Simple, Inexpensive Teacher Gifts

These cute highlighters and tags were the gifts I made for my boys to give their teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week this year.

They were inexpensive, simple, and FAST!  You can check out my full post on them, plus get the free printable tag on my other blog, Domestic Daybook.

Wolf Scout Achievement 5 - A Simple Woodworking Project

Just popping in to share what I did with my Wolf Cub Scouts to pass off Achievement 5.  I wanted something that was really simple for them to construct and ran across this awesome little ruler basket on Pinterest.  I would link directly to her blog and instructions, but it looks like she has made the blog private, so I will try to explain what we did.

We purchased yardsticks from Lowe's (this was more cost effective than purchasing rulers) and cut them into thirds.  Then we took 1x4's and cut 1 - 12 inch piece and 2 - 6 inch pieces for each basket. The basket construction is pretty self explanatory by looking at the pictures, just make sure you nail the 6 inch 1x4's on top of the 12 incher, rather than to the sides.

We cut the yardsticks and the 1x4's into the sizes we needed, and drilled pilot holes for the nails prior to our meeting. It is a good thing we did, since our meeting went a couple of minutes long with the boys trying to finish up their projects. Don't try to save a step by skipping the drilling of pilot holes for the nails.  I don't think the boys would have finished if those pilot holes had not been drilled for them. This was a simple project, but these are eight-year-old boys, so it about maxed out their skill level, even with a lot of help from two adults.

This was a great, simple woodworking project for cub scouts or for any kids in that age range.  And my son is super happy to have a basket that he made himself, where he can store his favorite book series.

Summer Doings

I know, I know, it has been forever since I posted on this little blog of mine, but that does not mean that my boys and I have not been busy.  It is quite the opposite actually.  This summer has been a lot busier and gone a lot faster than I had anticipated.  I planned to share a lot of the things we did on my summer fun list, but, most times I chose to be present for the activities, rather than trying to get the perfect shot, so I didn't do so well with posting this summer.  I did snap a few pictures of some of the activities we completed this summer and I thought I would share them here, along with my take on them.

We tried these fizzy explosion bags.  I don't think the size of zipper bag was specified on the instructions, so I put everything in a gallon sized bag.  We got to watch the bag inflate, but there was never enough pressure created to make the bag pop as promised, and the boys were pretty disappointed.  I then tried the same thing in a sandwich bag, which popped almost the second I got it on the ground, which was also disappointing, since there was no anticipation.  So, I think you probably need a quart sized bag for this activity, or adjust your amounts of baking soda and vinegar according to the size bag you are using.

We made firecracker sugar cookies for the Fourth of July.  I didn't make the blue sugar as instructed in the tutorial, but used the blue pop rocks in stead.  They were cute, but a little too pastel to look very patriotic.  The pop rocks did pop in your mouth when you ate the cookies, but with a lot less force than when the pop rocks are eaten alone.  The pop rocks need to be put on the cookies right before serving, because they do start to dissolve.  If you have any leftover, the pop rocks will be completely dissolved by the next day.  Overall, we had fun with these and would make them again.

Sharpie plate/cup art.  The boys had a ball decorating up their cups with Sharpies.  I then baked them as instructed at 300 for 30 minutes.  The boys used them that day and then I decided I would wash them by hand, rather than in the dishwasher - just in case the art wasn't as permanent as promised.  As soon as I started washing them, the artwork started coming off.  I quickly placed them back in the oven at 375 for about 45 more minutes and that seems to have set the artwork better.  I have washed them in the dishwasher since then and noticed that the artwork is fading a little.  However, for $1 apiece and some sharpie ink, I think it was a totally worthwhile activity and the boys loved, loved, loved it!!

