Category Archives: Kids’ Crafts

Check out this magical walking jelly bean factory

Check out this magical walking jelly bean factory

You might think you know how jellybeans are made, but you probably haven’t seen this walking egg jellybean factory full of colorful gizmos!

This is a great project to make with your kids this spring. Plus, since Easter is tomorrow, you may very well have some spare jellybeans on hand, making it extra easy.

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Make this cute count down to school banner

Make this cute count down to school banner

 

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Summer may be waning, but you can still add excitement (and sneak in a little extra learning) to those last carefree days with this cute-as-can-be back-to-school countdown banner.

Your early learners are sure to love the bold graphics and colorful tassels as they count down the days until school begins. Each day features a special school-related activity that can make those yearly tasks a little more fun and help mentally prepare your child for the transition to the school year.

What’s more, you can sneak a little extra learning in by reviewing backwards counting, colors, days of the week and reading.

 

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Make colorful flower napkin rings from paper bags

Make colorful flower napkin rings from paper bags
Make colorful flower napkin rings from paper bags

 

 

These beautiful napkin rings humble me. Why? Because I attempted to create some mother-daughter bonding time by crafting floral place card settings. As I struggled in vain to figure out how the flowers could uphold the name cards, my daughter breezed in, took one look at the project and said it would be much wiser to make napkin rings. I had to admit, she was right.

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That, my friends, is just the beginning. It turned out she was right many more times. She was right when she suggested we scallop the edges of the flowers, she was right when she said the flowers would look better if we made the centers with a paper fringe, she was right when she said we should add leaves and she was right when she suggested running the pipe cleaner through the leaves.

Just who is the professional crafter around here? I pride myself on my creativity, but it is nothing compared to the unhindered mind of the young.

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Doggone good dog baggie holder

Doggone good dog baggie holder

 

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Big news! We are expecting! Our household is about to go from one 90 pound doggie to two dogs. So, as you and both know, that means a shitload of work–literally.

Since there is no Diaper Genie (do they still make those anymore?) for puppies, I opted to instead create an easy access doggie bag aka pooper scooper holder. Part of my motivation was because Every. Single. Time. someone in my house goes to grab a plastic bag, they drop at least one on the back stairs. Let’s see…slippery plastic bag + staircase = Betsy’s broken face.

I’ve been creating things with Whisker Graphics products for nearly a year and I have to say, I am still just as much in love with their polka dot bags. To me, polka dots represents happy energy, and Lord knows, we are going to have lots of happy energy when our little Golden Retriever bundle of joy arrives.
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Make a vintage Halloween wreath & fa la la all the way into the holidays

Make a vintage Halloween wreath & fa la la all the way into the holidays

 

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It is the end of October. Tomorrow is Halloween. Yet, my Pinterest feed is inundated with Christmas projects. When I head to Target, I make a beeline to see what’s new in the the Christmas section. The Daughter™ has even begun singing Christmas carols.

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Bored kids? Give them a paper towel

Bored kids? Give them a paper towel
Bored kids? Give them a paper towel

Are your kids bored? Good!

Scientific studies have shown allowing children to become bored actually boosts their creativity*.

But sometimes you might need to give your kids a gentle creative nudge. Or–when it is the third day of being cooped up with incessant whining and squabbling because the flu struck during your spring-break-this-really-sucks-stay-cation–you might need to forget the gentle nudge and march them directly toward an activity. As in now. Right. Now. Read the rest of this entry