Tin Can WindChime

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I don't know about you but I am ready for Spring.  I know we have had a nice winter but I am ready for the flowers to bloom for the grass to turn green and for all the birds to came back.  Do you feel the same?

So my mind has started to move toward more Spring craft ideas.  That is how I decide it was time to make us a wind chime.  I wanted to use stuff we had around the house (I like to save money and it is also a great way to recycle things we already have).  Then I thought that a tin can would work great for a wind chime. And that is how this craft was born (okay I am sure I am not the first to come up with this but this is how it was born in my head anyway).

Supplies
Tin Can (any can you have used cleaned and dried)
Paint (We used some house paint for these)
Paint Brushes
Fishing String
Beads
Small Cow Bells (or jingle bells)
Bling (for the outside of can)
Glue
Hammer & Nail

Directions

Paint your can any color you want.

 While the paint is drying, cut 5 long pieces of fishing string (you want them really long so you have room to tie them later)

Tie a cow bell to one end of the fishing line then string your beads onto line.

Once the paint on your can is dry use a hammer and nail to make your holes in the bottom of can.  Just like the picture, 5 holes in the middle and two holes on the outside.

 Now you can decorate your can if you want.  We use some Gems we had left over from our Christmas Cards.

Once the glue dries from decorating string your fishing line with your beads through the can.  TIP: Once you get a line through tape it at the length you want to the side of the can, this will keep the lines from getting tangled.  Now tie all five strings into a knot, I double knotted just in case.

Now cut another piece of fishing line and string it into the two outside holes.  Tie a knot on each end once in can, and then put a piece of tape on end to keep it from coming out of the can.

Once you are all done, just go outside and find a place to hang your Tin Can Wind Chime.

Leprachaun Beard

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 Every year since I had my first daughter I can't seem to help myself when it comes to dressing up my kids.  Every holiday I make them where fun, cute, or silly things and take lots of pictures then using Photoshop I stick the picture on fun backgrounds.  St. Patty's Day has be the funnest holiday every year.  There are so many fun things they can wear that I have had a ball over the years.

This year I decided to make part of our costume our selves (after all we now have a craft blog so it only fits right?)  It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do, but yesterday while at the craft store it just came to me.  And to be honest this is the cheapest costume we have ever had.  The hats I got in a package at the dollar store and the felt for the beard was only twenty five cents.  So for both kids I spent $1.25  um I think I like this DIY costume thing.

Since I  have two girls this year I needed two costumes so I actually included two beards in the template one larger and one smaller one.  So hopefully one is the right size for your kids.





Supplies
Leprechaun Beard Template
Orange Felt
String (any sting you have around the house will work)

Directions

Print and cut out your Leprechaun Beard.

 Trace your beards on the felt then cut out.

 Using your scissors poke a hole in each end of the beard then put your string through it.

 I measured the string for each kid so that it fit well then tied it off on each end.

Now put a cute hat on your kids (or any other fun St. Patty's day gear) and get those cameras ready.

Do you dress your kids up for the holidays (or am I the only weird one)?

Butterfly Foot Prints

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After the holiday card foot prints we did (the baby and I were both covered in paint), I was a little worried about trying this craft out.  But I thought these would really look cute in the girls rooms and would make a great keep sake for them to have when they got older so I diced to give it a try anyway.  I was pleasantly surprised when this time around it went really smooth and no one was covered in paint (well except for the girls feet, but that was to be expected).

My little one actually really enjoyed me painting her feet this time, I think she is a little ticklish.  She did want to hold the brush and help but I did not think that was a good idea so I did all the painting on her.  My older daughter however wanted to do it all by herself and giggled the whole time saying it tickled.  The whole experience was really fun and after we were all done the girls got a bath which just happens to be one of there favorite things.

Supplies

Paint (I just used some craft paint I had at the house)
Paint Brushes
White Card Stock
Plastic Table Cloth (optional, helps with clean up)

Directions

Start by setting up your butter fly station, put your table cloth down (if using).  Lay your card stock down ready for foot prints, and put paint and brushes out.

  No matter if you are doing the painting or the child is, just sit down and start painting some feet.  No need for a pattern, just use different colors and make sure the whole foot and toes are covered in paint (NOTE: if making more than one print make sure there is a LOT of paint on feet so you can get multiple prints)

  Once foot is painted place on card stock.  You want the feet to be facing out so that the big toes are to the edge of the paper.  Leave just enough room between foot prints to make your butterflies body.

 After your foot prints dry, use some paint and a brush to make your butterflies body.

 I put my prints in a frame, you can do that or just hang on the wall as is.  Maybe you want to make cards out of them, it is up to you.

Preschool Math Game

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 I still find it hard to beleive that my baby is in preschool.  I know we all say it, but I really can't belive how fast time goes by and how fast they grow.  The good news is that she loves preschool and really does enjoy learning so I guess we are lucky (I don't think I was so easy with my parents).

Since she loves to learn so much, I am always trying to come up with fun games to play that teach her something.  A couple months ago I made a preschool word game that she just loved.  Her favorite type of game is a matching game, and I have found that matching games are great ways to teach her things.  So this time around I decided to do an addition matching game.  It is actually quite fun, and after we did all the 1's she wanted to try the 2's.  Guess it was a hit!

How to play:

Print out your Preschool Math Game cards and cut them out.  

Start with all the 1's first (or you can just do half like 1+1 to 1+4).

