Glitter Toes

Now that we are totally into flip-flop season, I wanted to share this very cute way to glam up your toenails for the summer!  Creating glitter toes is fairly simple, but the results are really pretty. 

I started by putting a clear base coat on my toenails, then sprinkling craft glitter on top.  Make sure you have a piece of paper or paper towel underneath your feet to catch the extra glitter.  Only do 1-2 toes at a time, so the glitter can stick and the polish doesn't dry too quickly.  After you have the glitter applied to all your toes, give them 5-10 minutes to dry and set up, then apply a clear top coat.  I recommend keeping one bottle of top coat just for glitter toes, since some of the glitter will stick to your brush and end up in your top coat.

I used a basic fine craft glitter and it was easy to apply.  I have almost every color of the rainbow, so I'll have to try another color soon.  Glitter toes are easy to create and really fun to wear!  What color glitter toes will you wear?

Easy Patriotic Treat

These ice cream sandwich treats are easy to make and perfect for any summertime get-together.  All you need is a box of ice cream sandwiches and some red, white and blue sprinkles.  To get better coverage, I cut each sandwich in half, then dipped all the sides into the sprinkles.  Store back in the freezer until you are ready to serve.  Kids already love this ice cream treat, and the sprinkles make them even more fun!

Flag Windsock

Last week was supposed to be week three of our at-home summer camp, but my son attended a half day art camp all week and we just didn't have enough time to work on things.  The week one overview can be found HERE.  But, today I wanted to share with you one of our easy crafts we completed during our week two at-home summer camp.  The theme was America the Beautiful, in honor of the 4th of July.

We made small flag windsocks using only a few supplies - small flag on a stick, toilet paper tube, yarn, glue and masking tape. 

We started by wrapping a piece of masking tape, sticky side facing out, around the tube.  The kids stuck pieces of yarn onto the tape.  These would hang down for the  bottom of the windsock.

After the kids had their yarn in place, we put another piece of tape, sticky side down this time, over top of the yarn to keep it in place.

We also had some leftover foam stars from another project, and the kids decided to use these and tied them onto the yarn.

Next, we ran a line of glue down the length of the tube to hold the flag in place.  These flags are the mini flags on a stick; we just removed the flag from the stick.

Then, we wrapped the flag around the tube, and put a little more glue to keep it in place.

Last, we added one more piece of yarn for hanging, by taping it inside the top part of the tube.

We hung these on our front porch, to help with the drying, but the kids wanted to use them inside to decorate our sunroom.  I think they turned out super cute and would like nice anywhere!



Uncle Sam Decoration

I made this Uncle Sam decoration ages ago (I can't remember where I saw the idea), but recently thought of making a few more to use as decorations for the summer holidays.  He is actually pretty easy to make.  Here is a list of supplies you will need:

• terra cotta pot and saucer
• metal coffee can
• acrylic paint and brushes
• floral wire
• wooden stars
• hot glue gun
• painters tape (optional)

I started by painting all of my pieces first.  I painted the saucer blue.  I painted the rim of the pot white and the rest a peachy color; once dry I went back and painted on the simple face.  I painted the can in red and white stripes; to make my stripes nice and neat, I used painters tape.  And I painted both sides of my wooden stars yellow.

After everything had been painted and had a full 24 hours to dry, I glued everything together using epoxy (make sure to use the epoxy in a well ventilated area).  I cut a piece of floral wire long enough to fit around the can, curled it around a pencil, twisted the ends together, and slipped it over the can.  Then I hot glued the wooden stars randomly around the wire.

And that was it!  It's a really cute decoration and has held up really well to being outside for the past 5+ years.  I will sometimes use it as is for a decoration, or add some water and cut flowers to the can.  One year we also filled it with sand, stuck in some sparklers and lit them for a fun backyard bbq party.

Sharing at the following blogs:

Somewhat Simple

House of Hepworths

Fireflies and Jellybeans

Paisley Passions

Trendy Treehouse

Summer Camp Week 1 - Camping

This past week we began our first week of at home summer camp.  Our theme was "Camping in our own Backyard" and we fit in lots of fun crafts and activities.  Here is a round up of all the fun!


Summer Reading at the Library
We stopped by our local library branch to pick up our summer reading packets.  We picked out LOTS of good books and started reading right away.  A few of our favorite camping stories we read were Just Me and My Dad by Mercer Mayer, S is for Smores by Helen James, Amelia Bedelia Goes Camping by Peggy Parish, Stella and Roy Go Camping by Ashley Wolff and The Berenstain Bears Go to Camp by Stan & Jan Berenstain.  So far, my son has read 11 books and my daughter has read 8!

Summer Memory Box
I found these CD boxes at my local craft store on clearance for only .50 each!  The kids and I went on a nature walk in our yard to find some items to use to decorate their boxes.  The kids can add momentos and keepsakes to their memory boxes to help remember all the fun they had during their summer vacation.

