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DIY Cardboard Costumes

October 25, 2022 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

Have you ever looked at your child creating something and thought “how did they think of that?” It happens over here a lot. I am constantly amazed at my kids’ creativity, and it really shows in their cardboard costumes. I love Walt Disney’s quote,

“our greatest natural resource is the minds of our children.”

This quote sums up the process of my children creating something they need. We try to go as thrifty as we can for Halloween costumes. I love dress up and I love creativity and it feels like Halloween can merge those two passions so beautifully. Cardboard is a cheap material, so they often opt to make a cardboard costume for Halloween.

Do I Buy or Make a Costume?

For the record, I am NOT about paying a ton for a costume that you wear one time. Yet, we had probably a half dozen Toy Story costumes when our kids were younger because they literally lived in them all day long.

So, knowing your children and their interest level is important when deciding how invested you want to be in a Halloween costume.

Now that we have big kids, they wont wear the costume again. Dress up is not one of their everyday hobbies anymore. In that case, we want to have fun, play, and have something to wear and celebrate the day. Cardboard costumes can be quick, resourceful, inexpensive, fun and get the job done.

cardboard costume

What do I need to create a DIY Cardboard Costume?

Big boxes can be the whole costume. I will never forget being out on a walk and seeing Sponge Bob run up to me. It was one of the funniest parenting moments. Who expects to see their child in a cardboard box version of Sponge Bob run up to them!?

A box box can be taped shut, painted and have holes cut for the arms and legs and be pretty amazing.

Our Caleb loves shoes. He buys shoes, he paints shoes, he draws shoes, and he even sells shoes. Do you know anyone like that? You can see more of his love for shoes/art on his YouTube channel. It made perfect sense that he would dress up as a shoe box one year. When we let our kids create their own costume, it can be more personalized and tuned to their individual interests.

Maybe you just have a sheet of cardboard laying around. It ca be turned into a mask. It can be as big as a pumpkin (wearing sunglasses) or smaller like an animal face. I love that the DIY style lets you be as elaborate or simple your time frame and heart’s desire cares to invest.

Our Reagan loves to create, so of course she spent more time on the fox mask than I did on the large cardboard piece we used for a skit.

cardboard costumeWe all are ordering online these days. By having things we love shipped directly to our door, we can have smaller cardboard boxes pile up. Am I right!? A smaller cardboard box can be the perfect addition to clothes you already have at home.

Have you ever been to a stadium baseball game or basketball game where the ushers are going up and down the stairs selling drinks? One year, our Caleb dressed up as a Dr. Pepper sales guy and it still makes me laugh to look at this picture. DIY Cardboard costumes can be hilarious and so fun. Caleb literally gave away some caned Dr. Peppers during our trick or treating that night. You should have seen the kids asking to trade candy for a drink with him!

What do you think? Do you still need a costume for this year’s trick or treating or Halloween party? Have fun imagining the possibilities! You can save a trip to Walmart and some $ by recycling your cardboard box into a creative costume.

cardboard costumeNeed more help tapping into your exquisite imagination? Join me in this 30 day challenge to practice imagining and allow the interesting, rewarding possibilities to emerge!

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Summer Reading for the Little Ones (& busy ones)

June 11, 2015 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

Disney_story_centralWe are only a week into summer, but already loving it! We worked so hard on so many new concepts this school year. As a homeschool mom, I am especially proud of completing another year. Since I teach my kids all year, getting the kids to read during the summer and not feel like they are doing “school” can be tricky. My kids love earning electronic time, and I can play into their love for electronics, by using Disney Story Central.

Disney Story Central is the largest collection of Disney digital stories, featuring a wide array of Disney stories and characters that kids and families know and love.

I can have the best of both worlds by sharpening their love for reading while also allowing them to have some screen time.

disney_books_onlineThe computer doesn’t always make sense for reading. When we are on the go or want to all cuddle up in a more comfy location, we can turn to our iPad. I love that this program can be played on both.

