Santa Popsicle Stick Magnet

Santa Popsicle Stick Magnet

I was going through some old boxes of crafts that my bunch used to make years ago and I came across a few cute ones.


What you need:

5 Popsicle sticks (paint them white and let dry)

White Paint

2 small leaf shape cut from white paper (this is Santa's mustache)

2 google eyes

Red triangle for the hat

small puff for the tassel on the hat

small piece of paper (mine is pink so you could see it ) (use it for the base to glue your sticks on)

black marker

piece of magnet (I always save all the old ones from pizza places and such)

What to do:

A) Glue the sticks onto the background piece



B)glue all in a row and let dry



C) glue on hat (red triangle)

D) glue on tassel

E) glue on googly eyes, the two sides to the mustache and then draw a small mouth.
F) When completely dry flip over and glue on magnet, dry and then hang up.

Now if you are doing this with your kids, be sure to write their names in a smartie marker (permanent) and the date.
Memories can last forever. Be sure to put in a baggie and put up with your Christmas stuff, even if you don't hang every year it is really a cool thing to get out and talk about making it together.

Get out there and make some memories...

                            

Christmas Hanging Bell

Christmas Hanging Bell

What you will need:

18"x12" paper (what ever color you like)
48" of string
4 medium jingle bells (only medium or large - small is too hard to do)
scissors
glue
markers, crayons, *
* glitter, paint, stickers




What to do:



A) fold paper



B) folded in half (makes two bells when you cut them out)




C) Trace a bell on paper



D) Cut the bell out

                          



At this point you can give the bell to the kids to decorate the way they like. For the smaller kids I recommend crayons, markers if you are brave, and paint if you are braver.

E)

Take the string and fold equally in half and lay on the bell with the top of the string (that makes the loop) sticking out about an inch or so. Then lay string down on the inside of bell (spread apart so that they don’t cross and have plenty of room to hang and jingle).

F) Put glue all over inside and put the top piece on. Let dry.

After it dries, we are going to string on the jingle bells. I used only 4 but you could add more.



G)

Now we need to thread the bells on. In this picture I show a great way to make the thread go through the hole on the bell. Take tape and fold over end then cut into a point.



H)

Thread the bells on. The first one put on and pull up to an inch below the bell and then tie on. The last bell put on the end. Secure it.

The finished project. (In my instructions, I left mine undecorated so you could see what I was doing.)







All that is left to do, is hang in an area where it can catch the wind to make it jingle, or put in a window. You could make them smaller and make them christmas ornaments.



Santa Handprint Paint Magnet

I think I am kinda stuck on the hand print gifts. Naw... They do make very good ways to share your growing children with the ones you love.

This one is very easy, but kinda messy. Also when I start a craft with everyone, you have to remember that you are only one person, and if you have multiples making this you need to keep the ones who are next in line for personal assistance, entertained. I usually lay news paper all over table and then start the crafts, as we complete them, I hand out extra paper to do a little imagination art work. I always keep finger paint on hand. A piece of paper a few squirts of paint and off they go.

This gives me time to cut out the finished product and put a magnet and names on it.

For this you need red and white paint. A black smartie marker.

Paint the fingers white, the thumb white , the top of your hand red and leave the middle of your hand clean.
For example:

Next take a piece of any color paper you like, we used a red here for the example, my son is my  model. Press the hand down onto the paper.

Pull up hand and let dry. (take paper away so kids won't continue to art work on it)

Take a Smartie marker and trace around hat, and make a face.

I cut mine around it to make it small enough to put on refrigerator. I glued magnet on and let dry.

This was a really cute craft and makes a great memory thing to put up for years to come.

Here's a picture of what was going on, while the hands were drying...

Hand Print Wreath

 The first of our Christmas Crafts.

I fold a long piece of green paper in half and then half again. With a small child you should be able to trace three hands on the top. I then cut them all out in the same time, which gives me 1 hands. For this to be interactive with your child. Trace their hand with them on a separate small green sheet and let them have some scissors and go at it.

Cut another round circle, which you will glue the hands around on it, forming a wreath. I then drew a bow on red paper and small circles for the berries.

When finished it should look like above. You can make as many hands as you like.

