Adorable Duck Baseball Hat

Ducks remind me of summer. We always drive by this one pond on th eway to Walmart and you can see the ducks frolicking in the water. I love watching them kick the water up and all around. So,with that in mind here is a cute craft for the little ones.

A little felt and glue and kids can transform a yellow baseball hat into an adorable duck hat. Get quacking with this adorable summer craft.

What you'll need:

• Yellow baseball cap
• Orange felt
• Scissors
• 2 large wiggle eyes
• Hot glue gun and fabric glue sticks

How to make it:

1. Cut out two pieces of orange felt that fit on the bill of the hat.
2. Glue one of the pieces completely to the top.
3. Glue the other piece under the bill only on the side edges so that it will hang down under the bill of the hat.
4. Glue the two wiggle eyes just above the bill of the hat.

Books about ducks--

"I teach many children to swim, but this book can save more lives than any swimming lesson program, because it can reach so many more children. After reading Stewie The Duck Learns To Swim, children will remind their parents about proper water safety habits! They'll say things like "Mom, I want to go swimming; will you watch me?" or "I want to go swimming, but I need to have my life vest on first." Even more exciting, children will understand how important it is to take swimming lessons, and even older kids who may be tempted to swim in unofficial swimming holes, reservoirs, etc., may very well thing twice before doing so."Reviewed by:Rob Polley   TO PURCHASE

TO PURCHASE

"I bought this book for my daughter and I ended up enjoying it as well. The author really did a great job in explaining to children that their hearts are big enough to open up and love again.It's cute and funny, heartwarming.My child loved the story and the illustrations.Speaking of illustrations,this author is also the illustrator and she could tell the story on her illustrations alone.They are beautifully done,and very colorful and she includes a ton in her books.You can tell alot of love and effort went into her book. I am very pleased to be able to review this book and I wish MJ Daley-Prado much success." Reviewed by: Anonymous 

Ice Candle

This is a fun project for the older kids. It's easy and fun but requires some supervision. My sister's and I made these in summer camp years ago. They make a cool gift for you,your Mom or anyone else on your list. 

Ice Candle

Some cool books on candles:

"The latest in the Quick Starts for Kids series, Create Your Own Candles: 30 Easy-To-Make Designs is a guide for readers ages 10 to adult to making candles and candle holders. An easy, fun, and inexpensive activity book, Create Your Own Candles requires little more than wax, wicks, old pans for heating the wax, utensils for stirring and cutting, and suitable glass containers which can be found at secondhand stores. Chapters cover beeswax candles, molded candles, hand-dipped candles, gel candles, and vibrant candle holders that can be made from recycled materials. A list of safety tips, such as the importance of using baking soda or a pot lid to smother a wax fire (water will not extinguish a wax fire because wax floats on water) rounds out this practical and adventurous guide, illustrated with black-and-white sketches throughout. Of course, Create Your Own Candles presumes that younger children will have adult supervision when engaging in this craft, and warns that certain types of wax will render pots and pans too waxy for use in regular cooking. A handy, easy-to-follow walk through for a great craft project, holiday gift making, or family fun activity." Reviewed by:Midwest Book Review    To Purchase

To Purchase

Flower Pens For Tweens

Materials Needed:
Pen
Silk or Plastic Flower with the stem
Green Floral Tape
Scissors

Instructions:
Hold the flower next to the pen and clip the flower stem so it is about 2-inches up from the tip of the pen. The flower should sit on the end of the pen. Remove and leaves. While holding the flower stem tightly against the pen, wrap the entire length of the pen with floral tape. This will secure the pen and flower together. With the floral tape you do not need tape or glue!

To Purchase

Cute, cute, cute!"It was really darling to "see" things from a young flower girl's point of view (eg What if I run out of flowers?) Really cute illustrations, and an overall "Weddings are great -- families are great!" 

"This book helped my family so much. It is a way to explain Crohn's to children in a way they will understand. I even got one for the school to help educate teachers and other children. Hopefully this will help bring awareness to the cause." Reviewer:D.Nasso

To Purchase 

Patriotic Necklace

Easy to make craft made from household materials such as flour,salt and water. With 4th of July coming up it's a fun time to be patriotic and show how much you love America or maybe you could make on for a friend who is about to get his or her citizenship?

