New Years with kids! Fun simple crafts and activities

I Found a few adorable New Years ideas that are great and simple to do with kids! Wanted to share!

 Found the hats on www.totschooling.net.

This site has a ton of free and awesome free printable's for kiddos! 

Enjoy <3 Have a great New Years Everyone :D

Printable & color-able New Years party hats!

New Years Bingo

Planning to laminate ours to use time and time again.  will probably make my own sometime that doesn't have a year on it! ;) But this is still super cute and fun, regardless.

Found this on:www.kristendukephotography.com

Originally from:www.bloominghomestead.com

DIY Noise Makers

This year we are just taping the edges together with scotch or washi tape and writing names and the year on both sides...no stick.

found this on craftingheaven.weebly.com

Top 10 List

*Couldn't get the image to transfer but it has a great 10 things that are fun with kids for new years!

Click the top 10 list link above to see the printable list and examples ;)

1. Board game on...
2. Set up a camp-in...
3. Make a fresh start...
4. Time for a capsule...
5. DIY confetti...
6. Count down chain...
7. B-I-N-G-O...
8. Expect the Unexpected...
9. Make it POP...
10. CHEERS!

Milk and cookie the fancy way...

Mini Sparkling Cider New Year’s Cupcakes

Click on over to cupcakesgarden.com for the beautiful and fun pictures of these fun treats!

Mini Sparkling Cider Cupcakes

Ingredients

1½ c. cake flour

1 c. sugar

½ c. (1 stick) butter, room temperature

2 eggs

½ c. buttermilk

¼ c. sparkling cider

1¾ tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. salt

¾ tsp. vanilla extract

¼ tsp. vanilla bean paste

For the sparkling vanilla frosting:

3-4 c. powdered sugar

1 c. (2 sticks) butter, room temperature

2 tbsp. whole milk

3 tbsp. sparking cider

Pinch of salt

1 tbsp. vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line three miniature muffin or cupcake tins with liners. Set aside.

2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat together sugar and butter until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla extract and vanilla bean paste. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition. 

3. In a medium size mixing bowl, whisk together cake flour, baking powder and salt. With mixing speed on low, alternate between adding wet ingredients (buttermilk and cider) and dry ingredients. Mix until just combined.

4. Scoop batter into prepared pans, filling each ⅔ of the way full. Place in oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until they become lightly golden brown on top. Remove from the oven and allow to cool in pans for 2-3 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. 

5. While cupcakes are cooling, to prepare the frosting, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat together butter for 1 minute until smooth. Add vanilla extract and salt. Gradually add powdered sugar, a half cup at a time, with mixing speed on low, add milk and sparking cider. Beat on medium-high speed for 2-3 minutes until frosting is light and fluffy (it should be relatively stiff). Add more powdered sugar if needed.

NOTE: This recipe can make standard size cupcakes, just adjust the baking time to 18-20 minutes.

Adapted from Sur La Table, Mini Vanilla Cupcakes | Makes approximately 30 mini cupcakes

'Envelope on the Hour' Tradition:

I  have seen some pictures of count down bags (clocks with each hour leading up to midnight) and thought an even simpler idea would be some fun colored enveloped with different times hand written on them. In each there could be anything...treat, stickers, activity...whatever! And since my kids all under 5...for those who also have very little kids--I am going to start our envelopes earlier and countdown early using the different Netflix shows countdowns!

something like this...

DIY Confetti---1pm

New Years Bingo---2pm

party hat craft---3pm

Surprise Treat & noise maker craft---4pm

Firework cookies(for after dinner!)---5pm

Special dinner or special new years treat after dinner (fire work cookies and milk)--6pm

Resolution making time/sparklers---7pm

Net Flix countdown/noise makers--8pm

Bedtime--9pm

Firework Cookies!

These are great for new years or 4TH of July!...Really any celebration worth having fireworks ;)

Found these over at http://nurturestore.co.uk/

My kids will love this and whats really great about these too is that it doesn't have to be at all perfect, and you can use sugar cookie dough, gingerbread cookie dough...something you can roll flat.

Resolution Sheets:

Found over on http://www.kristendukephotography.com/

Its neat to have all these options to choose from. 6 different ones!

Do you have any New Years Traditions??

I hope your New Year's is Awesome!

