Sending Snail Mail

Crafty Care Packages: Today we decided to send some of our little friends some good old fashioned snail mail. No one loves getting mail more than a small child. Both girls go crazy when they get a card and a few stickers from their Grand Parents. So I thought what a great little surprise to receive in the mail an envelope full of crafty activities. I printed out some free activities from the web and attached a little note listing the resources so their Mamas could know where to find more paper "gems." Lulu was so excited by the printables she could only help me put them in envelopes and seal them before she had to start gluing "gems" onto her own crown. Meanwhile Emme created beautiful stickers to decorate the envelopes with. So...McKayla, Avari, Sophia, Hanah, Ava and Oliver watch your mailboxes!

Free Printable Sources:
The Toymaker
Print Picnic
Activity Village

Make your own stickers: Blank printer labels, markers, stamps, crayons... Go to town! At one point Emme was drawing and stamping at the same time! Then I folded down the edge of the label sheet so the sticker ends were exposed and easily removed from the sheet. This is an activity that would appeal to all ages. Older kids could design their own return address labels or letter seals.
Removing stickers from a sheet and placing it onto paper is excellent for small children's developing fine motor skills...plus they love it!

Crafty Crow Contest: You Can Make This $50 Bundle of Patterns!

I just entered the Crafty Crow $50 pattern bundle giveaway contest. You Can Make This is a site that offers patterns and instructions for a variety of craft projects. Just leave a comment and your entered! Check it out!

Novice Sewing: Adorable Free Patterns

Here are two simple projects for the novice seamstress out there.

The Ribbon Trimmed Skirt was very easy and I completed it while watching TV at night. The original pattern and tutorial at Oliver and S does not show it drop waisted. I followed mmmcraft's example. Considering I only had a photo to go by I am very happy with how the drop waist came out. OK, truth be told it came out a little puckered in spots and a bit too long in length but I'm trying not to get too fixated on that! I'm just telling myself not bad for a first attempt. I am going to do it again for my younger daughter and a family friend's daughter, Avari. I figure by the time I get to my friends daughter's skirt I will worked out all the kinks. The cool thing about this skirt is the hem is finished with a ribbon. It sounds difficult but made hemming the skirt very easy and it looks very professional.

Snow Bunny Pattern: I hand sewed these two bunnies for my girls. I tried two different techniques for sewing it. I like the cleaner edge better. I sewed the pink one outsides facing in. I left an opening for turning the bunny inside out, stuffed it and sewed the opening closed. The pattern and instructions are free on Q.D Patooties blog. Again this was very easy and it keeps my hands busy while I watch TV at night (read: stops me from snacking!)

My next project after the 2 skirts will be a kids art folio (holds a pad & pencils/crayons.) I have seen several tutorials on the web so if you've done one that you liked let me know.

Easter Craft: Bunny Napkin Rings

I'm kinda on a Easter Craft roll. I promise this is it for a while. It is just that my friend asked me for some Easter Craft ideas and I couldn't stop my brain.

Supplies:

Paper Towel or Toilet Paper Roll cut about 2" wide
Felt
Glue or Glue Gun
Scissors


Pieces you will need:

• 1 strip of felt to cover roll
• 2 ears
• 2 ear inserts
• 2 eyes
• 1 nose
• 1 set teeth

Glue strip around roll first. If you are using regular craft glue clothes pins come in handy to hold the felt down as it dries. Next glue inserts into ears. I added a bead a glue to the base of the ears after assembled and folded in half. I clothes pinned it to the roll. Folding in half at base allows ear to open face forward. See picture. Glue on features. If desired you can cut out a rounded v shaped notch for mouth area and glue teeth behind. When dry - fold napkin into a square. Hold like a diamond. Fold down top corner and fold in sides. Insert napkin into Bunny Ring. Please leave a comment if these instructions are not clear. Of course with all my crafts I would love to see pictures of the finished projects! You can send your pictures to hello4crazykings@yahoo.com
I would love to post them! Thanks! Mama King

Easter Craft: Bunny & Tulip Favor Cups

Easter Bunny Hiding in the Grass & Tulip Favor Cups
Supplies
(Start saving you snack size plastic fruit bowls/cups now! You'll need one for each place setting or guest. These cups are also great to reuse to hold paint, glue or water.)

