Sponge Balls Cheap Summer Fun
I always look for fun, easy and inexpensive things to do with the kids over the summer. These are perfect! You can grab the materials at your local Dollar Store or in the Dollar Bins at Target. I made a whole bucket of them for just a few bucks and they lasted for a while. The kids had a blast and we were able to stay cool during the sumer months.
All you need are sponges, some twine and a knife or scissors to cut the sponges with. Then you just tie the strips together. It’s so easy and best of all the kids can help!
DIY Sidewalk Chalk Paint
We all love using sidewalk chalk, but have you heard of using sidewalk paint? It’s easy to make, and just like its chalk counterpart, you can jut rinse it off with water once you’re finished. Here’s the recipe from About.com. Thanks to One Perfect Day Blog for the cute pic!
What You’ll Need:
- 1/2 Cup Water
- 1/2 Cup Cornstarch
- Approximately 12 Drops of Food Coloring (Adjusted until you get your desired color)
- Jar With Lid
- Paint brushes, Foam Brushes, and/or sponges
Instructions:
- Measure the water, cornstarch, and food coloring and pour into a jar. Place the lid on the jar tightly, then shake jar until the paint is completely mixed.
- Repeat #1 for every color you want to use and paint with.
- The paint is now ready to use!
- Use paint brushes and foam brushes to make roads, games, and even huge murals on your sidewalk. You can also make fun shapes using sponges.
- If the paint gets a little too dry, simply add a little bit of water.
- When you’re done playing, rinse off with water or wait until it rains again. It will wash off skin and clothes, too!
DIY Wire Bow Ring
Wire rings are HUGE right now. You can buy them on etsy for $10 or more, OR spend a few bucks and a few minutes and make as many as you want in any size! Make them for your kids, midi rings, toe ring… Endless ideas. Thanks to My DIY for the tutorial. If you are more of a visual person, she has a step-by-step picture tutorial in addition to other wire ring designs.
What You’ll Need:
- Round Jewelry Pliers
- Wire (you can get any kind you want, but sterling or gold will last longer)
- Chapstick tube or other small, rounded item
Directions:
- Cut 6″ of wire to start your ring.
- Right in the center of your wire, wrap it around your finger that you want to wear it on. Then use a Chapstick tube to make it evenly rounded.
- With your round pliers, grab the top and bend over the top of the pliers to create the right loop of the bow.
- Next grab the bottom wire and bend over the top of the pliers to create the second loop.
- Adjust the wire so your loops are even.
- Take the end of the left loop, and wrap around the center, through the ring.
- Trim the ends of the wire evenly to a shorter length and file the edges if they are sharp.
Fun 2-Ingredient Cloud Dough
Sensory play is so much for for kids and they can find it in various ways. Some of the best ways are with flour, sand, playdoh, water, and this great idea that Happy Hooligans thought up called Cloud Dough (some call it Moon Dough). All you need is a bag of flour and baby oil! It has a great soft texture and has an added bonus of making skin nice and soft when playing with it!
In a large bowl, pour 1 cup of baby oil into 8 cups of flour. Stir well with a wisk or spoon. Have the kids help if you don’t mind getting a little flour on them. Put into a large container and give the kids all sorts of toys to manipulate the dough (Happy Hooligans has some great ideas). Store in a sealed container and it will last a long time! If it seems to harden a bit, just add a bit more baby oil. Have fun!
DIY Dollar Store Rose Petal Skirt
Spring and summer weddings, Mother’s Day, and fun family parties are all coming up soon. Why not make yourself or your daughter(s) this really cute rose petal skirt that was created by Fave Crafts? It would be adorable with different colored petals, made into dresses, or a tunic. Be sure to check out her website to see a step-by-step picture tutorial to help with creating your new skirt!
What You’ll Need:
- 1-2 XL white men’s undershirt (brand new is best if you’re doing a white skirt, used but very clean is okay for other colored petals)
- Bagged fabric rose petals (buy at dollar or craft stores)
- Scissors
- Ruler
- Pins
- Sewing machine
Directions:
- Lay your t-shirt flat and cut off the bottom for your skirt piece. Cut a piece that’s long enough to make a skirt. She suggests to measure it against a skirt you already own that’s a length you like. The skirt will already has a hem since it’s made from the bottom of the t-shirt, so you hardly have any work left.
- Next, sew the petals onto the skirt piece. Place one petal at a time, sewing them in a straight line, one right next to each other. Keep going until your skirt is covered completely by petals.
- For the top row, sew the petals upside down the iron them down so that the stitching doesn’t show.
- Now you need to make a waist band. To make this foldover waistband, first measure a pair of foldover pants you already own (if you have them) or measure another pair of pants.
- Now, cut more fabric from your t-shirt to use as your waistband. Cut double the width that you want your waistband to end up being (she cut 6 inches wide to make a 3 inch waistband). The length of your is what you measured from your pants.
- Sew this newly cut fabric into a tube, then fold the tube in half over itself so that the wrong sides are facing each other.
- Now put your skirt piece around yourself or whoever the skirt is going to be wearing it. If it’s way larger than your waistband, sew a basting stitch all the way around the top of your skirt piece and pull the threads to gather it until the circumference of your skirt’s waist is the same as your waistband.
- Put the skirt inside of the waistband so the raw sides of the waistband and gathered edge of the skirt are together, and the top of the waistband is facing down. Now, pin the waistband to the skirt.
- Sew around the top of your skirt to attach the waistband to the skirt piece. Then flip the waistband right side up, remove the basting stitch (if it’s showing), and enjoy!