Memorial Day weekend is almost here, kicking off the Summer and a time to celebrate our servicemen and women. Make your day off from the daily grind special by getting crafty with your kids and creating something patriotic to display in your home. From seriously simple activities to projects that are perfect for older tots, this roundup of red, white, and blue crafts is perfect for showing your love of the great USA.
Little girls and linen sundresses are a sure sign that Summer's arrived. But what if you could actually make your little one's sweet dress yourself? And what if you could make it out of a beautiful tea towel you found at your favorite home store — or better yet, an antique one packed away in a box somewhere? It's an easier project than you would think.
Inspired by her granddaughter, Jude, and some vintage towels she had stacked away in her attic, Martha Stewart and her staff at Martha Stewart Living created five simple patterns that require little more than a sewing machine to create. These no-zipper, no-snap projects (they just require a button or two and some bias tape for the most intricate of the patterns) are so adorable, that like Martha, you won't mind giving new life to antique fabric that can be enjoyed by a new generation. Click through to see the designs up close and get the patterns, which can also be found in the June issue of the magazine.
Button up! It may not be coat season quite yet, but if mama's got a drawer full of buttons, or if she's simply looking for an easy DIY project, those extra fasteners may be perfect for her next arts and crafts project! Check out these 10 cute-as-a-button crafts. We've got something for everyone!
It's time to accept the cold, hard truth.
I'm not a crafty mom. I'll never be a crafty mom.
One of my goals for 2013 was to actually try some of my pins on Pinterest. I love looking through what other people have pinned, I love seeing good ideas, and I love pinning things of my own. However, I'm not great when it comes to following through and actually putting some of these great ideas into practice.
Therefore, I gave myself a goal. One pin per week.
At first, I was flying. I found several recipes that were hits with my family, from the 10-month-old to the picky 2-and-a-half-year-old to the 30-something husband. I tried a couple of cleaning tips (apparently blue Dawn plus warm vinegar is the cleaning elixir!). I wasn't just meeting my challenge — I was exceeding my challenge.
Then I realized that I had two boards I was great about adding pins to, but those boards remained untried: "Crafts I Can Handle" and "Crafts For the Kids." Hmm . . .
If Pinterest, Facebook, and many, many blogs written by moms are any indication, doing amazing crafts both with and for your kids is the new benchmark. Why spend your money on a bin from the store when you can cover an old diaper box? Why put hair bows in a drawer when you can work together and create a gorgeous hanger? A good mom is a crafty mom. She creates amazing products and engages her children in a wonderful way. They aren't just crafting — they are making wholesome, quality memories.
My toddler is part of an art playgroup. One of my friends has really embraced her inner preschool teacher/wholesome-crafty-mom persona. She gathers a group of 2-year-olds together, and every week we do something different. We paint with pine branches, we experiment with homemade puffy paint, we stamp with muffin tins, and we marble paint with shaving cream. The kids adore it.
I can do that . . . right?
One of the things I realized about myself last year was that stepping out of my comfort zone brings me unexpected joy and pride. Crafts are definitely out of my comfort zone, so it was time to try.
We're excited to bring you a new post from mother and actress Tori Spelling and her ediTORIal by Tori Spelling blog. This week, Tori shares tips for organizing a craft closet.
I'm not going to lie to you; as a busy mom-of-four, spring-cleaning often takes a backseat to changing diapers, driving to afterschool sports, and cooking dinner. But this year is going to be different! I'm making it my mission this spring to tackle one room at a time and whip the house into perfectly organized shape.
Related: Crafting with Katie Couric
My first order of business is the craft closet. Crafting can get messy, but that doesn't mean that your supplies can't be kept neat and tidy. I'm pretty good about keeping my craft supplies neat, but there's always room for improvement. So, I've been doing a little research and I found a few creative ways to keep organized. Here are a few of my favorite innovative ideas that I wanted to share with all my fellow craftistas…
Use an egg carton to store your sewing kit:
Use a pillbox for beads, pins and eyelets:
Families come in a variety of sizes. Some are big. Some are small. Some are blended. A family tree can help little ones make sense of their heritage and understand how they relate to each relative. Check out these modern family tree ideas and have some fun sharing your ancestry with your offspring!
For fun, entertaining activities that are easy on both your wallet and the environment, take a look at these eco-friendly arts and crafts! With a mix of upcycled household products, clever painting ideas, and new uses for old items, these creative crafts are a great way to celebrate the eco-conscious spirit of Spring. Next time you're looking for a simple rainy-day activity, turn to these 33 eco-friendly crafts for kids!
It may not get top billing on the calendar, but National Licorice Day deserves to be celebrated! The fourth annual celebration of the candy occurs today, April 12, and it's the perfect opportunity to see just how versatile the chewy rope candy can be. Made from licorice root — which was found in the tomb of King Tut — the candy is equally popular with adults and kids, who usually receive an introduction to it via Red Vines or Twizzlers. Those ropes, while tasty on their own, also translate well into fun, kid-friendly craft projects and math programs to give kids yet another way to play with their food. Here are six fun ways to celebrate licorice's big day!
Bring out the builder in your tots this Passover! Though the holiday teaches us that the Jews had to flee their homes, this fun (and mostly edible) craft will have your lil ones building a new kind of shelter for the holiday. While looking for some holiday activities for kids, I came across Martha Stewart's directions for a Matzo home and knew it would make for a fun afternoon. Not only can children get involved in building and decorating this dwelling, it makes for a great centerpiece during your Seder (just don't get mad when the kids start eating the decorations while waiting for their meal!). See how to make it when you click through!
If you're looking for a fun Easter egg activity that doesn't involve candy, we highly recommend you consider making smash eggs, also known as confetti eggs or Cascarones. The tradition of smashing filled eggs over friends' and family members' heads has actually been around for centuries in Europe and Mexico.
The idea is simple: hollowed-out, refilled eggs are broken over the heads of friends, showering them with confetti . . . and, according to tradition, good luck. Kids might need some simple instructions and oversight (egg-smashing etiquette requires eggs to be broken directly on a person's head — it sounds rough, but it actually makes for a gentler and safer experience). Jordan Ferney from Oh Happy Day! shared photos of her amazing glitter and Fruity Pebbles eggs with us. Want to make your own? Follow her easy DIY instructions!
Source: Robyn Kessler for Oh Happy Day!
