Category: Family Fun

Beach Scented Air Fresheners

by Elaine Ann Allen
Scents of summer homemade air fresheners
Scents of summer

June has finally arrived and with it all of its summertime scents. There’s the delicious aroma coming from barbeques and cookouts, and the familiar smells of fresh cut grass, chlorine from pools, and most of all the familiar summertime scent of sunscreen.

My kids love the smell of sunscreen. The moment they smell it, they can’t stop talking about going to our local pool, to the beach or to the park for summer picnics and bike rides. So, I thought it would be fun this summer to find a way to put the scent of summer throughout the house by using their favorite sunscreen as an air freshener! Continue reading “Beach Scented Air Fresheners” →

Nature Photo Activity

by Elaine Ann Allen
Yellow blooms
Yellow blooms

Make these nature inspired photo frames from recycled materials.

My favorite season is the Spring. I love all the new life and new blooms on the trees, and every year I take lots of pictures of the kids in front of the new brightly colored trees that were so cold and bare just a few weeks ago. This year I decided to let the kids have a chance to be the photographers and take lots of pictures of their own. So, each with a camera in hand, they went out into the neighborhood to take pictures of nature. Continue reading “Nature Photo Activity” →

After School Smoothies

by Elaine Ann Allen
Smoothy2
Healthy and delicious smoothies.

When my kids get home from school, they are hungry and thirsty. I would like them to eat healthy, nutritious snacks, but apple slices and carrot sticks are a hard sell when they’re craving tasty comfort foods. I have found, however, that my kids never say no to a fruit smoothie.

I like to vary the ingredients each day, but the basic recipe is below. To save a few dollars, I buy frozen fruit in big bulky bags from the freezer department at the grocery store. Some bags have all of the same fruit, like all peaches or all strawberries. Others have mixes of different berries or pineapple with mangoes.  Continue reading “After School Smoothies” →

Thanksgiving Turkey Craft

by Elaine Ann Allen
Turkey3
This little guy sits proudly on his plate.

My family is super excited for Thanksgiving, as we are every year. It is one of my favorite holidays because it involves family, lots of delicious food, and giving thanks. So, in honor of the big day coming up, my kids and I are making these adorable little turkeys that will adorn our plates on Thanksgiving day. The orange placemats in this photo are actually crocheted, made by my grandmother. It’s so much fun to use things that are handmade by the people you love. Continue reading “Thanksgiving Turkey Craft” →

Ghostly Sea Shell Garland

by Elaine Ann Allen
Sea Shell Ghosts
Sea Shell Ghosts

My family loves to collect sea shells during our summer trips to the beach. So, I try to find creative ways to use them all year round. Here are some shells “dressed up” like spooky ghosts for Halloween.

I draped these ghostly creatures along the handrail of the outdoor steps to “frighten” unsuspecting trick-or-treaters.

Continue reading “Ghostly Sea Shell Garland” →

Land on Mars: Fun Futuristic Fruit Salad for Kids

by Elaine Ann Allen
Land on Mars
Futuristic Fruit Salad

Sometimes it takes a little creativity to get the kids to eat their daily portions of fruit. I tried this fun futuristic fruit salad (say that five times fast) and the kids scarfed it up. With all the recent talk about possible future missions to Mars, could this fruit salad be educational? Who knows, maybe Martians really do look like kiwi with red grapes for heads;)

For variation, you could also use apple slices cut in half for the supports around rocket ship, and red cherries for the Martians’ heads. Also, if you can find a tiny American flag, that would be fun, if not edible. Continue reading “Land on Mars: Fun Futuristic Fruit Salad for Kids” →

Mother’s Day Tea Sets

by Elaine Ann Allen
Tea set
Make these mini tea sets with your kids

My 10 year old daughter and I made these tea sets recently in celebration of Mother’s Day. Made from Sculpey Polymer Clay, they are actually very easy to make.

Most pieces began with making a small ball out of the clay. Then we used the eraser end of a pencil to make the hole inside each piece. Just make the ball smaller for a cup, and bigger for a teapot, creamer or sugar bowl. Continue reading “Mother’s Day Tea Sets” →

Featured Item: Art Door

by Elaine Ann Allen
Create an Art Door!
Create an Art Door!

Ever wonder what to do with all the art work that your children create at home and at school? This is a constant issue in my household as my kids are constantly creating art, and I love everything they come up with. Not only do I want to save them all (by the mountain load), but I want to display them so that all can see my talented artists’ work.

A friend gave me this fabulous idea of pinning the art on the interior of the basement door. This is a door that is open a lot and frequently used. But, it can be easily shut if I want to hide the clutter from guests.

I keep this door updated every week and put the older pieces aside for saving, or to hang in the toy room. This way the art becomes a wonderful focal point in my kitchen and a constant source of pride rather than a pile of clutter in a drawer. Continue reading “Featured Item: Art Door” →