Butterfly

Look how cute this butterfly snack idea is!

Basically you choose 2 different types of snacks

(I used grapes and apple slices)

close up the Ziploc and tie a pipe cleaner in the

middle for the butterfly antennas.

Super simple, very cute and the kids love it!

Playdough!

We love to make and play with playdough in our house!

Here is my favorite recipe...there are lots out there

but this is the one I like best:

First mix together your dry ingredients...

flour, salt and cream of tartar

Next, add the water, oil and food coloring.
Mix well until only small lumps remain.

Cook on medium heat stirring constantly.
It will start to lump together.
Continue cooking until little moisture is left.


I usually plop mine onto a cookie sheet to cool
and then knead it.
The playdough on the bottom is right out of the pan.
Once completely cool, store in Ziploc bag or plastic container.

I bought all of my ingredients at Smart & Final.
If you plan on making a lot of playdough, that is
the best place to buy the Cream of Tartar...it is a bit
pricey at the grocery store!

Holiday Garland

Holiday Garland made with material

Here is what you need:

material and any type of string, rope or other base to tie

the material strips on

You can make the length and width any size you want.
For this one I cut strips that were 1" x 8"

Next time I might go a bit smaller in the length...maybe 6"

It will make the tying part more difficult but I think the

shorter length would look better.

I chose to tear my material for a fun, frayed look.

You can also cut it for a cleaner look.

But...let me tell you, the tearing part was like free

stress therapy!! It felt sooo good ripping them up!

The pile...I ended up having to tear more to cover

the length of the string

This next step is simple...

Tie a small knot in the end of your string to keep the pieces

on and then tie each piece of material on.

After I finished tying on all the material pieces,

I took it outside and shook it really hard to fluff

it up and get rid of any lose strands

The finished look

I am really happy with how it turned out and

that it was so easy to do.

I have seen this type of garland on mantels, over doors,

as table runners and in other parts of the house.

I also think it would look cute as a wreath and instead

of using rope or string, tie the material strips on

a metal hanger shaped into a circle.

You can add other types of items in the garland...

large wooded beads, ribbon, candy canes...

lots of possibilities!!

Aren't These Cute?!?!

My mom's friend gave her these cute little Halloween candies.

They are Peppermint Patties and she covered them with scrapbook

paper and embellished it with stamps, eyes, etc.

These would be cute for any holiday and would make

a great little favor for baby showers, birthdays and more.

You could pretty much do it for any celebration!! Adding this to my to-do-list!!

Colored Pasta

There are so many fun things you can do with colored pasta!

Here is what you need to get started...

pasta (preferably with holes to string later), food color,

rubbing alcohol, latex gloves, tray or cookie sheet,
wax paper and Ziploc bags

First, put pasta into a Ziploc bag. Poor in a tiny amount (3 Tbs or so)

of rubbing alcohol and food coloring. Close up bag and put into

another Ziploc bag. Close the second bag and shake.

The reason for two bags is to save you from a HUGE mess

if the first bag were to open!

Poor out colored pasta onto a cookie sheet covered with

wax paper. Spread pasta around cookie sheet and allow to dry.

(This is where the gloves come in...wear them for this step to

save you hands from getting dyed!)

Korkers & More

I love to add korker ribbon to my bows...

it looks so cute and it is pretty easy to do.

Wrap your ribbon around a dowel and secure each

end with a wooden clothespin.

Spray with water or fabric stiffener/starch.

Of the two...the fabric stiffener/starch works best!

Cover oven rack with foil and
bake at 275 degrees for 10-15 minutes

Gently slide ribbon off of dowel.

Add to any bow or clip.
A few tips for making the korker ribbon...
*the tighter you roll the ribbon on the dowel,
the tighter your curl will be.
*if your curls are too loose, put them back in the oven
*I like to spray the ribbon with fabric stiffener/starch
after I bake it as well as before.


A few other things I am working on...
ponytail bands


Clips of different sorts

Look how cute this is!
I need to make a few adjustments on it and I want
to try it out in Kelly (or Jake's) hair
to see what it really looks like!!

Gingerbread Man

Here is a fun

idea from my preschool teaching days.

Gingerbread Man

Materials needed:

2 gingerbread shapes, hole punch, yarn or string

embellishments to decorate

You can either cut the gingerbread shape out

for your child or let them do it.

Punch holes around outside and lace with yarn.

Great for find motor and eye hand coordination!!

Legend of the Candy Cane

Reads:
A Christian candy maker wanted to give his
friends something symbolic this holiday season.
He made candy canes shaped like the shepherd's
crook for Jesus, the Good Shepherd, and added three
red stripes to represent the Trinity, and one thick
stripe to represent the lift of Jesus and the blood
He shed on the cross to forgive our sins. The candy maker's
finished result became a sweet reminder of our Lord.

Christmas Cheer!

Fun ornaments to make with kids!

Materials needed for reindeer pin:

large and small clothespin, hot glue, pin back, small red

pom pom, small wiggly eyes

Materials for foam Christmas tree ornament:

green foam for tree, yellow foam for star, brown foam

for trunk and embellishments. I used tiny pop poms but you

could also use sequins, glitter and more!

Materials for Wreath Ornament:

Circle cut out from cardboard...this will be the base of the

wreath, puzzle pieces painted green,
bow tie pasta painted red, small red pom poms or
red circles from hole punch.

Paint puzzle pieces green. Glue onto circle base.
Once dry add red berries and bow.

Christmas Sweets!

Last week at MOPS we had a great speaker who shared

ideas on how to celebrate the holiday season

with your kids. Look at the cute cookies & sweets she made!

Sleighs made out of graham crackers and candy canes!

Snowmen made out of 2 marshmallows on a stick, red fruit roll up

for the scarf and black gum drop for the hat.

Christmas trees made from a sugar cone with green

frosting spread on it. Decorate with sprinkles, m&m's, etc.

Nutter Butters dipped in chocolate for reindeer's.
Use broken pretzels for the antlers and a red hot for his nose!

Rice Krispy treat present...wrap a square rice krispy treat

with a red fruit roll up...tie like a bow!
Almost to cute to eat!!

Snowmen

Once dry, use a sharpie to add the details...
eyes, nose, hat and buttons

Glass Ornaments

Here are some fun ideas to make with glass ornaments

This idea is from a friend I met through blogging!

it was a little bit harder than I thought it would be

but I think they came out cute!
Materials you need...

glass ornaments, ribbon and small picture



Paint Swirl Ornaments

Filled with ribbon

Another swirl ornament...

Snowflakes

Today, Kelly had some friends over and we made

some fun popsicle stick snowflakes.

Here is what you need...

popsicle sticks, white paint, white embellishments

ribbon, hot glue and Elmers glue

Start by hot gluing the sticks into a snowflake shape

Paint front and back white

Embellish with white decorations....
buttons, beads, pom-poms, etc
The girls had a great time making these and
each of them looked so different and special
in their own way!!