Busy Moms Helper

Family fun, food, recipes, crafts, and free printables

  • Home
  • Busy Mom’s Shop
    • Monthly Printable Subscription Plan
  • Recipes
    • Desserts
    • Snacks
    • Appetizer
    • Side Dish
    • Main Dish
    • Holiday Food
    • Breakfast
    • Slow Cooker
    • Tried and True
  • Crafts & DIY
    • Gifts
    • Holidays
    • For the Home
    • Kid Friendly
    • Parties
    • Printables
  • Home & Life
    • Parenting
    • Time Management
    • Organization & Cleaning
    • Finance
    • Faith
    • Relationships
    • Blogging
    • Health & Fitness
    • Eating Out
    • Pets
    • Style
  • Printables
  • Travel
    • Theme Parks
    • Travel Tips & Tricks
  • Nerd Stuff
    • Star Wars
    • Superhero
    • Legos
    • Harry Potter
    • Disney
    • Tech

Art Projects for Kids – Have Fun with Your Little Ones

June 12, 2020 by Angela Paris Leave a Comment

Art Projects for Kids

Kids get bored easily and the best way to keep them occupied is to start DIY art projects. The kids are not only going to have something fun and exciting to do, but they will also get an outlet where they can express their creativity and learn new skills. To make things even better, art projects for kids are super simple to learn and they can be done with everyday items that you have around the house. With that said, check out our top six favorite art projects for kids.

Top Six Art Projects for Kids

#1 Marbled Art

Marbled Art

Your kiddos are going to love creating marbled art. This art project is super simple and more important, very fun! All you need is some rubbing alcohol and white titles. All that is left is to encourage your kids to get creative with the colors.

#2 Puffy Paint

Puffy Paint

If you are looking for art projects for kids that only take a couple of minutes to create, then you don’t need to search anymore! Just squeeze 4-ingredient paint on a piece of paper and microwave the artwork for around 5 seconds. The paint will puff up and your kids will learn an important lesson about science.

#3 Key Windchime

Key Windchime

Do you have a lot of keys that are no longer useful? If that is the case, then you might want to paint them in different colors and transform them into a DYI key windchime. The trick to making the windchime work is to place the keys about one inch to each other.

#4 Paper Bread Necklaces

Paper Bread Necklaces

With just a couple of strips from scrapbooking paper, your kids will be able to create unique and colorful paper bread necklaces. The paper strips need to be rolled into beads and then you can glue them together with paperclips or a string. You can even use newsprints to get more colorful beads.

#5 Paper Planes Game

Paper Planes Game

We think it’s safe to say that most kids already saw how to build paper planes in school, but you can take things to the next level and build a game around that. This DIY flight school game is only going to take 5 minutes to craft and your kids are going to have lots of fun with it. Who can get the most points?

#6 Floating Chalk Paint

Floating Chalk Paint

Fill a small tub with water and scrape colored chalk onto the top of the water. The chalk dust will start floating and now you can start mixing the colors with a skewer. The last step is to gently place a piece of paper on top of the water’s surface and the colors will instantly become a print.

Filed Under: Crafts & DIY, For the Home, Kid Friendly Tagged With: Best DIY for Kids, DIY Art

Top 5 Slow Cookers in 2021 Review & Buying Guide

January 27, 2021 by Angela Paris Leave a Comment

If you love cooking delicious meals for your family, then the slow cooker is your best friend! While multi-cookers might do a great job, past tests show us that nothing compares to slow cookers. The meat turns out tender and your beef stew with potatoes will have an extraordinary taste when it comes out. This is thanks to the fact that slow cookers are great for preparing healthy, home-cooked meals that will send you back to your childhood with only their smell.

The question that remains is which slow cooker is best for you? Here is where we come in. We have selected the top five slow cookers in 2021 so that you can prepare amazing meals for your family. The rule of thumb when selecting these products was that all of them should be of premium quality. Therefore, you can’t make a wrong choice.

#1 Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker

We are going to kick off our list with the Stovetop Sear & Cook Slow Cooker that is made by Hamilton Beach. This is a fantastic tool to have in your kitchen and it will add that “special something” to your family dinner nights. The Stovetop Sear & Cook Slow Cooker features flexible programming and a capacity of 6-quart.

What makes this product stand out is the fact that it ships with a removable nonstick aluminum pan so that you never have to worry about finding Hamilton Beach slow cooker replacement parts.

Buy this product

#2 West Bend Slow Cooker

Top 5 Slow Cookers in 2021 Review & Buying Guide 1

If you are looking a slow cooker that is simple to use and does an outstanding job of preparing meat, then you can’t go wrong with the West Bend Slow Cooker. This slow cooker model features adjustable temperature control and the glass lid is perfect to watch food as it cooks.

Another amazing thing that we want to mention about the West Bend Slow Cooker is that it is equipped with a special “Warm” setting that keeps all meals at the ideal temperature for serving. To top it all off, this product will last for years and you can always use West Bend Slow Cooker replacement parts.

Buy this product

#3 Bella Slow Cooker

Top 5 Slow Cookers in 2021 Review & Buying Guide 3

The Bella Slow Cooker is one of Amazon’s best-selling products and there is a good reason for that! This is a high-quality product that features a 5-quart capacity which means that you can prepare meals for up to five people at the same time!

We also want to highlight that the pot and the tempered-glass lid of the Bella Slow Cooker are dishwasher safe. This is always a nice feature because it makes it much easier to clean after you cook. In addition, this is an Eco-sensitive product and it uses less energy than other slow cookers.

Buy this product

#4 Bella Triple Slow Cooker

We have another slow cooker from Bella on the fourth spot. What makes this slow cooker special when compared to the other products featured on our list is its ability to cook multiple-course meals. The individual temperature controls are available in low, medium and high settings so that your meals are always cooked just right.

Each tri tip slow cooker from Bella comes with a serving spoon and spoon rest. Not only that, but we want to highlight that the Bella Triple Slow Cooker features a capacity of 7.5-quarts so that you can cook for an entire party without having to worry if the food will be enough for everyone. Also, the tru triple slow cooker is bundled with 3 lids, 3 lid rests, 3 spoons and an owner’s manual.

Buy this product

#5 Cuisinart Slow Cooker

Cuisinart is a household brand in the cooking industry and this is thanks to the fact that the products that this company makes are all premium. The Cuisinart Slow Cooker which features 24-hour programmable cook time, cooking rack and cool-touch chrome-plated handles is the perfect example of that. This Cuisinart Slow has a capacity of 4-quart and Cooker it’s perfect for home-cooked meals. The reason why we are saying that is because the folks at Cuisinart have made sure that the slow cooker can prepare an outstanding number of recipes that are famous for their delicious taste.

Buy this product

Buying Guide

If you don’t feel like the slow cookers that we have presented today are not to your liking or you don’t know which one to pick, then you should check out our buying guide below. We are going to present what are the most important factors that you need to take into consideration to find the best slow cooker for your kitchen.

  • How does it heat?

What many people don’t know is that not all slow cookers use the same method of heating. This is a very important factor when deciding which slow cooker is the best for you because it can benefit your cooking. The best heating method is by using a removable insert. The heating element is located on the bottom and it can also bee moved on the side base (not for all models) and this makes it possible to evenly distribute the heat.

  • Capacity

Another important factor that you need to consider when searching for the best slow cooker is the capacity. Do you need a slow cooker that can prepare enough food for a party of up to five people? If that is the case, then you should pick a large on that features a capacity of 10-quart. You can also go with something smaller if you don’t want to deal with leftovers.

  • The Lid Material

The last factor that we want to highlight is the quality of the lid. As everyone knows this already, you don’t want to remove the lid when preparing meals with a slow cooker because you will disperse the heat. This is why it’s always worth to pay extra for a see-through lid.

Filed Under: For the Home, Products we Love Tagged With: Best slow cooker, slow cooker

Grow Your Own Garlic to Use as a Natural Remedy

June 9, 2020 by Angela Paris Leave a Comment

Garlic is a perfect addition to many meals, but did you know that it’s packed with essential nutrients that are behind his medicinal properties? Rich in flavonoids, amino acids, polysaccharides, and sulfur, garlic is a potent natural remedy against a variety of diseases and conditions.

It was used as the base for numerous remedies in the past thanks to the presence of yet another powerful compound – allicin. Studies have confirmed that allicin can do wonders against high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems, preventing atherosclerosis and a variety of other problems.

While research on garlic’s properties against cardiovascular problems has still not moved beyond theory, garlic has proven itself a powerful weapon against colds and the flu. You can easily prepare a garlic remedy and take it every day to boost your immune system and keep respiratory infections at bay.

Thanks to the presence of antioxidants, garlic may help against dementia and Alzheimer’s disease and boost your physical performance. You won’t get all of this, however, by buying garlic from the store. The good news is that you can grow your own batch of garlic that you can later use as a natural remedy.

Grow Your Own Garlic to Use as a Natural Remedy

How to Grow Garlic at Home

Garlic should be planted in a sunny spot in your garden. You’ll need to make compost of tea mixed with 5-10-10 NPK fertilizer for the soil. Take a garlic bulb and break up the cloves, then plant them into the soil 4-6 inches apart. Cover them with an inch or two of soil, with 5-6 inches of mulch.

Water your garlic when the topsoil is dry and not before. A low-decomposing compost is needed twice a month, and a high-nitrogen fertilizer is required once. Cut off any weeds or flowers to prevent the garlic’s slow growth.

You should see the first sprouts in 3 months.

Filed Under: Crafts & DIY, For the Home Tagged With: garlic, Grow, Home

Grow Your Own Blueberries and Reap Their Amazing Health Benefits

June 10, 2020 by Angela Paris Leave a Comment

Raise your hand if you hate blueberries…yeah, we didn’t expect many hands up. Blueberries are tasty, blueberries are healthy, and they offer a multitude of benefits for our health. Rich in essential vitamins and minerals, they should be a major part of your daily diet. However, just like with all berries and fruit in general, those bought in stores aren’t exactly ideal.

Good news – you can easily grow blueberries at home! It’s quite simple actually and you don’t need to be a botanist to do it. Before we tell you how, let’s check some of their benefits.

Health Benefits of Blueberries

Rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, but low on calories, blueberries are the heavyweight champ among berries. The antioxidants can prevent free radical damage to your cells, while they also reduce the risk of heart disease and boost the function of your brain.

Full of fiber and vitamin C, they are great for your digestion and immune system. You’ll also get a nice portion of vitamin K in a cup of blueberries with reduced DNA damage as a plus. In short, these berries are amazing and should be on your menu every day. Once you learn how to grow them at home, you’ll enjoy the benefits of this tasty fruit every day.

How to Grow Your Own Blueberries

To grow your own blueberries, you’ll need to pick the right spot. First and foremost, these berries need a lot of space. They also love sunlight, so make sure you grow them in a sunny area. Planting is done during spring – you’ll have berries ready to pick in July and August.

When it comes to mulch, you can use pine bark, grass clippings or rind mulch. About 2-4 inches should be fine.

Prune the big bushes to strengthen the branches. It goes without mention that dry bits should be removed. Bloodmeal and cottonseed work best for blueberries. Stick to these recommendations and you’ll have a batch ready in no time.

Filed Under: For the Home Tagged With: Blueberries, Grow

DIY Welcome Fall Sign

August 26, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

DIY Welcome Fall Sign / by Busy Mom's Helper #FallDecor #HomeDecor #Crafts

Okay, so I know it’s ‘technically’ still summer, but once school hits I’m in total FALL mode! Especially when it comes to decorating! My front door has been ‘blah’ for awhile, so I needed something cute and fun to spruce it up….and I loved how this DIY Welcome Fall Sign turned out!

DIY Welcome Fall Sign / by Busy Mom's Helper #FallDecor #HomeDecor #Crafts

I’ve done quite a few wreaths before, such as last year’s Give Thanks Wreath or my Frozen Inspired Wreath during the winter, but for some reason I was in more of a ‘sign’ mood this time around. One of the best parts of this Welcome Fall Sign? It was super budget-friendly, costing me less than $5 for used supplies! Plus how fun are the wire coils? Totally crazy, spunky and awesome!

DIY Welcome Fall Sign / by Busy Mom's Helper #FallDecor #HomeDecor #Crafts

It only took me a little bit to do, also, so it was a total winner in my book. There’s so many ways you can switch this up to make it fit what YOU like, so just have fun with it!

Supplies

  • 2 wood boards of desired size (I had some on-hand)
  • 2 wood shapes (I did an Owl and a Ladybug, $0.77 each at Walmart)
  • Googly eyes
  • Paint of choice
  • Fake moss or grass
  • Colored wire
  • Buttons
  • Vinyl or stencil for lettering
  • Ribbon for hanging
  • Hot glue

DIY Welcome Fall Sign / by Busy Mom's Helper #FallDecor #HomeDecor #Crafts

Directions

  1. Paint your boards and wood shapes. Allow to dry completely. (note: I used puffy paint to get the textured dots on my ladybug). Once dried, hot glue your googly eyes to your shapes. Glue the moss/grass to the main board. DIY Welcome Fall Sign / by Busy Mom's Helper #FallDecor #HomeDecor #Crafts
  2. Glue the top board over the moss. Place your vinyl lettering on the board (I cut mine out with my trusty Silhouette Cameo…couldn’t live without it!) Add your shapes to the corners (or where you’d like). DIY Welcome Fall Sign / by Busy Mom's Helper #FallDecor #HomeDecor #Crafts
  3. Twist the wire into swirly coils as loosely or tightly as you’d like. Mix it up a bit, let them go crazy! CAREFULLY glue them to the board (I did long pieces, and glued the center of them to the board). Then (also carefully) glue the buttons over the center of the wires. DIY Welcome Fall Sign / by Busy Mom's Helper #FallDecor #HomeDecor #Crafts
  4. Attach the ribbon to the back and hang for display. Enjoy your totally fun and crazy Welcome Fall Sign!

DIY Welcome Fall Sign / by Busy Mom's Helper #FallDecor #HomeDecor #Crafts

Filed Under: For the Home Tagged With: Autumn, Craft, Decor, Project, Seasons

Ultimate List of Star Wars Ideas for May the Fourth

May 22, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

Ultimate List of Star Wars Ideas for May the Fourth / Roundup by BusyMomsHelper.com / Great Star Wars Crafts / Yummy Star Wars Food / Star Wars Printables / May the Force Be With You!

Whether you’re with the light side or dark side, you’ll love this Ultimate List of Star Wars Ideas for May the Fourth! Printables and crafts, decor and games, even costumes and more. You’re bound to find some fantastic Star Wars project worthy of the Jedi or Sith in your family!

Ultimate List of Star Wars Ideas for May the Fourth / Roundup by BusyMomsHelper.com / Great Star Wars Crafts / Yummy Star Wars Food / Star Wars Printables / May the Force Be With You!

Star Wars Galaxy's Edge

If you don’t know by now, our family is pretty big into Star Wars. And when I say big, I mean HUGE! Of course we do plenty of fun Star Wars crafts throughout the year, such as our Rebels Tshirts or puppets, but also enjoy the films quite often – lately we’ve been rewatching The Force Awakens & Rogue One!

