Simple Saturday Prep: Super Simple Pinwheels

What do a piece of copier paper, a straight pin, a sharpened pencil with a meaty eraser at the end, scissors, tape, a ruler, a small plastic jar lid, and a gob of water colors markers (optional) have in common, you ask?

Together they make a pinwheel!

Y'all, this is another one of those Simple Saturday posts that I am almost ashamed to write because the activity is just so darned simple to make! For real.

That being said, this activity is a fantastic one to teach measurement skills with. And, if the pinwheel doesn't work...well, try, try again!

So join wacky Mr. John and me tomorrow, won't you?

We'll have a breezy, wheezy, cheezy good time together.

See ya!

Simple Saturday: Magic Wand Making

This poor fellow looks as if he's holding the short end of the magic stick, doesn't he? Well, we won't suffer the same fate after crafting a stick full of surprises...our very own magic wand. Just watch this!

Even though the materials I asked you gather might seem like everyday, ordinary stuff...the tape, construction paper, pencil, ruler, scissors, and (shhh) a straight pin... oh, contraire, my fellow Houdinis...nothing is ordinary when you believe in the unlimited possibilities of magic!

Let's get right to it.  Working lengthwise on the construction paper, measure 3 inches from the edge. Cut a long three inch strip of construction paper.

Next, for the wand's tips, measure 1 inch wide strips of the contrasting color of construction paper.

Now for the super simple magic wand assembly. All you have to do is wrap the long piece of construction paper around a pencil, forming a tube. Using tape, secure the long edge of the paper together. Remove the pencil from the inside of the tube.

Repeat this process to make the magical tips. Wrap...tape...and you're ready for a little bit of hocus pocus, my friends.

Speaking of a little hocus pocus...I wonder what clever Mr. John is up to now. Notice how he is holding the wand? With his hand wrapped around the wand? Just an ordinary everyday, homemade Simple Saturday magic wand, right?

At this point, let's add a touch of bippety-bobbity boo and POOF!

Wow! Will you look at that?! John is opening his hand and the magic wand is mysteriously suspended in air! Oh...my...it's magic! Or is it?

You know it's only because you and I are pals I will tell you the secret of this trick. Keep this secret tucked under your top hats. Tell no one. Pinkie promise? 

Remember the secret straight pin I asked for you to gather? Well, before John performed the trick, I stuck it in the middle of the long tube. Look at the picture to the right. See how I did it? John had the straight pin wedged between his fingers when he wrapped his closed hand around the center of the Simple Saturday magic wand. When he extended his hand wide, the straight pin remained wedged between his fingers. Because the paper tube weighs very little, it looks like it is suspended in air. Ooo...creepy, huh?

You might want to practice the pin-wedge technique before performing for a crowd. The wand has been known to top over at times. If that happens to you, my suggestion is to squeeze those fingers together and show that wand who's boss!

All for now. Have an abracadara-ly delightful day.

Simple Saturday Prep: The Magic Wand

Like butter is to bread...frick is to frack...white is to rice...what would a magician be without his wand? A sad, lost soul, that's what.

Saturday I will show you how to make a wand of wonder! And...hold on to your top hat...I will teach you a trick that is guaranteed dazzle the even the most dastardly.

Here's all that is needed to make a magic wand - sheets of black and white construction paper (That is unless you want to make a magical fashion statement of some sort. If that's the case, pick any two colors that you like.), tape, glue stick, scissors and....shhh...the secret element of the trick...a straight pin.

Intrigued?

Good.

See you tomorrow!

Simple Saturday: Friendship Yogurt

Okay, my mouth is watering as I type. Yogurt! Yogurt! I love homemade Simple Saturday Friendship Yogurt! Love it! Love it! Love it!!!!

Let's make some right now!

Click here for Janice Scully's, my VCFA pal, recipe.  But let's add a bit of Simple Saturday pictorial flair to the mix, shall we?