Cothes Pin Mirror Decor

This craft not only turned out just as I'd hoped for, but it was very inexpensive and pretty easy too! With that said, its totally up my usual alley! I saw the idea on pinterest and thought I would give it a chance.

 Hope you enjoy making yours and adding it to your own decor :D

WHAT YOU NEED:

1. Modge-podge (ELMERS GLUE SHULD WORK FINE TOO IF THATS ALL YOU HAVE)
2. a bag or two of wooden clothes pins (my oval mirror took 46, but depending on the size and shape of yours...it will vary) Got mine from walmart. walmart $1.88! and free instore pickup picture shown below
3. circle or oval shape mirror (I found some framed mirrors at the .99 cent store and easily popped out the mirrors...cant beat that price! but you can also use a coupon and buy from jonns or michaels or even but a custer of  mirrors like these here...and its a great price for this may mirrors (could be an awesome display/decor piece, no?!)7-pc mirror set $13.99 picture shown below
4. Scrapbook paper (or fabric scraps)OPTIONAL if wanting to add color or pattern --like in the collage above. 
5. scissors 
6. ruler + pencil
7. hot glue (for twine or ribbon attaching to the back for wall hanging)
8. twine or ribbon

walmart $1.88! and free instore pickup

7-pc mirror set $13.99

STEPS:

1. Count how many pins you need (per mirror if more than one/different sizes)
2. Decide if you want them lined up evenly or staggered? (see picture at the top)
3. if adding paper follow directions below
4. trace the amount of strips of paper you need around one pin. (count out how many of eachpattern you want/need if doing more than one colore or print of paper)
5. cut them out...when cutting be sure to cut on the inside of your lines to have a more fitting strip when glueing to your wooden pin
6.  when you are putting each paper strip on, lay one on top of the pin to see if any side or part needs trimming, then brush the back with your glue and flatten it on the pin with our fingers.
7. let dry for about 20min. and then arrange your pins around the edge of your mirror/s 
8. flip over carefully and hot glue on your thin ribbon or twine for hanging!

I thought I was originally was going to hang these in our laundry room, which would look super cute (and i may make more in the future  hah) but I liked them alot in our main living space, so for now...this is where they will stay :)

What do you all think?

Have Fun ;)

Printable Mother's Day Cards (FREE)--5 Reasons why I love my Mother Or Mother-in-Law

CLICK HERE TO PRINT!

Hey Everyone! So I had some fun making these cards last year, but I was having some alignment issues while designing them that I couldnt solve it before last Mother's Day arrived (turned out to be the sites issue---new site issues)...Sooo, I am posting them now...in time for this years Mothers Day :)

Hope you enjoy them and can put them to use, brightening your Mothers OR Mother-in-law's Day this Sunday!

1.You can either add text to these cards by saving the print to your computer first...then editing in a picassa or other photo editing program and then printing (at home or your favorite print store)

OR

2. Print at home or your favorite print shop & then take a good ol' sharpy to the actual print...just being very careful you dont mess up ;)

CLICK HERE TO PRINT!

LDS coloring pages, activities, general conference helps, FHE helps, Teaching helps

Hey! So, I Came across this site while searching for LDS activites one day and I really wanted to share....

  

Color Time - Crossword Puzzles - Find and Color - Mazes
Word Codes - Word Games - Word Search - General Conference - Other Games 

...The site isnt all too complicated, which is nice...and it has some great things that your kiddos can use at home for conference OR things that can be nice for teaching primary/callings...OR just to go with a good ol' FHE! 

Click here! To go to the Site LDS-Games.com

This is just a few hand picked from the site, there are soo many other good ones too!

:) Too-da-loo!

Know of any other great sites?


Here are some other great ones!

Here are some of the pictures and the links below





http://azcoloring.com/lds-coloring-pages-for-kids



http://ldscoloringpages.net/
(from the friend mag)

https://www.lds.org/children/resources/type/coloring-pages?lang=eng

https://www.lds.org/media-library/images/categories/primary-symbols?lang=eng&_r=1

https://www.lds.org/children/activities/color?lang=eng

Sacrament coloring book
http://www.sugardoodle.net/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=5342:sacrament-coloring-book

More pages to add to sacrament coloring book or as separate pages
http://www.sugardoodle.net/index.php?q=Coloring+pages&option=com_finder&view=search&Itemid=0

Book of mormon page
http://www.sugardoodle.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7647

Coloring pg of monson, etc.
http://www.mormonshare.com/tag/coloring-sheets

General Conf printable packets
http://www.ldsclipart.com/general-conference-coloring-pages/

Puzzle Valentine's & Free Valentine prints! (most print sizes)

Hey there! 