I let my kids pick which books they would like to read from Disney Story Central from our computer. I love that it is a cross-platform experience. Disney Story Central is available via iPhone and iPad app, tablet-optimized website and Video on Demand (AT&T U-Verse).

Disney_story_central_onlineOne of my favorite features of this program is the customizable bookshelves for each member of the family. With a soon to be third grader and first grader, my boys are on different reading levels and they can get personalized reading recommendations for the level they need.

When we were selecting some books, I kept in mind my little Reagan. She’s in preschool and loves to read books! With each book there is the option to read it aloud or have it read aloud to you. She could sit for hours and have these books read to her. She loves it!

Disney_story_central_review

snuggle_buddiesDisney Story Central gives families the freedom to choose the reading experience that suits them best, whether through an annual subscription service (unlimited access to the expansive library) or a-la-carte options, using Disney Book Tokens. The Disney book token system works like currency and allows parents to give their kids the opportunity to pick out the books they WANT to read.

My kids love picking out books to read. They sort through, compare, talk about the characters and their favorite parts of the different stories. Reading is so important and starting a fun way to do it as a kid will hopefully create a lifetime love for reading in them.

kids_books_onlineYou can participate in Disney Story Central‘s ‘Mid-Summer Light Reads’ Campaign. The campaign will promote weekly summer reading themes featuring selected Disney titles. By participating you can unlock free books and enter a special sweepstakes! Launching today, June 11, the campaign will run through August 13.

How do you encourage your kids to read during the summer? Thanks so much for stopping by!

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I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Rainbow Craft for the Little Ones

April 28, 2015 By Erica Deuel Leave a Comment

rainbow_kids_craftColor can move us. It is a reason why it is so hard to pick paint colors for rooms. We want to pick a color that inspires us and creates a certain mood. Rainbows contain so many colors and they all fuze together to be beautiful. It is my Reagan’s favorite color. She might occasionally say purple or pink, but if there is a rainbow option…she picks it. It might be a popsicle. It might be a shirt. It might even be a pair of shoes.

We are always looking for fun little seasonal crafts to do as part of our homeschool day, and the other day we had a play date and this little craft was the perfect one. Making these rainbows incorporated so many elements: painting, cutting, and even sorting.

The first step was to staple a paper plate in half. I then let the kids paint the plate as a rainbow.

rainbow_craftWhile the rainbows were drying I broke out my ribbon stash. I wanted these rainbows to kind of have a wind chime or dream catcher feel, so what better way than to add some more textures to them!?

I love ribbon and have collected it for a while. I often use it in projects, but I find myself buying it even without a specific project. It was time to let some go.

The kids were so excited to dig through and find different pieces/colors that they liked. I showed how each piece could be a slightly different length and let them just start cutting.

ribbon

ribbon_craftAs well as having pieces of ribbon cut for their rainbows, they were also making ninja masks. It was quite fun to watch them enjoy and be inspired.

kid_ribbon_craftOnce they all had a good pile of cut ribbons, I had them line them up in the order they wanted. I then hot glued them in place while also adding a little loop at the top so they can easily be hung.

kids_DIY_wall_artThey turned out so cute! The kids were so excited about them.

rainbow_activityWe hung the boys’ rainbows where we do school, but my little Reagan wanted hers to hang right above her bed! I now ask her every morning if she had rainbow dreams.

spring_craft

kids_spring_craftThis was such a fun little craft. I love seeing their art around our home!

If you are interested in other pieces of these rooms, you can find more information here…

Feather Wind Chime

School Desk

Fabric Bunting

Rainbow Dash Decal

Stenciled Purple Wall

Do you have a thing for color too or are a rainbow fan? I hope you get a chance to create with your little ones this week! It just might make their day AND yours!

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Teaching Patience (to the wee lil one…and me)

March 23, 2015 By Erica Deuel 2 Comments

Disclaimer: The wall decal I received for free. Thank you RoomMates for so generously gifting it to my girl. All opinions are very much my own.

teaching_patienceGetting out the door can be one hard task as a mom.

