Holidays

Create Dancing Scarecrows for Thanksgiving

Here’s a quick and easy projects kids can make for Thanksgiving. The project kit comes from Oriental Trading Company and is perfect for classroom, Sunday school, home school or an afternoon fun-time project.

Suggested Age: 5 and older

There are 12 individual kits in one package and each kit comes with pre-cut cardboard pieces, red paper fasteners, a ribbon awhat you nd some extra pieces. The rivets are used to hold the arms, leg and head to the body piece and make your scarecrow jointed. Each piece also has pre-drilled holes so it’s all ready to assemble. The ribbon can be taped on the back to be used as a hanger or tie it on the front and glue it on for a bow decoration. Each scarecrow ends up being about 15″ tall when assembled.

The first step is to have the kids use markers or crayons and color in each of the scarecrow pieces.

Next, use the red paper fasteners to attach the pieces together. Then tape the ribbon on the back of the head to make a hanger and Voila! Your scarecrow puppet is all finished. Easy Peasy!

Disclosure: Oriental Trading Company sent us these kits to test out for our article.

How to Make a Ghost Garland for Halloween

Here is a simple craft to make for Halloween. Decorate the mantel, front door, bulletin board and more with this quick and easy ghost garland. You will need some tissue paper, wax paper, or other thin paper that is easy to shape. You will also need stuffing or cotton balls, black string or ribbon and face stickers. If you can’t find face stickers you can either draw the faces on with a Sharpie or use “googly eyes”

Supplies Needed for Ghost Garland

tissue paper, wax paper, white wrapping paper, or other thin paper
Poly-Fil stuffing or cotton balls
black 1/8″ ribbon
Ghost face stickers or Googly eyes stickers

Instructions for Making a Ghost Garland

Step One: Cut 12″ rounds out of the paper you choose to use. You will want to make sure you are using paper that is easy to bunch up. Printer, construction, or similar will not bunch up easily. You should use tissue paper (maybe a couple of layers), wax paper with the wax side in, freezer paper (still may be a bit too stiff), or wrapping paper (white if possible).

Step Two: Take several (up to 4 regular or 2 large) cotton balls and place in the center of one 12″ paper round.

Step Three: bunch the paper around the cotton ball and squeeze it tight to form the head.

Step Four: Do not cut the black string or ribbon until you know how long you want your garland. Start by leaving about a 12″ to 16″ tail for tying your garland onto something and lay the first ghost on the ribbon at the 12″/16″ mark. Tie the ribbon tightly at the neck. You need to tie it tightly so it keep the head shape round.

Step Five: Continue tying the ghosts onto the ribbon, spacing them out every 12″.

Step Five: Using Googly eyes or ghost face stickers, place the stickers on the face.

See, that was a super easy project and kids will love to help. Adults may have to tie the ghosts onto the ribbon but the kids can help cut the paper rounds, place the face stickers on the ghosts and hang the garland when it is finished. Happy Halloween Decorating!

Click to find more easy Halloween craft projects and decoration ideas

5 Valentine’s Day Gifts For Kids and Pets Under $10

Valentine’s Day is the day you tell and show those you love how much they mean to you, how you just can’t live without them in your life, and how much you appreciate them. You don’t have to be “in love” to show someone they are important to you.

Valentine’s Day doesn’t always have to be about romance, chocolates, and jewelry – but of course, those things are wonderful – it can be a Mother telling her son he’s great or a Dad telling his daughter she’s the best. Here are some Valentine’s Day gift ideas to help you show your love to that special one.

Amazon sells just about everything you need these days and with 1 or 2-day free shipping you get it fast. Here are 5 Valentine’s Day gifts we found under $10 available on Amazon with free shipping. We are using affiliate links which means, if you click and buy anything on Amazon we make a small commission that helps keep our site running and there is no cost to you.

5 Valentine’s Day Gifts For Kids and Pets Under $10

Valentine’s Day is February 14th.

My Fuzzy Valentine Book Featuring Elmo

It’s Valentine’s Day and Elmo’s received an anonymous valentine. Who could have sent it? He checks with all of his friends and finds the answer right back where he started looking – at home! Kids will love touching the fuzzy flocking on every spread!

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Adjustable Dog Collar for Valentine’s Day

Fun and Cute Hearts on a pink dog collar with matching Bowties makes your dog stand out in a crowd. They could not be more Beautiful and Charming. All dogs need hearts to wear to show everyone they are loved. The bowtie is attached to collar using an elastic strap. The collar and the bowtie can be separated.

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Valentine Day Nail Tattoo Heart Stickers Wraps

Adorable 3D Nail Decals with hearts with rhinestones and colorful flowers make Valentine’s Day so much more fun. The design variety will set you on the great journey creating your fantasy nails and will last for a long time. These designs are peel and stick type nail wraps so they are easy to apply.

