Psalm 11 - Flee as a Bird Thaumatrope Quiet Book Page

Psalm 11 asks why we should flee as birds to a mountain when we are trusting God for protection.

Memory Verse: “I trust in the Lord for protection.

So why do you say to me,

“Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!" Psalm 11:1.

Materials needed to create the Flee as a Bird Thaumatrope quiet book page:

• A4 felt background sheet - I used dapple grey
• My free Psalm 11 - Flee as a Bird Thaumatrope Quiet Book Page Template Pattern
• cotton fabric for the green mountain
• fabric glue or double sided iron-on interfacing
• felt scraps in green, sky blue, orange and dapple grey
• decorative beads in orange and silver
• short dowel rod (about 20cm in length, 7mm in diameter)
• hot glue and glue gun
• sewing thread to best match the page
• scissors!

Mark and cut out the mountain shape from your mountain fabric and use fabric glue to glue it to a piece of green felt (or use thedouble-sided iron-on interfacing according to the directions). Once it is dry, cut it out and sew a fine zigzag stitch along all edges to stop it fraying and peeling. Then sew it onto your background felt to about just below half way up the sides of the mountain leaving the top open to form a pocket.

Cut out the circles from the sky blue felt and sew down your orange birds followed by their dapple grey wings, making sure to position one in the upper position and the other in the lower position. Hand sew on your decorative beads.

Testing different decorative bead positions

Position your circles back to back (ensure the birds are level with each other) and sew around the circles, leaving about a 2cm hole at the bottom. Use hot glue on about 4cm of the end of your dowel rod and insert it into the hole and press the birds together to attach it. 

Spin the thaumatrope rod between your hands to watch the bird fly away to the mountain.

Finished!

Difficulty Level = Easy, plus No Sew version.

A very easy quiet book page!
Just use hot glue wherever sewing is recommended for a no sew version.

Key Learning Areas and Skills

• Psalm 11 - Putting your trust in God is the best way to stay safe and remain calm when you are in danger.
• Imaginative Play - Fly your birdie to safety in the mountains.
• Fine Motor Skills - all quiet books encourage fine motor skills through turning pages, and on this page, through using the thaumatrope.

Read the Chapter

Psalm 11

Devotional

This Christian Hymn seems to be to be using the phrase "flee like a bird to your mountain" in the opposite way to what David's adviser was. But the point in the end is the same. God is your refuge, put your faith in Him.

I have heard stories of many people who chose to stay in dangerous places because they felt that is where God wanted them. They trusted Him and escaped all kinds of danger because He looked after them. The most dangerous place in all appearances may actually be the safest because God is with you. The safe places might actually be the most dangerous because you are no longer relying on God.

I looked up some of the birds that inhabit Israel and tried to model mine on the Oriental Turtle-dove and the Laughing Dove.

Oriental Turtle Dove : (Streptopelia orientalis) in Satara
I, Ravivaidya - CC BY 2.5

Laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis cambayensis)
at Zighy Bay in the Musandam Peninsula, Oman
Charles J. Sharp - CC BY-SA 3.0

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Have you made a thaumatrope before? Comment below!

Mischa's Felt Book - Interview with my 5 year old niece!

Today I would like to interview someone special - my five year old niece Mischa, who decided she wanted to make her own felt book. I sent my sister, Mischa's Mum, some questions for her to ask Mischa from me. She has clarified my questions in places below and sometimes I have included these remarks. I have tried not to do too much editing whilst making it flow well for reading purposes.

Carissa D: Mischa, you have made my heart swell with your desire to make a felt book, and it has turned out incredibly sweet. Why did you want to make a felt book?

Mischa: I thought it would be nice to have a look at it myself, at the pictures of it.

Carissa D: Can you tell me about the cover page?

Mischa: The front cover? Oh, a rainbow! 

Mischa's Mum: Does it have any writing on it?

Mischa: "Mischa's Felt Book".

My sister informs me that Mischa kept saying "Mischa's Felt Book - no writing" when they were titling the book. She thought that is what Mischa wanted to call the book, but thought better of it and left that part out, checking that she was happy with the end result. 

Mischa's Mum: Yeah, "Mischa's Felt Book - No Writing" (quoting Mischa from the labelling experience).

