Hey, it looks like you're new to my site. Welcome! I hope you find something here that you can use to strengthen your relationship with your grandchildren. Thanks so much for visiting! Digi-Gram

I ride public transportation to work.  (Riding the bus is always an adventure!)

The other day, Grandma Shirley told me of some of the things that she does with her grandchildren who live in another state.  They were great ideas and I want to share them here.

Grandma Shirley said when she writes to the younger grandchildren, she will use clip art instead of some of the words.  She turns her letters into a rebus.  For example, if she wrote about her daffodils blooming, she would insert clip art for the word daffodils.  If she asked the grandchild what book she was reading she would use clip art for a book.

Here is a site for free clip art.  They have some great stuff here!  And, there aren’t annoying ads on this site which is nice.

One of her older grandsons is a sports enthusiast.  He is a fan of the university were Grandma Shirley and I work.  So, she collects newspaper articles about the sports teams and then mails them to her grandson.  I can imagine that her grandson eagerly awaits those letters and is thrilled to get them.

Grandma Shirley also told me about some fun videos on YouTube called Kid History.  There are 4 videos.  My favorite one is the third video.  I laughed and laughed and laughed as I watched it.  Take a look.

Here’s video one, video two, and video four.

I show  you this video for three reason.  One, because it is hilarious.  (At least to me it is . . . ) Two, this is something that you can share with your grandchildren.  They would definitely enjoy it.  Third, to inspire  you to make a similar video.

Next time your grandchildren come for a visit, grab your video camera.  (What?  You don’t have one???  I can’t believe that!  Quick, buy a Flip Mino video camera.  It is inexpensive.  It is outrageously simple to use.  It takes HD movies!)

The Kid History videos are somewhat complicated if you do not have a video editing software program.  They take the sound track from one video and apply it to a different one and make a single video that flashes between the story tellers and the actors.  You don’t have to be that tricky with your video.  Simply have your grandchildren spend a little time brainstorming the plot for a little story and then film them acting out the story.

Of course, if you have older grandchildren you can do more advanced things — especially if they happen to have a lap top with video editing software that they could bring to your activity.

Regardless, it would be fun to film your grandchildren acting out a ‘story’ that they wrote or to film them putting on a skit.  It is also fun to show the video to the grandchildren when it is finished — or show it at the next extended family get together.  You could even consider posting it on YouTube for family members who lived far away so they could easily see it, too.

Have any of you video tapped your grandchildren acting out a story?

I am a reader. An avid reader. Reading is important to me. I want to do everything in my power to help my grandchildren develop a love for reading, too.

So when I saw these cute-as-a-button-because-they-do-use-buttons bookmarks I knew I just HAD to share them here!

Even though Little Birdie Secrets came up with this idea as a teacher appreciation idea, this would be a great activity to do with your granddaughters. They will learn very simple sewing and crafting skills.

(I think I can make that flower.  I think I can, I think I can, I think I can . . . if I say it often enough will that imbue craft skills into my klutzy fingers and hands? One can hope, can’t one?)

So, go to Little Birdie Secrets tutorial on making these cute fabric bookmarks. (They have graciously allowed me to use their photo.  Thank you Little Birdie Secrets!!)

You could have extra snippets of lace, and ribbons, rhinestones, small silk flowers, and other fun things to decorate the bookmark instead of the flower if you want.  Have a grand creative time together!

You can have individual time with individual granddaughters as you make these darling bookmarks.  Or, you can invite all of your granddaughters and have a sewing extravaganza complete with treats.  Granddaughters can make bookmarks for themselves, for their mothers (as a Mother’s Day gift) gifts for friends for birthdays, high school graduation, or just because.

You can sew these with your grandsons, too.  Only I wouldn’t recommend putting a flower at the top of the bookmark. That would be too girlie! Go to ye olde local craft store and see if they have some craft foam shapes of critters, soccer balls, police cars, dump trucks, or airplanes to use instead. You also might want to use camouflage fabric instead of floral prints . . .

You could even go to a bookstore and let your grandchildren select a book (that grandma would pay for of course!).  A maybe even stop for an ice cream cone.  Assuming it isn’t snowing in your neck of the woods as it is in mine . . . If it is, you could fix hot chocolate instead.

What other simple sewing projects have you done with grandchildren?

Yikes! It’s Earth Day today. Somehow this day always sneaks up on me and I am never ready to do anything for it.  (Yikes! It looks like I always use the same words to talk about it, too!)

I always want to do something on this day.  Maybe I need to put it on my calendar.  (Novel idea, isn’t it??)

Anyway.  Check out these sites for Earth Day activities to do with your grandchildren.

• Kaboose
• PlanetPals
• Make Stuff (making recycled paper)
• Family Education (eco-friendly activities)

So, hurry, hurry, see if you can pull something together for your grandchildren!

Better yet, take a look at these sites, gather ideas, plan, prepare, and then hit Earth Day 2012 with a bang! (That’s my plan . . .)

Oh, little Bentley.  How dear you are.  How sweet.  How cuddly.  How cute. And so clever that I want to pinch your little cheek. (But therein lies the problem.  His cheek is little.  My digits are large-ish.  I’d probably break his egg-mobile.)

Don’t you agree he’s the cat’s meow?

Bentley is the amazing creation of Benita on her site Chez Larsson.

It’s always a challenge to find activities for teenage grandchildren, isn’t it?  Benita has solved that problem for Easter with her egg craft ideas. Her ideas are appealing to that age group of grandchildren. (My favorite is Bentley and Bick.)

I think teenage grandchildren would have a great time making some of her egg craft ideas — and then coming up with their own ideas.  (Maybe grandma could sponsor a little contest to see which grandchild could come up with the most creative creation . . .)

Take a look at Benita’s wonderful ideas.  I’m sure you’ll find one that will catch your fancy.

These egg craft ideas require a dremel tool.  Methinks that’s not something that grandmothers generally have in their crafting supplies. Not to worry!  You can find one for around $30 (and even a little cheaper) and some up to the amazing price of $120.  This would probably be a great tool to have on hand for lots of other crafting activities.

Two of Benita’s egg ideas could be done using plastic eggs in case you don’t have (and don’t want to get) a dremel tool. In fact, I bet you and your clever teenage grandchildren could come up with more similar ideas using plastic eggs.  (If you do, I would love it if you would send me a picture.  I’d love to share it here on my site.)

Remember: you can get my free document of Easter ideas for additional ideas of Easter activities to do with your grandchildren.

I hope you have a wonderful Easter celebration with your family!