Make Your Own Fruit and Herb Infused Ice Cubes

Creating edible crafts with kids doesn’t have to be complicated! Everyone will have a blast making these simple fruit and herb ice cubes – not to mention enjoying them in all kinds of refreshing summer sips. Fresh fruit ice cubes lend color and sweetness to everything from seltzer to homemade soda, while herbed ice cubes can add a hint of the savory to lemonade and iced tea. Mix and match fruit, herbs, and flowers for especially eye-catching drinks!

I used berries and herbs, but don’t be afraid to experiment! Citrus slices, melon, strawberries, or fresh flowers – they would all be lovely.

What You Need

• Fresh fruit, such as berries, citrus slices, or chopped tropical fruits
• Fresh herb sprigs, such as mint, thyme, tarragon, lavender, or rosemary
• Edible flowers, such as nasturtiums, violets, marigolds, chamomile, or lavender
• Filtered water
• Ice cubes trays

How-To

Step 1
Cut or trim fruit, herbs, or flowers so that they’ll fit in your ice cube tray. Arrange in the tray and fill with filtered water.

Step 2
Freeze for 6 hours or longer, then add to your favorite summer drinks.

What I love about this project is that it only takes seconds to make, meaning you can have fruit and herb cubes filling your freezer all summer long. It’s as quick and easy as filling up your ice tray!

They would be great served at an afternoon brunch, backyard evening soiree, or even just cooling the kiddos down after a day of fun in the sun. If you want to carry these on into the fall, just switch out the ingredients to match what’s in season for that time of year. I think the reds and blues of the berries that I used would be perfect a July 4th picnic!

Enjoy :)

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Back to College with the Ultimate Packing List

There’s something about this time of year that’s just a little bittersweet. Although my youngsters aren’t quite there yet, I have several friends who are about to send off kiddos to college and who are using this summer to get in as much family time as possible. It of course seems like there’s plenty of time to pack, but trust me, August will be here in the blink of an eye and knowing what grads will need in the fall now will help everything go more smoothly then.

The first step to a stress free summer is to make that packing list. You can use ours for a head start! Then, start stocking up! Target is introducing a College Registry! (you can create one here). It works just like a Wedding or Baby registry, but is 100% designed to help your grad prep for the big move! Imagine how much fun they will have running up and down the aisles, scanning all their “must-haves” onto their registries. And now take a big sigh of relief knowing that (like all Target registries) you can go online and nix all the, ahem, not-so-essential “must-haves.”

My mom’s #1 piece of advice when moving into any new place is always to set up and make your bed first thing. That way, no matter how far along you get or don’t get in the unpacking process, you at least have a place to rest your head at the end of the day. Target knows that mother knows best and has all your bedding needs covered. Most importantly, they carry that tough-to-find size “Twin Extra Long,” and have it in super cute patterns like Xhilaration Tribal Stripe Comforter Set!

• Mattress Cover
• Duvet and duvet cover or comforter set
• Twin XL sheet set
• Pillowcases
• Pillows
• Throw blanket

College eating habits are always a tricky subject. And even though most new grads have a dining hall at their disposal, ensuring they can whip up some healthy after-hours study snacks is a great idea. Knowing that they’ll constantly be on the go, it’s important to set them up with snacks that can travel. We love this Magic Bullet Blender for making healthy fruit smoothies, and a minifridge to keep those frozen fruits frosty! Also, coffee is crucial for late night study sessions. Keep it quick and easy with a Keurig K10 Mini.

• Blender
• Can opener
• Coffee maker
• Mugs
• Dish towels
• One set of dishes (bowls, plates, cups)
• Silverware
• Dishwashing soap
• Disinfecting wipes
• Microwave
• Mini fridge
• Trash bags
• Water filter pitcher

Technology can make or break a study session. Everyone knows the importance of a good “focusing” playlist and let’s face it, the “quiet” section library is not always very quiet. That’s why a good pair of headphones are the best study buddies you can have. We love these from Panasonic! And with as much as your undergrad will be using that iPhone (to call home of course!), having a Mophie Powerstation Mini iPhone Battery Charger tucked away for emergencies is a brilliant idea.

• Laptop
• Headphones like these little guys: Panasonic ErgoFit Plus
• iPod/MP3 player
• Batteries
• Camera
• Chargers (phone, laptop, camera, etc.)
• Portable phone charger like this one: Mophie Powerstation Mini iPhone Battery Charger
• Ethernet cable
• Extension cords
• External hard drive
• Flash drives
• Surge protectors

Yes, the big move can be difficult. But Target’s new College Registry makes it quicker, easier, and a whole lot more fun for everyone. Bring it on, brave new world!

Get their dorm room ready. Create a registry at Target for your college-bound grad.

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DIY Flower Cards for Mother’s Day

What says “you’re special to me” quite like a beautiful bouquet of flowers? How about a homemade bouquet! Mother’s Day is less than a week away and DIY Flower Cards are the perfect way to celebrate mom and to show her just how much she means to you. Handwritten cards are always a wonderful gesture and writing them on pretty paper flowers make them that much more meaningful. The tutorial is simple and the sentiment is sweet. Plus, these flowers stay fresh and hold their color all year ’round.

