Like any present-filled holiday, my kids are always amped up like never before on each of the eight nights of Hanukkah. And when that gift-fest is mixed with the lighting of candles…well, let’s not even go there. But here’s a very easy DIY, flameless menorah that you can make for your family in literally less than 10 minutes (give or take, depending on how fast a painter you are).
I made a version of this years ago when I was on staff at Parents, but I thought I’d remake it with a slightly cleaner look! You can make it very sleek and simple with just one color straw and one color erase, or mix it up and make it cray!
Paint all 10 spools in the color of your choice. Let dry.
2. Stack the small spool on top of one of the larger spools. You can glue it or just rest it.
3. Push straws down into each spool hole, making sure the straw in the stacked spools sits taller. Top straws with eraser caps, per the eight days of Hanukkah.
I love love love this project because it’s literally the easiest thing you can ever make. And because you can keep your Hanukkah candles “lit” all day. And because it’s a quick, non-waxy clean-up. And because, well, it’s darn cute!
Countdowns are fun, and countdowns that include surprises are even better. Tomorrow marks the start of advent calendar season and, whether or not you celebrate Christmas, crafting a calendar is a winter activity anyone can enjoy. If making a month’s worth of treat containers sounds daunting, don’t worry. We’ve collected ten of our favorite DIY ideas that are totally doable. Some are made for filling with prizes while others feature family bonding ideas. Whichever one you choose, making winter mornings something to look to forward is the type of holiday magic we can all appreciate.
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With some paint and yarn, we transformed a peg board into a 2-D Christmas tree (above). Paper ornaments, hung with mini clothespins, flip to reveal fun family activities. Get the full how to from Country Living.
2.
For an easy option that packs a graphic punch, check out Super Make It’s paper bag advent calendar for Parents magazine. Add clothespins to painted triangles to create a forest of cheery trees that will brighten up any room.
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Is there anything more appealing than a pile of presents? Create every kids’ dream on a smaller scale by folding paper bags and adding bows. Idea via Tell Love and Party.
4.
This paper city is the kind of calendar you’ll be tempted to let live on your mantle year round. Download the free printables from Mr PrintablesĀ to construct your own tiny town.
5.
For a more personal cityscape that doubles as a photo display follow instructions from The House that Lars Built. The treats in this calendar are pictures of loved ones, and really, what’s sweeter than that?
6.
A Subtle Revelry‘s pill case calendar certainly proves that good things come in small packages. Just add numbers to turn this drug store staple into a pint-sized present holder.
7.
Add another layer of fun to the advent surprises by making a punch cup calendar. Your kids will have a hard time waiting to reveal the next treat. FamilyFun magazine shares the how to.
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For another active advent calendar, try these pretty piƱatas from Fabric de ImaginacionĀ . Paper pyramids fit all sorts of sweet surprises, or fill them with confetti for an indoor snow flurry!
9.
Give empty cans an upcycled makeover with some spray paint and tissue paper tops. Stacked into a pyramid they make for eye catching display that can be used year after year. Project found via Room Envy.
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Finally, if you’d rather buy an advent calendar but still appreciate some DIY elements, the 25 days of stickers from Pipsticks is a great option. Each envelope hides a seasonal sticker sure to spark new crafting ideas. (And while you’re there, order a sticker subscription for a monthly dose of sticker joy in your kid’s mailbox!)
Our favorite craft supply for Thanksgiving decorating over here at Project Kid is really no surprise…the spoils of autumn like leaves, sticks, acornsāall of those freebies that you can find in your own backyard. This year we decided to bring those treasures inside and warm them up a bit with some soft and cozy yarn. What happened became a bit of a throwback to a 70s, bohemian feel. Check it out!
Yarn and Stick Centerpieces
Cut bunches of 4-to-6-inch pieces of yarn and tie them onto painted sticks with just one tie (you can also leave your sticks unpainted). Mix up the colors or tie them in color bands to give you a striped effect. Stand them in upcycled bottles and jars filled with rice. You can take these one step further by dipping yarn in fabric stiffener (Aleene’s is the best and only brand that REALLY holds), and writing a word like “thanks” on parchment paper. Let it dry and hot glue the end to the top of the stick.