Mischa: It doesn't say no writing.

Mischa's Mum: No, but is that what you wanted it to say?

Mischa: No.

We'll come back to this topic later in the interview...

Carissa D: I see there are no bees on the bee page. Why is that? 

Mischa: 'Cause I didn't want to make one. 

Mischa's Mum: Too hard, or take too long, or just don't really like bees?

Mischa: Don't really want to make a bee. 

Mischa's Mum: Yeah, were you worried that it might sting you? 

Mischa: No!

I have offered Mischa two bees that Remy's Nanny made when we were making Remy's Quiet Book - My First One (but then decided against using them and opted for a bee button instead) to put in her felt book. She loves them, and who wouldn't!

Carissa D: The flowers are all beautiful. What do you like best about your book?

Mischa: Maybe the owl - it's cute. It looks cute when it's winking.

Carissa D: Which parts did you sew yourself?

Mischa: The stars. 

Mischa's Mum: Oh yeah, you did, didn't you. How was that?

Mischa: Fun. 

My sister says that the stars are a special stitch setting on her sewing machine. She says Mischa also hand sewed the buttons on and that she cut out half of the owl, but that the flowers were already cut. Mischa did some of all the sewing (except the rainbow), either guiding with her hands or pushing the foot (not both at the same time).

Carissa D: The other pages were inspired by things you found in Mummy's stash, but the owl was made from scratch. Why did you want to make an owl page?

Mischa: Cause I thought it would look  nice. 

Mischa's Mum: Yeah, what do you like about owls?

Mischa: 'Cause they look cute.

Carissa D: I really like how you paid attention to detail on the owl's eye and chose a sun patterned felt to get the effect of a real eye. What gave you that idea? 

Mischa: Well, I didn't really get the idea of it, I just found it. It would be the right thing for the felt book, for the eye for the owl. 

Carissa D: Why did you want the owl to be winking?

Mischa:  'Cause I thought it would look cute.

Carissa D: I have also noticed that there are no activities in this book. Is that for a reason?

Mischa: No.

Mischa's Mum: No, no reason?

Mischa: It's just I don't really want much writing in it cause I don't really know how to read.

Mischa's Mum: Oh, I understand, she doesn't want much writing in it cause she doesn't know how to read! That makes sense. Um, and what about things to do, like you didn't want the bee lacing thing or anything?

Mischa: Yeah, I didn't want the bee lacing. No.

Mischa's Mum: Why didn't you want anything to do in it?

Mischa: 'Cause I can't read it, what to say.

Mischa's Mum: Yeah okay, so you think activities have to involve writing?

Mischa: No, I just don't really want... (Here they get interrupted and we will all have to wonder what the answer to this question might have been). 

Carissa D: Which ways are you thinking about using to bind your felt book and do you have plans for any more pages?

Mischa: No.

Mischa's Mum: Nup, it's finished is it?

Mischa: Yep.

Mischa's Mum: And how did you want to join it together? (This was before we joined it). Do you like the way we joined it, or would you think another way might be better?

Mischa: I thought another way might be better.

Mischa's Mum: Oh, what way did you think to join it would be good?

Mischa: Well, like we don't have the right wire around through the button holes.

Mischa's Mum: Put wire around through the holes? Oh yeah, do you like the rings on the other ones, or just wire?

The "other ones" are the two books made for her sister Vashti and herself by my sister and I (and some friends in some cases). You can see some of the pages at Vashti's Quiet Book - Front Cover and Crown Pages, Vashti's Quiet Book - My Sister's Pages, (I haven't posted anything on Mischa's one yet) and an example of how I bound them in my post How To Ring Bind Felt Quiet Books - Free A4 Buttonhole Guide.

Mischa: I just like the rings on the other ones. 

Mischa's Mum: So you did want it to have rings on it?

Mischa: Yeah, but it's too late now, isn't it.

Mischa's Mum: Oh no, you could still put rings in them. Instead of the - just take the ribbon out and put rings in, couldn't you? 

Mischa: Yeah, but it doesn't really matter. 

But of course I have given her some rings so she can change it over.

Carissa D: Thanks so much for sharing your adorable felt book with us Mischa. I look forward to seeing your next creation.

