With Valentine’s Day being one of my favorite holidays, I love to make all sorts of things inspired by the special day. We like to have special Valentine’s Day Treats that we make together. We also like to really decorate the house with some store bought décor but most of it is handmade (and a lot of it is Valentines décor made by the kids!). We try to do at least one special Valentine themed craft or activity on the days leading up to the holiday. We like to give our creations to the nearest and dearest people in our lives. It’s nice to spread love all year but it’s fun to have an extra special day to do so. Here are some of our favorite making projects for Valentine’s Day.

1. Do your kids like weaving projects? Mine do and I’m glad because I like the fine motor aspect of the activity as well as the super fun results. This Heart Weaving project can be done with essentially any color of yarn to make the craft as individual as your child.
2. I just love suncatchers. I think they are a beautiful way to add color to a window, especially in the dreary winter months. These Heart Suncatchers are absolutely perfect for Valentine’s décor!
3. Puffy paint is seriously one of my favorite types of paint! I love how different the beginning is from the end. These super cute Puffy Paint Hearts make the perfect statement pieces for a Valentine’s Day garland!
4. Sometimes it is hard to find a way to display ALL of your child’s art. This Heart Art is such a stunning way to display a child’s artwork! This also makes one heck of a gift!
5. These 3D Paper Hearts can be personalized to fit the Valentine’s Day color scheme or with your favorite colors. A child could create patterns or solid. The options are endless with these super cute hearts! 
6. My love of paper crafts continues with these unbelievably easy Paper Hearts. These hearts would also make a fantastic banner or garland!
7. Another canvas art project that can literally be done by any age. The result is beautiful enough for a museum and your children will be so proud of their masterpieces!
8. This little guy is just too cute for words! I love that this Felt Heart Mobile can start out as a Valentine decoration but then would be so cute in a child’s room for an everyday decoration!
9. Fingerprint crafts are one of my favorites to keep from my children. As their hands grow I can remember how small they once were from the artwork. This Fingerprint Tree is the perfect sentimental Valentine’s Day craft. Sure to bring some tears to my eyes in 5 years!

A lot of these art projects are ones that I would want to see in my house the whole year through. And if not they are ones that will be kept in a box forever and ever! Valentine’s Day is so full of love and I enjoy so much creating crafts and art projects with my kids to celebrate such a wonderful holiday.  

The post 9 Valentine Makes & Ideas for Kids appeared first on Crafty Mama in ME!.

Free Printable Paw Patrol Bingo

I am in the planning process for Boo Boo’s 6th birthday party – a Paw Patrol themed party!  I always scour Pinterest and the internet for free printables that I can use for the party.  This time when searching for a free Bingo game my search turned up empty so I decided I would make my own Bingo game.  I created this game for our own personal use but decided to share it with others for FREE!  

This Bingo game is for personal use only – meaning for little ones parties – not to be reproduced and sold.

We have 11 little ones attending the party so I made 11 unique Bingo cards.  I also made a calling sheet for you to print and cut out the cards.

Click here to download your own copy!

Paw Patrol Bingo

Have a fun time playing Bingo!

Take a look at my other Paw Patrol related ideas below:

Awesome New Paw Patrol Toys Gift Guide 

How to Plan a Girl Paw Patrol Themed Party

Nutritional Fun Snacks for Kids: Paw Patrol Themed Badge

If you are looking for more kid birthday party inspiration take a look at my Pinterest board:

Follow Crafty Mama in ME’s board Kids Birthday party ideas on Pinterest.

The post Free Printable Paw Patrol Bingo appeared first on Crafty Mama in ME!.

***The coupons for product redemption, information, and gift card have been provided by Entenmann’s® so that I could try the product and share my thoughts and information about Entenmann’s®. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions of Entenmann’s®.***

Do you and your family love movies? Do you also love Entenmann’s® products?? If so then pay attention! Entenmann’s & BUMBLEBEE are teaming up to provide an awesome offer to celebrate the release of BUMBLEBEE to theaters!

