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SUPPLIES: PAINT (BROWN), CUP, WATER, RAG, PAINT BRUSH, AND PAINT STIRER

GUIDE HELP: Start video at 1 min and 45 seconds for help 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ui1I368Fa1Y


INSTRUCTION
1.  In your cup, mix your 1 tablespoon of paint with 2 tablespoons of water. Should look like  a chocolate milk consistency
2. Stir until there  are not any lumps of paint.
3. Going with the wood grain, paint on the brown wash stain. You can use your paint brush or rag for this. If you want more of the wood showing, take a paper towel or another rag to dab across your mountain.
           ** The paint will stain clothing and other clothes. Do not use anything you want to keep nice as a rag**
4. Let it dry, you may do another coat, if you think it needs it.


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MOUNTIAN BOOKENDS: TRAIL 2

SUPPLIES

PAINT (WHITE), PAINT BRUSH , SPONGE, PAINTERS TAPE,  STENCIL, AND PENCIL

INSTRUCTION

1.  After the mountains have fully dried, pick a mountain to stencil.
2. Place your stencil in the middle of a mountain. Then with painter’s tape, tape it tightly into place.
3. With your white paint and sponge, dab paint until your stencil is covered. When dabbing, you may want to hold onto the stencil, to make sure it is extra tight and doesn’t move.
4. Once the stenciled area is covered, carefully, remove the stencil and tape.
5. After your mountains are completely dry, take the painter’s tape and jaggedly design your where your snowed cap peak will be. Make sure the tape is flat with the surface. Start painting with your brush and white paint.  Also if you want to free hand this with your paint brush you may as well.  Let dry, may have to have a couple of coats.
6. You will repeat this step for all the mountain peaks and make sure to paint the sides and back.

Click for GUIDE HELP and start at 1 minute and 45 seconds.




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Making a Time Capsule

1. Decide on the purpose of your time capsule.

•  Do you want to open this in 1 year, 5, years, 10 years   
• Is this for goal setting or for looking back

2. Gather Items See the list of examples

• · A letter to your future self
• · Poem, quote, or lyrics
• · Favorite recipe
• · Photos
• · Handmade item by you and/or a family member
• · Business card from local businesses
• · Ticket stubs
• · Current magazines and/or newspapers
• · Current Prices of things
• · Goals/ Bucket List
• · A recording of the news
• · Sports trading cards
• · List of slang terms
• · Sample of product packaging
• · A current postage stamp
• · Coins/ money made from this year
• · Year-in review sheet
• · Have others write a letter to you. You will not be able to open until the date you picked. Parents, Grandparents, Sibling, friends, teacher, or someone special.
• · Handprints and footprints

3.  Where are you going to store it?

• Put in the attic, crawl space or basement. Place into garbage sack and tie it closed. This will help protect it.

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Decorating Time Capsule

Supplies: Clean & Empty Paint Can, Mod Podge, foam brush, scissors,  and paper decorations

How to Decorate:
1. Print off and cut out pictures, sayings, clipart.
2.  Dip foam brush into the Mod podge and bush it onto the can. Place your decoration and mod podge over it.
3. Repeat until the can is covered and then let it dry.
4. Repeat covering the can 1 or 2 more times.
​Make sure to let dry in between coats. 

This activity was in the October 2021 Subscription Box: Trick or Treat. Make sure to hold the can of spray foam upside down. This will give you more controll over how much comes out. 

This activity, video, and photos came from A Kailo Chic Life. The video link will take you to the webpage and the how to video.


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Supplies
Plastic Gloves
Plastic Table cloth or plastic drop cloth
Old clothes
Great Stuff  Gaps and Cracks,
Patch and Paint light weight spackling                          
Cupcake liners
Acrylic paint  for cupcake and frosting
Piping bag
​Paint Brush,
1M star piping tip (for crafting use ONLY, DON’T USE FOR FOOD afterwards)
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(Optional) Paper Clip or a bent photo holder wire( you can buy one or make your own wire with a pair of pliers
 
Video Link:  https://akailochiclife.com/2018/07/diy-faux-cupcake-photo-holders.html
 
Instructions
1. When using Foam Sealant,  you need to wear gloves and old clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Needs to be done outside.

2. Foam sealant is used to stick to various surfaces and cover cracks. Put down a plastic sheet or something  down to prevent the foam from ruining the concrete    prior to spraying. Follow the directions on how to put the “straw” correctly onto the can.

3. Put cupcake liner in the cupcake tin.  See the picture on how to hold the can  like shown in the picture. LOW and STEADY pray the Great Stuff into the liners in a circular motion about half way full. As the foam cures, it will expand and create the perfect smooth domed cupcake top.

4. Leave the cupcakes to cure for 24 hours outside. Once fully cured you can sand the foam to remove the glossy layer and extra bumps to create a cake like smooth surface. Then use a bit of watered down golden brown to paint the tops for perfect cake look. Repeat with all of your cupcakes and let the paint dry.

