Back-to-School Craft: Speed Car Erasers

Vroom! Vroom!  An eraser car is a creative, fun activity children can make as a back to school craft or even on the weekends! Adult supervision will be required, especially for smaller children, to prevent little ones from putting pieces in their mouths. Have fun!

WHAT YOU’LL NEED:

• Knife (have a parent do this part of the craft)
• White Glue
• Thumbtacks
• Cardboard
• Permanent Markers

HERE’S HOW TO MAKE IT:

1. Begin by cutting erasers with a knife (a parent’s job; kids can use scissors for this, but the cuts won’t be as straight).
2. Stack the erasers to make cars, trucks, and trailers. Pencil-cap erasers and automatic pencil eraser refills make good cargo. Use white glue to hold the pieces together.
3. To make tires, press thumbtacks into a piece of cardboard, color them with permanent markers, then remove the tacks and press them in place on the vehicles.

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Painted Sneakers Craft for Kids

Give sneakers a special and personalized look with this super fun summer craft activity of painting old sneakers!

Fun Tip: Using chalk paint on sneakers is such a cute idea!  This gives kids more options to decorate!

TOOLS:

• Newspaper

• Clean canvas sneakers
• 
Fabric or acrylic craft paint
• 
Artist paintbrushes
• 
Fabric paint pens
• Permanent markers

HERE’S HOW:

1.  Cover a work surface with newspaper.
2.  Using fabric paints and paint pens, decorate sneakers.


3.  Let paint dry for 24 hours before painting another shade on top of the original color. 

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Chalkboard Paint Sneakers

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Beach Crafts: Sand Candles Craft for Kids

Summer is really here and so are fun beach days with the kids. What do kids tend to bring home with them? SAND! In their shoes, beach bags or even in sand pails because they can’t bear to part with the beach. Here is a fun activity – sand candles – to make use of all of that extra sand and continue your kiddo’s fun on a hot summer day!

Tip: For extra fun add sea shells from the beach to the top of your candle mold to add a little “beachy” effect!

TOOLS NEEDED: 

• Large heat-proof mixing bowl
• Sand
• Empty 1-pound coffee can
• Paraffin or old candle stubs
• Candle wicking
• Thin wood dowel or stick

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Fill the bowl three quarters full with slightly damp sand and ask your child to dig a mold about the size of his fist.
2. Using your hands, bend one side of the coffee can rim to form a spout. Fill the can halfway with paraffin and set it in a saucepan that’s one fourth filled with water. (Never place the can directly on the burner.) Then melt the wax over very low heat; when it has melted, turn off the heat.
3. Cut the wicking to 6 to 8 inches longer than your mold is deep. Rest the dowel across the bowl’s top and tie one end of the wick around it. Press the other end into the bottom of the mold.
4. Now it’s the adult’s job to carefully pour the wax into the mold until it reaches about 1 inch from the top.
5. Once the candle is cool, remove it from the mold, brush off any excess sand, and trim the wick.

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Glitter Fireworks Paper Craft for Kids

Thanks to this uber-patriotic craft, you kiddos won’t have to wait until dark to see July Fourth fireworks! It’s fun and is sure to create a sparkle in your child’s eye. 🙂

TIME NEEDED:
30 minutes or less

MATERIALS:

• Dark Blue Paper
• Glitter (any color you want…red, white and blue?)
• White Elmer’s Glue

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Use white glue to draw firework bursts on a sheet of dark blue paper.
2. Pour glitter onto the wet glue, then tap any loose glitter onto a clean sheet of paper and return the excess to the jar.

TIPS: For multiple colors, draw and sprinkle each firework shape separately.

 

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Le Top Whales & Sails Nautical Striped Shirt & Canvas Board Shorts

Put some wind in his sails with this sweet nautical white and azure striped short sleeve tee and navy canvas pocketed board shorts that match swimmingly! Sailing ship appliqué with circular boat window vents keep him cool in warm weather. Soft rib neckline and elasticized waist for easy over-the-head and pull up dressing.

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Remote Control Cake for Father’s Day!