Ultimate List of Star Wars Ideas

Star Wars Printable Activity Book

Star Wars Printable Activity Book / by One Mama's Daily Drama for Busy Mom's Helper

Star Wars Paper Crafts by Frugal Fun 4 Boys

Star-Wars-Crafts-Pin-682x1024

Printable Star Wars I Spy Game by Live Laugh Rowe

Snatch up this fun and FREE Star Wars Game! I Spy Star Wars Printable. May the force be with you! livelaughrowe.com

Snatch up this fun and FREE Star Wars Game! I Spy Star Wars Printable. May the force be with you! livelaughrowe.com

Lightsaber Bookmarks

Star Wars Lightsaber Bookmarks / by Busy Mom's Helper / Free Printable for May the Fourth

Stormtrooper Snacks by The Scrap Shoppe Blog

stormtrooper-pretzel-snacks-1024x791

No-Sew Star Wars Rebels Pilot Vest by The Nerds Wife

15294072590_c72c191f38_c

Glowing Mini Lightsabers by Play Trains

DIY-Mini-Lightsabers-Kids-Craft-7

Star Wars Father’s Day Card by Carrie Elle

DSC_0546-2

Star Wars Perler Beads Patterns by Frugal Fun 4 Boys

star-wars-perler-beads-3-Edited-1024x1024

Darth Vader Costume by Mom Endeavors

DIY-Darth-Vader-Star-Wars-Costume

Star Wars Bottle Set Printables

Star Wars Graduation Bottle Set Printables / by BusyMomsHelper.com / the perfect graduation gift for Star Wars fans!

Yoda Apple Snack by Kitchen Fun with My 3 Sons

YodaAppleW

R2-D2 Pencil Holder by Crafts by Amanda

R2D2-pencil-can-680

Yoda Lighted Canvas Art by  The Causal Craftlete

Yoda-Canvas-Art-with-Lighted-Green-Lightsaber-

LEGO Star Wars Printable Bookmarks by Carrie Elle

Lego-Star-Wars-Printable-from-Carrie-Elle

Lightsaber Smarties by Busy Creating Memories

lightsabers-1-of-1-11

No-Sew Jedi Tunics by Mom Endeavors

Star-Wars-Force-Awakens-Party-Jedi-Costumes

Lego Speeders by Frugal Fun 4 Boys

Lego-speeders-5-Edited-1024x683

Stormtrooper Marshmallows by Catch My Party

stormtrooper-marshmallow-pops2-580x870

BB-8 Paper Lantern by Desert Chica

How-to-make-a-DIY-Star-Wars-BB-8-Paper-Lantern-craft

Glow in the Dark Lightsaber Slime by Little Bins for Little Hands

Star-Wars-Slime-Star-Wars-Activity-660x924

Space Shuttle Craft by I Heart Crafty Things

Space Shuttle Craft 2

Stitch Craft with Free Printables by Simplistically Living

star-wars-stitch-craft-featured

Tie Fighter Cookies by Simplistically Living

TIE-Fighter-Cookies-Featured

Popsicle Stick Ornaments by Vicky Barone

darthstormtrooper11

Yoda Shape Craft by Toddler Approved

Star Wars Shape Craft Collage

Darth Vader Craft Stick Puzzle by Crafts on Sea

Darth-Varder-Craft-Sticks-Puzzle-Star-Wars-Craft-Idea

R2-D2 Trash Can by Kids Activities Blog

R2D2-2

Lightsaber Pool Noodles by Kid’s Activities Blog

Pool-Noodle-Light-Sabers

Chewbacca Cookies by Simplistically Living

STAR-WARS-chewbacca-cookies-featured

Milk Jug Storm Trooper Helmet by Filth Wizardry

milkjugstormtrooperhelmet14

Star Wars Finger Puppets by The Idea Room

Star-Wars-Finger-Puppets-4-wm_thumb

Star Wars Rebels Bleached Tee by One Mama’s Daily Drama

star-wars-rebel-tee01

Handprint Art by Geek Dad

chewieprint-2

Lightsaber Skirt

DIY Lightsaber Skirt / by BusyMomsHelper.com / Great Star Wars Skirt you can make yourself!

Last-Minute Star Wars Party by Smart Girls DIY

Photo-booth-fun-Star-Wars-Overlay

Ewok Granola Bars by Totally The Bomb

Ewok-Granola-Bars

Printable Star Wars Quotes by One Mama’s Daily Drama

printable-star-wars-quotes

Yoda Paper Bag Puppet by Gluesticks and Gumdrops

yoda-puppet-2

Star Wars Banner

star-wars-banner2

Lightsaber Bubble Wands by The Contemplative Creative

IMG_1617

Chewbacca Bandolier by All For The Boys

aftb-diy-chewbacca-toy-bandolier-14

Star Wars Puppets

Star Wars Puppets Printable / by BusyMomsHelper.com

Jedi Quiet Book by Julie Gillrie

quiet book 19

Star Wars Cupcake Toppers by One Mama’s Daily Drama

star-wars-cupcakes010

BB-8 Quesadilla by Totally The Bomb

droid-quesadilla-

Mother’s Day Jedi Card

Printable Star Wars Mother's Day card | One Mama's Daily Drama for Busy Mom's Helper

Lightsaber Sensory Bottles by Little Bins for Little Hands

Easy-Star-Wars-Glow-In-the-Dark-Light-Saber-Sensory-Bottles-680x1020

Super Simple Stormtrooper Costume by Carrie Elle

Stormtrooper-shop

R2-D2 Luminaries by DIY Candy

Star-Wars-Craft-R2D2-luminaries

Save Han Solo Activity by Fun-a-Day

star-wars-lego-science-8

Star Wars Party Printables by The Kiwi in the Clouds

Star-Wars-Party-Free-Printables

Lightsaber Sugar Scrub by Totally The Bomb

lsb-sugar-scrub

LEGO Star Wars Lunchbox Notes by One Mama’s Daily Drama

star-wars-lego-lunch

Star Wars Themed Footprint Art by The Pinterested Parent

Star-Wars-Inspired-Footprint-Crafts-Adorable-Keepsakes-made-out-of-kids-feet

DIY Rebels Shirts

DIY Star Wars Rebels Shirts / by BusyMomsHelper.com / Heat Transfer Shirts / Iron Transfer Shirts

