Holiday Kids’ Gift Craft-along October Link-Up

by on October 24, 2012
in crafts, holidays & celebrations · 2 Comments

Written by Kara Fleck, Simple Kids editor and Rockin’ Granola mama.

Well, here we are friends: 60 days before Christmas. Whoa.  If you haven’t already been hit with the seasonal crafting bug I hope this link up will inspire you to begin today.

I’d love to hear what you are making for the kids in your life and today’s the day we get to share that in our monthly Holiday Kids’ Gift Craft-along Link-Up.

Holiday Kids’ Gift Craft-along

It is the 25th of October, which means that in two months we’ll be celebrating Christmas Day.  I’d love to see what you are making and how your projects are progressing.

Even though things are getting spooky and silly around here as we anticipate Halloween, just for the 25th I’m taking a North Pole Day.  I’ll be updating facebook, twitter, and instagram all day long with my crafting endeavors. If you want to join in, I’m using the hashtag #SKcraftalong.

I plan to play some holiday music and maybe watch a holiday movie or two and knit, stitch, and glue the day away (well, after homeschool and in between taking care of the kiddos, of course).

Beyond today, I’m trying to dedicate 15 minutes every day toward working on holiday gifts.

[Read more...]

31 days of unplugged play: junk mail art projects

by on October 18, 2012
in crafts · 4 Comments

Written by Kara Fleck, Simple Kids editor and Rockin’ Granola mama.

Today’s unplugged play idea is to create some art with a junk mail and other items.

Have fun creating art with items that might otherwise go straight into the recycling bin.  This is a neat project to do with your child.  When is the last time you sat down and made some artwork together?

Supplies and materials

  • paper, cardboard, yarn, foil, etc.
  • heavy paper or cardboard to create your art on
  • glue or tape
  • a bit of patience for the drying time if you’re using glue

[Read more...]

31 days of unplugged play: calm down jars (glitter bears)

by on October 11, 2012
in crafts, parenting · 8 Comments

Written by Kara Fleck, Simple Kids editor and Rockin’ Granola mama.

Today’s unplugged play idea was inspired by all of the beautiful “Calm Down” or “Peace” jars that I’ve seen all over Pinterest.  

The idea of a “calm down” jar has been on my mind for some time because it seemed like a good tool to help my four year old daughter find some quiet moments in the day when she’s having “big feelings,” as we say.

Lucy had been eying the big honey bear container in the recycling bin for some time, so I decided to do my own version of these beautiful swirling sparkle jars by making a glitter bear for especially for her in her favorite colors.
[Read more...]

31 days of unplugged play: Stick Puppets

by on October 9, 2012
in crafts, play learn explore · 1 Comment

Written by Kara Fleck, Simple Kids editor and Rockin’ Granola mama.

Today’s unplugged play idea is stick puppets.  

Have fun creating puppets, which is a slightly messy craft that is lots of fun and very creative.  Later, use your stick puppets to act out stories and put on a stick puppet play together.  You could even include your stick puppets in some cardboard castle play from one of our earlier Unplugged Play activities.

Supplies and materials

  • craft sticks or popsicle sticks (or even strips of cardboard)
  • glue or tape
  • scrap bits of felt, paper, fabric
  • markers
  • a bit of patience for the drying time if you’re using glue

[Read more...]

31 days of unplugged play: cardboard castle

by on October 7, 2012
in crafts, play learn explore · 3 Comments

Written by Kara Fleck, Simple Kids editor and Rockin’ Granola mama.

Welcome to day seven of unplugged play ideas.  How has your week of unplugged play been going for you and your kids?  Are you having fun?  We sure are!  And we’ve got more ideas to share with you.

For today’s unplugged play we’re going to be raiding the recycling bins and building cardboard castles.  I saved this one for a weekend because I knew it would be a good project for the whole family to do together and have fun playing with for days to come.

Supplies and materials

  • cardboard tubes in all sizes (paper towel, toilet paper, etc)
  • cardboard from the recycling (cereal boxes, package boxes, etc)
  • tape or glue to hold it all together
  • markers, crayons, and/or washi tape to decorate your castles
  • foil, paint chips, painters tape are fun for decorating, too

Turn the family loose with these supplies and see what kind of castles they can come up with!

[Read more...]

«Older Posts
Newer Posts»