From now through January 5, 2019, with the purchase of three Entenmann’s® Little Bites® muffins, eight count donuts or Entenmann’s® Minis, fans will receive $5.00 off a movie ticket to see the film! How awesome!!! Which of the three products listed below can your family not live without?

• Entenmann’s® Little Bites® muffins are pre-portioned pouches of delicious baked snacks made with real ingredients like blueberries, strawberries and bananas
• Entenmann’s® makes a variety of delicious, cake style donuts such as Rich Chocolate Frosted, Crumb and Powdered
• Entenmann’s® Minis feature the same deliciousness and quality you know and love from classic Entenmann’s® products, only smaller and individually wrapped

Our whole family loves Entenmann’s® Minis but the kids would definitely pick Little Bites® muffins because they love getting them in their lunch boxes!

For more information about the promotion, please visit www.littlebites.com/bumblebeemovie

Bumblebee in Theaters December 21st

On the run in the year 1987, Bumblebee finds refuge in a junkyard in a small Californian beach town. Charlie (Hailee Steinfeld), on the cusp of turning 18 and trying to find her place in the world, discovers Bumblebee, battle-scarred and broken.  When Charlie revives him, she quickly learns this is no ordinary, yellow VW bug. 

Find more information about Entenmann’s® below:

Website /  Facebook / Instagram / YouTube

Enter my Giveaway!!

Enter for a chance to win a $25 Visa digital gift card and (3) coupons for $5.00 off the purchase of any Entenmann’s® Little Bites®!! 

Entenmann’s® is responsible for sending out the winner’s prize.

The post Entenmann’s® & BUMBLEBEE! appeared first on Crafty Mama in ME!.

Each and every year, months before Christmas, kids start to question how long until Christmas comes! Is it the same in your home? We like to keep kids occupied and prolong their anticipation with crafting many a Kids Craft and especially DIY Christmas ornaments every year! Will you join us this year? They make wonderful little gifts that kids can give at Christmas and are a great way to also decorate gifts. We also have some amazing Christmas Sewing Projects to make and gift.

1. Reindeers and Christmas are inseparable, right? We love seeing adorable little reindeers, and when they look as cute as this felt Christmas reindeer ornament, you can’t resist to make a whole lot of them!
2. For kids who are eager to learn how to sew, easy felt stars are perfect ornament to make this Christmas. Super easy and when presented with bunch of different items for decorations, it’s super fun to make as well!
3. We like to mix things up and add different themed ornaments on our Christmas tree. So, crochet fox ornament also found a way to our Christmas tree. Adorable, isn’t it? If you like fox crafts, we have made lots in the past!
4. With Christmas falling in winter season, it’s easy to add some of the winter crafts and decorations to Christmas holiday. We love these quick to make penguin softies you can make and hang on your Christmas tree. You can choose few other penguin ornaments and make them too!
5. If you prefer paper crafts, we prepared a printable template to use and make adorable 3D reindeer ornament! Quick to make and looks so cute hanging on Christmas tree. You can even string many together and make a garland!
6. Kids always ask: Will it snow on Christmas? It’s one of the things so many associate with Christmas. If your kids are also looking forward to white Christmas, invite them to make few of these lovely pipe cleaner snowflakes!
7. Another pretty easy to make Christmas ornament, even for kids as young as toddlers and preschoolers – pipe cleaner Christmas tree. We used them for Christmas garland, but you can easily just hang easy one separately on Christmas tree as an ornament.
8. For unicorn fans, Christmas is another opportunity to add them to holiday decorations! There are many unicorn crafts to choose from, but we love these adorable and easy unicorn ornaments made from paper and wool! Cute!
9. Use smaller wooden slices to make wood slice snowman ornament or use larger ones and turn your snowman into decorative piece for Christmas mantel.You can even use it to decorate your front porch! Which one will you choose?
10. Christmas crafting provides an opportunity for younger children to work on their fine motor skills. Great example is this yarn wrapped Christmas tree which can be decorated in number of ways. Let your child’s imagination run wild as they pick materials for their wrapped tree!

