lantern will last. The warmer, the faster it will melt.
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This project can be completed with materials most people might have lying around the house. We used felt sheets but any scrap material could work. Adjust your needle and thread as needed depending on the material you use.
Step 1: Grab your pencil and ruler to sketch out a simple pattern. Since the front and back of the snowflake child's body need to match, you can simplify things by folding your felt sheet in half and mirroring the pattern from the crease. Trace your pattern onto a folded piece of felt and use sharp scissors to cut along the sides and bottom. Do not cut across the top fold.
Step 2: Lightly trace your design on the back side of your felt body. The design can be as simple or as intricate as your skill level allows. These snowflakes were simple to replicate by following the outline.
Step 3: Insert your needle from the back, move to the end of the line you want to create, and push your needle through from the front. Repeat these steps until your design is complete. Tie off your string and trim. This is what the back of our piece looked like afterwards. If this step seems too daunting, or you're working with a younger crafter, you can cut out a small design from your felt scraps and glue them to your dolls.
Step 4: Now that your Waldorf Snowflake Children have clothes to wear it's time to create their bodies. A pipe cleaner is perfect because it's light weight and gives the dolls a bit of flexibility. Fold your pipe cleaner in half, then create arms by folding each side. Make sure the arms are long enough to slightly stick out of the felt.Twist the pipe cleaner together in the center and use the remaining length to create legs. Trim as needed, leaving a small piece sticking out at the bottom of each leg.
Step 5: Use a simple blanket stitch to close one side of the felt. From this point you can begin stuffing the body with the wool roving or a cotton ball that's been teased apart. Push the filling into the arms and legs with your tapestry needle as you finish joining the felt between the legs and second side with your blanket stitch.
These are the tools we used to create our simple crochet hat:
To begin, start by crocheting a single crochet chain until the length of the hat is reached. We recommend creating a chain that reaches from the middle of the top of your head to the bottom of your nose.
Once you have your desired length with the single chain, begin crocheting the hat. Do lines of simple single crochet until the desired width is reached.
Once the width is reached that fits snugly around your head, do a single crochet along the edges of your rectangle to close the hat to create an open cylinder.
After closing the edges together, it is time to close the top of the hat. Take your yarn needle and with enough yarn (about double the width of the top of the hat), thread through the top row of stitches (in one out the next), twice through and pull the yarn tight to close. Knot the strings as tightly as possible and cut off the excess yarn.
Sometimes the first height measurement isn't quite long enough. After closing the top of the hat, if you find it isn't long enough to cover your ears/desired length, simply add more rows of crochet to the bottom until the length wanted is reached. Note: The additional stitches will be going in a different direction than the rest, but will still look nice.
Add a special touch to your hat! You can add designs in many ways. You can use yarn, felt, embroidery, etc. We used felt and embroidery on ours to add little mushrooms.
Keep your ears toasty warm with your new hat! Take on the snow and keep the cold away. Tag us in your beautiful creations!
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These are the ingredients to fill three 0.5oz tins of lip balm:
Begin by rinsing your fresh mint until clean. Then, separate the mint leaves (2 cups) from the stems.
Once separated, combine in a blender with olive oil (7 tablespoons) until smooth. After blending, place the smooth mixture into a heat-resistant jar.
Then, slowly double boil your mixture on a low simmer for two hours. Make sure the water is not boiling. After two hours, strain the mixture using a cheese cloth or straining cloth. Let this sit overnight so that the oil separates from the water.
Once all your oil has separated from the water, slowly pour out the liquid trying to keep the water separate from the oil. Then, grate your beeswax. You are going for roughly a 1 part beeswax to 3 parts liquid (1:3). We used about 1.5 tablespoons for this batch. Once the beeswax is grated you are going to double boil the oil you just separated from the water and the beeswax until the wax is fully melted.
Note: If you are not using the mint infused olive oil from part one, just do the 1:3 ratio for the amount desired. For example, use 1 tablespoon of beeswax for every 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
After the wax is melted, let cool for a minute or two and add 10 - 15 drops of your Vitamin E oil. Mix well. (P.S. if you want to add extra essential oils you can at this stage, just make sure they are safe for topical use!)
Note: If you are not using the mint infused olive oil in part one, your lip balm will have a strong olive oil smell if you do not add (topically safe) scented essential oils here (in addition to the Vitamin E).
