DIY Life

Clay spoon rests make unique gifts

Debra McDuffee — 2008-05-09T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: in the kitchen, kids, crafts, gifts, clay

In this age of doing-it-yourself, handmade gifts are becoming more and more popular. The trouble with that is making sure your gifts are original and unique.

Making a spoon rest out of clay can be as one-of-a-kind as you want it to be, or you can make it simple and use a cookie cutter so your kids can help with the project. The article suggests making a heart spoon rest, but you could make anything you wanted to -- freehand, or use a cookie cutter or stencil of your choice.

You'll need air-drying clay, acrylic paint, both in colors and clear, and any tools you will want to use to work the clay. Suggestions about how to make hole to hang the spoon rest and how to make it rest on a flat surface easily are included in the instructions. You can paint it when it is dry and even put felt on the bottom for a nice base.

If your kids -- or you! -- know your way around a can of Play Doh, you can easily make a clay spoon rest as a keepsake gift for any occasion.

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Four romantic ways to spoil her this Mother's Day

Francesca Clarke — 2008-05-09T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: food, kids, miscellaneous, music, scrapbooking, gifts

Attention, husbands: If you're just planning Mother's Day now, I won't scold you, but I will save you from the wrath you're about to experience if you don't get things together quickly.

Before you move on to showing her your personal appreciation, you'll want to make sure you've arranged something special from your children. If you're in a hurry, here are some quick and easy Mother's Day projects. You can also help them make this precious card, telling Mom just how much they love her.

Some suggest giving Mom a day without the kids, but personally that isn't what I would want. Mother's Day should be celebrated as a family, but once they've served her breakfast in bed, and spent the day honoring her in clever ways, the two of you can tuck in those sweet little ones and get on with some romantic appreciation.

If you're looking for a way to spoil her, follow me through the break, and we'll discuss how you can shower her with appreciation for little or no cost, and with little preparation (yes, you can pull all of these off before Sunday!).

So here we are: it's Friday, and you're scrambling to find the perfect way to show your wife how much you appreciate her as a mother. Have a look through these ideas and find your own inspiration.

Make her a mix tape

Ok, the modern-day mix tape looks more like a CD, or a playlist, but the idea is the same, and it's timelessly romantic. Include her current favorites, something from the days before she had kids, any special songs the two of you share, and a few new tunes that make you think about her. Curl up with a glass of wine and enjoy the music together, or take her hand and dance in the living room.

According to Esquire magazine, there is an art to making a mix. Here are a couple of their pointers to get you going in the right direction:

Don't end with your best song: you don't want to start with it either, but choose those significant songs and mix them throughout the tape.
Recognize your audience: this tape is for your wife, not for you, so keep her in mind with each song you choose.
Withhold the track listing: You can still make one, but don't give it to her right away. Let her uncover each carefully-chosen song as she listens to it.

Make a coupon book

We've suggested making a coupon book from the kids, but this is a great gift coming from you, too. Keeping in the spirit of Mother's Day, make coupons that offer to take some of the "mommy duties" off her hands. Depending on how you typically split the household duties, these tasks will vary. Here are some suggestions: This coupon is good for one...

early morning with the children while you sleep in
gourmet dinner
day of packing the family lunches
week of laundry
hour of private time while I take the children to the park

Make a memory journal

Buy a nice-looking journal, or decorate your own book cover, and make her a Motherhood memory journal. She'll use the book to record all the sweet things her children do, and to journal her reflections on motherhood. Start off the first few pages by adding in your own stories. Write down a few memories about the children, or moments when you appreciated her as a mother.

Alternatively, you could make a memory album, and add a little interest to the book by including some photos with your stories. If you really want to embellish the album pages, gather some scrapbooking supplies and set up the journal pages for her. You can even design scrapbook and journal paper in Photoshop with Anna's tutorial.

Plan a fireside picnic

A picnic by the lake with fine wine and gourmet cheese may have been replaced by granola bars and juice boxes in a crowded park, but you can bring back a little romance with a fireside picnic. Once the children are in bed, spread out a blanket in front of the fire, and enjoy some of your favorite treats together. Here are some great suggestions for romantic picnic foods.

Spend your time just visiting one another, and enjoying your alone time. If you want to bring in some added romance, read her some poetry. Share some of these poems and stories inspired by mothers. If you really want to impress her, write your own poem.

So, while you should be feeling a healthy bit of panic due to having left planning Mother's Day until this late date, you are not entirely out of options. Enjoy a family day together, talk to your kids about ways to celebrate Mom, then spoil her yourself at the end of the day. You notice things daily that remind you of what a wonderful mother she is: now take this opportunity to celebrate and thank her.

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Kiddie Crafts: I love you this much!

Francesca Clarke — 2008-05-07T17:00:00+00:00

Filed under: kids, crafts, scrapbooking, papercraft, gifts, Kiddie Crafts

There is nothing sweeter than a child, arms spread wide, exclaiming "I love you this much!" Sure, it's a little cliche, but it melts my heart every time. This week's Kiddie Craft captures that precious exclamation, their adorable hand-prints, and their complete admiration for Mom or Grandma.

So, skip the Mother's Day display in your local stationery store, and help your children make her a personal card. Here's what you need:

Construction paper
Scissors
Tape or glue
Pencil
A large sheet of paper
Pens, paints, stickers and other things to decorate the card

This simple Mother's Day card was easy to make, and my boys had a blast spreading their arms wide on the paper, and giggling as I traced their tiny hands. Follow me through the break for full instructions, and take a look through the gallery for your visual step-by-step.