NECKLACE INSTRUCTIONS 

Books related to the fourth--

"Those charming holiday mice are back- and this time they are celebrating Independence Day. Their day is packed with activities- a noisy, flag-waving parade, a picnic to munch, a baseball game with the local bugs, and a sack race. There is even a swim in the pond where the littlest mouse overcomes his fear of swimming. The day ends in a happy burst of fireworks, and a cheer for America. The bouncy, rhymed text is great to read aloud, and the lively illustrations are full of clever details. A fun, joyous celebration of our country's birthday- a perfect book for young patriots!" review by Karenlovesbooks-Massa. 

For more information or to purchase click HERE.

No reviews but to learn more or purchase click HERE

Boxing Glove Ornaments

This awesome craft can be used for any time including my favorite holiday Christmas. Here are the directions to make these cute red boxing gloves.

RED BOXING GLOVES DIRECTIONS

Boxing isn't just for boys,see this cute story I wrote about Pinky. Pinky has a point to prove. She wants to show the world that girls are just as brave and smart as boys. Join Pinky in the ring as she serves up a one two punch and takes them down for the count in this humorous tale for all ages.

You can find out more or purchase Pinky here.

Reviews for Pinky

Imagine the joy of selling off an annoying younger sibling! No more fighting, biting, or tattling. But who will you play with after your sister is gone? Children will learn to appreciate the value of family, even if getting along takes some work.

Find reviews here.

To find out more or purchase click here.

Let's Make A Fire Truck

I found a really neat site where you can make things out of things that are just laying around the house.One of the crafts was how to make a fire truck out of a milk carton.

Materials Needed:

• Milk Carton (small pint size works best)
• Construction Paper
• Markers and/or Paint
• 4 Bottle Caps or Lids from a Milk Jugs
• Glue and/or Tape

Instructions:


Cut a piece of red construction paper to cover the entire outside of the milk carton. Glue or tape it around the milk carton. Now, using the markers or paint, draw the details on the fire truck (windows, ladders, etc)... Once you get it decorated the way you want it, you are ready to attach the wheels.
 
Here is the tricky part... Glue the wheels into place! If you are using the bottle or milk caps they will be heavy and you will have to work to find a good position to lay your fire truck until the wheels dry. You will want most of the wheel attached to the fire truck body with very little hanging over the bottom edge. If you want, glue on the wheels for one side at a time and let it dry laying on the side.

More Recycled Craft Ideas From About.Com

Here are some wonderful books about fire trucks--

"This was a gift to 5 year old grandchild who was enthralled with the fact that he could "drive" the truck. Excellent interaction book for kids. Sturdy so it will take a lot of use" Reviewed By Sandra Burnham on Amazon.com.

Click for more information on "My Little Red Fire Truck"

No reviews about this one. I think the cover is adorable. Click here for more information on "FIRE TRUCK".Paint the 4 bottle or milk caps black to make the wheels for the fire truck. You can also cut small circles from black construction paper and glue the to the outside of the caps. If you don't have bottle or milk caps, try to find some big buttons, or anything else that is small and round; even small circles cut out of construction paper will work.

Tiny Pet Bowls

I love guniea pigs. We had one for many,many years. Her name was Piggie. She loved to eat especially cucumbers and yogurt. She would oink up a storm every time I came into the room or if I was making a salad for myself. If I didn't walk over and say hello to her she would keep oinking and making a lot of noise.

As you can see from this photo on your left our Dog also loved Piggie. They would lounge around on the sofa together. Piggie would bite Cuddles nails and she sit right there and let her.

Here is a craft you can make for your miniature furry little creatures.

                                                                   

Materials needed:

Plain terra cotta bowl
Colored permanent markers
Non-Toxic aryclic Paint
Paintbrushes
Newspaper

Directions--Choose a color and paint the outside of the bowl. After it paint the inside of the bowl and then make your design. Be creative and make it colorful. After it dries protect it with spray vanish and allow to draw. After it dries make sure you wash with soap and water before allowing your guinea pig or hamster to eat from it.

Here are some childrens book related to Guinea Pigs and Hamsters.

