OBX for the Kids: Keep ‘Em Busy with Fun Beach-themed Crafts

Posted on February 13, 2012

A couple weeks ago we started a new blog series focused on the youngest fans of the OBX – the kiddos.

“OBX for the Kids” is a series of posts centered on the OBX and kids – clever name, right? We’re sharing travel ideas, beach ideas, OBX activities…all with a twist for the little ones.

We have young ones ourselves, so we know what all the parents are up against. How to keep them happy, how to keep them busy…basically, how to keep the whining to a minimum.

Luckily, the beach is a perfect playground to keep the kids busy, so we’re already ahead of the game. But let’s take a look at some fun beach-themed crafts to keep them busy on those rainy days or when it’s time to take a break from fun in the sun.

And a bonus for all of the parental units, these crafts can double as souvenirs, so the Wings tab can stay to a minimum - a fun craft and a daily reminder of the wonderful time they had on their Outer Banks vacation!

Personalized Seashell Here’s a great way for kids to save their treasures from the beach all in one place! Display the final product on a bookshelf or nightstand in your child’s room. What you’ll need: Large shell and several small shells Sand dollar or starfish White craft glue Sponge applicator Miniature craft stick Alphabet beads Sand How to make it: Squeeze a generous amount of white glue all over the inside of the large shell. Spread the glue with the sponge applicator. For the large item, such as a starfish or a sand dollar, add glue to the back of the item then find a spot on the shell where the item will be fairly flush and stick it in place. Add small shells, pebbles, and anything else you like to the remaining area of the large shell. Cover the entire contents of the large shell with sand. Leave for a couple of hours to dry. Pipe a line of glue onto the craft stick and glue the alphabet beads in place, spelling out your name. Let dry. Gently turn the shell over to dump out the excess sand, lightly tapping the shell. Glue the nameplate to the front of the shell and let dry.

Sand-Filled Bottles Take a bit of the Outer Banks home with you by making these cool sand-filled bottles. What you’ll need: Sand Newspaper Wax paper Colored chalk (as many different colors as you like) Clear glass or plastic bottles Stick or pencil White glue or bottle cap Cutting board How to make it: Cover the work surface with newspaper. Place a sheet of wax paper on a cutting board. Place some sand on the wax paper. Roll a piece of colored chalk across the sand until the sand is completely changed to that color. Carefully lift the wax paper and gently shake the sand to the center of the wax paper. Hold both ends of the paper up to use it as a pour spout to pour the colored sand into the bottle. You can use a funnel if you find it easier. Use a stick or the eraser end of a pencil to make a few dips in the sand. Repeat these steps until you have several colors of sand layered in your bottle(s). If you have a cap for your bottle, be sure to fill it completely with sand and press down firmly on the sand to compact it. Place cap on tight. If you do not have a bottle cap, fill sand to about ½” from the top of the bottle. Compact the sand with a pencil or your finger if it fits in the opening and then fill to the top with glue and let dry. Tips: You can use small plastic bottles available at your local craft store or empty jars and bottles that you have on hand. If using sand from the beach, be sure to sift it with a flour sifter first to remove any bits of debris and rock.

Seashell Critters Save the shells you find on the beach and make these adorable little seashell critters. What you’ll need: Seashells in various types and sizes Hot glue gun Wiggle eyes How to make it: Arrange shells together to form different animals and creatures. Have a parent glue them together with hot glue. Add wiggle eyes to your creatures. Tips: It’s best to position the shells first and decide how you want them to go together before gluing. Put cockle shells together to form oyster like creatures. For more colorful projects, paint your shells before gluing together.

