It’s a rainy day today, therefore, rainy day schedule is ON! Since my little G-man is still sick I don’t want to take him to the mall or Chick Fi-la (which is what I would normally do on a rainy day).
I found this craft idea and I think it is perfect for boys. Girls would love it too but let’s be honest, you have to be a little more creative with boys. Teaching them to paint hearts and coloring princess stuff is not super fun for them. I think my boys will love this. Hope you try it out! Happy rainy day.

Sensory Bottles (using old water bottles or gatorade bottles work great too)

Directions for Sensory Bottles-

a. Lava bottles: fill 1/2 water and food coloring, and 1/2 baby oil. It produces a lava lamp effect when tilted.

b. Snow globes: fill half with water and half with corn syrup. Add glitter, beads, paper clips etc. The corn syrup makes the glitter fall slowly for dazzling effects.

c. Discovery bottles (not pictured): fill with rice and small objects like dice, small toys, paper clips etc. As you roll the bottle, different objects will come to the surface to be discovered.

Once filled, simply fill the bottle caps with hot glue and turn them on. Let set until dry.

Are you looking for another fun Halloween Craft idea for the kiddos?  Here is a great “Ghostly Gourds” family craft idea from Woman’s Day.

Materials:
3 dry oblong gourds (you can use plastic gourds from your local craft store)
Acrylic paints: white and black
Flat and fine round paintbrushes
Scrap fabrics
Scissors
Low-temp glue gun (or tacky glue)
1/4″-wide elastic
Optional: wood for base, colored paints

Instructions:
Paint gourds several coats of white until covered, letting dry after each coat.

Paint ghostly face in black. Let dry.
Cut 1/2″-wide strip of fabric to fit around Dad’s neck using scissors (pinking shears will give you a zig-zag cut). Cut shape for long necktie twice desired length; knot around center of strip.

Glue strip around ghost. Tie or shape bow tie. Glue to a strip of 1/4″-wide elastic to make a circle to fit boy. Place around neck. Tie bow around gourd stem for Mom, or glue a bow to top
Optional: Paint square of wood for base. Let dry. Glue ghost on top.

Happy Crafting!

Chalkboard paint is all the rage now a days.  Especially black chalkboard paint.

Mark Olson

If you don’t have room in your house for this kind of chalkboard paint treatment – don’t be sad.  You can spend time with your little ones creating personal chalkboards. 

There are many chalkboards paint colors you many choose from, so don’t feel confined to your typical green or black.

via Apartment Therapy

Here’s how it goes…..

PERSONAL CHALKBOARD

Materials:

Plywood (cut into any shape)

Frame (optional – just make sure they plywood will fit inside frame)

Sandpaper

Chalkboard Paint

Tacky Glue

Decorating Accents (i.e. buttons, ribbon, photographs)

To begin sand and seal plywood.  Then, apply at least 2 coats of Chalkboard paint (follow the manufacturer’s instructions)

Once paint has dried apply desired decorating finishes. For example, add a button border, add good quality ribbon to help hang the chalkboard, glue a photograph in the top corner, frame the board in a nice frame….the possibilities are endless.  Be creative and see where it takes you!

via Home Made Simple 

Happy Crafting!

Camberley

Are you looking for a fun craft to do with your little ones today?  Would you like to do a craft that will get them excited about reading?  Well then, I recommend creating BOOKMARKS! 

Here’s how you do it…

Bookmarks

Keep track of your favorite books with this handy bookmark

From WomansDay.com

Instructions:
Cut 2″ x 10″ strips of Fun Foam for base of bookmark. Cut additional shapes, such as face or star. Use decorative scissors if desired.

Glue shapes to one end of strip. Decorate shapes with markers, movable eyes, pompom nose, yarn and hair.
Write names of books you’ve read on base strip.

Years ago, the thought of croqueted things brought thoughts of old ladies, moth balls, and sewing circles to my head (don’t ask me about the moth balls…I can’t explain it).  However, over the last couple of years my perspective has changed.  The croquet goddesses have enlightened me.  I have seen the light.

That is why I instantly fell in love with today’s latest ETSY love – seventytwostitches. 

I want to line my future child’s room with shelves full of these goodies.  I want to fill up a pool with these croqueted beauties and flounder around in it.  I want to put them in my mouth, like a dog, and play tug a war with them. (Okay, the last one was a joke).  Check them out. (Prices start around $12)

Happy Shopping,

Camberley

Recently we purchased the Woman’s Day Cool Kids’ Crafts publication.  In the Back To School section of this magazine, there are a couple of creative kids’ crafts.  One craft that I found to be especially cute and clever is called “POCKET IT“.  Here’s how it goes:

POCKET IT

Create a place for your pens right on your notebook

Materials Needed:

• Pocket from old pair of jeans or other piece of clothing
• Notebook with colorful cover
• Tacky Glue (they recommend Aleene’s Original)
• Paint Pens, Buttons, Sewing Trim and Stickers (optional)

Instructions:
Cut away small pocket from an old pair of jeans or other piece of clothing. (Leave the back, so the clothing stays intact.)  Attach pocket with tacky glue to the front of notebook. Let dry.

Once the pocket has dried, let your child decorate it to their liking with crafting supplies (i.e. paint pens, buttons, sewing trim or stickers). 

Have fun!

Camberley