I also save old magnets (the flat ones, from heat companies, or restaurants) I then cut them in long strips and glue on the back of the wreath, which makes it possible to hang on the refrigerator.

This is a great craft for the holidays, make a great memory gift for grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and special friends.

Let me know if you try it.. feel free to leave a comment..

saving this spot

The Egg Sandwich Problem

I guess over the years I have watched quite a few kids and I have perfected the act of feeding them. Less mess, less cleanup and more time for playing. Just the way I like it.

I wanted to share you, probably a useless tip, but one that I acutally kept me from wasting alot of egg sandwiches.

I know a simple egg sandwich plus one small child. Simple right. Slap it together, toast, a fried egg and a piece of cheese. Then the little angel sits and eats the sandwich, that may I make note is cut into 4 squares and looks really neat and appetizing, he just sits in one place and no mess, no fuss......
Stop, whos world is this, I m usually saying, "Stay in your chair, don't walk around with it, then as a final....ooops, well now it is dirty..."This is where the sandwich falls apart and you now have to find another breakfast.

My tried and true tip is to scramble one egg and pour into a pam sprayed pan, lay a piece of bread on top. Spray a little pam on top of the bread, cause when you flip it, you can toast it without sticking. When the egg is almost done, flip and add cheese then another top. Brown both sides.
The perfect egg sandwich, that doesn't fall apart.
The egg hooks to one bread and the cheese keeps it all glued together..

So now that I got that off my chest, I may be able to continue my day. Just kidding. I am off to find more useless tips. Well I think that they are helpful. Hope you all have a great day.

The Corn Dog Maker

I just have to share with you, one of my new favorite kitchen gadgets.

The Corn Dog Maker.

I know, you are probably like me and flip through those magazines and look at all the neat kitchen gadgets, the popcorn machine, the cotton candy, and on and on. Well I decided to try out the Corn Dog Maker. One because my littlest eats a corn dog every morning for breakfast. Before anyone says that is not a very well rounded breakfast, this is always in addition to his other stuff, eggs, sausage and other such breakfast foods.

I am going to post this also on my other blog, because it can be so handy for anyone. I like it for the kids because it was quick, and very hand size friendly.

Here is how I use it.

For Corn Dogs
(this makes almost the whole pkg of dogs, depends on how much you put in the wells)

1 box of Jiff corn bread mix (prepare like on box)
hot dogs cut in half
Popsicle sticks
non- stick spray.

Instructions:

Cut dogs in half and poke (I put it all the way in) with the sticks

Spray the cooker well. (you must do this each time)

Pour in 1 tablespoon of mix in well, press dog into it (with handle sticking out)

Pour about a teaspoon (or until you cover it) over the dog.

Close Machine  ( I wait until the light goes on and off twice)

When cooked lift each out and let cool. They are very hot.

*I found that even wrapping them in a refrigerator biscuit and doing them was just as good.
*Also if you are talented enough you could cut small candy bars and do them in a batter.
* I am trying to freeze a few and see if they heat back up well, will get back to you when I do. This would considerably knock off what I pay for the individually frozen ones.

I think it is a great idea to play around with.  I am thinking of using it on Christmas Eve to make warm treats.

*OOOO.. what about a chocolate cake batter then a bit of filling and more cake batter on top. Yummy.

Pancake Faces

November

A month of giving thanks in all that we do. Take a minute to teach your children how to be thankful for all that they have. By doing that you can take a moment at every dinner and go around the table. Children are taught by example.

November brings lots of ideas for crafts and especially for food.

I thought I would post a simple, but really fun thing to do with your kids. I do this with the young ones and even the big ones.

Pancakes are a fun thing at our house. It is not just syrup and butter. I usually keep a supply of marshmallows, chocolate chips, nuts, whip cream, cherries, syrups and anything else you can put on or in a pancake.

When the bigger ones were little we would create all kinds of pancakes to try. I would whip out the big pitcher (for the spout) and make a lot of pancake mix. Then we would start, bananas, strawberries, blueberries, and we even at one time did bacon and an egg in the middle.

 Today I made blueberry pancakes and the let the kids decorate a face on them. Whip cream mouth, marshmallow eyes, chocolate chip nose and some curly icing hair.
They kids love to make them and eat them.

