Eco-Friendly (and Cheap!) Gift Ideas for Creative Kids

/
Eco-Friendly (and Cheap!) Gift Ideas for Creative Kids

When I was a kid, I hoarded bottle caps, doilies, paper bags, and boxes to make dollhouse furniture, cards, and various craft projects. Do you have a kid like this on your holiday gift list? Assembling a craft kit is a great solution if you are stuck for a gift idea. And these kits involve recycled materials which mean that can be cheap…and eco-friendly! The main idea is to gather recycled household materials, pair them with a few basic craft supplies, maybe a craft book, and pack them in a simple tote bag, bin, or box!

Read More

Quick Gift Idea: Turn Your Favorite Book Into a Holiday Gift Kit!

/
Quick Gift Idea: Turn Your Favorite Book Into a Holiday Gift Kit!

Books are one of my favorite gifts to give (and receive!). If I want to make the gift of a book more personal/unique/custom, I’ll assemble a kit or a themed group of gifts inspired by it, and wrap it up together. Whether you are stuck for a gift idea...or want to give a special, not right-off-the-shelves gift but don't have time to hand-make something, it is super helpful to use a great book as a jumping off point! The gift kit idea works particularly well, as you can imagine, with a DIY book, like a cook or craft book since you can pair it with tools, materials, or ingredients but it can work with just about any book!Click here and here for previous posts with more of these ideas...as well as packaging suggestions!

Read More

A Favorite Family Tradition: 'Elf' Viewing Party!

/
A Favorite Family Tradition: 'Elf' Viewing Party!

Elf is one of my family's favorite movies. We could watch it all the time, but, for the last few years, we established a policy to do so only once a year, with cousins, right before Christmas. When we finally do get to watch it, it feels really special event! Last year, a few nights before Christmas, we had an Elf Night with our extended family. My younger son and I made these cardstock invites together during a sick day.

Read More

Easy Activity Advent Calendar For The Most Fun Holiday Ever!

/
Easy Activity Advent Calendar For The Most Fun Holiday Ever!

Christmas is quickly approaching! What a better way to celebrate each day of Advent than with a fun handmade countdown. These paper bags double as cute decor and a functional Advent calendar. You could fill them with treats, small toys, or slips of paper with quotes, or fun family activity ideas! 

Read More

July 4th Party Crafts!

/
July 4th Party Crafts!

In this month's Family Fun magazine, I shared a few easy crafts you can do with or for your kids to make your July 4th celebration even more fun!

Read More

Easy Holiday Pop-Up Cards Made From Recycled Packaging

/
Easy Holiday Pop-Up Cards Made From Recycled Packaging

This card-making project is the perfect cold day kids craft. You don't need any special supplies, just some recycled packaging, glue, and scissors. (I'm always digging around in my recycle bin for materials!) Use colorful packaging like cereal or snack boxes or old Christmas cards. 

Read More

Glowing Winter Village Made From Recycled Cartons

/
Glowing Winter Village Made From Recycled Cartons

Several years ago, my boys and I made a village out of recycled cartons and we love unpacking it every year and setting it up on our mantle. I made the one pictured above, lit with battery-powered tea lights, for our book, Paper Good Projects. If you look closely you'll see some tiny conical trees and the how-to is in this post.

Read More

Beautiful Striped Eggs Made with a Simple Homemade Lathe

/
Beautiful Striped Eggs Made with a Simple Homemade Lathe

Easter is so early this year! I'm starting to gather ideas because we'll be hosting and I thought I'd start by posting some of my favorite Easter projects that I made during my years as a craft editor at Martha Stewart Living. These striped eggs were such a fun project. I had a rough path to developing the technique so it was especially rewarding when it finally worked out! 

Read More

Easy Balloon Turkey Centerpiece Your Kids Will Love!

/
Easy Balloon Turkey Centerpiece Your Kids Will Love!

These turkey balloons are an easy make-ahead centerpiece for your Thanksgiving table...kids or no kids! It's simple to put together once you've gathered the supplies so you can make a few for the mantle, the kid's table etc... 
 

Read More

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! 

Read More

Fun Cookie Flower Craft!

/
Fun Cookie Flower Craft!

We're thinking spring! These cookie flowers are made from store-bought cookies and candy and are an easy and fun party or rainy day activity for younger kids. They're pretty on the side of a frosted cake for Easter, a shower, or any party! The M&M centers are “glued” to the cookie with a dot of vanilla icing that has been tinted pink. 

Read More

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.

Read More