Category Archives: DIY Crafts
Edible Mud Play Dough (Guest Post: A Pinch of Perfect)
I’m excited to share this guest post with you by Katie from A Pinch of Perfect. Katie posted on my Facebook wall that she found me through the SITS Girls and as soon as I saw her blog I knew I had to ask her to guest post right away. Katie’s blog is packed full of great activities and fun ideas for your little ones, so be sure to visit her blog after reading and commenting on this post! Now here’s Katie…
I have noticed that mud must have some sort of magnetic properties because my son can’t seem to stay away from it. My poor garden has suffered multiple assaults from my son and his shovel. To try and deter him from the garden I wanted to make him some mud that he could play with indoors or outdoors and as often as he would like. This is how Edible Mud Play Dough came to be. It had to be edible because I think you never can be too safe when toddlers are around (my son just turned 1.5) so I work really hard at coming up with safe activities for him.
(See more Toddler Friendly Activities Here)
Our homemade mud can be made with things found in your pantry. It’s fast and simple to make and looks exactly like mud. After coming up with this awesome recipe, when my husband came home from work and took a look at the “muddy” tray on the table he wondered why I had brought mud into the house. Oh the look he gave me when I took a bite was priceless, lol! By now he should know we are always up to something fun and interesting.
The awesome part about Edible Mud Play Dough is it is dry and crumbly and at the same time doughy and shapeable. Although it is edible, it doesn’t taste good at all so this activity shouldn’t turn into snack time. Get those trucks, shovels, and mud pie pans out because your kiddo is going to love playing with it. What a fun new Sensory Play experience!
(see more Sensory Play Activities Here)
Supplies:
1 Large box of chocolate pudding mix (we used the instant kind)
1 C. baking soda
1/4 C water
3 Tbs. oil
I suggest making one batch per kid.
Directions:
Mix dry ingredients together.
Add wet ingredients and mix evenly and it’s ready to be played with.
Makes a perfect mud ball because it can hold its shape, but will still crumble apart.
Here are my busy little kiddos smashing, filling, and building away.
My daughter used the words, “crumbly, brown, and soft.” What sensory words will your kiddo use to describe it?
Sometimes toddlers are hard to keep entertained…well my little man played with his dough for an impressively long time and even outlasted my daughter. He must love his new mud!
We hope you enjoy our Edible Mud Play Dough Recipe. Thanks for playing with us. Drop by A Little Pinch of Perfect to say hi and make sure you catch our next fun idea!
Love-Katie and the Kiddos
Katie is a Stay-At-Home-Mom who is kept busy by her spunky 3 year old daughter and curious 1 year old son. She is always coming up with new, fun, and creative ideas to keep her kiddos excited throughout the day. She believes that creativity helps little minds learn & grow in amazing ways that conventional methods only dream about. Visit A Little Pinch of Perfect to discover more or follow her on social media on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Google+, and Bloglovin’
Thank you, Katie! 🙂
Do your kids love playing in the mud?
Have you ever made mud play dough?
Please leave a comment for Katie below!
This post is linked to: SITS Sharefest (July 12, 2014)
How to Make Easter Bunny Paw Prints with Free Printable Template
Learn how to make DIY Easter Bunny paw prints with a free printable template and video tutorial!
To create your own Easter Bunny paw print trail you’ll need to print out a template online or create your own template. Pick a white powder (baking soda, flour, baby powder) to sprinkle inside the bunny paw print stencil.
Watch the quick video tutorial below to learn how to make DIY Easter Bunny tracks using my free printable Easter Bunny paw print template!
(Watch video here)
For the past few years I’ve used other free printable templates to create a more whimsical looking Easter bunny footprint. This year I decided to create my own template and I wanted to try to make it look like a more realistic rabbit paw print. I’ve never seen rabbit tracks in real life (I’m not very outdoorsy) but after looking over some photos online, I think I came up with a decent version.
I also created a version that includes front paws. In my opinion, the Easter bunny only hops on his back paws because he’s carrying the Easter baskets, but the front paws are included if you want them. There are three files below. You can print out the version with just the back paws, the version with front and back paws, or the last file which contains both of the other templates in one file. Click on the photos or links to download, or right click and “save link as” to save the pdf to your computer.
