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Fun With Felt Newsletter for http://www.funfelt.com
Issue 23 - June 2001
Karen Christensen, Independent Story Teller Director
Email: mailto:karen@... Phone: 707-829-9693
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Welcome!
Coupon - Subscribers Only!
Announcements
June Fun Felt (The Story Teller) SALE Items
June FEATURED THEMATIC UNIT IDEAS: Summer Fun!

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W - E - L - C - O - M - E !

Hello and thank you for your interest in this issue of Fun With Felt! I
hope you enjoy the ideas presented here by myself and other Independent
Story Teller Distributors and Managers on my Fun Felt team. If you have
any questions or need clarification, please email the individual
distributors at the addresses listed or let me know! If you haven't done so
already, please visit http://www.funfelt.com to learn more about The Story
Teller and what we have to offer to parents and educators!

All content included in this newsletter is the property of the independent
Story Teller distributors listed, The Story Teller, Inc., or myself, Karen
Christensen, unless otherwise specified. Every attempt has been made to give
credit to the proper party where ideas from the public domain are shared.
Please feel free to pass this newsletter on as long as you include all
contact information.

Karen Christensen
Independent Story Teller Director and FunFelt.com Owner
mailto:karen@... - http://www.funfelt.com

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
* CONTEST * CONTEST * CONTEST * CONTEST *
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Place an order of any size at our funfelt.com site or personally
through any of the following distributors, and your name will be
entered into a drawing to win a $10 Gift Certificate! Must mention
that you would like to enter the Fun With Felt June Contest to be
registered! Winner will be announced in the next newsletter.

Karen Christensen (CA) mailto:karen@...
Jacqui Gaskill (NJ) mailto:gaskill1@...
Nicole Martinez (FL) mailto:nicole4felt@...
Stacey Nerone (OH) mailto:JSLNerone@...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
* CONTEST * CONTEST * CONTEST * CONTEST *
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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ANNOUNCEMENTS:
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* CHANGES - Lots is going on out here! First I wanted to tell
everyone about my name change. I am transitioning back to my maiden
name so do not be surprised by the Christensen vs. Salomon. Both
names will work for a while though! Another change is that some
prices will be going up in July/August when our new catalog is
released so if there is something you've been thinking about
ordering, NOW is a good time! Remember you get at least $7.50 in
FREE product when you place an order over $50! Be sure to check the
site by August to see NEW products!

* CATALOG PARTIES - Send your internet friends to my site and have
them type in your name as "hostess" on the order form, or email you
their order, or pass around order forms with a catalog we send you
and you can be a long-distance hostess! Items can be shipped
individually anywhere in the world, which means you can be the
hostess in your home town, collect orders locally, and also benefit
from your long distance friends ordering - their items can be shipped
straight to them! We simply collect and place all the orders at once,
and the total amount of orders counts as a "party" - You get FREE
FELT and a HALF OFF item of your choice! It's easy, it's fun, and
it's a great way to expose more children to the joy of using felt!

* BIRTHDAYS - Remember Story Teller felt makes GREAT birthday party
gifts! Our products are unique, durable, and educational! There is
something for every budget and chances are the child will not already
have it! Create a Face (on special this month) is a great universal
choice!

* JULY/AUGUST NOTICE: We will be having an EXCLUSIVE set available
ONLY to July/August hostesses - Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You
See - in FELT! Plus the book! Ask your distributor how to set up your
July/August party so you can get this GREAT set that will ONLY be
available to hostesses!

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JUNE STORY TELLER - FUN FELT SALE ITEMS
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All of the following items are on SALE this month! In order to receive the
item at the sale price, payment must be received in time to be processed by
your distributor by the 28th of June.

Click on links to all of these items at http://www.funfelt.com/specials.html

NOTE: Our felt is thick, soft, washable, colorfast and tear-resistant. All
items except for some Scripture Stories sets require *cutting* and some items
such as activity books require assembly with craft glue or hot glue.
Instructions are included. Both mounted and unmounted background
prices for story board sets are listed here, but we *highly*
recommend purchasing felt board sets pre-mounted so they are closer
to playtime when you receive them!

