Home Depot Kids' Workshop

This morning we went to the Home Depot Kids' Workshop for the first time in months.  We went to the Woodstock Home Depot, which does not require you to pre-register and gives you a choice of projects.  Of course the girls chose different projects.

Gluing is the best part:

 Catherine choking up on the hammer:

Catherine finishing her tool box:

 Sabrina made a red race car:

 Catherine's finished project:

We should go more often to these wonderful workshops!

Goal Post Construction

Robby likes to watch football, but we don't really watch it much together.  He watches it by himself for his "me time."  So, the girls had no idea what they were actually constructing this month at the Home Depot Kids' Workshop.

This was one of the easiest projects Home Depot has ever had.  All you needed was a screwdriver. Other than trying to balance the pieces while you were attaching them to each other, both girls were able to handle most of it.

After we finished, we assembled the paper footballs and taught the girls how to "kick" field goals with them. 

This Home Depot's Kids' workshop was so full that we had to sit on the floor, which was actually OK because we didn't have to worry about the girls falling off the tables.  They offered paint for your goal posts, but we decided to do that at home.  I don't like having wet paint projects in my car!

Cork Boards

I have stated many times how much we enjoy and value the FREE Home Depot Kids' Workshops.  Some month's projects are better than others, but this month the project was great: small cork boards!

Sabrina loves the glue:

We make Catherine read the directions (which are half pictures) and try to figure out the assembly herself:

This was a fairly simple project.  Catherine applying glue to an edge piece:

 Sabrina sliding an edge piece on:

Both girls have developed great hammering skills (I no longer panic that they will hit themselves in the forehead with the hammer):

 Although it may take awhile, they can actually hammer a nail into a pre-drilled piece of wood now:

 The finished projects:

Building a Planter

This was about two weeks ago, but we finally got back into attending the monthly Kids' Workshops at Home Depot.  We had stopped for awhile because of medical stuff.  The kids do love it and have actually gained some skills.  They can look at the pieces, read the directions (which are mostly pictures), apply glue, and hammer pieces together.

This particular month they made planters (and Home Depot actually gave every child little pepper plants to go with it).

 I love how Catherine chokes up on the hammer:

 But Sabrina has much better hammer technique:

 This project included painting too:

As I have said many times, if you do not go to this activity, you should!!

Car Number 20

Last weekend we went to the monthly Home Depot Kids' Workshop.  I had no idea what the project was and pay no attention to Nascar.  But Robby was pleased to see this project:

I was thrilled that the car parts came pre-painted, as the workshops where we have to paint are very messy. This was an easy project because all you had to do was assemble the car and nail axles in:

 Then, you added stickers over every millimeter of the car:

The girls loved their little cars and raced them around the house when we got home.  Love these workshops!

Snowman Napkin Holder

We missed last month's project, but was able to make it to Home Depot's Kids' Workshop this month. The project was snowman napkin holders.  I am not sure what Sabrina is hammering, since we had not even opened the kits yet:

 We are trying to make the children more independent, so we made them open the kits themselves this time:

 Catherine's carpentry skills are really coming along.  She was able to do almost all of the project herself:

 Robby helped Sabrina with her assembly:

I made Catherine read the instructions (although I think she mostly just looked at the pictures) and try to figure out how to assemble the project on her own.  To my pleasant surprise, she was able to do so:

I loved this project because it included a set of stickers, which the girls love.  I don't like when they include painting, because then we have to figure out how to get a wet project home in the car. 

 The girls has such a blast picking out scarves, smiles, buttons, and eyeballs out of the sticker selection:

I liked this project so much that I asked them for another set of kits.  I want to test the girls and see if they can do it on their own.  My plan is to wait a week and see if they can do the project again.  I truly love the Home Depot Kids' Workshops!!

Dry Erase Boards

On the first Saturday of every month we go to the Home Depot Kids' Workshop.  In September the project was "dry erase boards."  This was by far the hardest project so far, but the kids LOVE the end result more than any project we have done so far.  The kids love being able to draw & erase in their car seats.

It was actually kind of tricky getting the frame for the dry erase boards assembled:

 I was quite impressed at how well Catherine could use a screwdriver:

 Sabrina added glue, even when unnecessary:

 Robby had to help (well, take over) to get Sabrina's frame assembled:

 Before Sabrina even finished her project, Catherine was already writing on her board:

The girls loved their final projects.  I am so glad they decided to paint them at home, so we would not risk getting wet paint in my new car. 

HD Kids' Workshop - Pencil Boxes

This post is from last month's project, but I have been busy lately.  To get ready for the start of school, the project was pencil boxes.  The girls LOVE gluing the best:

 They are both getting pretty good at hammering:

This month the project including painting.  The kids loved painting their boxes, but that meant the workshop was a lot more crowded (every one was taking longer on their projects).   Also, we had to wrap the projects in paper towels to take them in the car, and the paper towels got stuck to the paint.

Coaster Set

On Saturday Robby took Sabrina to Home Depot's monthly Kids' Workshop.  Catherine was sick, so she stayed home with me.  The staff at Home Depot were kind enough to give Robby an extra kit so he could take it home and do it with Catherine later that day.

This month's project was a coaster set.  The glue is usually the best part:

 And then comes hammering:

 Then, once your project is complete, you take it to the "supervisor:"

 And, if your project is "acceptable," then you get another pin to add to your apron:

This is a free program which Home Depot runs and I highly recommend you do it.  Not that I foresee a future in carpentry for either of my girls, but their skills have really improved and they love it.  Catherine was able to make the coaster set project completely by herself.  She looked at Sabrina's finished project and figured out how to assemble hers.  All Robby had to do was start the nails and hold the project still while she hammered.  We have been taking the girls for over a year.  In the beginning, we did most of the project while they helped a little.  But, they still learn from it.

Mini Tool Box

To celebrate Father's Day, Home Depot had a special, mid-month Kids' Workshop.  We have not been to one of these in several months, so it was quite a treat to go to one.  We were really happy that the project was such a cute one: a miniature tool box!

The girls' favorite part is glue application (and we always use way too much).

Sabrina is getting good at hammering, and actually got all 8 nails in by herself!

Catherine's hammering is a little scarier, as her forehead is in her backswing.  So far she has never hit her head while hammering, but we have to watch closely.

The girls with their completed projects:

Sabrina shows her completed project to the "lady" to get her pin and certificate: