Christmas Craft- Reindeer Headband

Reindeer Headband:
      What you need- Brown construction paper
                             - Scissors
                             - Google eyes
                             - Red pom poms
                             - Popsicle sticks
                             - Glue
                             - markers
      What you do-  Cut out the "headband" from brown construction paper.  Make sure its about 4ish inches wide, and long enough to fit around your child's head, but tight enough to stay in place, taking consideration for the inch or two to glue together.  Glue on the eyes, a red pom pom for a nose, and draw on a little smiley face.  Glue the ends of the headband together and fasten with a paperclip to dry.  While it's drying, trace your child's hand on the brown construction paper and cut them out.  These are the antlers.  Glue them to popsicle sticks, leaving a few inches of the stick to glue to the headband.  Let everything dry before gluing the popsicle sticks/antlers to the headband.  Hold the sticks in place until they are dry.

Thanksgiving Craft- 3D Thankful Turkey Centerpiece

Here is another idea for a great craft to make your children realize what they are thankful for.

What you'll need:
Thick paper plates (make sure they aren't glossy)
Old toilet paper roll
Scissors
Glue
Construction Paper(brown, orange, yellow, red)
Markers
Disposable sauce cup
Black paint

What to do:
1. Color the bottom of the plate orange
2. Paint the sauce cup black
3. Draw a turkey face on the toilet paper roll.
4. Glue the toilet paper roll onto the paper plate.  Then, glue the sauce cup on to the toilet paper roll.
5. Cut out several "feathers" from each of the colors of paper and glue them to the back of the paper plate.
6. Have your child write what they are thankful for on each of the feathers.  If your child is too young, you can write it on for them.  The important part is to ask themwhat they are thankful for, and ask them why they are thankful for it.

Thanksgiving Craft- Thankful Turkey

Thanksgiving is coming, and it's the perfect time to make your kids think of all that they have, and why they should be thankful!  This craft is super fun for kids 3 years and older.

What you need:
Construction Paper(brown, orange, yellow, red)
Scissors
Glue
Markers
Google Eyes

What to do:
1. On brown paper, draw the turkey's body.  I like to do the circular body with an oval head on top(like in the picture)  But, a simple circle will do fine.
2. Cut out the turkey.
3.  Cut a small triangle of yellow or orange paper, and a red oval.  Glue the red oval on the turkey's head, and the triangle over it for the beak and the gobble.
4.  Glue on the google eyes.
5.  Cut out several feathers of all the colors of paper and glue them to the back of your turkey.
6.  Have your child write everything they are thankful for on the feathers.  You can help them, or do it for them.  The important part is to have them think of things that they are thankful for.  I also like to ask my daughter why she is thankful for each thing.

This is so much fun, and so easy for tiny hands!  I will also be adding a 3D thankful turkey centerpiece craft.

Craft- Hand Decorated Plates (with sharpies!)

This is the coolest idea that I have checked out so far!!  I had so much fun designing these,  and they are a great way to save memories, as well as money.

All you need is some all white plates, cups, bowls etc. that you can get for super cheap at the dollar store or walmart, and sharpies. 

1. Preheat your over to 350 degrees F
2. Decorate your plate however you want.  It works with any color of sharpie markers.  You can also let your kids decorate them.  You can do seasonal, draw your child's favorite character, do simple designs, or have your kid draw a picture of your family. 
3.  Bake at 350*F for 30-35 mins.  Be careful getting these out of the oven though-they will be HOT.
4. Set on a cooling rack and allow them to cool.  They should be completely cool in 30 minutes.


***For some reason, I cannot get pictures to load at this time.  Hopefully I'll get them up soon!!***

Craft- Seashell Picture Frame

What you need
Any sized picture frame
Hot Glue
Small/medium seashells
Summer photo

This is a fun and easy craft that I loved doing with my mom when I was a kid.  Simply glue the seashells onto the frame using the hot glue, however you would like.  You can also use glitter and paint to decorate the shells before you put them on the frame.  Once the frame is covered in shells, add the photo, and you have a very beautiful summer photo in a lovely, customized summer fun frame!

Recipe- Make you own Soda!

I know that it is way cooler, and even more delicious(if you get it right) to make your own goodies.  Well, here's a goodie that MANY people consume on a daily basis, but is also something that you can create in your own home!

Ingredients
1/8 tbsp yeast (champagne yeast from a brew or wine shop or regular Red Star or Fleischmann’s yeast)
Coffee cup of warm water (98-110 degrees)
2 1/4 cups sugar
1 tbsp+1tsp soda flavor extract
A little less than 1 gallon of water 
1 gallon jug
2 2 liter bottles

Dissolve 1/8 teaspoon of yeast in a coffee cup of warm water for about 5 minutes. Yeast should be fresh. Too little yeast will not yield enough carbonation, too much will give the soda a "yeasty" taste and might burst your soda bottles. Water too hot or too cold will have the same effect as not enough yeast because in cold water it will stay dormant and in too hot water it will be killed off.
Then mix 2 ¼ cups of white sugar, 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon of flavoring extract, the dissolved yeast and enough extra water to make 1 gallon together in the gallon jug. Shake to mix for about 2 minutes until the sugar is completely dissolved in the water. Pour ½ the mix into each of the two 2 liter bottles, cap tightly and wait 4-6 days. You can tell how your carbonation is coming along by just squeezing the bottles. If they get too firm open the cap and let off a little of the carbonation.