Yarn and Walnut Acorns
Make a set of oversized acorns! Hot glue a half-inch twig to the top of the walnut, then add a dot of hot glue to start the yarn coil. Keep winding and adding dots of glue until you’ve created the acorn’s cap. Scatter these around the table, put one at every place setting, or display them in a bowl or jar.
Pumpkin Macrame Plant Hangers
We wanted to use the same yarn to make macrame plant hangers, but using one strand wasn’t going to look so great, nor would it work so well. We gathered four strands and followed this how-to from HGTV. Give it a boho twist by wrapping complimentary colors of yarn around the top and bottom of the hanger, and use something shiny like these instead of the traditional wooden beads in the bottom tassel. Once the pumpkins are past their prime, replace them with pots to enjoy these all season long.
Finger-Knit Napkin Rings
And lastly, my kids have been obsessed with finger knitting and I just had to figure out how to incorporate this art form into our holiday. I won’t even attempt to give you a perfect how-to for this…you just have to watch the expert Anne Weil from Flax and Twine’sYoutube video for the full instruction. We made them about 12 inches long, tied the brass charms to the ends, and knotted them around the napkins. (PS…check out her absolutely gorgeous book, Knitting Without Needles. It will inspire you to roll up your sleeves and use your arms and fingers as knitting needles!)
This is the second post in a new Project Kid series that provides ideas for family bonding. Our goal is to inspire you to make time for activities you forgot you loved and that your kids will learn to love with you! Last week our topic was Snail Mail and this week we’re talking about Treasure Hunting.Ā
Bargain hunters aren’t born, they’re raised! With yard sales, thrift stores, flea markets, and lucky curbsides, there are so many opportunities to hunt for treasure, but kids won’t know where to look unless you show them first. When you teach your kids to keep an open mind about where to find value, it will help them learn a lot more than just how to save money.
Treasure hunting can be a great opportunity to:
Show your kids that what was old can be new again. When one person is done with something it doesn’t mean it’s no longer useful.
Teach them that when you buy something that has been used before it’s recycling and is more environmentally friendly than buying something new.
Get your kids interested in items from the past and share a history lesson. The Tidewater FamilyĀ suggests helping your kids start a collection of inexpensive items like tiny bottles, costume jewelry, or vintage toys that they can slowly add to their collections over the years, while practicing patience and selectivity.
Hunting treasures is only half the fun though. Even more bonding time can be spent transforming the treasures. Everyone loves a good before-and-after (hello, Fixer Upper!), even kids, and especially if they are part of the magic.Ā Contributing to the home decor will give your kids a sense of pride and accomplishment, and you can’t put a price on that!
Below we’ve collected inspiration for fun ways to makeover common items you can find at any treasure hunting spot. They’re easy introductions to thrifting that have plenty of space for personality and almost no need for power tools.
BASKETSBaskets make great projects for beginning thrifters. To mimic this yellow and blue basket from Brit + CoĀ , make tape stencils that your little ones can help paint in. Don’t limit a basket to bikes, scooters look super with one too! (via Paper Mama). Design Improvised’sĀ yarn embroidered baskets (bottom left) look great whether you use them to hold things or hang them on the wall.
PORCELAIN PIECES
Though children and china don’t usually go together, when you pick up pieces for cheap, it doesn’t matter if they get chipped! Glowing cups and saucers have a fairy tale feel that your kids will love. Bring beauty to your table (without the beast) by following directions from Dans le Lakehouse to make cup candles (top left).Ā An eclectic collection of cups looks cohesive when they’re filled with cactuses (via Dcoracao). Even if your kid doesn’t have any genuine jewels yet, having a special place for tiny trinkets teaches them to take care of their things. Let them pick the pieces to make this charming tchotchke dish (bottom left) fromĀ My So Called Crafty Life.
