By Beth Engelman and Jenna Riggs of Mommy on a Shoestring

Show the love this Valentine’s Day with these easy to make gifts, cards and crafts that will delight your kids and have your friends saying, “Are you sure you didn’t buy this?” Continue Reading…

By Beth Engelman and Jenna Riggs of Mommy on a Shoestring

Don’t let the chilly weather stop you and your kids from having fun outside with these “cool” crafts and activities.

Play Ice Cube Hide and Seek

A twist on the classic game, this activity is fun to play after a big snowfall.  Prepare the ice cubes by mixing water and a few drops of food coloring in an ice tray or muffin tin and placing them in the freezer (or outdoors) until frozen.  To play the game, choose one player to be the “hider” while the others will be seekers. The “hider” buries the colorful cubes in mounds of snow around the backyard.  Then its up to the “seekers” to dig around the snow and find the frozen ice cubes. The player who finds the most ice cubes, gets to be the “hider” during the next go round.

Make Ice Sculptures

Sharp tools and ice picks are not necessary with this creative activity.  To get started, gather an assortment of containers around the house.  To add variety, choose containers that are different shapes and sizes such as muffin tins, jell-o molds and cake pans.  Add water and a few drops of food coloring to each container and place in a freezer (or outside) until the blocks of ice are frozen solid. Remove each block from its container.  If this proves to be difficult, try thawing the ice for a few minutes or submerge the bottom of the pan in a bowl of warm water.  Once the blocks are removed, it’s time to build outdoors. Encourage your cold weather sculptors and construction workers to make decorative statues, enchanted ice castles, skyscrapers or ice forts.  Use salt or layers of slushy snow as “glue” to make the blocks stick together.  Best of all, when your kids are all done playing with their blocks, they can leave them as is and let Mother Nature take care of the clean up.

Paint the Snow Red (and Yellow, Green and Blue)

This craft is a dream come true for my four-year-old son who loves to spray water at anything and everything.  Fill up empty spray bottles with water and a few drops of food coloring. The children can then take the spray bottles outside and spray the snow different colors creating a colorful mosaic, rainbow, or their very own abstract painting.  Just imagine what passerby’s will think when they see your rainbow colored yard.

Make Snow and Ice Cream

This recipe should only be made with freshly fallen snow.  I recommend setting a large bowl outside so you and your kids can collect the snow before it even hits the ground.

Ingredients

3 cups of fresh snow
1-cup milk
¼ cup sugar
1 tsp of vanilla

Directions

Mix ingredients and serve immediately.

Jenna Riggs and Beth Engelman are the creative talents and owners of Mommy on a Shoestring, a website and weekly radio show chock full of ideas on how families can live creatively and large on a small budget.

Today’s Fresh Start idea is to make a family crest.  A family crest¹ or coat of arms is a symbol to represent your family identity and heritage.  It often includes symbols and images that represent your family values, priorities, and heritage.  A family crest is a great way of visually expressing your family vision and mission statement.  Here are a few tips and resources to help get you started.

Before sitting down to design your family crest, take time as a family to discuss your family values, priorities, and heritage.  Creating a family vision and mission statement are great ways to help you get started.

Creating a family crest should be a family effort, so be sure to include everyone.  Parents should come to the family discussion prepared to answer some basic questions from the kids.   Questions like – What is a family crest? What do the symbols mean? How do we make a family crest?

Here are some great online resources to help you design your family crest:

How to Design Family Crests – A great resource to help you get started.

AllFamilyCrests.com – Use this tool to design your family crest or search for your family crest.

Make Your Coat of Arms – Online tool to design your family crest.  You can create and print one for free.

Fleur-de-lis Designs – A great resource to understand the meaning behind the symbols used in family crests

Good luck!

¹In technical terms, the family crest is actually a part of a coat of arms and is placed at the top to depict your family’s heritage, but the terms family crest and coat of arms are often used interchangeably.

By Beth Engelman and Jenna Riggs of Mommy on a Shoestring

The holiday season brings back memories of old when we’d bake cookies with mom for family and friends.  Inevitably, something would go wrong, the cookies would turn out terribly and we’d hit Marshall Fields for wrapped boxes of Frango Mints.  In honor of this holiday season, I wanted to share some no-fail recipes for cookies and treats that are perfect for your family and friends!

Sushi Cookies

These are my go-to treats of the 2010 holiday season because no only are they SUPER easy to make, they look great and are different than your average reindeer (sorry Rudolph).  This recipe comes from my friend Amanda Heaston whose blog www.gourmetmomonthego.com is simply brilliant!

You need:

Crisped Rice Cereal Treats

Gummy Fish

Red Swedish Berries

Green Fruit leather

Directions:

• Cut crisped rice cereal treats into long ovals and small circles.
• Add gunny fish to the top of each oval and “wrap” with a thin piece of green fruit leather (to look like seaweed).
• Add a red Swedish berry on top of each small circle treat (to resemble red fish roe) and “wrap” thick piece of green fruit leather around each circle.
• Serve with chopsticks and enjoy!

White Chocolate & Peppermint Pizza Bark

You need:

White Chocolate Chips

Crushed Peppermint Candies

Waxed Paper

Pizza Box

Directions:

• Melt chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave at 30-second intervals.
• Mix melted chocolate and crushed peppermint pieces (leave a few to sprinkle on the top).
• Cover a round cake pan with waxed paper and then pour in mixture.
• Top with extra peppermint pieces.
• Place in fridge for at least 45 minutes to an hour until the bark has hardened.
• Remove from pan and place in a pizza box to wrap and give as a gift!

That’s Amore!

Cookie Mobiles

A sweet surprise for families!  You will need:

• Sugar cookie dough (store bought or homemade)
• Wooden dowel or wooden spoon
• Ribbon
• Glue or tape

Directions:

1. Prepare cookies as directed, but as soon as you take them out of the oven to cool, poke a hole at the top with a butter knife. Make sure the hole is large enough to accommodate your ribbon.
2. Wrap colorful ribbon around your dowel or wooden spoon and secure with glue or tape.
3. Hang cookies by tying one end of the ribbon to the cookie and the other to the decorated dowel.

Jenna Riggs and Beth Engelman are the creative talents and owners of Mommy on a Shoestring, a website and weekly radio show chock full of ideas on how families can live creatively and large on a small budget.

Laura Rolands of My Attention Coach

Sometimes holiday traditions need to be supplemented or updated to become more current.  At our house, the Thanksgiving Day Detroit Lions game has long been a family tradition.  Whether watching the game in person or on television, the games have been disappointing in recent years.  We even witnessed the end of the 0-16 Lions season a couple years ago.  I am assuming you can understand the need to focus on something besides the Lions on Thanksgiving Day!  Now some in our house are going to watch the game regardless of the season.

Last year we found a better alternative that gets more of our extended family into the game and makes a difference in our community.  Coalition on Temporary Shelter (http://www.cotsdetroit.org/), a local homeless shelter partners with The Majestic (http://www.majesticdetroit.com/), a local theater and restaurant, to offer a breakfast buffet and Thanksgiving Day Parade watching from the very beginning of the parade.  Last year we went with our kids and some of our extended family.  It was an amazing morning with many memories for kids and adults alike!  When we asked the kids if they want to see the parade again this year, everyone responded with great enthusiasm!  This year, we are adding more to the group and even including a sleepover!  I just love how this event has already become a tradition and looks like it will grow over time.

If your traditions are getting old, take some time and plan a new tradition for your family.  Here are a few thought starters….