Easter Bunny Paw Print Templates are for personal non-commercial use only.
Attention pinners and bloggers:
When sharing please link to the original post, do not link directly to the pdf file url. Thank you.
Free Printable Easter Bunny Paw Print Template: Both versions in one document
Free Printable Easter Bunny Paw Print Template: Back Paws Only
Free Printable Easter Bunny Paw Print Template: Front and Back Paws
Print the template out on card stock as regular paper tends to be too flimsy to use as a stencil. Although I didn’t show this trick in the video, you can use a damp cloth to wet around the edges of the stencil to catch the powder that might otherwise creep outside of the template. Or you could use the damp cloth to dip in the powder first and then dab around the inside of the stencil rather than sprinkling. I’ve never needed to use either of these methods and always just sprinkled the powder the way I demonstrated in the video.
*EASTER TRADITION: MAGIC JELLYBEAN PRAYER and LOLLIPOP GARDEN
*EASTER TRADITION: EASTER BUNNY TRACKS 2011
*EASTER TRADITION: EASTER BUNNY TRACKS 2012
*EASTER TRADITION: EASTER BUNNY TRACKS 2013
*50+ EASTER EGG DECORATING IDEAS
*NATURAL DYES FOR COLORING EASTER EGGS
*APRIL HOLIDAY TRADITIONS
This post is linked to…
SITS Sharefest / Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop / Mama Kat’s Vlog Prompts
How to Make Leprechaun Footprints: Video Tutorial
How to make leprechaun footprints: video tutorial
Here’s a quick video tutorial showing you how to make the leprechaun footprints that you see in these posts:
*Leprechaun trickery is afoot! and
*St. Patrick’s Day Tradition: Leprechaun Footprints.
I also included some footage of Adaline discovering the mess the leprechauns made in 2013.
(Watch video here)
To make leprechaun footprints:
-Put green Crayola washable fingerpaint on a plate, piece of paper, or thick paper towel
-Make a fist and dip your hand into the paint (dab off the excess)
-Press your fist onto your surface of choice
-Use your pinky finger to make toes
-Repeat using other hand
More details:
-It takes me about 45 minutes to make the mess.
-I do ALL of the prints for one foot/fist at the same time so that I don’t have to keep switching hands.
-It takes about 5 minutes to clean up the footprints.
-The footprints wipe off easily with water. You may want to use some soap if the paint was on long enough to dry.
-My daughter enjoyed cleaning up the footprints.
Has a leprechaun ever visited your house? What kind of things have your kids thrown in the toilet? Let me know in the comments!
*March Holiday Traditions
*Leprechaun Visit 2013: Little green footprints!
*Leprechaun Visit 2011: Magic green milk, footprints, and more!
*50+ FREE St. Patrick’s Day Printables (Links)
*The time that Buddy the Elf stole a picture from my blog!
*30+ April Fools Pranks You Can Play on Your Kids!
Great for Leprechaun tricks and Elf mischief as well!
*Easter Bunny Tracks: Paw Print Trail!
*Santa’s Magic Sooty Bootprints!
This post is linked to…
SITS craft link up / SITS Sharefest /Kids Activities Blog: St. Patrick’s Day
Making a Preschool Classroom Valentine
For Adaline’s Montessori Preschool class each child has to make one big Valentine to bring to school that their classmates will sign rather than bring in individual Valentine’s for each student. Honestly, I think that’s a GREAT idea and I’m so glad that she won’t be coming home with 25 different lollipops with eyes glued to them! 😉
I filmed the creative process of making “The Adaline Flower” with a 4.5 year old. Watch and be amazed!
(Video here)
(I post a lot of funny vlogs on my YouTube channel. Subscribe to follow along!)