SUITCASESĀ
Have suitcase, will travel. Whether its through the imagination, to the park, or off to dreamland – a suitcase has the power to transport its owner. Find how-tos for the mouse living room from Handmade Charlotte, the dino box from The Craft Train, Picnic Basket from Home Talk, and pet bed from My So Called Crafty Life.
DRESSERS
Dressers are usually more about function than fun, but their size makes them the perfect canvas for bold ideas. Get graphic with paint by adding ombre drawers (via decor8) or using whimsical stencils (top right) like the ones from Royal Design Studio.Ā Ā Apartment Therapy shows you how to make drawer pulls from mismatched yard sale toys – which look great together when they’re gilded. And for a more magical option, take out top drawers and install a pole to create a costume closet (via Rambling Renovators).
SHELVESĀ
Shelving units have the potential to truly be transformed into all sorts of kid sized spaces. Barley and Birch added wallpaper behind a bookshelf and a little washi tape on the wall to make a perfectly proportioned dollhouse. To create a workbench likeĀ DIY Network’s, add a piece of plywood and a pegboard to set of shelves. For those for a few more carpentry skills, like Duck Egg Blue, an old cabinet can become a tiny kitchen set.
And finally one more item to keep an eye out for when treasure hunting is dollhouses. As Thoughts from Alice demonstrates, a mini dollhouse renovation can be a great project for the whole family. Get the satisfaction of redoing every room of the house – on a small scale.
Of all the holidays with fun food ideas, Halloween definitely takes the cake. The internet is full of so many creative, and creepy, ideas that it’s easy to make a full dayās worth of haunted meals. We’re sharing our favorite festive ways to fill your kids up – before they dive into a mountain of candy. A balanced meal is the best way to ward off a sugar crash!Ā
BreakfastĀ
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Don’t be scared away by these spider webs (above), they are deceptively simple!Ā Mama.Papa.Bubba uses a wholewheat flax recipe to make their webs extra healthy but a box mix would work too – the only necessity is a squeeze bottle!
Tell your kids a vampire beat them to breakfast! Corn muffins turn creepy when you fill them with jam and puncture the top. Follow this recipe from Leanne Bakes, and then poke holes with a straw to let the “blood” bubble up.
3.
Acai bowls may be a trend but Monster bowls are a treat. Make a kid friendly version of the fashionable breakfast by following the Food Network’s recipe. Your kids will be smiling too much to realize they’re eating spinach!
LunchĀ
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We have to confess that we find some of those pinterest bento boxes truly frightening. This Bitey Bagel Bento on the other hand doesn’t require you to rise before dawn to pack a lunch that earns points. All you need are some fake teeth and a few sets of eyes to give your kid a silly surprise.
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It doesn’t get more classic than pumpkins and ghosts, or easier than oranges and bananas. Pre-peel oranges and stick a sliver of celery on top to make a pumpkin and add mini chocolate chips to a banana for a friendly ghost. Via I heart naptime.
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For a sandwich that could cause shrieking, this skull fromĀ Sugar,Spice and Glitter is the way to go. Cut your kid’s favorite sandwich with a skull cookie cutter, draw on features with a food writer marker, and don’t forget to add the gummy worm!
DinnerĀ
1.
What kid wouldn’t want to make a mummy with their mommy? The whole family can get involved to make suppertime spooky. After an adult slices tortillas with a pizza cutter, kids can layer strips on top of their favorite quesadilla fillings. Kids Activities Blog shares the step by step.
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Your little monsters will have plenty of energy to do the mash after eating these potatoes, which are as healthy as they are halloweeny! They’re made with purple sweet potatoes, so no food dye required. FollowĀ Handmade Charlotte’s easy recipe.
3.
Traditional recipe + tentacles = a new family favorite. Instead of your typical pot pie topping, follow Megan Reardon’s lead and add legs. Just be sure to gobble it up before it gets away from you!