Bead Bookmark
This bead bookmark will help the kids keep track of all the books they've read this summer.  For every book they read, they get to add a bead to the bookmark.

Camp Sign
Using a piece of cardboard for the sign, the kids decorated their signs with nature items and used beans to spell out their initials.  We punched holes in the top and added some twine to hang the signs.

Firefly Jars
Using a small gravy jar, we poked holes in the lid with a screwdriver to make a firefly jar.  The kids painted pictures on their jars to look like the outdoors with fireflies all around.

Friendship Bracelets
We made friendship bracelets with beads as well as braided ones.

Paint Your Own  Pottery
We visited a local paint your own pottery place to have the kids paint a piece.

Summer Activities Journal
To get our writing juices flowing we started off with this simple journal prompt.  The kids wrote about the activities they were hoping to do this summer.  (Borrowed from my own copy of 50 Month by Month Draw & Write Prompts by Scholastic.)

Roasting Marshmallows
We enjoyed roasting marshmallows by our firepit.

Camping Checklist
We used this camping checklist to help us prepare for our first camping adventure in the backyard.  (Borrowed from my own copy of Kindergarten Homework by CTP.)

Great American Backyard Campout
We participated in the Great American Backyard Campout, and camped out in our backyard.  We've never been camping before and this was a good first try for us.  Everyone did well and is looking forward to our next camping adventure.

This first week we were able to fit in almost all of the activities I had planned.  Most importantly the kids had a blast!  I saved my favorite part for the end.  The kids got to sew a homemade patch onto a bandana.  The bandana will serve as another keepsake of all the fun we had and all the neat things we learned over the summer.  We just did this the other day so I still need to take a pic, but will come back soon to share how they look.

Coming up...Week 2 - America the Beautiful!

At Home Summer Camp - Sneak Peek

Only one more day of school before our summer vacation officially begins!  I think I'm just as excited as the kids!  A little break from the rushing to and from school, homework and projects will be nice in exchange for carefree, relaxing days by the pool.

But, I know the kids will get restless probably by noon of the first day, so I've created an at home summer camp schedule of fun stuff for us to do.  This is the second year I've done this and it was a BIG help last year in keeping us busy.  The schedule of crafts, activities and learning opportunities is vast, but very flexible.  If we get to it, great; if not, it's ok and we can either move it to another week or save it for next year.  But, at least I have a resource of activities to choose from so we don't get stuck in the rut of watching tv all summer.

Today, I wanted to share a sneak peek with you of what I have planned.  I hope that at the end of each week, I can share with you all the details of our fun.  I assigned each week a theme and included day trips, crafts, recipes and learning activities that revolve around that theme. 

Here is our schedule of themes:

Week of 6/20 - Camping in our own Backyard
Week of 6/27 - America the Beautiful
Week of 7/4 - Weather Around Us
Week of 7/11 - Archaeology
Week of 7/18 - Moving Science
Week of 7/25 - Nature: In the Garden
Week of 8/1 - Beach: Sea Life
Week of 8/8 - Space Exploration
Week of 8/15 - Pioneer Days
Week of 8/22 - Back to School

Some of our day trips, recipes and crafts may change with our themes, but some activities will be a constant each day or week.  Every week, we'll visit our local library to pick up new books for our theme as well as check in for our summer reading program.  And daily (or almost daily) we will make time for some workbook practice, journal writing and reading.


Want a better idea of what we'll be working on for a theme?  Here's a look at our first week's theme of Camping:

Monday

• visit library for new books and summer reading
• make a bead bookmark

Tuesday

• decorate a summer memory box
• make a personalized name camp sign

Wednesday

• complete summer activities journal
• make friendship bracelets and mail them to friends

Thursday

• make ice cream in a bag
• weave a summer sun

Friday

• complete the camping checklist activity
• make a paper bead necklace

Saturday

• participate in the Great American Backyard Campout
• make smores
• add camping badge to bandana

I hope you'll join us for some summertime fun with our at home camp ideas!

This blog post is written in memory of Naida Scaggs.

Rest in sweet peace, dear friend.

End of Year Treat

While browsing all the great ideas over at I Share Printables, I came across this most adorable printable by Beth from Write Click Scrapbook.

The idea to put some goodies in a sand shovel, along with the "Hope You Dig Your Summer" printable was so easy yet so cute!  I already had an end of the year treat for my son and his classmates, but thought this would be the perfect treat for my daughter and all her little friends she has made on the playground (other big kids' little siblings).

I purchased the sand shovels at Michael's for $1.  I used small cellophane treat bags to put the goldfish in and tied the bag together and to the shovel with yarn.

A big thank you to Beth for sharing this printable with everyone and for the fun idea!

