Celebrate Summer!

Paper Dot Rainbows

Summer means play dates, camping trips, swimming pool visits and kids saying "I'm bored. What can I do?" At least that's how it goes at our house. It seems like no matter how many adventures I plan someone still gets bored. 

I have the habit of making chore lists for when someone says they are bored. But you could also try some of our free crafts, activities and snack recipes too...if you are feeling super nice.


Paper Bag Picnic
This easy craft is fun to create and fun to play with. Use it as a rainy-day boredom buster or take it outside into the sunshine for some make-believe fun!

Colorful Butterflies
This artsy activity is a crowd-pleaser! Marbles, paint, a shoebox and you are set to jazz up your butterflies in a most colorful and unique way.  No paint brushes required!

Bears on the Beach
Summer time is all about snacks. Get creative with teddy grahams, frosting and a few gummy worms and watch the smiles spread as your kiddos create a surf's-up-sort-of snack!

Bugs!
This simple craft uses materials you have on hand including an egg carton, paint, pipe cleaners and glue. (If you don't have pipe cleaners on hand and you have kids under 5 in the house - go get some. You'll thank me later.)

Ants on a Log
Make celery more appealing as a healthy snack choice by adding cream cheese or peanut butter and raisins to create adorable little ants on a log. (Make up a fun little story to go along with it too!)

Visit The Idea Box for crafts, games and snacks to create for summer fun! Connect with us on Facebook where I share more ideas from other crafty bloggers and sites or follow us on Pinterest and create your own pinboard full of kids crafts!

Summer Fun On A Budget

Summer is in full swing! We have some low cost ideas to help you keep little brains and fingers busy! 

A Slice of Watermelon

This watermelon craft is fun to do with preschoolers and they look super cute displayed on a bulletin board or on widows for summer!

Backyard Bubbles
This is a fun bubble experience for toddlers and preschoolers who have yet to master blowing bubbles! And it has a mess rating of zero, if they keep it outside!

Bark Giraffe
Do you have an animal lover at your house? Try the giraffe craft and let their artistic talent shine! It's also a great way to explore trees outdoors. (You'll need bark for this!) 

5 Cup Fruit Salad
Fruit cocktail, pineapple, marshmallows and yogurt...Sounds tasty if you ask me! And most little kids like these ingredients too. Mix them together and serve up as a sweet summer snack!

Bee Hive!
A fun cereal craft incorporating lots of fine motor skills, your preschoolers will have a blast drawing, cutting and gluing. You will enjoy keeping them occupied for a little while too! And they are super cute to hang up when finished.

Visit The Idea Box for more crafts, games and snacks for summer! Connect with us on Facebook where I share more ideas from other crafty bloggers and sites or follow us on Pinterest and create your own pinboard full of kids crafts!

Patriotic Snacks And Crafty Fun!

We've got some last-minute patriotic projects and yummy snacks you can create with your kids to really get your 4th of July fun going! 

From pretty wreaths and safe sparklers to a fruity parfait to beat the summer heat, I know you'll enjoy trying some of our fun snack recipes and crafts to add a little American pride to your holiday!

Or switch up the colors to reflect other nations' flags to celebrate your heritage and ethnic diversity. 

Red, White & Blue Wreath

Patriotic Parfait

Handprint Flag

Sweet Stars

Safe Sparklers

Visit The Idea Box for more crafts, games and snacks for the 4th of July! Connect with us on Facebook where I share more ideas from other crafty bloggers and sites or follow us on Pinterest and create your own pinboard full of kids crafts!

Patriotic Paper Creations for the 4th!

Celebrate Freedom Hat

Looking for fun, frugal and creative ways to celebrate the 4th of July with your little firecrackers? If your kids love quirky hats, they will love doing this project with you. Create a freedom hat with some cardstock, glitter and stars!

Memorial Day Bunting

This simple bunting craft is perfect for patriotic holidays. Or change up the colors and create bunting for any occasion using paper, a little paint and yarn - super simple!

American Eagle Handprint

Your kiddos will enjoy this easy eagle handprint craft because it's fun, flashy and festive! Hang some eagles up to enjoy those cute little handprints.

Patriotic Paper Chain

The kids can also help decorate - let them create yards of patriotic paper chain to hang on the porch, mantle or back yard. It also makes a great barbecue accent!

