We’ve been having a spell of rain here lately, but that didn’t stop us from having a FUN family beach-themed movie night! If we couldn’t get to the beach, we decided we could find a few ways to bring the beach to us. The kids had SO much FUN with this and it was really […]
Passport to Imagination
June 28, 2013 by
Early last week, I took the kids to visit Michael’s craft store for their Passport to Imagination program. It was a big hit!! Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from now until August 2nd 10am-noon, Michael’s is hosting 2 kid-friendly craft projects inspired by countries around the world for just $2 per child per visit. It’s […]
10 Ways to Stay Cool with Water Play
June 27, 2013 by
If you find yourself stuck in a heat wave this Summer, it may be a good time to try some water play ideas to stay cool, and keep the kids entertained without the use of batteries or screens! Some tips to keep in mind — Avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day, […]
101 Free (or Low Cost) Things to Do with Kids this Summer
May 22, 2013 by
Not sure what to do with the kids this Summer? Are you putting together a Summer bucket list? Need some fun activity ideas to do with the kids that are free or low cost? Here’s a list of over 100 FREE or cheap activity ideas to help inspire you to make the most of your […]
20 Favorite Must-Do Activities for Summer
May 10, 2013 by
Are you looking forward to Summer? Need some inexpensive activities for the kids to do to help celebrate the season?? Here are 20 of our family’s favorite Summer activities that have become special traditions — without breaking the bank. 1. Kick Ball Croquet — Repurpose some old pool noodles to make your own kickball croquet […]
Gifts Kids Can Make for Mother’s Day: Jewelry Dish
May 4, 2013 by
Looking for a last-minute handmade gift idea for Mom this Mother’s Day?? These pretty jewelry dishes are quick and easy for kids to make! A big thank you to our friends at Melissa & Doug for sponsoring today’s creative craft project! To make your own jewelry dish, you will need some oven bake clay, an […]
Early Problem Solving with Trains
April 9, 2013 by
Today we’re having the Top 20 Moms to Follow on Pinterest take turns hosting posts on each others’ site. We are so lucky to have Jamie from Hands On As We Grow to share this fun post about developing early problem solving skills using toy trains! If you’re not already familiar with Jamie’s site, you will […]
Exploring Salt and Watercolors from The Artful Parent
April 8, 2013 by
If you live or work with young children who love art, and you haven’t already pre-ordered the book The Artful Parent: Simple Ways to Fill Your Family’s Life with Art and Creativity by Jean Van’t Hul, then you should definitely consider ordering it to add to your home or classroom library. Here is our version […]
Kid Craft — Silly Stick Puppets
April 3, 2013 by
Here’s a quick, low-mess craft for the kids to do. Added bonus — they may be inspired to put on their own puppet shows for plenty of imaginative playtime fun! You might want to keep these in mind for upcoming Screen Free Week later this month! (More ideas for Screen Free Week can be found […]
Free Printable — Spring Flower Matching Game
April 1, 2013 by
Need a quick activity for the kids to do that’s free and easy to set up? Here’s a little printable matching game just for you! The kids and I are so eager for the first flowers of the season to bloom, that we thought it was time to take matters into our own hands. Just […]
Invitation to Explore: Pointillism
March 26, 2013 by
Simple Art Exploration Activity for Kids Need a quick activity for the kids to do? Here’s a project that’s easy to set up for the kids and encourages them to explore the art technique of pointillism! Pointillism is the use of small dots to form an image when seen from a distance. You may want to sit […]
CRE8TIME Update
March 19, 2013 by
As a follow up to my previous CRE8TIME post, in case you were curious what the final watercolor painting looked like, I thought I would share it here. While it’s far from a “floral masterpiece” (HA!), I did thoroughly enjoy the process of setting aside time each day to work on it. I even invited […]
Heart Treasure Boxes
February 14, 2013 by
Every kid loves to have a special place to store all of those precious momentos from treasured outings with family and friends. What better place to store them than a hand-painted heart treasure box?? While at the craft store, I happened to pick up a pack of 3 of these unfinished heart boxes on a […]
Love Painting for Kids
February 10, 2013 by
Do you have watercolor paints and masking tape on-hand? Here’s a quick and easy kid-friendly painting project with stunning results — just in time for Valentine’s Day! To make your own “LOVE” painting, use masking tape to spell out the word LOVE on heavy watercolor paper. Tip — use a craft stick or the back […]
5 Biggest Obstacles to Crafting with Kids
January 28, 2013 by
The 5 Biggest Obstacles to Crafting with Kids (and how to overcome them) If you ever experience problems while crafting with your kids, you’re not alone. While crafting with my own kids, writing crafts for this blog and designing crafts for children’s magazines over the years, I have come across many issues. Thankfully, most of […]
Funny Kid Quotes
January 26, 2013 by
Funny Kid Quotes Do you need a good laugh? Here are some funny kid quotes from my silly little ones to help brighten your day. Overheard from the living room one day. 4yr old (piling stuffed animals on the couch): Come on, kids! It’s time to go to IKEA. Vrrooom… Vrrrroooommmm… 8 yr old: What’s […]
Quick Valentine Window Display
January 23, 2013 by
Need a quick Valentine’s Day craft idea for the kids? Looking for a fun way to brighten up an otherwise cold and dreary day? Do you have coffee filters on-hand?? Then this heart window display is for you! It has been awhile since we’ve last updated our front window with a new colorful display — […]
Kid Art: Process-Based Valentines
January 18, 2013 by
Valentine’s Day is one of the best excuses to craft up special handmade gifts for the ones you love, and this invitation to create was a BIG hit here! Kids of all ages are sure to enjoy making Valentines with this process-based art project. To make your own process-based handmade Valentines, you will need a […]