5. While the paint is drying mix your “icing” for this you will use acrylic paint to tint the light weight spackle. Just mix the paint into the spackle until well incorporated and then fill a piping bag with the mixture.

6. Pipe the “icing” onto the cupcakes in any pattern you like.  The pictures show a traditional swirl. 

7. Let the “icing” dry overnight. I wanted a more vibrant cupcake wrapper, so I used a paint brush to paint the wrappers with acrylic paint.
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8. To turn them into photo holders, simply insert a bend wire piece into the top of the cupcake and down into the foam “cake” base.

 The Giant Faux Popcorn  was an activity in the October 2021 Young Adult Subscription Box: Trick or Treat?. The idea was found on the on the SITS Girls Blog from Decmeber of 2019 Giant Faux Garland. The video link below came from the blog and will take you directly to it. The photos used are also from the blog to show what more than one will look like. I exerpeminated with one, to make sure it worked, and  now my family wants to make more.  MML would love to see a picture of your finished project. 

Giant Popcorn

Supplies

Plastic  gloves, Plastic Table Cloth/ Drop Cloth
Newspaper, Insulating Foam Sealant
String, Kabob skewer or Chopsticks, Tape
Red Ornament Balls—looks like cranberries (optional)

Video Link

Instructions
1. When using Foam Sealant,  you need to wear gloves and old clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty. Needs to be done outside, but out of the wind.

2. Foam sealant is used to stick to various surfaces and cover cracks. Put down a plastic sheet or something  down to prevent the foam from ruining the concrete prior to spraying.

3. Roughly  ball  the news paper up. It  does not have to be perfect– this is basically a base to hold the shape of the popcorn. If you want super huge popcorn kernels, make the newspaper ball larger.

4. Attach the spray straw of the foam can. Shake the foam can and then begin to spray directly on the balled up newspaper.

5. Cover the newspaper entirely and then add a few nice big plops to the sides to make it look like popcorn.

6. Let the foam dry completely. It takes about an hour or two depending on how hot it is outside. Once it is dry, it will easily peel off of the plastic drop cloth. Flip it over and cover the other side of the newspaper. Let it dry again before moving it.

7. Once both sides are dry, you can add some more peaks to your popcorn if you want.

8. Tape your string to the end of the Chopstick. Take chopstick and making a hole to string each piece of “popcorn”. Then thread string through one side and out the other, and repeat the process until you have your popcorn strung.

Optional  If you want to add a little color to the garland, you can purchase cheap plastic red ornaments to look like cranberries or different  brightly colored ornaments to look like  candy.

To hang  Attach a couple of command hooks to gutters and string them up. The beauty of the foam popcorn kernels is that they are waterproof, light, and durable in all sorts of weather.

Variation:  You can make regular sized fake popcorn and string it with a needle and thread. For berries red beads or fake cranberries  can be strung as well.

Did you miss a Young Adult Subscription Box? You will be able to find past Young Adult Subscription Box activities on this blog. Each entry will give when the box was released and activity instructions. Any 4th-12th grader wanting to register for current Subscription Boxes can call 712-338-4643 or go to our Young Adult Subscription Box Registration. 

The Friends of the Milford Memorial Library, Friends of the Spirit Lake Public Library, and Friends of the Arnolds Park Public Library are excited to host the program entitled “Our Neighbors, The Amish” by Don and Dianne Kramer of Dyersville, Iowa.  This program will be held at 2:00 p.m. on July 12, in the Milford Community Center.  There is no registration, no cost, and all ages are welcome to attend this program.

“Our Neighbors, The Amish” features information on 16 different topics about the Amish lifestyle and their beliefs.  Such topics include language, religion, home and social life, and population growth. Audience members will develop an understanding and appreciation of the Amish community and culture which can often be mystifying and much different than one’s own life.  Everyone is encouraged to be a part of the program through a discussion and tasting of real Amish treats.

Don and Dianne are native Iowans and retired teachers.  They enjoy the simplicity of life on an acreage in a log home surrounded by three Amish communities.  Through their interactions with the Amish and their own extensive research, they have been able to share their findings and interest with library audiences throughout Iowa.

On Wednesday, March 21, we made DIY Cleaning Products for our Adult Craft Series. If you missed the program or would like to make your own products from materials you most likely have at home here are the recipes we used. For our program we halved each of the recipes.

Come to the Milford Memorial Library on Thursday, April 5, at 2:00 p.m. to hear Tom Milligan present The Art of Conservation: A Visit with Ding Darling. This program is sponsored by Humanities Iowa and the Friends of the Milford Memorial Library.

In this 45-minute presentation, Jay N. “Ding” Darling visits with the audience, as an old friend, in his 11th office at The Des Moines Register. Beginning with his early years in Sioux City where as a young boy where he became aware of the natural world around him as well as his developing skills as an editorial cartoonist, he recalls his remarkable life journey. His story continues to include two Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoons for The Register and a remarkable career as a nationally known conservationist. From the introduction of The Duck Stamp to the creation of the National Wildlife Federation, Darling’s influence was felt not only through his cartoons but his actions as well. Considered by many to be one of the most important members of the modern conservation movement in the first half of the 20th century, the impact of his work is still felt today. 