Red & White Veggies with Blue Dip

And don't forget the snacks! Our simple Red and White Veggies with Blue Dip is always a big hit because for some reason kids really like eating blue things! (Blue Raspberry Shaved Ice anyone?)

Visit The Idea Box for more crafts, games and snacks for the 4th of July! Connect with us on Facebook where I share more ideas from other crafty bloggers and sites or follow us on Pinterest and create your own pinboard full of kids crafts!

Father's Day Fun

Daddy Is My Friend

Ready for Father's Day? You have plenty of time to create fun, frugal Father's Day crafts with your kiddos! Or use a few of our free craft ideas for a preschool or Sunday school class project. Print out our Daddy Is My Friend poem to use in a card or on a special craft. Or...

Pancakes For Dad
Our simple pancake recipe is yummy and easy to make! Even little hands can help make these for a tasty Father's Day breakfast.

Best Daddy Poem
Use our "best" daddy poem on all sorts of craft projects to express love and thanks for the great dad in your kids lives. Use our printout to add handprints or embellishments to.

Father's Day Footprint Craft
Use our footprint's poem and printout to record your little one's footprint below the footprints poem and give as a sweet keepsake of small feet.

Candy Jar
Grab a clean jar (this can even be a recycled spaghetti sauce jar), some of Dad's favorite treats and create a sweet candy jar for him to enjoy!

Visit The Idea Box for more crafts, games and snacks for Father's Day! Connect with us on Facebook where I share more ideas from other crafty bloggers and sites or follow us on Pinterest and create your own pinboard full of kids crafts!

Patriotic Projects for Memorial Day Weekend

Celebrate Freedom Hat

Memorial Day is a special time to honor those who have passed while serving our country in the military. It's also an opportune time to teach kids about patriotism and make some special and fun crafts too.

Handprint Flag
Handprint crafts and activities are some of my favorite, although a little messy.  Put your littlest hands and fingers to work to create a flag mural for your classroom, or a smaller version to take home with them.

Patriotic Parfait
This is a fun and patriotic snack that the kids can help prepare.  Assemble your fruit, let your little fruits assemble the snack, add whipped cream...and enjoy!

Patriotic Paper Chain

Red, White, & Blue Wreath
Add a little flair to your classroom, home or front porch with this easy paper wreath. It will add some sparkle to your room and some sparkle to your kids!

Safe Sparklers
Want to make something to really celebrate with?  Try our safe sparklers craft with older kids as it is a little more work for little hands to manage.

Stars & Stripes Snacks
Try this super easy and yummy snack!  Even the littlest hands can manage this one and they have tons of fun creating and eating their little flags.

Visit The Idea Box for more crafts, games and snacks to create for Memorial Day! Connect with us on Facebook where I share more ideas from other crafty bloggers and sites or follow us on Pinterest and create your own pinboard full of kids crafts!

Enjoy your Memorial Day and your kids!

Easy Peasy Mother's Day Gifts

Craft Stick Heart Frame

Mother's Day is such a wonderful holiday - when else do we take the time to honor our moms and let them know how special they are? Here are some very simple, easy crafts to create at home or in the class perfect for gifting to the sweet moms or grandmothers in your kids' lives.

Button Pin
This is a fun and creative idea for making your own lapel or scarf pins for Mother's Day using buttons, craft pins and basic craft supplies.

Coupons for Mom
I love this easy and thoughtful gift for mom, especially if your a budget savvy person. Have the kids draw their own coupons for Mom onto regular paper or cardstock with markers and crayons. Some ideas for the coupons might be:

Coupon for unloading the dishwasher (or washing the dishes)
Coupon for a back rub or foot massage
Coupon for a quiet hour or two by herself (bubble bath or a good book)
Coupon for breakfast in bed or made by the kids

Use your imagination to make all kinds of quick and fun coupons for mom.

Here are a few more ideas for fun and easy Mother's Day gifts to make!

Candy Jar

Fingerprint Garden
This craft idea can be made from cloth (which will require some sewing) or you can keep it simple and create the same fingerprint garden on a piece of heavy construction paper or cardstock.

Flower Pens for Mom
With some ink pens, silk flowers and a little floral tape you can make a pretty and functional bouquet of flowers for your mom as an office gift or desk gift.


Visit The Idea Box for tons of crafts and activities to create for Mother's Day! Connect with us on Facebook where I share more ideas from other crafty bloggers and sites or follow us on Pinterest and create your own pinboard full of kids crafts!