Strapped for cash? Want a homemade present? Don't have a lot of time to invest on making something? Love the smell of the season? Then these homemade cinnamon air fresheners are for you! I used to make these when I was little with my grandma. She's the one I told you about who always had some fun, crafty, creative ideas. You too can make your own scented holiday decorations in just a couple of easy steps! Here is what you will need to make these homemade cinnamon air fresheners: 1 1/2 cups ground cinnamon 1cup applesauce 1/4 cup white school glue 1) Combine the ingredients in a large bowl and stir well. Then cover and let stand for 1 hour. 2) Roll out the dough so that is approximately 1/4-1/2 inches thick. (Tip- if you use your hand you will get the dough to compress better and it will be a more solid appearance than if you use a rolling pin) 3) Have your child choose the cookie cutters he/she wants to use to cut the dough and place the cut outs … [Read more...]
Archives for 2011
Candy Snowflakes
In honor of our first snowfall of the season this past weekend... Candy snowflakes- easy, cheap, tasty and cute! All you need are a bag of spice drops and some toothpicks! Select one spice drop as your center and insert 5 toothpicks into it. Remember it's five not six....snow flakes have five points (and if yours have six you should play the lottery because dang you are lucky!) Attach the colors of your choice to each toothpick (usually 3 fit nicely) Once you have filled each toothpick it's usually acceptable to dig in and eat as many as you can handle. Have fun and enjoy! … [Read more...]
Four Thanksgiving Activities for Kids and Adults
It's Thanksgiving Day and you've got a house full of kids and adults...how do you keep them all entertained? Try these four activities that will get them interacting together: Word Search/Memory Game: 1) Make a list of of Thanksgiving related words. How many words depends on the number of adults you think will be willing to participate. Number the words 1-?? 2) When your guests arrive, give each adult a word from the list along with what number it is plus the following word from the list. Give each child a piece of paper and pencil and word #1. 3) Throughout the day/evening the children will search for all the words in order by asking the adults to act out the word he/she (the adult) was assigned. 4) The children will ask the adults to act out words until they find #1. That adult will give them word #2 and the children will have to hunt for the adult that acts out word #2. That adult gives them word #3 and the process is repeated until the children have found all the … [Read more...]
Glittery Snow Globe
Here is a "nearly free" and fun project. This is one that I would say to let the parents do because of the mess involved. I use this when my kids are sick in bed, they will sit and look at the glittery globe for hours (OK minutes, but in kid time that is a long time). Let me preface this with "yes, I know snow globe usually equals winter, but this is a great "sick kid" activity." My son recently had surgery and I made one of these for him to play with in the hospital...he loved it! Here is what you need Baby food jar or a water bottle if you want a big one Glitter Mineral oil (or Baby oil) One drop of food coloring Super glue Simply sprinkle a little glitter in the jar, fill the jar half way with mineral oil and the other half with water, add one drop of food coloring, glue the cover on tight and hand it over to your sick kiddo. They'll love to watch the oil and water try and mix and to see the glitter bounce around. … [Read more...]
How to make rainbow fish sun catchers using old CDs
We all have old CDs laying around that, for some odd reason, we haven't gotten rid of. If not, go through your kids' CDs, I'm sure you'll find some scratched, unusable ones in their collection! What do you do with those CDs (besides throw them away)? You make stuff out of them! I'm not a fan of cutting up CDs because they are full of heavy metals and once cut, the metals can leech out of them. I prefer to do crafts that do not require cutting them up and risking heavy metal exposure for me and my kids. Rainbow fish sun catchers are perfect! You'll need: Old CDs--2 per child Water soluble markers Coffee filters Super glue A spray bottle of water Scissors Small piece of paper Wiggly eyes String/yarn/fishing line Cookie sheet Step 1) Have your kids color all over the coffee filters with the markers. Step 2) Put the colored filters on the cookie sheet and spray them with the water so that the colors bleed. (The cookie sheet keeps the water and … [Read more...]
Candied Turkey
I recently saw something in a magazine that I thought would be so fun and so great to make (and share with you). The treat is 100% sugar so how could I go wrong? Here is what you will need: Double stuff Oreo's (the ONLY way to go) Candy corns Candy corn pumpkin Rolo's Mini peanut butter cup Mini marshmallow Chocolate frosting Mini Oreo's Step 1: Stuff 7 candy corn's into the frosting of the first Oreo cookie (point down) Step 2: "Glue" (with chocolate frosting) the Oreo's together with the one with the candy corns standing up and the other one laying down. Step 3: Attach peanut butter cup with chocolate to the belly. Step 4: Attach candy corn pumpkin just above the peanut butter cup. Step 5: Cut one mini marshmallow in half, attach sticky sides to the top of the candy corn pumpkin. Step 6: Attach one cookie piece from a mini Oreo to the Rolo (upside down) to make the hat and glue with frosting to the middle candy corn. Step 7: Use chocolate … [Read more...]
