Blooming Through Time — DIY floral Sun Catcher Memory

Some crafts don’t just catch sunlight… they catch memories. Some creations take just an hour to make… but years to share!!! These cheerful DIY floral sun catchers, made with glass bangles and fresh flowers, have been tucked away in my heart for four long years. And today, as I revisit the photos and the joy that bloomed with them, it feels like they were made just yesterday.

It was a warm afternoon back then — simple, homey, and filled with giggles. No big plans, no elaborate materials — just a few colorful glass bangles, transparent tape, some string, and an abundance of freshly picked flowers from our garden.  My 7-year-old son, along with my niece and nephew, all wide-eyed and excited, joined me for this spontaneous crafting session. What began as a “let’s try something fun” turned into a soul-soothing family activity and one of the most cherished nature crafts for kids I’ve ever done.

We used transparent tape, and carefully arranged the colorful blooms within the glass bangle rings. When hung by threads, they swayed gently, reflecting light and childhood laughter like tiny memory catchers.

I didn’t post them back then. I don’t know why. Maybe I wanted to hold the moment a little longer, or maybe life simply moved on, as it does. But today, as I revisit these pictures, I feel the same quiet warmth.

Over time, the flowers may have faded, but the warmth of that day still shines so clearly in my heart. I’m finally sharing them here on Sindhu's Cocoon, not just as a craft idea, but as a gentle reminder — that creativity shared with children becomes a timeless treasure.

Nature kids crafts like these aren’t just about making something beautiful — they’re about slowing down, working side by side, and capturing a moment with the people you love.

Whether it's a rainy day or a lazy summer afternoon, this easy DIY sun catcher craft with fresh flowers is a beautiful way to bond, play, and preserve a moment. All you need is:

• Old glass bangles or any stuff which you think would do this job
• Fresh flowers and leaves
• Transparent tape or contact sheet
• Some yarn or thread for hanging

The outcome? A fluttering string of sunshine and memories — handmade, heartfelt, and utterly joyful. Create your own collection of light and memory and these look beautiful as a group. So try making a few and creating a hanging mobile!

Happy Parenting! J

 

 

A Window to Joy: Crafting Nature's Beauty with My Little One

Some moments in life have a gentle magic—quiet, simple, yet so profoundly heartwarming. This post is about one such moment—a little craft we created on a gray, gloomy day that ended up bringing so much light into our hearts.

It was one of those rainy mornings where everything outside looked a bit dull, but inside our home, creativity was blooming. My daughter and I decided to do a nature-inspired craft together, using what we had around—some cardboard, transparent contact sheet (or clear cello tape), and the beautiful Mountain Laurel flowers blooming just outside our window.

We framed the delicate pink flowers and fresh green leaves inside our cardboard window. Holding it up against real windows and in the open air felt like framing a piece of nature’s poetry. My daughter’s joy when she saw how the sunlight streamed through the petals was pure magic. Her little hands holding up the frame, her giggles, her excited, wide eyes—it all made my heart melt. I loved capturing the final piece through my camera—those clicks felt more like saving pieces of joy than just taking pictures.

How We Did It:

• We cut out cardboard strips and made a square frame out of it.
• Then, we used a cello tape laid sticky-side up inside the frame.
• We gently pressed fresh Mountain Laurel flowers and leaves between the sticky sides, creating a beautiful see-through nature collage.
• That’s it! A floral frame that looks stunning when held against sunlight or placed on a windowsill.

In the end, this simple little window frame full of flowers became a beautiful window into happiness and creativity. If you're looking for something calming, colorful, and bonding to do with your child—or even just for yourself—I wholeheartedly recommend giving this a try.

Let nature and creativity bloom together, one petal at a time. Try this simple yet colourful activity with flowers and leaves of your choice to make a magnificent one and please share the same with me to spread the happiness!

Happy Parenting! J

 

 

 

A Canvas Full of Butterflies, and Hope..!