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There is nothing complicated about this craft. Older children could probably manage it on their own, but the little ones will still need you to coordinate things like tracing, cutting, and writing the message. Here's how to make a big hug card of your own:

Roll out a big sheet of paper
You'll need enough paper for your child to spread their arms wide. I use MALA paper, from IKEA. It is on the brittle side, which can be a challenge, but it's only $7 for a huge roll and it's great for all sorts of projects. If you don't have a roll of paper kicking around, simply tape together a few sheets of regular paper.
Trace your child's arm and hand
If the card is from one child, trace both arms and hands, connecting them with a heart in the center. We made ours from my two little ones, so each side is one of their arms and hands.
Cut it out
If you traced two different children, it might look a bit funny with one long arm and one short arm, one skinny arm and one chubby arm, but hey, Mom loves us the way we are, so don't worry about it. Alternatively, you could cut a thick band of paper connecting the two ends, and just use authentic hand tracings.
Putting things together
Fold the construction paper in half to make a card. On the inside, center and glue down the heart. The arms will stretch way off the page.
Decorating time
Write "We / I love you this much!" and any other special message inside the heart or up the arms. On each hand-print, write your children's names. Older ones can write it themselves, but make sure you date it so that you remember those tiny hands. Let them decorate the outside of the card any way they like, personalizing it just for Mom or Grandma.

When you're done, fold the arms and hands inside the heart. When she opens the card it will look like a big hug, spreading the arms wide, revealing the children's timeless hand-prints and a thoughtful message: We love you this much!

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The art and science of making a rain stick

Debra McDuffee — 2008-05-06T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: backyard science, kids, toys, art, crafts, nature

Is all of this spring rain getting to you? If you have a three-year-old, you are probably outside in it everyday like I am, enjoying projects like making a rain gauge ruler and a rain book. But if your older, slightly more rational children prefer to stay indoors on torrential days, you might like making a rain stick with them.

What is a rain stick, you ask? It is simply a long tube filled with various noisemakers that make the tube sound like a rainstorm when tipped end over end. It has been used in different cultures -- invented in Chile -- to attempt to make the rains come.

This is an easy project that leaves the creativity window wide open, so every rain stick really comes out a unique expression of each creator. You'll need a mailing tube, some dried rice and peas, plastic drinking cups to cover the ends of the tube, aluminum foil and the odds and ends of art supplies, staplers, etc.

Artistically, your children can shine when they decorate the outside of the tube. Provide paints, markers, crayons and whatever else your child loves to use to express themselves artistically. You can even teach them some ancient and cultural symbols to use to decorate their rain sticks, like the ones here for rain, rain clouds, and rain showers.

When complete, it is the rice, peas and tiny bits of aluminum foil inside the tube that mimic the musical sound of rain falling. Part of you will wonder why you ever make another noise-making toy, but it will be the most soothing one in the house, by far. And you didn't have to go out in the rain; quite a coup!

It is not only a creative art project, but you can discuss the science of sound and culture with your kids using these thoughtful questions:

How do the beans, peas and rice work together to make the rain sounds?
How does it differ from real rain sounds?
How is it the same?
How does real rain make sounds?
Why does quiet rain sound different than heavy rain?
What makes the rain stick sound different at different speeds of motion?
Why do you think ancient people thought they could conjure rain with the rain stick?

Dick Blick has even aligned the learning that can be had from creating rain sticks with national education standards. Making connections between art and other disciplines and using symbols that communicate meaning in art are just two of the learning standards that can be fulfilled with the rain stick project (Teachers, are you reading this?). Heck, you could even choreograph a rain dance with your kids.

Art and science in the same day and you didn't even leave your house. The neighbor kids will be knocking down your doors, or at least their moms will!

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Turn a dollhouse into a fairy house

Bethany Sanders — 2008-05-05T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: kids, toys, crafts

Fairies or (faeries) are mythical creatures with wings and often, supernatural powers. Interestingly, though fairies are often thought to be tiny, innocent, and typically feminine, folklore has it that fairies were often known to be mischievous or even malicious.

Either way, modern fairies are often associated with nature and are pretty popular right now, both with children (think Tinkerbell) as well as older kids, teens, and adults. Chances are that if you don't already have a doll house hanging around your attic or playroom, you can get your hands on one at a garage sale or rummage sale for a few dollars or less.

Once you do, you can spend an afternoon converting that plastic plaything into a fairy fantasy land. All you need is some gray or brown spray paint, a hot glue gun, and then an assortment of natural materials of your choosing. It's bound to thrill the fairy fanatic in your life!

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Rain projects to help you love the wet springtime

Debra McDuffee — 2008-05-05T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: backyard science, kids, miscellaneous, seasonal, art, gardening and plants, nature

After this past week here in New England, I can't imagine talk of a drought. The creek that runs through our backyard is a raging river and I don't remember what the sun looks like.

Yet the rain inspires me to write about some fun rain projects you can do around your yard and with your kids to pass the time on rainy days.

Since we have gotten so much rain, I thought it would be fun to measure the amount of rainfall that has graced us. It is so easy to make a rain gauge ruler, from an old olive or peanut butter jar and this printable rain ruler. You can graph the daily rainfall with your kids -- or your science-minded husband! -- and make it something to look forward to on rainy days.