 

Piggie Wiggie's Great Adventure (Paperback) Reviewed By Reader's Favorites

"Aimed at ages 4-6, Piggie Wiggie's Great Adventure is a daring tale of adventure, heroism, and a `never-say-die' attitude. Family pet and escape artist extraordinaire, Piggie Wiggie the Guinea Pig is out the cage and on the loose, ready for adventure. What an adventure it turns out to be as Piggie explores a brave new world. First up is a ride in a remote control toy car. Thrills and spills ensue with a happy, soft, safe ending in a pile of pillows. But wait! There's more. Stuffed to the gills with a delicious (and illicit) feast of fresh veggies, Piggie has a close encounter of the soggy kind in a bathtub of water and more toys. Undaunted, Piggie Wiggie wriggles from one disaster to another, culminating in a sensational showdown with Scruffy the cat. What will become of this intrepid Guinea Pig, who should add `explorer' to its name? Read on...

This a charming story for young children, made even more memorable by the fact that Piggie Wiggie's adventures are based on the Houdini-like antics of a real family pet, a Guinea Pig owned by author and illustrator, M. J. Daley-Prado. This adds a delightful authenticity and will endear the story even more to young readers. The author also includes some quite `big' words in the tale and it's an ideal opportunity for parents and teachers to begin expanding a young reader's vocabulary by explaining the words.

This talented author also illustrated the book and her captivating images of Piggie Wiggie in action make the story come alive, elevating this book to another level of enjoyment. An unexpected but excellent addition is a reading guide at the back for parents and children seeking a Guinea Pig as a pet. Topics range from caring for the new pet to dealing with the inevitable."

To Purchase Click HERE

 

 

 

"These books are marvelous for getting your grandbabies to read ...I pretend I don't have a clue about STINK and they also EXPLAIN to their less than with it Grandma WHAT the book is about ...I'm a firm believer in READING and these help me create an atmosphere of pleasure while reading for my girls." Reviewed by:N.Lambert 

To purchase click HERE

Make your own bubble bath

Remember as kids we had Mr.Bubble and all those cute figurines filled with bubbles. Here's a way to let the kids make their own bubbles and have some clean fun.

Bubble Bath





Here are some fun books to read:

"Abby and Tess are great! Abby solves real life problems; learning about responsibility and taking charge of her own problems, while Tess' antics add a delightful mix of comedy and mischief which leaves readers wanting more." Reviewed by Cookie 

To Purchase

To Purchase

Funny Yarn Octopus

As kids my sisters and I made these crazy octopus's. Each of us had our favorite color and we would each have our own use for them as well. I had a purple one and I use mine as a barrette holder. My sister's had blue and yellow. My oldest sister kept her's on her bed pillow while my other sister strolled her's around in her baby carriage.


Whatever you choose to do with your octopus is entirely up to you. They are great for gifts,church bazaars,craft shows,vacation bible school projects etc...


So,have fun and let your imagination soar!


FUNNY YARN OCTOPUS

Here are some fun books about octopus--

"This is a great, simple, accurate, sweet book about a little girl who has a brother with Down syndrome. It explains that kids with Down syndrome need more time and patience, but they all can learn to do the things other kids do. I highly recommend this book to kids with Down syndrome and their siblings, friends, neighbors and relatives. It's good on its own and as an alternative to What's Wrong With Timmy?, a book that covers the same topic in a much less appealing manner." Reviewed By Alice F. 

To Purchase

One More Time, Please "This is a cute, fun story with bright and colorful illustrations. I just bought this book for my 2 1/2 year old daughter. She really enjoys it, and I enjoy reading it to her - which is a good thing since she always wants me to read it "one more time, please". To Purchase

To purchase click here

Dragon Fly Pin

I love dragonflies so much that I wrote a story about one by the name of Buzz. Nobody liked Buzz because he was so big, gawky and ugly. Buzz had a heart of gold and he loved to help others. One day he was taking his usual stroll around the countryside when something terrible happened. I can't give the story away but let me just tell you that out of this terrible tragedy came a beautiful friendship. More about Buzz at the end of this post.


I love this craft. You can use it as a pin or dangle it from a fishing wire string and hang it in a window or the car mirror and watch it sparkle,

DRAGON FLY PIN









Below are some books about dragonflies---

"BUZZ, by MJ Daley-Prado, is another wonderfully done children's story by this author. I continue to be in awe of her abilities to capture a child's mind in her continued efforts as a children's author. BUZZ is an inspirational story teaching the age old moral of "don't judge a book by its cover" so to speak as in this case it is a very friendly dragonfly not to be judged by his appearance. BUZZ is a lovely story to be read to help teach morals. The moral of this story never changes and is a valuable lesson to learn for tots and toddlers the same. Its value as a lesson is rich beyond words 5***** Mind Fog Reviews - Anastasia Cassella-Young" 
If you would like to find out more about BUZZ or purchase his story visit here.

