Easy Valentine's Garland

If your anything like me your not crafty but you dream of it. Your head is full of amazing beautiful ideas but when you go to to them they are nothing but a pinterest fail. For me crafts need to be simple, cute, cheap and quick from start to finish. I have 3 kids running around, glue guns become something my boys want to use, glitter is something my daughter wants in her hair and on her nails and within an hour. I. GIVE.UP. My kids are awesome with their desire to help, it just comes at all the wrong times.

 I came across this easy little Valentine's Garland on pinterest. It looks easy, kid friendly, the needle worries me only because my 2 year old still has a habit of putting random things in her mouth. Luckily, I'm already needing to go to Walmart tonight, so I can grab some cute paint cards in pinks, reds and white and hopefully tackle this one tomorrow after chuch while everyone is napping. I am not crafty, but this one I think I can totally do. I also think it would be easy to change the shape and use this easy tutorial by Julie Ann Art to create other simple garlands. I will share the finished product here in a few days (hoping I can actually finish it before Valentines gets here). Over the next 2 weeks I will be sharing other Valentine's crafts that I am brave enough to tackle along with Valentines treats. Baking is my real passion so those will be easy.

Oh and I'm totally coming back to this whole blogging world. Its been a few years but now that I don't have a little baby, my oldest is in kindergarten, middle is in preschool and the youngest is the easiest terror I have home all day, I finally get some free time. (Thank you library for having all the fun movies my daughter wants)

Sidewalk Chalk Paint

 

Spring time is pounding on the door, and I love the sound. Today I've spent at least an hour outside with the boys. Just running around and enjoying the 80 degree weather here in Ohio. Being from Ohio, I know this isn't normal, but that's no reason to ignore it, you soak up every second and pray snow doesn't show up in May! One thing I want to do with the boys (which I know might make the neighbors upset but that's OK) is to make some sidewalk chalk paint and let them go to town with it. We live in town homes, its a small complex but our one set of neighbors aren't fans of kids. I didn't know it was possible to not enjoy the sounds of them laughing and playing but oh well. Anyways, I wanted to share a fun and easy way to make it. Thanks to Apartment Therapy, this is quick, simple and easy to clean up, a moms dream. I'm excited to see how many hours my boys spend doing this!

Not Enough Water: You shouldn't feel any drag from the cornstarch, but it shouldn't be too liquidy either. There's a fine line that once you start mixing will become quickly obvious. We used a different color here than we did outside, but you get the idea right?

Perfect Consistency: It should pour off a spoon and not leave a layer of cornstarch sludge at the bottom of the bowl or cup. Once you mix up a few batches you'll soon know exactly what we're talking about!

Painting Tools: We used silicone basting brushes this time around, although in the past we've used foam brushes with far greater success. The silicone cleaned up in a snap and was ok for some things, but didn't provide quite enough drag (although that didn't stop us, fingers work just fine as well!).

Clean Up: The best part about the whole process is the easy clean up. It simply washes free of dishware and utensils, concrete will wash clean if left for up to a week (we've never tested it for longer than that), and most clothing shouldn't have a problem. Upon returning in, we usually rinse anything that obtained "paint" on it in the warmest water the fabric can handle or pre-treat with a stain fighter (we like Shout). We usually wear play clothes so it's never much of a worry to begin with!

Have Fun!: This is a great time for 1 or for 100. It can be used for everything from birthday get togethers, sleep overs, or signs painted on the driveway or street (Happy Birthday, Welcome Home, exc). It does also work on concrete and masonry walls, although it will need to be washed off with a hose and not left up to the rain to remove.

How to Make Chocolate Bowls

These pictures make it look so easy to make these chocolate bowls, but I don't know if I could really do it. Pretty neat though!

Via Reddit.com

Cute Valentine's Card Idea

Why didn't I think of this? Take a picture of your child from the right angle, cut a slit in the picture, and presto. So cute!

Family Birthday Chart

Who is horrible at remembering birthdays? *raises hand in shame* I am horrible at remembering birthdays. We already forgot 2 birthdays this year, and would have forgotten a huge one but luckily we got a reminder. It's pathetic, my husband and I can never seem to remember birthdays. I don't have a calendar, and even when I did, I never used it.

 So this morning while going through blogs, I noticed my friend Christine posted this Family Birthday Chart that she made. Genius! I don't know how I will make one, because I'm not nearly as crafty as she is, but I will find a way. If you go to her site, she has all the how to's and everything you need on this project. Of all the people I know, she is the crafty queen, and I'm not lying! She is amazing at it all! Beautiful work Christine!

