June Box Gallery
The Firefly Princess -- A Traditional Japanese Tale
June is a great time to send a summer message to someone special! Use the card included in this month's box to write a special note! You can also try to paint your own simple version of a firefly scene. All you need is blue & white paint. Cover you paper in blue paint -- it looks best if you use different shades of blue -- by adding white paint to the blue. .Allow to dry completely. Paint a white circle in the top corner -- and then use the tip of your brush to add white dots swirling toward the moon. Enjoy!
This is one of Monet's most famous paintings: Water Lilies. Take a video tour of Giverny -- Claude Monet's own garden in France which was his inspiration for most of his paintings! Also search Portland's Japanese Garden tour to see all the design elements of a Japanese Garden. Now design your own miniature garden!
Make an origami Lotus Flower. Most of the folds are EASY. You start with a square and fold corners toward the center to make a smaller square; then repeat -- then the LAST part is a little tricky! Turn your smaller square over and fold the corners into the center (AGAIN) to make an even smaller square. And then you begin to 'fold back' the leaves and petals -- this is the tricky part. Click into the video instructions to make sure you got it! Use plain paper to practice!
The first step is to design your palace.. You have gems and cherry blossoms to use in your design. You can be as simple or elaborate as you want! Place your bead fairy on top of her palace.
Make time to go outside in the evening to a park or yard to watch the fireflies! Imagine your own story as you see these magical lights flashing in the grass and trees. I captured some sparkling magice here: