Sculpt Away with this Quik-Sculpting Kit! {An ACTÍVA Products Review}

If you have tactile kids who loves to craft, then a Rigid Wrap and CelluClay Quik-Sculpting Kit from ACTÍVA Products could be a huge hit in your household. If you have a sensory defensive child who gets squeamish with anything goopy or wet, then you may still welcome this product as a therapeutic sensory diet tool which is big on sensory input, yet relatively easy to use and clean up and which also just happens to be 100% wheat- and gluten-free, non-toxic and non-carcinogenic!

{Disclosure: Some links which follow are affiliate ones.}

 
Our Experience

In my home, we have two children who love to dig in and get their hands dirty and one who has an aversion to many textures.  Thus, I opted to review Rigid Wrap and CelluClay in hopes of delighting my two tactile kids, while possibly enticing my sensory-defensive child to join in on some creative fun.  So far, only the former has happened. 

My two "hands in" kids have wrapped, shaped, sculpted, and painted, creating their own little projects, while their tactile-defensive big brother circled round, got curious, asked a lot of questions, and observed, but has yet to jump in on the fun. 

Because my oldest, unfortunately, has been having a tough summer, I did not "force" - or even strongly encourage him - to use the Rigid Wrap and CelluClay with us.  For I knew that it would only exacerbate things.  What I did do, though, is quietly ask my younger two to keep their projects small, using only a portion of our kit, so big brother could use some later. 

Of course, when my oldest heard me suggest saving some of the plaster cloth and quick-set papier-mache mix for him, he declared that he has no interest in trying them.  However, as an observant mother, I could already see his curiosity piqued and his brain ticking with ideas for how the materials might be used.  And, okay, I admittedly fed my son's quite-active brain by letting him happen upon me browsing project idea videos on the ACTÍVA Products website.

"Mom, can I watch to... Oh, that's cool... I wonder if..."

Yes, as my son commented while watching videos of various applications for ACTÍVA Products, seeds were planted.  I am confident that as they germinate into visions of original projects for a future homeschool fair, products that might be sold at our church bizarre table, or a 3-d design that my son's imagination has cooked up, my son will be asking to use our remaining Rigid Wrap and CelluClay.  Years of parenting my child has proven to me that patience and timing are everything.  So, I am excited to have this easy-to-use, versatile sculpting media on hand for when the ideal time for overcoming sensory aversions while making visions realities arrives for my oldest.

Meanwhile, my younger two have been asking to use some more of it.

They had fun experimenting with it.

My daughter decided to adapt an idea from the FREE, full-color ACTÍVA Products' Favorite Sculpture KIDS CRAFTS e-book in order to craft a St. Anne doll for our upcoming feast day celebration.

My son asked if he could make Daddy a tiny football to keep at work.

Then, my daughter decided to make an even tinier one.

Our Creations So Far

My younger two children both had fun cutting Rigid Wrap plaster cloth, dipping it, wrapping it, and smoothing it.  Then, they patiently waited overnight for their projects to dry before finishing them off.

Their projects could have been dried more quickly in a microwave, but we don't have one in our kitchen, so just left their projects out overnight.

The children only used Sharpies and paint to finish their projects off - but I hear other finishing media can work, too. 

My daughter also used white glue to attach a baby Mary to her Saint Anne statue.  Hot glue or more plaster strips would likely have worked just as well, I'd guess.

Our Thoughts

Overall, I was quite pleased with the Rigid Wrap and CelluClay Quik-Sculpting Kit and can attest that is just what it is advertised to be: 

"A paper mache kit ... (and) excellent way to try the materials before moving on to larger projects... ideal for kids crafts and science fair projects (with)

• 2 - 4" rolls of Rigid Wrap
• 8 oz. of CelluClay
• Complete instructions for 12 projects"

The only thing the kit lacks, in my opinion, is clear, easy-on-the-eye instructions on how to use the materials and build the suggested projects.  (Inside the box is only a photocopied page with relatively minuscule print.)  This drawback is easily remedied by going to the ACTÍVA Products website, though, where you'll find loads of helpful resources and ideas, such as:

• a video on how to mix CelluClay
• clear, full-color instructions and technique ideas for CelluClay 
• full-color instructions, techniques, and tips for Rigid Wrap
• tutorials for sculpting projects
• materials safety data sheets 

Truly, the physical kit, when paired with the website, can easily unleash sculpting and creativity in children!  I am happy to have been introduced to this crafting media.

