Featured on Bob Vila { the guy fromThis Old House}

I just discovered a very cool feature on Bob Vila's website. This guy has been around a lot longer than any blog or blogger. I remember watching This Old House on PBS growing up. I found that he has a post on DIY Kids Furniture and he featured and linked our play kitchen made from a nightstand back in 2010.


There are a lot of play kitchens out there....it was pretty neat to have a DIY celebrity notice ours! Thanks Bob Vila, or can I call you Bob?

DIY Patriotic Washi Tape Frame 5

Since the 4th of July is this week, I thought I'd share a few of the fun things I did this year. Granted, these took me a lot longer than normal-- as I have less energy and it takes me longer to do everything lately...that is being pregnant with two for you!

Here is a little craft I made-- just for the love of washi tape! I love this stuff! I use it for everything!

 HERE is what I did:

I bought one wooden plain frame with a 5 by7 opening at Hobby Lobby. If you use a coupon, it is only about $3.
I spray painted it white. Then, I applied washi tape- in no particular way or order. Then, I hot glued some small wooden stars that were spray painted blue- which you can also purchase at Hobby Lobby or Michaels, for about $2-3 for a small package. You could modify this a little and it would be a fun craft for kids. In fact, you could do something like this for every holiday... I'm thinking a black and white one with a little orange and purple would be fun for Halloween.

Of course the best part if the cute little face inside the frame! I love that kid!!
Happy 4th of July! I have a few more little projects I'll post this week!
Thanks for reading!

RoseArt Contest & Give-a-way: Surprise Inside Sidewalk Chalk

Want to win $200 Visa Gift Card, while having fun with your children and being creative? RoseArt has a new product out called "Surprise Inside Sidewalk Chalk." They are sponsoring a fabulous contest with this new Surprise Inside Sidewalk Chalk.

The Product: Surprise Inside Sidewalk Chalk comes in many different varieties. Would you like to win one? LEAVE A COMMENT suggesting an IDEA for a NEW SURPRISE INSIDE and I'll send you one of these sets!

OR- want to win a $200 Visa Gift Card, by trying out this chalk and creating a drawing? Read on for details....

  RoseArt challenged us to make use of this chalk, and come up with something creative using it. We used this one for our Chalk Art Drawing:

 Since Surprise Inside Sidewalk Chalk is for children ages three and up, my 7, 5, and 3 1/2 year olds all participated in making our drawing.

 Our Chalk Art was much more than just a drawing! We had the idea to put the surprise inside to use with our chalk art. My kids were so excited to see the prize inside! It is a lot of chalk to use to find the prize! Finally we got to the prize!

 Here is the prize inside!

Here is the prize inside of our Chalk Art:

 After a lot of work and fun, we were almost done with the drawing and ready for the best part of all...playing our GAME using our drawing that we created, and the Surprise Inside!

 Here is what we did with our Surprise Inside Chalk: We created a game board by drawing a path of squares. Next the children, added any kind of "lands" that they wanted. We needed something to help us move our game pieces along the board. So I drew a square of colors, as seen below. We used a small rock to roll on the board, and that told us where to put our playing pieces. For playing pieces, we used the Surprise Inside, and a car, action figure, etc.

 A GREAT IDEA- for this Surprise Inside Chalk, would be to  have your kids invite some friends, and have the game path already drawn. Give each of the kids a pack of Surprise Inside Chalk. You can pick these up for around $3 at K-mart, Target, and Walmart. (However I could not find it at my local Walmart.)  Let them use it to create their own lands, city's,etc. around the game board. When they get to their surprise inside, they can use that as their playing piece and play the game!

Here is our drawing! It was so large, that even standing on a ladder, it was hard to get it all in one photo.

 Here are the boys playing the game! They had so much fun and absolutely loved creating it themselves. They even names some of the lands after themselves- well one of them did. Can you see the surprise inside? It is moving along the game board...trying to get to the finish line!

 So here is how you can win:
1. Leave a comment suggesting an idea for a new hidden collectible surprise inside toy. 2 winners will get their own Surprise Inside Chalk, which I will send you. Please submit your ideas by March 28th. I will pick a winner after March 28th and send you a package of chalk-pictured above. Please make sure you leave me a way to contact you!!