At Project Kid, we love bringing you fun crafts with easy steps for holidays, birthdays, and every day. Sometimes though even simple steps can feel overwhelming when your goal is quality family time (not prep time). And while we pride ourselves on offering new ideas, there’s something to be said for unplugged activities that are classic. There’s a reason after all, that “Throwback Thursday” and “Flashback Friday” are some of the most popular tags on social media. Instead of showing kids your memories through a screen, share in person the things you used to love. This is the first post in an ongoing series where we’ll talk about ways to slow down, as a family….
Around the Project Kid household, letter-writing has become a very popular pastime. Oliver has been slowly working his way through his birthday thank-you notes (two months and counting!), and since starting kindergarten, Sommer can’t put down the pen and paper, drawing pictures and sounding out words.
Living in an age of instant gratification where communication is sent and received within an instant, it can be hard to convince kids that some things are worth waiting for, and that anticipation itself can be part of the fun! Before your kids are old enough to dread email, engage them in letter writing.
It might be hard for your child to imagine that there was a time before skype, or even phones, when to talk with a far-away friend you had to send a letter. Pen Pals originally referred to people from different backgrounds writing to each other to learn about other cultures, countries, and even languages (via Albert Flynn DeSilver). Pen pals don’t have to be international though! One famous pair of pen pals was President Ronald Reagan and six year old Rudy Hines from Washington DC who exchanged letters for five years. The picture below shows the President and First Lady eating with Rudy at his home in 1984.
Your kids can be pen pals with relatives, friends who’ve moved away, or even friends who live down the blockāhand delivered mail still counts! If they are feeling a little more adventurous, sign them up for Mr. Boddington’s Secret Society of Letter Writers. Can we join too?
Here are a few easy pen pal prompts from Making Mondays to help your kids introduce themselves (or update relatives about evolving tastes)…
3. Send Something Unconventional
Getting personal mail you weren’t expecting is always a treat, getting personal mail that is actually surprising is even more fun! After exploring 2D options, blow your kids’ minds by showing them how to send some extra special snail mail. As long as the item is under 13 oz you can use first class stamps. Frisbees, flip flops, plastic eggs, or plastic bottles filled with art supplies – there are so many possibilities. For bigger items (i.e. coconuts, pinatas – yes it’s possible) you’ll need to have a postage label printed.
Fun Fact: For nine years Wired magazine held a “Return to Sender” contest during which they asked readers to send in the strangest “permissible objects of postability” they could get through the mail.
One of the things I love about Halloween is how widely interpretive it is. You can go gruesome, silly, imaginative, and even the harvest look can compete. This year Woman’s Day asked me to interpret the holiday in three different ways…Classic, Monster, and Country. While I loved them all, the classic really has my heart. Here are the projects from that story, and you can visit Woman’s Day to get the how-to’s and templates!
(Above) If you have any pool noodles laying around your garage, shape them into legs with duct tape and throw on some tights and shoes to make these hilarious witch legs!
To make this wreath, paint a square boxwood wreath black, and turn leaves into ghosts.
Do you have a black lamp in your living room? If yes, you can turn yours into a Day of the Dead inspired skull.
This happy rainbow-raincloud costume is all about the head-gearājust add raincoat and boots. We thought about making pasta raindrops, but we got so excited when we saw how these rainbow penne strands transformed into lightening bolts when they were hung from the hat.
Scroll down below the photos for the how-to!
What youāll need:
Box of penne pasta
Bag of pillow batting
Adhesive spray
Pirate, cowboy, or other big brimmed hat
Fishing line
Scissors
Hot glue
White straw
Masking Tape
Red, yellow, green, blue food dye
Five resealable sandwich bags
Hand sanitizer
Wax Paper
Outfit suggestions:
Yellow rain jacket
Jean leggings
Yellow rainboots
Make it:
Add one teaspoon of hand sanitizer and six drops of red food dye to a resealable bag.
Pour approximately 20 pieces of penne into bag, shake until all are covered and then lay out on wax paper to dry.
Repeat with yellow, orange, green, and blue dye and pasta.