Maybe take a minute and whip up a batch of pancakes and great creative. Not only is it fun, but you create really great memories.

A week of Halloween

Just when you thought, hmmm, maybe she won't post any recipes for this holiday. You were wrong. Today we made our rendition of the "Grave Yard Cake"

I actually baked this on a sponge cake pan, so it took 1 1/2 cake mixes. I used the rest to make cupcakes. When it was done I melted a 1/2 can of icing and smeared across. For the dirt I used 6 crushed up oreos and the middles of the oreos become the grinning pumpkins. They candy corn made a fence and the chocolate twizzlers are the trees. For the tombstones I iced graham crackers and then decorated them. Finished off with a few marshmallows ghosts and of course some creepy worms.

***note*** those chocolate twizzlers are wonderful...

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I have given you five different things to do at Halloween. The most important thing is to enjoy it all. Enjoy all the moments!.

So get out there, make a cake, cut a pumpkin, watch a scary movie, make decorations...Just take a long walk among the fall leaves..

Much love and thoughts to you all..

HAPPY HALLOWEEN TO YOU ALL!!!

This and That ...tips to share

Wanted to share a tip with you..

In my home, the littlest one is always wanting chicken nuggets, and I always try to keep some on hand. It is way easier to make them, than run out to the MacDonald's or a closer fast food. The cost is alot less. The littlest likes them all from Walmart cost-cutter to Tyson's. My older kids love only the Tyson's. Now don't get me wrong they would really like the fresh home-made ones and I do make them quite often.

One of my tips, for portions and quick to make nuggets. Make a tray of chicken nuggets. Hmmm for just the baby I make 6 to eat and 6 nuggets per pkg to put in the fridge. I always keep those snack baggies handy. When cooled just pop in 6 per bag and store in fridge. They heat up by just opening the bag and nuke for one minute. Mine actually eat them cold. I like them for when we are having something the baby can't eat real well and heat them up for him and serve what sides we are having.
Satisfies everyone. Saves on the panic for what to make for dinner.

These little baggies are the best. For the snacks I do the same thing. I do not do crackers, or chips in them, I find they get stale too fast. I keep those in a large container and keep 1 cup bowls around.

I just love the bread store, got these donuts for $1.00 and made enough snacks for on the go.

These also freeze real well. I take out of the freezer as needed. So all those grubby hands don't eat then in a day..

So bag some up.. and share!

Halloween Crafts

Halloween is one of those great Holidays, that you can make a million different crafts, or scary things to use as decorations. Even if you don't have kids, you can still use your imagination and decorate. Feel the season, feel the holiday, get into the fun of it. Re-live your childhood a bit.

Kids also learn by example, if you make if fun they will pass on the traditions on to their kids. So it is like a "Pay if forward" kinda thing. Kids, they love to decorate. So grab a kid, yours, a grand kid, or just a neighbor kid (well not that far, might get it for kidnapping) Get out your Halloween colors of colored paper. Your green, yellow, orange, black and what ever else you think you need to create a masterpiece.

For smaller kids, I call this kind of craft, a memory craft. It uses their hand print as part of the picture. And you can give these away to family members, sure to put a smile on their faces.

This one I am going to post, is going to be my first attempt at trying to explain how to do one. So bear with me..here we go..

This is the actual finished project..you can choose the bat or the spider, depending on how you position the hands.

the bat



the spider

Instructions:

You will need:

• green, orange, black and white paper
• scissors
• pencil
• glue

prepare all the pieces to be glued (I usually do this ahead a time and put each persons pieces in their own little baggie)

• Trace your hands on black paper / cut them out (this is what makes it a memory project)

• Take a round container and trace a circle, put two little triangles on the side near the top this will make the ears on the face. (if you forget and just cut the circle, then cut two separate triangles to be glued on later.)

•  Cut out eyes, nose and a mouth (can do any shape, if you little one is too little you can cut a round white circle and put inside the black circle for the head and they can just color one)

•  Cut a big old orange pumpkin for the back drop for the creature.

                                 

• here is a picture of all the parts.

When you are ready then start to assemble. Place the hands first. > bat - they go out to the sides and for the >spider you hang them down (kinda hiding the thumbs)

******  Go to the top to pictures and see how to place the pieces..*****

We made ours and they look beautiful. So go ahead and try it.

