Easy No Sew Black Cat Costume

Black Cat Costume

Costume Basics:
1. Black tights
2. Black shoes
3. Black long-sleeve shirt
4. Store bought cat ears
5. Face paint crayons
For the Skirt:
1. 2 inch wide black ribbon
2. 2 spools of tulle (we found 15 yards of black tulle on a spool at Hancock Fabrics)
3. Scissors
4. Measuring tape


Measure your child’s waist, and add 10 inches. Cut your black satin ribbon to this length.

Measure your child from the waist to the length you want the skirt to be. Double that measurement and add about 2 inches. Cut all your tulle to strips of that length.(tip: lay the two rolls together and cut them at the same time.)

Begin attaching the strips of tulle to the middle of the satin ribbon, working your way out to each end. Take each strip of tulle and fold them in half. Grab the folded strip and make a loop at the top of the fold and pass the tulle under the ribbon, pull the two loose ends of tulle up through the loop, and pull taught. Now the tulle piece is attached to the ribbon. Repeat this process until you attached all the strips to the ribbon or you achieve the desired fullness.

Tie the ribbon around your child’s waist. Adjust the tulle so each strip is equally spaced. For extra fun, decorate your tutu with glitter. Make some glue dots on the tulle and attach small ribbons, feathers, lace or other crazy accessories to it.

Mother's Day Bouquets 5 Ways
(Firework Flowers & Tissue Paper Bouquet are also available as "Craft Kits", and can be purchased online at: www.abracadabracrafts.com)


Firework Flowers
Project time: 20 minutes
Difficulty: Advanced
Ages: 6+

What You Need:
Scrap booking Paper (printed on both sides)
Pipe Cleaners
Glue
Scissors

Craft Instructions:

1. Select a piece of colorful paper and lay it flat on a hard surface. With the shortest ends facing you, begin to fold back and forth in an accordion fashion, just like you would fold to make a fan. The smaller the fold, the more full your flower will be. Each fold should be no more than a half inch wide.

2. Once you have folded the paper all the way, place a pipe cleaner in the center of the folded paper. Wrap the end of the pipe cleaner around the center of the folded paper. The pipe cleaner will be the stem of the flower.

3. While the paper is still folded together, use the scissors to snip a decorative edge on both ends of the folded piece. Cut through all the layers! You can cut a round edge or make a V shaped edge. Experiment with different cuts.

4. Next, take two of the ends and bring them around to form a partial circle. Use a glue dot to secure the ends of the paper together. You will now have a partial circle shape. Repeat this step with the other two ends, forming a full circle shape. Your flower is complete!

5. Try making different flowers by cutting the paper in half and making a smaller version, or try making different decorative end cuts to change the look of your flowers.



Tissue paper bouquet

Project time: 15 minutes
Difficulty: Medium
Ages: 5+

What You Need:
Scalloped tissue paper (use decorative edge scissors) in assorted colors
Green Pipe Cleaners

Craft Instructions:

1. Stack 4 pieces of tissue paper on top of each other, aligning the corners together.

2. Fold the sheets accordion style. Back and forth...

3. Secure the tissue paper by wrapping the pipe cleaner around the center of the folded stack of tissue paper. Be sure to leave enough pipe cleaner for the stem.

4. Take care in the next step! The tissue paper will rip easily. Lift each layer one by one to form a basic flower shape. Gently pull on each sheet separating them from each other pulling towards the center.



Paper Plate Sunflowers

Project time: 20 minutes plus drying time
Difficulty: Easy
Ages: 2+

What You Need:
(6) Mini Paper Plates
(6) Green Pipe Cleaners
Large, Wide Tip Black Marker
Yellow, Red, and Orange Washable Paint
Large Paint Brush
Glitter (optional)

Craft Instructions:

1. Use the black marker to color in the center of each paper plate sunflower.

2. Next, use yellow, red, and orange paint to color the outside edge of the paper plates. While the paint is still wet, sprinkle with glitter.

3. Secure each paper plate onto a green pipe cleaner stem. Poke one end of a pipe cleaner through the center of the paper plate. Using the end that you just poked through, come back down through the paper plate, and twist the excess pipe cleaner around the stem.



Cupcake Flowers

Project time: 30 - 40 minutes plus drying time
Difficulty: Medium
Ages: 4+

What You Need:
(6) Craft Cups or Heavy Duty Cupcake Liners
(6) Green Pipe Cleaners
Glue
Assortment of washable paint (we used Glitter Finger Paints)
Assortment of buttons, and/or Jewels

Craft Instructions:

1. Use your fingers to paint the inside of each craft cup. Don’t be afraid to mix colors! If you are not working with “glitter paint,” you may want to sprinkle loose glitter onto the paint before it dries.

2. Next, secure a pipe cleaner stem onto each of the craft cups. Poke one end of a pipe cleaner through the center of the craft cup. Using the end that you just poked through, come back down through the craft cup, and twist the excess pipe cleaner around the stem.

3. Glue a button or jewel onto the center of each flower, and let dry.




Coffee Filter Poppies

Project time: 30 minutes plus drying time
Difficulty: Medium
Ages: 4+

What You Need:
(6) Large Round Coffee Filters
(6) Green Pipe Cleaners
Assortment of washable paints (we used Liquid Glitter Water Colors)
Eyedropper (medicine droppers work great)
Pom Pom Beads

Craft Instructions:

1. Dilute the paints to a watery consistency.

2. Use the eyedropper to suck up the paint. Squeeze the eyedropper and release the paint around the inside edge of each coffee filter. Use different color combinations for a tie-dyed effect.

