This Grandma is always looking for creative ways to engage grandchildren with little effort and little cost. When I was young, using cigar boxes in creative ways was something my friends and I did. We created dioramas often on different topics, sometimes for school projects and sometimes for fun. Cigar boxes are not as easy to find in our “no smoking” generation, but small boxes are easy to find. Believe it or not, this old fashioned idea still is used today. There are even websites to assist in step by step directions on how to create a diorama.
When I travel and read random magazines, I tend to rip out pages of interesting ideas, and have one torn page about creating a keepsake by collecting items from vacation, such as shells, and mounting them “with adhesive in the bottom of a repurposed colorful box.” This article is by Yolanda Edwards, who writes for Martha Stewart publications. She likes the pastel boxes from Laduree, using the bottom of the box like a frame for a diorama. If you have not tried the cookies, or brought your grandchildren to try the cookies, Lauduree gourmet cookies, this is a special treat. According to Wikipedia, “Ladurée is a French luxury bakery and sweets maker house created in 1862. It is one of the top premier sellers of the double-decker macaron, fifteen thousand of which are sold every day. “They are sold in Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
I never thought to keep the box and that is unfortunate. I agree that the boxes are beautiful. Ms. Edwards put six to twelve shells in a box pattern in the box, labeled the box on the back with the date and place of collection and then hung the boxes in a pattern on the wall. It looks amazing.
Since this Grandma lives in Florida, I have started my grandchildren on shell collections. Now we can pick about nine of the favorites and create a wall hanging.
I am always looking, not only for such easy and beautiful projects, but beautiful ways to create memories and decorate our grandchildren's’ rooms or playrooms—modern day dioramas, how cool. A thank you to creative director Yolanda Edwards.
Creating revolving collections and revolving memories keep us active and involved in our grandchildren’s lives with
Joy,
Mema
Comments