Maybe your little readers would like to create a rain book with you. Walks in the rain (and splashing in the puddles!) can make for focused observation time about what rain feels like and how the world looks different when it is raining. A little research and you've got fodder for a fun book that makes the whole family excited about rainy days.

Looking for some other rain projects? Try building your own rain barrel to collect rain water for plants or planting a native rain garden to catch runoff water and enhance your landscaping.

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Fish kites for Children's Day

M.E. Williams — 2008-05-05T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: kids, miscellaneous, seasonal, crafts

Back in March, I wrote about Hinamatsuri, a Japanese traditional festival celebrating the happiness and growth of young girls. Hinamatsuri is interesting, but it's not a national holiday in Japan: that distinction goes to Children's Day (Kodomo no hi), which was known as Boys' Day until the late 1940s, when it was expanded to include girls. And Children's Day is today!

The most visible symbol of Children's Day to most people is probably the koinobori, or fish kite (sometimes called a koi kite or carp kite). These are colorful windsocks shaped like a long koi. They are usually tied to a bamboo pole, where the wind catches them and makes them look like they're "swimming."

There are a few legends attached to why the koinobori are displayed, but most relate to the koi being energetic and courageous in the way it goes against the current, leaping out of the water when it swims. The koi becomes a metaphor for parents' hopes for their children, particularly their sons.

Today is a perfect day for family members to make simple paper or fabric fish kites of their own. After the break, we'll explore some of the history and motifs of this holiday, and check out a variety of related crafts: not just koinobori! We'll also talk about some non-traditional, totally American ways to celebrate the kids in your life.

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Customs and Traditions

Tango no Sekku?: The Los Angeles-area Venice Japanese Community Center presents a detailed article about Children's Day, explaining that in spite of the re-purposing of the holiday about 60 years ago, most families still celebrate it in the traditional way as Boys' Day. If you are interested in the story behind some of the holiday's other elements, like its traditional foods and the samurai warrior dolls associated with it, this is a great link to check out.
Children's Day Traditions: Stories for Children Magazine sheds more light on the topic of fish kites and how they are often displayed.
Japanese Boys' Day: Little Buddha Baby discusses some other ideas about the origins of koinobori: as a sort of ancient "scarecrow" for crop-devouring insects. You'll also find a recipe for pink mochi, a sticky baked rice treat.
Koinobori: Celebrating the Spirit of Boys' Day: The Japanese-American National Museum site talks about fish kites, how to display them, and the meaning behind the display. You can also purchase pre-made kites at this site.
Koinobori, Boys' Day, and Children's Day: Ginkoya shares some fish kite photos, including a few related to home decor that show the truly giant scale of some of the kites and offer some creative ideas for using them.

Crafts and activities

Children's Day, Japan at Activity Village: The best page I've found on the topic, with regard to the number and variety of projects on it (a few of the links below are also listed on this one).

There's a printable coloring sheet that can be cut and glued into a koinobori (the fastest fish kite project on this page), an origami version to make, printable bookmarks and stationery with koi on them, paper samurai helmet and sword projects, and links to numerous educational sites with tons of other downloadable projects and activities related to the topic, like coloring pages and puzzles.
Children's Day at the Teachers' Asian Studies Summer Institute: A complete educational unit based on the holiday and geared towards instructors. It features plenty of ideas for activities, and uses the occasion as a chance to launch a deeper exploration of Japanese culture. This one may be particularly helpful to homeschooling families.
Fishy Business carp kite tutorial at Recreate.com: A paper fish kite made with individual scales. This is fast and easy, with a colorful and appealing final result. This version uses mostly tissue paper, scrap paper, a small amount of construction paper, glitter, and glue.
Koinobori tutorial at PBS's Zoom: This fish kite is unlike most of the other tutorials here in that it's made with scrap fabric from an old pillowcase and fabric glue. That means the resulting kite should be comparatively durable.
Japanese Carp Wind Sock at makingfriends.com: A tutorial that uses wrapping paper and a small wooden hoop for an interesting stylized kite. It's probably the simplest version of this project in this list.
Printable paper koinobori: Just print out this page (from a Japanese site), then cut out the shapes, fold them in half, and glue them together. You'll wind up with four different styles of streamers that could be used as bookmarks, to make a banner (if you fold them over a thread before gluing them), in a diorama, and so on. You could also try folding them around a thin bamboo skewer, then displaying them traditionally... in miniature!
Kabuto-Kazari papercraft: A complex paper model from Yamaha. The kabuto-kazari is the samurai helmet traditionally displayed on Boys' Day. Totally cool, but not recommended for younger children, due to its relative difficulty.
How to Celebrate Children's Day at eHow.com: Suggestions that have nothing to do with the traditional Japanese observance of the holiday. Instead, they focus on making your kids feel special and having a fun time as a family. Although these ideas are geared towards May 5th, they could help make any day into a special day for your favorite child.

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Make flower gifts with your kids

Debra McDuffee — 2008-05-02T17:00:00+00:00

Filed under: home decor, kids, art, crafts, papercraft, gifts

Flowers are a wonderful gift, if only they would last longer. With these flower gifts that you can make with your kids, they will last perhaps longer than the recipient would like them to! Or the flowerpots are perfect for presenting real flowers or plants.

Make this photo flower bouquet from paper, using photos as the center of the flower. Glue onto a chenille stem and present as a bouquet or in a vase. I like the idea of using patterned paper; handmade paper would look stunning, as would scrapbooking paper.

