This project is such a fun activity for a party. When you are hosting an event where not all of the guests know each other, nametags are a must. Spice up the traditional nametag sticker with a crafty, DIY version.

I hosted a bridal shower at my house last weekend, and needed another fun thing for guests to enjoy. When the guests arrived, they headed to the craft table to create their nametag, using the decorations I had laid out. Best of all, they got to take it home with them!

This would be perfect for a shower or birthday party!

You will need:

Wooden rectangle pieces (sold in craft stores)

Chalkboard paint

Hot glue gun

Pin backs

Chalk

Flowers

Ribbon

Lace

Before the party:

1)    Paint the wooden rectangle pieces with chalkboard paint and let dry

2)    Using your hot glue gun, glue the pin backs to the back of the nametags

3)    Cut flowers from the stems

4)    Cut ribbon and lace to size for nametags

During the party:

1)    Arrange your craft table so that all supplies are laid out and ready

2)    Have a few hot glue guns plugged in and ready to use

3)    Make an example nametag and leave it out for guests to use as a model

4)    Invite your guests to create their own nametag, using the supplies you have provided!

You could use a bunch of different decorations to adorn the nametags – buttons, beads, jewels, glitter… Choose whatever supplies go with the theme of your party!

ENJOY!

This project is awesome! Even though I made it for my daughters, I love it too. It’s a great sensory activity because it’s so fun to look at. From the sound of shaking the jar, to watching the glitter swirl and twirl in the water, you will love it. I’ve also seen many parents use these as calming jars. When your kiddo is upset or full of energy and needs to relax a bit, sit them down with this fun jar and let them calm down while the glitter falls to the bottom! It’s easy to make and you probably already have the supplies at home.

You will need:

Glass jar with a good lid

Water

Vegetable oil

Food coloring

Glitter

Instructions:

1)    Fill the jar with 1 part vegetable oil and 3 parts water, leaving an inch or so of space at the top.

2)    Add a few drops of food coloring.

3)    Pour in some glitter – I used about a tablespoon.

4)    Secure the lid tightly and shake.

5)    Enjoy!

P.S. – It goes without saying that you shouldn’t let your little one play with this on a hard/rough surface. Play on carpet or in the grass so that if the jar gets dropped, it won’t break!

I’m so excited to share this project with you today. It’s a simple one to create and your toddler will love it! Matching is an important skill for little kiddos. Not only does it test their memory skills, it makes them think critically, think about colors, and it helps their fine motor skills. I wanted to create a game for my daughter that could easily be played with or without my help. Once Adair and I played it together a few times, she figured it out and now does it without my involvement, which makes it a great game to take along in the car!

You will need:

Paint chips in various colors – I chose light and bright shades in the rainbow spectrum.

Board – I used foam core, but you could use a thick piece of cardboard or even an old cereal box!

Clothespins – You need one for each paint chip you are using. I used 12.

Glue – I used both a glue stick and a hot glue gun.

Directions:

1)    Cut the paint chips in equal sizes.

2)    Lay them out on your board and mark the edges so you can cut it to fit.

3)    Cut the board to fit.

4)    Using a glue stick, attach the paint chips to the board.

5)    Cut a smaller piece out of the leftover paint chips and use hot glue to attach to the clothespins.

6)    Pin on the board, then let your toddler go to town!

So simple! So fun! Enjoy…

We are so proud of our awesome Moonfrye contributor Lacy Stroessner for her efforts to give back this Mother’s Day. Check out her gorgeous limited edition prints below!

I’m so happy to share this project with you all today. For Mother’s Day this year, I wanted to be a part of something. I wanted to create a project, a gift, that could do some good in return.

A friend and I designed these limited edition prints just in time for Mother’s Day this year. These prints celebrate mothers and women and the beautiful things we create in our own lives. Yes, the quote is from Julia Child’s chef, Bugnard. Even though he was talking about food, I can’t help but think of my daughters each time I read it. This print, hanging on the walls in my home, is now a daily reminder to me of my role as a mother.

The most exciting part of this collaboration is that half of all proceeds from the prints will be donated to the Edna Adan University Hospital in Somaliland. (If you read or watched Half the Sky with Nick Kristof, you might recognize the name!)

From their website: “The health of the people of Somaliland is among the worst in Africa, with one of the highest Maternal and Infant Mortality rates in the world. Every year, one baby in eight dies in infancy while nearly 4000 Somali women die in childbirth. This tragedy can be attributed in large part to the long civil war which brought about the death or departure of nearly all of the country’s trained health care professionals.”

The good news is that this hospital is working to change these statistics and improve maternal health. From educating midwives and fighting female genital mutilation, the Edna Adan University Hospital is making big changes for the people of Somaliland.

You can make a difference today buy purchasing one of our limited edition Mother’s Day prints. It would make the perfect gift for any mother, grandmother, expecting friend, gardener, artist, foodie, doctor, musician, teacher – the creators we all know in our lives.

Happy Mother’s Day!!!

I’m always trying to come up with fun activities for my girls, especially ones that are easy to do and don’t make a huge mess. Both of my girls LOVE to play with anything that has a funky texture – rice, beans, water, squishy things, crunchy things – they love it all. They also love to paint. We paint several times a week, but it usually takes a bit of time to get ready and to clean up. So, I came up with this idea for no-mess painting. You only need a few things, most of which you probably already have at home. It stays good for a few weeks, so it’s a great activity to keep around and pull out when your kiddos need something fun to do. Best of all, it’s something that little ones can enjoy while you are trying to get something done – working, cooking, laundry, etc.

• All you need is a large plastic zipper bag, a few ounces of washable paint, and some tape!

• Put 2-3 ounces of paint into the plastic bag. You can add just one color, or you can add several colors if you want a tie-dye look.

• Get most of the air out of the plastic bag, and then seal it up. Tape it to a flat surface – a table, the wall, a window, the side of the fridge, etc.

• Then, let your little ones go to town!

They can “finger paint” without making a huge mess. It’s awesome! The paint feels cool in the plastic bag, so kiddos love to play with it. Practice drawing letters, making squiggles, and designing with your hands! I promise your little one will love this sensory activity!!