Interior Color Trends

Do these things before the weather turns freezing and save yourself from the future issues.

As much as we would love for warm weather to stay with us, the reality is that cold, snowy and icy days are coming. That’s why Fall is a good time to prepare your home for harsh winter conditions and the peculiar problems they bring.

Avoid a wintertime disaster by taking preventive measures now to ensure you have a safe, dry winter and holiday season. Clean your gutters. I know, no one likes this job, but it is essential to keeping water out of places it’s not supposed to go. Summer thunderstorms and falling leaves can clog your gutters and lead to costly water damage. Your gutters are meant to direct water away from your home, and if they’re clogged with no where for the water to go - the water WILL find a way out, and sometimes that can be the last place you want to find water.

Take care of your lawn. After a long hot summer and this year - an especially dry fall - your lawn could use some love. Overseeding now, before the first frost of the year, allows the seeds to take root and get a jump on the spring growing season. Don’t forget about aeriation too - aeration creates holes down into the soil so air, water and nutrients can reach grass roots. Without aeration, lawn grasses struggle in stressful situations, such as heat and low rainfall, and lose their healthy, rich color. Grass can gradually thin and eventually die out completely. Check Your roof. You don’t want to find out you have a roof leak when you have a roof full of melting snow. Now’s the time to give it a good once over. Examine your roof for any obvious signs of damage, such as missing or buckled shingles. Should be able to view your roof from a distance and should not need to climb all the way up. Replace loose shingles and repair damaged portions immediately to avoid more serious problems that can occur when the snow starts to accumulate and freeze and thaw cycles begin.

Furnace maintenance. You don’t want to wait until temperatures drop before being sure that your furnace is working correctly. Replace the filter and if the furnace has not been serviced in the last year, hire a professional to conduct a full tune-up.

Maintain Your Fireplace and Chimney. Check your fireplace and ensure it is working properly. Hire a professional to inspect and sweep your chimney to get rid of accumulated debris, including soot, leaves, and bird nests, this will prevent chimney fires and also dangerous gases from seeping into your home.

Check Weatherstripping. Drafty windows and doors can increase your heating and cooling bill by up to 30%. Now is the time to caulk gaps around windows, door frames, exterior pipes, and faucets and replace worn weatherstripping. Check for any larger gaps that could be an entrance point for squirrels, mice or other unwanted vermin. Use spray foam insulation to take care of those larger gaps.

Rachel’s Reads

By Rachel Levine Colored pencils, crayons, markers, scissors, and paint are essential staples of childhood. Children come into the world with an innate desire to create. As Pablo Picasso said, “Every child is an artist.” Celebrate that natural creativity by sharing these marvelous art books with your children!

Mouse Paint

by Ellen Stoll Walsh

Someone has accidentally left out a set of red, yellow, and blue paint pots. Three very curious little mice have found them and simply can’t resist climbing inside and dunking themselves in the wet paint. The now red, yellow, and blue mice soon discover they can mix the colors and create orange, green, and purple too. This gentle introduction to the color wheel is lovely.

Beautiful Oops!

By Barney Saltzberg

Making art is all about experimenting and exploring. Beautiful Oops shows how to take what appears to be a mistake and repurpose it into something absolutely amazing. Through clever flaps and pop-ups, the book shows ways of turning a tear, spill, or other oops, into something new and incredible. It’s great for all, but especially for those kids (and adults too) who struggle with frustration when their art projects don’t turn out how they imagined.

Chalk

by Bill Thomson

What would happen if your art came to life? Three friends find out when they happen upon a bag of magical chalk. They begin drawing together and suddenly their art starts rising from the pavement, vivid,

alive, and real. The friends start exploring their new power by drawing sunshine and butterflies, but then they go a step farther and draw a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Creating a living dinosaur, as we know from Jurassic Park, is generally a very bad idea. Chaos reigns until the kids figure out how to use their art to save the day.

Dog Loves Drawing

by Louise Yates

Dog received a blank sketchbook as a gift. At first, he wasn’t sure what to do with it, but then he started doodling and a world of storytelling and adventures opened up! Dog creates new friends (duck, owl, and crab), and together they ride trains, explore the sea in boats, and find a desert island. For every problem that arises, Dog draws a creative solution. Be warned — after reading this book you should have some blank sketchbooks on hand for your newly inspired kiddos!

I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More!

By Karen Beaumont

It is time for pure absolute silliness. This goofy adaption of the song “It Ain’t Gonna Rain No More” is fabulously colorful and messy. A young boy has been forbidden to paint anymore after painting on the walls of his house. The call of the paint cannot be resisted, however, and soon he is painting his whole body from head to toe. Be prepared for “I Ain’t Gonna Paint No More!” to become a family favorite!

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13

Crafts for Little Artists that Aren’t a Pain to Clean Up

By Rebecca Hastings

I think there’s still glitter on my floor

From 5 years ago.

Arts and crafts have a way of sticking around, and while I want to encourage creativity in my kids, I hate cleaning up the aftermath.

Yes, we can make them clean up. I know. But seriously. Do they ever really clean it all up? If you’re going to be the one picking up from the latest craft session, here are 13 crafts that will make your job easier and allow your little artist to be creative.

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Combo Scratch Art Set

I love this. Still. And kids are drawn to it. Scratch through the black surface to reveal amazing colors. Reveal as much or as little as you want. This favorite comes with 16 boards, 2 stylus tools and 3 frames. Kids love the rainbow and metallic backgrounds.

Boogie Board Jot LCD eWriter

A small notebook sized LCD drawing panel, the Boogie Board Jot is perfect for drawing anywhere, even in the car. No mess and endless possibility. Kids love the erase button and the ability to start fresh. Great for keeping in your purse for kids to play with on the go.

Made By Me Build and Paint Your Own Wooden Cars

This one does involve paint, but it’s all pretty self-contained. Spread a piece of newspaper and grab a cup of water. Kids put together small wooden cars and then decorate using the stickers and paints provided. This one is great for keeping boys busy and giving them a chance to create.

Fashion Angels Portfolios & American Girl Doll Fashion Design Portfolio Set

Kids design outfits and unique looks on the doll like outlines provided. Tons of great activity books with stencils for those who love to create fun fashion looks. Makeup, fashion and even home decorating books give kids great ways to draw and imagine as they get older. Melissa & Doug Paint with Water Sometimes the little ones just want to paint. A great compromise that just involves water! Watch images and colors appear magically as your little artists swipes a wet brush across a page!

Alex Toys Craft Color a House Children’s Kit

Cardboard box play taken to the next level, kids can easily construct a house and then decorate it with crayons. Toddlers love this and it keeps them busy for hours!

Crayola Color Wonder Magic Light Brush & Drawing Pad

Half the fun of this amazing toy is the magic! Kids use the special brush to paint on their paper. It lights up with each color they pick and they create a masterpiece. Plus, it doesn’t leave marks on hands, the table or clothes!

Rainbow Wikki Stix

These bendy, twisty sticks quickly become a favorite of kids and adults. You can link them together, twist and create without making a mess to clean up. Another great toy for the traveling creative!

Sidewalk Chalk

Let nature take care of the cleanup! Kids love the ability to leave their mark and draw outdoors. A bucket of sidewalk chalk fits the bill, and all you