My sister tells me Mischa has said that next she would like to make a dressing gown for toys - an actual one, not a felt page.

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Do you know a little friend who has decided to make their own quiet book? Ain't they the sweetest!

Amos 3 - The Lion Roars Quiet Book Page

In Amos chapter 3, Amos preaches to the Israelites about how they have treated God's messengers. Even though they are not willing to listen to the prophets and have told them all to shut up, Amos is more afraid of not listening to God than listening to them - and their efforts to shut him up will be futile.

Memory Verse: “Surely the Lord God does nothing,

Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

A lion has roared!

Who will not fear?

The Lord God has spoken!

Who can but prophesy?” Amos 3:7-8 NKJV.

Materials needed to create the The Lion Roars quiet book page:

• A4 felt background sheet - I used dark brown
• my free Amos 3 - The Lion Roars Bible Quiet Book Template Pattern
• felt in light brown, hot pink, light pink/very light brown, black and white
• 6 black grommets and tool set - I used 3mm inside diameter (perhaps 5mm height)
• 2mm elastic in black or gray - I used 3 lengths of about 20cm
• two round buttons for the eyes
• various ribbons in orange, gold, yellow, red and browns for the mane
• two 33mm white horn buttons for the teeth - I bought this in colour 4 (not an afiliate link)
• sewing threads to best match the page
• scissors!

Cut all the pattern pieces (you can use these to help with positioning pieces later). 

Cut the ribbons into lengths about 12cm long and melt the edges - see my post on How to Stop Ribbons Fraying. Sew them down as a mane under where the lion's head will be. I used a lot of zig zag stitch to sew things down underneath where they wouldn't be seen.

I often make more than one page at a time.
The extra sewing is not too bad when you
don't have to change thread colours, and
that way I can have extra pages for presents
and a practice run before sewing the real thing.

Sew the inner ears to the outer ears and then the outer ear to more felt and cut them out. Sew them in position too.

Cut and sew down the white teeth to the pink inner mouths about 5mm from the edge to allow the sewing machine foot to pass later on. 

I cut out the mouth from black instead of pink, but thought
it might make a good experiment to do it that way too.
I took a photo so you can see and compare
and decide which way you prefer.

Sew on the white horn buttons to form teeth making sure that the upper and lower jaws will close without the teeth impeding on each other.  

Then sew the pink inner mouths to black outer mouths (upper and lower) and sew the lower mouth/jaw in place.

Sew the nose to the head and insert the grommets. Thread the elastic through from the front to the back and back to the front through the opposite grommet. When you pull the top right whisker it should shorten the bottom left and so forth. Knot the ends to prevent the whiskers pulling out. I taped mine down out of the way so I could sew the next section.

Using matching threads to the mouth and head (match the felt not the spool and bobbin), sew the upper mouth/jaw to the head underneath where the nose and whiskers are along the outer edge only (otherwise you will have a sewn line across the lion's face), stopping about one centimetre short of either end. 

Place the head in position and fold back the top section so you can attach the inner jaw lining using zig zag stitch. Sew the head using  normal stitch to attach the head on top of the mane and ears along the outer edge meeting your previous sewing at the jaw.

Sew on the buttons as eyes.

Finished! 

Difficulty Level = Intermediate

The hardest part of this page is sewing the the top mouth section together with the teeth already handsewn on - just make sure you leave enough room for the sewing machine foot to pass.

Installing grommets can be intimidating, but once you try, they are easy and make you very satisfied with your efforts! The following YouTube tutorial by Irina Sorokina from My Craft Quiet Books should help.

Eyelets and grommets - My Craft Quiet Books

Key Learning Areas and Skills

• Amos 3 - It is better to listen to God than man
• Imaginative play - open and close the lion's mouth and give a big roar (ok, so this page may not be so quiet!)
• Pull Strings - do you dare to pull the lion's whiskers?
• Fine Motor Skills - all quiet books encourage fine motor skill development
• Hand-eye Co-ordination - all quiet books encourage hand-eye co-ordination

Tahlia says the memory verse and explains how to

pull the lions whiskers and make him roar.

Read the Chapter

Amos 3

Devotional

Amos chapter 3 contrasts Amos chapter 2 where the prophets of God are silenced by the people.