Too hot to go out and play? Stay in and learn with felt!


HOSTESS SPECIAL

"Mommy, what can I do?" You know the question is coming... and we
know how to help! Be a June Story Teller home party or catalog party
Hostess and receive the FARM FUN SERIES at a reduced price! This
special includes an exclusive 3-month Calendar filled with activities
for the long days of summer and three coordinating cookie cutters for
snacks that go with the units! This set will give you something to do
every day, all summer long!

Collect at least $500 in orders or have a live demonstration or
online party resulting in $500+ in sales and arrange 3 future
"bookings" with friends who would like the same opportunity, and you
will receive a combination set of our popular Farm Fun Series
Preschool Curriculum Set for only $7.95 (reg. $49.95)! Collect $350
with 3 bookings and purchase it for only $17.95 Collect $250 with 2
bookings and purchase it for only $27.95. What a deal!

Description: Farm Fun Preschool Curriculum Series

This special collection teaches preschoolers math, science,
reading/writing skills, art, music, and P.E. in a group or individual
setting. There are 3 main units with a total of 9 mini-unit lessons
that include fully outlined lesson plans for the attention-getting
activity, group fun, 3 center activities, coloring pages, activity
sheets, P.E. activity, and a snack idea. T
Lesson titles are:
Shapes, Emotional Awareness
Literary Elements
Working Together
Color Recognition
Recognizing
Counting and Ordering Numerals 1-10
Positional Prepositions
Plant Growth and Parts
Baby Chicks Come From Eggs

This set is a must for parents who want to give their child a head
start, preschool teachers, kindergarten teachers, and day care
providers. Includes one Medium Blue Board for use with the 107 felt
figures included (1 set per lesson unit).

To order without hosting a party, order item #55085 Farm Fun Series
$47.95 ($68.50 value)
See Hostess Information Page for information on setting up your own
live demo or online party! Catalog parties qualify as well!


JUNE PRODUCT SPECIALS

Table Top Town
You know how important it is to practice the ABCs and 123s during the
summer months. You also know that your child may think that's a big
drag! With Table Top Town, they'll be practicing while playing! And
you save $5 when you order in June!

This is a table top felt set that includes 4 learning activities in
one game board style play center that revolves around a town's
activities. Build a playground, sky scraper, a road and a bridge.
Work on a car and a truck in a mechanic's shop. Visit a police
station, a fire station, a hospital, and a recycling center. Children
search for ABCs, play with a ruler to take measurements, find hidden
shapes, and find various items with quantities from one to eight - in
each scene!

Center rotates so that each skill can be done. 16 learning activities
in all + the construction play and more! Several children can play at
one time. Includes 35" octagon background which rests on a table top
or floor, and 62 felt pieces (not all are shown). Assembly is
required, with hot glue or fabric glue as well as cutting.
Instructions, background information, and answer key included.

#7708 Table Top Town Reg. $29.95 SALE PRICE $24.95


Create A Face

The combinations are endless with this hilarious set of blank face
forms, eyes, mouths, ears noses, hair and more! See who can make a
complete face first!

Includes 4 blank faces and 67 felt features including clown face
figures, an ear with a hearing aid, a mouth with braces, and ears
with an earrings which can spark discussion of differences! Enough
figures are included to create a clown, a mime, 2 boys, and 2 girls.

Can be used to discuss the 5 senses, individual differences in
appearance, and emotions. Younger children can sort the pieces into
categories. This set makes a perfect birthday party gift - it is
inexpensive but so completely fun and unique! Children from 2-12 will
sit for extended periods of time creating the fun faces.

#7111 Create A Face Reg. $13.95 SALE PRICE $10.95

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JUNE FEATURED ACTIVITIES: Summer Fun!
==============================================================

The following ideas came from Independent Distributor from Ohio,
Stacey Nerone. You can contact Stacey at
<http://www.funfelt.com/staceyn.html>http://www.funfelt.com/staceyn.html
THANKS STACEY!