Spray the top of the hat, including brim, with adhesive and add one layer of batting. Spray again and add second layer of batting. Continue until you achieve the cloud shape you want.
Once pasta is dry, thread onto fishing line creating three strands for each color – four noodles, six noodles, and eight noodles – leaving at least three inches of extra line .
Use tape to evenly mark fifteen spots on the underside of the hat brim where the pasta rain will hang, leaving space at the front for your childās face.
Cut fifteen pieces of white straw, approximately Ā½ā each, and hot-glue them in place of the tape marks.
Thread the fishing line strands through the straws in alternating colors to create a rainbow hanging from the cloud.
Robot costumes are among my favorite to make because the creative freedom is endless. Knobs, buttons, antennae, switchesāyou can go crazy with all of the fun pasta shapes out there to create a gorgeous control panel.
We decided to think outside the box (literally) and not put my son Oliver in a cardboard box. Instead, we created his control panel on an 11×14-inch canvas. If you donāt have one of those laying around, you can just cut a piece of cardboard and attach the ribbon around the neck like we did (scroll down to see how-to below).
What youāll need:
For the control panel
Rotelle (wagon wheel), ziti, penne, rings, orecchiette, flat lasagna and dried ravioli pasta
11āx14ā canvas
Small cardboard jewelry box
Silver and blue paint
Red and yellow food dye
Three resealable bags
Hand sanitizer
Silver ribbon
Two flat thumb tacks
Wax paper
For the helmet
1 quart sized metal Colander
Silver pipe cleaners
1 Ā½-inch-diameter foam pipe insulation
Scissors
Felt
Adhesive velcro
Robot gear
silver/grey hoodie and pants
Grey felt
How to make control panel
Paint canvas and jewelry box silver
Paint the front and back of two pieces of lasagna blue then let dry
Put one teaspoon of hand sanitizer in a plastic bag
Add six drops of red and pour in a variety of pasta types. Shake bag until noodles are covered then lay out on wax paper to dry.
Repeat with yellow dye and orange dye (four drops of yellow and two drops of red)
Glue silver box and two blue lasagna pieces to canvas. Glue smaller pasta on top in grids, vās and other patterns
Tack one side of the ribbon to the back top corner of the canvas. Measure so that the canvas hangs in front of childās chest and tack second end to other corner. Cut off excess
How to make helmet
Fold a pipe cleaner in half and thread it through the middle of the top of the colander. Slip colored ziti onto the two sides and twist on wagon wheel pasta at the top. Hot glue colored wagon wheels on the front of the colander for more ābuttonsā
Cut two 3-inch segments of pipe insulation. Use pipe cleaners to wire them to the inside bottom of the colander (top of the helmet).
To create the helmetās chin strap, cut a 1-by-14 inch piece of felt and adhere a tab of the rough Velcro to either end on the same side of the strap. Two inches down from the rough Velcro on either side of the strap, attach a 3-inch strip of soft Velcro (to allow the strap to be adjustable). Thread the strap through the colanderās handles.
How to make wristbands
Cut 2 strips of grey felt, approximately 2 inches wide, to fit childās wrists and add Velcro to the ends
Hot glue matching pasta design in the middle of each wrist band
Baskets make great projects for beginning thrifters. To mimic this yellow and blue basket from 
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā (image via 
Acai bowls may be a trend but Monster bowls are a treat. Make a kid friendly version of the fashionable breakfast by following 
What kid wouldn’t want to make a mummy with their mommy? The whole family can get involved to make suppertime spooky. After an adult slices tortillas with a pizza cutter, kids can layer strips on top of their favorite quesadilla fillings. 
Your little monsters will have plenty of energy to do the mash after eating these potatoes, which are as healthy as they are halloweeny! They’re made with purple sweet potatoes, so no food dye required. FollowĀ 
Traditional recipe + tentacles = a new family favorite. Instead of your typical pot pie topping, follow 
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā (image via Reagan Library)
(egg and art supplies via 
