holidays
Easy DIY Necklace for Mother’s Day – Kid Craft
My son’s preschool does a super sweet event each spring called Muffins for Mom. Or was is Muffins with Mom? Prepositions aside, the important thing is there were muffins and moms in one classroom with their kids. And all was right with the world. It’s a good thing this event is so sweet and heartfelt because I admit to having a hard time taking anything seriously when I am sitting on an itty bitty chair 12 inches off the ground. I’m just saying. Even the Leader of the Free World would feel a little ridiculous. I set my discomfort aside because after the kids sang a special song, it was…
Leprechaun Punch
I like any excuse to use food coloring. There. I said it. So, of course, St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect day for me to unleash my arsenal of green food coloring. My kids go wild for all of our green concoctions! And, I like to play it cool, but I love it too! This year I’ll be serving up a tall glass of Leprechaun Punch for the kids. It’s super easy to make. (You could definitely make this in large punch bowl if you were serving a crowd.) All I did was color a glass of Sierra Mist with green food coloring and then added a dollop of lime sherbet…
Magnifying Glass Valentine’s Card – Free Printable
I’m a big fan of Valentine’s cards for kids that don’t include candy. I know, I know, I’m such a party pooper. However, I do love Valentine’s cards that include trinkets. See, I’m not a complete scrooge! This attitude works really well because at my daughter’s elementary school they do not allow us to bring in sweets for Valentine’s Day or even for birthdays. It’s a little too strict, in my opinion, but their heart is in the right place. Last month my daughter and I scoured the big ol’ world wide web looking for Valentine’s ideas. If the truth is known, I find this part of Valentine’s Day ridiculously fun.…
Parachute Man Valentine’s Cards – Free Printable
My son has recently started playing “Army” with his neighborhood friends. So when I saw some examples out there for a parachute man Valentine’s cards, I knew he’d get excited. That was an understatement! I don’t know who to credit for the original idea, but I was inspired by this example here. Of course, I had to do my own take on it! Here’s the label that I came up with: I printed the labels out on white card stock, but regular computer paper would work fine too. I designed them to fold in half over the top of the plastic baggie that holds the parachute man. I got a dozen parachute…
Holiday Expectations
The other day I was disappointed because tickets to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer were sold out. Tragic, right? Then we didn’t go to the tree lighting ceremony or the Christmas parade because it was pouring down rain. Gasp! And I was thinking, “man, our kids are really missing out on all of the holiday fun this year.” I was on a slippery slope to wondering if my kids were going to need therapy because we weren’t maxed out on holly jolliness this year. Yes, looking back, I can see how that attitude was a bit pathetic. Here’s the kicker. My kids didn’t ask to go to see Rudolph or the parade.…
Santa Belt Nails
Even if you don’t have an Ugly Sweater Party to go to, I’m sure you’ll attend some sort of holiday shin-dig this year. The Christmas bling does not need to be restricted to your gorgeous abode. Oh, no. It’s time to glam up those finger and toenails with a little Santa Belt Bling! And as my Christmas gift to you, I have spared you pictures of my toes. You’re welcome. They are currently sporting the same look as my 7-year-old daughter’s toes though! All you have to do is paint your toe or fingernails red. Let them dry thoroughly. Then you need to use some scotch tape to mark off…
Jazzing Up a Fake Wreath
The house we are renting has a double front door. Cool, right? I have been very proud of myself for resisting the temptation to paint those things. Anyway, I don’t have two wreaths, let alone two matching wreaths, so I was on a mission to somehow dress up those front doors this holiday season. My first inclination was to buy a fresh wreath. Well, they were more than I wanted to spend. Big, surprise. Then I saw a fake wreath at Target and they wanted $25. For a fake wreath! Sheesh. So, I went to Hobby Lobby and their Christmas stuff was 50% off. I found a fake wreath for $5.00, originally…
Using Contact Paper to Make a Deer Silhouette
I’ve fallen for the animal silhouette fad – especially around the holidays. I can’t help it! I have not fallen for the vinyl cutting machines, like the Cricut, which would make creating a silhouette so much easier. I just haven’t been able to stomach the price tag on those puppies. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have one, but then I’d be afraid to waste the vinyl, so then it wouldn’t get used like it should. It’s a vicious cycle, people! It’s often these moments of cheapness frugality that lead me to get a little desperate creative. So, I came home from preschool drop-off last week, did my happy dance…
Holiday Footprint Art
My most treasured piece of holiday decor is not the tree topper or the ornaments from when I was a baby. Nope, not even close. It’s actually this piece of footprint artwork my daughter made when she was 5. Mistletoes? It doesn’t get any cuter than that. And you know I’m a sucker for hand and footprint art. There’s something so compelling to me, as a mother, to have a snapshot in time of their little feet – especially on canvas. If you are looking for a homemade gift idea this year. I thought you might like that one. It’s as simple as letting your child paint the background and…
Santa Belt Magnets
Last year I got on a magnet kick. Don’t ask me why. Sometimes you just get a wild idea and before you know it, your fingers are covered in Mod Podge and you forgot to start dinner. Am I right, or am I right? The result was a whole bunch of these ridiculously cute Santa Belt magnets. Don’t worry. No humans starved during the making of these magnets. We totally had cereal for dinner that night. Problem solved! Here’s what you need to make them: wood discs of some sort, magnets, glue, small paint brush, Mod Podge, tape, craft paint and rhinestones or gems. You may want to sand the wood…
