Another Pinterest find!
This was fun! It took just more than a week, for the sugar to crystalize enough to make our rock candy suckers! The boys enjoyed checking them each day to see how they were coming along. (I didn’t let them touch them… that would’ve been nice and messy..)
They didn’t taste very good, just like pure sugar. But the boys suffered through them LOVED them!
Wouldn’t these be fun to make with your kids in anticipation of Easter? I had fun with my son. He’s only 2, but he helped me make these.
All you need is some Easter eggs, popsicle sticks (cut in half) buttons and glue. I used hot glue- because I got a new glue gun, but other glue will work too.
It’s as easy as it looks. Glue the sticks on first, making sure to center your egg so that the hinge is in the back.
Then, choose your accessories and glue them on too.
The Alien guy is the one Christopher made. Cute huh?
You can even make a whole family! Very fun once you put candy in their mouths. (The trick is keeping the candy there…)
Have fun, and Happy Easter!
I got this idea from my husband- who read it in one of his literacy books for his masters program. I spiced it up a little bit, of course.
The idea is for the child to match capital letters with lower case letters. So, using the child’s name, I made a card with each letter, twice. One capital letter, and one lower case.
I attempted to do this many ways- including drawing out block letters on cute paper. But, in the end I decided this was easiest. (Then, I realized that if I had a Cricut, it would be ten times easier!)
So, I chose the size for my cards and drew them out on heavy cardstock, using an example card that I measured out.
Then, I chose colorful, fun paper for the borders on my cards, and cut those out using the same example card. (I did this over a period of many days, whenever my boys would give me a chance to work on it…And, yes, I am working on the carpet!)
I cut out a square from each of the border pieces… I wasn’t very particular about not cutting through the border, because I knew I was going to laminate them later, and you can’t see those cuts anyway. (It saved me a lot of hassle of folding and cutting out a perfect border.) (When I make yours, I’ll make sure it’s flawless!)
Then, I cut out each letter, as close as I could. (Like I said, a Cricut, or even stickers or something, would have made this much easier!)
The, I taped them onto the cardstock! (yep, tape, it’s easier than glue and, I planned on laminating, so I knew it wouldn’t matter.)
Since my son is only 2 1/2, I made it as simple as possible- I chose the same borders for capital and lower case, and I did letters with multiples, in the same border as well. (ex. C and c, and also H and h, twice because Christopher has 2 H’s.) I also used two different colors of cardstock, just to make it a little bit easier. (Some letters are cream, some are a tannish color.)
And- the finished product!
Christopher likes that I spent all this time making a game just for him! He plays it with them facing up and he definitely needs a lot of help still!
You can play that way, or with the cards facing down like Memory, for older children. This would be great for children ages 4-6, especially. This is a skill they work on in kindergarten and first grade.
Nope, not a match.
Yeah! A match!
Do you think your child would like this? Maybe you should make them one! Or, better yet, sign up for my giveaway, and I’ll make them one!
They can be for girls, or boys, or if their names are short, I’ll do both! I have lot’s of cute paper to choose from, and if you win, you can even choose your own colors!
Here’s how to sign up!- You only need to leave me one comment stating that you did all of this!
1. Check out my children’s book blog, and become a follower! (If you’re reading about this on my children’s book blog- you’ve already accomplished task #1!)
http://iwritechildrensbooks.blogspot.com
2. Post my children’s book button on your blog, or, if you already have one, leave me a comment telling me.
3. Refer one friend to check out this giveaway! (They don’t have to drop your name or anything, I’ll trust that you did it!)
4. Then, leave me a comment letting me know that you did all that! (Don’t forget your email address, so I can get in touch with you!) You can even leave the name of the child you want the game made for!
This might seem like a lot, but it should be pretty easy. And believe me, your son or daughter will thank you when they have a new matching game, and learn how to write their own name! Plus, you never know, you might find something kind of interesting on my children’s book blog! :)
While you’re at it, feel free to take a button for this blog too! And hey, if you don’t care to enter the giveaway, please leave me a comment anyway, with a link to your website, so I can come check out your blog! I love sharing blogs!
Oh yeah, one last brag!
This is what I found when I was busy cutting some of the letters! I’ve let Christopher use scissors, often, always supervised. Recently I noticed he could cut with one hand. Then, suddenly, he can cut on straight lines! I’m so proud!~!
We stopped by the dollar store this morning to get some safety pins for the Roadshow that I’m helping with tonight. We saw some finger paints! I couldn’t resist- because this is what happened when we tried to make our own finger paint!
I mixed flour with water and food coloring- and added karo syrup. It really wasn’t too bad, but just didn’t work quite like I wish it would have. Definitely good for an easy, do-it-yourself type of finger paint. But, I’m glad I found some at the dollar store today too!