It is so easy to paint this clay flowerpot. All you need are some acrylic paints and your creativity. You can plan a pattern with your kids beforehand, use some stencils or let them go, Jackson Pollock style. You know they will come up with something spectacular, and uniquely "them."

Admit it; those pens decorated like flowers are pretty cute. Make a flowerpot pen holder and you'll give a perfect gift. You'll need a pot, plaster of Paris (or floral foam), paint, a hot glue gun and the items to make the flower pen.

These paper blossoms, made from tissue paper glued to a real branch, are actually quite stylish and can be displayed in chic homes and fit right in.

Another pot, the sunshine flower pot, is made from a styrofoam cup, buttons and paint. It's a cheerful way to welcome spring, with its happy yellow and colorful button trim. For a more lasting gift, you could use a clay pot or even a plastic pot for this project.

If you are hankering for a live flower gift idea, check out the recipe box brimming with live roses. It's easy to make and the box lives on as a useful place to store recipe cards.

So welcome in spring, Mother's Day, birthdays or just because with these unique floer-themed gifts you can make with your kids.

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How to have a successful bake sale

Debra McDuffee — 2008-05-01T16:00:00+00:00

Filed under: food, in the kitchen, kids, miscellaneous, money, entertaining

My local moms' group is in the middle of a community service project right now -- raising money to buy backpacks and school supplies for students whose families need a little financial help. One of the ways we are doing this is through bake sales.

We have a good, active group of women who have really come together to share ideas, and now you can benefit from what we've learned about how to have a successful bake sale.

Look for events / locations where there are already lots of hungry people.
Some of our ideas are: at T-Ball and soccer games, at the local concerts in the park, and in front of a local grocery market. Always check with your town to see if permits are required for set-up.

Offer a good variety of treats.
Make sure you offer small cookies, large pies, and everything in-between. You'll need plenty of chocolate... and no bake sale is complete without Rice Krispie treats. We'll even have some vegan treats and cookies for the food-allergic at our bake sales.

Set prices just right for your community.
Do you need a pricing guide to help you get started? This one helped us out, but you'll find that you know your community and what they will pay for certain treats.

More tips on how to have a successful bake sale, dealing with presentation and organization, can be found online. Soon you'll be on your way to raising money for your group, and maybe you can even enjoy a few leftovers!

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Make hand print gifts with your kids

Debra McDuffee — 2008-05-01T14:00:00+00:00

Filed under: kids, art, crafts, papercraft, gifts

There is something about the hand print gift. Maybe it is because it is so overdone that it has become kitschy, like every mom must own one. Probably it is because the size of your child's hand is frozen in time, a special keepsake of your growing child at the given age of the hand print.

If you find the hand print gifts charming, I've gathered a sampling of hand print projects that are slightly more unique, and dare I say upscale, than the typical hand print wreath. You know you've got one.

This easy hand print hand towel is made using towels you buy at the store and fabric paint. You can add the child's name, date and other embellishments and you've got a real keepsake here, and a usable one at that.

What I liked about this hand print wall hanging is the possibilities for customizing it. If you use a plastic plate, it will last better, and the decorating choices are endless. Besides the paint and ribbon shown, you could glue on sequins, glitter, pom poms -- whatever you desire.

This set of hand print magnets looks adorable when you hang a child's artwork from the fridge, because it looks like the hands are holding up the art. The tutorial suggests using posterboard, but if you choose an even more permanent material, like the art foam that is everywhere these days, or even Balsa wood, you'd have a most lasting keepsake.

Hand-painted glass is so fashionable, and this finger print vase looks like it could be sold in a gift boutique. All you need is a glass jar (or you could choose a vase) and enamel paint to create this classy gift.

And last but certainly not least, don't forget to check out Francesca's finger print stationery, another usable keepsake gift for Mother's Day, birthdays or just because.

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Mad science for kids 2

Mike Johnson — 2008-05-01T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: backyard science, kids, seasonal, weekend projects, DIY with Dad, DIY with Mom

As the days grow longer and the weather starts to warm, kids across the nation go outside to play, and to get rid of their cabin fever from the long winter we all had.

Chances are that they will be dragging you outside with them! Instead of just pulling up a lawn chair and watching them run in circles, why not have a little fun with science and get them thinking as well as playing?

I am going to cover two different activities best done in the great outdoors that are sure to peak the kids' interest as well as show them a good time. These are easy to do, and it is easy to find the materials needed to get the jobs done! Now buckle up and let's get this science bus on the road!

Fun with a magnifying glass

The first trick up my lab coat sleeve uses a magnifying glass to teach kids about the power of the sun. The materials are easy to put together.

Magnifying glass. The larger the better.
Various leaves. Make sure you gather as many stages of decomposing leaves as possible. It will work best if you use everything from fresh green leaves all the way to completely dried out and crispy leaves.
Paper. Get at least white and one darker color. Again the more the merrier.

First you need a sunny day to make this work properly. The sunnier the better. Set out the leaves and papers you have put together in a row on the ground. Don't put it on a table as no one wants to explain a scorch mark on a good patio table.

Next, ask the kids if they can figure out a way to cause the materials to burn without using fire or matches. After they scratch their heads for a minute it is time to pop out your secret weapon. Make sure you pull out the magnifying glass with a flourish. Showmanship is everything!

