Play Money Coins
My kids love to play store, restaurant, tea party and all that jazz! Not only do they love the play food but they love the play money. They even use the pretend credit cards that come in the mail. The play money coins that you can sometimes find are great. The dollar bills, not so great. I always find the paper money crumpled up or ripped. When I try to throw it away but I can't because my kids NEED money.
I was tired of the paper money so I convinced them to only use coins. However, ...
Grow Your Own Stalactites and Stalagmites
We recently went on vacation to Carlsbad Canyons in New Mexico. My kids loved seeing so many stalactites and stalagmites. Through the Junior Ranger Program they learned the difference between the two. Stalactites hold tight to the ceiling while stalagmites might reach the ceiling. This science experiment is fun to watch each day as the crystals grow a little more and a little more.
Grow Your Own Stalactites and Stalagmites
Supplies Needed:
2 glass jars
spoon
shallow dish or ...
Shadow Chalk Experiment
I love teaching my kids through play or in other words through active learning. They have fun through discovery while not realizing they are learning something new. This past weekend I taught my kids about the movement of the sun while playing with chalk on a sunny day. For this shadow chalk experiment we traced some shadows and later came back to those objects, still in the same place. The first observation my kids made was that the shadow moved. What happened and why does that happen they ...
Decluttering Tips
It is back to school season. One thing many people do when preparing for school is to buy new school clothes and new school supplies. Where will you put the new items? What do you do with the old clothes and the old supplies? Are you someone who keeps them for later (“One day I might need them”) or are you one who gets rid of anything the moment it is replaced?
Clutter happens over time. Slowly, as new items are added, things pile up if old, worn out, less-usable ones are not discarded ...
School Lunch Box Jokes #1
I have been wanting to create Lunch Box Jokes for over a year now. I finally have completed my desire and goal. My kids love telling jokes for kids. They try to find jokes kids can actually understand. School for us started this past Monday. There were two things my kids were excited to bring to school that first day; a teacher appreciation gift and a lunch box joke. For school this year I compiled five jokes for kids each week to coorespond with 5 school days. These jokes have been tested ...
Junior Ranger Program
Do you love exploring and learning? As a family we have just started planning some bigger adventures. I feel most of my kids are big enough now to use all their senses to see the world – or at least to broaden their horizons beyond our own community.
One adventure we recently went on was to explore the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. As we paid at the entrance of the Grand Canyon the friendly Ranger saw my kids and told them about the Junior Ranger Program. Excited to hear that news, we ...
Duct Tape Water Bottle Holder
If you are looking for a last minute 4th of July craft I have one for you today. Easy crafts are always fun for holidays! This duct tape water bottle holder is patriotic and perfect for parades, hikes, parks or water parks. Whatever you love to do on the 4th this craft will be perfect to help keep you hydrated.
Around the 4th of July we take a trip to my Aunt and Uncle's Ranch. The kids love being outside riding the horses, investigating and playing with the dogs. We pretty much spend ...
DIY Pineapple Keychain
My kids have an event at school where they practice buying things in a different language. We have been involved in this the past 2 years. They are always looking for donations of keychains or similar small items that the kids would enjoy. One year a friend of my daughter made keychains. I thought it was a great easy craft because keychains are something kids can make and mine like putting them on their backpacks. We are going to create some different types of keychains for this school ...
Who Feeds The Fish {Printable}
When you have a pet that needs to be cared for a schedule is necessary. All kids want their turn to help out but they also want fairness and equality. Having a schedule will ensure fairness and everyone will know who has a turn on what day.
A nice coworker at Little Chef Dad's work learned that we do not allow pets at our house. We do not ever want a dog or a cat or anything. My kids are welcome to walk the neighbors dogs (which they love to do), or play with friends bunnies, kittens ...
How to Make a Bookmark with Felt and Ribbon
My kids love to read for school and fun. I find them holding their places in the books with toys, pencils, kleenex.... It was about time we learned how to make a bookmark. Easy crafts are something we love to do. We found a way to create cute bookmarks to hold our places when it is time to put the book down.
We enjoy frequenting the library to discover new books and movies. I am constantly putting books on hold for my kids who have seen a friend with a book that looked fun and interest...
Recycled Denim Bracelet
A recycled denim bracelet is a low cost craft idea for kids. We all have jeans with holes. Perhaps you may cut them off and make them into shorts like I do, or a blanket like my mom. As an alternative how about creating a recycled denim bracelet that uses denim as the main material with a couple supplemental trimmings costing less then $2.
Supplies
Old pair of denim pants
Prym Dritz Fray Check Sealant
Fiskars Stick Rotary Cutter
Omnigrid Mat With Grid 24x36
2 different ...
A Simple Hanging Bath Towel
Do your towels end up on the floor and not on the hook? Mine fall down all the time no matter how creatively I put it on the hook. Today I will show you how to create your own simple hanging bath towel. In just a few minutes and some twill tape you will not have your towel fall on the floor again!
Supplies:
Prym Dritz Fray Check Sealant
Wrights Twill Tape White
Towel
Sewing Machine
Thread Black and White
Instructions:
Cut your twill tape 4" long. Use fray check on ...
