Tag Archives: kid crafts

Simple Summer Sanity Savers

School’s out for some kids, while others are just a few weeks away from enjoying the freedom of summer vacation. For parents, the end of the academic year brings excitement and some trepidation.  After all, most moms and dads know it’s just a matter of time before seasonal boredom sets in. To preserve your sanity in the weeks to come, consider keeping your kids busy with the following summer-themed crafts: Sugar-Free Ice Cream Cone Not only is this adorable ice cream cone sugar-free, it’s also calorie-free and drip-free.  All you need to make this cute craft are a few sheets … Continue reading →

Fish Fun

Don’t let Mother Nature put a damper on your summer fishing adventures.  If your big day has to be put on hold because of bad weather, have some fish-themed fun indoors. Children looking forward to reeling in the “big one” can practice their dexterity skills by making the following colorful underwater creatures: Fish Shapes:  Cut various shapes (e.g. rectangles, squares, circles, triangles, diamonds, hearts, etc.) from colored construction paper, and then let kids use the shapes to construct their own fish.  When they’ve put the final touches on their fish, have the kids glue the pieces in place and adhere … Continue reading →

Last Minute Easter Boredom Busters

April showers bring May flowers… they also bring a bunch of bawling kids, who upon hearing that their outdoor Easter egg hunt was cancelled due to thunderstorms, are heart broken and driving their mothers insane—-indoors! I’m near tears myself. Thanks Mother Nature. If you live in the Central portion of the United States, then you too may be forced to spend your day before Easter indoors and out of the rain. If so, then consider salvaging your sanity by getting your kids working on these fabulous edible Easter crafts: CHOCOLATE EASTER BUNNY ON A STICK Ingredients: 14 Wooden Popsicle sticks … Continue reading →

Snow Day Fun With Stained Glass JELL-O

There are snowy days, and then there are SNOWY days. The latter is what we’re dealing with today. Many portions of my state are incapacitated due to the Blizzard of 2009. Sixteen inches of snow, hurricane force winds, mass power outages and bitterly cold temperatures, forced the governor of Wisconsin to declare a State of Emergency for all 72 counties. Needless to say, we haven’t left our home all day… and now cabin fever is setting in. My kindergartener was beyond thrilled when she first learned that school had been cancelled, but after making Christmas cookies all morning, she’s getting … Continue reading →

Affordable Easter Fun

You don’t have to go into debt trying to make Easter fun for your kids. Forget about dropping big bucks on massive toy-stuffed Easter baskets and other activities and consider the following kid-friendly frugal options instead: EASTER EGG RACE Materials: 12 Easter eggs–6 pink and 6 green (you can use your favorite color eggs just make sure there are six of one color and 6 of another) Basket Masking tape Large spoons Directions: Use the masking tape to a line. Place all the pink eggs on the floor in a line at intervals of one foot. Place the basket at … Continue reading →

Simple Winter Boredom Busters for Kids

The dangerously cold winter weather that is blanketing the northern half of the nation is being described by Weather Channel meteorologists as the “Saskatchewan Slap.” I live in Wisconsin and have felt the sting of below zero temps far too many times, which is why I was not the least bit surprised that many school districts decided to cancel classes today. Having kids stand outside for a school bus when the windchills are 30 below is unreasonable and unsafe. If you are home today with a house full of kids and are looking for ways to preserve your sanity the … Continue reading →

Hop Aboard the Candy Train and Other Festive Crafts for Kids

Now that the kids are out on winter break your home is probably not as quiet (or clean) as it was a week ago. To regain some semblance of order you might consider emptying your craft closet and assembling the following kid-friendly holiday crafts. Not only will they help your children channel their energy into something worthwhile, but also your home will be filled with festive decorations. Note: Adult supervision is required on projects that involve hot glue. CHRISTMAS CANDY TRAIN Materials: Hot glue gun 1 unopened roll of hard candy (Lifesavers) 4 wrapped peppermint candies 1 wrapped caramel 1 … Continue reading →

Simple Halloween Crafts: Fun with Paper Plates

When I was in second grade my older brother (by 11 months) was dared by a kid in the school cafeteria to eat a paper plate. My headstrong sibling didn’t blink twice and devoured about half the plate before a teacher saw what he was doing and took him to the infirmary. He survived and to this day we still laugh about the incident. Strange anecdote aside that’s not the type of “fun” with paper plates I have in mind for your children. With Halloween fast approaching and the economy in the dumpster I’ve been looking affordable ways to decorate … Continue reading →

The Project Box

We keep a large plastic container in the corner of our family room. At first glance, it might seem like it is full of trash. Inside the box, plastic soda bottles, egg cartoons, and empty mint tins crowd for space. This is not trash though, this is our project box. The kids know that they can paw through the box and use whatever they find. I like not having to search for empty cartons and containers when they are inspired. I also like the physical limit of the box. It can only hold so much. That way I don’t end … Continue reading →

Party Crafts: Make Your Own Cat Favor

As we head into the holiday season both at home and at school, it’s time for putting our collective heads together to come up with crafts and the like that can be done at school or at home. If you’re like me, you enjoy doing things with your kids – even when you aren’t art oriented. The following idea is good for making a party favor or a bookmark or just a decoration, it really is only limited by the imagination. So whether you are looking for some fun to be had with your little one at home or you … Continue reading →