Focus the light through the lens into a pinpoint on a dried out leaf. In a second or so it will smoke. Let the kids ooh and aah, now challenge them to do the same. Make sure you give them either a green leaf or white paper! Help them focus the glass, and then let them sit for 30 seconds or so. When the white paper or green leaf doesn't smoke, take the lens back and again make the dead leaf or darker paper smoke.

Depending on how fast they catch on, this can go on for quite a while before they realize that the materials are affecting whether or not the glass can cause the scorches. When they do figure it out, you can explain how the moisture in the green leaf, and the reflective properties of the white paper are what affect the glasses ability to cause the scorches.

After the day's fun, make sure you put the magnifying glass out of reach so that the youngsters don't get the itch to try it out without you and cause any incidents that would necessitate a visit by the fire department or a claim to be filed with your homeowners insurance.

Learning about magnetics

The other outdoor science experiment you can do easily may require a trip to the beach, or the local playground so you can have access to sand. The materials are as follows.

Sand. The more the better. The older the better. Beach side or lakeside is ideal, but the local playground will work as well as long there is a sand pit there.
Magnet. Bigger is better. A straight magnet will work best, but the cartoony "U" shaped ones can be used as well.
Paper. White is best for showing off the final tricks. 2 sheets are best but one will work fine.
String. A piece long enough so you can drag the magnet behind you through the sand.
Compass. Any will do.

After the trip to your local sand pit or beach bust out the magnet. Let the kids play with it for a few minutes sticking it to metal and finding out that it will not stick to all materials. Next ask them if they think the sand will stick to it. After collecting their answer, pour a little sand over the magnet to demonstrate that it won't.

Next tie the string to the magnet and tell the kids to drag it through the sand. After a minute or so, check the magnet for iron filings stuck to it. Ask the kids why there is material stuck to the magnet. Explain that iron occurs naturally or that (if you are at a man-made beach or play ground) big metal machines crush rocks into sand for people to use, and they are seeing the little pieces of the crushers that wear off as the rock gets processed into sand.

Scrape the filings off onto the white paper. Repeat the collection process a few more times to make sure you get a good amount of filings to work with. Place the magnet onto a non magnetic surface. Lower the paper down onto the magnet shaking slightly as you do so. This should cause the filings to move into the shape of the magnet's magnetic field.

An alternate way to do it is to use two pieces of paper. Collect the filings onto one piece. Place the second over the magnet and gently dust the filings onto the second sheet. Again this should cause the filings to form into the shape of the magnetic field.

After the field is marked out, ask the kids if they can tell you why the filings formed those shapes. Explain that what they are doing is marking the invisible magnetic field that is always present around this and any magnet. You can even extrapolate (don't use this word with kids unless you want them to either laugh or run away in fear) and explain how the earth also has a magnetic field and how it makes a compass work.

If you don't have a compass to break out at this point, go ahead and tie the string around the magnet in the middle and demonstrate that when you turn around, the magnet always stays oriented to the same direction. This shows the directions of the north and south poles.

After all this learning go ahead and let them use the magnet under the paper to move the filings on top of the paper around. Again explain that it is the magnet's invisible energy field that is causing the filings to dance around the paper for their amusement. You can also let them lower the magnet slowly towards the paper until the filings "leap" up to the magnet. Again this demonstrates the magnet's energy field.

Now that you have entertained and educated the kids you can hit the pool guilt free and enjoy the summer until the next time we meet!

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Kiddie Crafts: Celebrating Mother's day

Francesca Clarke — 2008-04-30T13:00:00+00:00

Filed under: kids, seasonal, crafts, Kiddie Crafts

Ana Jarvis and others lobbied politicians tirelessly from 1908, when Mother's Day was first celebrated in West Virginia, to 1914 when it became observed nationally.

With 84 million Moms in the US alone, there's no doubt that a day dedicated to the celebration of these women was long overdue. This was a big step for the US, but Mother's Day has taken many forms throughout history, and a similar celebration was being observed in England as early as the 1600's.

Today, Mother's Day has morphed into a cash grab from greeting card companies, floral shops and jewelry stores. In this week's Kiddie Crafts we're getting back to the basics, and looking at some crafty ways for children to honor mom.

It doesn't matter if you're a Dad coordinating a craft for your wife, or a mom thinking about honoring grandma, there are endless ways to get the kids involved and make some fabulous Mother's Day crafts. I'll share some of these ideas with you after the break.

Got time?

Some of you started planning last May (maybe when you felt the wrath of a Mother's Day forgotten), and have almost completed your projects. For the rest of you who are willing to put in some time and energy but are just getting started, don't worry: two weeks is plenty of time. Check out some of these project suggestions:

Heart hand towels
Every mom and grandma can use new hand towels. To make these heart applique towels, you take some pieces of ready-made terry cloth and embellish them with precious heart appliques. Next, add some lace and ribbon to finish off the delicate details. Why not make a whole set? You can machine sew the hearts yourself, or let older children try their hand at guiding the sewing machine. Alternatively, you could let children hand stitch the heart and glue the ribbon themselves.

Mom-aid kit
If your daughter or daughter-in-law is a new mom, this little survival kit is a great way to share your experience and support with her. Basically, you package together practical or symbolic items that will help her through motherhood. Use your imagination and make it as personal as possible; here are a few ideas to get you started:

Life-Savers, symbolizing the importance of offering and accepting help
A battery for energy and reminding her to recharge when she needs it
A quarter to call her Mom or a friend when she needs advice and support

Family history of mothers
Make a scrapbook with pictures and written profiles of the mothers in your family. Follow the line as far back as you can. Include little write-ups about each woman with the interesting information that you learn about them. If you're fortunate enough to interview people who knew these women you can include quotes. Include older children in the research, and let the little ones decorate the scrapbook pages.