From easy crafts for kids who are younger like toddlers and preschoolers, to more elaborate, like Christmas sewing crafts for kids – we have done so many over years! My kids ADORE crafting and we often use crafting sessions in our home as a way to bond as a family. We wish you lots of crafting and lots of bonding this holiday season!

If you are looking for more Kid Made Christmas Ornaments make sure you check out the Blog Hop I hosted last year:

Kid Made Christmas Ornament Blog Hop 2017

The post 10 Great Decorations for the Christmas Tree appeared first on Crafty Mama in ME!.

15 Cards and Printable Gifts for Father’s Day

Father’s Day is rapidly approaching.  Are you running out of time to think of something cute and creative to give your husband or significant other?  If you are looking for more options beyond my Lion Card and my Monkey Card keep scrolling down.  Click on the links below to grab all of the amazing card tutorials and free Father’s Day gift printables. Each one is guaranteed to help your little ones show Dad how much he is loved. Don’t forget to leave a comment letting my blog friends know you found their great Father’s Day cards and gifts at Crafty Mama in ME!  

1. Origami Shirt Father’s Day Card by Red Ted Art
2. Pop Up Father’s Day Card by Red Ted Art
3. DIY Father’s Day Gift Card by Aimee Geroux
4. Father’s Day Gift Tags by I Should Be Mopping The Floor
5. You Rock Dad Coloring Page and Frame by Katarina’s Paperie
6. Father’s Day Hands Down Printable by Saving Dollars and Sense
7. All About My Dad Interview Printable by Where The Smiles Have Been
8. Free Printable Coupon Book for Dad by Mama Cheaps
9. Father’s Day My Dad Printable for Preschoolers by Thrifty Mommas Tips
10. Father’s Day Candy Bar Wrapper by 5 Minutes For Mom
11. Nuts About Dad Father’s Day Gift by Saving Dollars and sense
12. All About Dad Survey for Kids by Mama Cheaps
13. LOVE YOU TO PIECES by Trish Sutton
14. Dad’s Ultimate Pampering Kit and Sweet & Spicy Steak Rub by Whispered Inspirations
15. “BEST BUDS” Father’s Day Gift by Half Scratched

I personally have my kids fill out the questionnaires each year – I love saving them!  It’s such a fun way to look back on their childhood.

If you are looking for additional Father’s Day Inspiration take a peek at our Handprint Father’s Day Platter from a few years ago here:

Disclaimer: Never use blogger photos without permission. The Virtual Assistant (Victoria) who prepared this post obtained permission to use the photos included in this article as a member of the Craft and Food Roundup group. Links were submitted by blog owners/representatives and are being used in accordance to the group rules.

The post 15 Cards and Printable Gifts for Father’s Day appeared first on Crafty Mama in ME!.

Circuit Cubes & the Brownie Programming Robots Badge

Do you have a daughter in Girl Scouts?  Or are you interested in possibly having her join in future years?  You definitely should!  Some people consider Girl Scouts outdated and that they only teach girls how to sew and do other domestic tasks.  That couldn’t be further from the truth.  This is my third year as my daughter’s leader and the badges they have now are amazing!  The girls still can earn some of the older patches (called legacy patches now) but also have the opportunity to focus on a lot of STEM learning (STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering, Math). 

This year we had the girls chose the journeys they wanted to earn (a journey is a set of patches that go together and focus on a specific learning area).  We weren’t surprised at all when they chose the engineering journey as their first badges to work on.  We had a ton of fun engineering pumpkin catapults, marble runs, and more!  I had the opportunity to receive three Circuit Cubes kits this spring and to use them with my troop.  I browsed the Brownie badges and new instantly that they would be perfect to tie in with the Programming Robots Badge.  The girls were ecstatic when I told them we were going to learn about programming robots and also get to build some as well!

The Brownie Robotics program is progressive and will result in the girls earning three different badges when they complete all of the requirements.  Download your own copy of the badge requirements by clicking the image below:

The meeting before we really started learning about Programming Robots I let the girls know that our next patch was going to be about robots.  I asked the girls what a robot was and what they did.  We also had the girls share some of the robots they knew – like R2D2, Wall-E, and Roomba!  I loved hearing the ideas they shared. 