Here's a shot of the necessary ingredients. I particularly like the way the items have been arranged on the gingham dish towel. Nice touch, Janice. Really nice.

And here are the 7 easy steps to making yummy Friendship Yogurt. Dannon, look out...because here we come.

Gotta love a man who is good in the kitchen.Step 1) If you are using powdered milk, add it to the milk and Heat in the saucepan on low-med heat, to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, stirring often to prevent burning. It will be steaming hot, but not yet boiling. This is called “scalding” the milk. Remove it from the stove.  Be careful! 

Step 2) Let the milk cool on the counter to 120 degrees. This will take about a half-hour. Meanwhile fill the cooler with hot water to warm the cooler. 

Step 3) When the milk has cooled to 120 degrees, quickly and gently add the yogurt to the pan of warm milk. Stir it well, but don’t worry if there are a few lumps.

 Step 4) Pour warm milk and yogurt into the glass jar and screw lid on. 

Go, Phillip! Go!!!Step 5) Incubate.  Empty the water from the cooler. Now place the jar in cooler. Pour in several inches of very warm tap water, at around 110-120%, around the jar to an inch below the lid of the jar. Screw on the lid to the cooler and wrap it in fleece. Your goal is to keep the temperature between 90-110% Fahrenheit. 

Step 6) After six hours, remove the jar.  Yogurt should be firm and still feel warm. Place it in refrigerator. It will keep at least two weeks. Save 2 Tablespoons for your next batch. 

Step 7) Enjoy! Put as much as you want in a bowl. Add honey or maple syrup to sweeten it. Then add fresh fruit, applesauce, granola, raisins, or dried nuts. Be creative.

Step 7 is definitely my favorite. How about you?

Well...have a yummy-in-the-tummy-spoon-likin-blueberry tasting-slickety-slurping Simple Saturday, pal.

I'll see you back here next week.

Simple Saturday Prep: Friendship Yogurt

I more than get by with a little help from my friends. Truth be told, I am lost without them. This week's Simple Saturday post is a gift from Janice Scully, a dear VCFA pal of mine. She's going to tell us how to make real yogurt! Yummy, yummy in rolly-polly tummy.

Janice tells me that people have been making yogurt for 2000 years! Dang...that a long time, don't you think? No wonder though, cause the stuff is just that good!

She also says that making yogurt feels like you're doing a science experiment. Maybe because there is weird bacteria involved in the culturing process, stuff with crazy long names like streptococcus thermophilus and lactobacillus bulgaricus. Good gosh! We eat stuff with names like that? I don't want to think about that right now. I just want to learn how to make that delicious stuff. Mmm, mmm, mmm.

Here's the supply list, 'yall. It's a little long for a Simple Saturday post, so I hyperlinked it to this post. And tomorrow I'll post pics featuring Janice's son making yogurt. Nifty plan, don't you think?

Janice says that all supplies need to be crazy clean. So crank up that dishwasher and let's get cracking.  

Simple Saturday: Paper Puppy Puppetry

Though replicating the pure beauty of my pup's face is a task that measures near impossible to complete, let's give it our best...shall we?

You have gathered the simple Simple Saturday list of supplies...right? The construction paper, the glue stick, and scissors? Okay, we're ready to begin. The paper puppy puppet instructions could not be simpler. Let's get to it.

Working lengthwise on a piece of paper, fold the paper in thirds.  Overlap the folds brochure-style. When finished, you should have one long piece of folded construction paper.

Next, working horizontally, fold the long narrow piece of folded paper in an accordion fashion. (If you're not sure what the heck in an accordion fashion means check out the picture to the right.) After doing this you have successfully created pockets to slip your fingers and thumb in, allowing for ultimate puppet control-age.

Now you simply cut out and glue eyes, a nose, some floppy ears, and a long-lapping tongue to your paper puppy puppet. And that is all there is to it, my friend. It's all over but the lickin'.