This is a great gift for grandma, and a great way to teach your children about their family history. You might need a bit of time to dig through old pictures, or contact the right people and get the right pictures, but the final project will be worth the effort.

Jewelry
Every woman loves jewelry. Now, I would never turn down a diamond ring or pearl earrings, but what melts my heart even more than those expensive gifts is anything made by my children. Debra offers us a few great ideas for jewelry projects made by children. If you have older children, there are loads of other DIY jewelry projects that they can make for mom or grandma.

In a hurry?

If you stumble upon this post a week and a half from now, you're probably frantically looking for Mother's Day projects that can be done before dinner. That or you're reading this with plenty of notice, but know that you will end up in that inevitable position on May 10, realizing that despite your best intentions, there is nothing ready for Mother's day this year. Don't worry, we've got you covered. Here are a few last minute projects that you can do with the kids:

Chore coupons
This is probably one of the oldest gift ideas, but it's still a popular one because it's shows mom how appreciated she is, gets children involved around the house, and cost nothing to put together. Instead of just making a coupon book, this helping hands flower pot is a creative variation on the same idea.

Trace and cut-out your children's hands. Encourage your children to consider what specific things they think mom would like. Older children can offer to do the dishes, while younger ones will clean the toy room and make their beds. If the child is able, have them write the chore on their hand-print. If they are not, write it yourself, and let them decorate it.

Hold up each hand-print with florist straws, and put them into a flower pot filled with rocks or dirt. You can fill the whole pot with hand-print flowers, or add them in with a real plant. mom can redeem each helping hand as she needs them.

Don't forget to include a few coupons from Dad for coffee in bed, or a private evening walk. Whatever kind of coupons you make, this is a sweet little way to show mom how much your appreciate her.

Bookmark
If Mom loves to read, a personalized bookmark is sure to make her happy this Mother's Day. These couldn't be easier, and can take on any form depending on the age and ability of your kiddie crafter. All you need to do is cut out some sturdy paper in a rectangle the size of a bookmark. Decorate it with a photo collage, stickers, glitter or artwork. Take it up to your local office store and have them laminate it. You can punch a hole in the top and add a ribbon as the final touch. Like any kids craft, don't forget to date the back so that she remembers this Mother's Day years from now when she's still using that same bookmark.

I love you because...
Like the chore coupons, this project can take any number of forms. The idea is that children write down all the reasons why they love mom. You could cut strips of paper and fill a basket with "reasons why we love you mom", or make a little flip book, including all the ways that she is loved and appreciated. If the child can't write on their own, have them dictate to you, but record it word for word. Sometimes it isn't so much what is said, but the wonderfully sweet ways that they say it.

Ultimately, mom doesn't want the fancy brunch at a golf club (unless, of course, you're inviting). What she really wants is an expression of love and appreciation. Take some time to craft with your kiddies, and create something truly special for her this Mother's Day, DIY style.

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Throw a Cinco de Mayo party

Bethany Sanders — 2008-04-29T14:00:00+00:00

Filed under: food, kids, seasonal, crafts, entertaining

When the Mexican militia finally ousted the French army from the city of Puebla (on their way to attack Mexico City), there was reason to celebrate. After all, the French had supposedly come to Mexico only to collect on debts owed to them. Instead, they brought along a ruling prince and set themselves up to be in charge.

The French believed that the Mexican militia could never defeat their modern army, but they did, changing Mexican and perhaps American history forever. The battle took place on May 5, 1862. Every year since, Cinco de Mayo (or 5th of May) has been considered a holiday.

It's a day to party and to celebrate, and also a good time to get a taste of Mexican culture. I'll give you plenty of tips on how to throw your own Cinco de Mayo party after the break.

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Interestingly, the holiday isn't a big deal in Mexico. It's celebrated in Puebla and a few surrounding towns. In America, however, Cinco de Mayo is widely celebrated, especially in cities with large Mexican-American populations.

Many people believe that Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day, but it's not. That falls on September 16th and is celebrated across Mexico. M.E. Williams recently wrote a post on another popular Mexican holiday, the Day of the Dead, which is celebrated in November.

To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, you'll need what every good party needs -- food, drink, music, the right clothing, and fun.

What to Eat

A Cinco de Mayo party is the perfect time to try your hand at some traditional Mexican dishes.

Experienced chefs might try sopes, a regional food that's also highly addictive, or even empanadas.
Sopapillas, on the other hand, are simple to make, as are old standbys like guacamole and quesadillas.
Though traditional recipes vary by region and from family to family, here are a few authentic dishes to make you feel like you've really and truly crossed the border.
Don't let your guests get thirsty! Mexican beers like Corona, Modelo, and Necate are a good choice, as are margaritas of course. Here's a list of several different Cinco de Mayo drink recipes, as well as agua de jamiaca, a traditional non-alcoholic drink made from Jamaica flowers (which can be purchased in most Mexican grocery stores).

What to Wear

The colors of the Mexican flag are red, white, and green, so you'll want to focus on these or other bright colors when choosing your outfit.

