Yarn Dolls

We visited a town festival where they had wonderful "old-fashioned" toy stations. 

The stations were just packed with kids having fun.  So much for the "old-fashioned" part!

I stood in line and impatiently waited my turn, for after all, age isn't always

determined by the chronological number.

When at last I stood at the front of the line I tried my hand at making a yarn doll. 

My companions waited patiently off to the side and knew it was pointless

to try to force me to miss this opportunity.

I followed instructions, but hurried as the children in line behind me were pressing

close with anticipation.  (yes, I was the only adult in line.)

It was a very simple process and quite easy.  Wrapping yarn around a piece of cardboard, cutting yarn and tying knots were all the skills you needed.

 

Below are my results.

What fun - and how easy- it was to create a doll from scraps of yarn!

So, I came home and investigated some simple instructions for you to follow so you can make your own dolls.  Imagine the different colors, color combinations, features and sizes you could make.  Whole families with a mom, dad and different size kids.  Could you even make a dog, cat or horse? 

There was no sense in "reinventing the wheel".  So for directions, follow the web site below

and before you know it you will be playing with your very own unique doll!

 

http://www.redheart.com/blog/make-your-own-yarn-doll-easy-enough-kids

These dolls are great for traveling or tucking in a purse/pocket.

Why not try your hand at this and send me a picture of your dolls?

Who Am I?

Do you have some old file folders?  Don't throw them away!

They can still provide some fun and entertainment for you kids.

· Who am I?    

Paste a large picture of an animal inside a used or new file folder.  Pictures can be found in magazines, calendars, computer, fronts of cereal boxes, or even old greeting cards.  Cut off enough of the front of the folder to just let the ears of the animal show.  Children guess what animal has those ears.  When they open the folder, they can see the whole animal.

 

Want to add some variety?  Using a utility knife on a cutting board (adults) cut tiny windows in the front of the file folder so kids can peek at the total picture.  Can they identify the animal by just looking at a tiny piece of the picture?  Does the picture look the same in all the peek windows?  

 

File folder games are quick and easy to make, take up very little storage,

travel well and are a lot of fun! 

 

What variations of this activity can you create?

 

 

 

 

This blog post was inspired by the book: 

Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes :
Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa available from Amazon.com both in paperback and Kindle editions.

180,full color, pages of non-stop fun!

 

 

Hearts, Hearts, Hearts... Valentines Activities

With Valentine's Day approaching there are so many activities you can create!

 

Keep in mind that all of the ideas below can be done with other shapes as well,

such as eggs, stars, circles, etc.

 

 

1.  Puzzle - Do you have two Valentine's Day cards left over?  Why not create a puzzle?  Glue or tape one card onto the front of an envelope.  Cut the second card into pieces (less pieces for a younger child, more pieces for an older child).  Store cut pieces inside the envelope and remember to write on the envelope back how many pieces are in your puzzle. 

 

 2.  Draw a thick dark line shape of your puzzle outline with a marker or crayon onto a plain piece of paper.  Card stock or cardboard works best.   Cut apart your shape and store the pieces in an envelope or plastic bag.  Make sure you write down how many pieces are in your puzzle somewhere on the outline piece .  Remember, younger children need less pieces and older children enjoy more pieces.

3.  Cut out any number of heart shapes.  Cut those shapes in half with different patterns.  Put together the broken hearts.(This is great for egg shapes too.)  Stickers and/or a kiss can be added to the different sides of the hearts to assist in putting the puzzles together.  Find an appealing container to hold your broken hearts.  Empty candy boxes make great storage containers for heart games!

 

 4.  Using wall paper samples, construction paper, wrapping paper or fabric, cut out two of each pattern or design.  Cookie cutters are great help to draw your shape. 

This can be a lotto game where every shape is upside down and the players take turns trying to find pairs. 

Younger children are challenged with just finding the two that match. 

To pair children into partners:    Randomly pass out hearts and ask children to find the person who has the heart that matches theirs.  Or, take one set and hide them in the room.  Pass the other set out to the children and have them go on a scavenger hunt to find their match.

Have Fun! 

This blog post was inspired by the book:
Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes :
Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa available from Amazon.com

180,full color, pages of non-stop fun!

Things I LOVE About You Gift

 

I love Pinterest!  It has such wonderful ideas. 

Below is an idea for a very special gift.  It is meant for your boyfriend/girlfriend or husban/wife.

But, it would be a wonderful gift to give each of your children, grandchildren, parents, special friend or anyone else that is special in your life.

 

What a treasured gift this would be.  To think someone took the time to create something so special!

This gift is personal, thoughtful, inexpensive and easy to do.  A little time consuming, but much more appreciated than most gifts you could purchase!

 

Do you have a deck of cards lying around that have missing cards?  You do not have to complete an entire deck of 52 cards.  You could even split up a deck into suites (hearts, clubs, spades, diamonds) for four different people.  Personalize the front with their name and pictures of their favorite things.  Leave off the number and just entitle it "Things I Love About You". 

 

Have fun and be creative!

 



photo source:  http://visualheart.wordpress.com/2012/02/19/52-things-i-love-about-you/

 

 

I Love You!

A Picture (or kiss) Says a Thousand Words 

A tube of brightly colored lip stick and/or a bar of soap

can be the best tools to tell your  family how special they are! 

 

 

Recently, my husband was out of town on a business trip.  The days passed slowly and I realized, as only time alone can bring to light, how much he was missed.  On a trip by the bathroom sink I grabbed the bar of soap and wrote, "I Love You!" with a few xo's for emphasis across his vanity mirror.  (don't worry, on cleaning day this washes right off!) 

 

Upon my husband's return, my husband's face lit up at the sight of his unusual welcome home card.  In the past I have left "kisses" for him on the mirror, on slips of paper in his shoes, pockets, coffee cup, etc. Expressed love is a vital part of relationships.

 

Our children are no exception.  You know you love them, but it is very important to show and tell them, reassuring them of your unconditional love.

 

My boys received kisses and messages on their bathroom mirror until they grew up and moved out into their own homes.  "have a good day", "good luck on your test", "I love you", "you're the best", "congratulations" etc. could frequently be found on their mirror.  Sure, I got eye-rolls and sometimes embarrassed looks. But, it never failed to see their body posture straighten just a little, their eyes sparkle and if I watched closely, a smile as they walked away.  It was well worth the effort, especially when they passed the age when hugs and kisses from mom were not "cool".

 

 

When the boys were young and we had to leave them for the evening, I always left a good night "kiss" for them.  I cut out a heart from sturdy paper.  On one side I wrote, "Here is a good night kiss from Mommy.  Love you tons and tons!"  Then I kissed the paper with lipstick covered lips.  On the other side I glued a picture of  my husband and myself.  I laminated the heart with clear contact paper to provide protection and durability so it could be "loved on" as much as needed during the nighttime routine.  The boys seemed to find comfort in finding their heart and kiss from mommy laying on their pillow on the nights a babysitter tucked them in for the evening.

 

 

Don't let a day go by without telling the people you love how much they mean to you. 

 Don't take any day for granted.  You never know when it will be our last one.

 

Children need lots of love, expressed, implied and shown to provide them with the feeling of love, security and belonging.  These are things needed for self actualization

and reaching their full potential. And, what a simple, enjoyable thing to give!

 

This blog post was inspired by the book: 
Miraculous, Magical Moments in Minutes :
Over 500 Quick, Easy Activities for Adults and Children to Share

by Becky B. Baxa available from Amazon.com

180,full color, pages of non-stop fun!