I do have to give a big shout out to Kate who suggested for me to use glue and glitter to create that unforgetable saliva stream all of us dog-lovers know so well. Kate gave this slobbering phenomena a name. She calls it "magical pet nectar." That's a new one.

You know what I think? Perhaps Kate has been tickled by the puppy love virus harder than I have.

Could this be true?

Nah...

Simple Saturday Prep: Puppy Puppetry

Check out my two-legged hunk-dawg's fuzzy knee in the picture.Meet my precious three-legged dawg, Tripod.

Just look at the sweet face... The jaunty drooping of his drooling tongue. The playful, fun-loving sparkle in his amber eyes. The slick, steady stream of saliva dripping from the corner of his smiling mouth. Ahhh...puppy love. How could such magnificence ever be duplicated? Well, tomorrow we'll try our best to do so.

To make a paper puppy puppet (Say that 5 times real fast. That phrase is a lip-bouncer!) you'll need some construction paper, glue sticks, and scissors...that's all.

I'm not sure what we'll use to replicate Tripod's saliva stream, though. Do you have any ideas?

So, my dear Simple Saturday friend, I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning. Until then, a hearty arrrooooo to you!

Simple Saturday: Cinco de Mayo Cinnamon Treats

Chico the Chihuahua has been sniffing around my kitchen ever since I posted the Simple Saturday plans for today. Poor little perro...He can join us, can't he?

So..mi amigo...you gathered the goods, right? The flour tortillas? The oil and the skillet? How about the paper towels? You didn't forget the delicious cinnamon and sugar mix...did you? I went ahead and mixed mine in an empty salt shaker. Easier to over-sprinkle with, compadre.

You know what, my fine friend? It would be best to have an adult very nearby while making these tasty treats. We'll be using hot oil and Chico and I would be ever so sad if you sizzle your salsa while toasting your tortilla.  Go ahead and flamingo some grown up help to assure that all is muy bueno when we cook these yummy cinnamon delights.

All right, let's go. Crank up the heat to warm that skillet big time. Pour just enough oil in the skillet to coat the skillet. Drop the triangular cut pieces of flour tortillas into the hot oil. Watch them closely. When the flour tortilla swells open with an airy bubble, it is time to flip it over in the skillet.

Watch the triangular pieces closely. Once again, the flipped side should be turning golden brown as well as forming a bubble pocket similar to that of a sopapilla (if you know that a sopapilla is...).

When you feel like your triangular tortilla has bubbled all that it can, remove it from the skillet and place it on the paper towels. And then DUMP the cinnamon and sugar mix all over the puppies. Go head. Cover those chihuahaus with the sinful cinnamon stuff.

Behold one of our South of the Border delights.  I just wish that you could smell the toasted richness of this tiny triangle of  pleasure. If only you could closely observe the way the cinnamon and sugar sparkles like starlight on the toasted flour tortilla.

And, oh....I do wish that you could taste the buttery sweetness of the warm flour tortilla triangle as it crunches in your mouth.

You know, come to think of it... I'm actually a little glad you're not here with me right now. Since you aren't, there is more for me to eat! Crunch. Crunch!

Adios, mi Simple Saturday amigo. Until we meet again...

Simple Saturday Prep: Cinco De Mayo Cinnamon TortillaTreats!

Amigo! Look at the calendar! May 5th...Cinco de Mayo, Mexico's Independence Day, rapidly approaches! In celebration, let's make a Simple Saturday treat to commemorate this special day.

Tomorrow you'll need (Oh, my mouth is watering at the just the thought of these yummy treats!) a skillet, some cooking oil, flour tortillas, paper towels, and a cinnamon and sugar mix.

I think I'll tune up my guitar, grab my sombrero, squeeze into my snazzy white suit and practice a bit. Maybe, if my tortilla treats are bueno enough, the band will let me strum a few bars with them.  

Ole'!!! 

