Make a Simple Braille Slate and Stylus (inspired by Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille)

Today's blog post takes a different turn.  Instead of a cute kid craft, we're doing some STEAM crafting and making an old time Braille slate and stylus.

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Lift-the-Flap Valentine Chocolates Card

Happy Valentine's Day!  I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating with your loved ones.  Today I'm sharing a Valentines's Craft that my son and I made this year for my husband.  It's a lift-the-flap Valentine's Day Box of Chocolate Card.  You lift the flap to reveal secret messages from the ones you love.

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Origami Ladybug Valentines (with free printable)

If you love easy origami projects for kids, then you're going to swoon over today's Valentine's day craft.   I've seen so many cute bug-in-jar themed Valentine's cards floating around the internet.  So I figured I'd add my own flare with these adorable origami ladybug valentines.  (Free bug jar printable included below!)

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Printable Rainbow Danish Hearts

Next week is Valentine's day and today I've got another fun Valentine's Day Craft to share with you!  I love seeing red and white Danish heart ornaments during Christmas.  But why should we only make them in December?  Why not make some Danish hearts for Valentine's Day too?

Yup. We're going all rebel crafter today.

Oh. And since we're breaking the crafting rules, let's ditch the traditional red and white colors for hyper-colorful rainbow colors instead.

That's right.  Living on the wild side.

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3D "I Love You" Hand Craft (And our Favorite Books about Love)

It's already February and I haven't yet put up any Valentine's Day Crafts this year.  Oof! What kind of kid crafter am I?

I've just been so caught up in what's happening in our country and world that I haven't fully had the heart or energy to embrace doilies, flowers, chocolate, hearts.... basically anything Valentine's yet.  But today I'm turning a new leaf.  Here's my first Valentine's day craft of the season... these 3D "I Love You" Hands.

(They're not quite hearts and flowers and pun-ny sayings.. but it's a start, right?)

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Mini Magformer Art

Ever notice how Magformers look like little frames?  

Today I'm over at The Artful Parent sharing this lovely Magformer framed art activity.  It's a creative way to reuse old toys and infuse a bit of art into kids' play!

Happy making, friends!

Shower You With Love Valentine's Decoration

You know I luuurve me some paper plate crafts.

Today I'm over at Red Ted Art sharing how to make these adorable "Shower You with Love" Valentine's decorations. 

(Oh, the cuteness!)

Happy making, friends!

DIY Rainbow Notebook (And Review of a book!)

It's been raining cats and dogs over here.  So I felt like we needed a rainbow craft to cheer us up!  Here's a quick and easy rainbow notebook to bring fun and color to this drab winter season.

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14+ STEAM Activities for Valentine's Day!

Looking for easy ways to incorporate more STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) into your everyday activities with kids?  Want some with a sweet Valentine's Day twist?

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Origami Troll Dolls

Hi everyone!  Today I'm sharing a really neat origami project based on the movie Trolls!  One of my son's best friends LOVES the new Troll movie.  We haven't yet seen it, but I have such fond memories of Troll dolls as a kid, that I felt like I NEEDED to do a Troll craft.

So tada! If you love Trolls or the new Troll movie, try your hand at making these tiny paper origami troll dolls!

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DIY Wooden Block Dolls

We've had a box of wooden blocks gathering dust in our closet for a couple of weeks now.  Recently I tried breathing life into them with this fun craft.  We made our own Wooden block dolls!  Armed with stickers and Sharpies, we transformed plain jane blocks into cute characters.  Aren't they adorable?  I love how they're full of personality and charm.

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Origami Mushroom Wreath

Happy New Year!  Random question- have you seen any mushrooms hanging around?  Nope?  Did you know that some cultures consider mushrooms to be lucky?  Yup.  I read that some people will hang up mushrooms to bring luck and fortune in the New Year.  (Who knew?)

So,  in hopes of bringing a bit of luck to our family (and yours) here's a fun origami craft to ring in 2017.

(We're making an origami mushroom wreath!)

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Free Printable New Year's Crown

Last year one of my most popular posts around this time of year were printable New Year's Crowns.  They were super cute, but had "2016" printed on them.  So I made some new ones that you can print out, fill in whatever year you want, and color.  Cool, right?

Super Easy Origami Totoro

Kids at home?  Looking for fun craft projects to make with them?  How about a fun origami craft?  We've done a lot of fun Totoro Projects over the years (like these 3 Totoro crafts and this cute Totoro Corner Bookmark.)  Today I'm adding to the Totoro collection with this super simple origami Totoro that I made with my 5 year old.  (Isn't he adorable?)

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Plastic Spoon New Year Crowns

What?  New Year's craft already?  Sorry to pull you out of your cozy Christmas hidey-hole... but if you're looking for a New Year's craft then I've got you covered.  New Year's crowns are really easy for kids of all ages to make!  Grab some pipe cleaners and whip up these sparkly pipe cleaner crowns.  Or, you can make these easy paper number New Year's Crowns.  Today I'm sharing something a bit more unexpected.... have you ever seen a crown made from plastic spoons?

