Chore Dice!

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Paper
	Scissors
	Pen or pencil
	Glue
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. To make each cube, transfer the pattern shown here onto stiff paper or card stock (or you can print a template).

2. Next, write one household chore in each square. For extra fun, you can also label some of the squares "Free" (for a day off), "Choice" (to let players pick their own jobs), or "Trade" (to let the roller swap one task for a job belonging to another family member).

3. Cut out the shape and fold along the dotted lines. Dot the tabs with glue and form the paper into a cube, pressing together the tabs and faces to secure them in place. Let the glue dry. Repeat with more cubes for more tasks, if needed.

4. On your next chore day, take turns tossing the dice until all the jobs have been assigned.

Princess Belle's Crown

On the night the Beast planned to confess his love, Belle descended from the west wing wearing a gorgeous glittery gown. Taken by her beauty, the Beast grew timid, but Belle ushered him into the ballroom where the two swept across the floor arm-in-arm as Mrs. Potts and Chip looked on. Adorned with a delicate paper flower, this golden felt tiara is made to match this destined princess' flowing yellow dress.

You'll need:

* Belle's Crown templates
* Scissors
* Yellow stiff felt
* White glitter felt (the kind that's stiff)
* Hot glue gun
* 7 small, clear acrylic gems
* Paper flower (look for them in the scrapbooking aisle of the craft store) or cloth flower
* Cloth-covered headband

Instructions:

1. Print out the template and cut out the pieces. Use the smaller one as a pattern to cut out a crown shape from the yellow felt and the larger one to cut a crown shape from the white glitter felt.
2. Glue the yellow crown atop the white one, as shown.
3. Glue the acrylic gems to the crown, centering them in the upper points and the lower corners.
4. Now glue the lower edge of the crown to the headband, starting in the center and working your way out to the ends.
5. Finally, glue on the flower, centering it on the face of the crown.

Edible Bracelets

RECIPE INGREDIENTS:
	O-shaped cereal
	Cereal Straws (tube-shaped snacks from the cereal aisle)
	Red licorice lace

1. Be a trendsetter by threading O-shaped cereal and Cereal Straws onto a length of red licorice lace (we snapped the straws into 1-inch pieces). Then tie the lace around a wrist as a fashionable snack.

Walking-Tall Stilts

CRAFT MATERIALS:
	Hammer
	Nails
	Phillips screwdriver
	Several feet of 3/8-inch cotton rope
	Two large, matching tin cans, opened at one end only. (Coffee cans and 28-ounce fruit cans work well.)
Time needed: Under 1 Hour

1. Lay each can on its side on a hard work surface. Use a hammer to flatten any jagged edges along the inner rim. If you're using coffee cans, replace the plastic covers.

2. On the side of one of the cans, make a mark an inch from either end. Make a similar mark on the opposite side of the can. Do the same with the second can.

3. Use the hammer and the nail to punch holes through the cans where marked. With the screwdriver, widen the holes to about 1/2 inch. Again, use the hammer to tap down sharp edges.

4. Cut two pieces of rope that measure three times the length from your child's knee to the floor. Attach a rope to each can by threading the ends through the holes from the outside. Tie overhand knots in the rope ends. Then, pull the rope taut so the knots rest against the insides of the can.

Tips:
When using her stilts, your child should wear rubber-soled shoes to avoid slipping off. At first, she may need some help from you stepping up onto the tops of the cans and balancing there on the balls of her feet. Once she's comfortable, she can grip the ropes as she would two bucket handles, straighten her legs and start walking.

Pinecone Bird Feeder

What you'll need:

• Pine cone
• Paper plate
• Butter knife
• Smooth peanut butter
• Birdseed
• Ribbon or yarn
• Scissors

How to make it:

1. Cut a long length of yarn or ribbon to hang the bird feeder.
2. Tie the ribbon in a knot around the pine cone near the top (about 3 sections down).
3. Tie a knot in the end of the ribbon.
4. Use the knife to get a large clump of peanut butter on the paper plate.
5. Use the knife to spread peanut butter inside the pine cone and around the edges.
6. Sprinkle the birdseed over the pine cone.
7. Roll the pine cone in the birdseed that is on the plate.
8. Hang the bird feeder on the tree.
9. Enjoy watching the birds eat their treat!

Recipe Dish Towels

"Recipe" dish towel best for ages 6 and up

Ask your kids what food Grammy or Papa makes that they like best and you'll probably get an answer pretty quickly. Ask them how they think it's made, though, and things get a little more interesting: Those magic cooking sprinkles and fairy wings may prove hard to find ...

With your child, pick a favorite dish that a favorite relative makes.

Have your child use the crayons to draw a picture of the food, covering as much of the paper as possible but leaving room for the recipe. Then she can write (or you can write for a younger child) her version of the recipe, including ingredients and directions. You can ask her to sign and date it too. (No corrections from Mom or Dad, please — if she thinks that dumplings are made from cotton balls, go with it.)