Summer is a great time to make your own *Bubbles*, *Face Paint*,
*Sidewalk Chalk*, and *Finger Paints.* Children love to make these
and they are wonderful outdoor activities.

Bubbles

1 cup green dishwashing detergent
1/2 cup glycerin, available at drug stores
1/2 cup water

In a metal can or plastic container, combine the detergent, glycerin
and water. Mix thoroughly. Dip a wand into the container, making
sure a film of bubble liquid is stretched across it. Blow gently for
supper long-lasting bubbles. Yield 2 cups.

Face Paint

2 tsp. shortening
2 1/2 tsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. white flour
3-4 drops glycerin, available at drug stores
Food coloring
Cold cream
Cotton swabs

Thoroughly mix the shortening, cornstarch and flour until it forms a
paste. Add the glycerin and stir again until the mixture becomes
smooth and spreadable. Add food coloring a drop at a time until you
get the color that you like. For easy paint removal later, smooth a
dab of cold cream on the child's face before painting. Use cotton
swabs to create simple designs such as a sun, heart, football, daisy
or others. Homemade face paint washes off with soap and water.

Sidewalk Chalk

3/4 cup warm water
1 1/2 cup plaster of Paris
2-3 T washable tempera paint (powdered or liquid)
Large plastic mixing containers (recycled margarine tubs work well)
Toilet tissue tubes
Duct tape or masking tape

Prepare chalk molds by covering one end of each tissue tube with
tape. Set aside. Pour the warm water into your mixing container,
then sprinkle the plaster powder into the water a bit at a time until
it no longer dissolves (about 1 1/2 cups). Stir thoroughly until
mixture is as thick as pudding . Add tempera paint into the tissue
tubes. Gently tap the side of each tube to get rid of air bubbles.
Let dry for 1 or 2 days, peel off mold and chalk up a masterpiece!!


Finger Paints

1 envelope unflavored gelatin
2 1/1 cups cold water
1 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup soap flakes
2 drops each of 4 shades of icing color paste, available at craft and
baking supply stores

In a small bowl, sprinkle gelatin over 1/2 cup of the water and mix
until dissolved. Combine the cornstarch, soap flakes and remaining 2
cups of water in a saucepan, over medium heat. Add the gelatin
mixture to the saucepan, stirring until it becomes thick. Remove the
pan for the heat and strain the mixture equally into 4 containers.
Cool for one hour, and then add a different shade of icing color
paste to each container. Fold in the color until thoroughly mixed.
Store in the refrigerator when not in use. Yields 3/4 cup of each
color.

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The next ideas come from Independent Story Teller Distributor from
Florida, Nicole Martinez. You can contact Nicole at
http://www.funfelt.com/nicole.html THANKS NICOLE!


Aquarium Plate

Paint a sturdy paper plate ble. Cut out fish shapes, sea fans, and seaweed
from construction paper. Glue to painted plate. Glue seashells and sand onto
the bottom of plate. Punch a hole in the top and use yarn to hang.

Magnetic Fishing

Tie a magnet to a string and attach string to a stick. Go "fishing" among a
group of metallicitems (paper clips, washers, keys, coins, and screws). Then
fish for larger items (refrigerator, toys).

Reflecting Light

On a bright, sunny day go outdoors and practice reflecting light using a
small mirror.

Sunshine Shakes

1/2 C milk
1/2 C OJ
1/2 C ice

Blend all ingredients and enjoy.

~*~*~*~*~~*~~*~*~~*~*~

This next idea is from Independent Distributor from New Jersey,
Jacqui Gaskill. Jacqui's website is
http://www.funfelt.com/jacqui.html THANKS JACQUI!

For preschoolers, mix sand into some yellow or tan fingerpaint and then they
can fingerpaint a really great sandcastle.

