Heart Penguin Craft

I got this idea from here. I wanted something simple and cute to do with my kids for Valentine's Day and this seemed perfect.

What you'll need:

• Construction paper (black, white and orange)
• Googly eyes
• Crayons or markers (optional)
• Glue
• Scissors

We cut out an egg shape (somewhat!) out of the black construction paper. Then we cut out an heart shape from the white paper. Next, we glued three small hearts out of the orange paper - one nose, and two feet. Lastly, we glued on the googly eyes.

After we completed these, the kids begged me to let them put a mouth and hair on the penguins. Brianna said her penguin looked way too much like a boy! Of course I said yes. I got out yarn and some sparkly jewels. Here are their final creations:

Brianna (hers is on the left in this picture, on the right in the top picture) was determined that hers was going to have a mouth (see the yarn smile?) and teeth to chomp with (three pieces of orange construction paper). I thought that was pretty cute. Hunter just kind of followed in Brianna's footsteps!

This was a cute, simple craft. We've been snowed in here for a few days so it was something to break the monotony. A great craft for them, ages 3 and 4, so if your children are between 2 and 5 I would say they'd like this creation. Happy crafting!

Frugal Craft: Homemade Noisemakers

Hey, guess what? My husband's Mountain Dew addiction finally came in handy! He's very happy to hear that.

I found this activity in an old Highlights magazine. I mean, the magazine is from 1991, y'all. But I knew my kids would love this activity, and love it they did!

Wash and dry aluminum soft drink cans. Place 15-20 dried beans in each can, and cover the opening with tape.

Cover the cans completely with aluminum foil. Decorate with paper cutouts. Shake the cans to make noise.

We loved this! It's easy for the kids to do by themselves and noisy, so what could be better?! My hubby did point out that the aluminum foil could cut someone if there is a sharp edge. They didn't care about that kind of stuff in 1991. Kids were hardcore back then. Anyway, we loved doing this together and I wouldn't be surprised if we do it again in the future!

Frugal Craft: Tissue Paper Cross Stained Glass Window

Wow, it has been a long time since I had a chance to post one of our crafts! I actually have some down time tonight (miraculously!) so I want to catch up on one at least. We just did this the other day and I loved it. It's super easy and for me, it was free, so that is definitely a win.

This started last week when I got a magazine in the mail, Oriental Trading Company, which I've not heard of and never used. But I'm glad I got it because it has some really cute craft ideas in it! Okay, so technically you are supposed to buy the craft supplies from them... but I think we all know I am too frugal to do that! We make our own stuff in these here parts!

So, this is one craft I wanted to do with my kids and I knew it would be easy to replicate:

 You will need:

• Google search for an image of a cross you like; print it out
• Contact paper
• Scissors
• Black construction paper
• Whatever tissue paper you have in the house
• A little yarn or ribbon if you decide to hang it up

Step 1: Okay, obviously I am making this up as I go along, so just bear with me. First, I went on Google Images and just searched for a cross. I found one really quickly that looked perfect for the project. I printed one out onto regular printer paper.

I put contact paper on top of the cross and traced around it with a pencil. Then I cut it out.

Step 2: I put the contact paper on top of black construction paper and traced the cross only with a pencil. I simply had to bear down enough to get an outline on the black paper, and then cut out the cross. I did this twice because each kid was going to make their own.

Step 3: Put the black crosses on the contact paper. You don't need to glue or anything since the contact paper is sticky already.

Step 4: Start cutting. Cut tissue paper to your heart's content. Or lay on the floor and let your sister do it. After a few sheets you'll just start ripping it anyway.

Step 5: All that hard work is about to pay off! Start sticking the tissue paper randomly around the cross on the contact paper. Again, no glue needed on this step.

Step 6: When you're done, cut out another sheet of contact paper to place face-down on top of the cross and tissue paper. Make a contact paper sandwich, in other words. If you want to hang it, poke a hole in the top and thread yarn through it. Hang it in a window or you can tape it on a window as well.

Voila! Made with craft supplies around the house and the kids loved it. I think they turned out cute, even though we only had three colors of tissue paper!

Frugal Craft - Stained Glass Craft

I've been wanting to do this for a while with the kids and finally sat down and did it today. I got this craft from Confessions of a Homeschooler.


You will need:

• Contact paper
• Tissue paper
• Scissors
• Sharpie
• Tape

Step 1: Take the backing off the contact paper and lay it sticky side up. Secure to your work place with tape.

Step 2: Place small pieces of tissue paper all over the sticky side of the contact paper.

Step 3: Cut another piece of contact paper that's the same size and place it sticky side down on top of your contact paper that's covered in tissue paper. Draw shapes with a marker, and cut out those objects.

Step 4: Hang on window to display! I used tape to stick the shapes where the kids told me. These are so cute and it was the perfect time limit for the kids... not too long to get bored but long enough to give them something creative to do!

Brianna said, "Now take a picture of me in front of the decorations."

I definitely recommend this craft! It was super easy but it wasn't boring to either kid (2 year old and 3 year old).

Frugal Game - Squeezie Sidewalk Chalk

I saw this idea on No Time For Flashcards and loved it - I just knew we had to try it out!!

Squeezie Sidewalk Chalk!

You will need:

• squeeze bottles (They are CHEAP at dollar stores and Bed Bath & Beyond, my mom got mine from a yard sale!)
• cornstarch
• water
• food coloring

Pour your cornstarch in a bowl or container. That's right, the whole box goes in. Add water and stir until you get the right texture. You're going to want to be able to squeeze it from the bottle if that gives you an idea of how thin you want it to be.

Pour into the squeeze bottle and THEN add food coloring. We chose blue and green.

Go outside and have at it!

Perfect summer activity!!  Even with my kids being one (at the time) and three, they LOVED this activity. I can't tell you how often I get asked to do this with them again. :)  I love it when they love cheap fun!  And yes, it came right off the sidewalk with the next rain... it just so happened that was about 2 1/2 weeks after this!  Haha!  But every time I walked outside I remembered what a great time we had together, so it was well worth it.

I highly recommend you do this with your kids, especially if they're older because they'll be able to do more shapes and "artistic" things.

If you do it, show me your pictures!