Follow along and learn how to make your very own bouquet of flower cards for Mother’s Day!

What You Need

• 1 presentation board (11″x 14″ – you could also use thick paper)
• Craft knife
• Pencil
• Paint brushes
• Your favorite colored paints

How-To

Step 1
Grab your presentation board (or paper) and use your pencil to draw three large flowers. Nothing in nature is perfect, so don’t fret about too precise. The final bouquet will also have more character if the flowers look unique from each other, so mix it up with several different kinds of blooms!

Once drawn, cut your flowers out with scissors.

Step 2
Now it’s time paint! Give life to your flowers with your (or your mom’s!) favorite colors. Again, petals aren’t perfect, so use that to your creative advantage. Once your flowers look how you want them to, sit them aside and let dry.

Step 3
Once completely dry, flip your flower over so that the blank side is facing you and write a special note to your mom.

And that’s that! I made these with Mother’s Day in mind, but honestly they would be a lovely gift for any occasion, any time of year. Just tweak the colors and the varieties of flowers according to the season or holiday.

Happiest of Mother’s Days everyone!

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Recycled Pizza Box Car Garage

Does your kid like cars? My preschooler just adores them! He owns dozens of toy cars and you’ll often find us racing them around our living room or through the park. Today’s craft was inspired by his passion for wee sets of wheels. I made him a two-story parking garage from two everyday materials. (Can you guess what they are?) Now he has a great place to store and park his vehicles!

Here’s how I did it!

What You Need

• Clean, unused pizza box
• 2 paper towel rolls
• Craft paint (black, white, blue)
• Paint brushes
• Scissors
• Craft knife
• Stapler
• Hot glue
• Cutting mat
• Toy cars
• Optional: styrofoam block, skewers

How-To

Step 1
Cut your pizza box in half so that the lid and the bottom are separated. Cut the sides off of your lid so that the top is just one flat surface and paint (use black paint for the “concrete” and white paint for the parking spaces).

Step 2
Now paint the bottom of your pizza box. (Use a stapler to first secure any loose bits.)

Step 3
Use a craft knife to cut out a rectangular ramp in the center of the bottom piece. (Make sure to only cut three sides of the rectangle so that it remains attached.)

Step 4
Now grab your paper towel rolls. Cut each in half and paint. (To prevent them from rolling around while painting, I stuck skewers into a large styrofoam block and dried the rolls on those.)

Step 5
Hot glue your cardboard rolls onto the corners of the lower level of your garage.

Step 6
Flip the boxes upside down and hot glue the rolls to the upper level of your garage.

Step 7
Hot glue and secure the end of your ramp to the lower level. Also, hot glue small pieces of cardboard around the ramp’s opening to prevent cars from falling off the edge (see above).

That’s it! You’ve successfully transformed a pizza box into a cute car garage!

My son absolutely loves this toy. At first he parked his cars nicely into the parking spaces, but after a while he started racing cars down the ramp and landing airplanes on the top level. He even brought in his construction vehicles to “build” a bigger garage with a fire station on the top floor! Wowzers. I love seeing him involved in such great imaginary play.

Happy making, friends!

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Our Favorite Toys For Little Learners

Summer is upon us and I could not be more excited! You know why? Yes yes, I of course can’t wait for all that fun in the sun – but the arrival of summer also means we’re one step closer to (drumroll please)… back-to-school shopping! It’s one of my absolute favorite things in the world. Every year I think long and hard about where to find new ways to keep things exciting for my little ones in the classroom. This year, I hit the jackpot! S&S Worldwide is a treasure trove for educational toys and creative learning. Their products are well-designed and educational, and some even come with their very own lesson plans! What more could a homeschooling maker mama ask for? I couldn’t wait to share these with you, so I’ve put together a toy box of sorts, filled with a few of my favorite finds that we’re definitely going to be working into both our planning and play.

Circle Foam Magnetic Maze
Approx. $17

Mazes have always mesmerized me! Once I start, I can’t stop until I’ve finally reached the finish line. This one uses a magnetic wand to help kids abracadabra their way through a test of logic, coordination, and concentration. Bonus points: the underside is transparent, meaning that with each different surface you play on, it creates a new eye-catching experience. A-maze-ing!

Jumbo Dominoes
Approx. $25 (set of 28) 

What’s more fun than dominoes? JUMBO dominoes! Incorporate these extra-large play pieces into math lessons to help little ones get a more hands-on grasp of numbers. Little learners can use them for basic counting purposes, and older guys can use them for help with addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

Wooden Balloon Powered Boat Craft Kit
Approx. $30 (pack of 12) 

Who says you can’t mix science and art? Balloon boats not only let kids get their hands colorful with paint, but also serve as a tiny introduction to physics. The air from the balloons power the boats, sending them sailing through streams, pools, bathtubs, etc. We live on a lake and I already know there will be many a boat race in our future.

