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Let Them Be Creative, No Matter How Odd

May 6, 2013 by

You’ve already witnessed the talent of Sabreena and Shae when it comes to drawing. It hasn’t stopped. Not even a little. They’ve started creating thesewarped, awkward creatures and naming them. They literally will sit together and spit out character after character. I have a pile of these drawings.
The names are the best!
Stinky and his sidekick Satern

Dilbert

Kids Drawings

Kanoli

Kids Drawings

Button (love the feathers on his head)

kids drawings

Del Rio ( I think he’s giving me the finger)

Kids Drawings

Broccoli

Kids Drawings

Burt (he’s made a great stuffed animal)

Kids Drawings

Buckey (he reminds me of the Natty Boh dude)

Kids Drawings

Saffron

kids drawings

My girls are really creative.  This isn’t even all of them. The pile gets bigger each day.




Mother’s Day SunCatcher Craft from Plastic Container

May 2, 2013 by

With Mother’s Day right around the corner I’ve been thinking of what my youngest could make for my mother. She doesn’t need mugs or aprons or vases or flowers. I’ve been told not to buy another frame because their shelves are overflowing already. Personally I love a little something homemade.

This “stained glass” flower was simple enough for anyone to do and best of all it was free, made with materials that would’ve ended up in the recycle bin.

Sun Catcher from Plastic Container

Supplies
Plastic Strawberry or Spinach container (or other produce)
Sharpies
Image of choice (printed clip art, magazine or coloring book)
Scissors
Fishing line for hanging

Directions
Find your largest space of flat plastic from your container, cut it out and clean and dry it.
Suncatcher Supplies
Find an imageyour want to trace onto the plastic piece. I went for very little detail this time around but more details would look great. Tape your plastic over your image an trace it with a black marker. For more intricate images I would suggest a fine point marker.
Tracing Suncatcher Image

Once your image is completely outlined proceed to fill in to. I used brush tip Sharpies for these larger areas.
coloring in Suncatcher
Once your plastic is dried go ahead and cut along the outline and poke a tiny hole (pushpin) in the top and thread your wire or string. Hang in a sunny window.
colored in suncatcher

As you can see I made this on my own. This was a test before I had the kids work on it. It came out great and I plan to make more with all kinds of designs.




Paper Bag Tree for Earth Day #kids #craft

April 18, 2013 by

The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. Today you can find green efforts everywhere you turn.  Brands are working towards reducing their carbon footprint, local recycling centers are charged with reducing landfill piles and everyday people are working towards reducing their waste using more renewable resources.

In our home we actively recycle, plant a veggie garden, use less toxic cleaning products and reuse and upcycle items.  Kids Crafts can be done more green too. I try not to buy too many crafting supplies and use what we have or find items that can be recycled.  Paper lunch bags are something we keep in the house but don’t really use since the kids pack lunch boxes with reusable containers.

Making this Paper Bag Tree is a great Earth Day craft because one of the best things you can do on this day is plant a tree.

Supplies

  • lunchsize paper bag
  • green paper for leaves
  • colored tissue paper for flowers
  • glue
  • kid safe scissors (I also usually keep lefty scissors on hand too in case someone comes over that needs them.)
  • heart hole punch, optional

Directions

I drew lines a little more than halfway down the bag so Shae could cut to get her branches.

cutting with kid scissors

Once all the lines were cut, Shae opened up the the base of the bag to make a trunk and started scrunching up the pieces of bag to get her branches.

scrunching up a paper bag

Once the strips of paper have softened up it’s time to twist them into branches.  Be careful not to twist too hard or you’ll rip them.  Take 2-4 strips at a time and gently turn them in your fingers to get a branch-like shape.

twisting branches

Twisting Branches for Paper Bag Tree

Now it’s time to make your leaves and flowers.  Leaves can be hand cut or can be made by cutting a heart shape in half.

Cutting a Heart in Half

Colored tissue paper cut into about 2″ squares in your child’s choice of color is all that is needed for flowers.  Have them pinch them and add a dab of glue to stick them onto their tree along with their leaves.

Tissue Paper Flowers on Tree

Adding Tissue Paper Flowers

Make some final adjustments and twists and your paper bag tree is done.

Paper Bag Tree

This can be modified with brown or green paint to give it more dimension.  Stuffing the bag loosely with a napkin or ad of paper will give it more standing power if you are worried about it falling over. Pre cutting the strips and tissue paper and leaves are simple ways to make this more toddler and preschool age friendly.

What are your plans for Earth Day this year?

