April 23, 2013

Free eBook – 14 Mother’s Day Craft Ideas for Kids

Allfreekidscrafts.com

I’m usually pretty good at coming up with unique and interesting craft ideas (and crafts that double as gifts) for the kids to do for each of the holidays. But Mother’s Day is fast approaching and I’ve been a little scrambled. After all I’ve got a Kindergarten graduation, a High School graduation and a College graduation all going on. Not to mention the incredibly busy household and work schedule that just about all of us have. So, it’s not surprise I turned to a free book to get some great ideas for Mother’s Day crafts.

Free eBook – 14 Mother’s Day Craft Ideas for Kids: Homemade Mother’s Day Gift Ideas has homemade cards and gifts to honor your mother in the most heartfelt way there is! Click Here

 

Blogging with integrity . . . This post contains affiliate links, but regardless the opinons expressed here are 100% my own (but probably opinions you have had too).

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March 26, 2013

Color Teachers Happy with These End of the Year Gifts – 3 Crayon Gift Crafts

used crayon crafts

Do you have a box filled used or broken crayons? I know that even with our Crayon maker, which makes old crayons new again it still seems like there are so many more of them around.

Crayons just seem to multiply around my house like rabbits. If you too have boxes and boxes of unused crayons or can’t resist the dollar bin deals, there are some really cute and easy crafts that make colorful gifts for kids or teachers. From practical to fanciful, crayons can create art without ever crossing a piece of paper. With some basic craft supplies and a box of crayons, you make these projects in minutes.

The rainbow desk caddy is really a pot of gold.
The crayon wreath is really a circle of teacher love.
Say, “you’re special” with a crayon initial gift.

Continue reading 3 Cute Crayon Crafts for instructions and supplies . . .

 

Melissa & Doug-Leading Designer of Education Toys
 

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March 26, 2013

Tissue paper tubes make Easter candy holders

toliet tissue tube candy holders
Are you getting ready to host an Easter Egg Hunt, party or dinner with friends and family?  Or maybe you just want your Easter Basket to be a little more earth-friendly this year?  This is a simple Easter craft to make for or with kids. There is also a grown up version to fill with fresh herbs.

Supplies:

Green ribbon, yarn or chenille stems

Green tissue paper or shredded paper

Toilet tissue tubes or half paper towel tubes

Stapler or tape

Orange paint, tissue paper or orange markers

Hole punch or scissors

Newspaper to cover surfaces is painting
Directions:

There are three ways to turn the tube orange.   Continue reading Carrot Candy Holder Crafts for Easter


PBS KIDS Shop

 

 

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March 1, 2013

Limited time! Dr. Seuss – 5 Books For $5.95 + Free Backpack & Audio Book


Dr. Seuss’s Birthday is March 2nd. No American writer has had as great an impact on children’s literature as Dr. Seuss. His imaginative characters, vivid illustrations, and catchy rhymes are instantly recognizable to anyone who grew up reading his stories. Create a personal library of children’s books by joining Dr. Seuss & His Friends book club.

Check out this Great Deal for only $5.95! It includes:

- The Cat in the Hat, Mr. Brown Can Moo, Ten Apples On Top, Go Dog Go! & The Tooth Book

- Free colorful Cat in the Hat Backpack to carry all your books in.

- Free shipping.

- Free Dr. Seuss & His Friends Audiobook read by Jason Alexander, David Hyde Pierce or Kelsey Grammer.

*Note that this is only available Continue Reading …

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February 20, 2013

Family and faith: Lenten activities for the family

lenten activities

It can be hard to keep up with all the important aspect of Lent.  Families get busy and while we start of with the best of intentions at the beginning of Lent, we may be, by the end losing “faith” in our ability to participate in  reconciliation, abstinence, and charity.  Lent is 40 days long, and these 15 activities to do together as a family will not only make the time fly by but will strengthen your family and family bonds.

  • Begin with a jar with friends and family’s names.  Pull a name each day and say a prayer.
  • Cook together.  Here’s a recipe for Cheesy Rotini Pasta or Garden Primavera Pasta.  (If it has pasta I’m pretty sure my children will eat it.)
  • Create an offering jar.  Each day change goes into the jar and each Sunday one of the children takes a turn placing it in the offering.
  • Leave the Bible on the coffee table, or other highly noticeable spot to remember to do Lenten readings. Let each family take a turn each day.
  • Turn it off. One evening declare it a electronic free night.  See what your family can find to do without the distractions of television, iPads, PC’s, mp3 players and cell phones.
  • Choose one extra service during Lent to perform, some ideas include extra offerings on Sunday mass, working in a soup kitchen, leaving an extra special tip when dining out, or cutting the grass for an elderly neighbor.

Continue reading Faith and families: Lenten activities

 

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February 12, 2013

Picture Frames: Picture perfect Valentine’s Day gift craft

valentines day picture frames craft

This weekend we headed over to Michael’s for their free weekend craft event. We were definitely excited about picking up some new craft supplies as well as making what we hoped would turn into several Valentine’s Day gifts.  It wasn’t what I expected- it was actually a whole lot better!  This weekend we created picture perfect gifts for the grandparents for Valentine’s Day.