Amos has a healthy view of God and man however, and knows that when the lion roars you better be scared. And when God speaks, Amos prophesies!

If there is something we need to know about beforehand, we are assured God will (or has) let us know. Amos is warning Israel, Judah, and their neighbouring nations about the coming destruction of Assyria and Babylon. But of course the coming destruction prefigures the coming destruction of the entire world at the end. 

When the lion roars, we would do well to listen. God has told us the end from the beginning and continued telling us all through the middle. God makes no move without telling us - just like a parent warns their children that if they don't eat their dinner they won't get desert. The end should come as no surprise to anyone who has been listening.

God Reveals His Secrets To His Servants (Amos 3:7)

(Country Living)

The memory verse for this chapter is one of my treasured verses. I have been researching the Second Coming for a while now, and here, God claims that He will do NOTHING without telling us first.

It is a very common belief that Jesus will surprise everyone at His second appearance, but I have found that God tends to be very predictable. And I think that is because He is trustworthy, and repeats Himself in so many patterns in an attempt to get things through to our distrusting selves.

History has followed the pattern,
so will the future.

Jesus fulfilled prophecy to the minute at His first coming - he died at the time of the evening sacrifice on Passover, having entered Jerusalem on the 10th of the month, just as the lamb set aside for the purpose must have done. Why would He not fulfil prophecy exactly at His return?

The spring feasts were fulfilled at His First Coming - I believe the fall feasts will be fulfilled at the Second Coming.

To see how No One Knows The Day or Hour fits into this, you can read the article by Hebrew Roots.

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Have you been scared of installing grommets too? Comment below!

Shabbat Quiet Book - Interview with Valerie Rose

Today I would like to introduce you to Valerie Rose and her Shabbat Quiet Book. I believe learning through play is the best way to learn and this adorable book is a great way to learn about Sabbath.

Carissa D:  Welcome Valerie! Please explain a little about yourself and your quiet book adventures.

Valerie: Hi Carissa,

I am a Wife, mother of 2 adult children and now a grandmother as well as a Midwife 4 days a week!!

I have been sewing and stitching since I was a small child but now I have the delight of sewing and creating for my granddaughter Ella who will be 2 in March. She brings me such joy and my love for her grows each day I see her. She loves playing with a box of felt and ribbon offcuts and various empty cotton spools I have saved for her. She loves the different textures so fingers crossed she has my passion for fabric crafts and sewing.

I am privileged to look after Ella every Monday while my daughter works. I have made her several quiet books already which she loves. They are full of texture and zips and removeable pieces. Most of them have a small animal outline hiding in the pages in a subtle colour for her to find and prolong the enjoyment of the book. For example, her beach book has seahorses and her Farm book has rabbits. Some pages also have crinkle plastic inside and even animal toy squeakers. It has been a great way to use my cherished scraps of fabric.

In this Shabbat Book I have sewn 10 cat faces throughout the book for her to find.

I try to personalise each book for her but hopeful one day there will be other little people to enjoy them as well.

Carissa D: I am a Sabbath keeper, so perhaps that is why I love your book so much. To me, Sabbath is special because God commands me to rest. I have a very valid guilt-free excuse not to study/work/clean the house that day! Where did the idea come from to create your Shabbat Quiet Book?

Valerie:   I come from a Jewish Family and growing up we always had Shabbat every Friday Night. It wasn’t a strictly religious night but I remember my father would bring home a block of chocolate for us to share while we played card games as a family after dinner.

Valerie's daughter on Shabbat - way back when!

My daughter married a lovely guy who is not Jewish and I am very careful not to push my beliefs on him and my Granddaughter Ella. Because Ella’s mother is Jewish Ella is as well by her birth right!

When my son and daughter were little we did not celebrate Christmas, instead we celebrated the 8 nights of Chanukah. I made them a large very simple Felt Menorah wall hanging with removable candle flames. To this day my daughter still tells me how much she loved it and looked forward to Chanukah every year.

In December my daughter asked us to come to her home for Chanukah and Shabbat for the first time! She has decided Ella is old enough now to have some Jewish input in her life. I was delighted of course and excited. I instantly knew I wanted to make her a special Shabbat Book, and so I did!