Summer Journal Help kids create this simple journal to keep track of the family vacation to the Outer Banks. What you’ll need: Journal or other notebook Foam letters (available as stickers) Foam shapes (we used flower and sport themes) Wiggle eyes Craft jewels Fabric paint tubes White craft glue How to make it: Open journal and make sure it is right side up. Glue foam shapes onto journal wherever you like. Use wiggle eyes, craft jewels, and fabric paint to decorate however your child sees fit. We glued craft jewels onto our purple journal as well as onto the centers of our foam flowers. We used wiggle eyes to give life to the different sports balls. Tips: Many foam shapes are available as stickers now, eliminating the need for the glue and making it easier for smaller children to participate. Foam journals, stickers and shapes are readily available at craft supply stores. You can find them in discount department stores, but selections are not nearly as large. If you child isn’t sure how he/she would like to decorate their journal, have them lay everything out on the cover first. Encourage them to move items around until they are happy with their design. Keep the items all in place and glue each one down one by one.

Summer Vacation Stationery Kids will love this project that allows them to personalize their own letters about their Outer Banks vacation. What you’ll need: Construction paper, card stock or writing paper Foam stamps of your choice Acrylic craft paints Paintbrush How to make it: Lay paper on table. Choose stamps with which you wish to decorate your stationary. After choosing your paint colors, paint a foam stamp and press gently but firmly onto the paper. Decorate with stamps around the edges; just be sure to leave yourself enough room to write your letter. After all paint decorations have dried you can write your letter. Tips: Foam stamps are available in a variety of shapes and themes at your local craft supply store. You can also sign your name by using foam alphabet stamps. Use paint pens or markers to add details to animals or shapes. Match your stationery theme to your vacation. For example, if you visited the beach, use sea shells stamps, fish and other sea creatures.

Sand Sculpture Every sandcastle connoisseur knows the frustration of seeing their masterpiece swept away by the waves. Now you can craft a permanent sand sculpture just by using sand, water and cornstarch. What you’ll need: 3 cups of sand (“play sand” from the hardware store works if you don’t have “beach sand”) 1 1/2 cups of cornstarch 1 1/2 cups of water Newspaper Old cooking pot Large spoon How to make it: Mix the ingredients together in the pot. With the help of a grownup, cook the mixture over low heat, stirring constantly. When it gets thick, take it off of the stove and let cool. Once it is cool, use the spoon to turn it out on the newspaper. Now you can make it into any shape you like, let it dry, and keep your creation forever! Tips: A quick spray of Pam or other lubricating spray helps the sand pop right out of the sandcastle molds. A hole poked into the top of the sandcastle mold also seemed to help. To make the sandcastles pop out perfectly, the trick seemed to be packing the sand mixture into the molds tightly and leaving an air space at the open end of the mold and slamming the mold down hard onto the plate….the extra air helps pop the sand right out.

Ocean Bottle Create your very own ocean waves in a plastic soda bottle and display for all your friends to see. What you’ll need: Empty two liter plastic bottle with lid Clear vegetable oil or mineral oil Water funnel Blue food coloring Small star fish, shells and other sea creatures One tsp glitter White craft glue Hot glue How to make it: Wash and dry two-liter bottle and remove all labels Fill bottle halfway with tap water Add a few drops of blue food coloring and swirl around to mix Add glitter Add sea creatures Fill bottle the rest of the way with vegetable oil using a funnel Be sure that rim and cap are dry, then apply white craft glue around the rim. Seal cap. Use a layer of hot glue around the outer edge of the cap for added protection from leakage Turn bottle on its side and gently rock the bottle to create a “wave” inside your ocean habitat! Tips: Use lightweight starfish, shells and other sea creature toys that can float. Test them first in a bowl or glass of water. Find these at your local craft supply store or discount department store. Make the ocean any color you choose! Blue is standard of course, but if your child’s room is decorated with red and yellow, go with red food coloring. There’s no rule that says your ocean must be blue. Small children will be mesmerized by this creation. They can help make this every step. Let them insert the sea creatures, hold the funnel and help add the tap water. In the steps that may be more difficult for little fingers, have them hold the bottle steady for you while you add the glitter.

Seashell Mobile Make a great souvenir from your Outer Banks vacation with this seashell mobile. What you’ll need: Shells or other finds String 2 pieces of dowel rod, about 1 foot length Glue How to make it: Use string to make dowels into an ‘X’ shape. Glue shells onto several different lengths of string. Let dry about a day. Tie string with shells to dowel rods at all four corners and some between. Hang somewhere you, your friends, and neighbors can all see it and enjoy it. It will also give you a chance to tell everyone about your adventures in collecting your treasures.