Got a bunch of NEW free printable valentines that I just finished, and am so stoked to share them <3

These can be simply written on the back of and handed out, printed in wallet size hole punched and tied to treats, OR framed :D

Enjoy, Hope your Valentines Day is Super!

you & me=we

be mine

sweet hearts

Sending love...

CANT TAKE MY MIND OFF OF YOU!

yOU FLOAT MY bOAT

Treat idea:

Would be awesome to attach to some rootbeer float cookies, OR and boat toy or game.

So, my mother-in-law made us some awesome church picture ones, and I thought I'd make some Valentines ones too, since my kids loved them so much!

What you'll need to make your puzzle valentines:

1. large (or regular) colorful popsicle sticks (find them HERE -2.99-for 100!)
2. markers (for the numbering on the back OR drawing your own picture)
3. prints with a picture or message (all over this page!)
4. snack food bags (for labeling and storing each puzzle)
5. glue
6. scissors
7. pen or pencil (for making stripes on the back to cut)
8. Extra colorful or patterned paper if you want to create a border around your print (optional)

How To:

• Pick your print. print at home or at the store... cut out, decide how many sticks long you want your puzzle, then trim off any excess of your picture as needed. my end sticks werent quite a whole stick so measure accordingly if you want yours that way.
• flip over picture and trace the edges of your sticks all the way up (or down) your print.
• Cut your puzzle strips (try to keep them in order as you cut them, saves possible confusion)
• start with one stick in front of you, spread glue on the first strip of paper, center on your stick
• grab another stick and line it up with the first. take the next stip in order and glue the back...bring over and line up with the first picture, etc.
• after all are glued, may need to place heavy books on top to flatten
• then turn one stick over at a time (making sure to turn each stick the EXACT same way, trust me, can make it tricky if you dont---making numbers upside down or on the opposite side as most of the other  numbers) and number them [straight in the center or down one side]
• and thats it! label a snack bag (with or without a sticker label) and you are set!

YOU AND I ARE the perfect fit

idea: Would be cute attached to any puzzle OR printed to make it into a puzzle valentine!

Like campfires & Marshmallows...

Treat idea: Would be super cute to attach to a treat bag of mini mallows on pretzel sticks! OR a good 'ol s'more/s'more treat mix!!

you & me

You are just me Type

Owl always love you

Now, this one will be included with some Cute kids decor prints (to come!)

 BUT figured it was a cute one for Valentines Day as well! 

Planning to use one of these for your Valentines Day OR Events?!

 I would love to hear about it!

Tell me, 

WHICH ONE IS YOUR FAVORITE?!

Super Easy! UpCycled Storage bin

What you Need:

1.Duck Tape

 (I almost got a fun printed one, but went with something I knew would go with anyting, if I happened to change its purpose/room)

2.Scissors

3.Storage bin (colors you like)

And...Things to go inside! ;)

Pretty obvious, I thought, as to how to do this. All you need to keep in mind it to keep the tape straight as you wrap it across and around. I overlapped each layer just a little to avoid any color coming through.

And there you have it. Super easy, and fairly cheap! I had the bucket already. I LOVED the colors and the lid, the fact that their was a handle...and the sturdiness. I hung onto this forever it seems to use at a future time, (a bit of the hoarder in me!!)

 But I knew it could be put to good use, so here ya go.

Plain Duct tape, or printed kind is not too badly priced either. Can find it at joanns or michaels and use their 40-50% off coupons for a steal, or check your local grocery store, office supply store, or...of course ONLINE!

THERE ARE SERIOUSLY A TON TO CHOOSE FROM IN THE STORE, SO I WOULD GO LOOK IN THE STORE FIRST BEFORE DECIDING TO PURCHASE ANY ONLINE. YOU WILL FIND A BETTER PRICE (WITH COUPON AND NO SHIPPING) AND WAY MORE OPTIONS)

Thought this was a neat one! from joanns.com

again, go to store and bring coupon!

$4.49

This looks neat too! not real burlap, but the look of it! Oh the things I could do with both of thse prints, haha...maybe for some future projects!

burlap duct tape joanns.com

$4.49

Have fun UpCycling your Storage!