Free Download: Spring Time Activity Book from Melissa and Doug

Download the Melissa and Doug Springtime Fun Mini Mag!

Melissa and Doug Mini Mag

(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links however, the opinions expressed are 100% my own)

Are you excited that spring has finally arrived? We are! So we are thrilled that Melissa and Doug gathered some great springtime fun activities with their friends from Highlights to help us  enjoy this “sometimes-rainy, sometimes-sunny” season!

By downloading the Mini Mag, you’ll get:

  1. Six original puzzles, crafts, and activities to celebrate spring.
  2. Innovative ways to explore the great outdoors – while teaching some sensory lessons along the way!
  3. Quick and easy crafts you can make with materials you likely already have around the house!
  4. An activity sheet you can print and bring along with you while on-the-go!
 Download your Springtime Fun Mini Mag today!
The link takes you to a form.  Fill out the form and your free e-book will be sent to your email address.

Get even more fun and savings when you Join The Melissa & Doug Email List and GET 10% Off Your Order At MelissaAndDoug.com! Click Here!


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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).

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

 

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


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Toddler Time: Spring Bulletin Board Ideas for Home or Classroom

It’s all about spring and the green with these bulletin board ideas which include blooms, butterflies and clouds.   Top to bottom these ideas for the home or classroom will but some spring into your decorating.

Great green grass

Sure you can use green construction paper or even go three D with Easter grass or you can let your toddler get in on the work and make a magnificent field of greens with fingerpaints.

Blooming bushes and flowers

Stickers and tissue paper are features in these blooms as well as teach your little one some manipulatives and fine motor skills.

Butterflies brighten any spring bulletin board.

You can buy or create butterfly shapes in either cardstock or craft foam. Now how can your toddlers personalize their butterflies?

It’s fun to make clouds on a rainy day.

Spring may bring more sunny days but there are usually plenty of cloudy days too. Cut out blue cloud shapes on your heaviest paper and bring out those cotton balls.

Get the all the ideas and complete instructions when you continue reading Spring Bulletin Board Ideas for Home or Classroom.

 

7 kid friendly ways to reuse your gallon milk jug

Most of us drink milk and simply go and throw them into the recycle bin or the trash can. But a blogger buddy over at Coupons and Freebies in TX came up with some really fun, unique and interesting ways to bring our boys and girls to the yard with milk jugs.

These fun and simple ideas to help you reuse your milk jugs can all be done with our without the kids.  It’s just more likely they will water the plants if they make their own watering can.  Before you do any of these make sure you clean the milk jug out very good and let it dry out.

- Watering cans (kid friendly)

To make a watering can all you need to do is get a hammer, a nail and a piece of wood. You will place the lid upside down cap down and simple hammer with the nail 4-8 holes into the lid. Also you can use a knife like I did if you want a slower drip. Afterwards you place water in the milk jug and seal the top on and you are done and can go use.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Self-Watering Jug (kid friendly)

 

You can either cut the bottom off of the jug just take the lid off or make this. Also you may or may not want to make a small hose size hole on the bottom (fat) part of the jug for you can fill easier it is up to you. Then what you do make hole in the ground near a plant that takes and needs water all the time and place the jug in the ground and then cover up the spot and add water to either the whole you made on the bottom or add water before you place in the ground.

 

 

 

 

 

 

- Bird Feeder House (kid friendly) Continue Reading …

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 …

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 …

Hot gifts for tweens: Mosaic Charming Chandelier

This chandelier that girls will make and decorate is right out of a fairy tale but right on target skill wise for eight and nine year old girls. I can attest that even girls up to 12 years old enjoy making and displaying this Charming Chandelier. This is my hands down favorite creative gift for girls for Christmas 2012. This unique gift is going to light up the life of many young girls at only $17.00 at Amazon.com for 1200 plus crafty pieces. Continue Reading …

Christmas Crafts: Paper Christmas Tree Crafts inspired by the Charlie Brown Christmas special

Don’t you just love it when your family gets to watch a classic Christmas special together?  It’s even better when a child is inspired to create an easy Christmas craft that takes minutes, makes no mess and just uses paper scraps and a little gift wrap tape.  Check out these Easy Christmas Tree crafts inspired by the Charlie Brown Christmas special.