Simple Saturday: The Popsicle Stick Raft

Okay...here's the deal...if you child has not ever made a simple popsicle stick raft such as this one, my friend, that is a crying shame. If that is the case, let's fix this travesty right here and now!

All we need is a fistful of popsicle sticks, glue, maybe a bit of tape, a tiny triangular piece of paper, and maybe some markers to jazz up the flag a little bit. I am telling you, oh-all-too-busy-friend-of-mine, it is simple pleasures such as this that create indelibly pleasant memories in the hearts and minds of a child. Take the time...10 minutes...and you'll create a memory to cherish for a lifetime. Believe me. I'm old. I know what I'm talking about.

To begin, vertically lay a few popsicle sticks a flat surface in side by side, touching one another. Then simply lay and glue popsicle sticks horizontally parallel on top of the vertical base. Glue side and joints together and you, my friend, have made a raft! It is that simple.

Let's snazzy it up by unfurling a flag. Mine sadly look like a golf course pin marker. Pretty pathetic, don't you think? You can do a whole lot better...I just know it.

Well, let's set sail, shall we? I wonder if our Simple Saturday vessel will survive the wild and wooly waves of my backyard stone fountain...Let's try it and see.

Land ho!!! Though the seas were rough and rocky (heh, heh) we endured.

Both the Old Man of the Sea and Captain Ahab would be proud.

Yo ho, maties. See you next week!

Simple Saturday Prep: Rolling Down the Lazy River

This week's Simple Saturday post is dedicated to my dear friends at White Rock Montessori in the great city of Dallas, Texas. You see, the middle-schoolers have just returned from their hugely anticipated annual adventure trip, one in which they must put aside their electronic gadgets and gizmos for one whole week and survive in the rugged, great out-of-doors, far, far from home as a cohesive, peaceful, cooperative community of teenagers...yeah, right....I know those kids all too well...and they are sensational!!!!!!

So, to celebrate their return home, let's make a popsicle stick raft. How simple can it get? Well, tomorrow I'll show you.

Gather up some popsicle sticks (Kiddies, tell your moms that you just HAVE to eat whole box of popsicles. You just have to. You need the sticks. Go ahead...you know how to add that whine inflection with practiced perfection! Uh huh, I've heard it more times than I can count.), glue, tape, markers, and a tiny bit of paper.

We won't be traveling to Big Bend to drift in our vessels. A nice puddle in the backyard will have to do.

Go WRMS!

Simple Saturday: Sweet Heart Art

Here we go, oh-thoughtful-ones. Did you remember to gather the contrasting colored construction paper, ruler, pencil, glue stick, and scissors? Of course you did. All you need now is the cutting guide template .pdf, right? Well, here it is.

All rightie then, let's begin.

Cut one piece of construction paper to measure 5 X 8 inches. Using the cutting guide template, cut along the lines outlining half of the heart shape.

Trace the half heart shape onto the pre-cut construction paper. Now...cut on the lines that you or your precious child have drawn.

Creative Side Bar here: Over the years (way too many years, mind you...) I have found this this sort of snippage to be excellent for the development of concentration, coordination, and the refinement of fine motor skills in wee ones.

Let's create a heart using negative space by gluing the smaller half-heart shape on the constrasting colored sheet of construction paper. Then meet end points of each piece by flipping the larger piece and the smaller piece in an opposing manner. (Say what? Just look at the picture.) 

Lovely...lovely...lovely. An easy-peasy Simple Saturday Mother's Day giftie, wouldn't you say?

If you should desire to create a more elaborate Simple Saturday Sweet Heart Art design, once again, go ahead and download the teacher guide I created for Kelly Bennett's Your Daddy Was Just Like You.  Check out page 14 and...well...go ahead and send a pic of your child's artistic expressions to me, knowing that it will light up my life like a radiant beacon of red hot, sweet heart joy!