• Of course, check out the Families With Purpose resources at http://family-life.familieswithpurpose.com/category/family-time/thanksgiving-traditions/.  You will find some fun ideas.
• Talk with your kids.  What do they want to do on Thanksgiving Day?
• What are some things you did when you were younger?  How can you recreate them for this year?
• Break into teams and go on a scavenger hunt.
• Build a bon fire if local fire codes allow it and have s’mores.  A great way to make summer memories during the cold weather if you live in colder areas!

No matter what you decide, you will invigorate your family by trying something new.  Remember to take a break from the kitchen and make time to enjoy your family.  Let us know your new traditions to share with others!  Enjoy!

Laura Rolands is the founder of LSR Coaching and Consulting, LLC. She is a coach whose passion is to support, lead and inspire independence and success for people who have either been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD or who are facing other attention-related challenges. Her clients include individuals with attention-related challenges and/or their parents. If you have any questions or more suggestions to add, please visit her website at www.MyAttentionCoach.com.

By Beth Engelman and Jenna Riggs of Mommy on a Shoestring

Celebrate the spirit of Thanksgiving with these family friendly crafts and activities.

Story Bracelets

Teach your kids the story of the first Thanksgiving with this memorable craft.  Your kids will love having a special bracelet for their Thanksgiving feast and you will love knowing they learned a bit of American History in the process.  Thank you to Jennifer W and her blog, Ramblings of a Crazy Woman, for inspiring this activity.

You will need:

Colored Beads

Pipe Cleaners

Directions:

Have your children string their bracelets according to the story of Thanksgiving.

• String 1 bead (any color) to represent the Pilgrims leaving England.
• String 1 white bead to represent the white sails on the Mayflower.
• String 3 blue beads to represent the long trip over the ocean.
• Add 1 green bead to show when the Pilgrims saw land.
• The Pilgrim’s first winter was long and snowy, so add 3 white beads to represent winter.
• String 1 green bead for the arrival of spring.
• String 1 yellow bead to represent the warmth of the sun.
• Add one bead (any color) to represent the Native Americans who helped the Pilgrims.
• Add 4 beads to represent the food the Pilgrims and Native Americans enjoyed together on Thanksgiving which includes:
  • 1 red bead for cranberries.
  • 1 yellow bead for corn.
  • 1 brown bead for turkey.
  • 1 orange bead for pumpkin.
• Once the beading is complete, twist the ends of the pipe cleaner together to make a bracelet.

Thankful Tree

Create a family heirloom with this charming craft idea.

You will need:

Small tree branch (cleaned and dried)

Vase

Paper (cut into leaf shapes)

Markers and / or crayons

Hole-punch

Ribbon

Directions:

• Place tree branch in vase.  If necessary, use stones or acorns to anchor the branch in place.
• Ask each guest to write or draw one thing for which they are grateful. On the other side of the paper, have them draw a self-portrait and write their name and age.
• Punch a hole at the top of each leaf and hang them on your “tree” with ribbon.
• When the holiday is over, keep your leaves in a secure spot so you can hang them on your tree next year, being sure to add “new” leaves as well.  In years to come your tree will be full of leaves as well as reminders of holidays past.

A is for Apple, U is for Unscramble Place-Cards

If you or your children love puzzles, this clever DIY place-card craft is for you.

You need:

Apples and/or pears

Colored cardstock or index cards

Markers

Sharp knife

Directions:

• Make the name-card holder by making a slit at the top of each piece of fruit.
• Make the name-cards by writing the scramble letters of each guest’s name on a small piece of card stock.
• Place the scrambled name-cards in the fruit holders right before the guests come to the table to ensure the paper doesn’t get too soggy.
• When your guests arrive at the table, ask them to unscramble each name to find their seat.

Family Games

If you are in search of an icebreaker, or need an activity the whole family can enjoy, try one of these Thanksgiving games that come courtesy of Mary Giles, Executive Editor of Disney FamilyFun magazine.

Chopstick Pass:

This game keeps restless kids engaged and entertained between courses.