My youngest, at seven said:

I liked the texture of the dry strips, and liked how it sticks (when it is wet).  It was easy to clean up.

My daughter, at ten, said:

I liked how you can wet the Rigid Wrap and wrap it around your cardboard.  It was fun, but messy to use, because it was dry and had holes, then, you wet it, wrapped it, and, then, rubbed it to make the holes disappear.  It wasn't too messy though.

I let mine dry overnight, and, then, I painted it.  My project was a statue and it was good. I even made a baby to glue to it. 

I want to use this stuff again.  My brother also made a football, and I did, too.

Learn More

If you'd like to see what all 85 Review Crew families who reviewed Rigid Wrap and CelluClay Quik-Sculpting Kits made, just click through the banner and take a peak.
 
 

 

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Celebrate St. Anne's Feast Day This Week (Even if Impromptu)

The Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne is coming up on July 26 and is a super simple one to celebrate as you and your children live the liturgical year. 

Catholic Culture offers prayers, recipes, background, and more, which you might find helpful if you're the planning type.  Tracy at A Slice of Smith Life shares a wonderful way to celebrate with grandparents on this day, and, in the past, I have also shared a variety of prayer, food, and resource ideas in St. Anne celebration posts.  Plus, if you're a more spontaneous type, you might enjoy hearing about the impromptu celebration that we enjoyed last year, which proves that feast day prayer, fun, and learning can be thrown together even on a hectic day!

St. Anne's Intercession, Our Lord's Grace and the Help of a Friend Made It Happen

Seriously, last year, I almost thought I would not be able to continue our family tradition of celebrating my Name Day - St. Anne's feast day.  For, as the day arrived, I found myself swimming in chaos!Both my son and I were on meds for Lyme's disease, and our washer and dryer had been broken for days.  That meant the laundry room was piled high with dirty clothes atop sundry boxes, bins, and bags of "homeless stuff" from other parts of the house which were blockading the door where our broken machines needed to be taken out so new ones could be installed.  Having spent some time working budget wonders in the week prior, I had been able to find money to replace our old machines, and, on the day before St. Anne's fest day, I was faced with the formidable task of clearing the laundry room clutter while managing one Lyme-lethargic child and two exuberant siblings who had been helping as they could, but were also rearing to just enjoy youthful energy.

Needless to say, prayers for the intercession of St. Anne - patron of homemakers and mothers among other things - were needed and, Our Lord must have smiled on those prayers, because a wonderful friend offered to take my children on St. Anne's feast day, so I could finish up the laundry room and manage the removal of broken machines and delivery of new ones without children underfoot. 

Thanks be to God for sending me - a tired mama - a generously kind friend like that and, then, for gifting me with enough energy and focus to do what needed to be done before the delivery men arrived.  By afternoon, the laundry room was organized and the two men who sweated through removal of our old machines and installation of our new ones were sipping some iced water I offered them while I was inwardly offering prayers of thanksgiving for how smoothly things had gone and how happy I knew my children were in the care of my friend. 

I also was delighted, because the delivery and installation didn't take as long as I thought it would, so I had time to pillage our fridge for St. Anne celebration foods, and was able to call my friend to ask her if her children would like to join us for an impromptu feast day when she dropped my children back to me. 

Of course, my friend said that she would be delighted to join us, but that I didn't need to go to any trouble to prepare something special for her nor her children. She knew I had been working hard and must be tired; there was no need for me to expend any extra effort to offer them a meal.  I responded that it really would be my pleasure - not trouble - to put together an impromptu feast day meal for them to join us at.  I was quite grateful that she had taken my children for the day and, since things had gone so smoothly, was excited to continue our annual tradition and to share it with her and her children.