Carissa D:  My favourite part of your book has to be your Kiddush Cups. You achieved such a good effect with the fabric choice and embroidery. What is your favourite section?

Valerie: I actually love the whole book! I was delighted how it turned out! My favourite page would be the inside cover of special Shabbat Fabric. This fabric has sat in my stash for over 25 years just waiting for the perfect project. And this was it!

Shabbat fabric Valerie had been stashing

Carissa D:  I love it when you find the perfect use for that thing you have been saving. That is what happened with my Psalm 46 - Be Still and Know that I Am God Tea Set Quiet Book Page. The herb fabric made great tea bags!

The herb frabric I had been stashing - made into tea bags

Carissa D:  How did you create this book? Did you make your own templates? 

Valerie:  The book is mostly created using machine embroidery files I have brought. See the list below for crediting:

• Bunnycup Embroidery - Flowers, Dove, Heart
• Embroidery Online - Moon
• tmmdesigns on Etsy - Candle Flames
• 4-Hobby.com - Candlesticks, Wine Goblet and Challah
• Secretsof - SewAZ Embroidery - Cat Face was from the C Block of the ABC Crazy Quilt Pattern

The words I made on my Embroidery Machine. 

I stitched the designs for the pages on a Black Cotton fabric as I really like the contrast.

The removable appliques were stitched on felt then backed with felt to hide the messy side. For the flowers I added a small ribbon for a leaf.

The Wine Goblet, Challah and Challah Cloth have a cat face hiding underneath.

Carissa D:  I would like to take a moment to thank you for your generosity in sharing the embroidery files you made for the words of this book - here attached in .jef format for Janome machines:

• On Friday Night.
• When the Sun Sets.
• We light 2 Candles.
• We Bless The Wine.
• We Bless The Bread.
• Shabbat Shalom Everyone.

Carissa D:  How long do you estimate that you spent on this whole quiet book from concept to completion? 

Valerie:  The book probably took me 2 days to make. There was quite a bit of hand sewing involved in finishing the removeable pieces.

Carissa D: Wow! That sounds amazingly quick to me! Is that normal for a book made using an embroidery machine?

Valerie:  Some take longer but this one just worked out really easily. Her other books have more details like zips and ribbons and buttons.

Carissa D:  When will your Havdallah quiet book be coming out?!! Do you have plans to make a Biblical Festivals quiet book?!!

Valerie:  Haha! No plans for a Havdallah book yet but I am planning one for Passover and then one for Chanukah later this year. But first I want to make another Shabbat Book to keep at my house!

Carissa D:  I am waiting with baited breath!

Carissa D:  Which is your favourite Faith and Felt Obsession post and why?

Valerie: My favourite post has to be the Car Travel Dice!

This has inspired me to make a travel snakes and ladders or similar for holidays and picnics as well as to help Ella with counting.

Carissa D:  That sounds like an awesome idea! I would 💖 to see it when it is finished.

Tahlia with her Car Travel Dice

Carissa D: How old is your Granddaughter and how does she enjoy finding the 10 hidden cats in this busy book? Do you find that they distract her from the message of the book, or do they ensure the book is loved beyond measure? 

Valerie:  Ella was just over 19 months when I gave her this book. On the Candle page she immediately took the two flames and put them on the candles on the next page! She was very quick to detach all the pieces. With the wine and the bread she was also able to feed her “baby”. As most of her Fabric books I have made her have hidden animal outlines she loves to look for them. I believe she loves it even more as it is personalised just for her. She always “reads” the book first then goes back to find the cats. 

Carissa D:  What a sweetie!

Carissa D: Lastly, How did you bind the book and are you happy with the method?

Valerie:  First I decide how many pages I will have, always an even number, plus front and back cover.

Then I cut a small oblong from scrap interfacing to represent 2 pages.

Then I pin them together to make a book.

On each page I would then write what will be on it.

Once done I can unpin the book and see the true page stitch map.

Once stitched etc iron on interfacing is applied and the 2 pages are sewn together right side fabric facing inside then trimmed and turned right way out and the small gap is hand sewed or if I am lazy a top stitch all around the double page. 

Finally the pages are stacked on top of each other in the correct order and several lines are stitched down the centre to form the book. 

This way works best for me at the moment. This book has 3 double pages which gives me 12 single pages to decorate and works very well but there would be room for more! 