Take the paper to a copy shop (call ahead to make sure they do iron-ons) and have an iron-on transfer made at 50 percent of the size (about $10).

If the copy shop has a heat press, you can have them iron on the transfer there (about $18). Or an adult can iron it on at home.

Love Bug Pin

What you'll need:

• Plastic spoon
• Plaster of paris
• Small wiggle eyes
• Paint (assorted colors)
• Pin back
• Clear acrylic spray or glaze
• White craft glue
• Newspaper
  

How to make it:

1. You will need one plastic spoon and pin back per pin.
2. Lay out the plastic spoons on the newspaper.
3. Mix the plaster of paris in a small bowl per instructions on the container. (See image.)
4. Place the plaster into the well of the spoons and level with a butter knife. (See image.) Let them stand for a minute or two, then gently press/place pin back (or magnet) into the plaster. Let dry completely (a minimum of 30 minutes, longer is better). (See image.)
5. Pop plaster out of spoons by pressing the outer edges of the spoon. With butter knife, smooth the edges of the form. Place on to the newspaper.
6. Paint bugs however you like and let dry.
7. Glue wiggle eyes on to your bug, let dry.
8. Spray with acrylic sealer or glaze.
   

Tips:

• Allow smaller children to paint with cotton swabs while older children use paintbrushes.
• Pin to a silk flower to give as a gift.
• Plaster of paris is available at your local craft supply store and makes a LOT of projects!

Valentine's Day Candy Pots

What you'll need:

• Terra cotta clay pots in various sizes
• acrylic paints: pinks, reds, purples, white
• Valentine stickers
• paint brushes, one small and one medium
• new pencil
• household sponge
• acrylic sealer spray, matte finish
• lace (optional)
• raffia and/or ribbon (optional)

How to make it:

1. Paint clay pot in desired color and let dry. Apply a second coat, and if needed (especially with lighter colors), a third coat as well, allowing sufficient drying time in between coats. Paint inside and outside of pot.
2. Once painted, it’s time to decorate! Here are some ideas to make your pot look great.
3. To give your pot a polka dot design, use the eraser of a new pencil and dip into desired paint color. Dab once to remove excess and dot onto pot. Each polka dot will need a new application of paint. For smaller dots, use the end of a paintbrush applying with the same method.
4. A household sponge can be used to add a contrasting color. Wet the sponge and squeeze out all excess water. Dab into paint then dab off excess onto a piece of paper towel. Use a dabbing motion to sponge on a light coat of contrasting color.
5. Stripes can be applied by simply loading a small paintbrush with paint and painting downward. Stripes do not need to be perfect, so don’t fret if you “go outside the lines” so to speak.
6. Stickers can be used to decorate your pots. Stick over dry paint and press firmly to be sure they adhere.
7. You can tie ribbon or raffia into a bow and glue to the front of your pot, or tie around the rim. Hot glue will work better than white glue for adhering ribbon or raffia to the front of the pot.
8. Lace can also be used to accent your pot. Glue lace around the rim for a fancy finish.
9. Once decorated, apply a coat or two of acrylic sealer and allow to dry overnight.
10. Fill with various candy and enjoy your creations!

Tips:

Keep them busy during paint-drying time. Terra cotta pots require several coats of paint to cover, especially with light colors. Plan this project so that children can do other things while they are waiting for the different coats to dry. For classroom projects, plan this over several classes, or paint the pots with two coats of white ahead of time, then when children paint the pots with colors only one, or possibly two, coats will be needed.

Handprints

I read these two quotes, and it gave me something to think about:

"It happens before you know it. The handprints get higher and higher and then they disappear"

"Sometimes you get discouraged
Because I am so small
And always leave my fingerprints
On furniture and walls

But every day I'm growing
I'll be grown some day
And all those tiny handprints
Will surely fade away

So here's a little handprint
Just so you can recall
Exactly how my fingers looked
When I was very small"

How To Keep a Handprint

• 2 cups of flour
• 1 cup salt
• 1 cup water
• Food coloring
• Ribbon
• Gold marker
• Wax paper

What to do:

1. Add food coloring to the water. I use pink for girls, blue for boys.
2. Mix all ingredients well, kneading until smooth. Dough should be pretty stiff, not soft or runny or it will fill with air bubbles when baking.
3. Form dough into a ball, of about what you can enclose in your two hands, and form into a round smooth ball.
4. Using a rolling pin with the dough on wax paper, roll out into
   as round of a circle as you can. Dough will be about 1/2 inch thick.
5. Press your child's hand with fingers splayed into the dough.
   Depending on child's age, you will have to help and individually press their fingers. Make sure to press deep enough without going completely to the bottom. (When it bakes it tends to raise the handprint up.)
6. Put on a cookie sheet.
7. Use a chop stick or pencil, etc. to make two holes in the top about 1/2 inch apart. This will be used to string the ribbon through.
8. Bake at 200 degrees for about 2-3 hours. Dough should be
   fairly hard but watch to see that it doesn't burn.
9. When they are done and cooled, use a gold marker pen and write the child's name and date (year). I put the child's name on top and the year on bottom, if there is room. If not, I put name on one side and year on one side. I tie a ribbon at the top (blue or pink - or gold) to use as a loop to hang.