Handmade Charlotte Stitchable House
Approx. $38 (pack of 12) 

Handmade Charlotte Stitchables are a double win! Kids can create something beautiful and lasting (perhaps a Mother’s Day gift, wink wink?), while also honing their hand-eye coordination. Use stitchables as ornaments, bookmarks, doorknob decorations – anything you want!

 

Flexible Wooden Snakes Craft Kit
Approx. $16 (pack of 12)

Here’s some more crafty science for you! Perfect for a lesson on rain forests, reptiles, or the food chain, kids can paint them to match the coloration of their favorite slithery species.

Pictured at top: Balancing Cactus Game, Approx. $30

Who knew cacti could be fun to play with? Not only is this one adorable to look at, but it also challenges children’s strategic skills. Here how it goes: the player who can build the entire cactus without making it topple over wins! You can also make it an exercise in teamwork by having kids put their heads together to figure out how to conquer this prickly puzzle.

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Get To Know Your Shapes With Funny Faced Printables

What’s more fun than learning your shapes? Learning them with a group of funny faced friends, of course!

In Montessori classrooms, 3-part cards, or nomenclature cards as they are often called, are a common learning tool. They help children to become familiar with pictures of objects and to begin to associate words with those objects. They also help children to discern between words, even when they still aren’t able to read them. In the process, kids start to pick up some sight words, too!

While a Montessori school might call this “work,” it feels a lot like a matching game to me and my kids. Something tells me that your littles will have just as much fun. So take a whack at this easy, printable matching game and get your kids excited about shapes and words and learning of all kind!

What You Need

• Happy Shape 3-Part Cards (download here)
• Printer (with colored ink)
• Card Stock
• Scissors

How-To

Step 1
Download and print all game cards, then use scissors to cut the pieces apart along the solid lines.

For each shape, there are three parts. The base card has both a shape and a word for that shape. The second card is simply the shape, and the final card has only the word. That’s three total.

Step 2
Separate the shape cards from the word cards, then make two stacks: one for shapes and one for words.

To start the game, lay out all of the base cards, facing up. For each base card, have your child look through the stack of shape cards. They may want to spread them out, but it’s easier and more space efficient to flip through the deck. It also helps with memory!

Have them place the shapes in their hands on top of the corresponding shapes on the table.

Step 3
After all of the shapes have been matched, it’s time to add the associated word cards. Again, work from the stack or spread them out.

Once everything is said and done, you can check to see how your little geometrists did! Or you may want to have them check their own work. You can also use the printables as regular shape flashcards, as a guide for spelling different shape words, or simply as a way for learning the rainbow-order of colors (red, orange, yellow… etc.)

Happy crafting, happy playing, and happy learning!

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Decorate Your Day With DIY Pocket Planners

When I was a kid, I had a sky-high stack of notebooks that I used for just about anything and everything under the sun. I had one for stickers, one for sketches and doodles, a few for class notes, etc. Today I thought it would be fun to combine all the millions of things that kids carry around notebooks for and create one pocket-sized pad of awesomeness.

It’s really easy and much more organized than it may sound. With some help from the Brother P-touch PT-D200 Label Maker, you can whip up a multi-tab notebook perfect for tiny hands on-the-go. Create a section for notes, addresses, drawings, stickers, photos, movie ticket stubs – anything you can think of! Want to make your own? Here’s how!

What You Need

• Brother P-touch PT-D200 Label Maker
• Notebook
• Decorative Paper
• Scissors
• Glue Stick

How-To

Step 1
Cut the decorative paper so that it is slightly more than twice the size of your notebook. I found it helpful to wrap the paper around the notebook to test the size before making my final cuts. You’ll want about an inch of margin around the sides for wrapping the edges at the end.

Step 2
Apply glue to the front of the notebook and press the glued side onto the left half of the paper. Flip the notebook over and smooth out the paper. Then, apply glue to the spine and back of the notebook. Adhere the paper to these sides by smoothing the paper down at the spine first and then smoothing down the back.

Step 3
To finish your notebook, one option is to cut the paper around the edge. Another option is to wrap the edge, which will make the cover extra durable. To wrap the edge, cut vented slits in the decorative paper at the spine and at the corners. Then glue. If your notebook happens to have rounded corners like mine does, cut multiple vents at the corner to achieve a curved wrap.

Step 4
For the finishing touch, create personalized tabs with your Brother label maker. The great thing about this guy is that it comes with so many features (including up to 2 lines of text). There are also lots of colored ribbons to choose from, so you can personalize your tabs any way you’d like. A neat little trick for creating notebook tabs is to add a carriage return after your text. With the text sitting on the first line and the second line blank, your label is now a perfect little tab.

Once you’ve printed your labels, cut the excess off with scissors.

Step 5
Remove the backing and stick the label onto a page in your notebook. Then, take a blank label and stick it to the back of the first label. This will give you a nicely finished tab with smooth sides on both the front and back.

These little guys are so easy to make, you may find yourself making several at a time. Keep extras in the car to keep all passengers busy!

For more amazing Brother crafts, check out our boards on Pinterest here and here!

Photography by Heidi Geldhauser 
Craft production assisted by Linda Jednaszewski 
Art direction, styling, and concept by Brittni Mehlhoff

This post sponsored by Brother.

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