Carissa D:  Thank you so much for sharing with us Valerie. Once again, your Shabbat quiet book is lovely and I hope it will be an inspiration to many as it has been to me. Terrific job!

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Do you use an embroidery machine to help make your quiet books? Has this book inspired you to make your own creation? Comment below!

Genesis 24 - Rebecca at the Well Quiet Book Page

Rebecca at the Well in Genesis 24 is a beautiful story and every girl's matchmaking dream come true.

Memory Verse: “And when she had finished giving him a drink, she said, “I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking.”” Genesis 24:19 NKJV.

Materials needed to create the Rebecca at the Well quiet book page:

• A4 felt background sheet - I used orange
• this printable from LambSongsNZ
• a method of sublimation printing - see below
• white acrylic/polyester felt
• sewing thread to best match the page
• two mini black split pins
• string or wool
• hot glue and glue gun
• scissors!

Firstly, get the printable transferred onto white felt by the sublimation printing and heat press method - see my post on Sublimation Printing on Felt - Test. Print the Rebecca and bucket section in reverse as well so you can glue her back to back.

Cut out the printable picture and both buckets and Rebecca's.

Attach your wool or string to the background felt underneath where your picture will be sewn using zig zag stitch. Go back and forth a few times to reinforce the hold.

Sew down the picture along three sides to form a pocket at the top.

Use the split pins to join each Rebecca to her bucket. Hot glue the buckets together and enclose the other end of the wool or string inside, leaving space for the split pins to remain free to turn. Hot glue Rebecca together, again leaving space for the bucket to swivel between her arms and the bottom edge open to form a finger puppet.

Finished!

Difficulty Level = Easy, plus No Sew version.

A very easy quiet book page! The hardest part is lining up both side of Rebecca when hot gluing (but that's not that hard)!
Just use hot glue wherever sewing is recommended for a no sew version.

Key Learning Areas and Skills

• Genesis 24 - God is a good matchmaker!
• Imaginative Play - draw water from the well to give the camels a drink
• Finger Puppet - Rebecca
• Fine Motor Skills - all quiet books encourage fine motor skill development
• Hand-eye Co-ordination - all quiet books encourage hand-eye co-ordination

Read the Chapter

Genesis 24

Devotional

How great are the rewards for being faithful in little.

All Rebecca was asked for was a simple drink of water - something which would have taken one minute max. But she offered to water the camels too. Surely Abraham sent more than his "oldest servant who ruled over his house" with the caravan to Nahor! They could have easily drawn the water for the camels. And in fact there were more servants, although they are not mentioned until after Rebecca is found and secured.

I was wondering how many camels there were - can you guess? I was guessing at least five, probably more - but I read it again and it says there were ten. There was all the presents for Rebecca and her mother and brother to carry, plus a bride price, food for the camels and servants to last a good portion of the journey, and possibly camels to ride for the servants. It seems to me that this trip was an urgent one. Everything happens in a rush!

Abraham asks and in the next sentence, Eliezer has left and arrived. Before he finishes praying, Rebecca has appeared. He "runs" to her and she "quickly" lets down her pitcher. She "runs" home to make arrangements for him to stay and her brother "runs" out to invite him in. Then he refuses to eat before he tells them his mission, and after being asked to stay ten nights he will only agree to stay one before returning home.

Giving Eliezer a drink would have fulfilled his request, and is more than Rebecca was obligated to do. But to offer to water ten camels must have taken quite a while even though she did it "quickly".
The below podcast by experienced people says that a thirsty camel can drink between 100-150 liters of water in around 15 minutes. So to water 10 camels, Rebecca might have had to draw 1000-1500 liters of water. I imagine that Rebecca could lift no more than 20 liters at once, so she would have to draw water at least 50-75 times in order to draw that much water which must have taken a couple of hours. It was no casual offer that she made.

How Much Water Does a Camel Drink?

by Camel Connection

Rebecca is not the only virtuous person we can learn from in this chapter. Eliezer is pretty impressive too. Although he is not named in this chapter, Abraham thinks in chapter 15 that Eliezer his servant will be his heir. Eliezer must have known this at the time too. Not only does he not become hurt or offended when he is no longer heir, but he is the one trusted to secure a Godly wife for his replacement Issac. What faithfulness! We can learn so much about how to behave when we are disappointed by not receiving what we thought we were going to. Like when we don't get the promotion we thought we deserved. God has a plan, and often it is not our business!