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A great tip that I have for storing these wonderful pieces of art, especially if you don't give it away. I usually keep a few and put into a 3" binder, with the others, I take a picture of them all and start a computer disc and archive all the art work for me and the kids when they grow up.

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I have another quick craft I wanted to share, this is for the more advanced. It takes time to make and concentration, but still just as fun and turns out pretty neat. It is a mosaic project.

You will need:

• white sheet of paper
• black paper (torn into small pieces)
• orange paper (torn in small pieces)
• glue

Instructions:

• Trace a pumpkin on the white paper (could be any kind of picture you like)
• start gluing the small pieces of paper to fill in the drawing.



When you are finished it looks wonderful!

Halloween "Lets Go to the Movies"

Great way to get into the holiday spirit is also with Movies. There are a few scarey ones in the theater but we don't have those kinda bucks to take a family of 5 to a movie theaters.

So we choose to kick back and relax at home. We have a sweet tv and just got a blue ray players so with a few props, we can all pretend we are at the movies.

You can rent a few movies, or these days you can rent them through your cable service. We choose to just purchase them and they get watched over and over.

One of my favorite habits is when it is for example Halloween, I pull all the scarey stuff and bring in to the tv area and we can view them easier. The when the season is over these movies go back in a certain area on a shelf and usually get forgotten until next year. This kinda makes them feel new all over again.

 Movies are now just getting cleared and clearer. Even the older ones are better to watch, So try to revisit some of the older ones.

A few of our favorites are:

The kids like these.

A few of our other favorites that still keep me on my toes (I know with all the scarey out there, I gotta go old school)

 So get out the popcorn, (buy those plastic popcorn holders, it is all about the ambiance) Get the drinks, (I also bought the plastic cups with the straws, that the lids screwed on) Go to the dollar store and get some chocolate cover raisins *hint, hint.. my all time favorite..

Be sure to pull the drapes, turn off the lights, pop that movie in and

Get Your Scare On!!!

DON'T LOOK BEHIND YOU!!!

BOOOOOOOOOOO!   gottcha!

Halloween Continued....

Another day closer to Halloween.......

Tow-mater all lit up..

 Halloween fun for all.

One of the fun things at Halloween is the carving of the pumpkin. There are now tons of pumpkin patches to visit and lots of pumpkins to choose from. There is actually a book printed for designs to put upon the pumpkins or you can just go free handed.  Eyes, a nose, and a crooked mouth is just as scarey as can be. Put a lighted candle down inside and it will glow for all to see.

Was wondering about these great little pumpkins so I looked up the information and here is what I came across:

 From: http://www.thelaboroflove.com/articles/why-do-we-carve-pumpkins-at-halloween/

“Halloween originated in Ireland several hundred years ago. The Celtic Irish celebrated October 31 for several reasons. October 31 signified the end of the summer and the start of the ˜new year.’ It was on this night and this night only that the boundaries between the living and the dead were broken. The spirits of the recently deceased could enter the bodies of the living as their one shot at the afterlife. Of course the living didn’t want to be possessed by these spirits so they would dress up is devilish costumes, extinguish all the lights in their houses, and create havoc on their town to scare the spirits away. Years later the English adopted many of the Celt’s practices.

October 31 was known as All Hallows Eve, the night before All Hallows Day, a celebration in honor of the saints. As the idea of spirit possession became less prominent, the English would dress up as witches or ghosts in a more ceremonial manner.

In Ireland, one of the most popular traditions that went along with their Halloween, was carrying the jack-o-lantern. In Scotland and England they would carry turnips. The jack-o-lantern was originally carried all night to replicate the faces of the ghoulish spirit possessed. No one is quite sure why the ˜jack-o-lantern’ is called ˜jack.’ However, according to an ancient Irish legend, the devil once wanted to steal the soul of a man named ˜Jack.’ Jack outwitted the devil on several occasions and kept his life. Eventually, Jack died and neither heaven nor hell would take him. Jack was condemned to an afterlife in limbo. He asked the devil for a piece of coal to provide light for his never ending life. Jack stuck the coal into a turnip and is said to still be walking around with his light until heaven or hell will open the gates for him “

Get out there and have some fun...

Here are a few pictures of ours: