Tuesday's Treat: Build a Rocket!

Each week Momondealz brings you a craft that is fun, educational, and frugal. For the remainder of July and August, I be concentrating on preschool and kindergarten skills.  This week marks the anniversary of the day that man first walked on the moon (July 20th is Moon Day) so I thought making a rocket ship sounded like a great idea!

Materials:
Paper Towel Roll
Red Construction Paper
Aluminum Foil
Tape and Scissors

 

Directions:
1.  The adult should cut 4 slits in one end of the paper towel roll.  Space them evenly around the roll and make each slit about 2 inches.

Tuesday's Treat - Rainy Day Craft!

Each week Momondealz brings you a children's craft that is fun, educational, and frugal! This week's craft is perfect for a rainy day and can be applied to many skills that a child should know before entering kindegarten. For the rest of the summer I will be focusing on important pre-kindergarten skills.  

Materials: 1 big sheet of paper
1 sheet of sandpaper
5-10 small shells (you can draw and cut some out if you do not have any available)
Cotton balls
small amount of toothpaste
goldfish
glue
crayons/markers  
Directions:

FREE crafts for the kids at A.C. Moore on Wednesdays!

A.C. Moore Make & Take events are fun- we've been to many. They are offering Make & Take every Wednesday from 3-5 pm at your local store ALL summer long!! Click here to download a calendar that you can print and color to keep track: A. C. Moore make and take calendar.

The adults get a treat too- from 3-7 PM on Make & Take Wednesdays, we can print a $10 off $25 coupon to use on anything in the store!!

This week's Make & Take (July 13)is from Orb Factory- Sticky Mosaics

Thanks This Mama Loves Her Bargains!

Kid's Frugal Fun - Macaroni Lady Bug Plate

Each week Momondealz brings you a kids craft that is fun, frugal, and educational. Today, July 7th is Macaroni Day so this week's craft will focus on using macaroni noodles for some learning fun!

Macaroni Ladybug Plate

Materials:
Macaroni Noodles(use coupon here to save on these noodles)
Paper Plate (use coupon here to save on Chinet)
Markers or Paint
Glue

FREE Weekend Activities 7/2-7/4

AC Moore - Saturday 1-3pm - Buy a painter's cap and decorate for FREE

Bass Pro Shop – Saturday & Sunday Free activities and workshops from noon-4pm and 2-5pm - Design your own birdhouse
See more on BPS Family Summer Camp, Tues, Thurs, Sat and Sun through July 10th here.

Jo-Ann's - Saturday 11-1 Crayola Uncle Sam craft

Lakeshore Learning – Events every Saturday! 11am-3pm this week: Make a Patriotic Wreath

Michaels - Passport to Fun Takes Kids around the world with crafts focused on different places! They should have a craft this Saturday from 11-2 but I don't know what because they haven't posted their July events yet. But the Passport to Fun is supposed to be through July 30th so check with your local store.

Target – select a city to find free or reduced-price admission to arts and cultural events in your area, sponsored by Target.

Walmart Event Finder – enter your zip code to see what is going on in your area. There are quite a few sampling events this weekend! Check and see if your store is participating!

Locals: Jazz in the Park Concert, Monday, July 4th, 5-8pm at Caldwell Park (Birmingham, AL) FREE!

Crafts for Kids every Saturday at Lakeshore Learning!

Stop in your local Lakeshore Learning between 11am and 3pm for FREE crafts for the kids! (ages 3 and up)

Here's a list of what they are crafting this summer:

• July 2 - Patriotic Wreath
• July 9 - Mosaic Mirror
• July 16 - Splashy Jellyfish
• July 23 - Jazzy Journal
• July 30 - Under the Sea Scene

Find more frugal ways to entertain the kids this summer!

BONUS Tuesday's Treat - Patriotic Napkin and Utensil Holder Craft

Each week Momondealz brings you a craft that is educational, fun, and frugal! Since 4th of July is quickly approaching, I wanted to give you a patriotic craft. If you have missed any of my past crafts, you can check them all out here!

Patriotic Napkin and Utensil Holder
Materials:
3 Empty Toilet Paper Rolls
Red and White Construction Paper
Cardboard
Glue Gun with Glue
Glue Stick
Markers
Glitter or other decorations you would like to add to the holder
Directions:

Tuesday's Treat - Fun, Frugal, Patriotic Windsock Craft!

Each week Mom On Dealz brings us a craft that is fun, educational, and frugal! She sent us this one for Memorial Day...but I didn't get it up in time so I saved it for July 4th! It's an appropriate craft for either holiday.
Thanks to Enchanted Learning for this idea. Educational modifications are at the bottom.

Materials:
Oatmeal container
red and white streamers or strips of construction paper
blue and white construction paper
glue
string

Michael's Passport to Fun Crafts for Kids!

Stop in a Michael's Store to travel around the world with their Passport to Fun! Different crafts from different places around the world:

• June 25, 11am-2pm: Passport to Egypt with a Hieroglyphic and Mummy craft
• June 28, 11am-2pm: Passport to the Bahamas with Tropical Can Hug & Flower Lei craft
• June 30, 11am-2pm: Passport to Canada with Moose and Maple Leaf craft

Find more frugal ways to keep the kids entertained this summer!

Tuesday's Treat - Cereal Box Puppet Theatre

Each week Momondealz bring you a craft that can be done with your children that is fun, educational, and frugal! Since school is out for the summer, you may want to check out my previous crafts HERE to give you other ideas that will keep your child busy and learning for hours! This week's craft is one that once created, can supply fun all summer! There are a gazillion craft ideas for cereal boxes, but this is one of my favorites!

Cereal Box Puppet Theatre

Materials:
Empty Cereal Box (use coupons HERE to score some cheap ones!)
Scissors
Paint, Construction Paper 9 Inch By 12 Inch,or Wrapping Paper
Scrap Fabric or Construction Paper
Craftsticks or Straws
Glue

FREE Weekend Activities!

Thanks to Erin at Fun With Freebies for the list every week!

AC Moore – Saturday 1-3pm, Hands-On Demonstration: My Friendship Bracelet Maker. They are also having Free Make & Take kids crafts on Wednesdays from 3-5pm all Summer long.

Bass Pro Shop – Saturday & Sunday 2-5pm Make your own Leather Keychain & More.

Borders – Saturday 2pm, Celebrate the release of the new movie Cars 2 with Disney fun, games, stories & more. Best for ages 3-8.

Disney Store – Saturday Race 1 at 10:30 am, Race 2 at 12:00 pm, Race 3 at 1:30 pm, Rev Up for Fun: City of Lights, City of Speed with fun events to celebrate the upcoming release of Cars 2 in theaters June 24. They will have fun events every Saturday in June.

Home Depot – Saturday 9am-Noon, Free Kids Father’s Day Special Workshop: build a Lil Toolbox!

Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores - Saturday 11am-pm, Free Make It Take It for Dad. 1-3pm, Demo: Papercrafting with Xyron Machines. 3-5pm, Demo: Fabric crafting with Simply Spray.

Lakeshore Learning – Saturday 11am-3pm, Father’s Day Wallet: create a wallet for Dad.

Michaels – Saturday 10am-Noon, Father’s Day Key Chain Event FREE Make-It Take-It.

Pottery Barn Kids – Saturday, Father’s Day LEGO Duplo Jams: play with duplo blocks, listen to music and take home a special memento. Contact your local store for times.

Target – select a city to find free or reduced-price admission to arts and cultural events in your area, sponsored by Target.

Walmart Event Finder – enter your zip code to see what is going on in your area.

Fun, Frugal Father's Day Gift for the kids' to make!

Dad Rocks Business Card Holder
Materials
Cassette case
Hot glue gun (obviously for adult use only)
rocks
index card
picture
scissors

Directions:
1. Open tape case and slide the lid forward until it is sitting upright. This cassette lip will be what holds the business cards. It should click and stay up by itself but I hot glued mine to ensure it didn't slide forward.
2. Cut an index card to fit on the back side of the cassette case. Have your child decorate it however they would like and then add the words "My Dad Rocks". We chose to put a picture on the card instead of coloring.
3. Take your child outside for a rock hunt allowing them to pick different sizes and colors of rocks.
4. Hot glue the rocks all over the cassette case for decoration.
5. Fill with business cards.

Here are some other frugal gift ideas for that special Dad in your life!
Free 8X10 Canvas Print (pay shipping only)
Free Magazine Subscriptions
Customized T-Shirt from Vistaprint for $2
Free Wall Calendar

Educational Adaptations:
Science: Discuss the rocks you and your child find on your hunt. Talk about size, shape, color, and texture. Activities like this lend themselves to teaching observation skills.

Language Arts: Have your child review steps in the process by retelling you how you made the business card holder. They can also create a nice card or poem to go along with the gift.

