Ivory Soap, Paint!

So, after you have turned it into a slightly stinky, but really cool cloud, you tear it up into pieces. The kids love to do this!

 Put it in a mixer, and add 1/4 to 1/2 cup warm water.  you want it to be smooth, but NOT runny.

 It looks so weird.

 Put it in baggies, and add the coloring, then let the kids smoosh.

 

 Awesome!

 Then, cut the tips off and explain to your kids how piping works, because that is what they are going to do in the tub! "Back to the tub, kids!" you will shout with excitement! LOL

 Then, let them have their fun!

 

 Here is what it looks like.

 Then, check out the designs and then let them swish it with their hands, for added enjoyment!

 Sensory Fun!

 

 Yay!

It is fun, clean, and - washable!

More to come!

Texture Play

Everyone loves PlayDoh in my house. Last night for family night we talked about impressions and fossils.

So, we had the kids search through the house that were different textures, or patterns.

They found a comb, coins, legos, a key, pipe cleaners, a dryer sheet, a chain, and bubble wrap. 

(we may have hinted to ideas)

Then it was time to have at it!

We do family night after bath, so please excuse the wet hair and jammies. :)

This is a great fine motor activity. It also helps distinguish textural differences.

 The kids all had a blast!

 Even the one year old took a stab at it...literally!

This was just another fun way to use play doh.

We talked about ridges, grooves, indentations, and textures. They each learned new descriptive words.

We also had them predict what would happen on the other side if they pushed too hard or too soft.

Really nice and quiet activity. :)

Winners!!!

Thanks for the comments and shares! :)

Thanks for the birthday wishes too! 

Here we go: Winner for Giveaway #1  is comment #9

Zoe Ann KregerApr 23, 2012 07:24 AM

I am a follower! Since 2009!

Winner for Giveaway #2 is comment # 102

Lisa Jepson Apr 26, 2012 09:05 PM

I am a follower! You have such great ideas and prizes. You are awesome.

Winner for Giveaway #3 is comment #42

Julie TimpletonApr 27, 2012 08:34 PM

June is busy. July is busier. Thanks for this giveaway!

And the winner of the Name Puzzle is comment #77

Amy CobbleyApr 27, 2012 09:44 PM

Im a follower

Please email me with your email addresses and home addresses so we can get those shipped to you! Feel free to brag to your friends that you won. Haha. JK

Thanks for joining and the next giveaway is in August!!

April Giveaway - THREE

It's my husband's birthday today!

We both have April birthdays, and luckily our kids skipped this month! It would be so hard to celebrate 3 birhtdays, except for the teeny fact that my dad and his mom are tomorrow and Sunday. So - April is busy for us.  Do you have a month where it seems busier than others? Are they filled with birthdays or something else?

Today's FINAL giveaway

is from Fat Brain Toys

A $100 giftcard to Fat Brain Toys

AND

Here is what you also win:

Alphabet Sounds Puzzle!

and because I am the luckiest gal on earth, to have met this handsome man, who gave me 5 beautiful children, 3 of which are gingers like him:

this is his "I'm too sexy for my sweater pose" -LOL JK

I am also going to throw in a 2nd place prize:

Personalized Name Puzzle

Same deal as before:

1 - Leave a comment - 

What is your busiest month and why?

2 - If you are a follower leave another comment and tell me you are a FOLLOWER. 

(its an extra entry!!)

3 - Leaving a comment on Facebook/posting it on Facebook -

Share with your friends!

Contest starts at 6am Pacific Time Friday April 27th and ends Sunday.

 Winners will be announced Sunday April 29th at 12 NOON.

April Giveaway - TWO

Today, the prize is from EBeanstalk.com

In addition to your $100 GIFT CARD, you also will get a Red Rody Horse

This is a $55 value!

Here is what you need to do to enter:

1 - Leave a comment - 

It can be just your name or what you will buy with your giftcard.

2 - If you are a follower leave a comment and tell me you are a FOLLOWER. 

(its an extra entry!!)

3 - Leaving a comment on Facebook/posting it on Facebook -

Share with your friends!

Contest starts at 6am Pacific Time Wednesday April 25th and ends Friday when Contest 3 begins.

 Winners will be announced Sunday April 29th at 12 NOON.

April Giveaway! - ONE

I had a pretty big birthday this month, and to celebrate I have 3 giveaways.

Here is how they will work. 

Monday's giveaway ends AS SOON AS Wednesday's starts, and then Friday will end Wednesday's Giveaway and ALL winners will be announced Sunday (when Friday's ends).

So, today's giveaway is:

A $100 Gift Card to One Step Ahead

and

This Symphony Bath Toy Musical Set.

This is a $40 dollar value.

So, you win the gift card AND the bath toy!!!

Here is what you need to do to enter:

1 - Leave a comment - 

It can be just your name or a nice comment, either is fine. :)

2 - If you are a follower leave a comment and tell me you are a FOLLOWER. 

(its an extra entry!!)

3 - Leaving a comment on Facebook/posting it on Facebook -

Share with your friends!

Contest starts at 6am Pacific Time Monday April  23rd and ends Wednesday April 25th - 6am Pacific Time. Contest #2 begins at 6:05am (wednesday)

 Winner will be announced Sunday April 29th at 12 NOON.

Crayon Resist Easter Bunting - KIDMADE!

I love crayon resist-anything. I decided to go the extra mile on this one so it would last longer.

My daughter had a friend over so it was time to do a fun art project.

I grabbed some Crayola Oil Crayons and Prang Watercolors.

I am a watercolor fanatic and Prang makes the best ones. 

This isn't a commercial, I truly love Prang better than Crayola when it comes to the Watercolors.

They are thicker and have more options. We used glitter and metallic.

I also grabbed some cardstock, yarn, and some cookie cutters.

First have the kids color with the Pastels/Oil Crayons.

They have such a smooth feel.

Then let them watercolor right over it. The more color, the better. I prefer the randomness.

After it is semi-dry trace some easter cookie cutters!

They can trace and cut if you want, but I wanted it to look more uniform, so I did it.

If I had older kids with me I would have had them do it all themselves.  The plus of me doing it ensured that I got the most out of each paper. :)

After that I added string and cut out with my cricut the easter letters.

There is something about kid-made easter decor. So perfectly cute.

Our little Art friend didn't have enough painted square footage to get a full banner, so we just did her first initial.

from what I am told...she loved it so much, she hardly put it down. :)