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E is for Elephant Preschool Craft

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This craft is part of my preschool lesson “E is for Elephant.” I surfed the internet and found a wonderful coloring page on Lines Across. It was color by numbers. I loved it but my preschoolers are only just learning to recognize numbers. It would have been frustrating rather than fun. So, I opted to use the page without numbers.
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This blog contains Amazon affiliate links. ♥

A good friend of mine is a Kindergarten teacher. She shared that many preschoolers enter her class unable to use scissors. It takes weeks for her to catch them up to where they should be. Though my class only meets once a week (I teach homeschoolers),  I made up my mind that they would leave with that skill under their belt.

So, nearly every time we are together we use SCISSORS! That is why I decided to cultivate paper cutting and gluing skills in this craft, instead of coloring it.
Elmer the Elephant

Elmer!   

Well, to my surprise, E is for Elephant became an extra special day. Several of my students were absent, sorry to say. But the smallness of the group changed the dynamic dramatically.
 Elmer the Patchwork Elephant plush soft toy
When we sat down to do this craft, this is what transpired: sweet chatter. With only 5 children present, all little girls, it was such a cozy group. My assistant, Katie, and I decided to join them in making this craft. After everyone got the hang of it, some adorable conversations took place. They shared about what they like, what they do, where they go, fun things that happened. Then Lili started singing a song “Yes, Jesus Loves Me” while she worked. She sang by herself for a few seconds and then we all joined in.  It was a very special time.
Template Elmer the Patchwork Elephant

Elmer Coloring Page

E is for Elephant Craft

You will need:
Elmer coloring page template (link above)
Construction Paper – many colors
Glue Sticks
Child-safe scissors
  • Holding large sheets of paper is difficult for little hands so I pre-cut the construction paper into more manageable strips.
  • They, in turn, cut them into smaller pieces.
  • Next, I had the children glue-stick the colors onto the various squares on Elmer’s body.
It turned out so cute and every elephant was so different.  That same day, we read an Elmer the Elephant book. Priceless!
Letter E is for Elephant #preschool craft featuring that famous patchwork elephant! #kids #crafts Share on X
 

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E is for Elephant preschool lesson with adorable craft based on the Elmer the Elephant books

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Seal Envelopes Without Licking Them

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Wedding announcements

Image design courtesy of Freepik.

Whether constructing a mailing at the office or at home, there must be a way to get those envelopes sealed. Repeated licking of a multitude of envelopes is not the best practice.

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First of all, it tastes bad.  Secondly, the glue may not be safe to ingest over and over again. Licking envelopes to close and seal them is not a great idea. For efficiency sake, you may wish to purchase self-sealing envelopes but, often, that is not a possibility. Invitation envelopes tend not to be self-sealing.

 

Here are some creative ways to seal an envelope without licking them! 

 

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What kinds of bulk mailings might you be doing that require fluid to seal them? Is it bill paying day? Are you sending birthday party invites? Maybe it is an upcoming shower [baby or bridal] or wedding invitations? Graduations?

Mass mailings take place for all sorts of reasons including day to day outgoing mail for the business or volunteer job where you work. So, best practice is to seal the envelopes without licking them!

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How To Seal Envelopes Without Licking Them

  • Use a simple household sponge. Dampen it with water and seal. This can have quality control problems, just as the envelope sealer may. You could release too much water and have a not-so-neat look on the back of your envelope. If you overdo it and you could even dampen the contents, as well. Note: make sure you use a new, clean sponge to avoid getting your envelope dirty. 

Simple household sponge like mom used! #tips

  • Use a cotton swab or Q-tip. Dip the end of the swab in a small bit of water in a cup. Lightly swipe across the edge where the gum is. Seal. This method is what I just used in sealing invitation envelopes for the bridal shower I hosted and, later, the wedding invitations. It works very, very well! Cheapest and neatest method I’ve found.
  • Envelope Moisteners work brilliantly. These hand-held beauties have liquid glue inside, or allow you to simply put water in them. They dispense the fluid onto the glue portion of the envelop – instead of licking it – and you simply press it closed. 
  • Glue Sticks – good ole “envelop glue” will do the trick. You can either use the standard school  glue sticks that you buy for your kids or you can purchase glue sticks that are designed specifically for sealing envelopes. 

 

Ways to seal an envelop without licking it

Sent any “mass mailings” for home or office lately?

What is your preferred method of sealing envelopes?

How many envelopes can you lick before you can't feel your tongue anymore? #tips #weddings #graduation #babyshower Share on X
How to seal envelopes without having to lick them #tips

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Filed Under: Entertaining, How-to, Lifestyle, tips Tagged With: baby shower, bridal shower invitations, forever postage stamps, graduations, how to avoid licking envelopes, invitations, seal envelopes, tips, vacuum cleaner, weddings

Classic Apple Crisp Recipe

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Classic Apple Crisp with ice cream

Have you ever wondered where a great recipe first came from? Somebody had to think it up but who? Apple Crisp is one of my favorite dessert recipes so, I decided to look into its origins.

easy apple crisp recipe

Though the creator appears to be unknown, the first “siting” of an apple crisp recipe is 1924 when it was printed in a cookbook called Everybody’s Cook Book: A Comprehensive Manual of Home Cookery, by Isabel Ely Lord. An apple crisp recipe was also published in a newspaper article that very same year. Prior to that, nobody knows. Its popularity has been long lasting. This classic recipe is easy to make and a family favorite.

This blog contains Amazon affiliate links. ♥

White dessert or ice cream bowls

Apple Crisp Recipe

Preheat oven to 400°
Bake 40-60 minutes

Ingredients

Peel and slice approximately 5 cups apples
1 tsp cinnamon
½ cup butter
¾ cup brown sugar
¾ cup flour

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Directions

Place apple slices in pan.
Mix other ingredients and crumble on top
Bake until bubbling

Apple crisp tastes best served warm, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Be prepared, this delicious recipe won’t last long! You may want to make a double batch.  Just tonight our family went through almost a whole pan, and I had doubled it!

Do you have any great dessert recipes?

Share them with us below!

 

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sugar free apple crisp recipe

If you are avoiding desserts made with sugar, no problem. Apple Crisp can easily be made sugar free. Here is a great recipe for you to try: Sugar Free Apple Crisp 

 

Enjoy!

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Filed Under: Desserts, Food, Lifestyle, Recipes, Top Favorites Tagged With: apple peeler, classic apple crisp, dessert, pet vacuum, The Apple Lover's Cookbook, vacuum cleaner

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