fly little butterfly, fly

We've kinda just been hanging out the last couple of weeks.  We're all officially out of school and we've been waiting for our adventure back to the States to start ... it's official countdown now, fewer than 18 hours 'til take off.

It's been so hot and since it's August half or more of everything is closed for the month.  That being the case, we've been doing a lot indoors or during the first part of the day:  zoo, science museum, beach walks followed by videos, baking and art projects.  Often I look at other blogs for inspiration with projects but every now and then I come up with something of my own.

 Getting started (and yes, it's that hot, just undies around the house for most of us).  I cut out some butterfly stencils and then taped some saran-wrap securely to the table on top of the stencils.  I left enough wrap at one end to fold back on top of the project when we were done.

 We mixed up some more "glue-paint" (white glue, water and food coloring) and used it to paste down our old scraps from other projects, collage style.

 When they girls were done with their designs, I folded the extra bit of the saran-wrap over the top (smoothing it carefully to avoid bubbling) then taped the edges with clear packing tape.

 The white stencil, or pattern behind is gone, and just the colorful outlines and collages remain.

 The tape and hanging them up turned out to be a really good idea, in this case...

 ...'cause the "glue paint" ran down the pictures and then pooled at the bottom leaving a really clear project, above.  I just trimmed off that bit where the much pooled and didn't have to re-tape the edge because it had dried quite well.

Aine's Butterfly

Aoife's Butterfly

 

It will probably be a while until we take on a project like this again.  We'll be really busy for the next month.  Our flight departs at 6.50 am tomorrow morning and it's going to be a really...long...day!  Our adventures include a stopover in Illinois to visit and give ourselves a break in all the travel.  Then, we'll head to the Pacific NorthWest to visit with Trish, Rob and to meet little baby Piper.  Then down to Oregon to work, work, work where we'll also have visitors (a grandma and a grandpa -- yay!).  Wish us luck! 

Abrazos.