Simple Saturday Prep: Sweet Heart Art

This week's Simple Saturday post has been inspired by an incredible new picture book written by Kelly Bennett, a dear, dear, DEAR friend of mine. I could on and on about Kelly, but for the time being, let's focus on Simple Saturday, shall we?

Actually, I made a pretty darned good teacher activity guide for the this charming book, if I do say so myself. Teachers, parents, anyone who has a pulse, download it, if you are so inclined. Tomorrow I am going to pull one the activities featured in the guide to have some ultra-thoughtful-yet-very-super-simple-Saturday-esk fun. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, the project we'll be making would be serve as the perfect Mother's Day gift Gramma's are guaranteed to love (Hint. Hint.)

Here is the list supplies needed: scissors, two colors of construction paper, glue stick, pencil, ruler, and the cutting pattern featured in the guide. Don't worry. I'll make sure that you'll have your very own .pdf to download for yourself.

Think Mother's Day....

Simple Saturday: Springtime Binoculars

Every good nature lover needs a pair of nocks, right? Let's make our own right here and now.

I'm certain that you have gathered all the goods, right? Yarn, 2 toilet paper rolls, construction paper, a bottle cap, glue, tape, electric tape...most of which are Simple Saturday staples.

All right, let's cover the rolls with construction paper cut to fit those round cylinders. Then let's glue the construction paper covered tubes together, side by side. Easy enough.

To make our binoculars look authentic, we need one of those little gauges to adjust the focus. Actually those little doo-hickeys are called the Focus Wheel. I just squirted a blob of glue and stuck mine in between the tubes.

While you're at it, go ahead and poke some holes near the eye holes, or the Ocular Lens, securing the ends of a long piece of yarn to create a groovey neck band.

I jazzed my nocks up a bit by wrapping some black electrical tape around the sides and near the lens forming what is called a Diopter Adjustment. How about that for some fancy-schmancy binocular lingo? Don't you think my Diopter Adjustment addition looks cool?

We're pals, right? I made a mistake. I actually should have put my Focus Wheel closer to the Ocular Lens rather than the holes you look out of that are called the Objective Lens. My bad. But when John tried my Simple Saturday Springtime Binoculars out he said that they worked just fine.

For more fun with real binoculars download this Bruton Binocular Basics Instructor Activity Guide I found on the internet. Dude, there are three really fun activities described on it...one is a scavenger hunt! Dang...I'm on it. Got to go!

Have a super Simple Saturday. I'll see you (Get it?...See you?...Heh, heh.) next week.

Simple Saturday Prep: Springtime Binoculars

The world around us changes so quickly this time of year. Trees burst into bloom overnight! Lawns become a carpet of lush green after just one springtime rain. Doves return to their annual roosts. Rabbits steal nibbles from flowerbed phlox and pansies. I can barely stand to miss a seasonal moment.

Need to focus a bit more on springtime phenomenom? Zero in on some of Mother Nature's best? If so, join me tomorrow and make some Simple Saturday binoculars. Here are the supplies that you'll need to scavenge -- two toilet paper rolls, a sheet of construction paper, yarn, a bottle top, some black electric tape, glue, and scissors.

Doodle bugs, run for cover!

Ants, start packing.

Nature, here we come!

Here's looking at cha, kid!

Simple Saturday: A Basket in Search of a Bunny

Oh, darn...Sure, this rabbit is cute, but isn't exactly the bunny I had hoped to find. Let's make a basket together and then I'll hunt for the bunny of my Easter dreams.

I trust that you have gather the materials we need, right? The two pieces of construction paper, tape, scissors, and Easter grass/shredded paper? Super! Easter bunny, here we come!

To begin, cut the construction paper into 1 inch strips. Align three strips together side-by-side, flat on the table. Then weave three strips into the original one aligned flat on the table. Hey! You formed a nice square base for your basket!

Now make a nice upward fold with the long strips to create a frame for the sides of your basket. Go ahead. Make a nice, defined crease. Also, I strongly suggest that you tape your weave pattern together on the bottom part of the base. If not, those derned strips will slide around everywhere!