Women traditionally wear long, ruffled or flowing skirts or brightly colored dresses, as well as serapes (make your own) or shawls. Try wearing a white, blouse, and don't forget to tie your hair back in colorful ribbons. Men dress in typical western-wear such as embroidered shirts, ponchos, sombreros, and jeans or pants.

Kids might like to try their hand creating their own sombrero, paper poncho, or ribbon streamer.

For footwear, consider cowboy boots or try making your own huaraches.

Time to Decorate

In many cities, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with parades, parties, and music. If you're throwing your own party, you'll need to decorate. Colored paper flowers are fun to make -- as are paper lanterns -- and liven up any party area in a hurry. Pinatas are a traditional decoration and are a fun project to try at home.

Young children can make these easy paper cup maracas, while older kids and adults might appreciate these sturdier versions. Keep kids busy making this clothespin Mexican dancing doll or this craft, called a God's eye.

It's not a party without music, so look for CDs or download Mexican folk music, salsa, or mariachi to entertain your guests.

Safety First

Cinco de Mayo is a big party night, especially for young adults. If alcohol is being served at your Cinco de Mayo celebration, be sure that your guests have a designated driver or a safe ride home. If you're a party-goer, it's always a good idea to choose your sober driver before you take your first drink.

Now go...and enjoy this popular holiday!

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Three unusual uses for duct tape

Debra McDuffee — 2008-04-25T19:00:00+00:00

Filed under: fix-it, household hacks, kids, miscellaneous, pets

We all know how versatile duct tape is. From duct tape wallets, a duct tape book cover, even a duct tape top hat, this is one hard-working DIY tool. Here are a few of ways we use duct tape in our house, and I bet you haven't though of them!

Hold up your skinny kid's pants
Our three-year old has been skinny all of his life, yet very tall. Adjustable waist pants were our savior, but until duct tape came along, we found no good way to hold up his sweatpants. Simply fold over a small flap of the waistband from the inside, and duct tape to fasten. I know this is a hard explanation to visualize, so check out the gallery for detailed photos and instructions.

Make a knight's sword and shield
Our little guy also has a penchant for playing dress-up, and he loves knights and castles. We fashioned a sword and shield from man old cardboard box and covered them with duct tape to look like metal. It is much more durable than wrapping in tin foil, which I have seen done before, and it helps the cardboard stay sturdy.

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Screen door repair
First we had a naive dog, who didn't realize we had put the screen slider back on after the winter. Then, he decided it was a fabulous idea to make his own doggie door. Duct tape secures the screen for us until we can re-screen the door -- again. Every year. I think the dog has a Houdini complex.

Duct tape in one DIY tool that we can't do without in our house. In what crazy ways do you use duct tape?

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Recycle oatmeal containers into nature cans

Anna Sattler — 2008-04-25T17:30:00+00:00

Filed under: kids, crafts, staying green, nature

Spring is here and so are the April showers. The leaves are budding on the trees and the grass is starting to green. It is finally time to get the kids out of the house and take them on a nature walk.

Children are natural-born explorers, and it is such a joy to see their little faces light up when they find a unique rock or leaf. When you take them on their hunt for treasures this spring, take along a nature can for them to put their treasures in.

Megan informs us how to take an empty oatmeal container and glue fabric to it, decorate the container, and then add a strap so our little nature buddies can easily tote it around.

We are almost done with our oatmeal container and will definitely recycle it into a nature can for my daughter. She loves to walk around our yard and collect cool rocks, leaves and sticks. It will be a fun way to teach her about all the wonderful things the great outdoors has to offer, right under her little feet.

[via: Craft]

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Build an earthworm habitat

Bethany Sanders — 2008-04-24T08:00:00+00:00

Filed under: backyard science, kids, nature

Why study earthworms? They may not be pretty, but earthworms have an important role in creating healthy soil that supports life everywhere.

Kids are fascinated by living creatures, and they have a lot to learn from worms. They can learn about their unique form of locomotion, or that earthworms have a highly developed digestive system that creates healthy soil out of decomposing materials. Possibly most important of all, kids can learn that all creatures have a role in a functioning ecosystem, including the lowly worm.

An earthworm habitat is not only fun to make, it's an easy way to observe worm behavior up close. Because this project requires the handling of live creatures, an important first lesson is how to respect life while also studying it. Worms need to be handled gently. They also need a safe environment while in captivity, including food and moisture. When the project is finished, they should be carefully returned to the safety of a shady spot of soil.

Ready to get started? Check out the gallery below!

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Learn about crystals with homemade rock candy

Bethany Sanders — 2008-04-23T18:00:00+00:00

Filed under: backyard science, kids

Rock candy is one of the oldest treats around, and it's simple to make. It also makes a great science project and is often used to teach about crystals. You can talk to kids about minerals and atoms and ions, or you can help them cook up a batch of rock candy and let them see crystals forming in real time. Plus, this is a really fun (and edible) project.

Kids will be delighted to find out that they've got crystals right in plain sight in their kitchen -- sugar and salt. When they boil sugar and water together, they're creating a super-saturated sugar solution. Basically, there's more sugar in the solution than it can hold, so the crystals begin attaching themselves to the cotton string.

Over time, water evaporates from the solution so the sugar continues to attach itself to the formation. Eventually, kids end up with a string full of beautiful sugar crystals that they can study, then eat.

Want to get started on this interesting experiment? Check out the gallery below!

