Lasso the Moon • Life is a Gift
This DIY snow globe is the perfect Christmas craft for kids. The best part? It lights up and is water-free. Get step-by-step instructions on how to make a snow globe below! A big thanks to Kate from The House + Hive for sharing this snow globe craft with us. Once the cold winds start blowing across Wisconsin, we find ourselves… Read More
Pet photography can be challenging! Below are 10 tips to help you learn how to take stunning cat portraits of your furry family member with your smartphone, point & shoot camera, or DSLR. A big thanks to Meijer for sponsoring today’s post. Pets are family, too. It’s this simple — You love them with all of your heart, making your… Read More
Curate a beautiful wall gallery using these seven common elements to build your art and photography collection. A big thank you to Minted for offering a great place to find independent artists and for providing original prints for our new cottage. This post contains affiliate links. Creating a one of a kind wall gallery for your home is exciting and… Read More
Struggling to find the perfect gift for YOUR dad for Father’s Day? Skip the kitsch and give an experience instead this June. A big thanks to Shutterfly for sponsoring this collection of creative presents for dads (and grandpas) who ROCK. I stand staring at the polka-dot tie collection on the display table and sigh. I push my red cart further into… Read More
Keep your troops entertained with this super-simple stop motion animation tutorial for kids! Thanks to Melissa & Doug for sponsoring today’s post. Stop motion animation is the perfect way to keep kids occupied (and creatively enamored) on a rainy, snowy, or “too hot to handle” must-be-inside day. Stop motion animation is a filming technique in which objects (such as clay models) are photographed in… Read More
These easy Easter photo tips from Meg of Snap Happy Mom will help you take good pictures, no matter what kind of camera you use. Document springtime with her advice and get your free photography checklist below! . . . One of my best tips for photographing children is to take lots of different kinds of shots of the same event. No one wants… Read More
These seven creative ideas for book jackets help extend narratives through imaginative play and written expression. Your kids will have so much fun, you’ll never look at a book cover the same way again! I have to admit, I always removed the book jackets/ dust covers from my classroom library. While I see the value of them when they are laminated… Read More
These easy photography tips from Meg of Snap Happy Mom prove that you don’t need a DSLR to take a good picture. Meg is dedicated to teaching moms about photography, so they can feel confident with any camera in-hand. . . . Many aspiring photographer struggle with indoor photography, especially in the winter when it’s harder to shoot outside. But indoor photography isn’t… Read More
As a person loves order, routine, symmetry and purpose, I have had to push myself to do crafts with my kids. I often hear moms comment on how they can’t do glue or paint or glitter because… well, mess! I completely understand. My inner neatnik cringes with every craft time. But I do it (not every day!) because I know the kids… Read More
These easy photography tips from Meg of Snap Happy Mom prove that you don’t need to be in manual mode to take a good picture. Meg is dedicated to teaching moms about photography (AKA: scary-sounding, but easy & awesome things like exposure compensation), so they can feel confident with a DSLR camera in-hand. . . . Are you unhappy with your photos, but… Read More
Looking for a simple and unique way to wish your friends and family “Happy Holidays” this season? Steal this incredibly easy digital Christmas Letter idea to share with your friends and family on Facebook! Thanks to Animoto for sponsoring today’s post. One of my favorite—absolute favorite—aspects of the holiday season is opening and reading Christmas Letters from friends and family. I smile at the… Read More
Working with clay allows one to develop and strengthen hand muscles and express creativity in a three dimensional medium. This activity gives the look of a glazed project without the use of a kiln. Wouldn’t it make a lovely gift for Grandma and Grandpa for Christmas? Materials Air dry clay Rolling pin Knife Circle cookie cutter Dowel or bamboo skewer… Read More
Teach your kids to focus on the good… Get your tween or teen involved in this completely inspiring Words of Gratitude project. A big thank-you to Animoto for sponsoring today’s post; they’re officially one of my favorite Fall Finds—Click here to see why for yourself. Teaching gratitude to little kids is simple. There are literally HUNDREDS of ideas online for children’s gratitude crafts and activities…. Read More
Did you know that you don’t need needles to knit? (I didn’t!!) I am–at best–an amateur knitter, and I wondered if I could teach my children even the simplest stitch. We have been creating some fantastic projects (much to my surprise) thanks to a great resource. Check out the book called Knitting without Needles written by my friend, Anne Weil…. Read More
Are you frustrated with blurry images of action shots? Meg of Snap Happy Mom shows you how to use continuous focusing mode to help your camera to focus on a moving subject! If you’re like me, then you probably feel like your kids are ALWAYS moving. And you’re probably right! Taking pictures of active kids has its own unique challenges…. Read More
This activity builds children’s observational skills and gets them re-imagining lids from the recycling bin and other items as printing tools. Materials Watercolour paper Acrylic paint Liquid watercolours Containers for the paint Large lids or similar shallow container Found objects Water Paint brushes Other items to make lines (e.g., popsicle sticks, building blocks etc.) Camera or camera phone We always… Read More