Life has taken me through a journey of many seasons since my last post in 2021— some bright, some shadowed, and many that taught me the beauty of stillness and patience. But today, as I return to this little corner of the internet I once poured my heart into, I do so with a simple piece of art that holds so much meaning: a canvas filled with butterflies, born from tiny pieces of paper and gentle hope.

The Process Behind the Piece

One afternoon, I sat down with my craft box — not with a plan, but with a feeling. I punched out dozens of little butterflies from lavender paper and began placing them onto the canvas, forming the shape of one large butterfly. As I arranged each one, I found myself reflecting on my own journey — all the moments I felt stuck, lost, or unsure of where life was heading.

Toward the top corner, I introduced a burst of colors — orange, yellow, green, blue — representing freedom, diversity, and the beautiful unknown that lies beyond fear. These butterflies are the ones taking flight, finally free from the cocoon of limitation and doubt.

And then I wrote the quote — carefully, lovingly — because it perfectly captures everything this piece stands for.

More Than Just a Craft

This was more than just an art project. It was healing. Therapeutic. A quiet way of saying, “I’m still here. I’m still growing. And I’m ready to fly again.”

We all go through phases where we feel like the caterpillar — crawling through challenges, feeling slow, heavy, or unseen. And it’s so easy to think it’s the end… that nothing beautiful could come next.

But transformation takes time. It requires stillness, surrender, and trust. And when the time is right, we unfold our wings — more vibrant and resilient than we ever imagined.

This canvas now rests near my workspace, reminding me daily of the quiet power of growth, and the magic of trusting the process.

Why I’m Sharing This

As I post this today, I want to say to anyone reading — whether you’ve followed my blog from the start or have just stumbled upon it now — don’t give up on your own transformation.

Your wings are forming in silence. One day, you’ll look back at these hard days and realize they were the birthplace of something beautiful.

I hope this piece speaks to your heart as it did to mine. Leave a comment, send a message, or just take a quiet breath and smile — knowing you, too, are in the process of becoming.

More posts and reflections are coming your way. I’m beyond grateful to be creating and writing again.

Thank you

Happy Parenting :)

  

Petal Couture: A Whimsical Afternoon with My Daughter 🌸

 After a long break from writing, I’m so happy to return to this space—and I couldn’t think of a better way to start than by sharing a small, joy-filled moment from yesterday. With just a piece of cardboard, a pencil, and a handful of fresh mountain laurel flowers, my 4-year-old daughter👸 and I created a simple, magical piece of art: a blooming ball gown made of real petals.

 The idea was spontaneous. We spotted the mountain laurels blooming in our yard and thought, why not turn them into a dress? I sketched a figure, and she carefully arranged each petal like a little designer. The result was far from perfect—but absolutely precious.

 

🌸 What we used: 

• Cardboard 

• Sketch pen

• Freshly picked mountain laurel flowers

• A sprinkle of imagination 

It reminded me of something I had nearly forgotten in the busyness of life:

✨ That creativity doesn’t need perfection. 

✨ That beauty can be found in the simplest of things.

✨ And that the best kind of bonding often happens in the quiet corners of a messy table filled with laughter, glue, and petals. 

This post marks a fresh start on SindhusCocoon. I’ll be sharing more of our everyday adventures, creative sparks, and reflections—from motherhood to mindful moments. 

Thank you for being here. And if you’re looking for a meaningful, screen-free activity with your child—just step outside. Nature has everything you need.

 Happy Parenting 😊

Open ended play with Nature's loose parts!

 Open ended toys are not new to us! Age-old method, when we talk about children's play. When I give a set of toy to LO, he plays with that for sometime (like the way in which it should be played) and soon we can find him in a completely different play with the same set of toy. Kids don't have preconceived notions about how they should play with a toy/game until we tell them so. And this is how the kid's brain are designed I think. Creative, Exploring and Imaginative! Open ended play encourages child's problem solving skills and decision making.