All crafts courtesy of www.kaboose.com.

Outer Banks Everyday Magic: My First Sight of the Ocean

Posted on December 29, 2011

Outer Banks: 12.6.11 - Perfect December Beach Day

Do you recall your first trip to the beach? Unfortunately, I was too young (or too old now) to remember my first beach experience, but based on my undying love for the salt air, sand in my toes, and waves knocking me around, I can safely assume it was love at first sight.

Luckily, Deborah can remember her first sight of the ocean, and she’s happy to share it with us. Here’s an awesome edition of our Outer Banks Everyday Magic series that tells the tale of Deborah’s first visit to the OBX…and the Ocean!

Thanks for sharing your great story Deborah!

My first visit to the Ocean was in the early 1990’s with a friend. Having never been to the beach I had no idea what to expect.

We arrived late into the evening after a long drive from Pennsylvania. Instructed by my girlfriend to pull off the road and get out of the car, my senses were keenly tuned with excitement. I opened my door and the warmth of night hit me in the face; we are not in PA anymore Toto.

A sound filled my ears, an erratic, yet methodical, rhythm that was so foreign I was confused for a moment. Tears welled up in my eyes and goose bumps covered my body making the hair stand up on my neck even though it must have been 85 degrees outside. Occasionally catching a glimpse of something white rolling beyond the edge of the sand I couldn’t talk, I was breathless. Overcome with emotion I stood there consumed.

Two years ago my husband and I decided to live the dream and move to the beach. Once again I found myself standing at the edge of Atlantic Ocean on the Outer Banks in the darkness hand in hand with Michael surrounded by the erratic, yet methodical, rhythm of the ocean.

My senses were on overload as the realization began to set in that this was now our home.

Everyday the tide comes in and the tide rolls out. Everyday the sand shifts as the oceans edge meets the beaches of the Outer Banks. I get to experience the Everyday Magic of the Outer Banks, and all I have to do is step outside and listen; sometimes it is loud and crashing, sometimes it is soft and lapping. It is the one constant that never changes no matter the time the day or even the season.

I still well up with tears as the sound of the Outer Banks fills me with its Everyday Magic.

Well, that is a pretty perfect description of Everyday Magic on the OBX! It is amazing how much raw emotion the Outer Banks has to offer to each and everyone that crosses that bridge and feels the harmony and energy of the natural elements at their finest.

I’d love to hear your story of Outer Banks Everyday Magic too. Please use the form below to share your story with me.

OBX Pic O’ the Day: The beach is calling. You should answer…

Posted on August 11, 2011

Outer Banks: 8.11.11 - Gorgeous in Kitty Hawk

The beach is calling. Perfect Outer Banks beach weather today. Bright sun, blue skies, temps in the 80′s, a northeast breeze, and water @ 70+.

Not much surf to report, but the fish are biting!

Time to get some sand between your toes?

Spotlight on the OBX: Nags Head Beach Nourishment

Posted on July 7, 2011

Outer Banks: Nags Head Beach Nourishment 2011

The beaches of the Outer Banks are beautiful; however, they also are extremely fragile. There are many factors that have contributed to the erosion of our beaches throughout the years, including hurricanes, nor’easters, high winds and tidal changes. Starting late May, the Town of Nags Head began dredging sand and pumping onto the shore near Jennette’s Pier to help restore our beautiful beaches.

Once finished, the project will have “nourished” 10 miles of the Nags Head Coastline. Currently, 9,000 feet of beach has been completed between mile post 15 and Jennette’s pier and construction is moving forward better than expected.

Here’s the latest news on the progress of the project:

The first dredge to arrive on the project, the Liberty Island, started in the vicinity of Mile Post 15.5 and has finished just past Jennette’s Pier. The dredge is now located offshore near the Hargrove public beach access. Construction associated with the Liberty Island is now moving north from about the Hargrove beach access to the area just south of Jennette’s Pier. After finishing near Jennette’s Pier, the Liberty Island will move south again towards the Outer Banks Pier.