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Create sidewalk art with free stencils

Debra McDuffee — 2008-04-23T14:00:00+00:00

Filed under: kids, recreation, seasonal, art

The weather is finally right for your budding artist to let loose on the driveway. After you've made Bethany's homemade sidewalk chalk, print out some of these stencils to help your child create a masterpiece.

I wouldn't be a former teacher and art student if I didn't say that freehand is best to encourage creativity, but that there is also something to be said for the skill of staying in the lines. The best way to use the stencils would be to incorporate them into a freehand design, so I'll suggest ways to do that for each stencil design.

Since you'll be using these stencils outside, use cardstock to print them. They will be much sturdier and possibly even reusable. Then, just cut out the designs using pointed scissors or an exacto knife. Join me after the break for some fun ways to decorate your driveway, kid style.Are dogs what your kid loves? Let them create their dream dog, then stencil some paw prints or a dog house. Then, your kids can decorate the dog house in any crazy way their creativity will let them.

Creating an underwater ocean scene is a favorite for any kids who have seen Nemo, so let them design the craziest fish they can think of. They can use some of the sea stencils to add starfish, a dolphin and a seahorse.

How about the beach next to that underwater scene? Have your kids create the boat of their dreams, then stencil a palm tree next to it. You'll want to vacation there with them!

Has the garden bug bitten everyone in your home this spring? I bet your kids can draw the most beautiful flower garden of all. They can add a detailed sunflower to their garden, a daffodil, or a rose.

You don't have to let stencils restrict your kids' creativity. Go wild with that sidewalk chalk and don't forget to take pictures!

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Kiddie Crafts: Fingerprint stationery

Francesca Clarke — 2008-04-23T12:00:00+00:00

Filed under: kids, crafts, gifts, Kiddie Crafts

With so many occasions, and such crafty kids, I often wonder if the little gifts we give end up becoming more clutter, collecting dust at Grandma's house. For this week's Kiddie Craft, we set out to make a creative Mother's Day gift that is personal and unique, but also useful.

We're making fingerprint stationery. Grab some plain card-stock, envelopes, a colorful ink-pad, and your little one's precious fingers. Press their small fingerprints into pictures on the card-stock. Finish them off with a decorative ribbon, and you will have created a memorable Mother's Day gift. You won't see a washcloth in the materials image, because somehow I neglected to predict this oh-so-necessary item, but trust me, you'll need one!

You can check out the finished cards in the gallery. After the break I'll walk you through the flower, rainbow, and hand-print designs. Use those ideas, or take a little inspiration from our craft and come up with ideas of your own.

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These simple fingerprint designs keep the cards looking clean and classic: something that will actually get used outside of thank-you cards for children's gifts. Grandma will admire the tiny fingerprints that created these timeless designs. She'll also love having the cards on hand for writing friends and family, while sharing a little piece of her grandchildren.

I've done my share of finger-painting with the children, but the ink shows the smallest fingerprint features in a way that finger-painting never could. Each intricate line is so clear that you can really see how each tiny fingerprint comes together to make the image.

You could do any number of designs, but we chose a few basic ones. The flower, rainbow and hand-print are all easy, even for the smallest fingers. Make sure that their fingers press firmly on the paper. Lift them off gently, otherwise you'll end up with lots of smudging.

The flower
First put one green fingerprint in the middle. Let your child choose the petal colors, then carefully press their inked fingers around the center. Draw a stem, and have them add two more green fingerprints for leaves.

The rainbow
My boys enjoyed this one because it involved less of me manipulating their fingers, and more of their own freehand. Your child can ink their finger in a color, and draw an arc on the card-stock. Follow that by the next color until the rainbow is complete.

The hand-print
This is pretty self-explanatory, but if you're using a multi-color ink pad, I will warn you against mixing the colors. Rub their hand in the ink, place it firmly on the front of the card-stock, and lift their hand carefully to avoid smearing the ink.

I plan to give these little card sets as a Mother's Day gift, but you could always keep a batch on hand for your own notes. I'm thrilled with how these turned out, and excited to give them to Grandma on May 11.

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Make giftable jewelry with your children

Debra McDuffee — 2008-04-23T10:00:00+00:00

Filed under: kids, art, crafts, jewelry-making, gifts

DIY Life has lots of great tutorials for jewelry-making if you are an adult and want to play. From crackle glass earrings to designer knock-offs, we've got a project you'll like.

If you are looking for jewelry you can make with your children, something that would make a great Mother's Day gift, then these are the projects that might appeal to you.

These easy bottle cap brooches are made from bottle caps you have flattened out with needle nose pliers, a pin backing available at any craft store, a photo of your child and whatever you want to use to decorate -- ribbon, glitter, glue, nail polish. What stylish mom wouldn't want to wear a piece of jewelry with their child's photo on it?

Are bracelets more your style? This bracelet made from buttons also sports your child's photo, in fact, there is room for a different photo on each button. Again, adorn with glitter glue or fabric paint and you've got a winner.

Another bracelet you might like to try (Mom's Favorite things Bracelet) is a little more complicated, but a lot more like real jewelry. You can follow the directions and make a bracelet using beading wire and a clasp, or you could opt for what I would do: simply string your beads and charms onto a stretchy cord. The special birthstone beads and charms that are meaningful to your Mom will make this her favorite bracelet.

Maybe a cameo necklace would suit your gift recipient's tastes. Yep, it's a photo of the kid again, this time on a key tag decorated to look like a cameo. You choose the embellishments and you've got a special, handmade necklace.

What is your favorite kid-made piece of jewelry? We know you have one....

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