After the oil is added, transfer to your tin or jar for storage and let cool completely, enjoy! This batch filled three 0.5 oz tins perfectly.
These make the perfect gift as a "thinking of you" gift for a loved one. Don't forget to tag us in your creations!
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Download the Printable January Activity Calendar Here
January 1 - Make Your 2024 Dream List
When it comes to celebrating the New Year, we love to slow down and reflect on the time gone by and write down our favorite moments from 2023. Then, we like to write a dream list for moments we would like to have in 2024. Like to laugh often, sleep well, and eat delicious food! From all of us at Bella Luna Toys we wish you a very happy New Year.
January 2 - Snuggle Up with Tea and a Good Book
The days can be chilly, so there is nothing better than snuggling up with a hot cup of tea and a good book. See our perfectly paired collection of cozy stuffies and books HERE.
January 3 - Paint a Color of the Day Watercolor Scene
Wednesday color of the day is yellow. Try to paint a watercolor scene incorporating as much yellow as possible.
January 4 - Have a Dance Party to Your Favorite Songs
We love dancing the day away to our favorite songs. Need a little inspiration for your dance party? We put together a short playlist to get your dancing feet started!
January 5 - Make Beeswax Lip Balm
The weather is getting chilly, which means that lips can be easily chapped. This easy mint and beeswax lip balm is perfect for the coldest of days! Get the recipe HERE!
January 6 - Carve an Animal Stamp to Make Cards
We love crafting cards to share with loved ones. Enjoy an afternoon crafting as you carve and print a stamp inspired by some of our favorite animals.
January 7 - Go on a Winter Walk with Friends
The weather is crisp, but it is still nice to get outside and enjoy the fresh air. Take a walk with friends and see how many nature treasures you can find.
January 8 - Crochet a Simple Hat for Winter
The weather is cold, but that doesn't mean your ears have to be. Follow a very simple pattern to create a hat to keep you toasty warm this month. Read the tutorial HERE.
January 9 - Create a Mandala Using Loose Parts
The best way to relax is to unwind and arrange your loose parts into a mandala. See how many patterns you can create and document them!
January 10 - Create and Decorate Your Beeswax Candles
We love decorating our beeswax candles. It makes for a peaceful afternoon, and you can celebrate by lighting them after a day of crafting.
January 11 - Cook a Hearty Soup with Fresh Bread
The weather is chilly, so warm up with this hearty bowl of soup, perfectly served with a slice of bread slathered in freshly churned butter.
January 12 - Learn Simple Book Binding Techniques
Creating your own sketchbook or simply binding your favorite works of art with a simple book binding method.
January 13 - Visit a Local Museum or Farm
Learning about history, art or your local community is a beautiful to become more involved in the world around you. Today, visit a museum or farm to see all that you can discover.
January 14 - Declutter and Reorganize Your Play Space
A lovely way to start your year off fresh and ready for new beginnings is to stop and reflect on the toys that are no longer being used, and seeing if you can donate them to be useful to another family.
January 15 - Celebrate MLK Day
Today is a good time to take a moment to slow down and reflect to see how you can become more involved in the community around you.
January 16 - Weave Your Own Treasure Pouch
In Waldorf education’s artistic curriculum, handwork is essential. Handwork includes painting, knitting, weaving and many more practical and creative skills. Children will learn the in’s and out’s of weaving throughout their years at a Waldorf school, but weaving at home is just as fun and simple. Find the guide HERE.
January 17 - Play Dress Up and Put on a Show
Let your imagination run wild and put on a show for the whole family! Will they tell the tale of pirates, fairies, witches... who knows! Let them discover the stories that spark imagination.
January 18 - Have a Calm Meditation Moment
Every year comes with hectic days and sometimes you can't seem to calm down. Take a moment with your little one today and reflect on the month and have a quiet hour of meditation.
January 19 - Make an Ice Flower Lantern
Take advantage of the chilly days with a lantern as cold as ice, but as beautiful as the spring flowers. This ice flower lantern is perfect for lighting tealights on the porch on a winters night.
January 20 - Have Tea Time with a Homemade Cake
Did you know a perfect tea time is complete with a tea cake? Serve up your earl grey tea in a cup AND a plate with a delightful earl grey tea cake, and celebrate tea time in style.
