Remember those “paint with water” books from when you were the kid?? Weren’t they the best? We had lots of fun with a set of watercolor pencils this afternoon, and Clara loved making her own “paint with water” pages!! If you don’t already have a set of watercolor pencils, Crayola makes a good set, and we […]
Quick Craft — Halloween Photo Frames
October 13, 2011 by
Clara and I had lots of fun crafting these festive photo frames for Halloween, and we cannot wait to mail them off to faraway family and friends! It was a super-quick project that she could do with very little help from me. For the spider design, I cut the frame from a sheet of thick […]
7 Fun Ideas for Sensory Bins
September 19, 2011 by
Ever since my kiddos were old enough to know not to put things in their mouths, they have LOVED playing with sensory bins. I can’t even tell you how many hours were spent pouring, measuring, sorting — sensory bins can be completely mesmerizing!! New to the idea of sensory bins, or looking for new ideas to […]
Let’s Build a Flashlight!
September 6, 2011 by
This little boredom buster is quick and easy to set up using just a flashlight from the dollar store! It’s perfect for older kids who love to take things apart and put them back together, which meant Emily really had LOTS of fun with it!! Take apart an ordinary household flashlight. To help keep all […]
10 Cheap Boredom Busters for Kids
September 1, 2011 by
Looking for a few easy ways to keep the kids from getting too bored? Here are some of our favorite boredom busters that are quick, easy, cheap, and fun!! 1. Beading with cut up straws — easy, frugal, and a great way to build up important fine-motor skills. 2. Make photo puppets and put […]
Around the Web — 10 Quick Crafts for Busy Moms
August 31, 2011 by
Last night I put the girls to bed early, and Mark went out for a fantasy football draft, leaving me with some precious “mommy crafting time”. Many times with my own crafting, I’ve found that it’s not a matter of finding the time to craft, but making the time. I still had dirty dishes in […]
5 Easy DIY School Supplies
August 11, 2011 by
Can you believe how quickly this Summer is flying by?? School will be back in session in just a few weeks! To help stretch your back-to-school shopping budget, here are some ideas of school supplies you can make yourself using materials you probably already have on-hand. 1. Apple Printed Book Cover — Have a few […]
Printable Play Space
August 9, 2011 by
I made up some cute play spaces from a sheet of card stock paper, and our peg dolls have made themselves right at home. The girls are having a great time with these, and I love how something as simple as a sheet of paper can make their faces light up!! There were lots of […]
10 Cheap Ways to Beat the Heat
July 20, 2011 by
Like much of the US, we are stuck in a “heat dome” which means it’s time to find creative ways to keep cool! Some tips to keep in mind — Avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day, stay in shaded areas, drink plenty of water, and be sure to offer kids lots […]
Calorie-Free S’Mores for Pretend Play
July 17, 2011 by
Want all the fun of making s’mores, but without the sugar-high afterwards?? These pretend play s’mores are SO easy to make, and they are calorie-free so the kiddos can make (and pretend to eat) as many s’mores as they could possibly want!! First, make up your pretend campfire — arrange stones in a circle and […]
Firefly Night Light
July 7, 2011 by
When Emily was getting ready for bed, she asked for a new night light. (Clara has been “borrowing” Emily’s night light for some time now.) Some battery-powered LED holiday lights in a recycled plastic jar made for a fun (and frugal) “firefly” lantern! Shhhhh…. Sweet dreams, little one!!
Red, White, and Blue
July 3, 2011 by
Looking for some fun, easy, last-minute crafts to celebrate the 4th of July?? Here are some of our favorite crafts using red, white, and blue from around the web!! (Thanks, Yelena!) Lifesaver Firecrackers via u-createcrafts.com Red, White, and Blue Paper Decorations via theslightlyobsessivebride.blogspot.com Firework Cookies via redcouchrecipes.blogspot.com 4th of July Montessori Learning Activities via countingcoconuts.blogspot.com […]
Our Favorite Picnic Games
May 30, 2011 by
Know what’s LOTS of fun?? Grabbing the kiddos, packing up some lunches (or better yet, breakfasts), and whisking them away for an impromptu picnic!!! Whether you go to a local park, or just enjoy the time in your own backyard, here are some of our favorite picnic games to make things even more fun! […]
Printable Star Stencils
May 25, 2011 by
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 […]
DIY Placemats from Shelf Liner
May 17, 2011 by
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 […]
Invisible Graffiti
April 29, 2011 by
Love painting, but not a fan of the mess?? Ever have an overcoming urge to paint graffiti around your neighborhood, but don’t want to risk getting in trouble with the law?? Then invisible graffiti is for you!! It’s a piece of white cardboard cut into the shape of a palette with completely dried nail polish […]
Super Easy Last-Minute Easter Card
April 19, 2011 by
Clara and I had lots of fun crafting up a few last-minute goodies for Easter, including this CUTE (and frugal) card using her fingerprints!! I drew a line to mark the soil with a brown marker, then Clara pressed about 1/2 of her index finger on an orange ink pad to make the carrots. She […]
Garden GROW Bunting
April 18, 2011 by
It’s no surprise that we are big fans of gardening, but this year we have a new addition to our usual rented garden plot — our first raised bed in our own backyard!! Mark has been hard at work with all the building, and I was SO excited that I could not WAIT for the […]
