Author Fiesta

Cute Crinkleroot Caps

(Make sure to check out the Crinkleroot hat post compiled by Joann over at Ten Kids and a Dog. A portion of which is being reprinted here with her permission. Aren't they just too cute for words!)

Keeping in the Jim Arnosky nature theme, and wanting to honor our favorite nature guide, Crinkleroot, I made the four littlest kids "hiking hats". We plan to use them on all of our nature walks, especially this autumn, as we continue enjoying the Author Fiesta.

The kids are really enjoying their hats. I used Simplicity #5540 as my pattern. I think they only cost about $3.00 each to make.

Some Sparrow Post Craft Ideas

You need a place for the posts to be mailed from and delivered to. Crafting a Sparrow Post mailbox is fun and easy.  Be creative.  A variety of containers could serve the purpose and a recent visit to the craft store revealed several options just waiting to be turned into sparrow post boxes. This is by no means inclusive of all the possibilities.  Use your imagination and whatever materials you have available.

Possible materials (remember you can use whatever you have on hand):

• containers (boxes, baskets, wooden birdhouses)
• acrylic pain/brushes
• markers
• stickers & pictures
• silk or dried floral
• beads
• ribbon
• clips/clothes pins
• modge podge or glue
• accessories (wooden cutouts, fake bird)

Here are some samples of what we fashioned out of the above materials.

Off to send some messages!

Sparrow Post

"Laura and Efner sent out the invitations on doll-sized notepaper by Sparrow Post."
                                                                               - The Doll's Christmas, 1950

One of the frequently noted aspects of Tasha Tudor's doll experiences is the charming Sparrow Post by which the dolls sent and received mail. It has a quaint fascination for children who are intrigued by all things miniature. Every doll or teddy bear loving child will be charmed by the idea of tiny letters delivered to them or their little friends by special feathered messengers.

I have seen some examples of families who took advantage of this basic idea and use a variation of Sparrow Post for family communication. Meredith at Like Merchant Ships found this wall hanging file and fashioned it to be a Sparrow post for family notes.  Though not Sparrow Post, Dawn at By Sun and Candlelight has a cute squirrel post idea for sending Earlybird special nature notes.

Whether it is something you think would be fun to incorporate on a regular basis or just for a Tasha Tudor remembrance, give it a try.  What child wouldn't love to receive a teeny tiny invitation to whatever you are planning for August 28th? 

You can purchase cute little mailbox replicas or decorate a mini craft mailbox or improvise with any type of container for your own variation on the Sparrow post theme.

Here are instructions and a pattern to download for a very simple paper version of the classic roadside mailbox.
Better Homes and Gardens mailbox craft

Here is our version - I copied the pattern at 150% because it does print out really small. The BHG directions recommended copying it at 225% which would have made it much larger than I wanted. With copying it at 150% it ended up being about 5 1/2 inches along the longest side. I used white cardstock - didn't corrugate it - and if you don't have brads to fasten, glue or tape would work just fine!

You can download a Mini EnvelopeTemplate.pdf and start sending some messages by Sparrow Post.

And check back later Monday for a post of some other simple Sparrow Post craft ideas made from various containers and supplies you might find around the house.