Mommy Crafts A....

Green Vest & Bow Tie

I used a vest that currently fits Thomas to make a pattern for this one. I LOVE the frogs. And, you know how I love bow ties. So, I made him one from green felt to match it! No one was pinching these cheeks today...but you know you want to! :)

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I entered this in to my first "link up" with another crafting site. Call me super brave since I am not so confident in my sewing ability. I just like making things for my kids!

Hand Print Leprechaun

Toddler, Pre-K, K

You know I would have to squeeze in a hand print idea!

To make this craft you will need:

• Orange paint
• Green paint
• Peach/flesh paint
• 1 cute hand :)

Paint your child's palm skin color, his fingers orange. Now wipe those colors off and paint the three long fingers green and stamp them at the top of the "head" on your paper. I painted my son's pointer finger green and attempted to stamp the brim of the hat, but that was tricky.

Once your paint dries add some features with a permanent black marker. And don't forget the date!!

Rainbow Snack

Since Gracie was buying lunch today (a rarity I tell you!) I had to make something festive for her snack.

Actually my friend Candice gave me this idea based on one she found in a magazine.

To make this snack you will need:

• Wooden skewers (cut the pointy end off after you make your kabob!) or lollipop sticks
• Strawberry Slices
• Mandarin orange slices
  
• Pineapple chunks
• Green Apple chunks
• Blueberries (this will add to it, I didn't have any and forgot to get them :(
• Purple (well they are called red) grapes

Put your fruit on the skewers, but off the pointy end when you are done and pack in a container.

Viola! A edible rainbow!

Rainbow Treasure Hunt

K, 6+

After school today, my kids found a note from the leprechaun leading them on a rainbow treasure hunt. And they loved every minute! I hid the clues around the back yard and dressed up a Costco box and hid it out iof sight. I put a few $1 store goodies inside, and it was a blast to watch them find it!

I found this great idea here--and you can print the shamrock clues, or save ink like I did and write it on construction paper that you cut into shamrock shapes!

For this game you will need:

• All colors of construction paper, or a printer
• A few goodies

Counting Coins

Toddler, Pre-K, K

What a fun idea this turned out to be for Thomas!

I had the idea to start introducing counting to him. He already knows 1, 2...3! Because it usually means something fun afterward. So, I came up with this idea, and he has been playing with it for days!!

To make this counting craft you will need:

• Pot of Gold pattern
• Black marker
• Gold coins (so MUCH easier)
• or make your own coins:
  
• Cardboard
• Glue stick
• Gold paper (I used a gold gift bag from the 1$ store)

You can find many pot of gold patterns online, pick on you like and print it out. Trace your coins on the pot. I did 10 of them to learn to count to 10. My idea was to hide the coins and let him find them, but he saw what I was making and couldn't wait.

We would place the coins on top of the drawn coins on the pot and count.

Now, in hindsight, I shouldn't have numbered the coins I made (I just cut circles from cardboard and glued on the gold paper). Just number the paper circles. It is less confusing.

And, his favorite part about the idea was that I found a wooden box in the $1 store as well, and this was his treasure box. He LOVED keeping them in there and opening and closing the box and taking out his treasure. And the lesson worked so well! He really is counting out the numbers (not in order yet, but still he is getting there!)

Leprechaun Treat

I am posting this idea first, so you will give yourself more time to make it than I did! I found the idea online, and we loved it! Yum, Yum!!

To make this snack you will need:

• Several HOURS!
• 3 cups of boiling water
• 1 big box of Lime Jello
• 1 16 oz. tub of Cool Whip

Mix the Lime Jello powder with the boiling water for 2 minutes or until completely dissolved. Add the Cool Whip to the bowl. Stir until all the Cool Whip melts into the warm Jello mixture. Carefully pour the Jello into glass containers. This makes approximately 10 servings 1/2 cup each. Refrigerate the mixture for about 8 hours until set. Top with a little Cool Whip.