Object: To pass a set of items (almond, acorn, cranberry, and pea) around the table using chopsticks (or a small spoon) without dropping them.

You Need:

Chopsticks or spoons

Almond

Acorn

Cranberry

Pea

Small plate

Directions:

• Each player gets either a set of chopsticks or a small spoon (perfect for younger players).
• Place the almond, acorn, cranberry, and pea on a small plate.
• Place the plate next to the oldest player who will begin the game by passing each item to the person on his right, who will receive it with chopsticks and pass it along to the next player. The game continues until all the items have been passed around the table.

Turkey Egg Hunt

Object: To find the hidden turkey egg using the following clues:

“Gobble, gobble” = you’re getting closer to the egg.

“Giblet, giblet” = you’re moving away from the egg.

You Need:

One hard-boiled egg

Directions:

• Chose one player to leave the room while the “turkey” egg is hidden.
• When the player returns, the others will call out “gobble, gobble” or “giblet, giblet,” to help the seeker find the egg. Once the egg is found, a new seeker is named, and the game repeats.

Jenna Riggs and Beth Engelman are the creative talents and owners of Mommy on a Shoestring, a website and weekly radio show chock full of ideas on how families can live creatively and large on a small budget.

Here is a family fun idea for Thanksgiving this year (or any family get together) that we had a lot of fun with last year.  We played Pictionary as a family (I think there were around 18 of us playing) by dividing into two teams.  One team was called Team Pilgrim and the other Team Turkey.  All you need for this game is the Pictionary game, two table top flip charts (you can buy them at your local office supply store) and a few markers.  Optional are the team t-shirts that I made in advance.  They added to the fun, but if they won’t fit in your budget or if you don’t have time to make them (I bought blank tshirts online and ironed on the decals), they you can easily skip them.

By Beth Engelman and Jenna Riggs of Mommy on a Shoestring

This Halloween, scare up some holiday fun with these clever craft ideas that are easy to make, even at the last minute!

Recycled Bag Luminaries

(Thanks to the folks at www.iparty.com for contributing this idea)

This easy and affordable craft is perfect for last minute decorating. It’s also a great way to reuse paper grocery bags.

Materials:

• Paper grocery bags
• Light Sticks (available at most craft and hardware stores).

Directions:

• Use a black marker to draw a face onto the middle of each bag (I recommend using the side that has no writing).
• Use sharp scissors to cut out each face (this should be done by an adult).
• Place light stick inside the bag.
• Place luminary in a dark area and enjoy.

Helpful Hint: This craft also works well with plain brown paper lunch bags.

Glue Ghosts

This craft is perfect for young children who love to pour glue all over everything. Be sure to make these ghosts a day in advance, as they need roughly 10-12 hours to dry.

Materials

• Glue
• String, yarn or pipe cleaner
• Waxed paper
• Craft stick or plastic spoon
• Googly eyes
• Construction paper (for the mouth)

Directions:

For each ghost, lay a piece of string in the shape of a ghost onto a piece of waxed paper. Be sure to leave the bottom part open.

Have your kids pour glue to cover the entire ghost area. Use a plastic spoon or craft stick to make sure the glue is spread evenly. Note: the thicker the glue, the longer it takes for the ghost to dry.

Add personality by placing googly eyes and a construction paper mouth onto each ghost. Let dry for about 10-12 hours.

Once dry, peel each ghost off the waxed paper. Trim rough edges if necessary.

Poke a hole at the top of each ghost with a pushpin and thread a piece of string through the hole for hanging! Bootiful!!!!!!!!!

Glow-in-the-Dark Creepy Crawlers

(Thanks to the folks at www.iparty.com for contributing this idea)

Delight your kids with these easy to make crawlers.

Materials:

• Ping Pong Ball
• Styrofoam Cup
• Mini Light Stick
• 3 Glow Bracelets
• Mini Light Stick
• Tacky Glue

Directions:

Paint cup and let is sit until dry.

