Learning At Home: A Magic Picture!

We hardly have time to do home learning during the school term these days, what with Little Bee's CCAs and school work. So, it was a much welcomed reprieve when we finally managed to squeeze in time to do some fun crafts during the June holidays.

This interesting "magical" craft amused Little Bee for a couple of hours! I tried this with Big Bee when she was younger, and she was amazed at the end product. It was truly gratifying when we saw the same sense of wonderment in Little Bee's eyes too!

This "magical" picture changes from monochrome to colourful with just a pull of your hand - what wizardry indeed!

You will need:
Thin card or paper
Scissors
Markers, colour pencils, felt tip pens
Small plastic folder
Tape

Step 1: Take a sheet of thin paper and fold it carefully into 3 equal sections.

Step 2: On the front flap, mark out a rectangle and the finger grip space. Cut away the finger grip space.

Step 3: Open out the card and cut out the rectangle. This will be the front of the card.

Step 4: Draw a decorative border on the front frame. Cut a separate piece of paper that is the same size as one section of the card, and draw your design, colouring the entire picture.

Step 5: Slip your completed picture into the plastic folder with the top against the fold of the plastic. Trim the plastic folder to the picture, and use the tape to stick the back of the picture to the plastic.

Step 6: Use a marker pen and draw an outline of the picture on the plastic.

Step 7: Fold the bottom flap of your card into the middle section. Slip the plastic-covered picture over the bottom flap. The bottom flap is now between the coloured picture and the outlined picture on the plastic flap. Fold the top flap down over the plastic. Grip the plastic and paper, and then pull the coloured picture out. Voila! The picture will seem to appear magically in colour as you pull it out. Enjoy!

Little Bee was able to work on this herself with minimal help from me. She had loads of fun! Experiment with different pictures like a hillside covered with white, fluffy sheep or a bare table top with a birthday cake appearing on it (I am excited to try this one out!).

{100 Places}: Tiong Bahru

We spent an unhurried, languid afternoon in the old Tiong Bahru precinct, soaking in charming nostalgia and immersing in the laidback culture. Quirky shops and cafes sprung up alongside old, fascinating residential blocks and kopitiams. We ambled along its quiet streets and admired the plethora of bicycles all around. We loved the old walk-up apartments that were wistfully dreaming of an era spanning decades of turbulence in Singapore. We browsed in hole-in-the-wall bookshops and had breakfast and coffee in 2 fancy cafes (that were really pricey, in my humble opinion!). 

It was great for the Bees to see another slower side of Singapore, where crowds were elusive and the pace less hectic. Where one can browse in creatively original shops, without the need to visit large, sterile chain malls.

Early evening was exquisite - with tangerine golden sunrays casting a warm glow on the old gracious buildings. It is little niches like this that make me love the varied landscape of Singapore - and I hope that more quaint areas will be preserved and kept in their original condition, without the need to construct new boring and colourless air-conditioned malls!