Supplies needed for Picture Perfect Valentine’s Gifts  

Wooden picture frames (these have hangers on the back as well as table stands).

Glue

Paper plates

Sponge brushes

Tissue paper

Embellishments (we hit up the $1.00 aisle and picked up some beautiful owls, birds and hearts)

To make your picture frame gifts Continue Reading …

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February 11, 2013

Valentine’s Day: Great gift bags!

valentines bags

 

Valentine’s Day is just a few days away and if your children are like mine we have two needs for cute bags.  First, they make great gift bags for the teacher’s gifts for Valentine’s Day and they also are perfect for holding all those sweet treats and cards from the Valentine’s Day party at school or home.    I usually try to put a few treats in there for the teachers and then some gifts and the girls handmade cards.

Here’s how to make your own Valentine’s Day Gift Bags  

You will need:

1 white bag with handles (dollar store has them in a 3 pk for $1.00)

Assorted colored papers (we used some scrapbook papers)

Different styles scissors (nice to have but not essential

Glue (glue dots or a glue gun would be helpful but not essential)

Pink or red pipe cleaners (optional)

Googly eyes

And a great imagination.

With these youngest daughter decided to do a “Butterfly Heart” since butterflies are some of her favorite things.  Cut out a heart, circles, another heart or then again any shape for the mouth, and some wings.  We liked layering to give it more texture and depth (some of these papers were textured.

To assemble.   Continue Reading …

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February 7, 2013

Over 50 Fabulous Valentine’s Day gift ideas, recipes, crafts and DIY greeting cards for kids

valentines4It is going to be a busy couple of weeks in our house. Valentine’s Day is one of our favorite holidays and the girls just LOVE (no pun intended) to make something for everyone they know. That’s why we need so many ideas to choose from!

Some portions of this list have been previously published on my Examiner.com Family column. . .

DIY Greeting Cards

These DIY Valentine’s Day Greeting Cards and Instructions are easy enough even the children can do them. Make greeting cards for grandma, grandpa, aunts, uncles and cousins, not to mention classmates and teachers.

Kids can practice their handwriting skills with these greeting cards that feature glittery red heart stickers.

These easy to do it yourself Valentine’s Day Cards feature pastel colored hearts that kids will love creating. Share a secret messagewith these Valentine’s Day cards easily with paper and paints. Who will you surprise?

Crafts and Decor

Go green with these cute Valentine’s Day Hearts and Paper Bowls and these fun and easy Valentine’s Day crafts for kids using recyclable materials.

Cuddle up with your preschooler for some story time every night with these best Valentine’s Day Books.

Find out how to make your own Valentine’s Day Wreath, Friendship Necklaces, and turn your tissue paper pink.

Moms Madhouse offers up 42 Valentine’s Day crafts, cards, and gift ideas to choose from. Which one will you do?

Decorate your mantle with these beautiful Valentine’s Day decorations that the whole family can help create.

Get those scissors out and some red, white and pink paper for the basis of this holiday mantel decoration.

I love this Clothesline Valentine’s Sign - and I have everything I need except I frame.  Wonder what the dollar store has, of course there is always Hobby Lobby!

Recipes, Snacks and Gifts Continue Reading …

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February 4, 2013

Black History Month activities, reading and lessons for elementary

Ella Fitzgerald – Image courtesy of Wikipedia Public Domain

Gigi came home during the week of Martin Luther King Jr with some wonderful stories to tell us about Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. This was just the beginning of her introduction to Black History Month. These lesson plans, readings and activities are intended for primary grade students.

Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosa is an excellent example of a quality book that conveys black history in kid-appealing way. Ella’s story is told through the perspective of a cat, “Skat Cat Monroe,” who pulls in readers in with rhythm and rhyme: “Got my name from knowin’ Ella. Ella Fitzgerald. The Queen of Skat. What’s scat? you ask. Skat’s the sound that don’t hold back. Ella’s sound- that was skat. Singing so supreme. Music’s velvet-ribbon dream.” Continue reading Black History Month lesson plans featuring Ella Fitzgerald.

These plans are written with first through third graders in mind, but can easily be modified for younger or older learners.

Besides timing and consistency, quality of resources is another consideration when planning for black history month. Avoid choosing books that are not appealing or are not age appropriate just because they include black history. I found and fell in love with the book Dizzy by Jonah Winter. When I saw how well children responded to this book, I developed these lesson plans around it. As a teacher, I love to begin my planning around a quality, kid-attractive book. Continue reading Black History Month lesson plans on Dizzy Gillespie.

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April 27, 2012

Children’s Books for Mother’s Day

We love you Mom!  Here are seven favorite children’s books to read to young children about moms and Mother’s Day. Reading several books about Mother’s Day will give kids some ideas about special things they can do and say to express how much they love their mom.

Great Books for Mother’s Day for Young Children: Continue Reading …

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