Happy Sunday

Christmas Crafts for Kids

One of my favorite things to do during the holiday season is to craft with my kids. It gives us the opportunity to spend quality time together while making something fun and festive! Kid crafted ornaments, garlands, cards, keepsakes... I love them all!

Below you'll find find several cheery Christmas crafts to try with your kids this holiday season. There are 25 in all which gives you enough craft inspiration to pick and choose a few or to do one each day from December 1-December 25. But there's more! You'll also find a plethora of other Christmas posts done by my fellow members of the Kid Blogger Network and a HUGE giveaway that we are hosting in which 4 lucky winners will each receive a $500 cash prize. Grab a cup of coffee, and make yourself comfy. There's lots to check out!

Happy Sunday

DIY Stationary Gift Basket

I love these darling note cards from Artful Life Designs! Alone or paired with a few fun stationery accessories, they make a sweet gift item. Here's what you'll need to make your own DIY Stationery Basket because we all know how important that thank you card is especially here in the South...

Quick Guide: Basic Sewing Supplies

The first step to any successful project is having the right supplies. A sewing project is no exception to that rule. If you are just beginning to learn how to sew, you may be wondering what supplies you even need to get started. Or perhaps you're a seasoned seamstress wanting to cut your plethora of supplies down to just the basics. Below you'll find a quick guide on the supplies every sewing box should contain to keep you well-stocked and organized...

Happy Sunday

30+ Gift Ideas to Consider for Your Child This Christmas

Have you started planning your holiday shopping yet? I've already been trying to get mine done. And I've found that some of my favorite gifts to give and receive are ones that have been lovingly supplied by a handmade business or craft shop.

Two years ago (with supporting small businesses in mind) I put together a gift guide--"Great Gift Ideas for Everyone on Your List". This year I've pieced together another holiday shopping guide. This one offers gift suggestions for kids of all ages from babies to teens. It has been a collaborative project done with other moms from the Kid Blogger Network who have each come up with their own shopping suggestions. Below you'll find gift ideas that are truly unique from some of my favorite Etsy shops, as well as, handmade suggestions and the links to visit dozens of other gift guides! Get cozy. Grab a cup of coffee. And enjoy shopping from the comforts of your own home...

Salt Dough Leaves: Sensory Dough Series

It's time for November's installment of the 12 Months of Sensory Dough series!  Each month 11 of my fellow bloggers and I are sharing our playtime adventures involving a different kind of dough. Last month we made Glowing Dough, and this month's theme is Salt Dough!

The kids and I used our salt dough for a fun, fall craft. Here's how...

Happy Sunday

Feeling Creative in Her Fabkids Outfit

Maybe it is the teacher in me, but I truly believe all children are artists. Their imaginations are limitless. There are no boundaries to their creative nature. Lydia Grace stopped asking a long time ago, "Mommy, am I an artist?" Now she declares in her own confident, smiling way, "Mommy, I'm an artist!" She loves to paint and has been sharpening her color mixing skills lately. It's a joy to watch her create! She has her own technique.

Open the paint up...
Squeeze it into the tray...
Careful not to spill...
Mix colors together with the brush...
Just a dab more of this and a tad more of that paint...
And finally the color is just what she's looking for...

"Mommy, look at this color I made! Look!"

All a child really needs to make a masterpiece is some paint, a few brushes, a blank canvas, and the freedom to create...

Garlands Galore, a Giveaway, and More!

Some of my favorite things to make are garlands! And I love hanging them throughout our home to add touches of handmade whimsy. I've even sold some in my little Etsy shop that I have... Hmmm... Let's just say put on vacation mode for now. In the meantime, I'm trying to get a clearer vision of what I want to do with the shop. When it was open, I loved being able to send people handmade goodies. I'd always package things up with an extra surprise. That was my favorite part about having the shop--lovingly packaging items up and making an extra little prize to add to the mix. That's why when my dear friend Tanya (The Natural Homeschool) asked me if I'd like to be a sponsor in a giveaway she was hosting, I jumped at the chance. I wanted an opportunity to spread a little handmade happiness to someone. Here are a few bits of whimsy that one lucky winner will receive...

Fall Fabric Garland

Homeschool Room

Happy Sunday

Lego Party

Disclaimer: I received free services and products for this post in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

One of my son Eli's favorite things is Lego--the movie and the brick sets. He loves to go around singing "Everything is Awesome!" And it really was awesome to find these building block invites from Tiny Prints! I love that we were able to get personalized invitations with a photo of our birthday boy. They became the inspiration for his Lego themed party...

Invite from Tiny Prints

We held the party at our local Bricks 4 Kidz. With thousands of building blocks, it was the perfect place for our little Lego enthusiast. Not having to do the clean-up made it the perfect place for me too! I wanted to keep things as simple as possible so the focus could be on celebrating my sweet guy rather than trying to pull together an elaborate party. And isn't that where our focus should be?!