Poke a small hole in the ping-pong ball. (I recommend using a pair of scissors or pushpin). Use a black sharpie to draw the creepy crawler’s face.

Push mini light stick into the hole of the ball.

Glue the ping-pong ball to the bottom of the Styrofoam cup.

Poke three small holes on each side of the cup and slide a glow bracelet through each hole.

For maximum effect, place creepy crawlers in a dark area and watch your kids face light up when they see them glow.

Candy Wrapper Bowls

Once Halloween has ended, don’t throw away your old candy wrappers! Instead use them to make this “sweet” bowl.

Materials:

• Newspaper ripped into small pieces
• Mod Podge or PVA glue
• A bowl with a smooth bottom (to be used as your mold)
• Aluminum foil

Directions:

Wrap the outside of bowl with aluminum foil.

Begin wrapping bowl with newspaper pieces dipped in Mod Podge. Be sure to smooth out each piece and overlap edges. Continue process until you have wrapped the entire bowl, in 3-4 times. Note: The more layers of newspaper, the sturdier your bowl.

Arrange the desired order and pattern of your wrappers and carefully glue on them on your bowl with Mod Podge. Cover the entire bowl with an additional layer of Mod Podge to ensure everything is sealed.

Let stand for 48 to 72 hours until dry.

When your bowl is completely dry, pull the original bowl out from under the paper and remove the aluminum foil.

Paint the inside or outside if desired.

Note: This bowl is for decorative use only! It is perfect for holding school supplies, wrapped candy, and trinkets. Do not use it for serving food.

How about a few treats?

There is nothing “tricky” about these treats that come courtesy of Bean Sprouts Café in Madison,Wisconsin. Be sure to visit their website for more information! (www.beansproutscafe.com).

You will need:

• 6 whole fresh strawberries
• ½ cup white chocolate chips or vanilla candy chips (melted)
• Chocolate sprinkles or mini chocolate chips
• 6 lollipop sticks (available at most craft stores)
• Wax Paper

Directions:

Dip entire strawberry (except for the stem) into the melted white chocolate.

Place berry on a plate covered with wax paper. Make sure the pointy end of the strawberry, which will be the top of the ghost, is facing up.

Add eyes and a mouth with chocolate chips or sprinkles.

Repeat with remaining strawberries.

Place “ghosts” in freezer for 8-10 minutes, or until coating is solid. Use a table knife to cut off the stem and place a lollipop stick in the bottom of each strawberry.

Bean Sprouts Pumpkin Pops

This tricky treat adds a nutritious boost with whole-wheat flour and chickpeas but all your kids will notice is its sweet flavor.

For the vanilla cupcakes you will need:

• 2 1/2 cups wheat flour
• 2 1/4 cups packed light brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 2 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• 6 Tbsp. olive oil
• 2 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 Tbsp. white vinegar
• 1/2 cup pureed chickpeas
• 1 1/4 cups water
• Cupcake liners

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Line a muffin pan with 12 cupcake liners.
• In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and baking powder.
• Stir in olive oil, vanilla and vinegar.
• Fold in pureed chickpeas, slowly add water and stir until smooth.
• Divide the batter among the muffin liners and bake for 16 to 18 minutes. Let cool

For the pumpkin coating you will need:

• 2 cups white chocolate chips or vanilla candy chips
• 2 tsp. milk
• Natural orange food coloring (available at health food stores)
• Mini chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup pretzel sticks
• Lollipop sticks
• Wax paper

Directions:

• When the cake is cooled, place it in a bowl and mash it up into tiny pieces.
• Add milk until the cake becomes sticky.
• Form 1-inch diameter balls using the sticky cake.
• Carefully slide a lollipop stick in each ball.
• Place on a plate lined with wax paper and put in the freezer for at least 8-10 minutes, or until the cake hardens.
• While the cake balls are in the freezer, melt the white chocolate chips in the microwave for 30 seconds at a time, so as not to burn the chocolate. Stir until smooth.
• Add food coloring and stir until the chocolate is pumpkin color.
• Dip each cake ball in the orange chocolate coating and place on wax paper. Add eyes and a mouth with mini chocolate chips. Top off with a “pretzel stick” stem.
• Repeat with remaining cake balls.
• Place in freezer for 3-5 minutes until coating is hard.