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Valentine’s Day Dog or Cat Reversible Bandana

Whether the character of your dog is lively or quiet, the bandana can fit all of them and they can wear it proudly on Valentine’s Day. The material of these bandanas are 100% cotton fabric that is breathable, light and skin sensitive. You could also be used as a baby’s bib.

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Melissa & Doug DIY Wooden Heart Box Craft Kit

Your child will have a blast customizing the decorate-your-own wooden heart box set. The Melissa & Doug kit comes complete with wooden box, paints, jewels, glitter glue, and instructions. Make a great little trinket box for all of your child’s collectibles.

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Do you have a Valentine’s gift suggestion?

Let us know what you Valentine’s gift idea in the comments below and we’ll add it to our list.

Decorate a “LOVE” Heart Tree for Valentine’s Day

Here’s an idea for a unique Valentine’s Day home decor idea. Use a faux Christmas and decorate it with Valentine’s hearts, ornaments and lights to make a Valentine’s Day “LOVE” Heart Tree. A 2, 3 or 4 foot faux Christmas tree is the perfect size to use for our Valentine’s Heart tree. This month we are turning our Christmas tree into a Valentine’s Day “LOVE” Heart Tree with the help of Oriental Trading Company.

Someone had too much fun with the heart lights

Oriental Trading Company sent us some of the decorations we used in our Valentine’s Day “LOVE” Tree. They offer all kinds of craft kits like the heart ornaments you see below as well as foam hearts, and Valentine’s home decor too like the metal lantern and the wooden LOVE blocks that are perfect for the mantle or to put on a desk or table. They would even look good in an office to spruce it up with a little LOVE for Valentine’s Day.

What we used to Decorate our Valentine’s Day Tree

Faux 3-foot Christmas tree
Oriental Trading Heart String Lights
Oriental Trading Heart Stained Glass Ornament kit
Glitter foam hearts

The Valentine’s Heart ornament kits come with large foam hearts with cutout shape. They are sticky on the back so you start by removing the protective sheet. Next you take the 1″ sheets of tissue paper and place them on the sticky back. We decided to cover the entire back of our heart ornaments with clear packing tape to make sure they didn’t come off. Once you have the tissue paper where you want it, just trim the edges. Now, to finish it off, take the enclosed satin hanger, fold it in half, and put the sticky dot over it to keep it in place. Such an easy craft and the kids had fun making them. There are three different designs in the set and you get 12 sets so this would be a good classroom project too. The cutouts let the light come through nicely.

Oriental Trading Company sells this cute wooden “LOVE” block set that makes a nice accent for the table or mantel. These red, wooden “Love” Blocks spell out “Love” in white lettering with the “O” as a pink heart and a pink scroll-vine pattern is painted on each block. The largest measures about 7″ high.

Visit the Oriental Trading website to find what we used to decorate our Valentine’s Heart tree, make the ornaments and the LOVE block set and lantern.

Easy Ways to Make An Affordable Valentine’s Dinner at Home

This Valentine’s Day, instead of making reservations and fighting the crowds, why not surprise your sweetheart with a very special intimate dinner party for two at home? Here are some tips for treating your sweetheart to Valentine’s Day dinner at home that is also affordable.

Set the scene by using what you probably already have on hand – put on a tablecloth, light some candles and use the good china, crystal and silverware. Not sure how to set the table? Check out Kitchen Moxie’s Perfect Place Setting.

Instead of the traditional and expected box of red long-stem roses, create your own bouquet by picking up your sweetheart’s favorite flowers at the local market and popping them in a vase. Not only will this be the perfect table centerpiece, but it will wow your sweetie with the thought and sentiment behind it!

Start the evening with a glass of bubbly. You don’t have to break the bank with pricey champagne – grab a bottle of cava or prosecco instead.

For hors d’oeuvres, a simple wedge of brie, crackers and fresh strawberries alongside some salty nuts, and you’re ready to celebrate in style.

Photo Credit: MyRecipes.com

Pick a first course that is simple and easy to pull together. A baby lettuce, beet and blue cheese salad is a great choice. All the components can be completely prepped and ready to go; all you have to do is toss in dressing and plate before serving.

Photo Credit: AllYou.com

For the main course, stay in your comfort zone – the grill. Try baby lamb chops or individual fillet mignons – quick cooking and simple. A side of grilled asparagus and creamy mashed potatoes will make for a super easy, yet elegant presentation.

Photo Credit: Yelp.com

For dessert, a great make-ahead chocolate cake with ice cream and raspberries will hit it out of the park.

Photo Credit: Taste of Home

If you don’t have time to bake a cake, try making this quick and easy Cream Cheese Mousse with Raspberries.

Photo Credit: Aleksandr Slyadnev

Don’t forget to make sure the dishwasher is emptied and ready to go for a super quick and easy clean up after the meal. Valentine’s Day Done!