Paper roll Flute

I found the idea for this craft at No Time for Flash Cards (thanks). My little boy loved playing with his new instrument . It was a fast and easy craft.

Milk jug for the garden

My Husband has been asking for a bucket to keep in the kitchen to store clean green waste for the garden. Using an old milk jug was a great solution because it can't get too full before he has to take it outside to the compost pile and it is just one more way to reuse something that otherwise would have been thrown out.

A site that inspires

I love No Time for Flash cards. This is a blog where they are always coming up with simple crafts and games to play with your kids that promote learning. If you have a minute, you'll be glad you checked it out.

Multiuse Multipurpose crafts

I love when I find a new gadget which can serve many purposes (you may find some product reviews here in the future) The same is true when I get an idea to reuse something old for a new purpose and better yet multiple purposes.

So if you have some yogart containers pilling up in the recycle bin. Pull them out and turn them into a fun game for your kids as well as a learning opportunity for developing minds.

Here is what you need:

Pull out some yogart containers, colored paper, glue, rubber bands are handy but not necessary and small toys/objects to sort)

1. Cut your colored paper into 4"-5" wide strips

2. Cover one side of your paper with glue

3. Wrap around your empty yogart containers

4. Secure with a rubber band and then allow to dry

5. Pull out some small toys/objects and let your child practice sorting by color

Toddler Friendly Pudding Paint

Ya know your kids are always trying to eat the crayons, paint, glue! Here is an idea a sweet old women from my neighborhood shared with me. Pudding paint, you could also use yogart. You can make this and really let the kids loose. Sometimes I keep some "paints" in the fridge for a few days because it is a great way to keep them entertained while Mom makes dinner. The best part is even the youngest kids can enjoy this, finger licking finger painting.

Here is how it is done

You will need (pudding, food coloring, paper or paintable surface)

Make some vanilla pudding or use a ready made pudding or vanilla yogart. 

Divide into as many different bowls as you want, stir in some food coloring. 

For ours we used a vanilla pudding and added pink food coloring and chocolate pudding. Finally get out the paper or just use their high chair tray and let them paint with their fingers.

Valentines Day

As I pulled some of the materials for this craft out of our recycle bin, it dawned on me. I bet a lot of parents are just like me. Trying to simplify their lives and do more with less. I love using old materials to create something new. So I decided to start this blog. Upcycle crafting. If your crafting with your child you don't need all new materials to create something great.

My little boy loves empting the recycle bin regularly and he gets excited when there is a chance to make a mess and play with the glue.

Here is how we made this valentine banner.

Materials needed (one cereal box, glue, scissors, ribbon, paint or colored markers, black marker)

1.Frist we pulled one cereal box out of the recycle bin, tore it at the seem so it could be layed out flat.

2. Draw some hearts on the back side of the cereal box and cut them out
3. Paint the hearts and allow to dry

4.Write Lo-v-e across the hearts with a marker and glue on  to a long piece of ribbon

5. Proudly display  your upcycled craft

6. Please recycle when done, or save it for next year.