So it was that this happened:

I went through our fridge and cupboards to find any green and red foods that everyone might enjoy since St. Anne is typically depicted in wearing green (for rebirth or immortality) and red (for love).  In doing so, I attempted to keep things healthy with protein and produce choices, but also put out a tray of "treat" chocolate Silk and 100% juice so the children could enjoy something sweet.

I laid all the foods out on a low table outside and, also, put out our green, red, and white pillar candles (for St. Anne's typical colors and Christ's pure love shining down through the generations.)  Alongside these, I placed three books I was able to quickly grab from our shelves each have St. Anne stories and/or prayers in them.

{Disclosure:  Some links which follow are affiliate ones.}

Picture Book of Saints

  Once Upon a Time Saints

Story Library of Saints

Of course, these books are not necessary for your own celebrations.  If you don't have them - or something like them -  you can always use a saint day excerpt from online, like the brief one at Holy Spirit Interactive.

Let the Feasting Begin
 
My preparations went fairly fast, and everything was set to go when my children returned with our friends and, by chance, my husband got home from work and changed into casual clothes.

So, we began with a prayer and chat about St. Anne, and, then, I read a brief excerpt about her before drawing the children's attention to our feast table and asking them what symbolism it might have.

Of course, they quickly noticed the colors - green and red - and the "light of love" with the candles.  One of the children likened the GFCF pretzel sticks either to the tree where the bird's nest St. Anne was said to have spied and prayed by or to the nest itself.

Another likened the stuffed grape vine leaves to St. Anne eventually being full with pregnancy, and someone commented that the chick peas could be like little Mary in St. Anne's belly.  (Gotta love children's imaginations.)

The children noticed the smiley I had made with onions and tomatoes on farm-fresh beans - reminding us of our Lord smiling down on us in love.

They also noticed the hearts I had out on the regular and red pepper hummus bowls - again, representative of God's love for us, as well as of St. Anne's and St. Joachim's love for Mary, and Mary's love for Jesus and for us. 

Likewise, the chocolate squares that were on the table reminded them of the sweetness of God's love.

Chat complete, it was time to dig in...

The children happily served themselves nibbles of this and that...

While I enjoyed making "St. Anne cracker bites"...

And Nina, I think it was, prepared a full plate for Daddy!

Playtime in Honor of the Patron to Homemakers

Bellies satiated, it was then time for free play. 

I had asked the delivery men to let me keep the boxes for our washer and dryer, and, let the kids loose with them.

Before long, scissors, knives, duct tape, and more were coming out.

The children's imaginations and creativity were in full swing.

And on the feast of a saint who is patron to mothers and homemakers, the children made play homes.

Doors of friendship, faith, and gratitude were wide open!

 

With fridge forage, books, candles, boxes, and the blessings of friendship, faith, and fabulous kiddoes, our fifth annual St. Anne celebration - although impromptu - was a success!

I pray your Memorial of Sts. Anne and Joachim is blessed and happy.  As shared on Catholic Company, please join me in praying:

Good parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
grandparents of our Savior, Jesus Christ,

When life seems barren,
help us to trust in God’s mercy.

When we are confused,
help us to find the way to God.

When we are lost in the desert,
lead us to those whom God has called us to love.

When our marriage seems lifeless,
show us the eternal youth of the Lord.

When we are selfish,
teach us to cling only to that which lasts.

When we are afraid,
help us to trust in God.

When we are ashamed,
remind us that we are God’s children.

When we sin,
lead us to do God’s will.

You who know God’s will for husband and wife,
help us to live chastely.

You who know God’s will for the family,
keep all families close to you.

You who suffered without children,
intercede for all infertile couples.

You who trusted in God’s will,
help us to respect God’s gift of fertility.

You who gave birth to the Blessed Mother,
inspire couples to be co-creators with God.

