DIY Crafts for Tweens : Dream Catchers

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One of our favorite things to do in the summer is craft (of course). As the girls get older, I keep looking for new ideas to keep them interested and inspired. I have been fortunate that Craft Project Ideas sends me a box of goodies several times a year. The box contains a variety of beads, string, stickers, paint, pipe cleaners, sequins, and glitter. Then the fun part is up to us... what to make?! 

How about Dream Catchers? 

DIY Ugly Sweater Ornament

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My oldest had a friend over for a playdate last week, which of course ended up with us making a craft. It's what we do :) This one was fun and easy enough for all ages. It would be cute on package or to give alone as gift. It's the DIY Ugly Sweater Ornament!

DIY Abstract Art (Using Tape, Paint & a Canvas)

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My oldest daughter just turned 11 years old. She is at such a fun age, I know that it is hard to see our kids 'get big'. But every year with my girls is better than the last. It's amazing watching them grow and see their personalities develop. For Afton's birthday, she just wanted to have a few friends over for a movie, some painting and a sleepover. I LOVE this painting project because any skill level can do this successfully. It can be customized for any color scheme. And unlike a lot of 'diy paintings'- you will actually want to hang this in your house!

DIY Shrinky Dinks

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My newsfeed on Facebook has mostly become food and craft videos. With the current political climate, there seem to be less and less posts about cute babies and the happenings of family life. So I have 'hidden' all the angry posts... which has left me with lots of DIY videos! Basically my FB feed looks like Pinterest! No complaints there right? :) One of the videos that caught by eye recently was "DIY Shrinky Dink" post. I grew up making shrinky dinks. My mom always provided me with lots of outlets for crafting and creating. And some of my favorite 'early craft' memories with her include making shrinky dinks. So of course, I had to try this out with my girls.

DIY Rosette Headband

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Today I am so excited to share with you my favorite hair accessory project- DIY Rosette Headbands! I have been making these headbands for years- I used to sell them to boutiques all across the country. Today, I will share all my best tips and secrets for making this adorable headband. This is the first time I have ever shared 'the how-to' for this perfect 'boutique accessory'. It makes a great gift for girls (and women) of all ages. Now let's get started!

DIY BIG Christmas Hair Bow

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Hello! Today I am excited to show you how to make a Big Christmas Hair Bow. This bow can be worn by girls of every age and it would be fun hair accessory for a themed 'ugly sweater' Christmas party too! I have been making bows like this for years, and today I want to share 'my secret bow making tutorial' with you :)

DIY Halloween T-shirt for Kids

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I couldn't find any Halloween shirts I liked for the girls this year, so I decided to make my own! What's better than a homemade Halloween t-shirt? (chocolate candy?!) Really, these shirts are pretty awesome. Inexpensive, no-sewing required, quick & easy. You need to try this. Keep reading below to see how to make one for your little 'pumpkins':)

I'm Here for the Boo's (Free Printable)

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I am so glad I got my Halloween decor all up (click here to see it!) , now I have time to start on a few simple "crafty Halloween projects". This one is pretty much a "b-u-y" rather than a "d-i-y"... but it makes a great hostess gift. And if your schedule is anything like mine right now, a fast, cute craft is just what we need! Whether you are heading to a Halloween party, or just over to a friend's house during the month of October,  this fun "I'm Here for the Boo's" gift will be hit.

"Outer Space Art" inspired by Creative Galaxy

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Today I am sharing a craft that is 'out of this world' :) Ya'll know that one of favorite things to do with my kids is get crafty. Whether we are in the kitchen making a fun snack or breaking out the paints in the craft room-- I really enjoy being creative with my kids. It seems to bring out the best in all of us. And to be honest, sometimes playing with kids (whether its dolls, legos, "pretend" etc) is kind of hard! Which is why being creative together is so great. Artistic and creative projects allow you to spend quality time with your children and keep both of your minds stimulated :) 

Back to School Feast

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So I mentioned that there were a few things that I really wanted to do before my girls went back to school. (See this post for all 5 ideas). And I am excited to say that I got one of the big ones done! I love, love, love the idea of a "Back to School Feast"- so I decided to do it!