Make this hysterical cake for daddy this Father’s Day – a remote control cake! Of course, I am not a proponent of promoting television watching, but in my home growing up, my dad definitely had “control” over the TV’s remote control…or he would fall asleep with it in his hand where you couldn’t move it. Ha!  Bake this cake or even make a big brownie sheet and decorate it with your children for this Sunday’s Father’s Day!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 baked 13- by 9-inch cake or brownie
• Dad’s favorite frosting
• Gel icing
• Various candies

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.     Slightly trim the long sides of a baked 13- by 9-inch cake or brownie to resemble a remote control.

2.     Spread on a layer of Dad’s favorite frosting, then press on various candies (we used Skittles, M&M’s, and Spree candies) for control buttons.

3.     Finally, use gel icing to add numbers, arrows, or other symbols to some of the buttons.

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Perfect Father’s Day Gift from your Kids

Looking for the perfect Father’s Day present? This six-piece desktop decoration showcases family photos on two sides when it’s assembled and doubles as a brainteaser when Dad needs a distraction.

You will need:

• 6 (1 1/2-inch) wooden cubes
• Acrylic paints and paintbrushes
• Rubber band
• Thin black marker
• 2 photos (3×5 or 4×6)
• Double-sided adhesive sheets
• Scissor
• X-Acto knife
• Letter stickers (optional)

How To:

1. Paint the sides of each cube, leaving the top and bottom bare.
2. When they’re dry, arrange them in a rectangle, unpainted sides up, and wrap a rubber band around them to hold them together.
   

   Step 2

   Using the marker, trace the rectangle onto the picture side of each photo, making sure everyone’s faces fit within the rectangle. Apply a double-sided adhesive sheet to the back of each photo and cut along the tracing lines. Peel off the adhesive’s backing and adhere one photo to the top of the cubes and one to the bottom (since it’s a bit tricky, it’s a parent’s job).

3. Divide the photos by cutting along the edges of the cubes with the X-Acto knife (another job for a parent). Add letter stickers if desired.

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Star Spangled Wavers Kids Craft for Memorial Day

How are you going to celebrate Memorial Day with your family? Gear up for your weekend BBQs and celebrations or even your local parade with these fun star batons for your kids! Boys and girls love them! These batons promise to be the stars of any Memorial Day celebration.

What You’ll Need:

• Scissors
• Pieces of red, white, and blue felt
• Red, white, and blue ribbons (available at local craft stores)
• Tacky glue
• 3/8-inch dowel

Instructions:

1. Cut a pair of 6-inch stars from red, white, or blue felt.
2. Cut a slightly smaller pair (ours were 4 inches across) from a different color of felt, and an even smaller pair (ours were 3 inches across) from the third color.
3. Use tacky glue to affix the stars to each other. Glue together the 2 sets of stars, sandwiching a 3/8-inch dowel between them.
4. Allow the glue to dry, then finish the baton by tying a length of red, white, and blue ribbon around the dowel.

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Mother’s Day Craft: Bathroom Door Sign

Mother’s Day is around the corner on May 13, 2012 – actually the day after my wedding! I have been racking my brain for cute gifts for all of the kids to make the mother’s on the wedding weekend. I think this one is super cute, and what mom doesn’t need a little alone time in the bathroom?

If it’s a long soak in a hot bath that you crave, may we suggest this bathroom-door sign? It bears interchangeable messages that gently let your family know when you’re in need of some quiet/alone time.

This easy felt pillow requires not a stitch of sewing, so Mom will be relaxing among the bubbles in no time.

TOOLS:

• Felt
• Pinking shears
• Fabric glue
• Ribbon
• Fiberfill, cotton balls or tissue
• 3- by 5-inch index cards

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cut two 9- by 7-inch rectangles of pink felt and one 4- by 6-inch rectangle of green felt. Trim the edges of the felt with pinking shears, if you like, then cut a 2 – by 4 -inch window in the green felt.
2. Apply fabric glue along the 2 short sides of one of the pink felt pieces, then lay a 30-inch length of colorful ribbon atop the glue lines for a hanger, as shown. Apply more glue along all the edges of the felt, as shown, leaving a 2-inch space at the center of the bottom edge (for adding the stuffing). Set the second piece of pink felt atop the first, pressing it in place. To add the window, apply fabric glue along the sides and bottom of the green felt piece and glue it to the center of the top piece of pink felt. Allow all of the glue to dry completely.
3. Stuff the pillow with fiberfill, cotton balls, or tissues (don’t overstuff it or the notes won’t lie flat), then seal the hole with more fabric glue and   let it dry. Finally, write a few bathtime messages (such as “Mom’s  Relaxation Zone” or “Ma’s Spa, 7 to 8 p.m.”) on 3- by 5-inch index cards for Mom to display.

