Kids' Valentines Favor Idea

I'm always looking for a fun project to do with my kids.... they LIVE for art projects, and it's one of those things that brings all 3 of them together, despite their 6 year age spread. Yesterday, I came across an adorable project from Positively Splendid that we are going to use for Valentine's treats for friends. It's a sweet Valentine to hand out to classmates and friends, but here's the kicker...... you make your own paper and include some wildflower seeds. Then the kids get to "plant" their paper this spring to create their very own little flower garden.

ADORABLE!

Amy, the creator of this crafty idea, says, "I absolutely adore a craft project that utilizes things that would otherwise be discarded. See the speckled paper hearts at the center of each of these blooms? My kiddos and I took an afternoon to make that paper together using paper scraps and other ingredients we had on hand, and we had tons of fun in the process. The kids were fascinated by the fact that it is possible to take something used and make it new again, which makes this a truly stellar lesson in recycling. Once the paper was completely finished, we used it the next day to craft the flower Valentines you see here. Why flowers? you might ask. That, friends, is the very best part of this project: Our homemade paper contains a magic ingredient, and the heart centers made out of it can be planted in the spring so that wildflowers can grow as a result of our hard work! "

Please go visit Amy at Positively Splendid and check out her very detailed step-by-step tutorial and get your own jump-start on those Valentines favors today.

I can't wait to make some homemade paper and create these with my own kids. Happy Friday!

Tutorial: Indian Corn Treat Bag

Today I have another little tutorial from the FREE Shindig Kid's Thanksgiving Table Printable set.

If you don't have your FREE printables yet, click HERE for the details.

We're going to make the Indian Corn Treat bags seen above. These would be terrific on the table as a fun little treat or even for a sweet favor for classroom friends next week. So grab your materials, and let's get started. This one is super, super easy!

Materials:

Skittles
Raffia
2" circle or scallop circle craft punch (if you don't have one, no biggie. Just cut the favor tag out in a square shape instead)
4"x6" jewelry bag (ziploc)
Scotch tape
Hole punch & scissors
Printable sheet of 2" Thanksgiving logos

Take your printed 2" logo sheet and punch out one of logos to make a favor tag

Now cut off the top of the jewelry bag ziploc -- you won't need the closure part. Fill your bag with Skittles -- not too full though. We don't want sugar-crazed kids at Thanksgiving!

Next, fold over one corner of the back of the jewelry bag and tape it down to create a point at the bottom of the bag to resemble corn.




Your next step is to take about 10+ strands of raffia cut to maybe 8"-10" long and wrap it around the top of the jewelry bag. Tie it in a knot to resemble the corn husk.


After tying off the bag, cut your raffia to get it even. And then attach your favor tag by punching a hole in it with a hole punch and stringing a piece of raffia through and tying it to the favor bag.

Isn't it cute? And so easy!! Yay, mom!!

I hope you are all getting your kids' Thanksgiving tables ready! They are going to LOVE their fun little "Mayflower with a Citrus Twist" table!

Halloween Treat Bag Ideas

I usually have bigger ambitions than I actually have time for. It's kind of hard not to.... there are so many great ideas out there! I lovingly call the internet, "The Vacuum." My husband couldn't agree more. How many times have I said, "OK, I'm finishing up.... I just need to look at one more thing" only to find myself still there..... googling and clicking my way to happiness.

I usually have grand ideas for Halloween treat bags and then time gets away from me and those good ideas get filed away for another year. But this Halloween I vow to help the kids make special treats for their friends.

Vow.

And maybe if I say it here, that'll keep me on the straight and narrow. No turning back once you say it out loud, right? So I did a little research, gathered a few ideas and thought you might enjoy them, too.


These were one of my favorites -- I love these candy corn cones from Country Living. I can see these on a Halloween party table filled with caramel corn and candy corns. They would make a good teacher's gift, too. Just wrap them in cellophane and add a little ribbon. Cute, cute!


White chocolate ghost suckers from Roots and Wings would be a perfect treat individually wrapped for kids' classrooms. Pretty simple to make and you can find all the instructions on their website.

I sooooo want to make these! That's one creative momma over at Then She Made -- look at this adorable treat box. "I've got my eyes on you!"..... how cute is that? And Amy made it by using a large tater tot box from Sonic as her template.

You can't go wrong with googley eyes when making things for kids!

Mix, Mingle and Glow has a great tutorial on these Halloween Haystacks, although they look a little more like witches' brooms to me. Super cute and you could make them in small sizes with small paper bags for class treats. The possibilities for fillings are endless.

And we can't forget the tried and true tissue paper Ghost Pop, made with a Tootsie Roll pop sucker -- always a hit and EASY for kids to make themselves. Here's a quick how-to if you need some instructions.

Another twist on the Tootsie pop idea -- These vampire lollipops from Kaboose would make my son so happy! I can just see the smile on his face right now as he brings a basket of them to his friends at school. Perfect for boys and easy to make, too.

Or change it up a bit this year and make a pumpkin tootsie pop from Skip to My Lou. A little orange tissue paper, a black marker, some floral tape and a tootsie pop and you have a treat they'll love to make for their friends.

With all of these cute ideas for inspiration maybe we can all make something a little extra special this Halloween for our kids' friends.

3 kids..... 3 schools..... 60+ treats.... here I come!!

Adorable Mummy Suckers

LOVE This Mummy Oreo Sucker!

And I'm so in love with the website that pictured it! How Does She? is super-fun, crazy popular and a great read for any woman, wife, or momma who likes to DIY or find a great deal! Chock full of projects, giveaways, advice, recipes and freebies, too! Recently I came across some really cute cookie suckers on her blog that I'd love to share. These would be a good idea for a sweet treat for your kids' classes this Halloween. Wrap them up individually in cellophane bags and add a 2" logo tag from our Shindig Halloween Collection. How cute would that be??

How cute would a bouquet of them be??? Adorable!

And that's not all! There are directions and recipes for ghost and tombstone cookie suckers, too. Go take a peak.... they're all made with store bought cookies.... can't be too hard. And just think how proud your kids will be bringing these in for all of their friends....

Mom of the year, I tell ya..... don't you just love the internet??