"This is an excellent book for a new reader. The wording is simple and easy to understand describing the life cycle of a dragonfly and the illustrations are quite beautiful. I gave this book to my 7 year old grandson and he loves it! I plan to buy more books in this informative, interesting series. I highly recommend it!!" By:Marion@hotmail   

For purchasing information click here.  

"I read this book to my son's first grade class and became the most popular "mom reader" around. For a group of mostly city kids who don't generally think about squishing around in the muck on purpose, this sweet, smart story opened the children's minds to the wonder and beauty of nature, and gave us all some gross (and cool!) things to ponder. The author did a wonderful job of telling a simple yet poignant story about growing up, learning from the world around us, and sharing our love and knowledge with family and friends. The illustrations are equally amazing. And the kids and I loved learning all the names of the different types of dragonflies at the end. This book makes me want to be the kind of mom who isn't afraid of anything gross!" Reviewed by Adancy Austin,TX   

For purchasing information click HERE.        

Home Made Dog Soap

Rub-a-dub-rub doggies is in the tub. Since I posted bath scrubs for humans yesterday I thought why not take care of the furry variety today. Here is a home-made soap for your doggy. It's made out of tree tea oil which will help repel fleas.

Tree Tea Oil Doggie Soap

Reading is important for children. Here are some fun read aloud books or books that parents can read to their children. Since we have dog soap I am adding a couple of books about dogs. There are plenty of books on the market but I choose to bring back some older books that people may have forgotten.

This review is from: Help Me, Mr. Mutt!: Expert Answers for Dogs with People Problems (Hardcover) First of all, it shouldn't be Mr. Mutt; it should be DR. MUTT because what we have here is sound parenting advice for dogs stuck in a world of clueless humans and arrogant cats. Following the good Dr.'s advice, dogs of all breeds can make their lives infinitely more enjoyable. Here we learn about various means of "obtaining" people food which is much tastier than the bagged Styrofoam that dogs are forced to consume. We also learn about the multiple uses for the toilet--not only as a source of liquid refreshment but also as a dunk tank for kitties. Caution to cats: you don't want to look at this. I would suggest that you find your own book--you don't fare too well here. This will be one of the 10 funniest books I'll see this year (and it's only March). It's an absolute joy. 5 Stars each for the authors and 5 more for the book--that's 15 stars and they've earned every one of them. Craig Case-Oklahoma

 

 

 

I use this book with my middle school students to show VOICE in writing(from Six Traits Writing). It's a great model for personification also. The kids love the book, even though it's not for the reading age. Trevor M.

Make some lemon bath scrub

I love,love,love bath scrubs. A few holidays ago my niece made me homemade bath salts. It smelled like lemon and oh my gosh it was heavenly! It is a really good exfoliate and it makes your skin so smooth and soft.

You can put it in a beautiful jar and put a ribbon around it with some sort of decorative button.

This is what you will need:

• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup sea salt
• 1 tbsp. jojoba oil
• 1 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tsp. freshly grated lemon peel
• 1 vitamin E capsule

Directions:

• Put the 1/2 cup white  sugar and 1/2 cup sea salt in a large mixing bowl. Stir to mix.
• Add 1 tbsp. jojoba oil, 2 tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice, 2 tsp. freshly grated lemon peel and 1 tbsp. pure honey. Stir until the jojoba oil is completely blended.
• Poke a small hole in the vitamin E capsule and squeeze it into the sugar and lemon scrub. Stir to blend.

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I love bath time 5.0 out of 5 stars Nice book to teach toddlers about bathtime "I highly recommend this book (and the entire Joy Berry Classic "Teach me About" series). The pictures are cute and the words are nice and simple. It is able to keep my 2 year old daughters attention. The subject matters are very age appropriate and I know that she is learning important social and environmental skills while having fun doing it." Reviewed by: Anonymous

Mortimer Mooner

Review by Ripp4pls--"I was introduced to this book in a graduate reading course. What a delightful story, as well as, a wonderful read. The vocabulary is wonderful for emergent readers. The vocabulary is kept simple, but also provides a few new terms. This is a great book for teachers and parents to include in their children's book library."

