CTR Boy!

As I was looking for some books for our trip to Reno, Carson found this book about a CTR Boy (didn't see one about CTR Girl, but your kids don't have to know that!). Anyways, the book starts with a little boy who did something wrong that his mom had told him many times not to do, so she has an idea to make him a CTR cape and tag to help him remember to Choose the Right and it goes through how it changed his choices during the day. Then at the end she tells him he can be CTR boy even without the cape:). Cute book, easy craft.

Supplies:

Blanket or towel to make a cape (I already had some capes I made for Carson's b-day)

Scissors

Paper

Crayon

Tape

Just write the letters, cut out, and tape onto the cape! Quick and fun! (and by-the-way, Carson thinks he's smiling like the boy in that first picture, thus the silly grin on his face!)

Coffee Table Books . . . Starring Your Kids' Artwork!

I get a daily newsletter from Disney.com with ideas for things to do and I thought this one was brilliant . . .

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"Mom, look at the flowers I made you," Trevor exclaimed, proudly showing off his latest art project, a vivid drawing of red and yellow tulips. "Can I hang it up on the refrigerator?" he asked.

The picture was lovely, and certainly worth displaying -- but it also was his third artistic creation in less than an hour. My two daughters also were budding artists with a high production rate, and I was quickly running out of refrigerator and wall space to hang their personal Picassos.

Throwing them away simply was not an option. I can still hear the screams from the last time Ally found her drawing in the garbage can.

"How could you throw this aaaawaaaay? I made it for you!" she cried, making me feel like a terrible mother.

To better preserve and display my children's artistic expressions, I made a personalized coffee table art book. First, we chose 40 or so of their best pictures and preserved them by applying a thin layer of Mod Podge, a special craft glue. While the pictures dried, we gave each page a title. I had the kids make a book cover, using sturdy cardboard stock from the scrapbook store, and took turns gluing sequins and jewels to decorate it. Once done, we dated the inside cover page and I had each child sign their name.

When finished, I took all the preserved artwork and covers to a copy shop and had the book bound with a coil binding. The final product looks professional, gives guests a chance to see lots of work while sitting on the sofa, and is easy to store when it's time to make another one.

And it's nice to be able to see the grocery list hanging on the fridge again...