• Shoreline Accents are 30% off
• Spring label floral is 50% off
• Entire stock of baskets is 40% off
• Home Collection & Collage wall frames are 40% off
• Entire stock of stretch canvas, Strathmore & Canson artist pads are 30% off
• Apple Barrel paints are 2 for $1

Remember that some stores accept competitor’s coupons.  It’s good to ask and know their policies.

Michael’s stores also have children’s craft activities on Saturdays.  You may want to check you store’s schedule.

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1st turkey – I know this one looks a little funny, but it was done by my daughter when she was only 16 months old.  We made our own patterns for this one.  We just drew the turkey body, cut out some feathers, and that little red gobbler thing under the turkey’s chin.  What is that thing called anyway?

Click to read more.

2nd turkey – This one is made by tracing the child’s feet for the turkey body.  You just trace their foot once onto brown construction paper, double the paper and cut it out so that you’ll have two feet.  Then you trace their hand onto different colors of construction paper.  I double those up too so that I only have to cut out four hands.

Last picture – This pumpkin patch was done using the children’s hands.  You put orange paint on their knuckles and press their knuckles down on the paper.  Then you use their pointer finger for the pumpkin stem.  After it dried, I added hand drawn vines.

Sorry I don’t post as many children’s activities as I used to.  My children’s activities are now posted at my other website, Little Fun; Little Learning. 

Enjoy!

P.S.  Please include links to your children’s craft below.  Or you can write out the instructions in the comments.  I’m always looking for new activities.

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Parents love handprint crafts.  They are great keepsakes.  I love a thrifty craft.

For the lion, I made a mixture of yellow and brown (just a little) paint to make that sort of mustard color.  I painted the children’s palms with the paint and made a handprint on paper.  For the lion’s mane, I cut up small strips of brown construction paper and rolled them around a pen to get them to curl.  Actually, I had one of my student’s help me with this task because she loves to help.  We glued the strips for the mane, made a tail of yarn, and then I added the face.  Definitely cute and simple.

For the lamb, I traced the children’s hand onto a black piece of construction paper.  If they had good cutting skills, I let them cut out their own handprint.  Then we added torn pieces of cotton for a fluffy look, wiggle eyes, and a drawn on mouth.  I’m not too thrilled with the face on this lamb, but you live and learn.  I’m sure there’s something cuter that could be done.  Maybe next year.

So, what do you think?  Do you like them?  Do you have any arts & crafts ideas for us?  I’m always looking for thrifty craft ideas.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

 Just as promised, I have some pictures of the Valentine crafts that I suggested for this week.  At the top are samples of the heart collages we made.  (Once again, I love the die cut machine.  What a time saver!)  Next, are the painted hearts we did with marbles.  And finally there are the Valentine cards for the parents.  The card on the left doesn’t have the handprint made into a heart.  It is way too hard to get a toddler to hold their hand still to make a heart. For instructions on these crafts, click over to my post on Valentine’s Day Craft Ideas for Kids.

I really like to do the golf ball paint/marble paint activity.  This works for many occasions.  For Christmas, you could paint on a green Christmas tree and add some sequins or beads for ornaments.  For St. Patrick’s Day you could use this activity for a shamrock.  It’s very versatile and the kids really enjoy this activity.

For other Valentine ideas or preschool activities, try Revka’s Little Fun; Little Learning.  I met Revka online through her first blog, The Porch Light.  We began exchanging ideas and soon began calling one another on the phone.  A few months ago, Revka began her educational blog Little Fun; Little Learning.  I told her how my preschool class was studying a letter each week and Revka began doing posts on ideas for studying a letter each week.  It has been really helpful to me.  I just click on over to her site to see what links she has.  I have used quite a few of the ideas she has listed.

Let me know if you have any questions on the craft ideas.  I hope I explained everything ok.  And if you have any Valentine craft ideas, just let us know by commenting below.

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Breakfast Breads

Chocolate Cookies

Creamy Cheesecakes

Winter Desserts

Cookies for Kids

There are many other recipes and ideas at the BH&G site.  Be sure and stop by.  Don’t forget to check out their “Family & Crafts” section.

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Annie’s Home Page – coloring pages, stories, games, links to other sites, and craft ideas.  Annie linked me to some other great sites.

Enchanted Learning – crafts, decorations, printouts, worksheets, and activities.  Cute craft ideas.  I used one them with my 4 year old preschool class last week.

DLTK’s Growing Together – craft ideas, templates, songs and poems, book suggestions, printables, games, recipes, worksheets, and more. 

Kaboose/Kids Domain – thanksgiving place holders, corn collage, turkey gloves, place mats, and more! (Also fall crafts, fall coloring pages, Thanksgiving coloring pages, online games,and more!  They even have a section just for moms.) 

Bry-Back Manor - activity pages, coloring pages, patterns, recipes, holiday activities, and more! 

Billy Bear 4 Kids – stationery, coloring pages, craft ideas, online games, and more.

Family Fun – craft projects include list of materials, directions, picture of completed item, and approximate time period needed for each project.  Also included are recipes, thanksgiving printables, ideas for decorations, and more. 

Better Homes & Gardens - Thanksgiving coloring pages, homemade card ideas, making place mats and place cards, ideas for cooking with kids, and more.

Martha Stewart – ideas for the kids’ table, finger puppet favors, and place cards.  This is Martha Stewart, so I’m sure there are some good recipes too. 

123Holiday.net – Thanksgiving history, timeline, songs, crafts, and recipes.

I hope you found some great ideas to use with the kids.  I certainly have used a lot of ink tonight printing some things I plan on using.

Have you found any great Thanksgiving sites you would like to share? 

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Picture courtesy of crayonking

Post from: Thrifty Mommy