Death Star Play Dough by Little Bins for Little Hands

IMG_8315-680x453

Wampa Granola Bars by Totally The Bomb

Star-Wars-Wampa-Granola-Bars

Paper Plate Yoda Craft by Coffee Cups and Crayons

Make-a-Simple-Star-Wars-Craft-Yoda-Puppet

Lightsaber Pens by Kid’s Activities Blog

starwars-pens

The Force Awakens Activity Book

Star Wars: The Force Awakens Activity Book Free Printables / by Busy Mom's Helper

Lightsaber Cereal Bars by The Frugal Mom

Lightsaber-Cereal-Bars-3-500x333

Star Wars Mason Jar Gifts by Chica Circle

R2D2-and-Yoda-Mason-Jar-craft-idea-@clubchicacircle

Star Wars Toilet Paper Roll Characters by Kid’s Activities Blog

star-wars-crafts-KAB-toilet-roll

Star Wars Crayons by Carrie Elle

DSC_0026

Lava Slime by Fun-a-Day

Lego-Star-Wars-Anakin-sinking-into-molten-lava-slime-for-kids

X-Wing Fighter from Office Supplies by Frugal Fun 4 Boys

X-Wing-2-Edited

Recycled Droids by All For The Boys

all-for-the-boys-diy-recycled-droids-8

Lunchbox Jokes

Printable Star Wars Lunch Box Notes | One Mama's Daily Drama for Busy Mom's Helper

No-Sew Princess Leia Costume by Carrie Elle

DSC_0348-2

Millennium Falcon Soap by Simplistically Living

millennium-falcon-soap-inprocess6

Other Star Wars fun…

Star Wars Half Marathon by Nikki Christiansen for Busy Mom's Helper

My 5 Favorite Things about Star Wars: The Force Awakens / by BusyMomsHelper / Star Wars Episode VII

Best Gifts for Star Wars Fans / by BusyMomsHelper.com / Holiday Gift Guides 2015 #sponsored

Filed Under: Disney, For the Home, Gift, Kid Friendly, Movies, Parties, Printable, Star Wars

Pirate Growth Chart

February 25, 2019 by Kelly Dedeaux

My boys are really into Jake & The Neverland Pirates right now. Well, for like the past YEAR. They sing the songs all day long, they call each other one of the characters, and are always fighting Hook the ‘Sneakety Snook’. Way cute! (originally shared January 2014)
Pirate Growth Chart
I’ve been wanting to do a growth chart for awhile, and have stressed about it more and more since my kids are already growing so much. I’m going to miss all their little growth spurts! So what better for them than an adorable (yet simple and budget friendly) DIY Pirate Growth Chart?!
Supplies
6′ tall board – $13
Small canister stain – $8 (I used English Chestnut)
Small canister sealant – $8 (I used clear semi-gloss)
Vinyl for letters and lines – $8
Vinyl for Pirate shapes – $4
Directions
Take your plain board, lay it on something you don’t mind painting on. Choose an area with good ventilation, too, since the stain and sealant smell STRONG. You’ll also need to leave it in place for awhile to dry, so keep that in mind.
Apply the stain according to canister directions. I did two coats on mine. Be sure to allow it to dry completely before adding the sealant, then after applying the sealant before handling.
I then starting adding the vinyl. I chose to do bone shapes for my FOOT lines, so started by measuring and applying those. I did start with 1′ six inches from the bottom, since I’ll attach the board to the wall six inches off the ground.
Then the ‘fun’ part, measuring out each inch. Tiny vinyl lines are not my friends!
Pirate Growth Chart
There’s your ‘almost’ complete board!
Pirate Growth Chart
Now you have the option of applying fun Pirate shapes and fun things: skulls, swords, flags, ships, steering wheels, bandanna caps. Or phrases like ‘Ahoy Matey’ or ‘Yo Ho Yo Ho’ or ‘Walk the Plank’. Have fun with it!
Pirate Growth Chart
Pirate Growth Chart
I can’t wait to track my little Pirate Mateys on this fun growth chart!!!

Filed Under: For the Home, Kid Friendly Tagged With: Craft, Home

Homework Station for Teens & Tweens

July 30, 2018 by Kelly Dedeaux

Homework Station for Teens & Tweens with DIY Pencil Caddy Tutorial #ad #BackToSchoolGoals18 #homework #teens #school

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BackToSchoolGoals18 #CollectiveBias

Supporting our kids at home can really help their success at school, especially as they get older and into higher, more challenging grades. One way we can provide that help to them is having things organized in a way that makes homework and study time less hassle – and maybe even more fun. We put together this organized and colorful Homework Station for Teens & Tweens as we’re getting nearer to the start of the school year, and stocking up on all of the essentials. We’re even showing you how to make this super simple DIY Pencil Caddy!

