Nanny to Mommy: crafts

The Learning Benefits That Practicing Arts And Crafts Bring To Young Children

Monday, November 18, 2024

Arts and crafts play an essential role in early childhood education, engaging in creative learning projects stimulates a child’s imagination which leads to the development of many other important life skills they will use in the years to come. Participating in arts and crafts is a fun and creative way for preschool children to practice their problem-solving capabilities and develop their fine motor skills.

The Learning Benefits That Practicing Arts And Crafts Bring To Young Children

The art creation process has many benefits for young children, which is why it is such an important part of the daily curriculum at day care in Penrith, it helps them to develop their attention span while laying the foundation for more advanced studies like language and math. One example of how arts and crafts affect our children is to think of the future architect beginning their life's career journey by constructing toy buildings from cardboard and clay, that seed is planted at the daycare's activity table!

Parental Peace Through Sewing: Simple Projects for Busy Lives

Saturday, May 4, 2024

In the hustle and bustle of modern parenting, finding a moment for oneself can seem nearly impossible. Amidst the chaos of diaper changes, school runs, and meal preps, personal time is often sacrificed on the altar of family responsibilities. However, engaging in creative activities like sewing can provide a much-needed escape for mental well-being. Crafting not only offers a pause from the daily grind but also enhances mindfulness, reduces stress, and fosters a sense of accomplishment. This article explores how sewing, with its rhythmic and repetitive nature, can be a therapeutic outlet for parents looking to reclaim a slice of peace and personal satisfaction.

Parental Peace Through Sewing: Simple Projects for Busy Lives

5 Tips for Creating Your Own Homemade Cards

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Nothing shows you care more than homemade cards. We take a look at some key tips for creating beautiful cards of your own.

Despite our rapidly growing digital world, Americans still collectively buy over six billion greeting cards each year. The extra touch of adding a personal message for a gift's occasion isn't going away.

With the countless options to choose from at every drugstore and retail shop, it can sometimes be challenging to find a card with the right expression. Most of us begin cherishing the thoughtfulness of greeting cards as we get older.

While we scramble to find something to wrap, many times a card can stand alone as the perfect gift when made with our own hands and imagination. Keep reading for five key tips in creating homemade cards of your own and how to sign a birthday card.

DIY Tie Dye Beach Towels

Thursday, March 10, 2022

Everyone makes tie dye shirts for vacations and while I love a good matching family photo, last year we decided to make some tie dye beach towels with some old cheap towels. They have been such a huge hit! It was not only a fun warm weather activity, but it is something that we get asked about wherever we go. And with the weather warming back up and everyone ready to start float down a river, I thought I would share this fun family friendly activity.

How to Make Tie Dye Beach Towels

DIY Letter Tie Dye Crayons {Fun Gift Idea}

Monday, February 28, 2022

My daughter had a BETA Convention back in November. It was her first ever and so much fun! She submitted a sculpture. We didn't know what to expect so we went into it trying our best but being realistic about expectations meaning not to get our hopes up. The theme was "BETA Together" since the was the first in person convention since 2019. With this theme in mind, my daughter decided to create ants building something together. She decided on building the words "BETA Together" so I suggested using old, broken crayons to make the letters. It was a fun project and I thought it would make a great gift idea if you built someone's name, they are also big and make great baby/toddler crayons.

DIY Letter Tie Dye Crayons {Fun Gift Idea}

How to Make Letter Tie Dye Crayons

How to Make Homemade Bath Bombs

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Looking for a great and simple gift idea that is also fun to make? I loved making these bath bombs (aka bath fizzies) for friends and family. These is a great gift idea for those looking for some self-care. And I love that you can make so many different colors, shapes with different molds, and fragrances using essential oils that can match different needs.

How to Make Homemade Play Dough

Monday, February 21, 2022

Over our last school break, my kiddos and I made homemade play dough and then turned them into dough ornaments. It was a fun little science experiment that I got to show my children. The process was sharing science with them, giving them a fun activity to do, and then get to make something fun to keep out of it. So, with another school break coming up, I thought I would share this fun craft on how to make homemade play dough so you can enjoy some fun with your family too.

Introducing "Ada and the Galaxies" Plus Make Your Own Galaxy Slime

Monday, December 13, 2021

This post is sponsored by Candlewick Press. All opinions are my own.

Sometimes we want something so bad, that we forget to soak in and enjoy the wonders of life happening around us. Written by New York Times best-selling author Alan Lightman, in collaboration with Olga Pastuchiv, "Ada and the Galaxies" explores how interconnected the natural world is.

Ada is like so many children. Her focus is so much on seeing the stars, that she almost misses the wonders around her. That single-minded determination and disappointment when it doesn’t come to fruition is something all parents and children will identify with. There are even adults who are like this as well.