 




Rainbow Crafts aren’t just for St. Patrick’s Day

March 13, 2013 by

Despite my maiden name I don’t celebrate St. Patrick’s Day BUT we do love crafting for any and every holiday. Rainbows are one of Shae’s favorite themes to create, besides portraits of her family. Rainbows aren’t just for Spring and St/ Patrick’s Day so I made a Rainbow Pinterest Board just for them.

Here are some ideas I found while playing around on Pinterest this weekend that will be good for any time of the year.

Rainbow Wand – Icing Designs Online


Crepe Paper Rainbows – Get Creative Juice


Stained Glass Rainbows – Mom on Time Out


Rainbow Pencil Cup – Crafty Crafted


Paint Chip Rainbow Garland – The Chocolate Muffin Tree

Source: thechocolatemuffintree.com via Melinda on Pinterest


Toilet Paper Roll Rainbow – Jane of All Trades


I know you crafters out there have your own Rainbow or St. Patrick’s Day Pinterest Boards, please share them so I can follow along for more inspiration.

Come check out all of my Pinterest Boards for crafts, decor, humor, parenting articles and more.

I Disclose




#KidsintheKitchen Using Colored Rice as Art

March 7, 2013 by

Last Sunday was a cooking day for me. I was in the mood for all kinds of new food but recipes that I wasn’t familiar with so I didn’t really want the kids helping out. Instead I gave Shae an entirely new project to try out, Using Colored Rice as Art. Colored Rice and Pasta is typically used as a sensory play mediums but for us it was a new way to play with color and texture and shapes.  As you can see I added some wagon wheel and bowtie pasta shapes into the mix.

I added rice to a wonton soup container, added a few drops of food color and alcohol and let Shae shake. Within a hour of creating all the colors we needed the rice (and pasta) was dry.
#kidsinthekitchen Using Colored Rice as Art
I set Shae up with her individual bowls of rice and pasta, school glue, heavy finger paint paper and let her create whatever she wanted. The trick was to really add lots of glue so the rice and pasta didn’t move once it had dried.

#kidsinthekitchen Using Colored Rice as Art

I recommend putting your picture on a sturdy piece of cardboard so it can be transferred while drying. Trying to move a flimsy piece of paper covered in rice wasn’t fun.

Did your kids help with meal planning this week? Did your kids discover a new food and love it? Share your experiences, photos, stories or recipes that include your #kidsinthekitchen. I would love for you to join me and my co-hosts, Paula at Frosted Fingers and Sara at Sensibly Sara, each week linking up a post, new or old, that feature the theme Kids in the Kitchen. It doesn’t matter what you are doing as long as you are doing it together and enjoying it and learning something.

  • preparing healthy snacks
  • having a tea party
  • counting skills with m&ms
  • pouring from measuring cups
  • discovering a local restaurant that your kids love
  • creating new family friendly recipes

Don’t have a blog, then share a photo you uploaded to Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Share whatever you have, we want to see it.

Linky Rules

1. Link up only your kid friendly recipes, stories, pictures or cooking lessons here.(No Etsy stores or giveaways please).
2. Link directly to a specific post, update or tweet not your homepage.
3. Please add a Kids in the Kitchen button or link on your site or blog post or share through social media so readers know you are participating.

kids in the kitchen, meme

kids in the kitchen, cooking with kids, weekly series
4. Click through and comment, pin, like, tweet or share with other participants. We love to share inspiration and ideas with each other, don’t link and run.
5. Follow the hosts of this feature,Paula at Frosted Fingers, Sara at Sensibly Sara and me, Melinda at LookWhatMomFound…and Dad too!

I can’t wait to see all of the fun food themed ideas, excursions and photos you have to share.




Dr Seuss Kids Crafts and Activities

February 26, 2013 by

Theo LeSieg, Rosetta Stone, Theophrastus Seuss. These names may sound familiar; they should. They are all different pen names used by Dr Seuss. Theodor Seuss Geisel career is a colorful one. One that spans newspapers,magazines and of course books. The Cat in the Hat is probably the most widely recognized Dr Seuss work but his other additions to the children’s literary device world are equally as awesome. I’ve put together a collection of great kids crafts and activities that would make for a great way to celebrate Dr Seuss’ Birthday on March 2nd.

Having Fun at Chelles House
Big Fun with Lorax

Making Boys Men
Cat in the Hat Wooden Peg Dolls

Because I Said So
Yertle the Turtle Paper Plate Craft

See Vanessa Craft
Apples Up On Top Felt Board

Toddler Approved
Thing 1 and Thing 2 Puppets

Crafts and Things for Childrens
Horton Hears a Who Craft

Inner Child Fun
Lorax Truffula Tree Craft

Sugar Bee Crafts
Dr Seuss Activity Blocks

Jersey Family Fun
One Fish Two Fish Aquarium Treats

A Little Delightful
Lorax Paperplate Craft

How are you wishing Dr Seuss a Happy Birthday this year?