Happy First Day of School

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Some people have already headed back to school, others aren't going back until after Labor Day. And here in Texas, we start on August 22nd. Which means we have less than a week. Eeek! Our summer has been so fun, busy, relaxing, crazy, and really hot. But I am ready to get back into our routine and start all of our fun fall activities. My girls will be in 1st and 5th grade this year. They can't wait to meet their new teachers and see who is in their class. I am excited for them! The First Day of School is a big deal. So I made a little "Happy First Day of School" gift to give to their teachers. 

DIY Crepe Paper Tassel Garland

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Tassels have kind of taken over Pinterest and the craft world. I have at least 4 tassels necklaces (3 that I made myself!), one tassel bracelet, and several tassels that are literally hanging around the house on pillows and such. I thought that I had enough tassels in my life. But honestly... can you ever have enough tassels?? No. No. You cannot. So when I was prepping for my daughter's cheer camp decor (see this post) I decided to try making Crepe Paper Tassel Garland.

Teach Your Kids to Sew

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My girls are always asking for a craft. This time, my ten-year old really wanted to do a sewing craft. If you ever wanted to sew with your kids, this is the craft for you! Sewing is a good life-skill- it teaches patience, eye-hand coordination, and someday it will come in handy! (trust me!) So I took the girls to Hobby Lobby and bought two inexpensive embroidery hoops, a bit of fabric, needles, and embroidery floss.

Father's Day Photo Gift

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Every year, my girls like to make a photo gift for Father's Day. It started awhile back, when we got creative and made a chalk photo for my husband. Since then, we have continued the tradition. And this year, the girls picked a 'beach' theme for our chalk art.

Easy DIY Photo Magnets

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I read an article recently about the importance of having printed family photos in your home. When kids see photos of their family displayed at home, it gives them a sense of belonging. It gives them a visual of the past, a visual of the present, and the ability to imagine the future. Having photos on your social media pages or your phone is not the same! We need actual hard copy prints of our photos for our kids. We need them to see the story of us.

DIY Graduation Gift: College Hashtag Tote Bag

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Where did May go??! The last few weeks of school have flown by. So many fun projects-- I got to help host a "Glow Dance Party" for our entire school, chaperoned a class over-night trip (which included some fun campy crafts!), watched my little perform in her ballet recital, and celebrated my birthday. Phew! I hope to get some of those fun projects over here on the blog soon. Today I am sharing a fun idea that can be used as DIY Graduation Gift or an end of year gift for your favorite teacher. It's pretty much my favorite "DIY Gift" because it is so easy to make!

The College Hashtag bag is a fun twist on a project I have shared here. All you need to make your hashtag bag is a canvas tote bag, craft paint, and iron-on letters.

Make A Newspaper Hat for Earth Day

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Our elementary school has lots of fun traditions. One of our favorite, is the annual "Earth Day Hat Contest". During the Week of Earth Day, kids are invited to make a hat at home using recycled materials. Then they wear it to school and two winners (one boy and one girl) are chosen for each class. The assignment gets kids to 'think outside the box' and use lots of creativity.

DIY Poodle Skirt

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My mom made me a poodle skirt when I was in middle school. I remember feeling so proud that she took the time to sew it for me. I loved that skirt.

So when a friend invited my girls to her party and mentioned that they "could" wear a poodle skirt, if they had one---well I knew it was time to continue the poodle skirt tradition.

Easy Christmas Crafts: DIY Reindeer Candy Canes & Present Costume

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Like everyone else, we are trying to pack in as much Christmas fun as possible this month. We have written letters to Santa, decorated the house, seen Christmas lights, and made a few crafts too. My favorites so far are these Reindeer Candy Canes and the Present Costume.

Washi Tape Crafts

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Recently, I was sent the new Washi Tape Crafts: 110 Way to Decorate Just About Anything by Amy Anderson to review. My daughters and I played around with the book - it includes not only ideas, but 10 rolls of tape too! Looking at the book, I kept thinking, "Where was washi tape when I was kid?!". It is such a simple way to craft without making a mess. And it can be done by almost anyone.

Photo via Washi Tape Crafts