This winter I learned there was an extra step to it when you have to account for a winter coat, gloves, and a hat.

Does everyone have what they need? or could possibly need? Has everyone done what they are supposed to so they are ready to go? These are just some of the questions that run through my mind as we are loading up to go somewhere.

I don’t know about you, but when I have that list running through my head of: Reagan needs to go potty, everyone needs to fill their water bottles, does J have on two shoes…that match, do I have my post office packages, where is that receipt? and on and on. It’s a lot to process.

My mind has a jumble of different things that it’s trying to remember and process all at the same time.

If one sweet, sweet voice asks me something in that brain filing, it’s hard. If three little voices all speak on top of each other, at the same time during that filing…I’m one comment away from mental overload and can lose my cool.

I hate it. Can you relate? It’s like all those good things you work so so hard the rest of the day instilling feels like in one trial to get out the door…they can be lost. I find myself more and more getting in the car, pulling away from the house, and having to apologize to my kids. I want them to learn patience, yet I don’t always show it. So what if I pause to answer a question and forget something. This town is not that big. We can come back home. Nothing is worth more than my kids heart, even that forgotten return item on the counter.

I say all this to say, there are moments where we feel like our kids aren’t learning or how can they learn from my behavior….but they are. My sweet Reagan Noel has been waiting so patiently for her room to get painted. Her room was the first room we painted at our last house, so I thought it was the boys turn this time. In this house setting up process, I realized both my craft studio and our foster care room needed shelves put up. Well, I might as well paint the walls before the shelves go up right? So, her room just kept getting pushed further and further back on my to do list.

No joke, she has carried her Rainbow Dash Wall Decal box around for weeks and weeks asking to place it on her wall. Each time I had to explain, we couldn’t yet, I would paint her room soon, and then we could. She would place that box down and go on her merry little way. I have found that decal all over the house for when she would carry it and place it down in some new place. She has been waiting and so very excited. The day I told her we were doing her room the next day, I might as well have told her we were going to Disney World. She was that excited.

doing_a_wall_decal

sticker_puzzle

fun_wall_decalI painted her room (more on that soon). She participated with her own paint project so we were working together. The paint set for 3 days. Three long days to this new four-year old, and then we got to hang her beloved Rainbow Dash up. She called it her sticker puzzle. She wanted to do it herself, and did a pretty good job. There were a couple of areas I smoothed out behind her back, but she did most of it. She is so proud. If you come to our house, one of the first things Reagan will say to you is “come see my room!”

wall_decals

proud_girlAs I sat watching her decorate her dresser with all her extra fun decals, my heart just swelled with pride. She was so patient. She loved me so well as she waited for her turn.

We try to practice love is patient, love is kind….but often my kids re-teach me this lesson. We have been in this house for over three months and she has waited and waited.

There are those moments where we are impatient getting out the door and wish our kids didn’t get distracted or moved faster. There are those moments where your child is impatient waiting for a snack, or for shoes to get tied, or for that beloved blanket to come out of the dryer. But then there are the big moments where you see they are grasping concepts you are desperately trying to instill. By seeing them grasp it, you are encouraged, re taught the lesson, and maybe do a little better in the not so big moments..like getting out the door in time for church.

My kids are molding me, just as much as I am molding them. I often say I want to be like them when I grow up. They laugh and tell me I am already grown up. I say “no way, I’m learning right with you.” Humility is such a big tool in parenting.

rainbow_dash_wall_decal

fly_rainbow_dashSo, as my little girl, flies off her bed as “Rainbow Dash” ready to take on Ponyville or at least conquering my world….I am so thankful for the gift she is. It was just a wall decal, but I will always smile at it and remember the process and lessons we went through to get it on that light pink wall.

I hope you have a great week and get to imagine the possibilities and maybe get to create a little. Even if the only creating you do, is a moment with your child. That might be the best craft there is.

**Note: if you want to see the wall decals we did in our boys room, you can see them here. If you are in love with the idea of wall decals, please check out Roommates. They are awesome. You can follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to be in the know as well.**

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