Gift Upcycled Flowers for International Women’s Day

Every week we feature a fun and/or educational activity you can try at home or in the classroom.This week we are also honoring the women with whom Heifer works, who take the gifts of livestock and education to produce extraordinary results for themselves, their families and their communities. With this activity, kids can make an upcycled flower bouquet to honor their family and friends for International Women’s Day on March 8.

Create Your Own Upcycled Flowers

Photo credit: scraphacker.com

Photo credit: intimateweddings.com

 

Materials:

  • One paper egg carton
  • 12 pipe cleaners
  • 24 gauge wire
  • Buttons
  • Crayons, markers or paint
  • Floral tape (optional)
  • Scissors
  • Paper clips
  • Glue (wood, white or hot glue)

First, cut out the egg carton cups using scissors. Cut the cups into your favorite flower shapes. Next, color or paint the cups then let dry. Modge Podge can be used to produce a glossy finish.

Once your flowers are dry, use a paper clip to poke two holes through the back of the flower. Use 24 guage wire and pipe cleaner to create the flower’s stem. Push the wire and pipe cleaner up through one hole on the back of the flower, then bend and push back down through the egg cup. Use floral tape to wrap the wire and pipe cleaner flower stem.

To finish decorating your upcycled flower, use your choice of glue to add buttons, beads or gems to the center of the flower. Add a variety of colors and shapes to make a beautiful bouquet!

To see the full tutorial for this activity visit intimateweddings.com

Around the Web: Kids With a Cause, Tikkun Olam and Holiday Lists

Every Sunday we highlight some of the people who are funding our work creatively or helping us spread the word of our mission online. If you spot Heifer International while you’re surfing the web or know of a fun or creative fundraising effort, please share it with us here in the comments.

You’ll be impressed by 12-year-old Ryan Bell, who’s made a goal of raising $25,000 for Heifer’s Gift of Transformation. Ryan was born with Treacher Collins syndrome, a cranio-facial disorder. He sees the Gift of Transformation as a reflection of his own year of transformation, which has been full of extensive surgeries. NOTE: We are excited to share that Ryan has reached his lofty goal, but let’s see if we can help get him even further!

Ryan Bell and his sister, Meghan. Photo credit: New Haven Register

Thanks to the Congregation Shomrei Torah, who is promoting donations to Heifer this Hanukkah: “We’re really looking to help people around the world. In Hebrew we call it Tikkun Olam, which means ‘repairing the world.’”

Lucinda and Clara Becker manned a booth sponsored by Laguna Presbyterian Church to benefit Heifer International. They brought their own pet chickens to bring attention to their booth, and according to reports, it worked.

Clara and Lucinda Becker and their pet chickens. Photo Credit: Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot

Gift Guides/Gift Ideas/Charities Lists
Thank you to all who mentioned Heifer in gift guides and in their charity lists this past week. Here are some we came across:

 

 

Around the Web: Gifts, an Inspired Book, and Some Cool Cows

Every Sunday we highlight some of the people who are funding our work creatively or helping us spread the word of our mission online. If you spot Heifer International while you’re surfing the web or know of a fun or creative fundraising effort, please share it with us here in the comments.

Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Nicholas Kristof says you can look to Heifer International for an unusual holiday gift in his recent post on the New York Times, Gifts That Change Lives.

For more unique gift ideas for the person who has everything, check out this blog post on Nanny Babysitter, 10 Alternative Gifts for the Person Who Has Everything.

Photo credit: Hartford Courant

Teresa Pelham bought a sheep (through Heifer International, of course) instead of “Large Plastic Items We Do Not Need,” and writes about it in the very entertaining Mommy Minute.

DJ Maht Wuyts will be playing music for 26.2 hours straight December 8 & 9 in this unique Mahrathon fundraiser for Heifer International. Rock on, Maht!

Moment magazine highlights our new Heifer at Hanukkah campaign with a post that starts simply: If you are still looking for an interesting Hanukkah gift this year, consider a goat.

Catholic San Francisco lists Heifer among the options in their story, A goat for Christmas? Options for non-consumerist gifts.

Photo credit: Iowa City Press-Citizen

Artist Marcia Wegman recently finished a book that includes paintings and stories inspired by a trip to Latvia to see Heifer International projects. “I hope (the book) raises an awareness about what Heifer does and what a difference they make in the lives of people in these countries,” she said. “And also shows people what a wonderful, beautiful part of the world it is.”

The Face of Malawi tells the story of Yohane Machira, a farmer who has a life full of optimism since he started raising goats he received from Heifer, despite his being HIV positive.

Photo credit: Abby Fortney, courtesy of vitamintalent.com

Vitamin T bought a few cows to help families send their kids to school, buy medicine and clothes, and improve their land. Read their entertaining post here.

Here’s some advice from Janet Bodnar on teaching kids to budget this season: Money Power: Kids can get financial education from holidays.

Heifer was also listed first in Forbes’ The A-List: What’s Hot for December 2012!