Tag: crafts

Posted on November 24, 2009 in family fun

**If you are coming to my home for Thanksgiving, please do NOT read this post until after the holiday**

Well, here we are, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. If you’re hosting, you might feel totally overwhelmed and stressed out right now. Perhaps you still need to go shopping or the house is a wreck, and you’re wondering if there are even enough hours between now and Thursday to get it all done. 

Or maybe you’re calm, cool, and collected. (For the record, that’s not me!) And you’d love a simple Thanksgiving ritual that will center your family and creatively involve your children in the Thanksgiving table preparations. 

Kind Over Matter’s Thanksgiving Fortune Cookies are quick and easy to make and immediately brought me back to the reason for this holiday (which is often lost when I’m waiting on long lines in the supermarket). You can easily print their PDF, complete with colorful patterned circles and fortunes. 

Or if your children are old enough, consider involving the entire family. Circles are easy to cut and kids can write their own fortunes of gratitude to slip inside. This is a perfect opportunity to teach our children the value of having a thankful heart. When you are setting the table, place one fortune cookie at each person’s place setting. Then, before digging in, open the fortunes and read them aloud. What a wonderful celebration of gratitude! Happy Thanksgiving! 

**This post is a part of the Moms’ 30-Minute Blog Challenge at Steady Mom**

Posted on October 20, 2009 in family fun

It’s not unusual for me to be spent by 4:30 in the afternoon. So, this weekend I found a fun toddler craft from Here We Are Together (via The Crafty Crow) It’s simple, cheap, and kept my daughter busy for a whole 45 minutes (which is unheard of). 

1. Gather supplies: Elmer’s glue, construction/colored paper, a few different spices from your pantry, paintbrush (optional). I used red pepper flakes, rosemary, celery seed, and poppy seeds. This is a great way to clear your kitchen of outdated spices that should have been tossed years ago. 

2. Apply Glue: Dribble glue on the construction paper or encourage your child to make paint strokes on the paper with glue.  

3. Sprinkle Spices! It’s that simple. My daughter made three of these pictures and kept asking for more. This activity appeals to a child’s sense of touch, sight, and even taste if he/she is adventurous!  Plus, the mess is mom-friendly and can be easily cleaned up with a vacuum! 

Ta Da! Time flies when you’re having fun!

**This post is a part of the Moms’ 30 Minute Blog Challenge at Steady Mom**