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We just put these cute play-doh kits together for the cousins.

We used the recipe below to make 4 batches of homemade play-doh.  

The kids rolled each color into balls and then put them into sandwich bags.  I found these cute art caddies for 3 dollars a piece at the craft store.  I painted the names with acrylics and then the kids dipped pencil erasers into paint to make the polka dots.

I found a large container of animal cookie cutters and we split them up amongst the caddies.

And there you have a very cute, personalized, made from the home, gift!

Recipe for Dough

• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1/2 cup salt
• 3 tbs oil
• 2 tbs cream of tarter
• 1tbs peppermint oil(optional)
• Several drops of food coloring
• 2 cups all purpose flour

1. Bring all ingredients except for the flour just to a boil.
2. Stir in flour.
3. Dump play-doh mixture onto clean surface and knead dough until smooth.

Aimee’s notes: I couldn’t find peppermint oil, so I used peppermint extract instead. It took up to 10 or 12 drops of food coloring to produce a bright color.  The dough mixture will be  very hot when you dump in out of the pot, as soon as you can handle the dough, go ahead and starting kneading.  We let the kids play with the dough after it was kneaded and it made the day even more smooth before making it into balls for gifts.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.

I couldn’t post this idea prior to christmas, or the recipients would have seen their gifts!

The girls made slipper socks for their grandmothers and aunts.  They turned out great and they had an awesome time doing it.  

The only materials needed for the project are puffy paints and socks.

How to do it

• Wash and dry socks.
• Take a pair of shoes(the size that fit with the socks) and trace the shoes onto cardboard.  Cut out cardboard feet.
• Stuff cardboard feet in socks to create a flat surface for painting.
• Lay out wax paper, plastic bag, or other protective material on table.
• All participants should wear smocks or paint shirts.
• Using puffy paints, paint your design onto the socks.
• Allow to dry for overnight.
• Wait 3-4 days to wash and dry, inside out.

Other ideas for how to use this project

• Let your children make them for friends birthdays
• Have a birthday party and use it as a craft
• Give it as a kit for a present-the socks, the paint, and the instructions.

I was leafing through “The Creative Family” by Amanda Blake Soule found the inspiration for this simple present the girls could work on for their little brother.

I showed them the picture from the book and they both loved the idea and didn’t need any more guidance.

They drew and colored the pictures on cardstock.

I helped cut them out(to make sure we preserved the edges).

And then for extra-endurance(since this is a 3 year old boy we’re talking about) we laminated each card as well.

Add some hole punches and some yarn and voila’, a fun, handmade present.

For more great creative family ideas, check out The Creative Family by Amanda Blake Soule

or visit her website Soule Mama

Ten things I’m LOVING right now:

1. Chocolate has finally started tasting pretty good again after 29 weeks of this pregnancy(shhh, don’t tell anyone though, I’m trying to keep it quiet, so I don’t consume too much!)
2. The arm Joshy slings over my neck as he curls up next to me in the morning as soon as the tiniest bit of light shines into his window.  Followed by kisses(if the arm doesn’t produce much results from mommy). Followed by “You’re not wearing any lipstick are you mommy?”.  Followed by a small tractor with a gleeful 3 year old driving it over my body.
   
3. Chocolate pancakes for breakfast this morning(see #1)
4.  All 3 children singing “Jingle bells” at the top of their lungs, but directed at my stomach, to see if they can make their sister kick.
5. My husband, who took the time to reset this blog, even after I said “forget it, I don’t really need to start blogging again anyway.”
6. Seeing little baby and toddler girls and thinking “We’re going to have one of those again!”
7. The Bella Band that allowed me to wear my regular jeans all the way through today! The demise of the panel jeans is near, I can feel it.
8. “The Creative Family” by Amanda Blake Soule
9. Jael said a month ago “Why doesn’t your tummy digest the baby?”
10. Joshua, when I asked what kind of baby he wanted, said “A Deer”.  And he really looked hopeful.