Jenna Riggs and Beth Engelman are the creative talents and owners of Mommy on a Shoestring, a website and weekly radio show chock full of ideas on how families can live creatively and large on a small budget.

By Beth Engleman

Mommy on a Shoestring

Jazz up your fall wardrobe with these easy to make fashion accessories made out of recyclables!

Candy Wrapper Belt:

This is a great fashion statement for kids and adults.  It also makes a really fun rainy day or birthday party activity.

You will need:

Colorful candy or gum wrappers

Scissors

Tape measure

Clear packing tape

2 – 1 ¼ inch, D-rings (available at most craft and fabric stores)

Directions:

• Measure waist and determine the desired length of belt.
• Trim candy wrappers into 1-inch wide pieces.
• Arrange the order and pattern of the wrappers.
• Cut a piece of packing tape that is several inches longer than the desired belt length and lay it sticky side up on a table.
• Carefully place the candy wrappers, face down in a line along the center of the tape.  Overlap each wrapper slightly to ensure there is no extra space between wrappers.
• Fold the edges of the packing tape running lengthwise over the backs of the wrappers. If necessary, cut an additional strip of tape in half lengthwise and cover the back of the wrappers, ensuring your belt is properly sealed.
• Slide two D-rings onto one end of the belt leaving about 6 inches of before securing with packing tape.

Water Bottle Bracelet

Heidi Borchers and the team from www.ilovetocreate.com came up with this clever idea that turns a water bottle into a fashion statement.

You will need:

Colorful Fabric

Decorative Buttons or Sequins

Water Bottle (cut into a 2 ½ inch-wide ring)

Tacky Glue

Directions:

• Use fabric and tacky glue to cover the water bottle ring.
• Be sure to fold the fabric over the sharp edges and glue the fabric inside the ring.
• Add buttons, sequins, or coordinating fabric pieces as desired.
• Allow to dry before wearing.

T-Shirt Tote

Turn an old T-shirt into a cute tote with a few snips and stitches.

Materials

T-shirt

Needle and Thread

Scissors

12- inch bowl and paper

Directions

• Use the bowl to trace / cut a 12-inch  paper circle (to be used as a template).
• Cut off sleeves of t-shirt.  Tip:  Leave the seam to prevent the material from fraying.
• Use circle template to trace / cut a 6-inch scoop along the neckline of the shirt.
• Turn the shirt inside out and sew bottom closed.  Tip:  If the bottom seam is too thick, cut it off before sewing.  Also remember, the closer the stitches the sturdier the bag.

**To make a rosette embellishment:  Simply use the left over t-shirt fabric and cut three circles (different sizes).  Sew the circles together using a basic rag-stitch, being sure to pull the thread tightly to gather the material into petals.

This craft idea comes courtesy of Jessica Wynne Taylor.  Thanks Jessica!

To find more family fun activities check out www.mommyonashoestring.com

By: Beth Engelman of Mommy on a Shoestring

Thanks Beth for this great idea! If you want to hear more of Beth’s great ideas you can listen to the replay of our recent radio show.

Ingredients

• Small Paper Cups
• 2 Tbs Powdered Tempura Paint – any color (available at most craft stores)
• 3 Tbs Plaster of Paris (available at most craft stores)
• ½ Cup Water

Directions

In a paper cup, mix powdered paint and water.

Stir in Plaster of Paris until the mixture is as thick as cream.

Allow the mixture to harden-approximately 2 hours.

Peel off the paper cup and take out the chalk.

Repeat for additional chalk pieces.