Homework Station for Teens & Tweens with DIY Pencil Caddy Tutorial #ad #BackToSchoolGoals18 #homework #teens #school

Back to school shopping can be stressful, which is why I make sure to plan ahead and go early before the rush. Walmart always has what I need in just one stop, which is a huge sanity saver! Not only that, but be sure to check out their specific Back-to-School section so you don’t have to wander all over the store to grab everything you need for your students.

Homework Station for Teens & Tweens with DIY Pencil Caddy Tutorial #ad #BackToSchoolGoals18 #homework #teens #school

From my experience, teacher supplies lists can be a bit generic – which is fantastic in finding what you need and covering all the basis – but be sure to stock up on the items you’ll certainly need plenty of for the school year, such as Scotch® tape or Post-it® Original Pop-up Notes. I go through a TON of them all year long, and love that I can keep a good stash of them to pull out whenever.

Homework Station for Teens & Tweens with DIY Pencil Caddy Tutorial #ad #BackToSchoolGoals18 #homework #teens #school

My tweens have started using Post-it® Notes Cubes and Post-it® Tabs a lot, using them to mark pages in their books (without the worry of leaving marks) or planners to help them stay on track and more organized. Of course they LOVE leaving little memos and friendly notes all over, too – but I’m all for it if it makes learning time more fun for them!

Homework Station for Teens & Tweens with DIY Pencil Caddy Tutorial #ad #BackToSchoolGoals18 #homework #teens #school

Supplies

  • Post-it® Notes Cubes and Post-it® Tabs
  • Box or Container
  • Paper of Choice
  • Scissors
  • Containers or Organizers
  • Tissue Paper, if desired
  • School Supplies

Homework Station for Teens & Tweens with DIY Pencil Caddy Tutorial #ad #BackToSchoolGoals18 #homework #teens #school

Note: If you’re using a box, make sure the top flaps are removed first.

Directions

  1. Decorate the box/container. For ours, we just used some sturdy paper (like construction or card stock). Your teen/tween can even decorate it beforehand, if they want! Start with a strip on the four outside corners, just so they are covered neatly. Next, size pieces of paper to cover all the outside sides of the box. Fold over the top and bottom and smooth out, then use Scotch® Super Hold Tape to secure it into place. Homework Station for Teens & Tweens with DIY Pencil Caddy Tutorial #ad #BackToSchoolGoals18 #homework #teens #school
  2. If you want some depth to for your containers, use tissue paper to build up the bottom (we put the back row of containers higher than the front, just because we liked the look of it better). Homework Station for Teens & Tweens with DIY Pencil Caddy Tutorial #ad #BackToSchoolGoals18 #homework #teens #school
  3. Place your containers, then fill with all of your student’s school supplies!

Homework Station for Teens & Tweens with DIY Pencil Caddy Tutorial #ad #BackToSchoolGoals18 #homework #teens #school

Homework Station for Teens & Tweens with DIY Pencil Caddy Tutorial #ad #BackToSchoolGoals18 #homework #teens #school

See, I told you it was really simple – and it’s a great way for them to customize their supply box, making it a bit more enjoyable when it’s time for them to tackle homework or study. We filled our containers with pencils and other supplies to help them, then set up a nice area for them to store it until needed.

Homework Station for Teens & Tweens with DIY Pencil Caddy Tutorial #ad #BackToSchoolGoals18 #homework #teens #school

I’m pretty relieved that I thought ahead this year instead of waiting until the last minute – but at least I know I can always grab everything my kiddos will need for back to school during my regular Walmart trip – because I almost always forget something!

Homework Station for Teens & Tweens with DIY Pencil Caddy Tutorial #ad #BackToSchoolGoals18 #homework #teens #school

Be sure to go here more Back-to-School Inspiration & Help!

Filed Under: For the Home, Kid Friendly, Organization & Cleaning, Products we Love

Decorating with Stencils

July 6, 2018 by Kelly Dedeaux

Decorating with Stencils #ad #stencilrevolution #stencils #homedecorating #homediy #diy #paint #craft #homeproject

This post brought to you by Stencil Revolution. All opinions are mine alone. #StencilRevolution

It feels like we just moved into this house yesterday, while at the same time feeling like we’ve been here years. In all reality, it’s been about 2.5 months – and I haven’t done a single bit of decorating! In all fairness, I still have plenty of boxes to unpack and the more important items to check off the list first, but it really bothers me having nothing on my walls. I was thrilled to get a project to try out, especially because Decorating with Stencils and being able to paint makes me so happy! My kids know when I pull out my ‘painting clothes’, that I’m ready for some DIY fun.

Decorating with Stencils #ad #stencilrevolution #stencils #homedecorating #homediy #diy #paint #craft #homeprojectI had so many ideas on what to do with the large 35″x35″ Texas State stencil I got – everything from a collage of photos cut to fit inside, to string art filling up the stencil – but ultimately I decided it’d be a fun addition to this huge BLANK spot on one of my upstairs walls. I mean, check out all this boring wall space….

Decorating with Stencils #ad #stencilrevolution #stencils #homedecorating #homediy #diy #paint #craft #homeproject

Yup, it was definitely in need of something. For something a little more unique – and because I received both the outside AND inside pieces to this awesome stencil from Stencil Revolution – I decided to do the state shape itself in black chalkboard paint.