Fish Magnets

This is a fun and easy craft for children. Here is the link for the directions:

Fish Magnets

One very important thing from the "things you will need list" was magnets. You can buy the magnet in a roll and then cut off as much as you will need. I have seen it sold in places like Walmart,AC Moore and other craft shops both in brick and mortar shops and online.

Have a fun time making your fish. Be creative and have fun!!

Do you remember years ago a very nice story by the name if Rainbow Fish? My daughter used to love this story. Here are some links to some fun books about fish. Click on the link under each book and it will take you to it's webpage.



Rainbow Fish
By A CustomerThis review is from: The Rainbow Fish (Hardcover)

I had heard alot about the famous rainbow fish books and when I saw the 10th anniversary book out, I decided to buy it for my 2 year old. I happily sat down with her at bedtime to read her the story and I finished the book feeling not so happy about the book. The rainbow fish is aesthetically, a very pleasing book, with it's beautiful many hued fish and the shimmery shiny scales, but all the visual effects do not make for the rather unpleasant story line. Sharing is one thing, but when you have to give away the one thing that makes you unique in order to cultivate friends suggests that the only way friendship can be had is through purchase. The little fish asks a second time for a scale, even though he was refused the first time after which he alienated all the other fish from rainbow fish. What does the story say about small (minded, greedy) people who want what another has and when they don't get it they go around poisoning everyones' minds against the person? This story left a bad taste and I returned the book the very next day.

Fish Eyes



Fish Face

This review is from: Fish Face (The Kids of the Polk Street School) (Paperback) This book is one I read 11 years back when I was in 4th grade. These Polk St. school books are a lot of fun for everyone! My dad used to send away for Weekly Reader Books for me and one that came in the mail was book #1 in this series, The Beast In Ms. Rooney's Room. I'd enjoyed it and didn't realize it was a series until I saw a friend reading different Polk St. books. I ran out and bought this one, #2. It is so good. About Emily, who befriends a new girl, Dawn from Florida. Then Emily's rubber unicorn, Uni, her prized posession, turns up missing and Emily has a notion Dawn took it but can't prove it. She is devistated. I won't tell you anymore, you need to read it yourself.



Button Bracelet

My Mom loved to sew and she used to have this basket filled with all kinds of buttons. There were big ones,shiny ones,tiny ones,and sparkling ones. They came in all sizes and shapes. Sometimes we would play store and use them as money. Other times we would make crafts using buttons. One time it was flowers and we used the buttons as the middle of the flowers. Another time it was a necklace or a bracelet.But...they were never as cute as this bracelet.


This is such a cute project for Vacation Bible school,or summer camp,or even just a project for home with the kids. Anyone can do make one. Keep it for yourself or give a present to your Mom.

Button Bracelet

Jelly Bean Jar

My sister's and I made this craft many years ago. You can replace it with just about anything. We made some with pretzels, some with paper clips, some with coins, some with buttons, some with miniature candy canes and some with cookies on it,some with lolly pops. Of course you have to find the appropriate jar to go with the project you are doing. These make great flee market,and craft show ideas.


This project is more for the older kids and does require some adult supervision because of the glue gun and varnish.

JELLY BEAN JAR

Heart Charm Bracelet and Watermelon Earrings

I love this bracelet idea. You can make this bracelet for yourself,your Mom,or friends.

It's made with polymer clay. Here is the link for the directions.

HEART CHARM BRACELET




Here is one more cute idea,fresh for summer time and picnics etc... This idea is just a little bit harder but it's really adorable.

Watermelon Earrings

You can buy polymer and all the supplies at places like AC Moore,Michaels and other craft shops in your area and online.

Have fun!!

Bingo

Bingo is a fun game. One year at my daughter's birthday party we played Bingo and the girls really loved it. I was the caller and each girl had several cards. I bought prizes from the dollar store and so when the girls won they got to pick a prize. It was so much fun and the girls were giggling and having a great time.

Here in a link on how to make your own Bingo cards. They have many other kinds of Bingo on this site like Jesus Bingo and Bunny Bingo. Great ideas for vacation bible school.

Buy inexpensive prizes at the dollar store or even those miniature candy bars or even a more expensive candy like Ferrero Rocher