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DIY Outer Space Planet Ornaments for Christmas

Christmas is right around the corner.  Most likely your tree and home are already completely decorated.  My deepest apologies, friend, but I'm throwing a wrench in your plans. (Muah ha ha ha!)   Here's one last STEM inspired Christmas Craft that you'll want to try out this year.   If you love space, you'll love making these Outer Space Planet Ornaments.   (They're out of this world!)

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DIY Giant Ice Cream Cone Gift Wrapping (A fun Alternative to Christmas Stockings!)

Over the years I've done a lot of fun gift wrapping ideas on the blog.  (Remember my Fox Gift Box and my Unicorn Gift Box?)  Well, today I'm sharing a fun alternative to Christmas stockings... what about a Giant Christmas Ice Cream Cone instead?

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Easy, Colorful Pom-Pom Garland

If I had to choose one Christmas Craft to choose as my favorite this year.... this DIY Christmas Pom-Pom Garland is probably it.  Seriously, folks.  It's got all my favorite crafting elements.  It's super easy to make.  The materials are really affordable.  And it's hyper colorful.  I'm mean seriously.... is this not the cutest garland ever?

Lego Snow Jars for Kids (and 6 more Lego inspired projects!)

I'm all about cheap and cheerful crafts... and my son is all about Lego.  (I realized we were officially a Lego household when I woke up with a minifigure in my bed the other day.  Oy vey!) Inspired by the adorable miniature holiday displays and snowglobes in the stores, my son and I tried crafting our very own.  But instead of using animals or cute townspeople, we put a Lego twist on these winter snowglobes.  Tada! Here's a SUPER EASY winter snow scene craft.
 

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Origami Paper Wreath Christmas Ornaments

This past weekend I remembered one more reason I love this time of the year.  Holiday Craft Fairs! We visited two in one day and my craft-loving heart went pitter pat.  I love seeing handmade items- especially ornaments!  So today I'm mixing my love of origami crafts and Christmas Crafts with these fun, origami paper Christmas ornaments!

Gorgeous, Kid-Made Birthday Banner (And my dream job...)

A few weeks ago, we invited a few school friends over for a play date.  Since having a baby less than a year ago, I've been a bit (ok... let's be honest... VERY) nervous about having people over.  I'm always pooped and don't really feel like entertaining.  (Ever feel that way too?)  But, I pushed myself to try and that's how I found myself with 5 kids running around our fairly small home.  The kids played with toys and ran around outside... and surprisingly a lot of time was spent inside, painting and making art.

What?

You read that right, friends.  Our teacher's birthday was coming up and I invited the children to help me paint her birthday banner.  Once the kids saw the papers and art supplies on our table... they got right to work, creating the beautiful birthday letters below.

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Easy Pop Up Paper Plate Nativity

What do you get when you combine a Paper plate craft with a Christmas craft?  Ok... well, a lot of things come to mind... but today I'm sharing one idea.  It's a super easy paper plate Nativity craft. This craft is so quick to set up and make that you can do it with several kids at once.  (Ooh.  Wouldn't this be neat for Sunday school?  Church?  A playdate? ) And this craft is so easy that even young preschoolers could make them too.

So let's get started!

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How to Cut a Unique Gingerbread Snowflake

Just stopping in to share this quick paper snowflake craft that's sure to bring smiles.  Have you ever cut Christmas themed gingerbread man snowflakes?

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Cardboard Puzzle Collaborative Art Challenge

Looking for a fun collaborative art challenge to do with the kids?  Try making your own surprise puzzle!

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25+ Christmas Crafts and Activities to get you through December!

Does your family start celebrating Christmas the moment Thanksgiving is over? My son insists that we put up our tree right after our Thanksgiving meal!  In case your family is like ours, I'm sharing this fun list of 25+ favorite Christmas activities and crafts.   So go ahead and peek around.  You can do an activity everyday in December- like a crafty advent of sorts!

Surprise Smiling Face Cards

These DIY cards are adorable and seriously funny.  I saw Craftwack's ferocious beings cards and knew that we had to do something with faces.  So tada!  Open up the smiling faces to reveal a secret message inside!

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DIY Paper Chain Christmas Village

Last week I saw stores with Christmas villages already set up and ready to go.  Anyone else love seeing these tiny scenes on display?  There's something magical about seeing things in the miniature.  Today I'm sharing a fun Christmas Craft that you can do with the kids this holiday season.   Make your very own Paper Chain Christmas villages!

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Colorful and Glittery Skull Craft

In the midst of what is going on in our country, I almost feel hesitant to keep posting this week.  How can I write posts about crafts, Sharpie markers, and glitter when there is so much misunderstanding, hurt, and turmoil going on?

But you know what?  This blog is my happy place. And being creative and making things with my son makes me happy.  So I'm going to keep making and posting... even while we try to wrap my mind around everything that's going on.

