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Archive for the ‘Crafting with Kids’ Category

Quick sewing projects

June 25, 2009

There is a personal payoff to making things. Foremostly I make to give from my heart. But a close second is the payoff I receive personally. It is a stress-buster and very gratifying to have done something tangible at the end of the day. I feel recharged when I have time to create things. Yet it’s literally been months since I’ve sat down at my machine, and it’s hard to imagine a time in the near future when I will get that chance. These little projects were quickies I made months ago but I thought I would still share them.

The wine bag was a thank you for some dear friends who watched our crew so Kevin and I could grab a date night. It’s just a simple, lined bag with boxed corners on the bottom and a tie at the top. I love it because of the Anna Maria fabrics, of course.

These little fabric eggs were a Sunday afternoon project Amelia and I did together. They were quick to sew and she had alot of fun picking out fabrics to put together. I used shredded news print to stuff the basket on my front door. They were a cheerful welcome to spring.

Ahh, milk crates. They help us keep shoes, baseball mitts, drawing paper, and now, the van organized. I used this smart pattern to pretty up the milk crate in the van and hope to make a few more. If you click the link, the pattern is on the sidebar.

PS: for families on the run, a simple solution to thirsty kids is to keep a jug of water and plastic cups on hand. We don’t usually travel without one. It saves money at the drive-thru and also saves tears in a thirsty pinch. A word of caution though, you may want to put a potty chair in the back with it.

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One-Room School House

April 24, 2009

Ty’s 3rd grade field trip this spring was to the nearby One-room school house. The students were instructed to dress as much in period as possible. Their lunch was to include things that kids during the period would have actually eaten. So no cool ranch Doritos, but rather turkey and biscuits, a long carrot and an apple were on the menu.Ty helped me with the details. I made a pair of suspenders for his church khakis, a lunch bag and he wore an old lackie cap which my grandparents bought me in 7th grade…always have had a thing for hats. Tennis shoes aside, I think he looked pretty 19th century and think he had a fun time doing so.

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Crystal Ice

February 11, 2009

We love a snow day around our house. But I try to tuck away a few “calamity day” crafts for if and when the hours grow long. One we did last month was crystal snow flakes as found on The Crafty Crow. This one kept the kids engaged for days as they checked their progress with great interest. Not to mention they are so pretty too.

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Drinks and Shrinky Dinks

February 10, 2009

There’s nothing like hot chocolate and Shrinky Dinks to make you feel like a kid again.

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Another Cool Use for Cereal Boxes

January 16, 2009

This truffle box was our thank you token to the kids’ Sunday School Teachers this year. The day I planned on making the truffles, we were snowed in and unable to get to the store for containers. A Google search produced this nifty template from Mirkwood Designs, and we thought cereal boxes would be cute. I reuse the bounty of cereal boxes our family plows through in place of newspaper for art projects, as magazine organizers, and now, as gift boxes.

One deconstructed cereal box holds 4 templates. We used scissors to cut along the outside shape and an exacto knife to score as needed.

Ty was my truffle maker. I helped minimally. He did a great job!

Each box held 4 truffles. We tied on a painted Christmas bulb along with a note from the kids.

These would also make nice Valentines; filled with small soaps, chocolates, or toys. Enjoy!

Posted in Crafting, Crafting with Kids, Gifts | 3 Comments »

Painted Bulbs

January 15, 2009

I seem to be posting a month in a rears.

This was a craft we did for an advent activity last month. I picked up some miniature, clear bulbs from Hobby Lobby. Each able-bodied child decorated a row of bulbs on their own. After removing the foil top, they squirted different combinations of acrylic paints into the bulb and swirled. They took a few days to dry, then the kids recapped them. They made nice present toppers, and it’s a great kid friendly project.

I think they look very pretty.

Posted in Crafting with Kids, Gifts | 1 Comment »

Catching up

December 8, 2008

Since I seem to be playing catch up around here, I thought I might as well keep in that vein and post something about each of the kids.

Two weeks ago I had the privilege of volunteering in Gabe’s class. They had a thanksgiving feast and then I stayed to watch gym class and music. It was so much fun to be there with him. I need to do this more often–for all of the kids. It was worth the effort to get there. And thankfully he was excited to have me. I always worry they’ll be like “mom! why are you here!” But he wasn’t at all, so that was good he was happy to see me.

Amelia got her haircut and her father was the stylist. Kevin was helping her comb through her knots and said enough is enough. Her fine hair gets so easily tangled. Ten minutes later she had a cute “dump cut” ala dad.

I liked hers’ so much, I decided to cut mine too–yes, myself. I thought, well Kevin can just fix it. Turns out it was a bit too challenging for him, and I went to a stylist instead. She gave me exactly what I was looking for. Whew!

Luke loves to fish and went over the summer with my dad and mom on the lake. Here he is helping prepare them (from the freezer) for dinner. Kinda neat to know that he caught our dinner. Kinda sad that his mother’s recipe made them taste like cardboard. We ate them anyways and look forward to more in the future. Gotta get a better recipe before then.