Free Printable Chore Charts
We are still using our Chore Chart: Lanyard Style to complete daily jobs. I have been getting a few follow up questions about our system so I thought I'd answer all those today and I have now included Free Printable Chore Charts.
My kids really do like this chore chart system because they don't get the same job everyday. When it is job time they put on their lanyards. Each child has a hook where these are stored. When they have completed their job they put the lanyard on the next hook ...
How to make 18 doll hangers in 15 minutes
On Monday we shared how we modified a cupboard we have had for years into a Doll Closet. Hangers are absolutely necessary for a closet. I have searched for some affordable hangers online but never liked the cost, or the cost was ok but the shipping was outrageous.
I decided to make my own. I went to the dollar store and purchased three packages of children's hangers.
I took some tin snips and cut the hangers just after the hook on both sides.
I sanded down the edges to ...
How to Make a Doll Closet
My girls love their 18" American Girl type dolls and of course their clothes and accessories. I have found with any toy if it is displayed well or easy to get into it is played with more. We have a cupboard we have used over the years for many different purposes. I thought it was about time to change its purpose yet one more time. I wanted to make it into an Doll Closet because I wanted the doll clothes to be easily seen.
I used a self adhesive shelf liner for the inside of the ...
How to make an easy Hummingbird Feeder for kids
Hummingbirds are so fun to watch. Making your own Hummingbird Feeder is actually a lot easier then I anticipated. It can be done with recycled containers! The next time you or your kids drink anything out of a plastic bottle that has a screw on cap keep it and put it aside for this project. The next time you eat something out of a short squatty plastic container with a lid keep it and put it aside for this project.
Hummingbirds send out scouts at the beginning of May, two weeks before ...
How To Make A Spaceship from an Egg
One day while perusing the craft store I discovered a large egg. I thought surely there must be something fun that I can do with this, so I bought it. They come in a few different colors, but I chose the yellow. After some brainstorming I thought what if we made a spaceship. There are many different kinds that have an egg or a dome shape that kids who watch movies are aware of such as Little Einsteins, The Jetsons or Meet The Robinsons.
Today we decided to make a spaceship like the one ...
Chore Chart: Lanyard Style
Have you accepted our Challenge: Shed 300 in 30 days? Wednesday is day 30, the last day of our challenge. Whether you have been following our challenge or have been doing your own spring cleaning now is a great time to start a chore chart. This is a way to keep my kids and myself on track each day.
We moved almost two years ago. I quickly realized we needed a chore chart to keep things semi clean. Why semi clean? When young kids are helping clean they are trying their best (most of the ...
Countdown Plaque
If you like counting down the days to anything and everything, then this Countdown Plaque is something you need! Whether you are counting down to a birthday, a holiday, a vacation, days until school ends or begins, days until Grandma and Grandpa come to visit, days until a movie is released....you get the idea, you can customize the Countdown Plaque for your own countdown needs. The frame is removable so you can switch out the picture or subway art. The cabinet pulls on the bottom are to ...
Etched Ceramic Loaf Pan
Remember the Easy Striped Glass Vase? Today I'm sharing something similar. I found these cute mini loaf pans at a craft store. They were a solid red color. I don't mind the red but it was a little plain. I decided to take some glass etching paint and a stencil and see if I could make it a little more interesting. I chose snowflakes because snow is not as seasonal as a christmas icon.
Materials
Martha Stewart Glass Etching kit with brush
Martha Stewart adhesive stencil
Mini loaf ...
Easy Striped Glass Vase
With the holidays just around the corner decorating and gift giving ideas are in full swing. Martha Stewart Crafts has a full line of products to help. She has a multi-surface craft system which includes craft paint, glass paint, decoupage and jewelry. I used the glass etching cream to create this beautiful striped glass vase. It was simple to make and looks fantastic. It can be used not only for the next upcoming holiday's but as a vase filled with your favorite flowers.
Materials
M...
Pirate Games – Matching and Reasoning
Today we are sharing Pirate Games - one printable with two variations. This week we created a Pirate Menu which consisted of Walk the Plank Salmon, Sun Roasted Broccoli and Cheesy Pull Apart Sourdough Bread. We also learned how to Select, Store and Freeze Broccoli. What fun is "Talk Like A Pirate Day" next Thursday if you can't play a game! This pirate matching game can be played in two different ways.
How to Play Pirate Games:
Print the free printable twice so that you can play the ...
Grandparents Bingo {Free Printable}
All week we have been sharing our "Brunch with Grandparents" Menu for Grandparents Day which is this upcoming Sunday. My Little Chefs love to talk and play games with their Grandparents when we get together (or over Skype!). Today we are sharing a Grandparents Bingo you can play together. Ok, it isn't Bingo in the traditional sense, but it is fun. Some items are older and some items are newer. That is what is so fun! My Little Chefs learn best through stories. There are some items my Little ...
Cupcake Liner Utensil Holder
I have never been to a BBQ where they do not serve on paper plates with plastic utensils. Our craft today is to give some color to the utensil holder. To give it some personality and texture. We are using mini cupcake liners. Instead of just gluing them as they come out of the package our first step is to flip them inside out. This way the color is on the inside, not the outside which allows us to see the color more easily in the final product.
We used 18 mini cupcake liners for each ...
