Wow! Teens take the pictures for YOYA's covers!

It's true!
Here is a link to the info so your teens can send in photos.
I think I feel a program in the works.

Anti-Valentine's Masquerade Ball

This was, for sure, a very successful program. We had a large turn out, 40-something teens on a Friday night and I learned a LOT.


We had about 6 of the older teens arrive at about 7 to help us set up. These were teens who helped from the start... they brought cds of music to play, helped bake the cookies and hung christmas lights. The space looked really nice. I also had a co-worker score us some half-dead roses from the grocery store. We set up the cookies and drinks and dimmed the lights(just a little).


The teens wanted an old silent film to play on a projector as ambiance, but unfortunately, the laptap we were given wasn't able to play dvds. grrr. but i smiled and moved on.
We had 2 activities. One was to make a mask. we had plain white masks, feathers, ribbon, glitter and hot glue guns.

We also had a "vandalize a romance novel" area. This was a huge hit.


The teens danced and goofed off...





as you notice, the pictures have turned to black and white... this is because, just like the masquerade scene in Labrynth, it was a surreal. This is what happened...

Thankfully, they all cleaned up the majority before they left and a few older teens stayed to help even longer.


This introduces the biggest lesson I learned. It should have been divided by ages. The difference in behavior was obvious. The younger teens made a mess out of the crafts, one boy getting burned. They tore apart the roses and novels and threw them around. The older teens carefully made elaborate masks. Giggled and censored and drew in the novels.
Do't get me wrong... the event was still a success, and everyone had a great time.

Gothic Martha Stewart

Today we baked and decorated cookies for the young adult Anti-Valentine's Masquerade Ball.
They turned out amazing and we had a lot of fun.

With no oven in the library, 2 teens and Elizabeth (my supervisor) came over to help.


Elizabeth brought her daughter who is 4. She played with Phaedra while we baked and much mischief insued...
They gave each other tattoos, did make-overs on each other and created elaborate costumes out of dress-up clothes.


The cookies were a lot of fun to make..

Here's a few of our favorites



The girls were our taste testers...

maybe the black icing wasn't a great idea.

If I were a book...

You're Watership Down!

by Richard Adams

Though many think of you as a bit young, even childish, you're
actually incredibly deep and complex. You show people the need to rethink their
assumptions, and confront them on everything from how they think to where they
build their houses. You might be one of the greatest people of all time. You'd
be recognized as such if you weren't always talking about talking rabbits.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Metamorphosis: Change Your Things

Bottle Cap Pins
I have already done this as a program and it was very successfull.
I also made these as presents for my co-workers, using old novel covers.

They best way to get images that are small enough is to print them out using Windows Picture and Fax Viewer using the Contact Sheet print size.




Altered Mint Tins
I always saved my mint tins, hoping I could find what they were good for. I finally found it!



The collage paper will stick to the tins wonderfully if you apply the glue to the paper and stick it to tin. I use Mod Podge as a glue and sealer.


Comic Cards

These are simple and look like you bought them at a specialty stationary store.



To make the envelope, just carefully unassemble the envelope and use it as a template to cut out and fold the comic pages.
For the images on the card, just white out the speech bubble and write in your own message.


Altered Books

Secret book boxes


Using book glue, paint the outside edges of the book. Use a Xacto knife or box cutter to cut out the middle of the book. Coat the inside of the 'box' with the book glue.

Paperback coin purse
Many old paperbacks have great funky covers. Go through your donated items and see what you can find!



Tear off the cover. Cover it with clear packing tape or contact paper. fold it into thirds. Sew it together to create a pocket with a flap. (You can also just use tape, but it's not a lot of sewing and makes it look much nicer.) use self stick velcro create a closure for your wallet!


You've heard of a Duct Tape Wallet...
Here's a Packing Tape Wallet!

What's great about this is that you can use anything... newspaper, sheet music, book pages...


Here is a scan of the directions: