The leaves are falling in full force around here and now is the perfect time to do some crafts with them. Last year we showed you how to make leaf animals and a few weeks ago we showed you how to make flower fairies. Today we combine those two concepts to make fall leaf fairies. These are super easy to make and require very little supplies: Leaves of various shapes and sizes Small twigs Paper Glue Marker and scissors optional Yup, that's it! To make the fairies simply choose leaves to make a body, face, and wings. Hair, crowns, and other things are optional. Use the twigs to make arms and legs. Glue everything in place on your paper and you're done! Even super little kids can make these fairies. The most fun part is finding leaves that you think will work. What types of things have you made with leaves? … [Read more...]
Archives for October 2013
Pizza-Style Manicotti–Pinned it, Did it!
I'm always on the hunt for easy, kid-friendly, but delicious dinners for my family. When I came across this Pizza-Style Manicotti recipe from Taste of Home I pinned it and knew I had to try it! It only takes 8 simple ingredients and your kids can easily help you make it. My 4 year old (oh wait, almost 5 year old!) had so much fun "making this dinner herself" as she poured the sauce in the pan, rolled the string cheese and stuffed it into the shells herself. She even wanted to take her own photo of the finished dinner... ...guess she's not as good at photography as she is at "baking"! Anyway, my family gave this recipe a huge thumbs up and we'll definitely be eating it again! Next time, however, I think I might need to make two pans of it! … [Read more...]
Strawberry Apple Rhubarb Crisp
4-5 large stalks of fresh-cut rhubarb (cut into 1/2 inch pieces) 3 cups of fresh-cut strawberries, hulled and quartered 6-8 medium-sized tart apples sliced (I prefer Harlson Apples) 1 1/4 cups sugar 1 T cornstarch 1/4 cup orange juice 1 cup flour (you can use bleached or unbleached) 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 tsp salt 1 1/2-2 cups quick cook oatmeal (be sure not to use instant) 1 1/2 sticks of melted butter 1/4 cup sugar Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Mix the strawberries, apple and rhubarb in a bowl along with the cornstarch, orange juice and 3/4 cup sugar. Place in baking dish after all mixed. For the topping, mix the 1/2 cup sugar, brown sugar, oatmeal and melted butter until the mixture crumbles. Spread over the top of the fruit and bake for 1 hour. Serve with fresh whipped cream or ice cream! … [Read more...]
Free The Children’s We Act and We Day
To be honest, I have no clue where to start with this post. I have SO MUCH to tell you about Free The Children, We Act, and We Day Minnesota that I'm overwhelmed. I guess I'll start with the fact that when someone from Free The Children asked me if I wanted to cover We Day Minnesota on our blog I had no clue how inspired I would be from it! The best way to describe Free The Children, We Act, and We Day comes straight from the source: Founded in 1995 by international human rights activist Craig Kielburger, Free The Children believes in a world where all young people are free to achieve their fullest potential as agents of change. We are an international charity and educational partner that empowers youth to remove barriers that prevent them from being active local and global citizens. We work domestically through We Day events and the We Act program to educate, engage and empower 2.3 million youth across North America and the UK. Our international projects, implemented … [Read more...]
Halloween Fingerprint Art
Our Fingerprint Art post was so popular we thought we'd share a few more just in time for Halloween. First up are our two sneaky witches. All you need is a green thumbprint topped with a green fingerprint. Wait for those to dry and add your details! Don't forget that witches like brooms and always have pointy noses, he he he! Mr Bones- He's easy to make! Choose any color you wish (I liked the bright orange) and make his torso with your thumb. Add the skeleton shaped face with a horizontal fingerprint followed by a vertical fingerprint. Wait for Mr. Bones to dry and add details to him to finish him off. Frank the Frankenstein Using a blue ink dip your thumb in and make your body. Use your thumb again in green for the head. Use your pinky finger for the arms and legs of Frank. Add a few details: a stitch on the forehead and some bolts for his head too! Monsters- Monsters are fun because you can make them any way you want. I chose to make a blue and red one. Add funny features to … [Read more...]
Naked Egg–Pinned it, Did it!
When I saw the naked egg experiment on Pinterest I just knew I had to try it with my girls. This one even fascinated me and my husband! To do it with your kids you'll need: One to two raw eggs A see through glass or container Vinegar Corn syrup Water Spoon Time Time is the biggest issue with this experiment. Each phase takes 24-48 hours to complete. My girls got a bit anxious at first and actually broke two eggs! 1) Start by gently placing a raw egg into a clear glass or container. 2) Next add vinegar to the glass until the egg is covered. Pretty much right away you'll notice bubbles forming on the egg. This is the beginning of the vinegar (an acid) eating away the egg's calcium shell. 3) Leave the egg alone for 24 hours. 4) After 24 hours, gently pour out the vinegar. 5) Grab your egg and gently rinse it under water. You'll notice that the shell is beginning to rub or peal off. DO NOT FORCE IT! My girls learned the hard way not to pick too … [Read more...]