To make the classroom Valentine for preschool we
-Cut a heart out of red poster board
-Colored craft sticks and glued them around a photo to make petals and a stem for a flower
-Made leaves out of fuzzy sticks
-Made a sun out of construction paper
-Made a pom pom lady bug
-Used glitter glue around the edges to make it shimmery
It was tough to reign in Adaline’s creativity. She LOVES art and wanted to draw all over the Valentine but she needed to keep it blank so that her classmates could sign it. I have a feeling her friends are going to end up with quite a few drawings of hers on their Valentines.
The pom pom ladybug was Adaline’s favorite part.
We used a black Sharpie marker to make dots on a pink pom pom, used a smaller black pom pom for the head, added googly eyes and adhered it all using craft glue. Adaline drew wings and legs around it onto the poster board.
Does your child’s school allow individual
Valentine’s or one classroom Valentine?
Let me know in the comments!
How to Fold a Towel (Video Tutorial)
I’ve added this to Mama’s Kat Vlogging Workshop as prompt
3.) Make a video about anything…from a table in your kitchen.
Coincidentally I had just made this video last week for No Housework Day. Our kitchen light doesn’t work so I moved the table into the playroom to record the video. Enjoy 😉
I dislike all housework but if I had to pick a favorite chore it would be the laundry. I don’t mind laundry so much. Maybe it’s because there’s really no gross factor like there is with dishes. Maybe it’s because there are only four of us and the laundry is pretty manageable. I don’t know.
I’m actually really good at folding laundry, so I thought I’d show you how to fold a towel. I know, it’s exciting isn’t it? I like to rock a nice, fancy tri-fold with my towels. Also, I fold in the shadows because I am mysterious (or because I have crappy lighting in my house). Watch and learn, my friends, watch and learn.
(Email and feed readers click here to see the video.)
…and. You. Are. Welcome.
I just changed your life.
Spread the word.
If you’re looking for another pointless tutorial you can check out this ooooold one of mine: How to build a jigsaw puzzle.
How do fold your towels? Tri-fold, square, origami elephant? Tell me in the comments!
Don’t forget to link up your housework (or anti-housework) related posts to the No Housework Party April 05-12, 2013!
You can “like” the No Housework Party on Facebook, party with @coolfamilyblog and @nondomestic on Twitter at #nohousework, and follow our Non-Domestic and No Housework boards on Pinterest!
Related Posts:
*My Least Favorite Chore
*10 Things I’d Rather do Than the Dishes
Check out my other vlog for Mama Kat’s prompt #2
Something interesting you received in the mail
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Police Officer Crafts for Kids (National Police Week)
May 11-17, 2014 is National Police Week!
National Tell a Police Officer Thank You Day is in September!
Here are some great police crafts and activities you can do with the kids! These crafts are great for preschools and schools to use when learning about community heros and helpers.
*Policeman Thumbprint Character: @ Scrappin Cop
*Bank Robber Money Bag Tutorial: @ Craft Apple
POLICE BADGE CRAFTS
*Policeman Crafts: @ Squidoo
Policeman pompom craft and free sheriff badge template.
*Police Officer Badge-Making Page: @ Community Club: Teacher.scholastic.com
*Official Badge Generator: @ Says-it.com
*Community Helpers Preschool Themes: Police (Printable Police Badge): @ Early Childhood Fun
Personal Safety, Traffic Safety, Police Theme Crafts, Printable Police Badge
*Make Police Badges with Preschoolers: @ ehow
*Kids Cutout Police Badge Crafts: @ ehow
Templates, Lacing Badge, Name Badges – Name Tags, Personalized Badge, Foil Badge
*Police Badge Crafts: @ ehow
Preschool Craft, Costume Craft, Crafty Gift, Decoupage Plaque
*Police Memorial Day Crafts: @ voices.yahoo
Making a Police Badge, Coming to the Rescue: Shoe box cars, Red White and Blue Key chain
POLICE HAT CRAFTS
*Police Officers Hat and Badge Craft: @ Kids Crafts Blog
*Policeman Crafts: @ Easy Kids Crafts
Police Hat using a visor, construction paper, pencil, scissors, tape and glue. Police Notepad using construction paper, white letter paper, pipe cleaner, black marker and scissors.
