Valentine's Craft

I found this Valentine's craft that I actually had all the supplies for....just had to dig through the trash to find that paper towel roll I'd thrown away. It is a perfect independent craft for 7 and up, but my 5 year old did it with a little help stringing.

I cut up two paper towel cardboard rolls (that made plenty) and we just used spray paint, much faster and easier.

Shaped them into hearts.

Poked them top and bottom with a tack.

Chose from my random collection of beads.

We used fishing line and it was sturdy enough that we didn't have to use a needle. I had them loop back through the bottom of the bead to hold it in place and help keep the heart shape.

Not quite as fancy as theirs, but still very festive.

Painting Rocks

Step one:

Gather rocks at the beach. You know it's going to be a good activity when gathering supplies is as much fun as the actual art project.

Step two:

Paint away. We just used q-tips because I didn't have enough brushes for every color of paint. Worked perfectly.

Step three:

Enjoy your little works of art.

Advent Activities

I decided to bag the candy in the advent calendar this year and do activities instead. It took a little bit of planning to get the right things on the right days, but so far it's been a hit. And I sneaked a few candy into the days, just enough to make it special and not sugar overload.

Decorate the kid's tree

Sing Christmas carols at the piano as a family and choose a special treat

Have breakfast with Santa

Open your special ornament and put in on your tree

Take cookies to our neighbors

Go to the book store and read Christmas books

Write a letter to Santa and choose a special treat

Get hot chocolate and see the living nativity

Go to the snow

Wrap Christmas gifts for your teachers

Have our friends over for a Christmas party

Go to the San Diego Parade of Lights

Go see the lights at Christmas Card Lane

Watch the Polar Express and eat/string popcorn

Make paper snowflakes and choose a special treat

Listen to Christmas music and dance

Go to a special Christmas concert with Mom

Make footprint reindeer and choose a special treat

Go see Santa at the mall

Make gingerbread houses with GG

Decorate cookies

Read the story about the birth of Jesus

Play pin the nose on the snowman

Animals need special treats too! Go feed the ducks

Make a special Christmas drawing and choose a special treat

Do service for someone in need

Superhero Cuffs

I love the internet. We found this super easy tutorial for superhero cuffs. It took five minutes and my kids spent the rest of the afternoon fighting villains in the backyard.

DIY Magnet Board

I have a stainless steel fridge but I also have a lot of magnets. So I found this idea, bought the oil drip pan for $10 and spray painted it red. I didn't adhere it to the wall because I like to be able to move it around the house and put it away when we're done with it. It could be a lot cuter with a frame/moulding around it, but thought this was fairly functional and very kid friendly. And it brought my magnets back to life.

Spooky Halloween Banner

Everyone once in awhile I still get crafty. Never mind that I started this last October and didn't get it finished until a few weeks ago.

Dump Truck Birthday

Mud trifle in a dump truck. Delicious, easy, done. My kind of birthday cake.

Rainbow Bright

Rainbow parties seem to be all the rage right now. With rainbow ideas all over pinterest, it seemed like a pretty good time to jump on the band wagon. I can't really take credit for the invitation idea.

They ate jell-o popcorn, skittles, rainbow fruit kabobs, twizzlers, and fishies.

I made rainbow ice which was cool, until all the colors melted together and turned the Sprite blackish gray.

They painted their nails

and crafted

and treasure hunted for extra large rainbow swirled lollipops.

And as if they needed anymore sugar, we had rainbow cake. Fun to make, fun to eat. The girls' reactions when we cut the first piece was totally worth it. A definite crowd pleaser.



 

Custom Lanyards

My purse is too big and too cluttered to have to look for my keys every time I need them. The solution: a lanyard key chain. But after having an ugly old lanyard on my keys 6 years, my sister subtly suggested I upgrade my key chain. These were too cute and simple to make just one for me. So this is what I gave Ruby's teacher for her Christmas gift to replace the lanyard that holds her badge and classroom keys. And a few more for Christmas gifts. Thank you Holly for the lobster claws. They work perfectly.