Activity Jars

For the summer we made activity jars filled with popsicle sticks, each with a fun activity written on it! The boys love picking out their next activity, most can be done with a few household items! Below is a list of our activities, our inspiration and some how tos are posted on my Pinterest page. Enjoy!

To make your own activity jars you will need popsicle sticks (we bought pre colored ones at Michael's to identify each activity type) a permanent marker and a container to put them in! All in all this cost under $5 and about 10 min.


OUTSIDE: (green)

• Collect bugs
• Games: red light green light, tag, ball.
• Water playtime: Build a water wall, water table, spray bottles.
• Plant a garden
• Splat paint
• Sensory table
• Sidewalk chalk (make your own sidewalk paint with cornstarch, food coloring and water!)
• Bubbles (make your own bubble wands with wire hangers)
• Have a picnic
• Scavenger hunt (use an egg crate and paint the bottom of each a different color, have the kids find that color!)
• Paper seed starters
• Make bird feeders
• Play hopscotch 

CRAFTS: (blue)

• Bingo dot pen art
• Paint rocks
• Salt dough ornaments/shapes
• Build a vehicle out of a box
• Finger paint (try making your own paint)
• Foam crafts
• Letter collage (pick a letter and have them help you pick pictures out of magazines to glue on)
• Bake cookies
• Make a nature collage
• Make your own crayons, or just color
• Make a messy masterpiece.

GAMES: (red)

• Color matching games (make your own with clothes pins)
• Make play stilts
• Tin can telephones
• I Spy games (make I spy bags/bottles!)
• Magnetic pom poms (glue a magnet on craft pom poms, and use a cookie sheet to make shapes)
• Sorting games (use craft pom poms, tongs and an ice cube tray)
• Lacing cards or buttons on pipe cleaners
• Play bus driver
• Build a fort
• Dance party & make music shakers
• Play pretend kitchen
• Make an obstacle course
• Make a marble race track (water float tube cut in half and marbles!)
• Binoculars: stuffed animal or bird watching
• Funny faces contest
• Treasure hunt
• Shoe box train for stuffed animals
• masking tape shapes, letters, #'s or car track!

OUTINGS: (yellow)

• Library
• Farmers market
• Children's museum
• Swimming
• Park
• Pet store
• Story time at the book store
• Ride the bus
• Bouncy place
• Zoo or aquarium

We are still adding to our lists. Have more ideas for fun activities or outings? Leave me a message!

Superhero Capes!

I have seen so many tutorials for superhero capes and knew I had to make some for my boys! I started to do my own tutorial when I came across one that was exactly what I wanted - I didn't change anything about this tutorial! I actually bought the PDF version of the tutorial on etsy (if anyone wants one I can sell the finished products but not pass along the pattern) and used their templates, however you could do this with your own template.

And pictures of my little superheros running with their capes down the hall!

Hot Wheels Car & Truck Tote-n-Play!

This is a fun project to store little hot wheels & matchbox cars in! A great 'grab and go' toy for long waits, restaurants or car rides.

I made 4 of these using only 1 yard of bottom weight fabric (1/2 yard of 2 colors). Two are for my boys - Angie, guess who the other two are for? J&E's birthday - surprise! I hope you love them!

I rated this project intermediate since there are so many steps and this took several hours for me to put each together after the cutting and finishing. Pictures are below each step.

Materials:

• 17x10" bottom weight fabric color of choice (main/outside color).
• 17x6" bottom weight fabric (car pocket color - I used outside color again).
• 17x10" bottom weight fabric (inside color).
• Scrap fabric for applique car/truck.
• Steam a seam or other for applique.
• 17x3" black cotton or felt for road.
• 6 - 1x3/16" yellow felt for dashes.
• Ribbon or elastic for attachment loop (I used a hairband).
• 2 Buttons for car wheels/attachment.
• Handle material - ribbon 10".