*Police Visor: @ Making Friends
*Labor Day Craft: Printable Hats: @ GuildCraftInc.com
*Community Helper Felt Board Police and Fire: @ Making Learning Fun
*Policeman Hat: @ The Idea Box
*Police Officer Crafts for Kids: @ ehow.co.uk
Hat and Badge, Crime Prevention Puppets, Family Emergency List
POLICE CAR CRAFTS
*Police Car Craft: @ Making Learning Fun
*Police Car: @ Activity TV (Video)
Visit the ATV garage and learn how to make this fun toy police car.
*Police Car Coloring Page: @ The Kidz Page
*Cardboard Box Police Car: @ Red Ted Art
POLICE PAPER DOLLS
*Police Officer TP Roll: @ dltk-kids
*Poliecman Toiletpaper Tube Puppet: @ Making Learning Fun
*Paper Doll Police Uniforms and Squad Car and Paper Doll Bad Guys: @ Scrappin Cop
*Community Helper Paper Dolls: @ First Palette
*Policeman Mask: @ Edupics.com
POLICE LESSON PLANS
*Policeman Lapbook: @ Homeschool Creations
*Police Officers: PreK and Kindergarten:
@ Homeschool Creations
Counting Fingerprints, Personal Safety, Stoplight Crackers, Badge and Hat, Stoplight Craft
*Police Printables: @ Homeschool Creations
*Kindergarten Police Officer Printables:
@ Confessions of a Homeschooler
Police hats and badges, What Police Officers do, K9 Units, Police Coloring, Finger Prints, Traffic Lights, Stop/Go sign and game, Traffic Light Snack, Math: Play “Domino Parking Lot”
*Unit Study: Police: @ Lawteedah
Flashcards, My information, Color by number Traffic light, Fingerprint Numbers, Whistle Patterns, Make a Police Badge, Role Play, Police Officer Says, Songs & Fingerplay
*Community Theme: Police Officers: @ PreKinders
Scroll down for Police theme!
Police Officers: License Plate Game, Police Officers: Fingerprints, Police Officer Prop Box
*Community Helpers Preschool Themes: Police (Printable Police Badge): @ Early Childhood Fun
Personal Safety, Traffic Safety, Police Theme Crafts, Printable Police Badge
*People Who Keep Us Safe: @ 2 Teaching Mommies
Lesson Plan, Memory Verse, S is for Safety, Safety Lapbook, Fire Fighting Beginning Writing, Shape Fire Truck, Catch the Robber (Dice Game), Stranger Danger
*Policeman Theme and Police Officer Theme @ First School
Alphabet theme printable materials for Letter P Police Officer, Book recommendations, Coloring Pages, What does a police officer do?, Police Officer Headband and Badge Craft, Safety Theme: Crime Prevention
*Police Theme Ideas: @ Preschool Express
Blue art, Police Officer Puppets, Personal Safety, Officer Help Me! Game, Traffic Safety, Police Officer Dramatic Play, I’m a Police Officer Song, Police Officer Placemats
*Community Helpers Theme: @ Pre-K Pages
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*Community Helpers (Police Songs and Fingerplay): @ Hummingbird Educational Resources
Scroll down for POLICE ACTIVITIES: I Am A Policeman (Sung to: I’m A Little Teapot), Our Friend, Police Officer, The Policeman, The Policeman (Sung to Mary Had A Little Lamb), Lost Child, Two tall policemen met in a lane, Police officers are helpers wherever they may stand, Police Officers fingerplay, Police Art, Dramatic Play Police Station, Fingerprints, Police Week Line Up
*Labor Day Lesson Plans: The Police Officer:
@ Bright Hub Education
LEARNING 9-1-1
*Learning Telephone Numbers (Printable): @ Spell Outloud
*Learning to Dial 9-1-1: @ I Can Teach My Child
POLICE COLORING PAGES
*Police Car Coloring Page: @ The Kidz Page
*Police Coloring Pages: @ Coloring Book Fun
*Policeman Coloring Pages: @ coloring.ws
How does your family honor police officers throughout the year?
Let me know in the comments!
This post is linked to…
SITS Sharefest
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Fun and Dysfunction 