Halloween Mantle

I have always loved Fall, with its brisk temperatures, the vibrant, bold colors and everything pumpkin... My birthday is also in October, so Halloween-themed parties were always a part of growing up.  

One thing I was looking forward to when moving into this new house was the fireplace. It is beautiful, it will be able to function when the power goes out (BIG bonus in the country...) and I finally have a mantle to decorate! There is something so elemental about a hearth. It used to be a central feature of the home, where you cooked, gathered for warmth and conversation... it was truly the heart of a home.  I am enjoying decorating my hearth, and I look forward to when the cold weather allows to light the fire and enjoy hot cocoa and board games with the family by its warmth. {Though I can wait- Fall, don't pass by too quickly!}

Dinosaur Dig

My nephew is really into dinosaurs right now. His knowledge of dinosaur facts has me pretty astounded, considering he just turned four today.

For his birthday I wanted to give him something special, so I made him a dinosaur fossil dig:

Dinosaur Fossil Dig

Supplies:
Plastic Container - parents greatly appreciate a lidded container...
Dinosaur Fossils
Play Sand
Brush

For fossils, I found these at a local party supplies store, though they may be found on Amazon HERE.

I purchased a storage tub, a bag of playground sand and an inexpensive art brush to complete the set.

I would recommend filling only a third of the tub with sand, which makes it easier to find the fossils and doesn't weigh the tub down.

Dinosaur Dig Gift

A simple, fun gift for the dinosaur lover.