Our first official Programming Robots meeting started by having the girls pair up – one was a robot and and one was a programmer.  The programmer had to tell the robot step by step how to do something and robot had to act out only the actions they were told.  We talked about how robots follow an algorithm, or step by step instructions.  Next we learned about coding and did an activity called Paper Programming that came from the Girl Scout Volunteer Toolkit (if you are a girl scout leader you have access to this).  The girls struggled with this step when we had them try it individually so we worked as a large group.  I would provide the verbal instruction and they would follow it and fill out the appropriate squares on their blank 4×4 grid.  At the end we checked to see if they completed the right pattern.  By the end of the session they were all doing really well.  

Finally we got out the Circuit Cubes so the girls could build their own robots.  The kits help them create very simple machines that only complete one task.  The girls broke up into three engineering teams and set to work!

We had one group working on the Whacky Wheels kit.

Another group worked on the Smart Art kit.

The third group worked on the Bright Lights kit.

The girls had a lot of fun in a short amount of time – we only had about 30 minutes for them from opening the kits to the end of our meeting.  They worked well together in their groups and all succeeded in following the directions to create at least part of the object they picked.  The Smart Art group was the only one that full completed their robot and all of the girls had a chance to look at it before we picked up (and they all want to use that kit at the next meeting!).  The instruction books were a little difficult for their age range (7-9) but with adult assistance we figured them out!

We will continue working with these kits at our next meeting as we conclude the badge requirements for Programming Robots.  The girls will also get a chance to write their own code for a robot next week as well as pretending to be robots following instructions in a maze!

I love helping expose my daughter and her friends to such cool activities.  Supplementing the Girl Scout programming with such awesome tools like the Circuit Cubes is a sure way to interest the girls and encourage them to want to learn about STEM.

The post Circuit Cubes & the Brownie Programming Robots Badge appeared first on Crafty Mama in ME!.

Tons of Fun with Laser X Blasters

If you are like me and have more than one child you are probably always on the look out for fun new toys that they can play with together right (that aren’t video games!)?  My kids were SOOOO excited when I opened the box with the Laser X Blasters – they couldn’t wait for me to take my box picture (I always get a nice picture before they open the box because the box never looks quite right after they have gotten their hands on it!).  We put in the batteries and they were off to have tons of fun with Laser X Blasters!

I love that the kids can play with the Laser X Blasters outside even in the daytime.  It gives them a fun reason to be out and running around.  It is awesome that the Laser X sets can work together to create larger teams and allow more kids to play.

My kids played with their cousins and took turns battling!  They were so happy to have something different to play with outside and it really kept them busy for a while!

Laser X Blasters Product Information

Do your kids love video games? Laser X will get them off the couch for a fun game of laser tag with an updated, technologically-advanced laser blaster system.  Like other Laser X gear, Micro Blasters feature state-of-the-art lighting and sound effects that bring the excitement of a laser tag arena right to your own backyard. Strap a receiver onto your upper arm, and blast opponents up to 100 feet away. Reloading is easier than ever; Just press and hold the trigger.

All Laser X sets work together, so games can have as few as two players – or the whole neighborhood can play together.  Advanced sensors in the Laser X blaster know when players are blasting, being hit, running or hiding.  An interactive “coach” uses this information to give players tips and tricks throughout the game.  The new 5-inch Laser X Micro Blasters fit easily into bags and backpacks and are great for games on-the-go! Laser X Micro Blasters may be small, but they deliver big fun. Just strap on a receiver and blast opponents up to 100 feet away! 

Micro Blasters are recommended for ages 6+ and retail for $29.99 for a double set and $14.99 to equip a single player. The game is available at GetLaserX.com and is coming soon to Walmart, Costco and Target. 

Enter for a Chance to win your own Laser X Micro Blaster Set

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The post Tons of Fun with Laser X Blasters – Sponsored appeared first on Crafty Mama in ME!.

Pom Pom Father’s Day Monkey Card

If you loved the Father’s Day Lion Card from the other day – guess what?!?  Here is another option – a Pom Pom Father’s Day Monkey Card!  You can use the same supplies you already have on hand and this would give another card option if you have more than one child.  