He is wearing his sports goggles because he has lost 2 pairs of glasses in 8 months. Uuugh!

Here’s Britta’s hilariously toothy grin which she flashes every time she’s up to something. Here she found a Dum Dum sucker on the ground and was having the time of her life. We got some video too, but those teeth speak volumes about how much she enjoyed it.

Happy Jack is consistently the last one at the dinner table. Often he goes straight to bed from the dinner table because 1. he has sat there so long it’s bedtime, or 2. that is the consequence for his’ not eating. At least he still has a smile on his face in between bites.

I realize this picture looks very scary, it’s just the way Ty tilted his head in at the last minute that made it so. Rest assured he was perfectly safe and supervised as he whittled away on a bar of soap in efforts to earn his Whittlin Chip for Cub Scouts. It’s a great (smelling) way for beginners to practice.

Well I think that’s all for now. Hopefully I can post a bit more regularly throughout this month.

Posted in Cooking and Food, Crafting with Kids, Family Life, Kidlets, Sunshine | 2 Comments »

Gratitude is an attitude

December 6, 2008

I know I’m a little slow on the uptake. Can it really be December 6 already? Yikes! I wanted Thanksgiving to linger a while longer…it’s my favorite! Here are a few pics of some fun traditions that we enjoy during this season of thanksgiving. I’m posting them so I remember them. These are last year’s finger puppets that we made on a whim. So simple, but a great way for the kids to tell and recall the story of the Pilgrims and Indians.

This recipe came from Family Fun originally and has become one the kids keep me on the hook for–Pilgrim Hats. They are just marshmallows dipped in melted chocolate chips and placed on upside down fudge rounds to make the cutest hats. If we’re taking them somewhere I put a yellow frosting buckle on each one. If we’re the only ones eating them, we skip the buckle and grab one or two before they’re all gone. Yummy!

Ty read the most touching short story for school called Molly’s Pilgrim. I have a real soft spot for children’s literature and every once in a while (and I’m sure I’m not alone in this) I come across a book that brings me to tears as we’re reading. The kids all stop and look at me confounded while I pull it together. This was one of those books.

His homework assignment was to make a clothespin pilgrim like in the story. We both enjoyed this project and I was thankful for the chance to work on it together. He named him William.

Incidentally our basement flooded on Thanksgiving morning due to an aquarium mishap. Not exactly what one wants to do while the Macy’s parade is rolling. It was a challenge to keep a grateful attitude, yet there is always so much to give thanks to God for, even in the midst of struggles. I was also very thankful that turkey dinner was NOT at my house that day.

So now it’s officially onto advent season. It’s a wonderful time of year.

Posted in Cooking and Food, Crafting with Kids | 1 Comment »

February Sweet Spots

February 12, 2008

These gorgeous beauties are not for Valentine’s Day but for our new daughter. Not bad for her first bouquet of flowers! They have brightened our February house and I have enjoyed them so much.

Here is a fun project we made for valentines this year–crayon cookies.

Our crayon supply has grown exponentially over the last few years. I have to confess I am a sucker for back-to-school supplies. I buy them in bulk. There is such promise in a new notebook, a clean slate, and completely perfect points in the Crayola 24 pack. Another whole year of possibilities. I always buy myself a new notebook and pen along with the kids’ supplies. After all, it’s a new year of possibilities and prospects for me too.

Yet perfect points soon become has-beens, and this project is a great way to make use of the Crayola graveyard. First, peel off the wrappers (I used a sharp knife to score down the side). Then break into thirds and fourths and put 2 and 3 color combinations together in mini muffin tins. Preheat oven to “warm” or 200 degrees F. and bake for 5-10 minutes.

They do give off a slight, non-toxic odor, but it doesn’t last long. Once finished, let them cool for 5 minutes, then place in the freezer for another 30 minutes. This will allow the “cookies” to contract making it easier to pop them out of the tins. Make sure you include a “do not eat” warning with them. My kids really liked this project. I did too.

Paper muffin liners will make clean up easier. I learned this the hard way. Also, don’t use Washable crayons as they won’t set up right.

And one more sweet spot for the February doldrums…pillow forts. There are 4 kidlets behind this barricade and they were entertained for an entire evening there.

Thankful for the simple things.

Posted in Crafting with Kids, Family Life | 1 Comment »

Woodworking

January 27, 2008

Today was the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby race-a big deal around here as there are reputations to uphold. Luke and Ty both did well–though they both would have liked to have come home with a trophy.

Gabe even ran a car in the open race though he’s not a scout yet. He was so proud! And Jack would have loved to launch Lightning MacQueen down the track, but he was plum tuckered out.

Not to be outdone by the boys, I bought Amelia a dollmaking kit for Christmas. They are from Alicia Paulson of Posie Gets Cozy. We’ve been working on them for about 2 weeks and finally finished them. They have been fun. Though we missed the deadline for St. Lucia day, we’ll keep them in her room till next year rolls around. They will be a sweet addition to our Christmas decorations and a good memory to add to our mental collections.