LO and his cousins mostly spend time with animal toys and pretend play. Open ended toys are not new to them. But then I had these pebbles and so wanted to setup this nature play activity! Along with the pebbles I added Nature's loose parts like sticks, leaves of dragon money plant and sand. The kids brought in some animal toys on their part (They can't play any game without animal toys!). This is a no-setup activity but I wouldn't say mess free!! Be ready to protect your floor as this is an open ended play, surprises are to be expected!😆

Open ended toys - Be it any toy or small fabric pieces, old socks, pen cap, blocks, cups, shells, pebbles and sticks, all of these have many possible uses. They can be imagined into any kind of pretend object. The possibilities are confined only to a kid's imagination and creativity. 

We had fun in combining open ended play with the nature's loose parts. Hope you too liked this and give a try with your kids and let me know how you guys enjoyed!

Happy Parenting!😊

Burn a paper using magnifying lens.. STEM activity for kids

To me, STEM activities should be introduced to kids as early as from kindergarten to expose them to the amazing world of science. Whether they understand the science concept or not, I'm sure they would enjoy the outcome of the experiments.

The science behind this burning of paper without  fire is....When a magnifying glass is held over a piece of paper at a distance equal to its focal length, the sun's rays falling on the lens converge at a point that lies somewhere on the paper. Thus, solar energy spread over the lens surfacearea gets concentrated at one point....That's when the paper starts burning. Science apart!!! Let's go to the fun part....

This idea of making "Sindhus Cocoon" on paper is from my niece. You need a lot of patience to do this experiment. Once you find out the focal length of the lens it's an easy peasy activity. But again you need lot of patience 😉Click the following link to experience the amazing output of science!! Burn the paper without 🔥 🔥 🔥!!

You just need a magnifying lens, paper and ofcourse a hot Sunny day....

Hope you liked watching the video... Please share your comments and inputs. 

Amazing DIY maze activity

Want to setup a quick customizable maze for your kids that improves concentration and boost brain !!! Here comes the playdough to give us a helping hand.. We just need playdough, a small marble and a writing pad or any flat object for the setup (You can either use a cardboard or a tray). Kids helped me in rolling the playdough and it turned out to be a dual fun activity. To make the activity more challenging have two marbles to run along the maze... We also tried playing the maze with blind folded. It was super fun and kids enjoyed by playing it again and again!! 

Click on the link for the circular maze.. 

And the blind folded try here!!! Though we didn't accomplish on blind folding, her try is commendable... 

Keep checking this space for more amazing activities...

Happy Parenting..

Frozen Dinosaur Eggs - Surprise STEM Activity for Kids !!!

I hope the Dino Land - Sensory play table activity is sure to enthrall kids of all ages!! Plus on a hot day playing with ice cubes is so refreshing!!! What if there is a surprise factor added to it!! Yeah, I decided to make some frozen dinosaurs to be released from icy eggs for the surprise twist! 

Click the video, to experience the surprise factor!! 

How to make the Dino eggs:

1. You will need miniature dinosaur figurines, a balloon for each figurine, water and glitter (adding glitter is optional, which I didn't add! )

2. Simply shove a dinosaur into a balloon, fill the balloon with water and tie it off. Pop the balloons into the freezer shelf and make sure not to squash its shape so that it retains its lovely egg shape.

3. Once they are frozen take out the eggs and immediately cut open the balloon and set them to play. Need not to say how fast the dino eggs would melt in the hot Indian climate. So we need to act really fast.

The main motto of the play is to release the infant dinosaurs from the frozen eggs, using small props like, droppers, syringes, fork whatever you can find!!(kids safe props)

We placed the eggs in a cup of water to make it melt fast.

And finally the tiny dinosaurs are out of the frozen eggs and ready to munch on some food!!!

I would say this is a good sensory activity, feeling the icy eggs, and learning how to use dropper and syringes. Understanding the nature of icy eggs and guessing what would take to make it melt are the basics of STEM learning. In each step of the setup, right from hoping the dino into the balloon and the next day releasing the dinos from the frozen eggs, the kids were actively involved, raised many questions and had great fun!!