Mother's day is coming up. One idea is to make this for Grandma's.
Here is a poem for Grandma's

I miss you when we're not together
I'm growing up so fast
See how big I've gotten
Since you saw me last?
As I grow, I'll change a lot,
The years will fly right by.
You'll wonder how I grew so quick
When and where and why?
So look upon this handprint (these handprints)
That's hanging on your wall.
And memories will come back of me,
When I was very small.

Fun TIps

I have found that I don't always have all the items that I need to entertain my little one. So I have started a Fun Box. When I find random Pom-poms, or scraps of fabric, I toss it into the box. I also Keep things like Paper towel rolls, or Toilet paper rolls, (Great fun with these!!) Any thing I think I can use. And when I find a good activity, I put it in a notebook. So when I have to have something to do, I just open my book, and EVERYTHING I need is right there!

Good Luck!

Pipe Cleaner Creations

TO MAKE PEOPLE

What you Need:

	4 yellow pipe cleaners
	Googly eyes
	Pencil
	Fingernail clippers
	Glue

How To:

1. Make a V with a pipe cleaner and twist a small loop at the top.





2. Twist together the two ends a few times to make the torso.






3. Coil another pipe cleaner around a pencil.






4. Slide the coil onto the torso.






5. Clip a pipe cleaner in half and slide one half through the loop.






6. Bundle a pipe cleaner around a pencil and stick it on the loop to make a head.





7. Make loops at the ends of the arms and legs for hands and feet.






8. Glue on googly eyes and pipe cleaner accessories: hair (a C-shaped snippet of brown), a necktie (looped from red) and briefcase (a length of brown bent back and forth).

TO MAKE DUCKS

What you Need:

	4 white pipe cleaners
	1 orange pipe cleaner
	Googly eyes or markers
	Pencil
	Fingernail clippers
	Glue

What to Do:

1. Connect two white pipe cleaners end to end.





2. Bundle the double pipe cleaner around a pencil to make the body. Bundle another white pipe cleaner to make a head.




3. Bend the orange pipe cleaner in half. Thread the folded end into the head and out through the bundle.





4. Thread the body onto the orange pipe cleaner.






5. Bend the ends of the orange pipe cleaner into V-shaped feet. For wings, clip and bend two 3-inch sections of white pipe cleaner.






6. Insert the wings into the body with a dab of glue (if you want) for extra strength. Glue on googly eyes or draw them with a marker.

Need More Ideas?

Go to: http://familyfun.go.com/arts-and-crafts/
In the search box type in Pipe Cleaners
And it will show you how to make TONS of other people, animals, dinos, and Monkeys!!!

(If you have questions on the wording above, or how to do your Pipe Cleaner creations, CLICK HERE There is a wonderful How to Video)

Have Fun!!!

How Deep is the Snow?

I thought this was fun and really cute!

Go to your local Hardware store and pick up some paint stirring sticks.
Have your child paint it
Mark on it inches, so they can see how deep the snow is

If you want you can have them paint the body white, and then using Pom-poms and that foam craft stuff, you can make a snowman on the top. Or any other character you may want!

Home-Made Popsicles

I love cooking with kids! These are fun! And everyone loves a Popsicle! (maybe not this time of year... But they are still fun!)

Creamy Orange Dream
Makes 6 to 8 pops

• 1 cup plain yogurt
• 1 (12-ounce) can partly thawed orange juice concentrate
• 2 teaspoons vanilla

Stir together all ingredients in a large bowl, then pour into molds and freeze.

Watermelon Ice
Makes 4 to 5 pops

• You can use a food processor or blender — or just give the kids a spoon and a potato masher; it'll be a little lumpier, but still good.
• 2 1/2 cups cubed seedless watermelon
• 1/4 cup sugar

Blend watermelon and sugar until chunky-smooth, then pour into molds and freeze

Blueberry Ice
Makes 6 to 8 pops
Okay, it takes some time at the stove, but the intense flavor is worth it.

• 2 cups (1 pint) fresh blueberries
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice

Stir first 3 ingredients in a pan over medium-high heat until sugar dissolves. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, until berries have burst, about 5 minutes. Mix in lemon juice. Cool to room temperature, then pour into molds and freeze.

Shopping Made Fun!

It can be very hard to go grocery shopping with your little ones. Here is an idea that I thought was brilliant! Help your child make a shopping list! I get in the mail, about 4 different Grocery store ads every week. Just save these, and on Shopping Day, help your little one cut out items that you need, and will be purchasing, and glue or tape to a piece of paper. When you get to the store, make sure your little on has a crayon to mark off their items. And help them search for the items. Give them the opportunity to pick it up off the shelf and put it in the cart!

Plus when your little one asks for some cookies, you can say, "Is it on your list? We only get what we need and have on our lists!" This may reduce the begging for more treats!