This Creative Week 4

Hey friends! How was your weekend? My husband has been sick, and along with that I’m trying hard to balance my life, which at the moment includes learning how to get the kids organized for school, making time to write, spending time with family and friends, turning a closet into a home office, and clearing clutter.

I sort of feel like I’m phoning it in over here in Tinker-land, and have to apologize for that, but I hope you’ll stick with me through this because it’s only gonna get better.

But, I’ve been dying to bring back This Creative Week, my weekly round-up of creative goodness. I’m also introducing a new look to Tinkerlab (I know, I do this a lot). Do let me know what you think.

Fall is in the air, and surprise, surprise, there’s all sorts of Autumn inspiration going around. So, I’ll be sharing a little bit of that along with creative inspiration I spotted around the virtual town this week in these categories: Autumn Inspiration, Creative Kids, Creative Goodness, Pinterest Boards of the Week. Enjoy!

Autumn Inspiration

My friend Jean Van’t Hul of The Artful Parent released her jam-packed new eBook, The Artful Year: Autumn, and it’s not-to-be-missed if you’re looking for Fall projects to do with the kids. If you don’t already follow her blog, it’s one of my favorites.

The Cardboard Collective is hosting a Cardboard Costume Challenge. Make a costume and upload it to their Flickr pool, and maybe win a prize from MakeDo Japan. The Cardboard Collective is just an all-around-inspiring-DIY zone. I love it, and imagine you will too!

I gravitate to process-based art projects, and this fist-print pumpkin activity from Roopa at Putti’s World would be a fun way for children of all ages to get into the Fall spirit.

Emma and Kerry from Science Sparks bring us 5 Science Experiments for Halloween. Science Sparks is also the recipient of Most Innovative Blog in the UK MADS (Mum and Dad Blogs) Awards. If you’re looking for science projects for kids, this is your spot.

We made a Halloween Countdown chain because my 4-year old kept asking how many days it would be until Halloween. So simple (you just need paper and a stapler or tape), decorative, good for small motor skill development, and functional.

Creative Kids

I take my kids to thrift stores, or op shops, all the time, but never the antique shop. Amy from Mama Scout challenges us to take our children to antique stores as a way to teach them about history through objects. This is brilliant, and I know my 4-year old would love it (as long as her sticky-palm 2-year old sister can stay close by). Mama Scout is also about to start a new e-Lab, a month long, daily lab for igniting and sustaining creative family living. Doesn’t that sound cool?

Danielle and her kids at 52 Brand New (her New Year’s resolution was to try 52 new things in the year, one each week) took inspiration from our tinkering experiments (What is Tinkering? Why is Tinkering Important? Tinker Tots: Take a Toy Apart) and the must-read book 50 Dangerous Things (You Should Let Your Children Do), and took apart a printer. This is so inspiring!

What do you think about apps for kids? If you’re looking for some new apps, USA Today just released this list of 5 Top Apps for Creative Kids, and one of them is free. Thanks, USA Today!

Why We Save the Random Stuff is an inspiring post by Heather at Little Moments about the power of loose parts, and how children are so good about making something out of nothing. If you’re inclined to send the grandparents a long list of toys with your holiday wish list, read this first!

Creative Goodness

Can you spot the urban chameleons in these scenes? This is part of a publicity effort to promote the UK spy show, but I love how it takes body painting to a whole new level.

8 Ways Entrepreneurs Can Master the Creative Mind is a great reminder of what’s involved with creative thinking, and it’s not just for entrepreneurs. The first three ways: Forever Curious, Always Open to New Things, Embrace Ambiguity. Go check it out and let me know how you size up as a creative thinker.

 Pinterest Boards of the Week

Kids Science: 76 pins with Halloween science experiments and sparkly explosions, from Meghan Schiedel.

Playtime: 188 pins of “All kinds of good stuff to stimulate (and occupy) the kids!” from Steph at Modern Parents Messy Kids

Halloween Crafts and Ideas: 224 family-friendly pins from Jean Van’t Hul of The Artful Parent.

And if you’re not already one of the 11,000+ who’s following my Pinterest boards, please join me on Pinterest too!