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2010/05/05
Mother’s Day is the one day a year when Mom has full permission to sit back, relax, and enjoy being the one doted upon. So, come Mother’s Day, what should kids do to give Mom the full “thanks” she deserves? The editors of Disney FamilyFun magazine have generously contributed a number of easy Mom-worthy crafts and recipes to help them do just that. A few of the Mother’s Day gift may require another adult’s help, but all offer an easy personalized way for kids to celebrate Mom to the fullest on her special day.
Mother’s Day Gifts for Kids to Make
- Queen for a Day Cupcakes: This Mother’s Day give the moms in your life the royal treatment by serving up these tiny sweets. (In the May 2010 issue of Disney FamilyFun)
- Beauty Mask: This eye pillow, filled with lavender and flaxseed, is a Mother’s Day gift that actually takes something away: stress!
- Button Bracelet: This sweet and simple craft features well-loved faces all in one place and makes a great gift for Mom on her special day.
- Purse-onal Greetings: Need a great gift that Mom will love? We’ve got it in the bag. This fancy, one-of-a-kind handbag holds just what Mom needs this Mother’s Day: a message of love.
- Mother’s Day Box: Made with love, this magical wonder issues a steady flow of surprises and gifts.
- Paper Blossoms: A bare branch, tissue paper, and glue are all it takes to present Mom with a bouquet of delicate, easy-care blossoms she’ll love.
- Paper Blossoms: A bare branch, tissue paper, and glue are all it takes to present Mom with a bouquet of delicate, easy-care blossoms she’ll love.
- Bagel Family Portrait: Breakfast in bed on Mother’s Day is a tradition that will never go out of style. But it could stand to be jazzed up a bit. So we here at FamilyFun came up with the perfect solution: bagel portraits of Mom and the kids created by the kids (with a little help from Dad).
- Garland Card: This clever garland card is an unexpected way to wish a mother the best on her big day or send fun greetings on any occasion. Use a mint or candy tin to create this craft! (In the May 2010 issue of Disney FamilyFun)
Mother’s Day is a wonderful occasion that is presents ideal opportunities for children to participate in planning a special day for Mom. Making homemade Mother’s Day gifts with love for Mom or Grandma is not only fun, but also self-esteem building if the crafts chosen are at the appropriate skill level. If the homemade gifts are made with an older sibling or an adult such as Dad or Grandpop, hands-on activities can help create memories while increasing the bond already in place. Crafts are an enjoyable and unique way for kids to make the perfect Mother’s Day gift for mom or grandma, and this gift will be truly irreplaceable! I still have the handmade gifts that my children made for me throughout the years. Now I have a new collection of handmade gifts from my grandchildren.
If you have young children with developing motor skills or children with special needs in your family, you may find the crafts suggestions below ideal. The Mother’s Day crafts for children are suggestions from Debbie Scaccio, Arts & Crafts Specialist, and the staff at Block Institute. Block is an educational facility in New York City dedicated to providing services to children and adults with special needs ranging from global development delays to cerebral palsy and many other conditions.
The Mother’s Day gift ideas below were specifically thought of for children with special needs, but most any child will find these crafty projects enjoyable!
Mother’s Day Craft Suggestions:
- Tissue paper flowers. With the help of an adult, cut 2or 3 inch circles out of tissue paper. Attach with a chenille stem (pipe cleaner) by slightly poking a hole through 6 tissue paper circles. Have the child crumple each circle individually in the shape of a flower. You can make 3 or more flowers to make a lovely bouquet.
- Decoupage vase. Using tissue paper or magazine pictures, cut out or tear assorted shapes. Glue them with a white glue to an empty water bottle or other long necked plastic bottle. Place the paper over the entire bottle. Finish with a coat of a clear glaze, like Modge Podge. You may want to place fresh flowers or tissue paper flowers in the vase.
- Construction paper cards. Using colored construction paper, cut the shape of a butterfly, flower or a heart. Fold in half so the card is symmetrical. Have the child decorate the card with stickers or peel and stick foam stickers. Add a Mother’s Day poem to the center of the card
- Wood Jewelry Box. Decorate a store bought wood box with paint using a sea sponge. Have the child dip the sponge into a paper plate with assorted paint colors and gently dab the sponge on the box, creating different colors and textures. Let dry. Seal the box with a glaze. Decorate with assorted plastic gemstones and pearls.
- Potpourri sachets. Buy store bought dried flowers or potpourri. Cut a 6 inch piece of nylon tulle or other lightweight cotton fabric. Place the potpourri in the middle of the fabric and help the child place a rubber band around the edges. Secure the sachet with a satin or other ribbon.
Thank you, Debbie, for these Mother’s Day craft ideas!
2009/09/13
Happy Grandparents Day! Our family actually celebrated National Grandparents Day the Sunday of Labor Day weekend instead of the designated first Sunday after Labor Day (US) or the first Sunday in October (Canada). Our family celebrated Grandparents Day with good old fashioned food and fun that Poppy and I enjoyed as young kids, too!
Poppy and I enjoy being with our kids and grandkids, and that’s enough for us. No gift can replace the kisses, hugs, and laughter. These memories are the gifts that we can take with us everywhere and always.
