Creative Family Fun

Your one-stop shop for kids activities and family fun

Holidays

Halloween Cats

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I love Halloween crafts and despite our busy October, I hope we get a chance to do several this year.

For this craft, we decided to dig into our endless supply of empty cardboard tubes and made Halloween black cats.

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Supplies Needed:

Empty cardboard tubes
Black paint
Glue
Googly eyes
Tri-beads (or something for the nose)
Pipe cleaners cut into small pieces

Before painting, I folded in the tops of the tubes to make ears. You can use the above picture for a guide. There is no need to glue, tape, or secure in any way. Once folded, it will stay this way.

Now it’s time to paint! Cover that tube in black paint. If you stick your fingers in the bottom of the tube and hold it that way, you can paint all sides easily.

After painting, it would probably be best to let the black paint dry completely. We didn’t because we were a bit too anxious.

We made the faces using googly eyes, tri-beads, and pipe cleaners. If you don’t have these items, look around in your stash for something fun for the faces. Get creative; the possibilities are endless!

We did have a problem with the pipe cleaners slipping off before they dried. So, you may need to hold them on there for awhile. But, once dry, they stick well.

I had plans of using these as a Halloween decoration this year, but the girls thought they were better used as puppets. Their idea was fabulous! It’s fun to make our own toys.

Have you started Halloween crafting yet?

Story Time: Earth Day

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Favorite children's books for Earth Day.

Books are one of the first things I reach for when I want to teach my girls about something.

So, when it came time to start talking about Earth Day, I went to the library. These books are all appropriate for preschoolers, plus older kids will enjoy them too.

When searching for Earth Day books, choose ones about recycling, planting, trees, gardening, energy reduction, or the climate. Do you have any favorite books about Earth Day?

Disclosure: There are Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links in this article which means, at no additional cost to you, we could receive compensation for our recommendations. You can read our full disclosure policy on our Disclosure Page for more details.

Curious George Plants A Tree
by Margret & H.A. Rey: George learns about the environment and wants to do something to help, so he decides to plant a tree.

Be a Friend to Trees (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out, Stage 2)
by Patricia Lauber: Learn about the importance of trees and how we can be a friend to trees.
 
We Planted a Tree
by Diane Muldrow: Learn about the benefits of trees through two families who plant two trees in different corners of the world.
 
Compost Stew: An A to Z Recipe for the Earth by Mary McKenna Siddals: Learn all about compost through fun rhyming verse.
 
The EARTH Book by Todd Parr: Colorful illustrations and playful text help explain the environment to young children.
 
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss: No Earth Day book collection would be complete without including The Lorax! “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
 

Two Last Minute Valentine Crafts

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

We’ve been doing Valentine’s crafts for several weeks now, but I know that’s not the case for everyone.

If you’re still looking for Valentine’s crafts, I’ve got two quick and easy ideas for you.

We made these heart necklaces and napkin rings using simple supplies that you probably have around the house.

Disclosure: There are Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links in this article which means, at no additional cost to you, we could receive compensation for our recommendations. You can read our full disclosure policy on our Disclosure Page for more details.

Heart Necklace Supplies:

Construction paper
Markers or crayons
Yarn
Tape

For the necklaces, I cut out two heart shapes from pink construction paper. We decorated with markers to make them pretty then taped them to a length of yarn. We knotted the ends of the yarn together and had necklaces. Easy-peasy!

Napkin Ring Supplies:

Construction paper
Markers or crayons
Cardboard tube
Tape

For this project, I cut an empty TP tube into four pieces and cut four heart shapes from the construction paper.

We decorated the tubes and the hearts, then taped one heart to each tube.

I wrote names on each heart, because tonight, we’ll put pretty napkins through them and use them to decorate our table for Valentines Day.

So there you have it, two very easy Valentine’s projects you can do today!

Are you still crafting for Valentines Day?

10 Ways to Say “I Love You”

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With Valentine’s Day coming up soon, it’s easy to find ways to say “I love you.”

But, what about all the other days of the year?

I’ve got 10 easy ways to show your love that you can do any day. They’re perfect for you to do for your kids or your spouse and are even wonderful ways for kids to say “I love you” to their parents, siblings, or friends.

Disclosure: There are Amazon Affiliate and other affiliate links in this article which means, at no additional cost to you, we could receive compensation for our recommendations. You can read our full disclosure policy on our Disclosure Page for more details.

1. Make their favorite meal and have a special dinner. This will always brighten up someone’s day.

2. Give them a secret love note. Find the details to make these fun secret notes at Awesomely Awake.

(via Awesomely Awake)

3. Hug them – there’s nothing better than a big, warm hug. So, hug the ones you love often!

4. Give them your time. Do one of their chores for them. Clean their room. Run an errand for them. You get the idea!

5. Make them a special card and surprise them with it! It doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming. Our Heart-Stamped Cards would be a perfect surprise.

6. Celebrate the small things. Celebrate the first loose tooth or the day they learn to write their name. Make sure you let them know they are special.

7. “Heart Attack” them! Learn about this special idea at Toddler Approved.

(via Toddler Approved)

8. Write them a love letter. Write your child a letter to let them know you love them and think they are special.

9. Make a love notes wipe-off board like this one from The Golden Gleam. It’s a wonderful way to show your love.

10. Spend time doing something they love, even if you don’t necessarily enjoy it. Watch that baseball game with them even if you’d rather be watching House Hunters. It will mean a lot!

*Bonus idea: Just say it!! Never forget to tell the people you love that you love them!

What are some ways you like to say “I love you?”

Sponge-Printed Valentines

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When thinking about Valentines, I can’t forget to include our favorite Valentine’s book, Max’s Valentine by Rosemary Wells.

It’s a simple book, in very typical Max and Ruby style. But, year in and year out, this is our most requested Valentine book at our house.

So, I knew we had to do a Valentine’s craft based on our favorite book.

I cut out several hearts from sturdy paper (such as card stock) and got out a few supplies.

Since Ruby used an awful lot of glitter in this book, we made sure we had quite a bit on hand.

We used sponges instead of paintbrushes. I used a clothes pin to help the girls hold on to the sponges.

After setting up everything, I stepped back and let the girls do what they wanted.

The painting was such an amazingly nice and neat process, but then came the glitter! And boy did we use the glitter!

You’ve got to make sure everything is well glittered, right?

After attaching a few bits of tissue paper, the girls were done. Now we’ve got some nice and sparkly Valentines inspired by Max and Ruby.

What is your kid’s favorite Valentine’s book?