 Turn all the cards upside down so you can't see the numbers and line them up.

 Now turn two cards over and see if they match, example if you turn over 1+1 the match will be 2.  (You may have to let the child count his/her fingers to help figure out what number they are looking for)

 If a match is not found turn cards back over and try again, keep going till all matches are found.

Presidents Day Obama Mask

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Monday is Presidents Day, and in preparation of it I came up with a fun craft for my daughter. I wanted to do something that I thought I could explain to her and get her to understand and at 4 1/2 that can be hard. So instead of doing the normal Washington or Lincoln craft I decided to do one of our current president Obama.

I thought she might understand me explaining about the President a little better if I explained about the current one we had, so we had a talk about the President and what that meant.  I am not sure she got it all but she does understand that he is the boss, and so she told me when her dad comes home she is going to put on her Obama face and tell him she is the boss.  Okay not sure she got the point but it is a start, wonder if I could put on the Obama face and be the boss too?

Supplies

Obama Face Printout
Sissors
Colors
Glue
Craft stick

Directions

Print out your Obama Face, then cut out the face and eyes.

Color your face

 Glue your craft stick onto the back of your face and wait for it to dry.

Baked Doughnut Holes

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 Wow it is Valentines Day already.  Time really does fly.  This time last year I was in the hospital with my 2 day old baby girl.  I tell you it seems like yesterday.  This year I have have a preschooler and a toddler running around the house, things can really change in a year.

I decided yesterday that I would make some yummy baked doughnut holes for my girls.  And then I thought why not add some sprinkles and make them Valentine doughnut holes, so I did.  I made a lot so I could freeze them and only added the sprinkles to a few, since Valentines day is only today.  I also put some in my hubs lunch so when he opens it today he will have a sweet surprise.

PRINT RECIPE

Ingredients

2 tbsp vegetable shortening	1 ¼ tsp salt
¾ cup sugar	½ tsp ground nutmeg
4 egg yolks	½ tsp ground cinnamon
3 ½ cups sifted all-purpose flour	1 cup milk
4 tsp baking powder	¼ cup Cinnamon sugar spice

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Beat together the shortening, sugar, and egg yolks.

In separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and spices.  

 Stir into the first mixture alternately with 1 cup milk; stir until dry ingredients are moistened.

 Roll dough into balls and then roll balls in cinnamon sugar spice (for the Valentine ones I just added sprinkles to the cinnamon sugar)

 Place balls onto baking sheet, bake for 6 to 8 min (dough should still be soft, don’t over bake).

Are you making anything special for Valentines Day?

Valentine Mail Box

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 I have been wanting to make a cute valentine mail box for my daughter to bring to preschool Monday for her big Valentine Party.  This past week I have been so sick though that we never did do it, and then we had my youngest daughters first birthday party yesterday so the mailbox got pushed back again.

After the party we did finally get to do one.  I have to say my original thoughts in my head were much grander but with the limited time we had I actually think it came out super cute and my daughter had such a great time decorating it that I say this was a total success.

Supplies

Cereal box
Wrapping paper
Yarn
Foam Stickers

Directions

Start by wrapping your cereal box, I used the back of some christmas paper.

 Using a kitchen knife I cut out the hole at the top to put Valentines in.

I used some foam stickers to put my daughters name on the box and just let her go crazy with all her stickers

 Once she was done I cut three pieces of some yarn I had then tied a knot at one end and braided the pieces.  Then made two holes in the top of the box and put the yarn through one then the other whole and tied another knot to hold it in place.

Corn Dog Muffins

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My youngest daughter is now eating a lot of solid foods.  She wants to self feed, but is in that stage where she can't really work a spoon yet so this can get VERY messy (mac n cheese in the hair messy).  I have been trying to find things that she can eat, and that she can feed herself without getting totally covered in a sticky mess.

That is when I thought about corn dogs.  My oldest daughter LOVES corn dogs, but well lets face it you can't feed a corn dog to a baby.  So what about making a corn dog muffin, where you cut up the pieces of hot dog small enough that they are not a choking hazard for your baby.  I decided to give it a try, I had a feeling that they would be a hit in the house no matter what, and I was right.  Everyone loved them they are so yummy, and the baby was able to eat a muffin with no issues at all.  She actually really liked getting the whole muffin (not having it cut up for her).  At first she kind of stared at it then took a big bite, then she started pulling pieces off and eating them. She actually had a lot of fun with her dinner. Now this is not a totally mess free meal, I mean we still had corn dog muffins all over the floor but she in general was not covered in a sticky mess.

My oldest also loved these muffins (who would have thought ;) I think these would be great for a packed lunch or a quick lunch on the go. This recipe made me about 30 muffins so I froze a bunch and will pull them out when needed for a quick easy meal for the kids.

PRINT RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups cornmeal 2 1/2 cups milk 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1 can corn

1 teaspoon salt 2/3 cup white sugar 2 eggs 1/2 cup vegetable oil 1 pkg 8 hot dogs (cut into pieces)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Grease or paper line muffin tin.

 In a small bowl, combine cornmeal and milk; let stand for 5 minutes. While you are waiting cut up hot dogs in to small bite size pieces.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and sugar. Mix in the cornmeal mixture, eggs and oil until smooth. Mix in corn and hot dogs.  Pour batter into prepared muffin tin.

 Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center of the cornbread comes out clean.