3D Hearts Valentine’s Day Kids Craft

February 1, 2013 by

Valentines is right around the corner.  It’s time to break out the colored paper, glitter glue, doilies and other crafty items to create cards and decorations to celebrate the ones you love

This is a simple project that can be done to make garland, hanging decorations on doorknobs or even hanging from a gift bag. Ours are hanging from a lamp and a curtain rod in front of a window.

Gather your basic supplies and some embellishments to create these simple but cute 3Dimensional Hanging Hearts.

Supplies

Colored or Patterned Paper of your choice

Glue or Glue Stick

Ribbon or String

Glitter, Stickers, Stamps, Markers and other kids craft supplies

Directions

Fold your Paper in half, trace 4 half heart shapes on the fold and allow your child to cut them out or assist them in cutting them out.

toddler cutting paper

Write messages of love and sweetness and decorate as your child wishes.

Attach a string or ribbon to the back of a heart shape and glue each half of heart to each other so that it forms a 3D heart like pictured.

valentine craft for kids

I used paper clips to hold the hearts in place while the glue dries.

Hang where someone you love will see it!




Kids Craft #PinterestFail

January 24, 2013 by

I use Pinterest almost daily to get inspiration for new meal ideas, kids activities and crafts and DIY projects around the house.

This particular craft I’ve seen floating around for about 2 years.  Celery Heart Flowers.  It’s supposed to be a simple but cute gift giving craft that just requires a couple supplies and a celery root/core.

 

I was breaking down the produce while Shae was in the kitchen and remembered to save the celery piece.  Shae was excited. She knew who she was going to give her card to and what it was going to say and how many flowers she was going to fit on her paper.

celery heart craft, pinterest fail

The prep took seconds but it was an instant fail.  The blob of paint on the paper looked nothing like a flower.  Neither did any of the other attempts.  Pinterest failed us.  It hasn’t been the first time and it definitely won’t be the last.

pinterest fail, #pinterestfail, craft fail

Shae wasn’t going to let that stop her. She ended up painting the paper plate with the left over paint.

kids painting

I Disclose




Framed Button Art #kids #craft for Holiday Giving

November 14, 2012 by

The holidays are right around the corner and what better way to show a loved one on your list how much you care than with a handmade gift that will last longer than the season. My family loves seeing the ideas and creations the kids come up with year and year and this one can become part of the everyday room decor or a reminder each year of a time when hands were little.
button art kids craft
While this particular piece we made was personalized just for Shae it can be made to fit any theme or holiday. HO HO HO in red and white buttons is next on our list with a small tree in the corner. As always I like to mention a little educational spin that can be placed on our crafts. This one is a great way to get preschoolers and toddlers working on their color and letter recognition and patterns an improving fine motor skills. Spell out words for older children.

Supplies:

  • Picture Frame of any size
  • Buttons
  • Clear drying school glue
  • Pattered or colored cardstock or scrapbook paper

Time Needed:
15 minutes plus drying time

Prep Time:
Clean and dry the glass from your picture frame. Decide on image or word that is appropriate for your child

framed button art

Instructions:
Cover the backing of the frame with a patterned or colored paper, adhere with glue or tape. On the piece of scrap paper draw your letter, word or image and place under your clean glass to use as a trace for your buttons. Apply plenty of glue over the line drawing. Allow child to arrange buttons to fill the image or just cover the outline. Let the glue dry over night. Place glass back into frame, replace backing and gift to someone your love.

This craft can be altered many ways to include glitter glue, beads or gems for ANY theme or holiday. As you can see from the different photos above we worked on 2 different themes; a heart and the letter S for our Shae’s bedroom. Your frame choice is endless too. Little ones will benefit from an adult’s help with spreading the glue and choosing a simpler design. Intricate corners and details can be done with older children who may have better dexterity and fine motor skills. The options are endless with what you can create with your child.




DIY Kid’s Worksheets-Fill In The Blank

November 9, 2012 by

Shae came home with a worksheet from school a couple weeks back and it was all marked up in red. She had gotten all of the problems wrong. It was a simple fill in the blank worksheet I thought but she said she didn’t understand how the substitute teacher explained it.

I figured I would try to recreate the worksheet and see what the problem was.

There wasn’t a problem. She completed the sheet and got every problem correct.

educational activity, fill in the blank, kindergarten activity

It was a simple little educational activity, one that she keeps asking for.

  • blank sheet of paper
  • various picture stamps or stickers
  • pencil

Stamp a variety of pictures on your sheet of paper. Under each picture write out the word leaving he FIRST letter blank. Instruct your child to write that first letter down.
Simple and fun but with a learning spin. Just what every kid likes.




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