DIY Craft: Lightsabers from Pool Noodles

You don't have to search Pintrest very long to find these little jewels... and I'm not taking about those cute boys (don't they look fierce?)

Pool Noodle Light Sabers have become a staple in our house. With a quick trip to Wal-mart, you can have all the supplies you need to make 4 light sabers for under $10.

What you will need:

2 pool noodles

Gray Duct Tape

Black Electrical Tape

Serrated Knife (I used our bread knife)

Scissors

What to do:
Start by  cutting each noodle in half with your serrated knife, just eyeball it, no need to be exact. Use Gray Duct tape to cover one end of the noodle. Then generously wrap the tape up the noodle about 7 inches.  Finish the wrap with an even edge. Decorate your light saber by adding borders, buttons, and switches using black electrical tape.  Ta- Da... that's it your done! Release the Jedi's!

Fun, Soft, and Perfectly Safe! 

OH YEAH!! 

MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU!

Snowman Hand print Ornament

I love simple crafts and little hands!  Which is probably why I love this Christmas Craft so much!!

1. Gather your supplies!

• medium-large shatterproof ball ornaments 1/child, green, blue, or red work best.
• white craft paint, make sure it's washable
• black, orange, and silver fine tip permanent marker
• coordinating ribbon
• paper plate
• 1 inch paintbrush

2. Tie one ribbon through each ornament  to use as a hanger on the tree.
3.  Pour an ample amount of paint onto the paper plate. This makes for easy cleanup!
4. One at a time, ask children to hold the palm of their hands open wide and brush with an generous amount of white paint.
5. Place a single ornament in child's hand and have them grab the ornament and release...
6. Have child wash hands while you write a name and year on the ornament opposite the hand print.

7 Hang by ribbon to dry or place paint side up in the package to dry.
8. Repeat with each child until all hand prints have been made.
9. Once ornaments are dry, instruct children to draw faces, arms, scarves, or hats on each finger making them into snowmen.  You may want to do this part for the smaller children.

10. Hang on Christmas tree and enjoy for years to come!

This makes a great class project, party craft,  or homemade gift for grandparents!  Have fun!!

Kid's Crafts: Glass Pumpkins!

I can't believe it is already October!!!   I thought this would be a great way to kick off the month! I saw this idea at a girlfriends house last week and couldn't wait to get home and try my hand at crafting. Great craft for kids of all ages!  FYI: I'm not much of a crafter, but these were really easy and the whole family had fun! 

Supplies:
Glass Jars of any shape and size you choose
Orange tissue paper cut into 1 inch squares
Paint brushes 1/2 to 1 inch wide
Washable School Glue
Complimentary Ribbon or Raffia
Black Marker
 Tea Lights (we used LED)

1. On a clean jar, use your paint brush to spread school glue over portions of the jar about a 3"x3" area.
2. Press single squares of tissue paper onto the glue, slightly overlapping conjoining squares.
3. Repeat until the entire jar has been covered.
4. Use your paint brush to put a thin layer of school glue on all tissue paper, paying special attention to any loose corners or edges.
5. Allow jars to dry for about 4 hours
6. Use a black marker to draw your jack-o-lantern face and tie a ribbion around the neck of the jar.
7. Place a tea light inside, and *VIOLA*  you have a cute craft for all to enjoy!

Bonus:  After Halloween simply spin the jars around and you have a gorgeous glowing pumpkin for the rest of the fall season! Have Fun!

Host your own Creative Kids week Party!!! Great ideas and tips here!!

Last Minute , Budget Friendly, Halloween Costumes

Well, as I have mentioned before I am all about simplicity...especially when it comes to Halloween costumes! I love love love to make costumes every year and until this year we have succeeded with that. I know with fall comes busier schedules and not a lot of time. Here are a few costumes you can throw together in about the same amount of time as going to buy those super expensive costumes at the store, but these are budget friendly, so simple, and so cute!!

Puppy Dogs  To be a puppy dog, I took solid shirts and glued patches of fuzzy fabric all over, For the ears, I stitched two "beagle" ears out of the same fabric onto a solid toboggan (the boys still wear these all the time), the Collar is just a ribbon tied around his neck.  An eyeliner eye patch, nose, and whiskers... and you have a cute and cuddly costume, that your kid will actually wear. This can also be done on a sweatshirt or hoodie if you live in a cooler climate.

Pirates: To Make a Pirate costume. We stuck with the basics. We did purchase two eye patches and a few pirate hats for the boys, but they didn't last the night (waste of money). Some old pants, cut to look ragged at the bottom, and an old white shirt with the collar and bottom hem cut out and sleeves ragged. a few yards of red and white striped fabric, was more than enough for "do-rags", belts and a wrap for me. We made guns and knives from a box . What's a pirate without a weapon? Eyeliner beards and a few temporary tattoos.... AArrrgggg!!!

Baseball Theme: I am a fan of homemade costumes, this was probably one of the easiest and cutest costumes so far...  We were everything baseball. Pic your local ball team for easy finds on shirts and hats.
The Fan: completed with a team t-shirt, and red hair.
The Coach: Team shirt, whistle, and clipboard 
The Player: team shirt, ball cap, black eye, and glove 
The Ball: A white shirt, in this case a onesie, with laces drawn on with a red fabric marker.

Sorry for the sideways pic... but isn't this the cutest ball you have ever seen? Complete with bald head! So Kissable!!

This year the boys are using their super hero dress up clothes, but Michael and I will be
Super Mom: Made with a beauty sash, with iron on letters "Super Mom" a mask of fabric and eye holes to match. Be creative with your powers. I will be using an oven mitt as a shield, and a pair of tongs and whisk as my weapons of choice. I may stick a cleaning rag in my back pocket to clean up the messes too. And of course I will be wearing pearls. :) he he.
Super Dad: Super Dad will be sporting a super man shirt and a fabric mask with the word "Dad" on the side in Iron on letters. Complete the look with a utility belt of grilling tools, wipes, and band aids. 


 I do hope this has given you a few good ideas, or at least inspired you to keep it simple, make your costumes comfy and enjoy the time with family and friends.