We made our Grandparents Day a good old fashioned BBQ with grilled chicken, hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, Jersey corn-on-the-cob, pickles, and our family’s traditional cole slaw (which I finally made to taste like my late mother-in-law’s). We later enjoyed brownies and ice cream…then roasted marshmallows later in the evening. Nothing fancy, but a day we’ll always remember.
I asked everyone to bring an outdoor game so Grandparents Day became our family’s Game Day which we will continue through the years. During the afternoon, we played bocce ball, horseshoes, wiffle ball, catch, and frisbee (dogs too). And in between, the kids swung high on their swings, slid down the slide, rode bikes, and swam in our kid safe pool.
For other ideas to celebrate Grandparents Day, besides the ones found on NanasCorner.com, visit the sites listed below. I think you’ll like what you find. (more…)
2009/07/20
Friendship poems and friendship quotes are a great way of letting your friends know how much you appreciate their loyal, supportive, never ending friendship. Include a friendship poem, friendship recipe, or friendship quote in an invitation to spend the day together visiting antique stores, getting pampered at a spa, play golf or tennis, taking in a movie together, or by just having a leisurely lunch or dinner at your house or a favorite restaurant. If you are fortunate to have many friends, plan a pot luck picnic to be held at a park where there are several fun things that you can do together or bring some along.
For younger friends, learn to make friendship bracelets together. This is a great summer activity. Many of the summer camps teach this craft.
National Friendship Day
“Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving,
make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!”
~ Amanda Bradley ~
National Friendship Day, proclaimed by U.S. Congress in 1935, is celebrated on the first Sunday in August. The official international Ambassador of Friendship Day is none other than that lovable friend to all, Winnie the Pooh.
My granddaughter’s 8th birthday party with friends (family is the next week) is on August 1. Some of her closest friends will be sleeping over. When I told her Friendship Day is on that Sunday, she got very excited. We’re going to plan a special friendship breakfast for her dad to make on Friendship Day and then they’ll learn to make the friendship bracelets before they go home. (This year it is also Ice Cream Sandwich Day, too…dessert for her friends breakfast?)
Friendship Recipes
At a retirement party, the retirees gave their friends candy bars with this friendship recipe on the wrapper they made from a template that can be easily modified for any occasion.
Recipe for Friendship
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of patience
- 1 heart full of love
- 2 handful of generosity
- 2 cups of loyalty
- 1 cup of understanding
- a dash of laughter
Directions:
- Mix all ingredients well.
- Sprinkle generously over a lifetime
- Serve everyone you meet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A friend is one who knows us, but loves us anyway.
~ Fr. Jerome Cummings ~
Recipe for Friendship, poem
Fold two hands together,
And express a dash of sorrow,
Marinate it overnight,
And work on it tomorrow.
Chop one grudge in tiny pieces,
Add several cups of love,
Dredge with a large sized smile,
And mix the ingredients above.
Dissolve the hate within you,
By doing a very good deed,
Dash in some help for any friend,
If they should be in need.
Stir in laughter, love and kindness,
From the heart it has to come,
Mix with genuine forgiveness,
And give your neighbour some.
The amount of people you can serve,
From the recipe above,
Is in the quality of its ingredients,
And unlimited amounts of love.
This recipe’s for the whole wide world,
For everyone to make,
Just get it all together,
And cook for God’s own sake!
~ Author Unknown ~
(more…)
2008/11/23
I Love You to Pieces
Open this gift of a loving memory,
When you find you’re missing me.
This gift comes with extra kisses,
Please remember I love you to pieces
A photo puzzle is a great way for grandparents and grandchildren to stay in touch! It can also be a wonderful, unique holiday gift…or for any other occasion, too. I know you must have digital photos of your grandchildren, yourself, or a scenic view from a memorable outing. Using your own photograph, a unique photo puzzle gift can be made for you and your family to enjoy. Even if you aren’t tech savvy, digital photos are easy to upload – just follow the easy directions.
Don’t have digital photos? No problem. You can scan them onto a CD and mail them to jigsaw2order.com.
Read further for creative gift ideas…
How can you resist these photo puzzle gift ideas? A picture puzzle is definitely worth a thousand “I love you”…
A photo puzzle can be made from any image or artwork such as a photo, painting, sketch or children’s drawing. Seeing your own creation made into a photo jigsaw, makes puzzle making even more fun.
Photo Puzzle Gift Suggestions:
- Take a family photo and send a photo puzzle to distant grandparents.
- Turn your family Christmas photo into a jigsaw puzzle to be enjoyed for many years to come.
- Know someone who is about to propose? Suggest he do it with a jigsaw puzzle!
- A photo puzzle is a great way to announce an engagement or a new baby to those special people in your life.
- Make a collage puzzle with many photos celebrating each of your grandchild’s birthdays.
- Upload or mail pictures of all your grandchildren to be made into a photo collage puzzle.
- Create a picture puzzle of your child with Santa and give it to grandparents on Christmas.
- Grandparents, give a photo puzzle to your grandchildren to keep you with them.
- Order picture puzzles from any of your favorite pictures as gifts…but remember to keep one for yourself!
- HINT: Grandparents would love to have a photo puzzle of their grandchildren…(hope my family reads this!)
The difficult part? Deciding which pictures to use for those very special photo puzzle gifts!
Order a Personalized Photo Jigsaw Puzzle
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