Spoonful of Imagination

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Easy (non-candy) Kid Valentines

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easy_DIY_kid_valentineAre you still eating Christmas candy around your house?

It’s easy to get sugar overload at the holidays. I happen to love candy, so I gotta be careful or I’ll eat so many sours that my mouth hurts and I get canker sores. Whoa. Not responsible, right?

I am careful with my kids though. My trainer sister helps keep me in check too. When I thought through what kind of Valentines I could make to send my nieces way, I knew they had to be non-candy. Lucky me, they have the crazy crafting gene as well and love all things creative. I thought these little notepads would be a fun option, and maybe they will entertain all the kids for my sis for a little bit.

DIY_valentineYou can really use any kind of little notepad you want. I have a few from Ikea and then others from Walmart. The light colored notepads allowed me to color the kids’ names right on top. The darker pads I used scrap paper and tape to write the kids’ names on.

There are so many options here. You could paint the kids names, use stickers, or even glitter glue.

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candy_less_valentinesTo add even a little more fun, you could write a special message on the inside cover of the notepad to that child. I added little Valentine pencils to mine.

non_candy_kid_valentineThis Valentine can be given just like that or add a little bag of candy, flower, or stuffed animal to it. I definitely snacked on candy hearts as I crafted these up.

easy_kid_valentinesDo you know a creative kid that would enjoy his or her own mini journal to doodle in? Try making these Valentines. You really can’t mess them up. Send them in for the class Valentine’s party. I’m sure the teachers and other parents would love a change from candy too.

DIY_kid_valentineIf you like this Valentine you might like my Birds of a Feather Valentine or I’m Your Biggest Fan Valentine I made my kids a few years back.

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Eddy’s Postcard Series: Please, never grow up Snow White

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If you are just joining this series for the first time, you can read the heart about it here.

There are moments that happen through the day that are just normal. They are my everyday.

For example, it is not unusual for my little girl to be dressed up as a princess and either be wrestling with her brothers or crafting at the same time. Although this is a normal moment, it’s one that I never want to forget.

Someday I will look back at these sweet moments in time and smile through teary eyes at how special, precious, and quick they were. So, I stop cleaning up dinner dishes to just watch her and capture this picture.

2-August 1, 2015

2-August 1 2015 backThis sweet babe of mine is my baby girl. Three weeks ago her world was rocked as we welcomed another little boy into our lives for a season.

He is our first foster placement since moving to Indiana. I look at my sweet girl and realize she is no longer the baby in the house. She is no longer the only four-year old in the house. My heart hurts a little bit for how I have changed up her world, but then I have to believe I am showing her a much bigger world. Telling her to love others is much different than the power of showing her.

We are navigating to find a new normal around here, and I could not be prouder for how my kids are loving this sweet new one in our home.  As my schedule has changed, and I don’t have as much time to do other things besides kids, I am reminded of how I can still be creative in other ways from crafts. Finding special moments with just one on one interaction with my kids is one way I am having to be creative.

It’s funny how when we are searching and looking…we can find them and Jesus has been so good to grant them to me daily. Watching Snow White craft away a coloring picture to cut out, glue to cardboard, and use as a toy was just one moment in the last week that I never want to forget.

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Summer Reading for the Little Ones (& busy ones)

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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!

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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.

Quick And Easy DIY Felt Bunny

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felt_bunny_toySpring is finally showing its beautiful self in Indiana. We’ve had trouble getting all our school work done because WE. JUST. WANT. TO. BE. OUTSIDE.

Can you relate? I literally have dropped my chores and let the laundry pile up-to go walk in the creek in the backyard with the kids. It’s been amazing!

Now that we are feeling some spring, I realize Easter is just days away. There is nothing like the pressure of having to pull a good, meaningful, fun gift together quickly. You’re in luck! These felt stuffed bunnies were super simple. I literally made all four last night with supplies I had on hand. Now I can throw them in my kids Easter baskets with some candy and other little things, and they have a sentimental, homemade gift that took barely any time. You can do it too!

I started with taking a piece of felt and folding it in half. I then cut out a bunny silhouette. I just eye balled my bunny, but I know there are probably images you could google, print out, cut out, trace onto the felt and then cut out. I cut through both layers of the felt at the same time to make sure I had two images of the bunny that were exact.

cut_bunnyI then did a quick stitch with my sewing machine, but I left an opening at the base of my bunny. If you don’t have a sewing machine, you could do a simple blanket stitch by hand like I did on this plush bear.

Also, I added an extra piece of felt to two of my bunnies backsides to make them a tooth fairy pillow as well.

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spring_craftNext, I stuffed the bunnies with some Poly-fil and used a paintbrush to help stuff the Poly-fil up into the ears.

felt_stuffed_bunnyI decided to not try to stick the stuffed bunny back into my sewing machine, but I instead used some embroidery floss and hand stitched the bunnies close.

DIY_bunnyThe final step was to hot glue a little felt ball onto the bottom to act as a tail. I toyed with sewing buttons on or embroidering a face on the front of the bunny. In the end, I decided I liked the simple look. You could also paint faces on your bunny or even give them away plain, and let your kids decorate them!

I think they would be cute with little pipe cleaner whiskers, felt legs sticking out, and even googly eyes glued on. This might even be a fun craft for a party. There are lots of possibilities, if we use our imaginations!

spring_kids_craftHas spring sprung where you are? I have heard we might get another snow storm and aren’t in the clear of cold temps yet, but for now, we are loving the sunshine! I hope you too are being able to get outside, create, and imagine the possibilities!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I will be back again soon!

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