Summer is in Full Swing!!!

Have the kids started the "I'm bored" routine yet?  Make a Crafting Treasure Box so that any time it can be Boredom Fighter Time!  Find a container (something colorful or even use a cardboard box and let the kids decorate it with stickers, glitter, etc.) and add some glue, magazines, scissors and odds and ends from around the house.  Keep some heavy paper handy and let them get creative.

Cosmic Dining

What You'll Need

• Self-adhesive shelf paper, clear
• Confetti, stars
• School papers
• Drink carrier
• Plate, clear
• Tissue paper
• Scissors
• Spray on glue
• Clear glue
• Construction paper
• Paintbrush

How to Make Them

Placemat

Cut construction paper slightly larger than school paper. Place together, if desired, using stick glue to hold in place. Place shelf paper on work surface with paper backing side up. Slowly remove backing paper and construction paper side facing down. Smooth. Turn over, sprinkle with confetti and place another piece of shelf paper over top. Smooth. Cut slightly larger than construction paper.

Tote

Apply spray glue on carrier following instructions on can. Smooth paper on carrier. Cut excess. Glue confetti around edges.

Plate

Cut letters from school papers. Brush clear glue on center back of plate and place letters over glue (they’ll be backwards) and press with fingers. Brush glue over remaining areas of plate. Sprinkle on confetti. Crumple tissue paper. Uncrumple. Place over glue and smooth with fingers. Brush glue over tissue.

All About Me Circle Book

Create a fun memory book from a grocery bag

What You'll Need

• Brown paper bag
• Scissors
• Photos
• Words from magazines or printed from computer
• Colored safety pins
• Colored tape
• Glue stick
• Twine
• Ruler

How to Make It

Cut out a circle from paper bag. Draw a line from center out to edge. Cut on line. Fold circle in half along cut line. Open circle and fold over the quarter formed by the cut forming 3/4 of a circle. Fold the already folded 2 quarters over on the quarter above them so that now you have a semicircle. Fold thick part on remaining quarter of circle. Decorate to your heart’s content. Use colored tapes for tabs and to cover inside seams. Glue photos and words to pages using stick glue. Wrap twine around hand. Cut ends and tie a knot at center. Pin knot to bottom of book. Accent book with colored safety pins.

Free National Park Service Admissions

Step away from the videogame: On Saturday, June 9th every park and site in the National Park Service system lets you in at no cost.  Check out the details at http://local.msn.com/great-price-on-the-great-outdoors-free

June 8th is Best Friends Day

Celebrate friendship by packing a picnic lunch and heading out to a park.  Let each child invite along a friend and share a day of good fun (don't forget a friend for you!).  By the way, being silly like my nephew, Brandon, never gets old!

Stuffed Animal Pillow

Add a fun new look to a child's room by simply gluing stuffed animals to a purchased pillow.

What You'll Need

• Stuffed animals, small ones work best
• Pillow
• Glue
• Pompoms

How to Make It

Apply glue to back of one stuffed animal. Place on pillow. Continue with all stuffed animals. Glue pompoms to fill in around stuffed animals.  That's all there is to it!