After a busy weekend of festivals and fireworks, we’re looking forward to a cookout with our parents and kids for the day itself. Nothing too high key, and I think we can all use the break! However, if the kids get a little bored, I may have to look at some of these 4th of July themed crafts and activities.

Enchanted Learning
FamilyFun
Kaboose
DLTK

Hopefully, that’s enough to get you started, too. Enjoy!

photo credit: Sister72

Post from: Play Library

You were laughing at me, weren’t you? I mentioned that I was all nostalgic for the suncatchers of my youth with all of the little colored crystals that melted in the oven, and you just laughed at me, didn’t you?

So, we finally made the suncatchers that the kids received in their Easter baskets. Man, what a mess that was! I’d forgotten how easily those little crystals jump out of those little metals frames. My 6 year old actually did a great job with hers, but I slightly bumped it when putting it in the oven. Oops! I wasn’t, however, going to have her start over again for a second time! Those crystals aren’t easy to separate.

My 3 year old, after mixing the crystals, decided he would just put all the colors together for his frogs. Don’t know that you could really find any species like that in nature.

In the end, I decided that any suncatchers that we make anytime soon will be like the flowers pictured above, made of plastic and painted. I think those will be more practical for the near future.

What childhood crafts did you love that you now realize were much harder than you remembered?

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From the initial stink of the vinegar being poured into the cups (I never have been a fan of that smell), to the cry of the first kid saying, “This crayon is broken!” (you know, the wax one whose effects show up only after the writing and then the dying is completed), to the crack of the last of the many eggs being dropped by slippery little hands (or by my slippery big hand–oops!), this odd little tradition is one that I truly enjoy remembering and reliving each Easter holiday.

I’d remembered seeing instructions on the food coloring boxes on how to just use them to make the coloring for eggs. I thought I’d use them to do a side-by-side coloring test with the PAAS colors, but then I read that it required half the bottle of food coloring for each color! We’ll have to save that experiment for another day.

If the coloring activity doesn’t last nearly long enough for your kiddos and you find yourself looking for other Easter-themed ideas, head on over to the PAAS website for games and craft ideas.

Is egg coloring a tradition in your home, too?

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So, I was soooo excited to see these suncatchers from Quincrafts last weekend while at Michael’s. I had to do a double-take to make sure these were the same type that I loved as a kid. I knew immediately that these would be part of the kids’ Easter baskets. I hope the kids enjoy these. I know I will!

Just to be clear, these do require the use of a very hot oven, so don’t send the kids off to complete these themselves! This is a very hands on activity for parent and child, so enjoy a bit of craft time together.

What is your favorite craft to share with your child?

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In this age of all the high tech gadgets and toys marketed for kids, it’s good to be reminded that they can enjoy the simple activities in life!

What are your favorite non-high tech activities to enjoy with your kids?

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• Googly eyes
• Feathers
• Yarn
• Glitter Glue
• Sculpey Clay
• Crayola Model Magic
• Construction Paper
• Crayons
• Sidewalk Chalk
• Watercolor Set
• Foam cutout shapes
• Fun scissors
• Glue sticks or school glue
• Beads

Don’t forget to make sure that the items are age appropriate for your recipient!

What other items would you include in a kid’s craft bin?

Post from: Play Library

Today’s holiday themed craft at our abode was from the FamilyFun website. Pictured here are our interpretations of the Merry Mice. Though ours did turn out a little different than those featured at FamilyFun, I was just excited that we had all of the supplies on hand required to complete the project! It was good to find a craft that included aspects that were fun for both the 3 and 5 year olds.

Though these mice are made mostly from felt, I think a version of them could be completed with construction paper or the craft foam sheets.

Check out more great craft ideas to complete with your kids at FamilyFun.com. What are some of your favorite crafting idea websites?

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Make it a day out with your little one, avoid the “what are we going to do today?” questions, and let the dust collect on the crafts at someone else’s house for a change. Oh yeah, and bless a grandparent or relative with a handmade gift from their precious grandchild.

Will your kids be making gifts for family?

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We were hosting Thanksgiving dinner, and decided it would be fun to have homemade placemats for all of our guests. We traced my daughter’s hand on pieces of construction paper, and she turned each into a turkey. She then decorated the rest of the paper with stamps and markers.

To turn them into an heirloom of sorts, I had her write her name and age on the back of each placemat, so that we’d have a sample of her handwriting at age 4. Once they were done, I took clear Contact paper and covered each placemat. This made them easy to clean after dinner, and has kept them preserved to be used for years to come!

The only thing I would have done differently would be to do just one or two a day for a few days, instead of 9 all in one shot. The first few were fun and colorful. By the last few she was getting bored!

Post from: Play Library