Isaac and Rebekah Rap

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What do you think? 

Magnificent Butterfly Resurrection Easter Bonnet

Although PanPanic ensured there was no Easter Hat Parade at school this year, they still held an Easter Hat Slideshow.

And we did our own parade at home.

Why we made the Butterfly Resurrection Easter Hat

As always we take the opportunity to both learn about Jesus' sacrifice and develop faith-sharing skills. I think it is important to practice sharing your faith from a young age. There are too many who shy away from proclamations - but I want to make sure Tahlia grows up to be bold and unashamed of the Gospel.

This year our Easter bonnet featured an empty tomb with a myriad of butterflies. Butterflies have long been a symbol of the resurrection because caterpillars seem to die in their cocoons and emerge shortly thereafter possessing a far superior body. We included so many butterflies as Jesus' resurrection gives us the reassurance that He is able to do the same for anyone who places their hope and trust in him.

Inside the tomb we see what Mary saw described in John chapter 20. I have heard that the angels sitting at either end of the stone where Jesus had been laid are supposed to remind you of the Ark of the Covenant which had two angels on top with their wings touching each other. On top of the ark between the angels was called the Mercy Seat and this was where the Shekinah Glory of God's presence shone. We tried to emulate this in a way, but the light was also supposed to give the impression of angels rejoicing and reflecting the angel-party mood I imagine was going on in Heaven despite the disbelief and grief on Earth.

How we made the Butterfly Resurrection Easter Hat

Two of my favourite butterflies

This video gives the basic gist of how we made the base of our butterflies from pipe-cleaners, although we did make a few changes. Next we wrapped the wings in lace and secured it with hot glue. We also added beads to the ends of their feelers. I knew we would need a lot, so we started making these well before Christmas, but even so we did get a bit of help from some friends to make so many. Tahlia hot glued all bar one of the little ones in place and did an excellent job don't you think?

How to Make Pipe Cleaner Butterfly Rings 

by One Little Project

We had one little one left over so she did wear it as a ring.

The large butterfly on top was also made from pipe-cleaners and wrapped in lace.

We started the layers from the outside edges first so that each layer overlapped the next without getting in the way.

This hat is the third in a series where we have re-used the same paper mache hat we made in Kindergarten.  After removing last years beautiful felt flowers we gave it a quick vacuum to remove the dust and debris.

This year we enclosed the arch/doorway from the last two years to form the empty tomb. We marked where we wanted the tomb to go to and used plastic shopping bags to pack the space to be filled. Then we covered that section with three or so more layers of paper mache before removing the shopping bags and covering from the inside as well.

We also marked the edge of the entrance to the tomb on paper and formed a base for the stone out of cardboard cereal box. This got covered with layers of paper mache too.

The tomb and stone were painted inside and out in white by Tahlia, and I touched up the sky and grass after the damage done by removing the felt flowers from last year.

I had been hoping to find a frosted plastic box in a jewelry store but had no luck. Happily, and perhaps Providentially, we attended a wedding a few weeks before the hat had to be finished. The wedding favours came in a perfectly sized white box with a transparent lid. I managed to take a photo for you with one chocolate left in there before they all got demolished. Each box had two chocolates inside originally!

After removing the divider, three LED rings fit exactly inside the box - we bought this 6 pcs LED Rubber Rings from AliExpress (not an afiliate link). I bought extra in case some did not work and I'm glad I did as all the rest broke very quickly. The box is fixed in place with blu-tak so it can be removed to allow the rings to be turned on and off.

The angels were bought from a craft store but I have seen similar in dollar stores too - they were hot glued in place.

See the other Easter Hats in this Trilogy

1. Hosanna! Palm Sunday Easter Bonnet - focuses on Praising Jesus' ability to save
2. Spectacular Spring Lamb Easter Bonnet - focuses on the first Passover and the Cross
3. Magnificent Butterfly Resurrection Easter Bonnet - this one!

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I would love to see and share your Christian themed Easter Hats!