OR...to win a $200 Visa Gift Card...
2. Go purchase RoseArt's Surprise Inside Sidewalk Chalk- at Walmart, K-mart, or Target. (I did not find it at my local Walmart, so you might want to try Target.) Create your own sidewalk chalk art. The contest is judged on "The Best Use of Surprise Inside Sidewalk Chalk".
3. Take a photo of it, and email it to me at littlegemscrafts {at} gmail {dot } com.
I will pick the best ones to send to RoseArt. You will then be eligible to win a $200 Visa Gift Card from RoseArt!
4. Contest ends on APRIL 8th. Please submit your drawings by that date. Winners will be picked by RoseArt. Visa Gift Cards will be sent directly from RoseArt to the winners on April 12th.

THANK YOU ROSEART! We really loved this product, and will use it all spring and summer long!
NOW it is your turn! Don't forget to purchase the chalk, for $3 at K-mart, Walmart, or Target. Create your own drawing, and email me a photo of it at littlegemscrafts {at} gmail {dot} com. I will pick one to send to RoseArt for a $200 Visa Gift Card!! Or leave a comment on an idea for a new surprise inside, and I'll send  out a package of this product to 2 winners!

Good Luck!

As a blogger, I was entered into a contest for a $500 gift card for my chalk art creation, "Best Use of Surprise Inside Sidewalk Chalk." . I was sent a package of Surprise Inside Sidewalk Chalk to try myself.

Crafting with Kids: Turkeys in Disguise

So Turkey Day is tomorrow...if you are having a bunch of kids at your house and need something for them to do, here is an idea.

 My son had to do this for school. I thought it would be fun, to give the kids an outline of a turkey, and a bunch of craft supplies, and see what they came up with. Besides, its not everyday you see a turkey dressed up as Darth Vader.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Crafting with Kids: Puffy Ghost {using shaving cream paint}

 I know Halloween is in a few days, but I'm going to attempt to finish posting the fun Halloween stuff we have done this month...in a few days. These ghosts were so much fun! We made these using paint we made mixing shaving cream and Elmer's Glue.

 PUFFY PAINT GHOST USING SHAVING CREAM:
You need:
Heavy paper (we used grocery bags)
3 parts shaving cream to one part Elmer's school glue (just regular glue)
**or measure 3/4 cup shaving cream and 1/4 cup glue - I did not measure- just looked at it and judged the amount and it worked fine.
Sponge brushes
Mix the glue and shaving cream. Apply to ghost shape. You can add eyes and mouth at that time and most of them will stick. A few will not stick and will need to be glued on later.
Allow to dry all the way. Your ghosts will be smooth and velvety soft!

 

 

This was so fun- a little messy- but it is mostly shaving cream-so it washes up very easily. When these are dry they are so so soft!  Have Fun!

Featured on PBS website

Today one of my original Halloween crafts is featured on the PBS parents website.

If is a fun one! Enjoy!

Nine Halloween Crafts & Activities for Kids

Here are a few of the fun Halloween Crafts from the Archives of My Little Gems. Most of these cost less than a dollar, and the kids will have a ton of fun!
 1. Frankenstein Feet
2. Pipecleaner Pumpkins
3. 5 Little Ghosts Story
4. Glow-in-the-dark Spiders
5. Cardboard Tube Creatures
6. Silly Little Bats
7. Pipecleaner Skeletons & Stories
8. Lego-Jack Game
9. Halloween I-Spy Search-n-Find Tub

Lego Jack on a Ledge {A Halloween Game}

I made up a fun little Lego Halloween Game you can play with your kids! Whoot whoot!  My kids are loving it, and I am loving it too! It makes me happy to think up something original for my kids that they love-especially since I feel like Pinterest has zapped my creativity.{Anyone else feel like that- seeing all that creativity makes me feel very uncreative....} Well I think I might still have a little bit left...somewhere. Anyway...so this is a fun game you can play all month long- using a Lego Jack-O-Lantern that you make. {Think a little bit of Elf-on-a-Shelf- but for Halloween} instructions below 

Here is how you play:

Lego Jack on a Ledge {A Halloween Game}
1. Build a Jack-O-Lantern pumpkin from your legos. Make sure the mouth is made of small enough pieces so that they can be moved. We used legos that were 1x2 or 1x3 for the mouth.
2. Hide Lego Jack on a ledge somewhere in the house- we put it in plain sight- not hidden out of sight.
3. Each morning the children look for Lego Jack. The person who finds him gets to change his mouth to a different shape. (see photos above)
4. Hide Lego Jack again and do it the next day.
The kids LOVE this game! It is really fun because they get a kick out of getting to change the mouth shape! Plus - they can really come up with some great shapes!

Happy Halloween!
p.s....this is my 900th post! Is anyone still reading this blog? Blogging isn't what it used to be... I miss that time-back when it was a lot more interactive-with comments, connecting with other bloggers, etc. Now if I want to do that, it is like having another job. Well I'm still here. And I'm still trying to post a little. So thanks- Thanks for reading this little blog. And especially thanks to those who have left kind supportive comments over the past 900 posts!