Happy Parenting!!😊😊😊

Lets go into Space! - Solar System Activity for kids

Solar System - Always throws abundance opportunity to learn, explore, imagine and ast(r)onish too!! The darkness of space have constantly kindled man kind to explore, discover and achieve.

Kids at this generation are very eager to learn new things. Even before we think to introduce a new topic/concept they gain some insight about it through books, media, etc. My kids aren't any exception. Well before I plan for an idea, they would suggest on some new concept, to my surprise!! This activity is one of the kind. The sheer size and novelty of the Solar System may make it hard for the young minds to comprehend!! So I planned for an activity - "Learn through play"🌞.

Kids gave me few suggestions - Having the "lives" concept incorporated, which they borrowed from Jumanji movie and using the colorful balls to denote the planets. They were so co-operative with me during the setup! Helped me with the chalk work, collected all the balls and other necessary stuffs. 

The Setup:

Draw the model of solar system using the sidewalk chalk. I named all the planets with different colors and drew the planets to scale, approximately! Later we used different colored balls of different sizes to model the planets. By then we discussed which is the Biggest planet, Blue planet, Red Planet, Coldest Planet, Dwarf Planet, Planet which has rings, Brightest planet etc. 

It was completely an edutainment for us!! (To stop the balls from rolling during play, we placed the balls on small rings or any object and ensured they are still!) I also included ISS, which is a new term for them. I took the help of "Tik Tik Tik"(2018) tamil movie, to explain about the "Space walk" and "ISS" (International Space Station) concepts!!

Day 1:

This is the dice we used for the game... I planned for a giant sized dice made out of cardboard, but my niece was so kind, that she said no need to waste a cardboard, and instead lets play with normal dice!!!

 As the Astronauts were getting ready for the play.......

It started to drizzle!!!

We dropped the play, and enjoyed the rain....!

Day 2:

Next day with the same enthusiasm we started again... Initial setup of placing the planets, I mean the balls were done by "Astronauts"...!!

My niece's idea of  having "lives"... used cello tape to mark them... Imitating "Jumanji"..!!!

And the setup is complete!!

Before starting the game, lets see about the "Gaming Rules"....

• 2  - Mercury. The number on dice decides the game and the score board. When the dice shows 2, the player rockets to Mercury and also gains 2 points. Since it is very close to the Sun, the player gets back to his previous planet; and no points gets added to his score board.
• 3 - Venus. If the number on the dice shows 3, the player moves to Venus and gains 3 points.(Likewise for rest of the planets...) Since Venus is the Brightest planet, the player enjoys more light, and rest of the players lose one point!
• 4 - Earth. Home Planet! When the player reaches Earth, he gets to fill his rocket with fuel for free!!! Gains 2 points.
• 5 - Sun. Getting to the hottest place, the player loses a life!!!
• 6 - Mars. The player gets a chance to work with "Mangalyan Mission". Gains a point and also the Mangalyan band!
• 7 - Jupiter. Being on the biggest planet of the system, the player gets an extra turn to throw the dice.
• 8 - Saturn. Enjoy playing on the rings of Saturn and gain a point.
• 9 - Uranus. As you went far away from the Sun, the player loses a point and also gets to shiver in the cold
• 10 - Neptune. The player loses a point. 
• 11 - Pluto.The player misses a chance. 
• 12 - ISS. The player enjoys to attend a workshop at ISS and gains 5 points.
• The game continues until all the player loses their lives (the three strips of cello tape!!!).

 Noting the points scored by the Astronauts...

And the space travel begins...!

This is "Mission Mangalyan" band..!! Those who land on Mars would get to wear this, until the next Astronaut reaches Mars...

Lost a life after landing on the Sun...

The coincidence was all three of them lost a life at the same time..! They all got to land at the Sun one after the other!! And you know what they did...

They played, "Ring a Ring o' Roses"!!!! Without bothering about the very hot temperature on the Sun...

And this is the score board...

The Astronaut with the highest points get to travel to the nearest galaxy the "Andromeda"... !!!

Hope you enjoyed the space travel. Please drop your comments and let us know what do you feel about this game.

Happy Parenting😊😊😊