Painting Cute Rock Strawberries

Last weekend the boys and I went to the beach and collected some lovely rocks. We love doing rock crafts, so we brought them home and painted them. The boys painted their own designs and I painted these adorable strawberry rocks!

How to Paint Rock Strawberries

Handprint Christmas Peace Dove Art

It's time to start making Christmas crafts! Yesterday we put up the tree and it was so, so sweet to see my preschooler oohing and ahhing over the lights.  Today I tried to keep the Christmas-y momentum going with this super easy paper plate dove craft.  Inspired by Imagination Tree's sweet dove handprint keepsake, we made our own version using paper plates instead of salt dough.  (Anna's craft is really, really lovely, so definitely check out the post for another fun idea.)

Let's Make Christmas Peace Doves!

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Clay Portrait Pendant Necklaces

My son started elementary school this week.  *Sob*  It's been such a happy, bittersweet couple of days. Recently we've been creating a lot of little trinkets with clay.  (Have you seen our  clay outer space necklace and clay dream catcher?)  So I asked him to make some clay portrait pendant necklaces with me before school started.  This way I can wear them and remember him while he's away.

Clay Portrait Pendant Necklaces

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Tissue Paper Luminary Drawings (and book list!)

How did you celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day?  This is the first year that I’ve talked to my preschooler about this holiday.  We read a bunch of picture books celebrating diversity and service (links below) and talked about what it means to dream and treat all people kindly, no matter what they look like.  Being a craft lover, we also sat down and made these Tissue Paper Luuminary Drawings.  I love the discussion that we had while making them and I love how they beautiful they turned out too!

Martin Luther King Tissue Paper Luminary Drawings 

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No-Sew Cloth Super Hero dolls!

Lately, my preschooler has really gotten into super heroes.   I find this pretty funny because we never watch any super hero shows on tv... yet somehow he knows characters like Batman, Wolvarine, Super Man, and Spiderman!  (Weird, right?)  So today I wanted to share this really easy, no-sew cloth super hero doll tutorial.  This quick and simple craft doesn't need any special items and you can make your very own dolls within minutes!

And if your kid loves super heroes too.... be sure to check out my other Super Hero Crafts!

No-sew Cloth Super Hero Dolls!

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Easy Spin Art With Kids (No machine required!)

Looking for an art activity that's sure to entertain kids of all ages?  Then salad spinner spin art is just the activity for you!  My husband, son, and I spent hours having fun making some colorful psychedelic artwork!

Easy Salad Spinner Spin Art!

Easy, Giant DIY Scratchboard Art!

Have you ever tried making scratch art  (affiliate links)?   It's seriously addictive.  We recently bought a set of scratch art boards from our local toy store and had a BLAST doodling, tracing, and scratching.  So after we used up all our boards....I got thinking.  Why use tiny scratch boards...... when GIANT SCRATCH BOARDS could do?

(Muah Ha ha.  Insert crazy, crafter laughter here.)

Super Easy, Giant, Homemade Scratchboards!

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Pizza Box Car Garage

The next time you get some take-out pizza, ask them for an extra clean pizza box.  Why?  So you and the kids can make a pizza box car garage, of course!

Recycled Pizza Box Car Garage

Flower and Star Clay Ring Bowls

Have you ever worked with clay?  I'm a clay novice and I always get slightly nervous thinking that we need a kiln.  But I was totally wrong! There are lots of great, affordable air dry clay options out there.  Since my son loves play dough, working with clay has been a really great activity for us to do together.  With Mother's Day right around the corner, here are some super easy DIY flower and starry night clay ring bowls that you can whip up with your children!

DIY Flower and Starry Night Clay Ring Bowls

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Make Pasta Frames with Kids!

Ah, pasta.  It's cheap, always in your cupboards, yummy...and a GREAT crafting material!  Today I'm super excited because my fellow Rockin' Art Moms and I came up with 14 super fun, beautiful, and easy pasta art projects that you can make with your kids!

And... *drum roll please* we want to see YOUR pasta creations and we're also hosting a GIVEAWAY too.  Yippee! So definitely check out the bottom of the post to see the giveaway details and all the other ladies' awesome posts.

Chuck and I decided to use our pasta to decorate painted picture frames!

Make Pasta Frames With Kids!

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Build a Funicular Train

Did you know there were such things as funicular trains?  I learned about them from a train book that my son and I read together.  Apparently these trains are used to move people up and down steep cliffs. Two cars are attached via a cable and one car moves up the mountain as another moves down.  Now of course, you know me.... I just had to try making a funicular train for our lego minifigures.... especially after we enjoyed playing with our cardboard conveyor belt so much!

Let's Build a Funicular Train!

Rock Tic-Tac-Toe Game

Ah, oil pastels.  After seeing that they could be used to decorate pumpkins, I thought they would be perfect for creating a cute and colorful rock tic-tac-toe game.

Rock Tic-Tac-Toe Game

What's up? Happy Handmade- A Joint Craft eBook Adventure!

Hi everyone!  I don't usually post on Saturday but I'm posting today because I'm feeling super excited and super nervous about next week.  (Isn't it funny how those two feelings often seem to go together?)  

Around this time last year, I shared my now-not-so-secret dream of being a professional crafter.  Re-reading that post, I wish I could go back in time to hug my old-self, and tell her that I'm proud of her for taking a step in a new direction.

Throughout 2014, I took several steps towards making that dream a reality.  I pushed my super shy self to join a couple of really supportive kid blogger groups (like Kid Blogger Network, Rockin Art Moms , and the Creative Preschool Collaborators.) I dipped my toes into the super scary (and still, completely confusing) world of blog advertising and sponsorship.  And, I also got the opportunity to do some freelance craft work for wonderful sites like Handmade Charlotte, MollyMoo Crafts, and DIY Candy.