Free Activities for Summer Fun & Learning

Summer is right around the corner, and if you're like me, you are already looking for some fun things to do with your kids and family.  So, as I've been searching around the web, I kept note of everything to share with you.  I love that all of these activities are free (or really inexpensive), but I like even more that there is some learning snuck in there too.  Start marking your calendars now!



Borders Double Dog Dare You Summer Reading - Kids under 12 can read 10 books (their choice), record them on the printable entry form, and bring it to the store for one free book from the selection provided.
http://www.borders.com/online/store/MediaView_double-dog-dare

Barnes and Noble Imagination's Destination Summer Reading - Kids read 8 books (their choice), record them on the printable reading journal, and bring it to the store for one free book from the selection provided.
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/summerreading/index.asp

iVillage and PBS Kids Summer Reading Community Challenge - Signing up for this online reading challenge will get you a daily email with fun activities to build reading skills, tricks and advice from your challenge coach, book suggestions for kids of all ages, tips from other parents taking the challenge, and a chance to win daily prizes.
http://challenges.ivillage.com/kids-summer-reading

Public Library Summer Reading Club - Almost every public library system in the US hosts a free summer reading club for it's community.  You can check this listing here to find a library in your area and contact them to find out if they are participating.
http://www.publiclibraries.com/

Kids Bowl Free - Check here to see if a bowling alley near you is participating.  Bowling is not only fun, but a great form of exercise and a good way to sneak in math!  (shoe rental is not included)
http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/

Family Summer Camp at Bass Pro Shops - Free family crafts, workshops and other activities.  Check the website for all the details and schedule of events.  Runs May 30th - July 5th.
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&lf=&pageID=4769&cm_sp=SummerCamp2009-_-CFM_05_20_09-_-Crafts

Great American Backyard Campout - Join the National Wildlife Federation's Great American Backyard Campout June 25th for a night of old-fashioned fun outdoors.  Also get free camping tips, campfire songs and stories, recipes, games and activities.
http://online.nwf.org/site/PageNavigator/gabc_2010_home

Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics - Bring the kids into any Lowe's store and build a FREE wooden project. Each participant also receives a free apron, goggles, a project themed patch, and a certification of merit upon completion of their project.
http://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/

Kids Workshops at Home Depot - Kids workshops are free how to workshops designed for kids 5-12.  The hands on sessions are offered on the first Saturday of each month at all Home Depot stores.
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ContentView?catalogId&langId=-1&pn=Kids_Workshops&storeId=10051

Free Crafts for Kids at Lakeshore Learning - Free crafts for kids, every Saturday.
http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/general_content/store_locations/storeCrafts.jsp

Regal Theater's Summer Movie Express - Moviegoers of all ages can climb aboard to enjoy a great selection of films. During this 9-week festival, select Regal Cinemas, United Artists and Edwards Theatres will offer selected G or PG rated movies for only a dollar on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00 am.

http://www.regmovies.com/summermovieexpress/default.aspx

I've heard that Michael's craft stores will also be hosting a summer crafts program, Passport to Fun, a summer of events for kids, June 21 - July 30.  Kids receive a passport to keep track of the crafts they've completed and get to make two crafts each week.  Details will be coming soon and I'll update when I hear anything can be found on their website; just click on a country to get all the details! 
http://www.michaels.com/Passport-to-Fun/PTF,default,pg.html

If I come across any other free activities (nationwide), I'll be sure to share them here on the blog as well.  Hope everyone's plans, whether you plan to stay at home or go away for vacation, leads to lots of fun!

Beachy Keepsake Jar

After our recent vacation, I knew the kids would need a place to keep all their special keepsakes they found at the beach.  My kids are big collectors, so there were plenty of seashells, stones and driftwood brought home.

So, I made a stop at our local Michael's craft store and bought two of these simple jars.

We had brought home a little sand from the beach as well, so the kids filled their jars with some sand and their special beach finds.

We left the jars only part way full, so they could tilt them and see all their treasure inside, like an I Spy Jar.

I used my label maker to add the date and location of our trip, then added a little twine for decoration (and as a nice reminder to keep the jar closed!).  This was an easy and inexpensive craft to do.  Plus, the kids have a special keepsake of our trip.

Summer Vacation Fun! Part 3

Last but not least, some pics from the third part of our vacation - the beach!  After spending the weekend in Pennsylvania, we drove to the Eastern Shore of Maryland to spend a week at the beach.  We all needed our beach fix and this seemed to do the trick.  And having this view from the balcony of our condo added to the pleasure...

Splashing in the waves (running from them too) and building sand castles (in the sand and around themselves) was definitely the highlight of our week!

We also had fun collecting seashells, fishing, visiting the boardwalk and playing mini golf.

It was a fun week and we enjoyed having the time to spend together as a family.  Looking forward to the beach again next year!