Thursday, October 22, 2009

Hand & Foot/Canasta Games

The directions for these classic card games can be found here, here, and here. Played these with friends over Thanksgiving holiday and had a great time.

Count the House Math

Lets Explore has this free download here. My kindergartner loved going through the house counting rooms, chairs, windows, etc.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Scratch & Sniff Watercolor


Amazing. My sister led me to this one. Get the kids painting then when dry scratch & sniff. Easy. Directions here from kinderart. 1 Tbs drink mix mixed with 1 Tbs warm water.

Roll the Die Game

A little different from the game "Greed" we love to play. This one can help teach counting. Learn how here at Family Fun.

Spoons card game

If you've never played the classic game of Spoons get the directions here at Family Fun & play. Tons of fun.

Auto Tag

You have to spot your sign to get someone. Auto Tag directions here at Family Fun.

Road Trip Bingo

Print this bingo card for road trip fun. Family Fun has it here.

Who Am I game

This is a great game for a group of people. Family Fun used it at a family reunion. I've used it at church with the youth. Direction for play here.

Black Apple Dolls

Get sewing these adorable little dolls from homeade by jill here. To make the satin flower on one of the dolls follow directions from Little Birdy Secrets here. My dolls still need eyes.


Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Tell Me a Story Blocks


Chasing Cheerios had this great idea for story starters. My kids love them.
Addition:: Another site for more ideas here at My Magic Mom

Elbow Tag

A fun tag game with some stratigic planing optional. Get direction here from workingmother.

Thanksgiving Scavenger Hunt

Print out this fun holiday scavenger hunt list. FamilyFun has it here.

Car Scavenger Hunt

Make this game for car travel. Family Fun show how here.

Shrinking Island Game

Play this game with kids. It is a take from musical chairs but with towels. Learn how at FamilyFun here.

Laughing Cup


Make a cup laugh with a string. Find out here at Familyfun here.

Marble Maze


Make this great marble maze for the kids. FamilyFun show how here.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Pom Pom Tissue Flowers


These look super easy and for a pop of color can be fun. Design Dazzle shows us how here.

Funny Money

Make fun money with your face on it here at Festisite.

Paint Flowers

Infarrantly Creative learned from the pro's how to paint flowers on toenails. This was my first attempt & with paint on rocks.

Image Transfer to wood


So creative spreading elmers glue on paper before running it through the printer. Mode Podge to wood. Fabulous. Check out matsutakeblog directions here.

Wood Advent Calander




Creative way to count down the holidays. Go to UCreat here.

Another fabulous idea floating around the internet. Jenni has her take here.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Volcano



I was at my sisters house where she had a list on her fridge of fun things to do with her children. On the list was "volcano". I asked her how. It is a base (Baking Soda) reacting with an acid (Vinegar). Put them together and you get a volcano. In a cup/glass (put some tin foil around the glass to give it a volcanic look) add baking soda (about 1/4 cup). Then pour in a small amount of vinegar and it will create a reaction of bubbly liquid. Carbon dioxide is given off in the process, creating the fizzes, pops and crackles. I had a good time with my children. We had to do it a few times.

AutoMotivator Poster-DIY


Make your own poster here.

Magnet Board/Chore Chart

for directions on a simple magnet board & printable chore charts go here to Not so idle hands.
Twice Remembered also has a fun idea with scrabble pieces and dictionary pages here.

Catapult-Childs Play

Make this great child catapult with directions here at Family Fun. It took 2 minutes to gather supplies & glue together. The kids played for hours with it until bed time. Fun.

Photo Board




Make a board for your head to stick though for fun photos. I bought foam core at the $1 store. Learn how to make a lion here at Family Fun. My kindergartner loves to draw & made these fun boards. Here is another idea but on a sheet.

Kids Paper Sculpture



Let kids make sculptures with directions here at Family Fun. I made mine with foam craft sheets.
Found a plastic one to purchase highlighted on Chasing Cheerios here.

Window Cookies


Do you remember making window cookies as kids. Just use sugar cookie dough (I bought mine this time) and cut shapes making sure to leave a hole in the middle like a doughnut. Take broken pieces of hard candy & put in the hole of the uncooked cookie on a cookie sheet. Bake your cookies as directed and the hard candy will melt and fill in the window. Use transparent candy (like Jolly Ranchers) for more of a glass look.

Update**The Friend Magazine (Dec '09)has another great recipe for Shining Star Cookies here.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Doll Baby Sling

A great item to make. I followed the directions here from the Chasing Cheerios site except I made mine longer (45") to accomidate my childrens large dolls. G & M like to take their dolls for walks & their doll strollers are slow going. These are great.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Toddler Bed Plans


We made this bed. It's very durable & sturdy. There is a space between the wall from the wood that we stuffed to keep our child from getting stuck in the gap.

Fondant Cake Decorating

I read that purchased Fondant is nasty tasting so I found a yummy marshmallow fondant recipe here. Wilton has some directions for laying fondant on a cake here. When I made my b-day cake I frosted the cake with strawberry frosting & added a chocolate fondant bow. It was beautiful & yummy.

Build Stilts

Loved stilts growing up & recently tried them at a local ranch. Plans to build them here at dangerouslyfun. This Old House also has plans here.  I didn't actually use the plans to build mine.

Tangrams

Make tangrams for learning enjoyment. Here's a great pattern.

Tutu from Tule

Easy, I made one for my 3 yr old daughter and loves it. I cut my tules length in half for a shorter look. Love it. Check out these instructions from Bambina Ballerina. No sewing required.

Paper Sac Puppets

DLTK's paper bag puppets are fun for kids.

Crayons



Make your old crayon pieces new in fun shapes. Not so idle hands shows us how here.


Printable Jam Tags


I make Freezer Jam (MCP Pectin recipe)and these are perfect for my jars. Go here to print. They are free & have lots of flavors to choose from.

Mini Satin Flower Clip

Little girl hair clips with beautiful flowers. Brilliant. Find out how here at Little Birdie Secrets. Another version is here at Craft Goodies. I used satin ribbon to make mine. I attached it to my Black Apple Dolls.

Faux Makeup

This is brilliant. Recycle your old makeup containers & fill with finger nail polish which hardens. Now my daughter doesn't have a mess on her face "borrowing" mine. Get all the details here from Not so idle Hands.

Font: Create your very own

This is so smart. I love free fonts. Check it out shared from Ucreate from Your Fonts or 973 Third Ave.

Quiet Books

Nap Time Journal has great ideas for free quiet book pages here. Also, Homemade by Jill has some printable designs here. For purchase go here to Dry Creek Design. The pages I made I colored with crayon, covered with paper towel while ironing to set the colors. Some of the pages have clear plastic pockets sewn on(lions den, JS, Jesus in manger, whale). We also used lots of finger puppets made from kids craft foam sheets. **Oopsey Daisy also has some here. **The How-To Gal has some here. .

Yard Trimming Wreath

Joy at Joys of Home shows us how to make a square boxwood wreath. I usually making wreaths from willows with directions here from Sunset magazine.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Washer Necklace




Learn to make your own washer necklace here at the creative crate. For a more finished glazed look go here at Every Crafty Endeavor. I used CTMH liquid glass for the glaze since I had it. It gives it a shiny coat.

Blog Design you own

Learn to make your own blog designs. Go here at SJH Blog Design for details.

Games for all ages

Directions for many yard games for everyone can be found here.

Making Friends Paper Dolls

Found here & here. I made mine magnet dolls & lamintated the clothes. Kids love them.