Now, let's weave the sides side of the Easter basket. I'd secure the loose strip with a piece of tape on the inside of your treasure and then weave, baby, weave. Three nice woven rows make a dandy basket...the perfect size for the bunny I have in mind!

So...now we must put the finishing touches on our lovely basket. See those upward strips that ended up on the outside weave? Okay...fold them over toward the inside of the basket and tuck the end into the horizontal weave. Secure it with a piece of tape.  It is all right to trim the inside upward strip along the basket's rim.

Super! Now simply tape a handle onto the basket, securing the handle ends on the inside rim. Add some Easter grass or some Simple Saturday cheapskate shredded a paper and you have got yourself a charming little Easter basket. Hooray for you!!!!

The word on the bunny trail is that rabbits love pansies. So, I'm going to tiptoe my Simple Saturday Easter basket out into my backyard flower garden and ever-so-sneakily nestle it in a lush patch of white ones.

Oh, yeah....that's the type of bunny I'm talking about. Yum, yum!

Hoppy Easter, my Simple Saturday friend. I'm looking forward to seeing you back here next week.

Simple Saturday Prep: Basket in Search of a Bunny

Two  pieces of construction paper, scissors, and tape, will make the most charming little basket perfect to be filled with Easter bunny treasures. If you just have to spend some money, you can add some colorful Easter grass to the supply list. Me? Keeping it in the truest Simple Saturday cheapskate spirit, I might just use shredded paper.

Join Elmer Fudd and I tomorrow as we weave a wittle wonder and get weddy for the wascally Easter wabbit, won't you? 

Simple Saturday: The Magic 9 Slays the Division Demon

Fear not! Help is on its way!

Pretend that we have entered the dragon's den. We must be cautious, carefully moving with each and every step. No rushing. No hurried movements. By the practice of patience and calculated calm, we'll slay that vicious reptile. With a pencil as our sword and The Magic 9 as our shield, together now...let's go.

I have already solved the problem 19515392 / 2932 = 6656 using long, long, long division. Yikes! I sure hope I got the answer correct, forcing that nasty division dragon back in his steamy den where he belongs.

Let's check my work using the Magic 9, shall we? Remember what I said about taking careful, cautious steps? No rushing? No snappy shortcuts? Well, if you follow the steps I am about to show you, checking your work for long division problems without remainders in the quotient can be a ton of fun to do!

First thing, I need to be sure that you remember the parts of a division problem. You know the terms divisor, dividend, and quotient...right? I should've known that would be no problem for a brave dragon-slayer like yourself. My bad.

To begin playing the The Magic 9 let's start with the divisor, shall we? There is one major important rule to use when using the Magic 9, which is what I call the Peculiar Ostensible Optical Fleck, or commonly known as POOF! (Click on hyper links to access detailed, step-by-step descriptions of POOF!) In short, when the numbers 9 or 0 present themselves strangely, they vanish! POOF! Like magic!

When applying the Magic 9 the the divisor (2932), the first thing we do is wipe out the number 9 because it is magic! POOF! It's gone!

Okay, then...moving from left right...2 plus 3 equals 5, right? And 5 plus 2 equals 7, correct?

So, the number 7 will be used to represent the divisor. Got it? Clear as mud, right?

How about we use the same process for the quotient 6656? (Print the .pdf and use it as a guide, if you like.) From left to right, 6 plus 6 equals 12; from the new number 12 we transform the 1 plus 2 to equal 3; that 3 plus 5 equals 8; 8 plus 6 equals 14; 1 plus 4 equals 5. Hah! The number 5 will present the quotient in the Magic 9 grid. 

In an effort to avoid posting a mile-long entry, I'll simply let you know that I came up with the final number 8 as the representative for the dividend.