I’ll tell you- one of the best things about having kids, is playing with them. I love finger painting! (I think Christopher enjoyed it a little bit too!)
I found this idea here! We couldn’t resist, and even added a little more with the whole pretzel hair-do idea. The pink is basic butter cream frosting made for a thick consistency. I explained to Christopher that when he gets a little older he’ll lose teeth, that’s why my face has a missing marshmallow!
He made one too! It was fun! (But, by the time I got out of the shower, after this, his was down to a paper plate licked clean!)
We also had some fun with colored sand. My mom went through some of her craft stuff and let me take whatever… the sand was not my choice- she added it to the stuff. But, it was fun, and not too messy either! Christopher enjoys squeezing the glue into the shapes he wants, then dropping the sand all over it!
I like to dance for exercise.
Christopher usually just watches cartoons while I dance. Boring! I try to get him to join me, but he just looks at me like I’m a lunatic. I suppose I probably am.
But, we had a lot of wrapping ribbon, that got messed up, so we decided to make a ribbon dancer wand. Hey, maybe Christopher will join me now?
Using an old paint stirrer stick, just cut ribbon, tape it on and curl it with scissors.
This was great for Christopher. He loves cutting- so he got to cut the ribbon. He helped tape it on and I curled it!
Caleb has been feeling down lately and taking a lot of my attention. Christopher needed some fun Mommy-time. We decided to paint.
First- the paint smock:
Then, a plain block:
Then, we were ready for some real art.
I learned this fun painting technique in my Elementary Ed. Art methods class in college. It’s fun. And easy.
Step 1. Fold paper in half. (After you prepared the newspaper backdrop of course.)
Step 2. Drip paint onto paper. I let Christopher squeeze it—he poured a lot, but no biggie!
Step 3. Fold on top and squish.
Step 4. Unfold.
Ta-Da!
I suppose tempera paint is best for this. I just used craft paint, because that’s what I had.
Here’s my version:
I really wanted to make cookies today- but I’m tired of making chocolate chip cookies… I don’t really like them all that much. Why not make something festive for Valentine’s Day? After all, I have been in the spirit of LOVE.
So…. Blackberry Thumbprint Cookies!
Here’s how you make them:
Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and move the shelf to the top rack.
Step 2: Cream 1 cup margarine and 1 tsp. vanilla.
Step 3: Add 3/4 cup powdered sugar, and cream that too.
Step 4: Add 2 cups flour, slowly, mixing well.
Step 5: Roll into small balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
Step 6: Press your thumb into the center- but not all the way through. (I realize this step is easy enough without a photo, but I wanted to do this tutorial thing right.)
Step 7: Scoop small spoonfuls of blackberry (or any other flavor) jam into the center. I used Caleb’s baby spoon, it was perfect. I also used homemade blackberry jam that we had from an Aunt at Christmas time. It is delicious! (p.s. Don’t mind my messy table, that’s what happens when your assistant is 2!)
Step 8: Cook on the top rack for 12-15 minutes. I say closer to 15, I think my oven is not as hot, or something. Just watch until they start to turn barely brown on the sides.
Enjoy!
Oh, and an extra tip: don’t give your two year old one of these, with free-reign of the house. You might end up with pink carpet like me! You gotta LOVE those kids!
My son loves to play with Play-dough. I was trying to think of something he could make for his friends and family for Valentine’s Day. He’s 2, so cutting and pasting is more like… me making it. So, I came up with this idea:
It was really easy, and fun for both of us.
Step 1: Make the play-dough. My favorite recipe is Kool-Aid play-dough.
Bring to a boil: 2 c. water, 3 Tbs. Oil.
Mix together in another bowl- 2 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup salt, 2 pkgs, unsweetened Kool-aid. (oops, I just realized I only used 2 cups flour, oh well, it still worked.)
Add dry ingredients to boiling mixture. Reduce heat and stir in pot until ball forms.
I like to knead the dough right after you mix it into ball form. Be careful, it’s hot. This stuff keeps great, in a ziploc bag, or in a tupperware. It’s also very easy to clean up.
Step 2: Play with the play-dough. Roll it out, using a rolling pin, or if you don’t have one (like me) use a cup, or your hands.
Cut out hearts using cookie cutters. 
Step 3: Place the hearts into small zipper baggies.
Step 4: Print poem, glue onto construction paper and staple onto baggie. My poem here is in the form of a picture- you’re welcome to save it and use it- I don’t mind. (Or, make your own poem, I’m sure it will be darling!)
Ta-Da! Valentine’s for all of your friends and family. (I am trying to convince Brant to let me make these for his 3rd grade students. It shouldn’t be hard. I know they would love them!)
Happy Valentine’s Day everyone. I sure am learning to LOVE this holiday!