On Tuesday June 21, an additional dredge, the Texas, arrived from Norfolk and began pumping sand in south Nags Head. Construction related to the Texas is currently scheduled to first move north from Oregon Street, near Surfside Drive, to the Outer Banks Pier, where construction will meet work associated with the Liberty Island dredge.

The project plan calls for widening the beach by an average of ~50 to 150 feet. After initial construction, the beach may appear wider than expected because sand can only be placed on the upper part of the beach profile (say to 6 ft depth or so). Nature will redistribute sand to match a natural profile, meaning some sand will move offshore in the underwater portion of the beach profile (to ~20 ft deep). This does not mean the beach is losing sand; rather, the profile is adjusting following nourishment. The beach width will naturally decrease initially after the project. Obviously sand will erode from the project area over time, but with the sand closely matching the natural beach, erosion rates should be similar to what has been observed over recent years.

For the latest updates and schedules visit www.townofnagshead.net

Outer Banks: Mother Nature Closing Oregon Inlet?

Posted on April 1, 2011

Mother Nature Closing Oregon Inlet? - 4.1.11

The Virginia Pilot recently reported the U.S Coast Guard’s intention to close the Oregon inlet channel connecting the Outer Banks Sound to the Atlantic Ocean. With water depths dropping to substantially low levels of 9 feet from the typical range of 30 to 40 feet, Coast Guard officials are worried about the safety of current conditions and the alternate routes some boaters are taking.

Mother Nature is filling the inlet with sand faster than the Army Corps of Engineers can clear in its daily dredging of the inlet. An effort was made two years ago with over $12 million in stimulus dollars appointed to dredge the inlet but was later destroyed by a storm.

With federal funding at only $1 million compared to the usual $4 million, a projected $10 million as an estimate to complete the job fully, and nature’s inclination to draw sand into Oregon Inlet, officials and taxpayers are less than eager to throw more money at the problem.

A long-term, lasting solution is clearly needed. But, in the meantime, shaving a few million dollars from the dredging work is likely to do more damage to the local OBX economy than it is to help ease the federal deficit.

According to a 2006 study by Dare County, the boating and fishing industries generate more than $682 million a year in revenues and support close to 10,000 jobs.

Given the economic detriment of allowing the inlet to close, Outer Banks residents and vacationers hope Congress and the Obama Administration fund the project until a more permanent fix is found.

We sent one of our roving reporters to Oregon Inlet the other day, and the below video helps demonstrate the issue. If you are familiar with Oregon Inlet, you will recognize the familiar scene of a fishing boat heading home from a trip to the Atlantic and approaching the Bonner Bridge. But rather than the usual straight shot through the channel, the pictures demonstrate that due to the sand filling in and the lack of consistent dredging recently, boats are now required to make an awkward approach to the bridge where they must turn south before swinging north close to the bride and hugging the bridge before turning west at the last minute to make their way under the bridge. This is a relatively complex approach that is adding danger to a usual easy cruise through the Inlet.

Update: The Virginian Pilot is now reporting that the Coast Guard plans to ban large vessels from Oregon Inlet. There are mixed reviews on this issue but it seems that Mother Nature isn’t backing down and now we have to ask…. Where do we go from here?

Update: WRAL reports that Governor Bev Purdue will order the Coast Guard to close Oregon Inlet declaring it impassable for large fishing vessels.

Update 4/18: WRAL reports that a larger dredge is moving into the area to make sure Oregon Inlet remains open to commercial fishing vessels.

Update 4/20: The Virginia Pilot is reporting that unless a new funding source is confirmed, the dredging at Oregon Inlet will stop in early June. “The $4 million budget for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to dredge the channel this fiscal year will be exhausted within the first week of June…When that money is gone, there is no plan to maintain the waterway for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.”

Hopefully Federal and/or State funding is secured before early June.