Scrambled Face Puzzles

 This activity was so fun! We did this in preschool for one of our centers. {I found this idea in one of my teaching magazines.}  It would be fun to do with your own kids or family. I think it would make a great family reunion activity.
Here is what we did:

 Put all the photos in one container. Then let the children make silly scrambled faces with them! They will have a blast! I am thinking I'll do this one with my own children!

HAVE FUN!!

Preschool First Day Prep Kit

In my "former" life- before I had children- I taught elementary school for about 10 years. I loved it. I especially loved getting ready for school to start. Now I do preschool from my home a few days a week.  I had my preschool back-to-school Open House, and I always want to give the little ones a little something to get them excited, and let them know everything will be O.K.
Here is what I did...

I used baby food containers, and patterned kids tape ( which is cheaper than washi tape, and kid friendly tape). I also tied them up with twine. I gave one to each child at the Open House.

    Here is a little peek of what was inside:

I had seven little things inside, and a note folded up on top,  with what all the items meant.
Here they are:
1. Smarties- We are going to learn lots of fun things this year and become real smarties!
2. Penny- You are a very valuable to our class!
3. Eraser- It is O.K. to make mistakes.
4. Hershey's Hug- I am here is you ever need a hug.
5. Star burst-You are a shining star!
6. Lifesaver-I am here to help you!
7. Sticker- We will stick together and help one another!
I am so excited to have you in preschool!
Love,.....

This can be adopted to any grade. My son brought something similar home from school, and he loved it. This was so easy, and I think the little containers really made it a little extra special for the kids.

Thanks for reading!

Olympic Ring Edible Bracelet {Crafting with Kids}

 Several weeks ago, I bought all these round things with holes- in hopes of coming up with some fun Olympic craft. Well....the Olympics are in full swing- so it was time to make a little something. My boys were loud and crazy, until I pulled this stuff out. And they thought I was the best mom- at least for today. And they were quiet for a few minutes. And pleasant. And saying nice things to each other.
That was a nice moment.

We used simple things to make a simple edible bracelet.

I like simple crafts for kids- no prep for me- no fancy stuff- just good and simple fun.

So if you need a simple craft, the calm down the kiddies, and give them something fun to do - have them make one of these- while you watch the Olympics.

Happy Summer!

Crafting with Kids: Printed Tape Pictures

Have you seen the new Kid Made Modern Art Supply line from Target? They have a lot of fun creative things for kids. We bought the Printed Tapes and the Solid Tapes. You get quite a lot of tape for 6.99 considering the price of washi tape. This tape is fun, bright, and perfect for kids! After seeing this on  the Chocolate Muffin Tree Blog, we had to get some. And we really had some fun making our first "tape pictures".

 First I made one for them- while they watched- so they would know what to do. I had to help the little ones with ripping off a piece of tape-mostly because there would be less waste that way. :)

 I also had them draw with pencils first- sort of like an outline of what they wanted to do. Some of them did not really get that, and that was O.K. This kid got it- and look what he made: He used crayons and stuff while making his picture with tape.

 Don't be jealous cause I'm such an artist and make such good tape cactus and stuff.....ha ha.

This was really fun! We have so much tape left, we could do this many many times. If you haven't seen the Kid Made Modern line at Target- check it out- --as always Target does it again! I think I could live there.

Happy Summer!

Crafting with Kids: Washi Tape Firecracker Rockets

This was a fun craft - my kids loved it! I'm sure you have seen the cardboard tubes turned into firecrackers or rockets. I saw something similiar a few years ago and thought it was cute. We used our washi tape to decorate them along with blue painter's tape and silver tape from the dollar store.

First we painted the cardboard tubes. Some were painted two colors, but most were painted one color.
When that was dry, we added our tape to decorate them.
We made different designs using the tape. I applied the tape, and my kids picked which tape and where they wanted it.

Next I used some old red and silver curling ribbon (I have probably had for over 10 years) to add streamers to them, and a loop for the top. To make the topper part, I cut circles from card stock and cut into the circle- one slit- them bent them to make the topper. We added more tape to the toppers and I had to use a glue gun to attach them.
Then we hung them up above the kitchen table. It took me a little time to piece all the parts together, but when your 4 year old says his prayers and thanks God for "mommy who let him make a rocket firecracker" you know it was worth your time.  Plus- it was basically free- since we had everything on hand. You can't beat that.

Have a great Fourth of July! Life is good.