Directions:

1. Cut all pieces to correct size. Fold bottom weight fabric in half length wise and iron. Attach wrong side of scrap fabric to steam a seam, draw a design of choice on paper and cut.

2. Pin and sew raw edges of folded 17x6 fabric to bottom raw edge of extended 17x10 fabric.

3. Next sew car pockets: mark lines of pockets before sewing. Starting at 1/4" from the outside and measure 2.75" for each pocket. There will be 6 ending with another 1/4" seam allowance. Sew vertical lines through all 3 layers (2 of pocket and 1 interior), back stitch or double sew each pocket.

4. For the road; pin and sew black 17x3 road piece centered on top of the inside fabric. Here is where the pre-fold comes in handy. Follow this step by pinning and sewing the dashes onto the road.

5. Sew in strap next along the left edge near the bottom of the black road fabric, fold the ribbon in half and pin, be sure to reinforce the stitches and place the handle facing inward for correct placement after turning, set the interior fabric aside after this and move on to the next.

6. With the exterior 17x10 bottom weight fabric, iron on the applique/steam a seam design. Place centered in the bottom half of this fabric approximately 1/2 inch from the fold you made in the fabric. Stitch around applique, if desired. Sew buttons onto car/truck. Template Here.


7. Sew in closing elastic of choice in line with the button on either the right or left side. If sewed on right side the closure will be on the left of the car/truck, and visa-versa. I sewed mine on the right side of the bottom fabric.

8. Place finished 17x10 pieces with right sides facing each other. Sew around to attach, leaving room to turn. TIP: do not leave corners as a turning point as this will be harder to finish later as the fabric is heavy. Also, ensure you stitch on the inside of existing stitches or they will show when turning.

9. Turn, and sew around 1/4" to finish and close opening shut (pin opening first). I also like to iron this before sewing to get a good crisp edge. Next, sew along the center folded crease, to help keep construction of the folded tote.

You are now finished, add cars and enjoy! Here are folding directions and a few more photos!

Variations for this project: use Velcro or ribbon tie as a different closure. Stencil onto pockets or exterior using freezer paper to number the pockets or write letters/name. Sew in road signs, stop light, stop sign using felt in coordinating colors. Using similar method make a roll for crayons, doll and clothes or other toys - adjust pocket size accordingly. If you need help with sizing I am happy to assist!

Leave me a message if you have any questions or other suggestions about this project!

Wall Activity Center

Several months ago I fell in love with the Pottery Barn 'school house utility decor' - but did not want to spend $169 each on a chalk board, cork board, and paper roll dry erase board. So it was time to figure out how to make something similar myself. Since my kids are little and I didn't want tacks at their level I just did the chalk board and dry erase easel.

You will need:

• 2 large dry erase boards, one large cork board (if you want to do all 3) - I used the board dudes black framed version so I didn't have to paint the frame, such as this.
• Painters tape.
• Chalk board spray.
• Small curtain rod approximately 22" long with 2.5" bracket projections such as this (note this is not the one I used, nor have I purchased this one).
• Paper roll - I bought the one from Ikea.
• Drill with 1/4" drill bit, and long screws - for mounting, 4 each.

What I did:

1. Tape the framed edges of one of the dry erase boards, spray evenly with chalk board spray - set aside and let dry.
2. On the other dry erase board, mount the curtain rod brackets . I set mine 4" from the top.
3. Drill a 1/4" (or sized to your screws) hole in each of the 4 corners of the boards. I placed mine 2" from the top and bottom. This will allow you to mount the boards without fear that it will fall down, and remove from wall without cracking frame. Go slow when drilling and use a firm even pressure.

4. Mount boards to the wall, with screws - add paper roll to curtain rod and enjoy!

Variations: Paint the framed portion of the boards bright colors, or using plywood recreate the school house theme and paint. Add a ledge to the bottom of each board.

Have other questions or theme suggestions for this project? Leave me a message!