Decorating with Stencils #ad #stencilrevolution #stencils #homedecorating #homediy #diy #paint #craft #homeproject

It took three or four coats to get it as smooth and dark as I wanted, but then was a beautiful Texas-shaped chalkboard spot on the wall!

Decorating with Stencils #ad #stencilrevolution #stencils #homedecorating #homediy #diy #paint #craft #homeproject

Next, to add a bunch of fun color! I replaced the outside stencil with the inside, protecting my (fully dried, of course) Texas state shape. I chose four different colors (pink, blue, green and purple), then took some old rags and used THE RAGS to smudge each color all over randomly…

Decorating with Stencils #ad #stencilrevolution #stencils #homedecorating #homediy #diy #paint #craft #homeprojectI’m sure you could make the smudging work with paint brushes, but I felt that the rags really gave it the random splotches, streaks and swipes that I was going for. At first, I was just going to do it a couple inches out from the black shape, but loved the look so much that I decided to fill that whole indented area on the wall – and I love how it turned out!

Decorating with Stencils #ad #stencilrevolution #stencils #homedecorating #homediy #diy #paint #craft #homeproject

Soon, I want to add a red heart on top of the Texas shape right where DFW is, since that’s home for us!

Decorating with Stencils #ad #stencilrevolution #stencils #homedecorating #homediy #diy #paint #craft #homeproject

Since I already had my ‘painting clothes’ and all my supplies out, I tackled another one of the fabulous stencils I got from Stencil Revolution – an awesome quote for the kitchen that reads ‘Today’s Menu: Eat it or Starve’ I know many of you moms are chuckling, just as I did as I browsed the site full of stencils! I feel like dinnertime is a constant battle, so may as well have a bit of humor with it – along with a pop of color in the kitchen, right?

Decorating with Stencils #ad #stencilrevolution #stencils #homedecorating #homediy #diy #paint #craft #homeproject

There’s not a ton of wall space in my kitchen, which is fine with me because I love all the cabinet space and openness. This 18″x12″ vertical stencil fit perfectly on this column by my island area, and really helped that blank spot that was just begging to be decorated!

Decorating with Stencils #ad #stencilrevolution #stencils #homedecorating #homediy #diy #paint #craft #homeproject

I’m thrilled to finally have some fun colors in my house, and had so much fun painting! I’m eager to add some more stencil decorations to my walls (I’ve got a beautiful saying to go in my bedroom, and a fun Iron Man face that the boys will enjoy in the game room or their bedroom), so stay tuned for more DIY projects and colorful fun!

Decorating with Stencils #ad #stencilrevolution #stencils #homedecorating #homediy #diy #paint #craft #homeproject

What stencil would YOU want for your home?

Decorating with Stencils #ad #stencilrevolution #stencils #homedecorating #homediy #diy #paint #craft #homeproject

Filed Under: For the Home, Kid Friendly, Products we Love

8 DIY Travel Savings Jars

June 14, 2018 by Kelly Dedeaux

8 DIY Travel Savings Jars #roundup #travel #craft #diy #savings #money #savingsjar

Y’all know I absolutely LOVE to travel – near or far, it’s so exciting to make plans, pack, check out new sites and meet new cultures! Whether you’re planning a trip to Disneyland, dreaming of an escape to Paris or have no specific destination in mind – just the desire to travel – then these 8 DIY Travel Savings Jars are for you!

8 DIY Travel Savings Jars #roundup #travel #craft #diy #savings #money #savingsjarI don’t know about you, but I think having a cute jar where you can store loose change or other funds you want set aside for a future trip makes it more exciting – and even a little more REAL! This can be especially great if you have a LOT you need to save up to reach your desired goal. It can also be a way for the whole family to get involved – if the kids see that mom and dad are putting some spare change into the jar for the family’s trip, perhaps they’ll want to contribute as well.

Check out these awesome DIY travel savings jars and pick one that works best for YOUR future adventure!

DIY Travel Savings Jars with Free Printable Labels from Cassie Smallwood

Clay Pot Savings Jar from Laura’s Crafty Life

Honeymoon Fund Jar from Something Turquoise

DIY Wanderlust Jar from SerendipiDIY

Customizable Disney Savings Bank from The Quirky Mom Next Door

Mickey and Minnie Mouse Ear Jars from Moms & Munchkins

Disney Savings Jar from Eighteen25

Make Your Own “Fund” Jar from Something Turquoise

Whichever travel savings jar you choose, or wherever you go, I hope you make wonderful memories to last a lifetime!

