DIY Cardboard Construction Play Set

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Do your kids love to play with large cardboard boxes? Do you wish you had more room to store them? Want to create a play set that allows them to build and rebuild imaginative play structures?? Then this project is for you! To make your own cardboard construction play set, you will need a large [...]

Easy 4th of July Windsock Craft

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I’m guest posting for my friends at Melissa & Doug with an easy craft for kids as part of Week 5 of Camp Sunny Patch. You can see how we made patriotic windsocks to either display proudly in your home, or if your kids are like mine, run around with them like crazy monkeys! And [...]

Festive Frozen Yogurt Sandwiches

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These frozen Greek yogurt sandwiches were a totally spontaneous treat we whipped up this afternoon, and they were a big hit around here! I thought maybe you would like to make some of your own too. After all, why choose between cookies and frozen Greek yogurt, if you can have them both in a delicious [...]

Happy Father’s Day!

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Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope. - Bill Cosby My father used to play with my brother and me in the yard. Mother would come out and say, “You’re tearing up the grass.’” “We’re not raising grass,” Dad would reply. “We’re raising boys.” – Harmon Killebrew Happy is the father whose child [...]

Father’s Day Gift Kids Can Make — BBQ Sauce

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Looking for an easy Father’s Day gift idea that the kids can make?? The girls and I have been hard at work making and canning batches of homemade BBQ sauce for a gift to Mark this Father’s Day! ((Shhhhhhh… it’s a surprise!)) Mark loves to cook on the grill. I’m pretty sure this is because [...]

Kid-Made Patriotic Note Cards

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I’m guest posting for my friends at Melissa & Doug today — come see how Clara and I made Patriotic Note Cards (while sneaking in some learning fun too)! Wishing you and your lovely family a wonderful holiday weekend!!

Guest Post by Mark – Hand Painted Cards

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Mark here (Val’s husband). The girls wanted to surprise Val with some handmade cards for Mother’s Day, and they were so pleased with how these turned out, that they couldn’t resist giving them to her a bit early. Val loved them so much, that she later sat down to paint more cards together with the [...]

Quick Craft: Silly Moustache Straws

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These are pretty self-explanatory…   ….but they made Emily and me giggle! Straws + black construction paper moustaches = Fun!! And just in time for Cinco de Mayo.

Ginormous Tissue Paper Flowers

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Know what’s better than tissue paper flowers?? GIANT tissue paper flowers!   They make festive (and frugal) party decorations, and have the power to turn any ordinary picnic into a fabulous fiesta! We used the same instructions here, but with entire sheets of tissue paper to make HUGE flowers.   I love how bright and [...]

20 Inspiring Ideas for Earth Day Fun with Recyclables

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In honor of Earth Day, here are some links from the archives of our Earth Day craft and activity ideas that feature recycled materials. Enjoy! Bird Feeders from Recyclables Bird Watching Kit Frugal Fun with Music Spring Storage Boxes Spring Basket Frugal Fun with Stilts Matching Game with Juice Lids Baby Food Jar Lanterns Marble [...]

5 Festive Easter Crafts for Kids

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1. Tiny Easter Baskets — Easter baskets are cute. Tiny Easter Baskets are ADORABLE!!!   2. Super Easy Last-Minute Carrot Card — Made with finger prints.   3. Easter Egg Thumbprint Card — with free printable!   4. Spring Chick Card — You won’t believe what we used to paint these Spring chicks.   5. [...]

Pantry Boredom Buster

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Emily kept herself happily occupied by crafting up several rainbow necklaces using a few items from the pantry — some colored cereal, and some cotton kitchen twine. Perfect for St. Patrick’s Day! To make the beading a bit easier, I added some tape to the end of the string (almost like a shoelace). Beading is [...]

5 Fun St. Patrick’s Day Crafts for Kids

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1. No Mess Pot O’ Gold Craft — All the fun of crafting without the mess!   2. Capture those little thumbprints with a festive St. Patrick’s Day card!   3. Pillow Boxes — Save some empty paper towel rolls to make these pretty treat boxes.   4. Turn your walkway into a leprechaun trap [...]

Kid-Made St. Patty’s Day T-Shirts

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Need some festive attire for St. Patrick’s Day?? This painted t-shirt project was so much FUN to do, and the girls were so proud of their shirts when they were done! They each painted a shirt for the other — so thoughtful! Also?? Did you know you can find green t-shirts at the dollar store? [...]

Valentine Pencil Toppers

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Looking for a fun, useful, non-food Valentine treat to give to friends?? Something that’s super quick and cheap to make?? Then get yourself over to Target’s dollar section where you can buy pencils in packs of 10 for $1. Make some fun tags to go along with them! Want to make some of your own?? [...]

Curb Appeal on the Cheap

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Want to add some curb appeal to your home without breaking the bank?? You can! And in just 3 easy steps!! Step 1: Sweep up the sidewalk to remove any dirt or debris.   Step 2: Make some sidewalk chalk stencils with heavy cardstock paper (Hint: Old file folders or pieces of cardboard from empty [...]

“Tiled” Photo Frame

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I saved some of these paint tiles the girls made the other day for some late night crafting of my own — with a cheap clear acrylic photo frame from the dollar store. After a bit of experimenting, it turns out the “tiles” can be glued to plastic with a bit of Plaid Mod Podge (I [...]

Fun Valentine’s Day Gifts and Treats for Kids

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Know what I love?? Surprising the kiddos with little gifts and treats for Valentine’s Day to let them know how special they are! And you don’t have to spend a lot of money to do it. A BIG thank you to our lovely Pinterest contributor, Stacy from Kids Stuff World for pinning these inspiring ideas [...]