~*~*~*~*~~*~~*~*~~*~*~

Summer Treats: Popsicles for Pennies!
From: http://www.thefamilycorner.com/family/frugal/popsicles.shtml

You can make popsicles inexpensively and deliciously out of all kinds
of wonderful things. All you need are some popsicle molds and
something sweet to put in them. Pick up the popsicle molds at garage
sales or thrift stores for even bigger savings!

Fill your molds with any of the following and freeze:
a.. Juice(any kind)
b.. Leftover soda (that may have gone flat in a two liter bottle)
c.. Kool-aid
d.. Leftover yogurt (you can sweeten it with jelly or fruit if it's plain)
e.. Pudding
f.. Pureed fruit
g.. Chocolate milk
h.. Fruit Cocktail or the juice from canned fruit
i.. Leftover Fruit Shakes
j.. Whipped topping and fruit
k.. Jello/Gelatin
l.. Apple Sauce or Cranberry Sauce
m.. Pie Filling (you can tone this down with yogurt)
n.. Jam Jar Cleanout (from the Tightwad Gazette): Get all of the
jam out of that empty jar by putting some milk in it, putting the lid
on and shaking. Pour the flavored milk into a popsicle mold.
FUN IDEAS

Striped:
Layer popsicles with different colored or flavored layers of pudding,
yogurt, or jello.

Parfait Pops:
Layer with whipped topping in between.

Party Pops:
Add sprinkles, chocolate chips, marshmallows, nuts or coconut to your
popsicles. You can also make them wild colors with food coloring.

Rocky Road Pops:
1 package of chocolate pudding
1/2 cup marshmallows
1/4 cup peanuts

Mix, fill molds and freeze.

Pina Coladas
Whirl pineapple juice, coconut and banana in a blender, then fill
molds and freeze. You can also use the Pina Colada fruit shake recipe.

Dreamsicles
Mix 1-2 tsp. Tang and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract with milk. You can
adjust to your taste. Fill molds and freeze.

Rocket Pops
Layer red, then white, then blue Kool-Aid, juice or Jell-O for
festive popsicles, reminiscent of what the ice cream man used to sell.

Here are some ideas for mix-and-match rocket pops:

Red: red Kool-Aid, fruit punch, berry juice, red Jell-O or white with
red food coloring (may turn out pink)
White: white grape juice, milk, yogurt, coconut or vanilla pudding,
vanilla fruit shake
Blue: Blue Kool-Aid or Jell-O, or white with blue food coloring.

Note: This is really easy if you just start off with white, split
amount in three parts, and color one part red and one part blue. The
kids won't notice that they are all the same flavor.

Fizzy Lifting Pops
Mix club soda and gelatin to make bubbly Jell-O, then freeze in
molds. You could also try mixing club soda and juice, then freezing.
Jell-O sells a line of "Sparkling Jell-O" that captures the bubbles
when you add the club soda. It's cool! Wait until it goes on sale for
25 cents a box, then stock up!

Chocolate Banana Crunch Pops
This is a family favorite. Get bananas when they are cheap. Melt some
chocolate and a little paraffin wax (yes, the kind for canning, it's
ok to eat-it's in every candy bar!) in the microwave (usually just
1-2 minutes will melt it). Dip bananas in chocolate and roll in
chopped peanuts. Place on cookie sheet covered with waxed paper, and
freeze. You can put a stick on the end if you want, we never do. They
are wonderful and cheap!

~*~*~*~*~~*~~*~*~~*~*~
That's it for now!

Thank you again for subscribing to this newsletter! Please tell a friend
about it and have them go to http://www.yahoogroups.com/subscribe/FunWithFelt
to join! If forwarding this newsletter, please include all contact
information.

Don't forget about our JUNE CONTEST for all orders!

C-O-M-I-N-G I-N J-U-L-Y: Patriotism!
--
Karen ~ mailto:karen@... Northern California
http://www.funfelt.com - Ind. Story Teller Distributor
Felt storyboards, felt paper dolls, story tapes and more!

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