Homemade Rainbow Soap: A Fun Winter Project!

Homemade Rainbow Soap: A Fun Winter Project!

Soapmaking is a simple, fun, and satisfying project; perfect for when winter weather keeps us indoors. There’s not much to it; you use a store-bought soap base, melt it, tint it with a colorant, and pour it in a mold. I have used clear glycerin soap base, such as here, but had never used an opaque soap base and I loved the bright colors that can be achieved! Once you get set up, it’s easy to crank out a bunch of soap bars. I made these for Bluprint and we shot a fun video to show how easy they are to make!

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Fun Gingerbread House Kit Hack Videos!

Fun Gingerbread House Kit Hack Videos!

I recently worked with Bed, Bath & Beyond to make a series of gingerbread house kit hacks. We had so much fun coming up with different themes using the candy decorations from the kit and some easy-to-find extras like candy canes, pretzel rods, and marshmallows. I will update this post soon with the third video, a snowy palace!

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Easy-to-Make Cupcake Paper Dollhouse Furniture

Easy-to-Make Cupcake Paper Dollhouse Furniture

At this point in the summer, we’re often looking for activities to entertain our kids, especially if we're presented with a rainy day. Making homemade dollhouse furniture is just the kind of project I would have LOVED as a kid! I was miniature-obsessed and always making tiny spool tables, matchbox beds, etc for my little dolls.  These cupcake paper dollhouse accessories are from our book, Paper Goods Projects . (Scroll down for some bonus ideas in the photo below, not found in our book)!

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5 Summer Crafts for Your Little Entrepreneur

5 Summer Crafts for Your Little Entrepreneur

Check out this month's issue of Parent's magazine for my story about easy and sell-able crafts that your kids can make for a summer business. My kids inspired the idea because they love to come up with ways to make money over the summer. Over the years they've sold everything from lemonade to painted shells to decorated tote bags to home-grown basil. Details are here for the personalized bead portraits key chains (pictured above).

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Sweet Kid-Made Gifts for Moms and Dads!

Sweet Kid-Made Gifts for Moms and Dads!

A few years ago on Mother's Day, my husband and kids gave me what is perhaps my all-time favorite gift, a storybook they made in which I was "Superhero Mommy". This personalized story bookwould make an equally fantastic Father's Day gift or a gift for a grandparent or special friend! 

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Handmade Charlotte

Handmade Charlotte

Handmade Charlotte is one of my very favorite websites, so I am thrilled to have recently become a contributor. I'm sure many of you know the website already but if not, be sure to take a look. Tons ofbeautifully photographed and inspring crafts, kid's rooms, and recipes. 

Below (and above) is a peek at some of my posts. Click on the links or photos for the full tutorials.

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Cold Weather Candy Craft!

Cold Weather Candy Craft!

My friend Melissa sent me these great shots of her daughter and friend making lollipops, inspired by our book Candy Aisle Crafts. The lollipops are almost as cute as the girls! I love the rainbow and letter pops that they thought up.  Lollipop-making is the perfect stuck-indoors winter activity! 

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Crafts to Prevent the Winter Blues on the Today Show!

Crafts to Prevent the Winter Blues on the Today Show!

This morning I shared some kid-friendly craft and treat ideas to prevent cabin fever this winter on the Today Show. The ideas utilize a lot of leftover holiday stuff that you may already have around the house, like candy, empty boxes, and holiday cards. As always it is a lot of fun and everyone over at Today is super nice! Click here for the video and a how-to for one of the crafts.

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Marshmallow Birds

Marshmallow Birds

These marshmallow birds are one of the projects in the marshmallow chapter in our book. I had created many marshmallow crafts over the years and when I started on the marshmallow chapter I was afraid I had already made everything there was to be made out of marshmallows. After I started playing I realized that the possibilities were endless. I would have been happy to do a whole book of marshmallow crafts!

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