January 21 - Make Your Own Needle Felted Bean Bags
Bean bags make wonderful playthings for children. They find so many uses for them beyond a simple bean bag toss game! Get the tutorial HERE.
January 22 - Volunteer at a Local Aid Center
Take a moment and see how you can volunteer and get involved with a local aid center. With all the blessing we are often given, it is nice to give back!
January 23 - Make a Pie for National Pie Day
Celebrate national pie day with a homemade pie.
January 24 - Have a Fun Family Game Night
This month is really about being together! There is almost no better way than sitting down and playing a game that is fun for the whole family. Need a little inspiration? Browse our curated collection of games HERE.
January 25 - Build a Fort with Pillows and Blankets
Test your building skills by creating a pillow fort! Tell scary stories by flashlight as you cuddle in your constructed fort.
January 26 - Bake Some Cookies to Give to a Neighbor
We loving sharing the love with our friends and neighbors. Bake some cookies to show you care.
January 27 - Make a Clay Heart Trinket Dish
Get ready for Valentine's Day with a clay heart trinket dish that is perfect for storing your little treasures. See the tutorial HERE.
January 28 - Have a Slow Sunday with a Pancake Breakfast
Take Sunday slow with a pancake breakfast for the whole family. See if you can make fun designs with the batter!
January 29 - Draw with Beeswax Crayons
Have fun drawing the day away with our Beeswax Crayons. What will your little one create?
January 30 - Write a Nature Poem
Enjoy the beauty of nature and write a poem inspired by the beautiful scenery.
January 31 - Create a Felt Crown for Celebrations
Be prepared for any celebration with a felt crown that is ready for any birthday or play time adventure.
We reached out to our friend Leslie Long to ask what traditions her family incorporated for a more eco-friendly Christmas experience. Here's what she shared with us: "While we have been leaning into fabric gift wrapping in recent years, using upcycled brown paper wrap has been something our family has enjoyed for many years. We set aside the brown paper grocery bags and packing papers that arrived in the post, and sit down together in December with paint and stampers to turn it into special gift wrap. It turns out different each year and the kids love creating it. We always use the stamped wrap when we are putting together gifts for our family and friends and it has become something they recognize and look forward to each year as well."
The simplicity of this project makes it so attainable and easy to incorporate each year, while minimizing your financial burden and ecological impact.
Here are a few stamp ideas for various winter holidays:
We were so inspired by Leslie's bespoke recycled wrapping, we had to try our hand at it as well. Here's how we added it to our eco-friendly Christmas practices, and 10 more ideas to reduce, reuse, and recyle this holiday season.
1. Cloth gift wrapping is the easiest way to reduce holiday waste! Grab a few play silks or recycled garments and tie them snuggly around your gifts.
2. Natural beeswax candles add to the cozy mood and make great options for menorah and kinara candles. Make your own to decrease your carbon footprint even more.
3. Gift with intention. We love the idea of "Something you want, something you need, something to wear, and something to read." Sustainable heirloom quality toys and clothing that last through multiple children are impactful ways to reduce waste and encourage thoughtful gifting.
4. Reuse cardboard from your holiday deliveries to create custom name tags for your gifts, decorative garlands, and gift boxes. These tags were fun to make an add a whimsical touch to the gifts.
5. Skip the wrapping all together! Set up large gifts as a fun invitation to play and explore on Christmas morning.
6. Don't shy away from gifting second-hand items. Children can gift a toy that they no longer play with or coat that they've outgrown to a younger sibling, and thrifted or mended items can be given a second life and gifted to friends and family.
7. Look for Natural and biodegradable decorations to DIY. Dried orange slices and cranberries strung on twine make a beautiful garland. Bundles of cinnamon sticks, salt dough, and pinecones also add to the holiday cheer without adding to the trash pile.
8. Fill the house with holiday scents without leaning on synthetic air fresheners. Simmer a combination of oranges, cranberries, pine needles, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, or whatever seasonal scents you love, in a pot of water on the stove.
9. Skip the wrapping all together! Set up large gifts as a fun invitation to play and explore on Christmas morning. Their excitement won't be diminished by the lack of paper wrapping and you'll save time and resources.
10. Instead of buying plastic bows tie small gifts like wooden animals or small books as gift toppers.