Family fun, food, recipes, crafts, and free printables
Thanksgiving week – WOW!!! I know everyone says how the holidays creep up on them, but seriously, this is pretty ridiculous! Now, there’s probably many of you who already have a good idea what’s on your shopping list for gifts this year. I, on the other hand, am not sure what my kids really want. It’s definitely going to be a mellow year, that’s for sure – moving, buying a house and a puppy….nothing extravagant this year! I do want my kids to be able to ask for a few things on their mind, though, and figure having that done BEFORE the big sales this week would be wise. So here it is…a darling yet simple Christmas Wish List Printable, for your kids, friends, or even you!
Supplies
Two 2-liter soda bottles (empty) – may discard lids
Small piece of sand paper
Silver spray paint
Duct/Gorilla Tape
String, yarn or ribbon
Orange cellophane or tissue paper
Directions
Take the labels off the soda bottles. Lightly sand paper the bottles all over (this helps the spray paint stick better).
Spray paint all over the bottles, allow to dry. Use a second coat if you want – I didn’t see a need to.
Use duct or gorilla tape to attach the bottles together – also put the string/yarn/ribbon as straps attached by the tape and tying. Be sure to measure it to your child, or they may not be able to get their arms in if it’s too small.
Put a small piece of rolled tape inside the bottle top, then stick the orange cellophane/paper so it’s attached and sticks out (these are the flames from the jet packs).
Viola – complete, and so much fun!!!
And as promised……a second fun and super simple project for you today!
These Monster-Making felt kits are so much fun for the kids, and you can make them in minutes (or longer, depends on you)!
Supplies
Felt – various colors
Scissors
Directions
Use the scissors to cut out various shapes for your monsters – Heads, Hair, Eyes, Noses, Mouths, Teeth, Scars, Horns, Ears, Bolts…..get creative!
Then just let your kids create and recreate fun monsters and other Halloween fun creatures!
If you want, you can also put magnets on the back of it all and have it stay together better. Really, the options are only dependent on yours (and your kids’) imagination!
So, I don’t know if this would actually count as a post – but I feel bad I haven’t shared anything since Saturday. Reason being: my mom is in town!!! The kids and I are having a blast with her, and since I’ve made it a point to put family first, I’ve been a bit absent from here. I apologize, but promise there’s some AMAZING stuff coming up in the coming weeks, so just bare with me!
I wanted to share my Simple Scary Monster Windows with you – especially since it’s SOOOO EASY!!! Seriously, all you do is take a bunch of black 12×12 scrapbook paper (larger, if you can find it). Do a monster on each page, making a variety – witch, different mouths and eyes, horns or snake-eyes, etc. Cut them out, then tape them to your window (inside of the blinds). Then go outside and take a look – Viola!!!
See, super easy, yet lots of fun! Let your kiddo’s help create the monsters and they’ll think it’s the coolest window ever!
These are an oldie-but-a-goodie. My kids actually made them at my mom’s house last Halloween-time, and I snapped a photo of those ones so I could try to do them again. Behold, Tasty Spider Gift second edition! These fun little gifts are so simple, cost-friendly (Booyah!) and cute that kids AND adults alike will love them!
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Supplies
Headband
Markers (if you’re decorating the band)
Foam Cone (the size you want the hat to be)
Scrap of fun Halloween fabric (that will fit over the cone completely)
Ribbon/Flowers to decorate
Piece of black construction paper
Hot Glue Gun
Directions
If you’re decorating your headband, like I did for our plain black/white one, use the markers to color over as desired. I alternated purple, green and orange on the white parts.
Do your kids love PB & J sandwiches? Mine DEVOUR them….it’s like an absolute favorite no matter how recently we’ve had it, or how often. I don’t mind them, but come on, there’s a limit to how many I can eat, and especially how many I can MAKE!
In my never-ending struggle to find creative, inexpensive and EASY lunches for the kids….that they ALL enjoy…I decided to try PB & J in a different form: MUFFINS. I found these WONDERFUL recipe from Edible Perspective, and just changed some for my own family’s preferences.
PB & J Muffins
Ingredients – Muffins
2 1/4 cup Flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
1/2 tsp Salt
2 Eggs
2/3 cup Milk
1/2 cup Applesauce
6 tbsp. Honey
1/4 cup Butter, melted
3 tbsp. Peanut Butter, creamy
1 tbsp. Vanilla
1/2 cup Jelly/Jam
Ingredients – Crumble Topping
6 tbsp. Oats
3 tbsp. Sugar
3 tbsp. Flour
3 tbsp. Peanut Butter, creamy
1 tbsp. Butter, melted
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees. Spray a 12-cup muffin tin, or line with muffin liners. Set aside.
In a large bowl, mix all of the dry muffin ingredients.
In a medium bowl, mix the Peanut Butter, Honey and Butter until smooth. Add the remaining muffin ingredients EXCEPT THE JELLY and mix until well combined.
Pour the butter mixture into the dry mixture and stir until just combined.
Pour enough batter into the muffin cups just to cover the bottom. Top with 1-2 tsp. Jelly, then cover with more batter until cups are 2/3 of the way full.
Make the crumble topping: In a small bowl, mix the Peanut Butter and melted Butter until smooth. Add the rest of the crumble ingredients and MUSH together with a fork until crumbly.
Sprinkle the crumble topping on top of the muffins. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean – keep in mind to stick it in the edge, as to avoid the jelly.
Look at that yummy jelly center – ooooh, yummy! The kids absolutely LOVED these, and are now asking for these even more than the PB & J sandwiches!!!