Supplies

• Printed PDF template (download the template here: Monkey Card Template)
• Green construction paper
• School glue
• Glue stick
• Scissors
• Small piece of tan felt
• Black sharpie marker
• Brown markers
• Large googly eyes
• Brown pom poms, one large and one medium

Instructions

• Cut the construction paper in half. Cut the template from the white paper. Glue the template to the middle of the construction paper.
• Using a good amount of glue, attach the pom poms as shown: the large pom pom is the koala body, medium is the head.
• Glue or stick on the google eye.
• Cut an oval out of the tan felt. Use the black marker to draw on a circle nose and mouth.
• Glue the felt piece to the monkey’s face.
• Use the brown marker to make the ears: Starting at the monkey’s eye level, make a semi circle toward the bottom of the head. Use the brown marker to create legs, arms and a long tail.
• The card is complete!

My kids love making special crafts like these for their dad and grandfathers.

If you are looking for additional Father’s Day Inspiration take a peek at our Handprint Father’s Day Platter from a few years ago here:

The post Pom Pom Father’s Day Monkey Card appeared first on Crafty Mama in ME!.

Mother’s Day Flower Pot Wind Chime

{As written by my friend Deanna on her blog Play Dough & Popsicles}

I never understood the boxes of handmade gifts that my mom kept. I mean just think, every holiday from preschool all through elementary school from both my sister and me. Granted, she didn’t keep EVERYTHING, at least I don’t think so, but she kept things. As a teenager I would look at it and think how ugly. It was not until I became a mom to a creative soul that I finally understood. I can’t throw anything away. I mean I do throw some things away, but I have a box started. And she’s only 4.

The daily crafts and drawings are fun, but handmade gifts are the absolute best. It might not be the actual gift, but the look on her face. The look on her face when her little mind is creating something that she believes I will love. Her face when she completes it and knows I am going to love it. And her face when she hands her latest masterpiece to me in anticipation of my reaction. Her little face is the best!

Luckily my mom and mother in law love hand made gifts from her too! It makes holidays fun because we can work on projects together. Plus it gives her a few extra reasons to be creative. Although like me, she doesn’t really need a reason!

This wind chime is the perfect gift from a child. It is practical, it actually does make noise when shaken, but it can be so sentimental. It is precious that a child made it. And from the person supervising this project, it is an EASY project for kids to do on their own!!

Supplies Needed

• Small Flower Pot
• Washi Tape in Various Colors & Patterns

• Fishing Line
• Beads (or you could use these)
• Scissors
  (Note: I did paint the flower pot first with White Acrylic Paint, but this is completely optional)

My daughter took small pieces of washi tape, in various lengths, and stuck it on the outside of the flower pot. It was a completely random process. Each piece was a different length and stuck in a different direction. To me it looks like a quilt. I really love how it turned out. {One of those proud mom moments. I hoped she would be creative and when she does a project with little direction and it turns out better than I could have done or when she has a better idea than me. Makes me so happy!!}

When she was done with the tape I took cord and tied a few knots in the middle. I made the knots big enough that the cord couldn’t go through the hole on the bottom of the pot. I threaded it from the inside out so that the open strings were sticking out the hole at the bottom (which will be the top of the wind chime). Then I tied a bow at the top of the strings so that the wind chime can be hung.

I then tied fishing line, about 12 inches each strand, to the knot on the inside of the wind chime. Then I had my daughter put the beads on the fishing line. It took a few times to get the beads on but after a little practice she got the hang of it. {Pearler beads and yarn could also be used, but the yarn is not quite as weather proof as the wind chime}

When she was done, I tied knots in the bottom of the finishing line and the wind chime is complete. This is going to make a great gift for someone special. It will remind the recipient of my daughter with ever breeze that allows the wind chime to make it’s music.

The post Mother’s Day Flower Pot Wind Chime appeared first on Crafty Mama in ME!.

The post Pom Pom Father’s Day Lion Card appeared first on Crafty Mama in ME!.