Archive for the ‘Arts and Crafts – DIY’ Category

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Then again, maybe not. Snow is one of those things that many of us want until we actually get it. Then we want it to be gone, gone, gone. In any case, ’tis the season for the white stuff.

Real Snow

If you have actual snow, it may interest you to know how it’s formed. The life of a snowflake begins high in the earth’s atmosphere. Whether a potential snowflake becomes sleet, freezing rain, or a blizzard depends on temperature, humidity, and water vapor encountered during its fall to earth. The perfect combination of all three factors is required to form the type of snow that’s perfect for making a snowman, snow ball, or snow fort.

When you are blessed with real snow, there are a variety of ways to celebrate. You could make DIY snow paint and design a masterpiece in the front yard. You could be more traditional and make snow prints or snow angels. Or you could be silly and make snowmen that will attract the attention of the passerby. Here are ten more activities to do in the snow. Have fun, and make sure to bundle up!

Pinterest

Whether you’re traveling for the holidays, or entertaining from the comfort of your own home, it’s important to have activities to keep friends and family busy during downtime between meals and other festivities. This blog will help you to provide printable Christmas entertainment for folks of all ages.

Coloring is all the rage. In addition to being relaxing, it’s pretty economical. Now, you could run off to the store to purchase expensive coloring books containing only a handful of pages you’d actually want to color. Or you could save a few dollars by printing out whatever coloring pages fit the needs of the people in your gathering. This site has great great coloring pages for little friends, and this other site is for the more mature crowd. Soon the only thing you will need is a new box of crayons!

Printable Coloring Pages

Hanukkah is a celebration of the triumph of Jewish people over religious persecution. The Jewish people enjoyed a victory over Greek soldiers many years ago. Hanukkah commemorates this fight along with the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

Hanukkah, which lasts for eight days, is sometimes referred to as the Festival of Lights. The menorah candelabrum has eight main candles and one servant candle, taller than the others and placed in the center. The servant candle is used to light the other eight candles—one each day.

Although menorahs can certainly be purchased, there are many ways to make them as well. This article has 10 DIY menorahs. And this other article has more about the story of the menorah.

Shelterness

Giving thanks. Ideally we find ways to give thanks throughout the year. For many, however, the best time to do so is on Thanksgiving. As we gather among family and friends, we should stop and reflect on all the ways we’re blessed. Here are several ideas on how you and yours can give thanks this year. Give them a try and you just might find yourself creating new Thanksgiving traditions for years to come.

For the Wall

A great place to show your appreciation is on the wall. If you already have artwork up, it’s easy to replace your pictures with a few holiday pieces. You could make shadow boxes containing such blessings of autumn as colorful leaves and miniature pumpkins. You could even make paper leaf garlands to hang across doorways.

Why not organize a family project? Set out paints and a blank canvas, and have your guests add a few thumbprint leaves to a painted tree. When it dries, have them write on each leaf something they’re thankful for. Who knows? You just might decide to keep your Thanksgiving art up the whole year round!

Pinkie for Pink

Veterans Day is celebrated in the United States on November 11 every year. Why 11/11? During World War I, “the war to end all wars ,” fighting between the Allied nations and Germany ceased on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918.

Now that you have the history, you understand why this holiday is much more than just another day on which banks and the post office are closed. The do-it-yourself decorating projects below are sure to get your Veterans Day celebration off to an excellent start..

Chest Candy

Chest candy refers to all the ribbons and medals worn on your uniform. Why not show support with a few broches you can make yourself? You can wear carnations and ribbons, or red, white, and blue pins. Here’s a pin that’s very easy to make, only requiring some beads and a safety pin.

Fun Holiday Crafts

Are you planning a Halloween party? If so, you need some life hacks to make it easier! Anyone can add red food coloring to a bowl of punch to simulate blood, or string up some fake cobweb with a few plastic spiders in it. This year, why not go the extra mile with the Halloween life hacks below? They’re sure to leave your family and friends screaming for more scary thrills!

Tricky Treats

If you’re hosting a Halloween party, there are lots of ways to create a spooky atmosphere. You could make eyeballs out of radishes, set out a rat cheeseball with a tray of crackers, and make these edible Jell-O worms for dessert.  By freezing water in a latex glove, you could even add an iced hand to the punch bowl.

ChaCha

Crisp, clean air. Cool nights. The crunch of fallen leaves under foot. All clues that fall is well on its way, and that it’s time to decorate! What better place to start than your front door?

On a Budget

If money is tight, despair not. You can still create a warm autumn welcome. If you have construction paper, for instance, you can make a wreath out of overlapping red, yellow, and brown paper cut into leaves. Tape it to the front door and you’ll be all set. Or why not rake the yard and stuff the leaves inside a scarecrow made from clothing in your closet? Straw is optional!

K12 Genie

There are about 70 million grandparents in the United States.  According to 72% of them, being a grandparent is the single most important and satisfying thing in their life.  Thanks to Marian McQuade, the Sunday after Labor Day is cause to celebrate grandparents everywhere. Our post will help you make the grandparents in your life feel as special as they have made you feel.

Honor the Family Tree

If you have the type of grandparents who get really excited about heritage and lineage, there are lots of ways to celebrate. You could make a family tree in the old-fashioned way, with lines and circles on a scroll of paper. Or you could get creative and use fingerprints, footprints, or handprints as leaves. Either way, Grandma and Grandpa are sure to smile!

Hypolita

Hosting a backyard 4^th of July bash doesn’t have to cost a fortune if you’re comfortable with making homemade decorations and table fare. Our latest blog will show you how to celebrate the holiday on a dime using recycled items you already have around the house; you’re being good to the land we love, too.

Decorate the Yard

You don’t have to break the bank to show the neighborhood and your friends and family how patriotic you are. You can hang up streamers, tape up balloons, and fasten stars around the house and yard at very little cost. You can also spend a little more time and create these 4^th of July windsocks. Warning: everyone at your party is probably going to want one!

Indulgy

Father’s Day is coming quick, and with a bit of planning, it’ll be a cinch to make him feel like the king of the hill.

Power Up for Breakfast

You have to start Dad’s day off right with a breakfast of champions. Does he like pancakes? Add a side of fruit to make them special. Is he a steak and eggs kind of guy? Serve them up with a glass of fresh-squeezed OJ.

Regardless of what he gets for breakfast, presentation is the key to making breakfast more than just a meal. Take a few minutes to decorate a placemat or napkin to show him how much he’s loved. There are printable placemats online, or you can color your own on a large sheet of paper. Dad won’t care which way you go. He’ll just be glad you thought of him.

Kitchen Daily