Do you smell that? Mmmm...that's the smell of fresh baked sugar cookies and gingerbread men coming out of the oven. Do you see that? Wow! I can see twinkling lights and stockings hung by the fire. I'm daydreaming, of course, but it's Christmastime!! It's time to pull out the totes of Christmas decorations. It's time to dig through our favorite cookbooks and find those yummy recipes we make year after year. It's time to make memories with our kids and make some new Christmas ornaments for the tree. Today I've got ten DIY ornaments you can make with your kids. They're easy enough for all ages. So, pick your favorites, make a list, head out to the craft store and pick up the supplies needed to have an afternoon of ornament making. {You may already have the supplies in your craft closet if … [Read more...]
5 DIY Chore Charts for Kids
Every year I feel the need to re-assess the current chore assignments, or the chore charts, in our home. With five kids, if done correctly, our family could have a tidy home on a daily basis. Of course, I keep all of our chores age appropriate. My twelve-year-old does things like cleaning the bathrooms and starting laundry, where as my seven-year-old works on his bedroom or sweeping off the back porch. I also don't want to overwhelm them. Each child has 1-2 chores per day. In the last couple of weeks, I've been on the lookout for a chore chart that would be both easy to follow AND fun for the kids. I've come across a few that I think are both practical and fun. I think you'll agree. /1/ Family Photo Magnetic Chore Chart - Create magnet tags with chores and place them on or near the … [Read more...]
14 DIY Heart Crafts That Say Love
January is nearly over. Can you believe that? If you haven't already, it's time to decorate the house for LOVE! Valentine's Day is just a few short weeks away. I've gathered fourteen heart crafts that will get you started, for sure! /1/ Heart String Art - Make a heart OR your initial! /2/ Crochet Heart Pillow - Do you crochet? Here's a simple tutorial on how to make a pillow. /3/ Heart Mobile - This mobile will be fun in any color scheme you choose. Hang it in the kitchen or in the baby's room. It's perfect for year 'round. [sc:adsense ] /4/ Paper Heart Garland - This is a great craft to get the kids involved in. I mean, it involves glue sticks. They'll LOVE it! /5/ "That's Amore" Heart Napkins - Send the kids to a babysitter and have a romantic dinner for two with your … [Read more...]
3 Upcycle Sewing Projects That Are Great For Beginners
When I got started sewing in my teens, my grandma encouraged me to work with old t-shirts and pillowcases. Let me tell you – I thought she was being silly, but it was so smart! I made a mess of so many projects back then and I’m very happy that I wasn’t using my babysitting money to buy fabric! For those of you who aren’t familiar with upcycling, it’s simply the process of reusing old things to make better new things. Upcycling is great, especially if you’re new to sewing. You’ll be able to make neat, useful things while spending little or no money on materials. The other great thing is that if you make mistakes, it’s no big deal since you didn’t have to invest in the materials. Today, we’ve collected a few simple upcycle sewing ideas to get you started. You'll need a few old … [Read more...]
Thanksgiving Kids Crafts
What are you thankful for? Your friends, family and home, sure. How about some crafts to keep the little ones busy during this Thanksgiving holiday? You can certainly be thankful for that! Your little Indians and Pilgrims can create these kid's crafts just in time for Turkey Day! /1/ Handmade Turkey Leg Place Cards - Make sure everyone knows where their seat is on Thanksgiving with these quirky, paper turkey legs. /2/ Turkey Yourself - Add your precious little one's face to a handmade turkey. He'll get a kick out of seeing himself with feathers! /3/ Thanksgiving Place Mat - Does your house have a "kid's table"? While the grown-ups are adding the finishing touches to all of the dishes, keep the little ones busy with a place mat they can color and play games on. /4/ Extra … [Read more...]
DIY Halloween Costumes for the Entire Family
Halloween is one of my most favorite times of year. There's something about the cooler weather, the over-abundance of candy {mmm...Reese's!}, and the adorable kiddos dressed in Halloween costumes. When my kids were younger I dressed them in theme. The first year my two boys were Batman and Robin. The following year they were Captain Hook and Peter Pan. When we had our third son they all dressed as Star Wars characters, Darth Vader, a Storm Trooper and the baby was Yoda. Once my oldest son formed his own opinion, I lost my say-so in who wore what. And, that's okay, I guess. We all still have fun deciding on who or what they'll all dress-up as. Some years, they choose something that really makes me put on my thinking cap and get down and dirty with the glue gun. Other years, it's as easy as … [Read more...]
