Frosty The Snowman...

Is our inspiration for kids crafts this week, headed into New Year's holiday weekend.  Still no snow at your house?  Get inspired!  If your kids can't get to the snowmen...bring the snowmen to your kids!

Clay Pot Snowman

How will you entertain your kids this weekend for New Year's?  Getting them all hopped up on peppermint cocoa and gingerbread might sound entertaining but really...not a good idea if you want them to go to sleep before the ball drops at Time Square.  So, that leaves us with Snowmen crafts!

Creative Snowman

Snowmen are fun, frolicky, and can be pretty fabulous!  (Yes, I know frolicky is not a word.)  Let your and your kiddos imagination run wild as you think of ways to personalize these snowman crafts and make them your own kind of "Frosty fabulous!"

Garbage Sack Snowman

Plus check out the seasonal section at The Idea Box to find many more free craft ideas to keep your kids entertained for the duration of Winter break and throughout the rest of the cold season.  Happy New Year!

New Year's Kids Crafts!

Happy New Year to you and your family, and may 2012 bring blessings and growth to your little ones!  The Idea Box is a great resource for moms and teachers alike, filled with songs, games, recipes, and crafts specifically geared for kids.

We love kids and we love helping you find new ways to teach and entertain your kiddos.  Below are just a few New Year's holiday crafts to keep little hands busy either New Year's Eve or January 1st.  Check out our holidays and seasons sections for other great crafts and games.

Enjoy!  And please submit pictures of your kids' results.  We love to see what your kiddos are up to and showcase their work!

Resolution Box

New Year's Shaker

Confetti Fun

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer...

Had a very shiny nose!  And if you have kids stuck in the house because the weather outside is frightful, you will be delighted with all of our reindeer themed crafts to keep them occupied.

Check out these and a bunch of other fun FREE craft ideas at The Idea Box.  (For Kids, For Fun!)

Rudolph Cookies

Reindeer Food Holder

Paper Plate Rudolph Mask

Reindeer Pin

All I Want For Christmas Is...

(Kids)...something fun to do until I can open presents and eat sugar plums!  And maybe also my two front teeth.
(Moms)...something to keep them occupied long enough for me to finish up my Christmas stuff!  And a 16 oz. peppermint mocha.

Ah, the anticipation builds and the countdown to Christmas is at 4 days by my calendar.  Tomorrow the inevitable and scary happens.  My son is dismissed for Winter break.  And I am faced with the challenge of keeping him busy for 3 (yes, I said 3) weeks.  Not only do we need to survive until Christmas morning, but then we have to brave New Year's Day and all the other days in between now and when I can send him back!

Lucky for me, and you, The Idea Box is jam-packed with great crafts, recipes, songs, and activities to keep our little rug-rats occupied and maybe even happy for the next few weeks of being stuck at home with M-O-M.  Try our Christmas section for some last minute holiday fun or any of our other sections for ideas to keep them busy when it's too cold to play outside.

Enjoy!  Remember to submit a photo of your results so we can brag on you and your kiddos too!

Paper Cup Angels

Santa's Elf

Marshmallow Snowman

Fruit Loop Christmas Tree

Brain-Cell Savers for Winter Break

As we get closer to Christmas Vacation/Winter Break (next Wednesday for us) it may be a good idea to plan ahead for some crafts...because on the morning of Day 2 of Winter break, you will hear this sound, "MOM! I'M BORED!"  It will resonate like a foghorn in your head and you will feel brain cells trickling out of your ears.  (Brain cells you cannot afford to lose since you are frantically gearing up for *shh* Christmas.)

So in the spirit of giving and preserving brain cells, here are some craft ideas to get you started.  If you run out of things to keep the brain cell bashers busy, just visit our site for a HUGE list of Christmas crafts and recipes that are Kid-friendly and brain cell approved.  (And mommie approved)  Enjoy!


                                 Snowman Soup

Santa's Elf

Reindeer Food Holder

Ornaments Comin' Out!

We understand the spirit of Christmas and do our best to impart that to our children.  But for kids part of the magic of Christmas is the tree!  And what builds magic into the tree?  The ornaments!  Some are old, some are new, some are hand-me-downs or hand-made, some are nothing but glitter and glue.  Whatever ornaments your tree is made of, they are sparkly and magical to your little ones (and big kids still enjoy ornaments too)!

Whether you're a teacher grasping for last minute "keep them busy until school lets out" crafts or a SAHM looking for ways to add a little Christmas cheer to your home, we've got some ideas that will put the twinkle in your eyes and in your tree!  Here are some ornament ideas to get you started.  They can be adapted or added to or completed converted...let your imagination run a little amoc!  (We've got alot more where these came from over at The Idea Box.)

Little Stars Ornament

Peppermint Wreath Ornament

Pinecone Ornament

Kids Are Hands-On!

Kids are hands-on when it comes to crafts and...just about everything else!  So, while I haven't finished all of my holiday baking/shopping/crafting/decorating/eating/wassailing/etc, I will squeeze in some kid-friendly hands-on crafts for my boys (and your kiddos) to make.

It will keep them occupied for a few minutes and the results make darling keepsake gifts.  I have even used these type of "hands-on" crafts to decorate the fronts of homemade holiday greeting cards.  Hope this keeps your little handy helpers hooked and happy as you countdown to Christmas!

Please send us a picture of your results.  We love to brag on your kids' crafts too!

Hand-Made Christmas Trees

Hand and Foot Angels

Keepsake Hand-prints

& some Holiday Bowling, just for fun!

Christmas Crafts For Your Kids!

If you've got Christmas baking/shopping/crafting to do and you've got kids...chances are you've got a dilemma. How do you get all your Christmas projects done, keep your kids entertained, and retain what small amount of sanity you still possess?  You want to enjoy the holidays, entertain family and friends, and effortlessly occupy your little ones (and not-so-little ones).  We have compiled some crafts we think might help you muddle through the next few weeks of caroling, wrapping & unwrapping, Christmas break from school, and ringing in the New Year!  (Well, at least these will get you through caroling?)

Don't forget to submit a picture of your results to our site, so we can brag on your kids too!

Easy Paper Rudolph

Hand and Footprint Reindeer

Hand and Footprint Angel

Fruit Loop Garland