You're probably wondering now- Leslie, was it worth it?  Are you raking in the big bucks?  Well, yes.  I'm glad that I took those initial steps.  And no, I'm definitely not making big bucks.  But, I do make some grocery money and I really appreciate the opportunities that come my way.

And that's what I wanted to share with you today- one of these opportunities.  (Sorry for the rambly intro, but I felt so nostalgic after re-reading my posts from 2014 that I had to say something first...)

I recently had the opportunity to join with 17 other kid-craft-loving moms to put together Happy Handmade- a beautiful, unique and fun ebook showcasing 115 pages of crafts to make with and for kids!  

   

I'll be sharing more about the ebook and how you can purchase it on the blog this Tuesday, January 20th.  But I just wanted to just write something about it today because there are just so many lovely and unique ideas inside.  And my heart feels like it's bursting open because I'm so proud of all the work that went into it.    


Ok.  That's all friends.  Thank you for stopping by and thank you for all of your support.

And before you go, here's a sneak peak at some of the crafts inside...

*Insert happy sigh here*

  Hope you have a wonderful rest of the weekend, friends!
   

DIY Toy Launcher!

With the nights still being quite long, we often find ourselves stuck inside twiddling our thumbs... and going kinda bonkers.  :)  So one day we took matters into our own hands, and our family worked together to tinker and turn a long, narrow box into a DIY Toy Launcher!

DIY Cardboard Toy Launcher

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It's really amazing how many moving types of toys you can make from with rubber bands!  The stretchiness of the rubber bands provides ample opportunities for fun STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) activities and crafts.  (For example, we've made this DIY Rocket Launcher, this DIY Paper Slingshot, and this Cardboard car... that uses potential and kinetic energy to MOVE using rubber bands!)  

Rubber Glove Finger Puppets

Ever find yourself wanting to do a quick craft with the kids that's different, easy to set up, and encourages creativity?

I think about that question all the time when I think up ideas for kids' crafts.  I know that parents and teachers want to keep their kids entertained, but they also want them to use their minds too.   And that's why I love these rubber glove finger puppets.  You just need 3 materials and bam!  Now you have instant mini canvases for creativity and endless opportunities for storytelling and fun.

Rubber Glove Finger Puppets

To make these gloves, check out my tutorial for rubber glove fingers today on MollyMoo!

Happy making friends!

Let's keep in Contact!

Like this idea?  You can always find other fun ideas on my Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter accounts!  (Or subscribe to my email mailing list by filling out the pink bar at the top of your screen.)

  

Moveable Cardboard Snake Craft

Let the snake crafts continue!  Yesterday I shared this easy twisty snake sculpture.  Today I wanted to show how we made this cardboard toilet roll snake... that actually moves!

Moveable Toilet Roll Snake!

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(By the way, according to Chuck this snake is very poisonous.  I can vouch for that.  It's bitten me and I've "died" quite a few times!)

Rabbit Pop-up Puppet

Today I'm living out my secret (or now, not so secret) fantasies to be a magician with this fun pop-up rabbit puppet.  Simply push the stick and a rabbit pops out of a magician's hat!

To see how I made this handmade toy, visit Handmade Charlotte.

Happy Wednesday!

DIY Cardboard Cash Register

Does your child love going to the grocery store? 

 Does his/her face light up at the prospect of pressing buttons?  

Then today's craft is perfect for you!

(This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for your support.)

Awhile back I was looking around at getting a cash registertoy for Chuck.  He loves watching the cashier scan our groceries, so it was a perfect toy to encourage imaginary play at home.  After looking around online I then got to wondering.  Could I make my own toy?  And that's how this craft was born.

This DIY cardboard cash register has pressable buttons, a sliding money drawer, a faux credit card scanner, and a changeable money display!  Yup.  Cool right?  It's just right for little hands who love to push, press, pick, and pull.  It's also a great way for kids to practice their math skills too!

Interest piqued?  You can see the full tutorial on Handmade Charlotte!

Happy making. :)  

DIY Kids' Cardboard Art Easel

I love making and creating things with Chuck.  But sometimes I'm surprised by how much arts and crafts supplies cost.   Whenever I go to Michaels or Target I always do a double-take when the bill comes up.   What?  How did we spend so much?  Is this glitter made of 14K gold?  To stretch our pennies (and my own creativity) I love making our own art supplies on the cheap.  We've made our own Paint-With-Water Pages,  2 Ingredient Body Paint, sun prints with construction paper, and even used tortillas as canvases for art!  With dozens of cardboard boxes lying around, I thought it would be fun to DIY Chuck an art easel.

DIY Kids' Cardboard Art Easel

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This DIY easel is so neat because it only took a couple of minutes to make (score!), is made entirely out of cardboard (cheap!) , and can accommodate 1, 2, or even 3 children simultaneously painting.  Whoa! Intrigued?  Well let's get crafting!

DIY Climbing Cardboard Circus Men Toys

I love making interactive toys for Chuck. There's something immensely gratifying about creating something that's beautiful, functional, and fun.... out of recyclable items!  Recently I made these two cardboard climbing circus men toys for Chuck.  You pull on the strings and the men race to the top.

Cardboard Climbing Circus Strong Men Toys

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Hee hee.  Do you dig their leotards, chest hair, and handlebar mustache?  Yup.  These manly men exude quite a bit of style, don't you think?

Ok.  Let's get making!