Plastic snack size fruit bowl/cup
Felt
Scissors
Craft Glue or Glue Gun
Easter Basket Filler
Egg for Each Cup (Either Plastic or Real. You can write each guests name on the egg with a paint pen. If using plastic fill with jelly beans, a message or stickers.)
Lollipop (For grass basket)
Ribbon

Level: Moderate
Age 8+ (Younger with Adult assistance)

Bunny Hiding in the Grass

Grass Cup: Start with one clean snack cup. Measure five to six 2"w x 3.5"h sections of green felt for grass. Fringe along top. Hot glue works best but a good quality craft glue works as well. Overlap sections as you go. When dry trim top to desired length. Tie ribbon around middle/top of cup (you can glue gun in place.) Fill with jelly beans.




Bunny Cozy: Print out template (below). Cut out two bunny shapes. On one of the bunnies cut mouth detail. Cut out and Glue teeth to inside of bunny shape with mouth cut out. Run a glue bead around the edge of one bunny -- don't forget to glue the ears together. Sandwich the bunnies together. Add ear inserts and nose. I drew on eyes but you can glue on felt eyes or buttons. When dry cozy should fit over a standard size flat lollipop. I folded back the extra plastic wrapping on the lolli before I tucked it into the bunny. Stick bunny in grass cup.

Tulip Favor Cup
Start with clean snack cup. Cut out 6 petals (I provided a template -- but you don't really need one.) Hot glue works best when gluing felt to plastic. To make look tulip like, glue down one petal then glue two petal on top to create a v shape. See picture. Turn to other side and repeat. Cut out a strip of green felt or you can use ribbon to create handle. Pinking shears might add a nice decorative touch. Fill with Easter basket filler and place a real or plastic egg inside. Use a paint pen to add guests name. Fill plastic egg with jelly beans or stickers.

Click on template. Save to your desktop then print from your desktop.

Easter Craft: Bunny Place Cards

Supplies:
Cotton Balls
Pink, Orange & Green Felt, Construction Paper or Colored Foam Sheet
Jelly Beans
Rabbit Template
Card stock
Scissors
Glue or Glue Gun

Level: Easy (Adult assistance for smaller children)

Looking for a fun way you and your kiddies can dress up your Easter table? Here is Noah the Bunny (named after my little friend who inspired this project.) This is easy enough to do with a little one and to do in large numbers. You can print the template out and trace 4 times onto a single piece of 8x10 card stock.

1. Cut out template
2. Fold center section down to create kick stand
3. Glue cotton balls to rabbit (I stretch them out a bit so they aren't so tight looking.)
4. After glue is dry you can give the rabbit a haircut to shape
5. Glue jelly bean eyes and nose on
6. Let dry
7. Really crease fold -- rubbing crease several times to ensure bunny doesn't flop down flat. You can always use tape if that doesn't work.
8. Cut out carrot bottoms & tops
9. Assemble & glue
10. Write names of guest on carrots
    

I included ear insert if you want to add pink felt inside the ears. I did not.

You can also do this project in white felt. Trace template onto white felt and glue to card stock backing. It will give you a cleaner look.

Click on picture below for template. Save template to your desktop and then print for full size image. Have fun!! I have more Easter crafts coming your way next week.

Easter Craft: Transparent Eggs

This one is for my little friend Noah & his Mom. I received a request for a hanging Easter craft that shone light through it "like a sun catcher." I hope this fits the bill! Easter place cards are next on my agenda!! So check back on Friday.

Supplies:

Clear Contact/Shelf Paper
Ribbon
Hole Punch
Collage Materials (tissue, sequins, ribbon, feathers, glitter...)
2 identical egg shaped paper templates
Tape
Scissors

Level: Easy

**Tip: before starting any project with small children make sure your materials are set up. It helps the flow of the project and stops impatience on the child's part and frustration on your part.

Cut out 2 egg shaped templates and tape one to work surface. I use an old drawing board so I can move it for snack, lunch or whatever comes up. The egg guide will help your child visualize where to put the materials. Cut out two rectangles slightly larger than your egg template. Peel off backing of one (set aside second rectangle) and lay sticky side up over egg template. Tape down on each end so it doesn't slide around. Start adding all your collage material -- paying attention to your egg guide. You want a good seal around the edges so try to keep collage materials inside of egg. When your done -- peel off backing of second piece of sticky paper -- place on top of collage and smooth with your hands. You can either take a permanent marker and outline the egg shape underneath or use the second egg template as a guide to cut out egg. I held it in place with my thumb and cut around it to ensure I wouldn't get any marker edging on my egg. Untape plastic sticky paper collage. Leave egg template taped to board for the next collage egg. Cut out egg. Repeat as many times as desired. You may want to do one large egg with several tiny eggs dangling from it...it is up to you and your imagination!

