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Beach Crafts for Preschoolers

We’re going to the beach, and boy, are we excited. I’m trying to pack lighter this year. Last year, the car was packed to the rafters and then we had to squeeze in more. This year, we’re not going to bring any food. Instead, we’re buying it there. That leaves a little more room for craft supplies. When I go to the cabin, I like to do crafts. The rest of the year, life is just too busy and while I can squeeze in some crafting here and there, I never get extended periods of time when I can just … Continue reading →

Exploring The Great Midwest–Summer Festivals

It ain’t over til it’s over, right? Kids may be heading back to school in a few weeks, but that doesn’t mean the festival season is dying down anytime soon. The Midwest is teeming with family friendly events, which take advantage of the great summer weather and the diverse ethnic cultures. Here’s a look of some of the activities planned for August. Midwest Corvette and Chevy Car Show. The annual event takes place August 17-19 and features a bevy of classic cars. You can check out all the action at the Porter County Exposition Center and Fairgrounds off of Hwy. … Continue reading →

Marshmallow Sculpture

Marshmallows are a great art medium for projects. They are inexpensive, they don’t crumble or spill, and they’re edible. They are even quiet. Building with marshmallows is a great thing to do on snow days or sick days. It’s also a fun thing to put out for the kids at family gatherings. Don’t be surprised if the adults want to play, too. Start with clean hands. If you wet a marshmallow just a little, with a drop or two of water, it will stick to another marshmallow. You can build snowmen or igloos. Buy marshmallows in big and little sizes … Continue reading →

Snowed In and Housebound—Five Ways To Pass The Time

If you were spared from this week’s weather woes consider yourself lucky. Much of the nation is recovering from ice storms, blizzards, thunderstorms, and brutally cold temperatures. The wintry mayhem was blamed for at least five traffic deaths as it cut a swath from Texas to Michigan before entering the Northeast this morning. Parts of our state picked up 18 inches of snow in a 12-hour period. It has virtually shut down a number of communities. People here (and in other states) are snowed in and housebound. Not a bad thing when you are single, but it’s another story when … Continue reading →

Get Your Egg On

With Easter just a few weeks away, now is the time to start thinking about eggs, bunnies and Peeps. Many stores that have been stocking Easter merchandise since the day after Valentine’s Day are offering discounts to early birds. This is great if you are looking to snag money-saving deals on Easter goodies for your spring fling. If you don’t have the funds to go hog wild on Easter Bunny decor, then simply get creative with items you may have around the house. For example: Ice Bunny: Use a bunny-shaped cake pan to create a unique ice sculpture centerpiece to … Continue reading →

Ice is Nice

How many times during the winter season do you have a fight with ice? You sprinkle salt on the pathway and the driveway, hack at the ice under the snow to get it off the sidewalk, and quietly mutter at the black ice that you and your car slide around on during the winter months. But ice can be beautiful too. If you’re blessed with cool weather this winter, enjoy it a bit! Create ice sculptures and explore the properties of this glass-like material. Young children enjoy exploring the different ways that ice moves and shatters. The shattering part is … Continue reading →

Where to Celebrate Spring

So you don’t have the time or money to fly to Hawaii or take a jaunt to jolly ol’ England, but you don’t want to be the only one staying home while the rest of the country soaks up the sun. Don’t fret; the following destinations make for a perfect spring fling getaway: AUSTIN, TEXAS Springtime in Austin is warm, sunny (temps average in the low 80s) and laid back. The city is known as the “Live Music Capital of the World” and you’ll see why once you tour the downtown area. That’s where you’ll find more than 100 venues … Continue reading →

More Family-Friendly Christmas Displays

Who says you have to spend a ton of money or travel to the far ends of the planet to view fabulous holiday light shows? Christmas displays are a dime a dozen this time of year, and most don’t require draining your wallet to enjoy. Hundreds of communities from coast-to-coast erect awe-inspiring seasonal showcases to inspire Christmas goodness. The following festive displays are among the nation’s most popular: Atlanta: Macy’s Great Tree at Lenox Square Mall is a stunning piece of holiday craftsmanship. The towering tree is festooned with hundreds of lights and serves as the backdrop for many family … Continue reading →

Not-So-Spooky Halloween Events for Families

My young daughter would rather have her favorite stuffed puppy torn in half than have to stroll by a haunted house on Halloween. Pumpkin patches, hay mazes, and candy paths are more her speed. And thanks to hundreds of zoos and aquariums around the nation parents like me can celebrate the season with their young children without damaging an eardrum in the process. If you are part of the stroller crowd consider contacting your local zoo to see if they are hosting Halloween events this month. In the meantime, check out this list of Halloween happenings taking place at zoos … Continue reading →

Polymer Clay

Polymer clay is one of our favorite craft project mediums. At first the clay just seemed a step up from play doh. We quickly learned though how versatile it is. And why real artists are using it for their art. The clay stays soft until it is cooked. So you can work on your sculptures for days. That’s one of my favorite parts. Sometimes as a mother, it’s hard to find uninterrupted time to do crafts. You don’t need a kiln for this clay, it bakes in regular ovens and even toaster ovens at low temperature. It’s actually not clay … Continue reading →