How in the heck can all of this hockus-pockus prove that this long dragon division problem is correct. you ask? We will use a Magic 9 Division Grid to prove it. See how I put the divisor 7 in the top left square in the grid? The quotient's 8 in in the top right and the dividend's 8 in in the bottom left? Now, to prove the final answer and lay that dreaded dragon to rest, we use multiplication as our secret weapon. Let's multiply the top two numbers, 7 times 5. What do we get for an answer? You're right...35.

Now, in the spirit of the Magic 9, let's add the 35's 3 and the 5. What do we get? Yep...8. Write 8 in the empty box on the grid. Yay! If the two numbers in the bottom squares match, your answer is correct!!!! Woo-double..no...triple-hoo! 

Now, my dear Simple Saturday pal...there is no reason to go cross-eyed over this Magic 9 process. None at all. There are basically only three steps to follow:

1) Whittle each numeral in the operations down to the bare bones, Magic 9 number. (Download the .pdf and you'll find the keys to the Magic 9 kingdom!)

2) Plug those babies into the grid according to their terms within the operational function. (Again, another .pdf is there, just waiting for the taking.)

3) After multiplying the top two boxes in the...dear one, you've proved yourself as the Division Dragon Slayer! 

Well done, brave heart, well done. Take a bow, oh wonderous one...take a bow. You deserve it. Because of your valor, Austin can rests peaceful tonight, and always.

Simple Saturday Prep: The Magic 9 Slays the Division Demon

Ready for the best math cheat ever? You'll especially love this one if you consider long division to be something invented by the Devil!

Have your eyes ever crossed when the teacher instructs you to prove your answer for a long division problem such as:

19515392 / 2932 = 6656

I know what you're saying....Yeah, right? And I thought Simple Saturday stuff was supposed to be fun! Problems like that makes my belly ache.

Or what about a long division problem like this?

19520092368 / 24923 = 783216

Trust me, pal. The secret to our long division struggles is a game called The Magic 9. Tomorrow bring a piece of paper, a pencil, and your brilliant self and I'll show the math trick of the AGES!!!!

The Magic 9 is painless. Easy. Fun. For real!

Simple Saturday: Easter Lily Necklaces

This Springtime Simple Saturday activity is so easy I am almost embarrassed to share it with you. Truly, this one is about as simple as it gets...one of the simplest of the Simple Saturday's ever.

You have the supplies, right? The Styrofoam egg carton, yarn, plastic drinking straws, scissors, and tape?

All right then, let's begin.

Cut the straws into segments measuring approximately 3 inches long. Snip a 2 footish long piece of yarn off of the ball. Wrap tape around one end of the yarn to create a stiff point. Secure one straw bead to the other end of the yarn to assure that the lovely and delicate Easter Lily bead craft remains on the string. 

Now for the Easter Lily beads, where the highly skilled craftmanship begins. Oh...I can hardly wait!

Cut the egg carton apart by trimming around around the edges of each of the 12 egg-shaped cups. Cut jagged Easter Lily petals along the sides of the egg cups. Using the sharp point of your scissors, poke a hole in the center of the rounded cup.Look at that, will you! You have make an Easter Lily blossom!

Repeat the process with all 12 of the lovely egg carton cups. Just look at my dazzling dozen. Aren't they simply divine?

And now the stringing begins! With the stiff, taped end of your yarn segment in hand simply alternate stringing a plastic drinking straw bead and an Easter Lily blossom. That's all there is to it, my dear friend.

When all of the Easter Lily blossoms have been strung, tie the end of the yarn together and ooo...la...la... you've got a treasure to keep forever!

Special note: If you find that the egg carton Easter Lily blossom petals to be too pokey on your neck, the necklace doubles nicely as a stunning crown. (John, my in-house guinea pig, looks a little scary here, doesn't he?)

Well, I hope you've enjoyed my ultra-simply Simple Saturday activity as much as I have enjoyed making it with you. Thanks so very much for stopping by and I hope that your Saturday is simply sensational!