Math: You can have your child measure the cassette tape with a ruler to help cut the index card the correct size. You could also measure each rock when discussing the different sizes of rocks you find on your hunt.

Tuesday's Treat - Ice Cream Craft

Each week Momondealz bring us a craft that we can do with our children that is fun, educational, and frugal!

Summer means ICE CREAM so here is a fun, frugal, educational, ice cream craft (that won't melt!)

There is also a recipe for making ice cream in a bag HERE.

Materials:
Construction paper
Scissors
Crayons
Directions:
1. Using brown construction paper cut triangles out to make "cones".

2. Draw an ice cream scoop shape on various colors of construction paper to create your "ice cream".

3. Decide what topic you would like to reinforce and write on the shapes (different topics listed below). I chose to use A, B, C and common words that begin with those letters. Will can mix up the "scoops" and then match the words to the correct beginning letter.

4. After making your game, enjoy some real chocolate ice cream!

There are endless learning topics you can use with these ice cream cones:

Tuesday's Treat - Fun, frugal lesson about money!

Each week Mom On Dealz brings us a kid friendly craft that is fun, educational, and frugal! June 1st is a little known holiday-"Flip Coin Day". There are so many activities that can be done with coins but I have picked my favorites and listed them below.

Piggy Bank
Materials:
Oatmeal container, coffee container, pringles can, etc
sturdy cardboard
Knife (for adult use)
1 penny, 1 nickel, 1 dime, 1 quarter
pencil
white paper
crayons
Directions:
1. Cut a sheet of paper to wrap around your "bank". Have your child decorate it.
2. Glue or tape the paper to the container.
3. Have your child "rub" an impression of each coin by placing paper over them and coloring over them. Glue the pictures to the lid of the container.

4. Cut holes next to each picture for coins to be inserted.
5. Cut 2 pieces of cardboard to fit standing in the containter. Arrange them so that there are 4 divided areas in the container.
6. Place the lid on top of the container so that each hole is over one of the divided areas inside.
7. Start saving!
Educational applications: 1. Have a discussion with your child about each coin, their worth, design, size, etc. 2. Talk with your child about what saving means. If they are old enough, you can talk about an item they may want to purchase and how they can use the bank to save for it.

Money Mobile
Materials:
Coin printouts-you can print some HERE
String
Hanger
Crayons
Directions:
1. You can either print out the coins or have your child color some of their own.
2. Examine each coin and discuss the size, color, worth, inscriptions,etc.
3. Punch holes in each coin and tie string thru them.
4. Attach each coin's strings to the hanger.
Educational application: Use the mobile to help your child ID coins.

"Flip For Probability"-game
Teaching probability to children is a difficult skill. A game my students used to love to play was Flip for Probability. All you need is a piece of paper and a coin.
1. Show your child a coin and examine them sides. Discuss that one side is known as heads and the other side is known as tails.
2. Tell them you will be flipping a coin 20 times today. Have them predict what side will land the most during the game-heads or tails? Why do they think this? Discuss that since there are only 2 sides, the probability is that the coin will land on each side pretty equally.
3. Flip the coin 20 times and record each time what side the coin lands on-heads or tails.
4. Discuss the results.
Educational application: This game helps your child understand probability (the likelihood of something happening), making predictions, and recording results on paper.

Tuesday's Treat - Frugal Fun with Rainbow Rice

This is from This Mama Loves Her Bargains!

Are you looking for a super fun, quick and easy craft to do with your kids this summer? I ran across this idea on Homemade Serenity. Since the weather is getting nice and we are able to move our craft projects outdoors, I thought I would get brave and try out something with liquid watercolors. This rice coloring activity was right up my alley. Not only is it quick enough to keep the attention of my 2 year and 5 year old, but they will be able to play with it later in a sand table or large tupperware container.
I have heard that you can also color rice using food coloring and alcohol, but that requires drying time and the food coloring is not washable. So, I will be describing how we colored rice using Colorations Liquid Watercolors from Discount School Supply. The supplies were surprisingly inexpensive ($2.99 for each 8 oz bottle) and can be used for tons of other crafts. After making bags and bags of this rice, I still have 80% of my watercolors left in the bottle. The rainbow rice required very little (2-3T) to produce nice vivid colors.

Tuesday's Treat - Make Discipline Fun!

Thanks to Mom on Dealz for sharing her great, educational, frugal craft ideas with us!

Each week I bring you a craft that is fun, frugal, and educational! This week I chose to share one that can help with discipline. As an early childhood educator I believe very strongly in positive reinforcement. Some may feel that this is "bribing" but the reality is that by reinforcing your child's good behavior with a reward system has been proven to be much more effective than other negative programs.