You who taught the Mother of God,
teach us to nurture children in holy instruction.

You whose hearts trusted in God,
hear our prayers for . . . (state your request).

Pray with us for the ministry of Catholic family life.

Pray with us for the ministry of Natural Family Planning.

Pray with us for all who give their time, talent, and treasure to this good work.

Hail Mary . . .  Our Father . . . Glory be . . .

God of our fathers, you gave Saints Anne and Joachim the privilege of being the parents of Mary, the mother of your incarnate Son. May their prayers help us to attain the salvation you have promised to your people.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Celebrate St. Anne with Breakfast Al Fresco This Week

In 2012, I recommitted our family to celebrating our name days and baptism anniversaries.

Shortly thereafter, I kicked off our family tradition with our first celebration of St. Anne, a plant-strong, gluten-free, casein-free "Saint Tea".  ("Saint Tea in quotes, because, as much a I love tea, my children do not.  Thus, our "teas" have developed more into breakfasts, lunches, and dinners through the years.)

Since our first St. Anne "tea", we've enjoyed celebrating St. Anne every year on July 26, the feast day of Saints Joachim and Anne, grandparents to Jesus.  Some years our celebratory meals have been more elaborate and some they have been super simple.  However they have turned out, we have enjoyed sharing faith through food.

Last year was no exception.  On St. Anne's feast day, our family enjoyed a beautiful breakfast al fresco. 

The children helped me to prepare and lay out a simple meal, and, then, we all gathered to pray, chat, and celebrate.

After we all prayed grace, Daddy led us in a prayer.

Then, I focused the children's attention on an image of St. Anne that I had printed out, and we chatted about what we already knew about St. Anne.

{Disclosure:  Some links which follow are affiliate ones.  If you click through them to make any purchase, we may receive small income at no extra cost to you, which is put straight back into training happy hearts in our children and sharing about it here.}

We also read two brief readings about Saint Anne, one from the sweet little book Prayers to the Saints (which sells used for as little as 53 cents) and the other from the classic Picture Book of Saints (which sells used for just a penny).

After that we were more than ready to dig in and enjoy symbolic eats.
St. Anne is typically depicted in wearing green (for rebirth or immortality) and red (for love), so both our table decorations and our food reflected that symbolism.

Green beans, a gift from a friend, reminded us of the gift of grace we receive from Jesus.  The seeds within the beans reminded us of Mary in St. Anne's womb, and, in turn, Jesus in Mary's womb. 

Red raspberries reminded us of the heart of Jesus - so big and so loving for us.  They also reminded us of the Fruits of the Spirit. 

Coconut-fruit smoothies also reminded us of the Fruits of the Spirit as well as the sweetness of God's love.

 

  

Gluten-free pretzels reminded us of prayers St. Anne offered, asking for a child even in her late age.  They also reminded us of the Holy Trinity. 

The hummus the pretzels were dipped in (which added protein to our meal) was brown - an earthy color, and reminded us of the incarnate Jesus, St. Ann's son, coming from the havens to be with us on earth.
 

Watermelon and tomatoes reminded us, again, of the Fruits of the Spirit, as well as the seeds of faith within us. 

Herbs reminded us how something seemingly small - like prayer - can result in big changes - like Mary's birth, and, in turn, Jesus' birth.  For, just as a bit of herb can change the entire flavor of a dish, St. Anne's persistent prayers, when answered by God, changed the world.  Mary was born unto Saints Anne and Joachim, and Jesus to Mary.

The round shape of chocolate chip cookies reminded us of God's eternal love.  The chips in them reminded us of many small prayers answered as well as of the sweetness of answered prayers.

It truly was a lovely breakfast - simple to prepare, delicious, and focused on faith.  I look forward to celebrating St. Anne al fresco again this year and encourage you to consider celebrating saints al fresco with whatever is in your garden, fridge, and pantry, too.  Doing so truly is a tradition that brings fond memories and time spent together celebrating faith.

May your Saints Joachim and Anne day be filled with faith and grace!