Trick or Treat, Smell Our Feet

Again, another Pinterest idea.  Although I saw this on pinterest, but there were no directions.  I searched online on how to paint plates that are oven safe.  I found enamel paint is safe to paint and put in the oven.

I went to the Salvation Army and bought a china plate for .90.  I used 2 coats of orange paint, and let that dry over night before adding more.  The next day I took white paint and painted one foot of each kid and put it on the plate.  Then paint around the foot, for the appearance of a ghost.  I used a paint marker in black and wrote, "Trick or Treat, Smell Our Feet" and added bats.

Let that dry 24 hours before baking.  I wasn't sure if my plate was oven safe, I searched too see if China was and I got both replies of yes and no. I went for it, with the thought I could redo if it broke.

Follow the directions of the paint.  Bake at 350 for 30 mins and let cool in the oven.

"Dream Big Little Ones"

I saw a sign I loved, "Dream Big Little One" and I thought I want that sign in my kids room.  Then while scoping out pinterest I saw a cute night light made on canvas.  It was from the blog, Styleberry.  Here is the link: http://styleberryblog.com/diy-night-light-canvas-a-fancy-grown-up-version-of-light-bright

However, I didn't want to copy either idea completely so I put my own twist on it.  I combined the two ideas.

It was very easy.  I searched online for ideas on how to get the writing style I want (I don't own a cricut machine)

• First I painted the canvas, 2 coats
• I found the font and size I wanted
• Printed it out
• Cut out the words
• Color with chalk on the back of the word
• Lay the words out and trace with a ball point pen (it will trace with chalk very faintly on the canvas 
• Then I was able to paint the letters, 2 coats
• After all is dry, you use an exacto knife and poke holes (I went for the design of stars and a moon)
• You push mini Christmas lights through the holes

Voila!

Homemade "fishing"

I saw a cute on idea, I'm sure somewhere on Pinterest, on making indoor fishing for the kids.  We found sticks in the back yard and tied string to it and a magnet at the bottom.  Then we made fishies out of pipe cleaner and and layed them on a lilly pad ( I didn't have blue felt).

The kids loved it!

Caterpillar

I was watching my neice and nephew one day, and while the little kids were sleeping I wanted to do a craft with the older two.   We made caterpillars out of pom poms and a popsicle stick.
Supplies needed:

I did one with the kids to help show them how to do it.  They each were given a popsicle stick and a plate with glue on it.  They dabbed the pom poms into the glue and placed on the popsicle stick.  When they had the body all finished, I helped glue the googily eyes on.  Then I cut the pipe cleaner in 1/4's and we wrapped it behind the head to make the antenna. 

These were a lot of fun. They made 2 each.  Next time I think we would need to use more glue, they didn't quite stand up to the playing of 3 year olds.

I have seen cute blogs that have made the Hungry Caterpillar and that would be fun to do.  All you'd have to do is added the food! Who doesn't love the Hungry Caterpillar? :)

Jelly fish

Wow we do have a lot of rainy day crafts.  We made a jelly fish out of styrofoam bowls, ribbon, and marker.

Supplies needed:

2- styrofoam bowls

markers/ paint

ribbon- cut in a different lengths

string

paper clip

elmers glue

First decorate the out side of 1 of the bowls.  Then you want to take ribbon and glue them on the inside of that same bowl.  We glued closer to the bottom.  Then take the remaining ribbons (use different sizes) and glue them together.  Set those aside to dry.  

Then take your 2nd bowl and put glue all around the outside of it.  You then take the 1st bowl and set it on top. (Be careful not to get your ribbons in the glue)  

You then poke 2 holes in the top of both bowls (that's where you pull your string through) then take the paper clip and run the string in it and clip the cluster of ribbons in it.

This would be really cute to make a few and be able to make an aquarium.  I hope we get around to that. :)

Popsicle Airplane

Another one of mine and Parker rainy day projects was an airplane made from popsicle sticks.

I saw this craft on pinterest, but had to alter it slightly.  One way of doing it, was to paint the popsicle sticks.  Waiting for the paint to dry was going to take too long for our attention span.  So we colored them with markers instead.

Supplies needed:
1- clothes pin
3- popsicle sticks
markers
hot glue

You take your clothes pin and color that first.  After you color your 3 big sticks you then take one of them and cut it in half.  Then I took the hot glue gun and glued the 2 big ones to the front of the clothes pin and then glued the 2 little sticks to the back.
Another fun and easy craft!

Cotton Ball Sheep

It was a rainy afternoon, so Parker and I made cotton ball sheep.  I couldn't get my printer to work so I had to hand draw the sheep for him.  I then put glue, on a plastic plate, for him to dip the cotton balls into glue and put on the body of the sheep

He loved it.  Great activity and not very messy!

Sidewalk Paint

This was fun and so easy to make.  It only lasted for about 30 mins before they dumped the cups. :)
I used a muffin pan and put styrofoam cups in it.  Then you mix 1 C of water and 1C of cornstarch, and then put food coloring in the different cups.

Parker and Kinsley loved helping mix them.

Then I bought four brushes at Farm and Fleet for .50 each.  

 They had so much fun, I think we'll do it again tomorrow. :)
It's pretty messy though, so I hope it comes out of the clothes.

Curtains

I have made most of the curtains in my house.  I thought that would be a nice way to save money, and then I learned it can actually be more expensive to make your own than it is to buy them.  It's a nice way to get just want you want though.  So for Parker's room:

Kinsley's room, I had to be creative with the top, because the length wouldn't be long enough, so I used ribbon:

The ones in my kitchen turned out best.  I used a sturdier fabric:

Next will be ruffle curtains for our bedroom :)

Chore Chart

So I've been thinking about giving Parker a chore chart for a while now.  I know he's 3, but this is just a reminder for him on daily things that he can do.

I thought this would be a good way to help him remember to do these.  Charts work very well with Parker.  We used a sticker chart for potty training, and for nap time and bed time( to make them a little easier).
I put at the bottom the days of the week.  For each day that he does all of his "chores" he get a smiley face.  When he gets 5 smiley faces in a week he will either get a special treat or we will go do something fun.
I put the list inside of a picture from so that way we can write on it with dry erase marker and be able to rub it off as well.  (trying to save paper)
I by all means don't expect perfection, but this is a good way to help remind me to get him doing these things daily.
Something very simple, but can be very rewarding to a 3 year old to make him feel more independent. :)

paper airplanes

So, I have a friend who has a 3 1/2 year old son and is having a hard to thinking of things to craft with him. I know that one of his favorite things are air planes, and I thought of the idea of checking out a book that will tell you different ways to make paper airplanes.  I thought that would be a fun project and he could decorate them and keep them in his room.
If I get around to creating this idea, I will post pictures at a later time.

Ugly Monsters

My son is afraid of just about everything, one being monsters.  So I decided I was going to make him his own monster.  I told him, "Now with having your own monster that means no others can come by you."  I saw some really cute ones and thought to myself, 'Hey i could totally make that'.  Again this is one of those projects that I thought to myself, 'what am i getting myself into.'
I did it in 2 nights.  The first night was the cut out.  I used left over fabric from the Bam Bam Halloween costume I made 2 years ago, and some from baby receiving blankets.  The second night I sewed the monster.  I took me about 1 1/2 hours to sew.  I am by no means a professional sewing.
Here is my finished monster.

As you can see Parker loves his monster.  However he does still come in my room at night.  But it was well worth making it. 

Now I need to make one for Kinsley :)