Happy Earth Day!! To celebrate, we’ll be planting seeds in the garden, helping to clean up a local playground, and of course crafting with our invention kit made up of recycled materials. Need some eco-friendly craft ideas to help you get started? Here are 11 inspiring crafts to make from recycled materials and other common […]
5 Ways to Make Old Toys Seem Like New
April 18, 2013 by
Getting the most play value out of the toys your kids already have doesn’t have to take a lot of time or effort. Here are some easy ways to make old toys seem like new! These tips can help teach kids to appreciate the things they already own, and promote plenty of imaginative playtime fun. […]
Kid Craft: Upcycled Clipboard
April 15, 2013 by
This creative craft for kids project is sponsored by Mod Podge Washout for Kids, an all-in-one sealer, glue, and finish that is designed to be kid-friendly and washes out of clothes in the washing machine and Apple Barrel paint, an all-purpose acrylic paint that comes in a wide variety of colors. These upcycled clipboards will keep […]
Work in Progress — Potted Herb Garden
April 13, 2013 by
Do you have old or worn things around in your home or garage collecting dust? These plain and dirty terra cotta pots were in need of TLC after sitting in the garage for far too long. When Michaels® asked me to participate in the RE-love blogger challenge to repurpose or remake an old item into […]
Kid Craft — Rocket Straws!
March 13, 2013 by
Quite possibly the most fun craft EVER! These rocket straws are a super quick craft project that can lead to hours of active play time fun!! Emily declared this was the “most fun craft project EVER”, and the kids have been playing with them indoors (and out) ever since. Yay for easy projects that keep […]
Kids Craft: Paper Bag Easter Tree!
March 4, 2013 by
I love when our neighbors decorate their trees for Easter! Here is a super quick and easy Easter craft the kids can make for a festive center piece on your family’s table, and all you will need to make one of your own is a paper lunch bag, some stickers, and string! This is a […]
Cardboard Roll Craft: Truffula Tree Pencil Toppers
February 27, 2013 by
A few days ago, I asked our lovely readers on our Facebook page to help us with a quick survey asking which material they would like us to use in our next crafty project — cardboard rolls, egg cartons, or newspaper. It was a close race, but the winner was cardboard rolls!! With Dr. Seuss […]
Weekend Project: DIY Cardboard Firehouse
December 17, 2012 by
Looking for a handmade gift idea the kids will love? Ever wish to pay tribute to our amazing rescue workers? Need a crafty weekend project?? I made a cardboard firehouse for the kids last weekend, intended as a handmade Christmas gift, but… well… I just could not wait that long! It was a HUGE hit! […]
7 Creative Uses for Pool Noodles
November 13, 2012 by
Do you have pool noodles sitting around at home collecting dust from last Summer? Wish you could put them to use with something other than a pool for the Fall and Winter months? Need a few creative ideas for inspiration?? Here are seven of our favorite ways to use pool noodles: 1. Hammer Time — […]
Quick Craft: Bread Tag Monsters
October 2, 2012 by
Looking for something fun to do with the kids this Halloween? Need a quick little craft project to keep the kids busy? Do you collect bread tags for no good reason?? Then this silly monster craft is for you!! To make your own bread tag monsters, you will need: a collection of bread tags and […]
Recycle Craft: Play Dough Cars
September 12, 2012 by
You know those colorful caps that twist off of apple sauce or baby food pouches?? It seems a certain someone was guilty of holding onto them for a wee bit too long in the hopes that they would one day be used for some recycling crafty goodness. Ahem. Anyhoo, when the kids declared that they […]
DIY Doll Lunch Box from a Mint Tin
August 29, 2012 by
Is your doll ready for back-to-school? Does she get hungry at lunch time? Do the other dolls make fun of her lunch box because it’s old or out-dated??? Then this project is for YOU!! To make your own doll lunch box, you will need an empty mint tin and some colored duct tape. Am I […]
DIY Cardboard Construction Play Set
August 10, 2012 by
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 […]
How to Build a Simple Shadow Puppet Theater
July 28, 2012 by
I completely underestimated how much the girls would enjoy playing with shadow puppets. Whenever something so simple makes them so happy, I can’t help but smile!! And this was SUPER simple. Added bonus — the perfect entertainment for whenever a power outage occurs. Our little shadow puppet theater was made from an empty cardboard box […]
Outdoor Nature Discovery Lab
July 5, 2012 by
During a recent trip to the dollar store, Emily asked if we could spend an afternoon creating a “nature discovery lab”. I thought that was a great idea, and as it turns out, we were able to use a few inexpensive items from the dollar store to make our nature discovery lab even more educational […]
Fun with Frozen Yogurt Containers
July 2, 2012 by
Does your family eat a lot of frozen yogurt? Do you have several empty containers? Looking for fun things to do with them?? Here are our 3 favorite projects using empty frozen yogurt containers. Also?? We LOVE the new Stonyfield frozen Oikos! Have you tried it? It is Ahhhhh-mazing! Highly recommend the superfruits flavor…. and […]
Rainy Day Fun — Pretend Pizzeria!
May 21, 2012 by
Need an idea for what to do with the kids on a rainy day? This pretend pizzeria kept Clara happily occupied and provided plenty of imaginative play time fun! We had already recycled our cardboard cafe into a cardboard classroom, and now it’s been recycled yet again into a pretend pizzeria. We used a […]
20 Inspiring Ideas for Earth Day Fun with Recyclables
April 19, 2012 by
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 […]