This project was inspired by Linda from the Moms Craft Kit Exchange. Thanks, Linda!

Wednesday: Random Ideas

The Joy of a Cardboard Box
Here is one from the vault. We love cardboard boxes at the King household. With this box we decoupaged tissue onto the box -- doing each side in a different color scheme. We cut windows and a little door for Lulu's dolls. I also hung a lantern flash light from the top of the box for secret meetings with her "friends." This box was a rocket ship, boat, house, and submarine in its lifetime. We have turned a diaper box into a cat carrier for Lulu's stuffed animal Annie. We have painted, colored, glued macaroni, decorated with stickers...all types of boxes. So next time you geta box -- think of the possibilities! Tip: wait for nice weather, put the kids in smocks, arm them with rollers and giant paint brushes and let them go crazy painting a big box on your driveway or patio. Hose down the area for clean up.

Family game for even the littlest of players
This game was suggested by Laurie and her two cuties, Matthew & Ryan, in upstate NY. Her family likes to play Animal Charades. (Thanks Laurie!! I love getting ideas and suggestions.) Laurie printed out some clip art animals and cut them into squares. Each animal should be recognizable to all players. Animals vary depending on the age of the player. The game is played like traditional charades. Extension activity: Have older children help create the cards -- choosing which animals they want, coloring the pictures and writing the animals name onto the card. Sounds fun, we will be trying this at our next family gathering! **Just got an idea! What to do with your child's artwork! Cut up some of your child's abstract creations and use them as the back to your animal card. You can even laminate them for repeated use. Some idea for the youngest of players: cat, dog, bunny, kangaroo, penguin, pig, lion, elephant, chicken, shark...

Lacing Cards: Recycle Old Greeting Cards
Katie's Nesting Spot has a great idea for recycling all those cute cards your kids get. Glue the front and back together, punch holes around perimeter and have child use as a lacing card. A shoe lace with a nice long aglet works best. Katie suggest storing a few of them with shoe laces in a plastic baggy and stashing them in your mom bag for a great quiet activity.

Mono Prints

Mono prints are great for kids because you get immediate and often time surprising results.

Supplies:
Paint
Paper
Palette (a plastic lid works)
A piece of Plexiglas is ideal but when all else fails be creative...we used a tempered glass cutting board (we never use because the sound of cutting anything on it is disturbing to me.)
Brushes or fingers
Smock
Sponges & rags for clean up

Level: Easy but messy!

Have child paint onto Plexiglas or similar surface. When done painting, place piece of paper over painted area, rub back of paper with hands and peel off print. Rinse off board, dry and repeat. If you find your prints are coming out too dry add a smidgen of water to paint or if too wet make sure surface and brush has been wiped dry before you start painting. Also mono prints are meant to be quick. If you take too long creating your painting the paint may begin to dry on the surface. This shouldn't be a problem if you have small kids. It is fun for small children to smear and mix paint directly onto surface and then of course the anticipation of pulling the print is fun too! This was an excellent way to talk about color mixing. Lay out newspaper to place prints on to dry. We ran out of counter space today! Lulu had a lot of fun with this one. So you may get another installment of "what to do with your child's artwork" real soon!

Aquarium: Recycled Window Front Box

Emme got a cup/plate set as a gift. I instinctively cut out the top and filed it away with my cardboard knowing it had some crafty potential. Well here is what we came up with. Lulu smeared, rolled and generally had a blast painting the cardboard side. I cut out fish and she placed them onto the wet paint and smeared and rolled some more. After it was dry I punched two holes and strung some yarn through the holes and hung it on a plastic suction cup hook on our big window.

This is an easy and fun craft to do with small children on up. Older children can add more details (paint the frame, add beads to the yarn hanger, add plant life...or forget the aquarium and turn it into a window and paint a scene outside.) Note: you can glue the fish down to ensure they wont peal up.