3. Next, secure a pipe cleaner stem onto each of the coffee filters. Poke one end of a pipe cleaner through the center of the filter. String a pom pom bead onto the pipe cleaner. Securing the bead to the inside center of the flower by lacing the pipe cleaner back down through the coffee filter, and twist the excess pipe cleaner around the stem.

Best Playdough Ever!

Add glitter to anything and it has instant kid appeal!

I've always made our own playdough. It just makes sense! but I understand if you don't have the time...in any case I've included the recipe as well as an ETSY mom that will do the homemade work for you!


Sublime Playdough
kaaris's Shop
SPARKLY! SOFT! SCENTED! Mmmmmmm... Playdough.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5103276

...or make your own:


4 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 cups water
4 tablespoons oil
1/2 cup cream of tartar
a dash super-fine glitter

Boil water. I like to make 4 different colors at once - so I divide up the ingredients into 4 small bowls. Mix flour, salt, a dash of super-fine glitter, and cream of tartar into each bowl . Pour oil on top of dry ingredients and let sit on top. Squeeze a few food coloring drops in the oil that you just added. Pour in one cup of boiling hot water into each of the bowls with the dry ingredients. I suggest mixing one color at a time before moving onto the next one. Kneed dough until it is completely formed and no longer sticky. Allow to cool slightly before storing in an air tight container or zip lock bag.

Side note: I buy cream of tartar in bulk at Amazon.com

The case of the Missing Wand.

Aside from the weather being 35 degrees above average here in Bend, Oregon... I've decided to enjoy the sunshine without thinking of the environmental damages our planet is undergoing.

Bubbles are always a favorite! I had to dig the bubbles out of the pantry only to find that one bottle was missing a wand.

Quick fix!

Try a ratchet from the tool box.

They come in different sizes, and kids love the "baby" bubbles the small one makes.

before you know it, the others are no longer interested in the standard plastic wand that comes in the bottle.

"I want" in the Kitchen?

After dealing with my children making darting demands in the kitchen, it's not a bad thing that I find myself in the middle of my two children arguing about who is going to pour, stir, and mix.

This "not such a bad thing" took me a while to figure out...but when I compare this same quote "I want!", to say....in the aisle of a store. Well then it takes on a whole new meaning and battle.

But here we are in the kitchen making cookies. Each child wanting to make sure they get a chance to be included.


Here's the solution!

1. Read down the list of ingredients.

2. Get everything out. While you're getting things together. Give each child an ingredient (one for you, one for me).

4. Once you've divided up the items between your children, have each child repeat back what they have.

5. Then read the recipe instructions (make sure you tell your children to listen carefully for their ingredients).

6. Now you're ready to start cooking! Explain that it's the child's job to pay attention and listen to when it's their turn to add an ingredient.


I've attached a quick video of my children telling me which items they will add to the cookies.

Have Fun!

Blogger Please....

Who am I trying to fool! I'm no blogger! But every now and again I do come-up with a great tip or short-cut that I'd like to share....

So over the past couple of weeks I've begun to take pictures of the projects that I do with my kids. Here you will find a selection of "quick blogs".

-S

ABC's in the Kitchen

Where has the year gone? can't believe I'm saying that again! Every year the holidays roll around and they just keep coming faster. It should be of no surprise that I was seeing Christmas decorations well before Halloween was even here. Now, with more than a week until Thanksgiving I found myself at Trader Joe's last night with my 4 year old daughter buying a gingerbread house kit! I wanted to be sure that I had one ready to go when Christmas arrives!

So, with that....I also bought a package of gingerbread mix. This one couldn't wait...My kids and I love to get messy in the kitchen and last week our cake, while it looked great, it tasted terrible! So we decided to have a quick lesson with the ABC cookie cutters I bought years ago!

The mix was simple...each child had an something to add the the food processor (I recommend using the processor because kids can just throw in the mix, egg, and butter, and away it goes).

Explaining to your three and four year olds that the dough needed to chill in the frig for 60minutes was another lesson in its self. We wrapped it up in wax paper and put it in the frig, then...don't forget the timer! The kids love to keep an eye on it, and it helps them to be patient and not ask every 5 minutes, "is it ready yet?"

While we waited for the dough to chill, we decided to make a few crafts to take with us to the grandparents house when we set off to travel this Thanksgiving. I'll post more about these fun easy crafts later.

When the timer beeped 60 minutes later, we were ready to practice our ABC's and rolling skills. I gave each of my kids a portion of the gingerbread dough, and a rolling pin. I made sure to lightly flour the table. (oh! and don't forget to have the kids wash their hands!) I unloaded the ABC cookie cutters onto the table and we set out to make as many letters as we could. Talking about each letter as we made them. We spelled the kids names, and made a few for friends! We sang the ABC's and arranged them onto a cookie sheet ready for the oven!

While the cookies were baking, we cleaned up and had a little lunch....and before we knew it, the buzzer beeped again....ABC cookies are ready!

So fun!