We were inspired by upcoming Earth Day to make beads from old magazines! I first saw this idea in The Complete Tightwad Gazette — a terrific resource. To make your own magazine beads, you will need: glue mixed with some water, toothpick (or straw, or bamboo skewer), old magazines, and a paint brush. We wanted […]
Treasure Box
April 20, 2009 by
This is one of those activities that keeps the kids busy, and has the added benefit of organizing tiny toys. To make your own treasure box, you will need a small fold up box from the craft store (this one cost just 30 cents), some stickers, and an empty egg carton. Have your child decorate […]
Pasta Necklaces
April 15, 2009 by
I know this is a classic preschooler activity, but I did not realize how much Emily would enjoy making these pasta necklaces! She was excited about every step, and loved wearing her necklaces around the house for the rest of the day. To make your own pasta beads, you will need uncooked pasta such as […]
Park Love
April 13, 2009 by
Today’s visit to the park was full of activities, and it did not cost us a dime. We enjoyed tree climbing, tree hugging, dog petting, leaf studying, bird feeding, squirrel watching, leisurely walking, rock picking, and nature listening. Emily picked a few rocks to bring home from our trip. With a little inspiration from Painting […]
$5 Friday — Bean Bag Toss
April 10, 2009 by
For $5 Friday, we made our own bean bag toss game and spent some time playing it outdoors. I indulged Emily’s love for outer space and made it a throw-the-star-into-the black-hole game. To make your own, use a star-shaped cookie cutter for a pattern and trace onto pieces of felt. Cut out the shapes. Sew […]
Spring Storage Boxes
April 9, 2009 by
Looking for some great frugal storage solutions? You may be able to find just what you need by looking in your recycling bin! Emily needed some storage for her books on CD and other music CD’s. This little baby food box was sturdy and just the right size and shape. It was easy to spruce […]
Model Magic Magnets
April 8, 2009 by
Model Magic by Crayola is one of those craft supplies I like to keep on hand for when we have Emily’s friends over for a visit. I try to stock up on it at AC Moore or Michael’s using the 40% off coupon and get a big tub of the white Model Magic. For this […]
Jell-O Finger Painted Easter Eggs
April 6, 2009 by
If you want to do finger painting with your kids, but worry about them getting the paint in their mouths, this is a great activity to try. Even my 9 month old had a turn at this, and loved it! We made our own finger paint using Jell-O and a little warm water. Mix the […]
Cute and Frugal Monogramed Onesie
March 31, 2009 by
Emily was very excited to create something special for Clara this afternoon, and cardboard stencils made this project very easy! I found a set of cardboard alphabet and number stencils at Big Lots for just $1. Baby onesies are usually very inexpensive. This one came in a pack of 3 for $7.99 at Target. With […]
Fabulous and Frugal Paper Lanterns
March 30, 2009 by
I have seen lanterns similar to this at the dollar store, and this afternoon Emily and I dressed one of ours up a bit with some tissue paper and glue. The finished lantern will be hanging up in her bedroom. To make your own, you will need a paper lantern, some colored tissue paper, white […]
Slacker Saturday — Flying Saucer Frisbees
March 28, 2009 by
It’s time for another great Slacker Saturday activity, and this one is very simple, super frugal, and lots of fun! Today’s activity is… Make your own flying saucer frisbees! To make yours, you will need 2 paper plates stapled together as shown, aluminum foil, and some stickers to decorate. If you are feeling particularly ambitious, […]
Needle Crafts with Kids
March 23, 2009 by
I know what you’re thinking — needle crafts and kids cannot possibly go together, but with a few adjustments even the little ones can take a turn at embroidery. Clara had a difficult time sleeping last night and was up several times with teething pain. This afternoon while she was napping I thought I would […]
Slacker Saturday — Star Garland
March 21, 2009 by
This intergalactic garland could not be any simpler, and the kids love making them to hang all around the house! This one is hanging up in our dining room now. To make your own star garland you will need string and star-shaped Post-It notes. That’s it! Simple, right? Lay out the string and invite your […]
Simple Shamrock Card
March 16, 2009 by
Earlier today we made simple shamrock cards using a potato stamper, and a paper bag. Emily really enjoyed this past activity so much, that we decided to try a slightly different version with shamrocks instead! Cool, huh? Who knew you could have so much fun with potatoes and paper bags? To make your own shamrock […]
St. Patrick’s Day is almost here…
March 15, 2009 by
It is starting to look like St. Patrick’s Day at our household, thanks to this cute rainbow suncatcher Emily and I put together! To make your own, you will need tissue paper in rainbow colors, clear contact paper, a hole puncher, black construction paper, gold foil (we used candy wrappers) and some yarn. Lay a […]
Sunflowers and Bean Sprouts
March 11, 2009 by
The emphasis on art projects has always been on the process in our household, but Emily was very proud of the outcome of this project and it has encouraged her to do more stamping projects similar to this one. To make your own sunflower stamping project you will need: a brown paper bag, some paint, […]
Pantry Art
March 10, 2009 by
Today we raided the pantry and bathroom closet for some art supplies for a Van Gogh-like beach project! If you have seen this post, you would understand why we have a huge supply of oatmeal and this was a great way to use up some of it. We also added some cotton balls, paper, paint, […]
March Comes In Like a Lion….
March 9, 2009 by
Emily spent some time this afternoon working on this drawing of a lion, which proved to be quite frugal since it only required paper and crayons. She was quite happy with the end result and proud that she had drawn it “all by herself”. Here is the secret to her success — a book called […]