"I Like You a Bunchie, so Here's a Scrunchie" - Trendy DIY Valentine Idea Free Printable

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

This Scrunchie Valentine Free Printable was created for every VSCO girl. And while I love creating these easy FREE printables for you to enjoy, I do include affiliate links where I make a small commission each time you make a purchase, but you still pay the same low price.

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I was trying to think about what my daughter and I have created together for her to hand out to her class mates. From everything to a homemade Unicorn Valentine Box to easy, no fuss printables. This year I wanted to create something trendy that I knew she would enjoy handing out. Plus I am always trying to think of new non-candy Valentine ideas that kids or even teenagers will actually enjoy.

When I was trying to think about what to make with my daughter for our annual Valentine school handouts, I tried to think about the things she likes. As she thinks being a VSCO girl is the new hip thing (she is only in third grade after all), she loves her Hydroflask, saving the sea turtles one metal straw at a time, and of course scunchies. So I thought, why not create a cute printable for my readers that would make the perfect, non-candy school hand out.

First of all, what is a VSCO girl?

“You Are My Squishy” - Unique Non Candy Kids Valentine Idea

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Valentine's Day is right around the corner. Looking for a non candy kids valentine idea? I have been trying to be a little creative each year with my kid's school valentines. This is a craft idea that you or your child can do because it is an easy printable! Squishies are all the rage in our house so I thought, why not create something that my children's whole class would enjoy! Plus I have made it into an easy, cute printable that you can enjoy with your loved ones too.

This was originally posted on 1/20/2019.

you are my squishy non candy kids valentine idea

I remember handing out valentines in school. You spent the day making a box to keep them in. There are so many creative boxes now. When I was in school it was just a shoebox and I think the most creative that I ever saw was someone made a mailbox. That's what I love about Pinterest because you can find so much inspiration. Last year, my daughter and I made her a unicorn valentine box.

How to Make Glow In The Dark Slime without Borax

Sunday, October 4, 2020

My daughter is obsessed with slime videos and has been asking to make it for such a long time. I finally searched How to Make Slime and realized it was SO easy! Especially since Elmer's makes Glow in the Dark glue!

So since we had so much and it is still all the craze, I decided to share an easy Glow in the Dark Slime Recipe without Borax! Make sure to let me know in the comments if your kiddos like slime as much as mine do! And if you have any tips or tricks of making your own slime since we are still very new to the process.

Create at Home with Allessimo Reality Puzzles

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

This post is sponsored by Allessimo to provide our honest review. All opinions are my own.

Filling our days with activities has been harder than I thought it would the last month. We have been social distancing as much as possible so staying at home has pretty much been an almost every day basis. Which I know it has been for most people. Even during these warmer months, it feels like it has been raining every other day. So if you have been like me and trying to fill your days with some fun and creativity, then I would love to share Allessimo Reality Puzzles with you.

We were sent a few 3D puzzles from Allessimo to review. Two puzzles were build and paint (plane and flamingo) while the other two were build and sculpt (dinosaur and elephant). What I love about them the most is that they take puzzles and crafts, then combine them. The seriously turn a tradition wooden puzzle on it's head. These 3D puzzles make a fun project and awesome keepsake as well.

How to Tie Dye a St. Patrick's Day Shirt

Friday, March 13, 2020

If you are looking for a green shirt (or hat, socks, etc.) to wear for St. Patrick's Day and you are coming up short (and no one wants to get pinched), then you can make a relatively inexpensive one with most things that you probably already have on hand with this fun Tie Dye shirt tutorial! Tie Dye is becoming popular again, just like so many trends from past generations, and this is a fun activity for the kids to get involved in too! St. Patrick's Day is a great day to teach and celebrate Irish culture.

My daughter was so excited when I told her we were going to tie dye shirts that she would NOT let me forget! She kept asking "when is St. Patrick's Day?". And when I let her know that St. Patrick's Day is March 17th, she made it very clear that she was counting down the days. She is a hoot! So here is what we did for our tie dye shirts. We went with a spiral because I think it looks the coolest, but there are easier designs as well as some more complicated ones if you do a little search, like maybe "Tie Dye Shamrock". This Tie Dye Tutorial uses vinegar and food coloring which can be a safer alternative if you want to include your kiddos in on this activity. These ingredients are usually found around the house in a pinch, but remember that your colors may not be as vibrant as using fabric dyes.

Best Valentine Box Ideas on Pinterest

Friday, February 7, 2020

My son and daughter have been making Valentine Boxes since they were in pre-school. This year my son knew he wanted to make a shark and my daughter had no idea, so we searched Pinterest. And in my search for the something that sparked my daughter's interest, I decided to create this list of 20 of the Best Valentine Box Ideas that I have found on Pinterest. I have also shared some of our from years past as well.

20 Best 100 Days of School Shirt Ideas on Pinterest

Saturday, January 18, 2020

My son is in kindergarten this year and the 100th day of school is coming up. He was assigned a project to complete a shirt with 100 items on it. When my daughter was in kindergarten, they asked all the littles to dress as a 100-year-old. It was too cute. I like the idea of the shirt a little better from an educational aspect because it got my son to count in groups of ten. This helped him with his counting and with his small motor skills. Since I had a search party on Pinterest trying to find ideas of what to do for our "100th Day of School" Shirt, I thought I would share some of my favorites here and you can also check out our creation too!