Tom Milligan has spent 45 years as a working theater artist in Iowa. As an actor, director, scenic designer as well as producer, his work has been seen throughout Iowa and the Midwest. Beginning in 1973, many remember his work at Iowa’s first dinner theater, Charlie’s Showplace, in Des Moines. Over the years he has been on staff at The Des Moines Playhouse, The Ingersoll Dinner Theater, The Drake Opera, Hoyt Sherman Theater, The Drama Workshop and many other venues in the Des Moines area. In 2005 he moved to The Amana Colonies, working on multiple productions at The Old Creamery Theater, The Iowa Theater Artists Company, as well as many self-produced productions. His 16 year association with
Humanities Iowa reflects his passion for both theater and history through his unique one man play presentations.

​For more information on this program contact the Milford Memorial Library at (712) 338-4643 or info@milford.lib.ia.us.

Join member of the Iowa Holocaust Council and educator Brad Wilkening as he talks about Lessons of the Holocaust at the Milford Memorial Library on Monday, May 8, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wilkening will address how people can apply lessons of the Holocaust in today’s world where immoral acts are still happening. He started teaching in 1975 and has done extensive studies of the Holocaust since 2009.

​Wilkening finds the need for Holocaust education and the lessons people can learn from it more relevant now than ever. Inhumanity occurs around the world almost daily and he wants to make a difference in the lives of as many people as he can reach. “After this event (Holocaust) we said ‘NEVER AGAIN,’ yet there are numerous places today where genocide is happening. We as individuals must do our part to help humanity survive the inhumanity that some have toward others,” said Wilkening. His goal is to teach people that they need to create a safer more caring environment.

Wilkening’s presentation will have 20 minutes of how he got involved in studying the Holocaust and the history. Then 20 minutes of stories from survivors and a 20 minute video of Wilkening talking to a survivor. There will be time at the end of
the program to ask questions and make comments.

Wilkening contacted Milford Memorial Library Director Beth Sorenson to see if he could do a presentation at the library and she was excited about the idea of having him come talk about the Holocaust. “It a chance for people to remember what happened so it doesn’t happen again. It has impacted a lot of people even though for some of us younger people it is a long time in the past,” said Sorenson. The Milford Memorial Library has been telling patrons about the program and so many people have been interested and have their own stories to share.

Wilkening started teaching in 1975 and has taught at more than 5 schools in the area. He has studied the topic intensively and in 2011 he was one of 35 people selected for a class at Columbia University and again in 2017 he was one of only 35 people to go to a class in Newark sponsored by the Jewish Foundation for the Righteous. In addition to speaking at the Milford Memorial Library Wilkening will be speaking to students at Okoboji High School May 8 and 9.

Everyone is invited to come to the Milford Memorial Library on Monday, May 8, at 6:30 p.m. to listen to Brad Wilkening’s presentation Lessons of the Holocaust. The Library is located at 1009 9th Street, Milford, Iowa 51351. For questions or more information contact the library at (712) 338 – 4643 or info@milford.lib.ia.us. 

The Milford Memorial Library is excited to announce that Caroline Perkins and her dog, Hank, will be available to listen to stories the second Saturday of each month starting Saturday, April 8, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.! Caroline and Hank are a therapy dog team, licensed by the Pet Partners Therapy Animal Program. In the past they worked for 5 years in Cable, WI, as part of the Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D) program. Prior to the R.E.A.D. program Caroline was a Special Education Teacher.
Caroline and Hank will available at the Milford Memorial Library.

Hank is a great listener and loves to listen to all kinds of stories. “This is a great opportunity for kids to read to an animal who is non-judgmental and Caroline is a fantastic listener and has a good connection with kids,” said Beth Sorenson, director of the Milford Memorial Library.  Children who are beginner readers or just want a chance to improve on reading aloud are encouraged to come read to Hank. Children can read to Hank on a first come, first serve basis. The amount of time a child will get to read to Hank is determined by the length of the book, child’s reading level, and the number of children waiting to read to Hank.

Reading to a therapy animal can be very beneficial to improving the literacy skills of children. According to www.therapyanimals.org/R.E.A.D.html “The Reading Education Assistance Dogs (R.E.A.D.) program improves children's reading and communication skills by employing a powerful method: reading to an animal.” For more information on R.E.A.D and research done on the topic of reading to animals you can go to www.therapyanimals.org/R.E.A.D.html.

​Caroline and Hank will also make an appearance at the Milford Memorial Library’s Get Acquainted with Hank program for children Thursday, April 6, from 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. “It is wonderful to get acquainted with them [Caroline and Hank] and then have them at the library the coming weekend,” said Betty Naab, children’s librarian. Children will get to meet Caroline and Hank and learn more about how to act around dogs.