Crafting with Kids Book – Review and Giveaway

When the lovely and talented Jennifer Casa contacted me to see if I would like to do a review of her fabulous new book, she had me at “hello”! Also??  Would I like to host a giveaway for one lucky reader to win an autographed copy?? Umm.. yes, please!! Crafting with Kids is part of […]

Things That Made Me Smile Today

1. Commissioning Emily to paint a “masterpiece” for our kitchen, and watching her joyfully paint a large canvas!   2. Playing dress up with Clara, and then….   3. Taking her out for ice cream (a rare treat) made even more fun in her princess dress up clothes! Oh, the smiles she received from other […]

Printable Star Stencils

Have you waited until the last possible minute to decorate for 4th of July?? Need a fun way to keep the kiddos busy for those outdoor BBQ’s and picnics?? Then grab your favorite sidewalk chalk and print out a few of our star stencils for some artsy outdoor fun! Once the template is printed, trace […]

Five Fabulous Bloggers

Thanks to Trop50 for sponsoring my writing about fabulous bloggers. This year Trop50 is granting 50 Fabulous Wishes. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to celebrate a friend with a refreshing attitude about looking and feeling fabulous! Today I’d like to share with you five FUN and fabulous blogs I visit […]

Weekend Art — Suminagashi for Kids

It is very rare that we feature a project here on Inner Child Fun that requires a trip to the art store, however this is the MOST requested project Emily has asked to do during Clara’s nap time. Suminagashi has kept Emily happily creating beautiful prints for hours!! Here are some tips for trying Suminagashi […]

Thrift Store Find!!

I still can’t get over this amazing thrift store find — a kids wooden & metal table and chair set!! It’s super sturdy and perfect for the girls’ artwork, homework, pretend tea parties, or just eating an afternoon snack!  And look! There’s room for two of their friends!! **glee** Wanna come play with us?? Yay for […]

Let’s Build a Flower Shop!

Tucked away in the corner of our living room, you’ll find a bit of sunshine no matter what the weather might be like outside. The girls are still really enjoying this cardboard play house we built using our Makedo kits awhile back, and I thought it would be fun to turn it into a colorful […]

DIY Placemats from Shelf Liner

We can never seem to have enough placemats around here! These festive placemats can be used for virtually any occasion, but with Memorial Day and 4th of July approaching, I went with red, white, and blue! To make your own, you’ll need a roll of vinyl (non-adhesive) shelf liner, some ribbon and a hole punch […]

Father’s Day Gifts Kids Can Make

Want to get a head start on some Father’s Day gifts?? We’ll be posting lots more gift ideas for Dad in the days ahead, but here are some fun projects from our archives that the kids can make to give to Dad on his special day. Get out some old Legos and let the kids […]

10 Sanity-Saving Activities for Quiet Time

Every kid needs a bit of down time during the day, and so do most moms. Whether you have younger children who nap, or you need a few minutes of quiet to make a phone call, quiet time can be a BIG asset! Here are ten of our all-time favorite activities for that sacred time […]

Mandatory Picnic

We’ve been blessed with beautiful weather lately! You know, the kind of weather when it feels like a crime to be spending any amount of time indoors?? Yeah, that kind. As I was just about to do my usual boring reheat the leftovers from last night’s dinner for lunch thing, I looked at Clara and […]

Flip Flop Fun

Do you like to kick off your shoes at the end of a long day?? Grab a pair of flip flops or other loose fitting shoes, add a hula hoop for a target and voilá — instant lawn game FUN!! Emily loved this excuse to kick off her shoes over….. ….and over….. …and over again! Great active […]

Outdoor Mud Pie Kitchen

This outdoor mud pie kitchen set was simple and easy to set up. It made my almost 3 year old SO happy to create her own mud pie creations over and over again! Here are a few ideas to make an outdoor mud pie kitchen set of your own: I loved making mud pies as […]

Outdoor Color Match

For a fun time, put paint chip cards of different colors on a binder ring, and punch a large hole in each shade. Go outside and try to match all the colors!! Clara is always up for any excuse to go outside, so this activity was an instant hit! We brought our swatches to a […]

Sunday Snapshot — Rock Star Gardening!

Know what makes working in the garden seem like a lot more fun?? Cranking up the radio and gardening rock-star style!! Also?? I play a mean air guitar with a shovel! 😉 Wishing all the mommies a very Happy Mother’s Day!!

Last Minute Mother’s Day Gifts Galore

Need a last minute Mother’s Day gift that won’t break the bank?? Here are some fun projects the kiddos can make just in time for Sunday! If Mom enjoys tea 1. She must have awesome taste because everyone knows tea is supreme!! and 2. Invite the kids to make up a quick batch of heart […]

DIY Pretend Play Cooktop from Recyclables

I made a little pretend cooktop from recyclables, and it’s been a big hit around here! It was super quick & easy to put together, and isn’t it adorable??? Added bonus — practically free! I love that it is small and lightweight enough that the girls can easily carry it from one room of the […]

Garden Photos That Make Me Smile

The whole family has been hard at work on our garden — here’s a little update with things we were happy to see!! We get excited when we find tiny sprouts of lettuce starting to appear! Aren’t they sooooo cute??? And look — potatoes starting to sprout!! Yay!!! There’s always work to be done, but […]