How stinkin' cute is that???  (image source)

New Years Crafts for Kids

Sorry I haven't been around much, between holidays and everyone in our home sick, the couch and I have become one. But don't worry! I'm back just in time for New Years. This year my family will be going to First Night Akron, home after 9 so the kids are in bed, and I'm sure I will pass out on the couch by 11. Yeah I'm lame and can't stay up late. But if you aren't going to First Night in your area and plan on going to a party here are a few easy things to keep the kids busy:

Confetti Bomb
New Years Piggy Bank for Kids
New Years Fireworks
New Years Eve Hats
Noise Maker

Here are a few tradition ideas from Jenn, over at My Delicious Ambiguity. The list couldn't be any better. I love every idea she has on here, perfect for kids of any age!

• Bubble Wrap Stomp: Unroll a large roll of bubble wrap and let the kids jump on it and pop it when the clock strikes midnight.
• Time Capsule: Decorate a box to use every year.  Fill it with special things for each of you.  This can include pictures, stories and trinkets. Then the following year open it up!
• Host a pajama party: Dress up in your pajamas, eat junk food and pop in a movie or watch the countdown on TV.
• Play the Flashlight limbo: Clear a floor space, get out two flashlights and turn out the lights.  The two people with flashlights shine them together and the others have to limbo under the light.
• Blessings Jar: Whenever you recognize a ‘blessing’ in your life throughout the year, just write it on a piece of paper, fold it up, and stick it in The Blessing Jar.  On New Years Eve, dump out all the blessings from the entire year and go through it together as a family.
• Decorate a New Year’s Tree: Take off all of your Christmas decorations and let the kids decorate the tree with anything they can find around the house or at the dollar store. Why not craft a few decorations of your own?
• Dress up: Have the kids wear their party dresses and finest suits. Get swanky with fancy hats and jewelry or make masks like a real grownup’s New Year’s Eve ball. 
• Decorate the house:  Let the kids go crazy with streamers and balloons or build a tent in the living room to not sleep in. 
• Plan the games. Make a list of possible activities such as Twister, a treasure hunt, charades and 20 questions. Be quick to switch to a new game if interest starts to wane. 
• Have the kids write down their goals for the New Year. Yes, it’s a cheesy mom thing to do, but it’s also a nice tradition to start. 
• Eat dinner by candlelight: Put a special tablecloth on the dining table, bust out the finest silverware or have an indoor picnic. As long as it's special and out of the ordinary the kids will love it!
• Make fancy drinks: Real champagne for you & bubbly juice or Gingerale for the kids. 
• Watch the Fireworks or light sparklers of your own
• Letters or year interview of the kids: Ask your children questions about themselves that are age appropriate and expand the list every year. Or have them sing you their favorite song, play something they've learned on the piano or show you a new dance move.
• Countdown Goodie Bags: Grab a few small gifts and fill brown paper bags with the goodies (1 for each hour of the countdown).  Then draw clocks on the front so the kids know which ones to open.
• Make some noise:  Get out pots, pans and lids and have the kids bang them together at midnight. 

Thanksgiving Ideas for Kids

Need something fun to do tomorrow with the kids? I came across the Little family Fun Blog and loved this idea of making Craft Stick Scarecrows. How simple and cute are these?

You could also trace those cute little hands and make garland with them, have each kid write or tell you what they are thankful for. I'm sure depending on ages you could get some pretty funny and cute things.

Ok, who doesn't think this is adorable? Just imagine kids running around wearing these, yelling "gobble gobble". If nothing else, its cute for a photo opportunity. Make one for everyone coming over and do a Thanksgiving photo. It's super simple to make. Go here for directions on how to make these

Do you like to make something that will always help you remember your tiny hands around the house? Super easy craft to do with any age, and something that can be held on to for years to remember those tiny turkey hands once they are grown up and refuse to take part in a silly craft.
For other ideas check out One Pretty Thing, you can go to categories and go to Kids Thanksgiving crafts. You can also search things and get results. One Pretty Thing is my go to site for crafts. They have everything you could imagine!!!

Halloween Coloring Pages

Thanks to Grandparents.com for having these cute pictures for us moms to print and have our boys color. My son loves to color. He usually just uses one color, but when he is adventerous he uses two colors. It's rare we see more colors then that on one picture. Have the boys color the pictures, and then frame them and hang them in the home. Instant Halloween decorations!!! Then for every holiday change out the pictures. Your boys love that your sharing the art work, and its a keepsake for you!

4 Free Halloween Coloring Pages

(Thanks Debbie Does Coupons)