Homemade Lacing Cards

When I was a young girl I loved to sew. Cross-stitch, Latch Hook, anything I could get my hands on. When I sew things now as an adult I see my kids watching me and really wanting to do it so here are some practice lacing cards that you can make and they can enjoy!

What you need is Cereal Boxes. The corregated stuff is too thick for this project. Cut cereal boxes into flat workable pieces.
Then on the side with all of the writing and print draw your shapes. Then cut them out and flip them over. See how clean they look?
Now poke holes with a hole punch or an eyelet setter (that is what I did) all around the shapes. Like so...
Then get your yarn and needles. I bought these 2 3/4 inch or 7 cm steel yarn needles at Michaels. They were $1.67 and I bought 3 packages. for a total of 6 needles so friends can do it too. These are very blunt, and I poked my kids to see how sharp they were and it didn't hurt them at all. :)
Tie a knot at one end and I painted clear nail polish on the lacing end so the needle would be easy to thread later. I cut about 12 lengths and tied knots so we had plenty of yarn ready to go.
Go ahead start lacing...

My kids were so into it I had to put it away so they would take a nap! It is a perfect little quite activity and it is PERFECT for airplane rides or car trips!

Magic Chalk Shapes

Here is what you need...

Construction Paper, Masking or Painters Tape, and chalk.

Tape random shapes on paper and then tape it to the table.

Let them color or scribble over the entire paper.

Peel the tape.
Hang with pride!
My son insisted on orange paper but as you can see the darker the paper the better the outcome! You can also do this with markers! We recently went on a road trip and I made several mini versions of this for each kid. The best part is that they can color, peel and show off all by themselves and we then showed them how to make tape balls! Another fun road trip activity!

Sculpture Snacking

Toddlers are sometimes finicky eaters right? Well why not mix it up? After we did our Toothpick Building I thought this would be a fun snack/lunch for my kids.

I used stick pretzels, string cheese and pepperoni's...not exactly 100% nutritious but it is something different and they asked for seconds! I served it with Apple Juice and it was better than spending a fortune on Lunchables!

They were very very busy building and eating their creations. Today was a nice and quiet lunch time! And I like that. :)

Spaghetti Art

I promise I will not post painting projects next week. It must seem like I am obsessed with Paint, but in all actuality I am obsessed with stamps, so there!

My friend L and her kids K and M came over to play with my kids so of course we had to do an art project!

Here is what you need...

Cooked Spaghetti Noodles, 1 teaspoon of paint and 2 teaspoons of water and mix them on a plate.

Add Noodles.

Drop and swirl on the paper.

My son especially loved this project. He has already asked to do it again!

Here is the finished product.

It was something fun to do that was quick and easy and I think you should try it!

Raspberry Crepes

My husband and I took the kids Raspberry picking a few weeks ago. If you are lucky enough to live in Colorado I highly recommend Berry Patch Farms. It is such a cute place and their pig's name is Bacon Bits! Hahaha.

Well, the morning after we went my husband decided to make crepes for breakfast with the kids. So, here is the EASY recipe...
1 cup FLOUR
2 EGGS
Pinch of Salt
1 cup MILK
4 TBSP BUTTER

Simple right?

Sift Flour and add salt then make a well in the center of the flour.

Break the eggs, whisk eggs and flour together.
(a tip - crack eggs in a separate bowl so you can pick out the shells if the kids get any in the eggs)

Mix water and milk in the same measuring cup and add to the flour/egg mixture.
Melt 2 Tbsp of the butter and stir into the batter. Strain if Lumpy.
Melt remaining butter in a small frying pan and make thin pancakes. Tilt the pan so the batter covers the base.
Cook the crepe for one minute and flip.

Fill with berries and whipped cream and drizzle syrup on top. We made them like burritos because they are less messy and I am a freak about that sometimes.

Enjoy. How can you go wrong with 6 ingredients and some fruit?

Meal Plates

This is fun even if you don't have a play kitchen. It can be used at any time, in any place, on any day! :)

Here is what you need...

Grocery Ads, Scissors, Glue, Marker, Paper Plates

We talked about the different meals we eat at our house.

Then we picked out the foods that we eat in our house.

Then we cut, and glued.


Then play kitchen! :) My kids and anyone else who comes over to play absolutely LOVES to pretend play with these plates.

Bottle Shakers

At 6 months babies have good control of their movements, especially their arms and hands. These shakers or any rattling sound will make any baby feel excited and help them boost cause and effect awareness. It might also help with rhythm!

All of these from Walmart are less than a buck a piece!

What you need. Empty containers like spice bottles, baby bottles with flat lids, (I used Gatorade Bottles) sand, dried beans, water and oil, rocks or rice. Fill 'em secure them with glue or tape and let them have at it!

Here is my little fuzz ball after she woke up from her first nap.



Here she is with her siblings after dinner...

These bottle shakers help develop Cause and Effect, Listening, Music, and Large Motor. Make them, they are easy and everyone likes to Shake 'em.