Free Rangoli Printables for Diwali

Shubh Diwali, my Hindu-Sikh-Jain friends, a little belated. Diwali or Deepavali was celebrated Sunday, November 3,2013. It's the five-day festival of lights, ending with Bhai Dooj on November 5. I have a Sikh friend who has explained some of the festival to me. So I thought, being the free printable crafts lady, you'd like rangoli printables. These would make pretty tattoo stencils, too. If you're not into permanent ink, let kids trace patterns on their arms with washable markers. (photo from Wikimedia) Free Diwali, Bhai Dooj, Rangoli Printables for Kids

Roaring Twenties Flapper Gangster Couple Halloween Costume

I dressed as a dead flapper for our Haunted Museum Saturday. I used costume ideas from a Roaring Twenties gangster-flapper couples' costume my husband and I wore in 1994. Here's how to make, easy and cheap, dead or alive. This couples costume is tres Gothic and very definitely for adult-only parties.   Roaring Twenties Flapper Gangster Couple Halloween Costume, Dead or Alive

Multitasking 2 fo r1 Halloween Costume, Scary and Non-Scary

I'll be dressing up for Halloween this year and needing two costumes. I'll need a non-scary one for helping at my daughter's school concert. The I'm volunteering at our local "Haunted Museum." Here's how I plan to make one costume do double duty. You can make many costumes multitask with a few simple tweaks. Here's how. My Dual Purpose Halloween Costume, Boadicea Scary and Non-Scary

Printable Pumpkin Carving Stencils

I can't believe Halloween 2013 is almost here! I started this blog in 2008 around Halloween. Time flies. Anyway, if you celebrate Halloween, Trick-or-treat, All Saint's Day or harvest festivals, you might be looking for pumpkin crafts. Use these free printable pumpkins crafts, coloring and cut and paste for preschool lessons and games.Free Printable Pumpkin and Jack-o-Lantern Stencils and Craft Activities

Repurpose Summer Toys for Indoor Preschool Learning Play

 I homeschooled four kids in a single-wide old mobile home. So I know about space-saving as well as money saving. A favorite way to do both is by repurposing. We made outdoor toys do double duty in winter with indoor uses. For example, their Little Tikes Sand Turtle was filled with Lake Michigan beach sand and enjoyed all summer. Then in winter, I cleaned it out, bleach and sanitized and brought it indoors. Repurpose Summer Toys for Indoor Preschool Play

Archaeology Crafts, Lesson Plans

I just discovered Bonekickers from BBC One. This show is from 2008. It explores new archaeology digs in Somerset England. If you'd like to unearth some cool history-based crafts and activities, visit the Bonekickers website for nifty idea. And for a quick easy craft, press leaves, ferns and shells in clay. This shows kids how fossils are made. Bonekickers TV Show, a Fun Archaeology Thrill Ride

Recycle Bin Crafts for Bored Kids: Homemade Hats

Got stuck-at-home-itis? can’t Got rainy-day, can't go out to play bored kids? Maybe someone is sick, or the whole family has head lice (been there done that)? Maybe the car is down or little ones are lonely with siblings at school? If so, you need teacher mama's boredom first aid kit. I’m your go-to gal for cheap, easy, parent friendly fun. '
Cause you know I'm short on artistic skill!

For every craft you can imagine, your recycle bin is your best bud. Today's craft from trash: homemade hats. And ahem, with Halloween fast-approaching, why not start thinking costumes? This design was developed by our oldest daughter at 20 months old. We kept her blocks and toys sorted in those old 5 pound peanut butter pails.  Recycle Bin Crafts for Bored Kids: Homemade Hats - News - Bubblews