Materials:

Various shades of construction paper
Markers or crayons
Scissors
Tape or glue
Directions:

Free Weekend Activities 5/7-5/8

Thanks to Erin at Fun With Freebies for the list every week!

Lakeshore Learning – On Saturday (5/7) between 11am-3pm Kids create a FREE Mother's Day Purse.

Pottery Barn Kids- On Saturday (5/7) they will be having a FREE Mother's Day Doll Tea Party. Call your local store to reserve your spot.

Lowes Build and Grow – Saturday (5/7) from 10am-Noon, Kids build a FREE heart flower vase.

AC Moore – On Saturday (5/7) between 1-3pm, FREE Make & Take: Mom Duct Tape Frame.

Michaels – On Saturday (5/7) between 10am-Noon there will be The Knack FREE Paper Event.

Target is offering FREE or reduced-price admission to arts and cultural events in your area, sponsored by Target.

Williams Sonoma is offering a FREE cooking demonstration called "Buttermilk Waffles with Honey Whipped Cream" on Saturday, (5/7). Call your local store to make sure they are participating.

Home Depot is offering FREE interior painting, tiling and bath makeover classes on Saturday (5/7). Contact your local store to make sure they are participating.

Wal-Mart is offering FREE sampling and demonstration events through Sunday, (5/8). Look up your local store to see the dates and times these events will be offered.

Whole Foods offers many great FREE events on the weekends. Checkout your local store calendar on the website to see what is being offered.

Tuesday's Treat - Paper Bag Albums

Thanks to Brett at This Mama Loves Her Bargains for this great idea!  I've made these with a group of summer camp kids last summer!  What a great (inexpensive) way to introduce your kids to scrapbooking!

I love making crafts with and without my kids.  Pre-kids, I had so much time to scrapbook and make photo projects, and to be honest, I've missed doing it.  Recently a friend of mine, Jen, introduced me to the world of making paper lunch bags into photo albums, and I love them so much I felt like I had to share with you all!  You can do these without photos if you want- what a cute idea for kids to make and showcase their own story for mom or grandma, or for a friend, and tuck momentos into the bag openings!

One thing I love about this project is that most of it can be done with things most of us have at home already, and little kids can make one too- we've made several and as long as I can get the holes punched and tie things together, my 3 and 5 year olds can do the rest solo!

Supplies:

 

Tuesday's Treat - Frugal Mother's Day Crafts for the kids!

Mom on Dealz has another great frugal crafts for the kids and this one doubles as a mother's day gift!

You may be thinking, "I don't want to create my own gift!".  If this is how you feel, pass the directions onto your husband or another adult.  I personally think it makes the gift even more special if you help your child create it because now you not only have a gift, but every time you look at you will remember the experience of helping them make the gift.
There are so many gifts for Mother's Day on the internet and in books; I have tried to pick a couple of the most frugal ones that allow you to use materials around the house.

Recipe Card Holder
Materials:
Small envelope box
Wrapping paper, brown paper bag, or construction paper
Markers, crayon, glitter, any other decorative items
Glue or tape
Index cards
Recipes from internet or magazines
Directions:
1.  "Wrap" the empty envelope box with your choice of paper.
2.  Decorate the outside of the box and labe the top "Mom's Recipes".
3.  Cut the recipes out and glue or tape them onto the index cards.
4.  Fill the box with recipes!

Earth Day crafts for the kids!

Craft #1
Coffee Filter Earth
Materials
-coffee filters
-green and blue markers
-water

Directions:
1. Have your child color the coffee filter with blue and green markers.
2. Cut out a circle to represent the Earth.
3. Spray the coffee filter with water and allow to dry.
4. The final product is very delicate-use this to discuss with your child how delicate the Earth is and list ways to take care of it ( reduce, reuse, recycle, etc).

Craft #2
Nature Binoculars
Materials
-2 Toilet Paper Rolls
-Square Piece of Cardboard (from cereal or other food box) cut 2X6
-Glue
-Decorative Accents (markers, glitter, sequins, feathers, pebbles, etc)

Directions:
1. Decorate the toilet paper rolls and square in your own designs.
2. Glue the rolls to the edges of the 2X6 cardboard piece.
3. Explore your back yard with your child and their new binoculars. Discuss all the plants and animals and the things we can do to protect them (i.e. don't litter, use less water, etc).

Thanks Mom on Dealz!