That being said- this Halloween/ Dia De Los Muertos Craft is from awhile back.  We're keeping  the skulls up until Thanksgiving... so I figure I could still post about them here too.

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25 STEAM Christmas Activities (Book and Coloring Page!)

Looking for ways to encourage kids to tinker, create, and explore this holiday season?  How about 25 awesome STEAM Christmas activities?


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Amazing 3D Paper Christmas Star Ornaments

What?  Thanksgiving isn't even here and we're already talking about Christmas Crafts?  Ok, you've got me.  I'm jumping the gun with this super neat folded Christmas star ornament.  But, I had to share because this week we'll be launching our new STEAM KIDS Christmas books.  Woot woot!  I'll be sharing more about those books later on this week.  Today I'm giving you a sneak peak of one of cool projects included.  These 3D paper stars are super fun to color in and such a neat way to craft this holiday season!

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Play Doh Dia De Los Muertos Sugar Skull Kids Craft

I love this time of year because we celebrate Hallowen and Dia De Los Muertos at the same time.  While I'm not Mexican, I do appreciate Dia De Los Muertos.  It's a good reminder to celebrate and remember those that are no longer with us.

Every year my son and I have done an easy craft to celebrate the holiday.  (You can find the whole list below.)  This year we tried an easy open-ended play doh sugar skull activity.  Gotta say, the results were pretty fabulous!

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Stapled Paper Pumpkins

Hi everyone! Sorry for the crickets around here.  We're in the midst of hosting family so things like crafting and blogging have taken a short hiatus.  Today I'm just popping in with this super easy Halloween Craft.  Simply grab staplers, hole punchers, markers, paper, and glue.  Then get to work making some funky paper pumpkins!   

Halloween Paper Cut Chains

Here's a really easy, open-ended Halloween Craft to try out with the kids after school-  Try cutting some Halloween paper chains!

 

Make Your Own Spotty Dotty Game!

These days our family is always rush, rush, rushing.  Ever feel like that?  Whenever we do get a moment to breathe I plan to make something with my eldest.... but then the baby ends up needing me for something too.  So lately projects have to be quick and fun.  Last weekend we created this simple DIY board game using materials that we already had around the house.  It was really neat putting it together and making up our own game!

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Cute Kitty Gift Box

Who loves cats?  Who loves Halloween crafts?  Did you raise your hands for both?  If so, you'll love making this adorable kitty gift box craft!

Magical Unicorn Gift Box Craft

If you're ever invited to a unicorn-themed birthday party.... you have to try out today's craft.  Yup.  I'm living out some childhood fantasies with this magical gift wrapping idea.  Recently I turned a plain-jane gift box into a cute unicorn one! Tada!

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Quirky Fox Gift Box Craft

Ah fall.  Colorful leaves, cool air, and.... forest animals?  Hello, friends!  We've done 3D Butterfly Gift Wrapping and Kiss Wrapping Paper over here on the blog.  I figured it was time to do a fall-themed wrapping paper idea.  And what says fall more than foxes?   (Ok, ok.  Perhaps forest animals aren't particularly fall-ish... but they are on trend and oh so cute!)

 

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Groovy Sticker Snowflakes Art (Printable included)

With the start of the new school year, our family is still trying to find its new normal.  Transitions from school to home can sometimes be rough.  So we've been trying to keep things easy with more downtime in the afternoon.  We play at the park, read books, or do simple open-ended crafts.   Today I wanted to share a really easy open-ended snowflake craft that my son and I really enjoyed.  We pulled out some old stickers and made ourselves some groovy sticker snowflakes! 

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Two Ways to Make Paper People Chains

With the start of the school year, my son and I've been talking a lot friendships- what it takes to make and be a friend.  I guess all that talk about friendships must have seeped into my crafting too, because I found myself with the great urge to cut out some paper people chains.  Inspired by this wikiHow post I cut out and doodled some  kid paper chains.  Yup. Today's post is going old-school with 2 fun paper people chain designs.

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STEAM KIDS- An AWESOME book with 50+ creative, hands-on projects for kids!

I love doing things with my kids.  But lately it's been hard to carve out time to find, set-up, and prep fun and educational activities.  With all the buzz about STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities, I've been especially keen on trying out more of those too.

Maybe you're like me?  Maybe you're looking for a great resource full of easy and fun STEAM activities to try out with your kids too?

If that's the case, then I'm so glad you're here!  I'm excited to announce the launch of a brand new book- STEAM Kids!      

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Easy DIY Marbled Clay Covered Pens

Ever swoon while you're walking through stationary stores?  I looove pretty pens and paper.  But I don't always like the price tag that's associated with them.  Since we've been doing tons of clay projects lately, my son and I tried our hand at making clay covered pens.

I'll be honest.  I wasn't too hopeful about the results.  Plastic pens in ovens?  Urmm...  I worried that they would catch on fire... or melt.  But it didn't happen!  We turned a couple of el-cheapo-freebie pens into some fancy-shmancy marbled ones.  Ooh la la! Aren't they gorgeous?

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