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Unbelievably Cute Egg Decorating Idea for Kids!

Every holiday is filled with holiday themed candy, candy and more candy…so why not decorate your hard-boiled eggs with candy? Get inspired!

What You’ll Need:

– Corn syrup or royal icing (see recipe below)
– Any kind of candy

How to:

1.  Hard boil your eggs.
2.  Let your eggs cool.
3.  Dip your eggs in corn syrup and then roll in candy OR use icing (almost like its glue) and attach various candy elements to make it totally edible.
4.  Use the egg carton to let the eggs dry with their sugary decorations

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Recipe for Royal Icing:
Royal Icing is a pure white icing that dries to a smooth, hard, matte finish. Besides its lovely finish it also colors beautifully which makes it a favorite of professionals who use it not only for frosting cakes and cookies, but also for intricate piping of decorations (flowers, borders, and lettering) on eggs! There are two ways to make royal icing. My preference is to use one made from a mixture of confectioners sugar (powdered or icing), lemon juice, and raw egg whites. However, because of the risk of salmonella when using raw egg whites, some may prefer the recipe I have included using meringue powder. Meringue powder is a fine, white powder used to replace fresh egg whites and is made from dried egg whites, sugar, salt, vanillin and gum. You can purchase it on line, in cake decorating stores or Michael’s or Joann’s.

To make a small batch, beat together one large egg white, one teaspoon of lemon juice, and about 2 cups (230 grams) confectioners sugar, or until the frosting is stiff (like a meringue) and of piping consistency. Then place the icing in a piping bag, fitted with a small plain tip, and pipe a border around the outside edges of the cookies. Let it dry completely before covering the surface of the cookie with royal icing.

It is important when working with royal icing to keep it covered (with plastic wrap) as much as possible as it dries out very quickly. Another way to prevent a crust from forming on the icing’s surface is to add a few drops of glycerin (glycerol) to the icing. Glycerin is a sweet, odorless, clear, and syrupy liquid (chemically an alcohol) that comes from fats and oils.

For Royal Icing with Egg Whites:
In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the egg whites with the lemon juice until combined. Add the sifted powdered sugar and beat on low speed until combined and smooth.  (If your icing seems runny, using a small knife, push the icing to the edge of the egg. If the icing runs off the edge, thicken the icing by adding a little more confectioner’s sugar. Conversely, if the icing is too thick, add a little water.) The icing needs to be used immediately or transferred to an airtight container as royal icing hardens when exposed to air.  Cover with plastic wrap when not in use.

For Royal Icing with Meringue Powder:
In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the confectioners’ sugar and meringue powder until combined.  Add the water and beat on medium to high speed until very glossy and stiff peaks form (5 to 7 minutes). If necessary, to get the right consistency, add more powdered sugar or water. To cover or ‘flood’ the entire surface of the egg with icing, the proper consistency is when you lift the beater, the ribbon of icing that falls back into the bowl remains on the surface of the icing for a few seconds before disappearing.

The icing needs to be used immediately or transferred to an airtight container as royal icing hardens when exposed to air. Cover with plastic wrap when not in use.

Makes about 3 cups

 

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Passover Kids Craft: Make an Afikomen Bag

Commercialism and marketing always centers around Easter in the March and early April months, but often times, Passover is not celebrated enough. This year, Passover, a Jewish holiday that celebrates the week-long celebration of the Jewish Exodus from Egypt, Jewish families and friends celebrate Passover with a seder, or ritual meal, during which the story of Moses and the Exodus is retold through words and symbolic foods. Traditionally, after the seder meal is eaten, the family patriarch hides a piece of matzoh, known as the afikomen, as a symbolic dessert. The child who finds it receives a small prize. In this variation, each child makes his or her own bag, which is filled with a piece of matzoh. The bags are hidden, and each child must find his or her own bag to get a prize.

Make your own afikomen bag that is personalized to the children and family celebrating Passover at your home. See below for this fun kids craft!

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