My Fair Exhibits by Denny Lynn

I love to make stuff and I take each project very serious. I worked really hard this year on all my fair exhibits. We started early and worked a lot of days to get them all done. We gather pecans for the horticulture section - that was the easy one!

We used beads, wire and bells to make a wind chime out of a horseshoe cross. I used green and blue beads.

I figured out how to string them and make just the pattern I wanted.

We attached them and TADA - a wind chime!

For the recycled art section we made another wind chime - this time using a tray and silverware. I used forks. I had three fork strings and two bell strings.

I took a lot of time choosing beads.

I really like how it came out and it makes a great sound.

For my painted t-shirt I got to make a skeleton for Halloween. Mama helped with the stencil, but the painting was all me!

I can't wait to wear it - I hope the judges like it as much as I do!

I am also excited about being Santa for Christmas time! We painted sweatshirts to look like Santa's coat.

The shiny buckle is my favorite part.

We even took our latest Lowes project, a firetruck, to enter in woodworking.

I made a set of tub monsters for the craft foam class. I cut all kinds of shapes that can be used in the bathtub to make monsters.

I made and example monster to show the judges and Mama helped type the instructions on the computer.

I will definitely be making these fun things for my friends.

I think the popsicle snowflakes are so awesome. Mama let me pick a pattern from a picture and then I counted every stick to make sure it was in the right place.

It came out way cool!

I helped cut some of the stencils to make our painted projects.

My pillowcase is Batman.

I used some fabric markers, and some paint.

I took my time and it paid off!

We used Modge Podge to make a 4th of July angel. She came out pretty cute.

We used fabric and stickers to decorate her.

My favorite part is her hair! It is all curly and it is blond like mine!

The project I am most proud of is my ceramic Santa. He came out of Mama's old ceramic stuff. I had to paint him in shifts over several days to make it all work. To start with I painted him solid red.

Then I added the black and white. It was another day before I could do all the details, including a teddy bear (which I love). I learned about using the small brushes to add details and take my time to do it right. I also learned how to fix some mistakes.

I love the way he turned out.

All my entries went to the fair today to be judged tomorrow, except for my candy which goes on Wednesday - more on that later. I ended up with 11 exhibits ( a record for me) and I am hoping for at least a couple of ribbons. No matter what I win, I had fun and learned new skills making everything. I am already looking for my next project!

My Fair Exhibits by John Lee

It is fair time! We didn't get to go to the State Fair, because we were sick, so we are doubly excited for our fair here. We started early working on exhibits so we could have entries. We harvested pecans to take.

One of my favorite things was painting my t-shirt! I made a ghost! Mama helped make a stencil and I painted it.

It came out great and I can't wait to wear it for Halloween.

We also painted sweatshirts (because it is so easy to find red sweatshirts in Las Cruces...in August...but Mama did it!) We painted them to look like Santa jackets.

We made two kinds of wind chimes. One was a cross - it looks like horseshoes. We used wire to string beads and bells.

Then we attached them to the cross.

I made mine with red and yellow beads. When the wind blows the bells will ring!

The second one was a recycled wind chime. We used a tray with a scalloped edge, beads, bells and silverware.

Me and Daddy drilled holes in the silverware - I used spoons.

Then we put it all together - it makes such a great sound, I can't hold it still.

For the popsicle stick class, we made snowflakes. I carefully laid out the sticks.

And came up with this unique snowflake to hang up for Christmas.

We built a firetruck at Lowes, and that made a perfect entry for the wood working kit class.

For the craft foam class we made bath sets - mine is robots. You take the shapes and when they get wet in the bathtub you can stick them to the tub or the wall and build your own robot. We put all the shapes in a soap dish and added a sample robot.

Now for the picture frame! I chose yellow of course.

I painted it solid, then added Justice League stickers.

A coat of Modge Podge and it was perfect!

I also made a Christmas ornament. Here I am writing my name on it. Mama added the year.

We used my thumbprint to make reindeer! I picked snowman ribbon to make the hanger.

The first project I wanted to do was the last one to get finished, but I love it! It is a Superman pillowcase. I loved painting with the stencil and using my two favorite colors.

I can't wait to get it back and sleep on it!

I had 10 exhibits in all. I am super excited to go this weekend and see if I got any ribbons. I will keep you posted!