Firework Salt Painting

I saved this craft on Pinterest YEARS ago. I finally set aside some time to do it with the kiddos. It shouldn't have taken us that long to do it - it's such an easy craft!

I got the idea from here.

All you'll need is:

• Table salt
• Paper (Construction paper or thicker)
• Watercolors
• Brushes
• White glue

Draw out your design with the glue. Do it thick! You can also draw with a pencil first, and then trace over it with the glue.

Sprinkle salt generously over the glue. Get it all covered! Shake off excess salt.

Get your watercolors wet and lightly paint onto the salt. Don't drag too much. The watercolors should start running if they are wet enough.

Let the project dry completely. That's it! We are by no means professionals, as you can see by the pictures, but we have fun!

Jesus' Baptism/Dove Craft

Today we were learning about Jesus' baptism in Bible, and the kids made this really cute dove craft, which of course is the Holy Spirit coming down from heaven at the baptism. It is really easy so I thought I would share it here.

Get each child a piece of construction paper. The craft suggested blue, but we have tons of black paper so that's what I used. Paint each child's hands with white paint and immediately help him press his hands, one at a time, to the construction paper. After the pictures have dried you can color in some eyes and a beak, or use yellow or orange construction paper to make a triangle beak. You can glue on feathers if you like as well. I also wrote the correlating Bible verse at the top of the page with a white colored pencil.

Relax Bottle/Time Out Timer

I saw this idea on My Crazy Blessed Life and I was excited to try it. The idea behind this is that sometimes our young children become dramatic and worked up (I think it's safe to say most of us have children with this issue!). Sometimes they can get so worked up that you cannot talk reasonably to them. In some of these situations the child needs to be in a "Time Out", not for punishment, but simply to calm down. That's what I liked about this idea. It's not a punishment, but it gives the child something to focus on and it helps their mind slow down.

The blogger suggests a tall, plastic water bottle. I just happened to have a free rebate for two Clear Choice waters which gave me the perfect bottles. She used a Smart water bottle.

She removed the label. I did not, due to the style of label on the bottle.

Next, she filled the bottle with 3/4 hot water, a bottle of glitter glue, and a tube of fine glitter. She then used super glue to glue the bottle lids on.

I got my glitter glue and fine glitter from the Dollar Tree, so this was a really cheap craft. Mine don't look as pretty as hers, but they serve their purpose. My kids love them and actually utilize them at other times than just when they are upset. I will find them by my daughter's bed at night, or they may bring them in the car on a long road trip. Isn't it crazy how much money we spend on toys for our children and then simple things like this entertain them so much?

DIY Refrigerator Magnets

I am embarrassed to admit that I have had this post in "draft" mode for over two years! Call me distracted, call me forgetful... you'd be right! But these are too cute and easy - I had to get on top of things and post!

I got this idea from Play at Home Mom LLC. I made these for my niece and nephews.

All you need is magnet paper from Staples/Office Max/your choice of office supply store, and free images from the internet. Print the images onto the magnet paper, cut them out, and voila! You have your own personalized magnets! How easy is that? I think this is a very cool idea and great for gifts as well.

DIY Pinata at Evan's 2nd Birthday Party

Okay, in just a few months it will be my nephew Evan's birthday and I haven't even blogged about his birthday last year. I am way behind on blogging. Here are some cute pictures from his party, and then a very easy DIY birthday pinata! (Aren't you tired of paying almost $20 for something that your kids are SUPPOSED to break!? Craziness!)

So, I got the idea for the pinata from The Sweetest Occasion. Hers is MUCH more beautiful than mine, but mine definitely got the job done and that's all that matters. Here are the incredibly easy instructions for this party game:

Go through your recycling and grab some thick cardboard and some cereal boxes. Get some fun colors of tissue paper, some masking tape, scissors, a glue stick, and some pipe cleaners. And of course, candy!

Start by cutting out the shape of your pinata out of the thick cardboard. She did a number one but I did the letter E. Cut out strips of your cereal box to use for the sides of your pinata. I did mine like hers - the letter was about 18 inches tall, so the strips were about 3 inches wide. Put your cardboard shape together with the strips using plenty of masking tape. Leave a flap open and untaped at the top of the pinata.

Next, get the tissue paper ready: leave paper folded as it comes in a package, and cut off a two-inch-wide strip of folded tissue paper. Snip fringe about halfway up one side of the folded tissue paper. Unfold, and you should have a long strand of fringed tissue. You can use any colors you like.

Once all of your tissue is fringed, grab your glue stick and start applying the fringe to the pinata form, starting at the bottom and working your way up. Overlap the tissue so that the only portion that shows is the fringe, and the un-fringed part is what gets glued down.

Then, cut small holes on the open flap at the top, and corresponding holes on the top in a section that is taped down. String a pipe cleaner or twine through the holes to seal the top of the pinata. (If you’re filling the pinata with candy or treats, you can use the open flap to get your goodies inside!)

Of course, you don't have to fill it. You can just use it as decoration if you like. The kids had a blast with a bat to knock this thing silly, and it gave all the adults a good laugh! Also, they get exactly what they want - the opportunity to hit an object with a bat, and lots of candy!!