8 DIY Travel Savings Jars #roundup #travel #craft #diy #savings #money #savingsjar

Filed Under: For the Home, Gift, Travel Tips & Tricks

Tutu Bow Holder

April 17, 2018 by Kelly Dedeaux

I now have TWO girls in my family, not including myself. And three boys (four if you count their dad, who’s a kid often as well!). Ya, there’s quite a bit of testosterone at our home. Now, I’m not a very girly person. Feminine, yes, but not much for the frilly, pink butterflies, multiple purses and closet full of shoes type. That being said, my girls do tend to be a bit more into things like hair bows, ribbons, sparkles and such, so I get to enjoy the fun frills and butterflies of motherhood, not just the Hot Wheels and airplanes. And, of course, adorable girly crafts like this Tutu Bow Holder! Originally published January 2014
Tutu Bow Holder Tutorial / Busy Mom's Helper
One of the ‘girly’ things I do like are cute little hair bows. Seriously, I was stocking up on all sorts of these before Black Widow even had enough hair to put a piggy in! Now that she’s 11, she isn’t as into bows as she once was. It’s often headbands (specifically Mavi Bandz). On occasion, though, she allows me to stick one of the cute clips in her hair. Plus, Songbird really loves her hair bows. One problem we have is, they’re often just stuffed in a drawer in their bathroom. Hard to get to, harder to sort through to find the right one.
That’s where this adorable Tutu Bow Holder comes in! I was intimidated at first, but then found that Trisha over at Momdot has the absolute BEST tutorial! I loved her very clear and precise instructions. So for the complete tutorial, go over to her tutorial.
Here’s some photos from the one I made Black Widow years ago…
She picked out all her own colors and supplies. It will fit along quite well with her room makeover that’s currently taking place (first room makeover/remodel in our new house – so excited!!!)
I’m so excited how this turned out!
Here’s the one we recently made for my little cousin’s birthday!
Don’t forget to go see Trisha over at Momdot to get the Tutorial!

Filed Under: For the Home Tagged With: Craft, Girl Stuff, Hair

DIY Popsicle Stick Coasters

April 12, 2018 by Kelly Dedeaux

DIY Popsicle Stick Coasters / a fun craft for adults, kids, teens or anyone! #craft #diy #paint #popsiclestick #craftstick #project #activity

Please tell me I’m not the only one who has a huge stockpile of popsicle sticks (aka craft sticks)? Not like used ones from popsicles my kids have eaten, so don’t worry – but I buy them in bulk because there’s so many awesome projects you can create with them! The latest fun are these DIY Popsicle Stick Coasters that you can quickly put together, then decorate however you’d like!

DIY Popsicle Stick Coasters / a fun craft for adults, kids, teens or anyone! #craft #diy #paint #popsiclestick #craftstick #project #activity

We’ve used craft sticks in plenty of things, such as our DIY Valentine Frame, to hold up our fun printable Star Wars Puppets, or even for the kids’ catapults! Seriously, these are one of those craft items that are great to keep in stock – maybe not the crazy amount I have, but still a bag full or so is perfect. Besides, a bunch of these crafts would be great for not just kids, but adults as well – just like these stick coasters!

DIY Popsicle Stick Coasters / a fun craft for adults, kids, teens or anyone! #craft #diy #paint #popsiclestick #craftstick #project #activity

Supplies

  • Popsicle sticks
  • Cutting pliers
  • Strong adhesive glue
  • Poster color
  • Paint brush

DIY Popsicle Stick Coasters / a fun craft for adults, kids, teens or anyone! #craft #diy #paint #popsiclestick #craftstick #project #activity

Directions

  1. I used 12 popsicle sticks for each coaster, however select the number of popsicle sticks you want and cut off both round ends with the help of craft pliers so that the popsicle sticks are rectangular.
  2. Place a piece of paper on a flat surface and place 1 popsicle stick vertically on it; Place 2 more popsicle sticks parallel to each other; Each of the 2 sticks should be placed horizontally with each ends of the first stick. The 1st stick has been used for measurement.
  3. Now take the 1 st popsicle stick (placed vertically) and glue it on its side onto the 2 horizontal sticks.
  4. Glue 2 more popsicle sticks on their sides onto the 2 horizontal sticks, keeping even gap between all 3 sticks. The base is now ready.
  5. Now take the rest of the popsicle sticks and glue them on the base one by one.
  6. You can either cover the entire top surface or keep small and even gaps between the popsicle sticks while gluing them on the top of the base.
  7. Done gluing all the popsicle sticks? Select a color of your choice and simply paint the coaster (popsicle sticks) as you wish. Once you’re done painting, allow the paint to dry entirely.

DIY Popsicle Stick Coasters / a fun craft for adults, kids, teens or anyone! #craft #diy #paint #popsiclestick #craftstick #project #activityThey’re really SUPER easy to make, plus I love how easy it is to paint them to match your own decor or style.

DIY Popsicle Stick Coasters / a fun craft for adults, kids, teens or anyone! #craft #diy #paint #popsiclestick #craftstick #project #activityThey’d also make great gifts, especially as a ‘welcome home’ type package for someone moving! Or put these out at your next party – paint them to match the team you’re rooting for during the game, paint to match the decorations for a birthday, or just to protect your tables from those drinks 😉

DIY Popsicle Stick Coasters / a fun craft for adults, kids, teens or anyone! #craft #diy #paint #popsiclestick #craftstick #project #activityHow would YOU decorate your craft stick coaster?

Filed Under: For the Home, Gift, Kid Friendly

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 7
  • Next Page »
The Most Helpful Printables EVER for busy families! Nab just a mini set of your favorites, or get the whole pack! Practically every printable a busy family could use - over 70 pages PLUS two BONUS items! Help get organized with categories like: Money, Scheduling/Time Management, Kitchen/Meal Planning, Security & Home Management, as well as Trip Planning! #printables #busymom #busyparents #busyfamily #busyfamilies #printableset #parenting #moms #money #homemanagement #timemanagement
Unofficial Disneyland Activity Book / by Busy Mom's Helper
52 Weeks of Meal Plans on a Budget with Recipes

© 2021 · busymomshelper.com