We had a picnic one day and I let the boys have chips in the little individual packages - which is a real rarity around here.  We saved the empty bags and then made chip bag shrinkies out of them the next day.  I was worried about the toxic fumes that were sure to be coming from my oven, so we did this activity first thing in the morning when I could have the doors and windows open.  Surprisingly, I didn't notice any noxious smells, and the bags shrunk up just as promised.  The boys thought this was pretty cool, but weren't overly excited about keeping their shrinkies after they were done.  I think this was an activity worth doing once and discussing the science behind it, but I am not sure we would repeat it.

So, there you have it.  A few fun summer activities and my advice if you try them yourself.

A Couple of our Favorite Travel Tips

Wow!  It has been awhile since I posted.  It has been crazy and fun since the boys have been out of school, which leaves little time for posting.  Sooooo, today I decided to share a couple quick travel tips that are so handy when travelling with kids.  These are not my ideas, but they are ones that I have tried and liked.

First, I found this great idea for packing clothes in Ziploc bags a couple of years ago.  Basically you put one outfit in each bag and it helps keep things in order and also protects clean clothes from dirty clothes, if you have to throw them all back in the suitcase and change locations. 

I have also used this method for my boys while they have stayed with cousins or grandparents.  I labeled the bags with the day they were to wear them.  That way, I knew that the boys would end up wearing the proper clothes to school and the play clothes on Saturday.

I have loved this method.  When we unpack after we return home, we keep the Ziploc bags inside the luggage to be used on the next trip.

Second, I found this idea for travel snack boxes on Pinterest last summer.  I was a little skeptical at first.  I was sure my kids would totally overindulge, eat all their snacks right away, and be sick.  Luckily, they did great and made those snacks last for the entire trip (both going and coming, over 8 hours each way)

I cut little vinyl labels for each of their snack boxes.  The boys love them and it helps them actually look forward to that long car trip each summer.

Teacher Gifts

Yesterday, I realized that today was the last day of preschool.  I had to come up with a couple of teacher gifts and fast.  Luckily I had picked up a few things from Pick Your Plum a couple of months ago and I was able to make up some cute little post-it note gifts with minimal effort.  The little post-it notebooks just needed to be dressed up with a little washi tape and then I tied on those cute matching pens and a tag with some jute twine.  While I was at it, I made the teacher gifts for my older boys teachers as well.  It is so nice to have them done and I think they are pretty cute!! 

 

**As an added plus - my husband, the principal and former teacher - approves of these useful little teacher gifts.

 

 

Easter Egg Caterpillar

Have you seen these cute little caterpillars made from plastic easter eggs?  Maybe I have been living under a rock, but I had never seen this idea before until my son brought this home today from preschool.  I think it is such a cute idea and a super simple craft for preschoolers.

All they did was thread two pipe cleaners through the holes at the end of the easter eggs.  They stacked most of them together like cups, rather than putting them together to form the eggs, then the last half egg, they flipped around and made the caterpillars face.

They twisted the back end of the pipe cleaner together for a sort of tail and then twisted the front ones together to form antennae. They then glued on some googly eyes and added a marker smile.  So cute and super easy!

Shrinky Dink Soccer Ball Backpack Pulls

 

After school today, my two oldest boys and I made some shrinky dink soccer ball backpack pulls.  They both play soccer (my oldest, eats, drinks, sleeps, and breathes it), and I thought this would be a fun way to dress up their backpacks a little. 

I took the super easy way out and found an image of a soccer ball, printed it onto shrinky dink plastic on my computer, and then my boys cut them out and punched the hole for the hardware.

We put them on a waxed paper lined baking sheet and let them bake for about 3 minutes.  Oh how fun it is to watch those little things finally start to shrink up.    When they came out of the oven, I flattened them completely with a book and then let them cool. 

 

 

 

We then added the hardware and put them on the backpack zipper of their choice. 

The boys can't wait to go to school tomorrow to show off their new soccer ball backpack pull bling.

Linking up with:
A Crafty Soiree
Seven Thirty Three
The Crafty Blogstalker
Somewhat Simple

Button Spinner Toy

We have made these fun little button spinners many times at our house and the boys enjoy them.  They can be a little frustrating for little ones that have a hard time getting the rhythm down to get the buttons to spin, so I would recommend making these with your bigger kids. 