100 days of school shirt ideas for kindergarten, preschool, & more

This post contains affiliate links.

These ideas are super easy and very affordable. I bought my shirt for a little over $2 at Michael's Craft Store. I will try and link any related items that are inexpensive from Amazon. I remember taking 100 pennies and pasting them to a piece of cardboard sitting in my grandmother's kitchen with my cousins. We lived with my grandmother for a little while when my mom went back to school after my parent's divorced when I was five. I remember it feeling like it was taking SO LONG to count to 100. That's why I suggest the 10 by 10 method. I also only included easy and inexpensive DIY ideas because the idea was to be a project that a preschooler or Kindergartener can handle, but you could use Patches4Less as well. If you are looking for something that is great for groups, can be outsourced and is affordable and customizable check out these custom chenille patches by UltraPatches. If it wasn't a project, then there are tons of handmade shirts made with Cricuts online too.

If you also want to complete these fun custom tee shirts ideas, then try bulk custom T-shirts, not only can you customize the material needed for the event for easy modification, but you can also print the school's logo and let the students design their own designs on the shirts, and you can also wear the designed creative shirts on your body, and the kids will surely feel proud of them. It can inspire creativity and interest in do-it-yourself design.

Easy Homemade Ornaments Perfect for Kid Parties

Monday, December 9, 2019

These Rae Dunn or Frozen 2 inspired homemade ornament craft for kids were created with products received from Oriental Trading. Although complimentary products were received, all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

If you have been following me since 2014, then you know that I have enjoyed collaborating with Oriental Trading off and on even though I have been a huge fan of theirs for years. I love the variety of products they provide whether it is birthday decorations, educational toys, costumes for the entire family, or crafting supplies. They even have home décor that you can check out as well.

DIY Rae Dunn or Frozen 2 inspired ornaments

My daughter celebrated her 9th birthday today and we held a slumber party over the weekend. While thinking of activities to include, I decided on having the children make homemade ornaments. I didn't want anything too involved or messy, so we settled on these Rae Dunn or Frozen 2 inspired ornaments. The writing reminds me of Rae Dunn collection pieces while the inside reminds me of Frozen 2. I loved the idea of making ornaments for a winter slumber party because it was a great activity plus they got a little party favor to take home.

DIY Winter Princess Holiday Wreath

Monday, November 18, 2019

I use to love different crafts projects and I still do, but I am one of those people that has to be in the mood and it isn't an everyday occurrence. Once I start a project, I like to finish it so finding the time is key for me. That's why I tend to lean towards easy projects, like this DIY Winter Princess Holiday Wreath. It is perfect for winter, Christmas, or a winter birthday theme. And it was VERY easy to make. I was sent a ton of items from Oriental Trading to provide this craft. All opinions are my own.

What my favorite part about this craft is that you can use different color tulle and make what ever kind of wreath you wanted! Red, White, and Blue for Independence Day. Red and Green for Christmas. Black and Orange for Halloween! It's seriously so versatile. I love easy, peasy home décor ideas and wreaths are a perfect way to keep your home festive.

Unicorn Easter Basket Ideas

Monday, April 8, 2019

My daughter is obsessed with unicorns and so are my nieces. So I wanted to incorporate that into a cute Easter basket idea. They also love JoJo Siwa and since she loves all things unicorn, I thought the two could go hand in hand if you are looking for some basket filler ideas! So if you're child is like mine and a little unicorn obsessed, then you'll love this Unicorn Easter Basket Tutorial and stuffer ideas.

I originally saw the idea of creating an Easter Basket Tutu from my friend Jamie who blogs at The Denver Housewife. She has done so many cute ones including a Shopkins Easter Basket. And I am all about reusing items found around the house to create new projects. I think it is more economical to do it that way, but you could very easily buy many of the items featured in Target's Dollar Spot or on Amazon like she did. I will try and link to some similar items. My mother-in-law gave me the tulle I used and I had the unicorn topper from some old party supplies. That's why I decided to recreate this look for a Unicorn theme.

How to Make Your Own Snow Globe - Disney's "Nutcracker & the Four Realms" NOW on DVD

Tuesday, January 29, 2019

In honor of the DVD release of Disney's "The Nutcracker and the Four Realms", I'm going to share how to Make Your Own Snow Globe so you too can bring the Land of Snowflakes to life!

How to Make Candy Cane Peppermint Glitter Slime {Easy Holiday Craft for Kids}

Monday, December 24, 2018

Holiday Break is here! If you are in need of activities to keep the kiddos occupied, especially since it's likely too cold to go outside, I have a great one for you! DIY Peppermint Slime!

Nanny to Mommy