When my husband was a teacher, he used to make them with his fifth grade class and even some of the students in there had a hard time getting their buttons to spin at first, but eventually they all got it and had a lot of fun with them.

This is a good basic video on how to make and spin the button spinners.

Linking up with

Seven Thirty Three
Thirty Handmade Days

Clothespin Caterpillars

My little boys and I made these cute clothespin caterpillars yesterday while the big boys were at school.  It was an easy, fun and inexpensive craft project for preschoolers. 

I found the idea at Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom.  Be sure to check out her post on them.  Her caterpillars are soooo cute!!

Olliblocks

 

 

Last fall I saw these cute mix-and-match blocks on pinterest, and determined that when I had the time, I would download the images and make a set for my boys. Well, my sister-in-law must have read my mind, because she made a set for my boys for Christmas. 

 

 

My three youngest have played with them and they all have a bit of a different approach.  My five year old wants to find the perfect match, my three year old wants to see what kind of crazy combinations he can come up with, and my baby just wants to build a tower as tall as he can and then laugh his head off when it falls or he knocks it over.

My overall take on these blocks is that they are cute and fun and they keep my kids entertained for around 15 or 20 minutes per sitting.  I think it is a better solitary activity, since my boys tend to start fighting over the blocks if they are all trying to play with them at once.  I am really glad that these were gifted to us, since the kids do enjoy them, but I am glad that I did not have to put the time and money into them myself, since they aren't quite as big of a hit as I thought they would be.  The set is small enough that they store easily and are worth keeping around for an occassional boredom buster.

Wood Block Memory Matching Game

Awhile ago, I found this cute idea on Pinterest.  It is blogged about at here at Tidbits.  I made a small set of  20 blocks (10 matches).  My blocks measured about 2" x 2" x 1/2", and I covered them with scraps of scrapbook paper I had on  hand.  In her blog post, Cami does not use mod podge on her blocks, but I did, and I loved the way they turned out.

More importantly, my boys loved playing with this set.  Unfortunately, it had to move on to another home, but I might just have to make another set for them.

These blocks take quite a bit of work, but as long as your kids are not going to be chewing on them, they are really sturdy and built to last, and most importantly they are really fun for the kids.  I recommend them.

Glow Stick Lantern

My boys discovered I had picked up some glow sticks on my latest trip to Target.  They simply had to make one of these lanterns ASAP.  It is amazing what joy a couple of glow sticks, some glitter, and a jar can produce.

**  In case you are wondering, we used two glow stick bracelets.  Cut open both ends and shake carefully into the jar, then add some glitter, put on the lid and give the jar a good shake.  Then turn off the lights and enjoy your glowing, sparkling lantern.

Birdseed Ornaments

Is Winter still in full swing where you live?  It certainly is here and we can't wait for warmer weather, but until then, why not add a little fun to your barren trees with some birdseed ornaments.  My boys and I had a fun time making these and then hanging them on the trees (in the bitter cold) the next day. 

The recipe we used is the following:

Birdseed Ornaments

3/4 cup flour     
1/2 cup water
1 envelope unflavored gelatin
3 tbsp. corn syrup
4 cups birdseed
molds (muffin tin, cookie cutters, etc.)
nonstick spray
drinking straw
waxed paper
ribbon/twine

Method: 
Combine the flour, water, gelatin, and corn syrup in  large bowl, then add the birdseed and mix until well coated.  Spray the molds with nonstick spray and lay them on a waxed paper lined cookie sheet.  Fill the molds  with the birdseed.  Pack it down and level it out as best you can.  Poke a hole in each ornament with a drinking straw.  Allow to dry for 2 to 3 hours.  Carefully unmold the ornaments and lay them down, upside down, on a fresh piece of waxed paper.  Allow to dry overnight.  The next day, thread your ribbon, twine, or string through the hole and tie it off. Then enjoy hanging them on your trees outside and watching the little birds that visit.