When I get an idea, it typically spirals out of control and so when I decided to design paper basket templates, I got a little out of control and ended up with:

• Four different basket shapes.
• A few styles of cut-out-and-craft baskets (SVG and PDF)
• A few styles of color-in baskets

Yup, all that from one idea. And I had to nix some so that I can even complete this project, like, ever.

I decided to offer one variation as a free download at the end of this post. The free one has a simple basket weave pattern and is made of the most basic style of basket. I chose this one because it’s the most versatile – it’s the easiest assembly and the basket weave pattern means older peeps can have fun with color and younger ones can just color.

All about the paper basket templates

The size of these can vary. Since a PDF is a fixed size, you’re left with the size that the basket is. However, your limitations with the SVG is the size of your scrapbook paper (or similar).

I didn’t even make my SVG baskets the full size because I didn’t want to run so many mats!

The baskets are roughly in the 2.5-3 inch range, so they’re small – and perfect for little treats. Most baskets can fit 2-3 small snacks – such as a Hello Panda bag, a juice box, and a fruit & grain bar. They won’t necessarily fit a full-sized snack bag, but they’ll fit a decent amount of candy, chocolate, etc.

They all come in four basic shapes:

A simple cubic basket that slants out a little.

A square basket where the base is a straight cube, and then it slants upward in middle.

One that has octagon front and back panels and then side panels that follow three of the octagon sides.

This one has a double punch for the handles on each side. You can assemble the handles shopping basket style using the paper handle templates or shopping bag style using ribbon.

And finally, the geometric sphere is basically a round-shaped basket, however, it’s made up of six sides that fold upward in threes.

About the SVG (and PDF) paper basket templates

The SVG paper basket templates are perfect for making polished-looking baskets for party favor, Easter baskets, table settings, and more. And yes, if you don’t have a Cricut, you CAN hand cut it too, using the included PDF.

Use pearly white paper for a bridal theme, use bright colors for Purim, and pastels for Easter.

Dress up final projects with watercolor paints, stick-on gems, or anything you’d use to embellish paper crafts.

Each basket comes with a standalone side panel. I created this to allow you to create cutouts and have the base basket color show through! That way you can customize it with text, monograms, or images.

Or, just create a color block effect, with different sides featuring different colors.

You can also have your Cricut draw, foil, or deboss on the base before you cut.

The two simpler baskets have an additional decorative side panel that features a cutout trim. That shows just how much you can customize using the blank panel!

I decided to offer these individually to keep them affordable, and as a bundle for those who want more options.

About the Color & Craft baskets

My original idea was to create color-and-craft baskets (I kind of detoured in middle to make the plain SVG/PDF template version – welcome to my ADHD OCD brain!)

I love color-and-craft projects because they really mesh with art, giving you room to be creative. They appeal to more non-crafty people who like to just sit and relax with a project – but gain a functional end-project.

There are a few different “levels” to the color and craft version.

At the baseline, you have the simplest design, the basket-weave, which you get for free at the end of this post, or bundled with the other simple design.

Then, you have the basket that has a straight bottom and slants up, which features a fun doodled design, with a new doodle on each panel, that’s easy for kids to color, but mature enough for older kids.

The octagon basket has a more complex “grown-up” design but it’s not crazy detailed.

And the geometric sphere has a finer design on the panels, with small details, for a real adult coloring experience. This and the octagon come bundled together.

Some of the handles are blank, and some have patterns. If you’re looking for a fun color-and-craft basket for an Easter craft workshop, a small gift, a birthday party, or whatever, this one is for you:

More paper basket template assembly tips and variations

The cool thing about all of these baskets is that you can really do a LOT with them. Instead of using the included handles, try using ribbons or rope for a more “real” finish. I even strung wood beads on one of them for a super fun touch!

You can leave out the handle entirely and leave it as a bowl. If you’re using a template, ditch the hole (on the SVG you can do this using “contour” in Design Space.) On the color-in versions, it almost doesn’t show on the more complex styles.

I usually like to use double sided tape for this type of craft. However, on these paper basket templates, some of them fell apart. This was a bigger problem with the ones that had decorative side panels.

Especially if you’re going to use these for more heavy duty purposes, you’ll probably want to hot glue them – you can see my favorite hot glue guns for crafting here.

Even white or tacky glue can work better (they just might get a teensy bit messy, and they take a bit of time to dry, so be careful to set them well). Tacky glue is the glue of choice for me when crafting with kids and/or in a group.

Assembling your paper basket templates

What you’ll need

For the SVG/Hand cut template

• Cricut (I use the Maker 3)
• Fine point blade
• Scoring wheel and QuickSwap Housing(or if you have an Explore, the scoring stylus)
• Brayer or XL Scraper
• LightGrip mat

• Colorful cardstock paper

If assembling paper basket templates by hand:

• Scissors – or craft knife, self-healing mat, and ruler (for more polished assembly)
• Hand scoring tool

For the color & craft version

• White cardstock

• Markers, crayons, etc
• Scissors
• Optional: hand-scoring tool or bone folder
• Optional: hole punch (will maker a larger hole than indicated)

Both

• Double-sided tape, hot glue gun, or tacky glue
• Brad pins if using paper handles
• OR Ribbon or rope for handles
• Optional: large-hole wood beads to embellish handle

If you haven’t yet, get your templates

Because you’ll also need those…

FYI all full paper basket templates come with instructions – refer to these in advance only so that you get the gist of what’s required to assemble them, but you don’t need to save them.

• SVG templates
• Color & Craft Simple
• Color & Craft Complex

(the free basket is available for download at the end of this post)

Assembling your baskets

The SVG/Cut Paper Templates

If making it in Cricut, first ungroup your layers. Make sure all score lines are set to score, and everything is lined up properly, then “attach”. If you’re customizing a side panel, do that. Make sure texts are stencil fonts unless you want to deal with the insides of letters like a, g, o, etc.

Subtract anything you’re cutting out.

Make sure to duplicate side panels as needed.

2. Cut out all your basket parts. If hand cutting, score as needed. Glue on your side panels, if any.

3. Fold on score lines.

4. If using double sided tape, apply to each tab. If gluing, work tab-by-tab.

5. Glue each side tab flush with the next side, applying pressure from the inside of the basket to ensure it adheres well.

6. Attach your handle using a brad pin from the outside toward the inside. If you Cricut-cut you’ll have holes in place. If you didn’t you can either poke a hole using the brad pin, start it with a paper piercing tool, or punch a hole that’ll be a bit bigger, depending on the size of your hole punch.

Attaching rope handles

1. Cut a piece of ribbon or rope about 12 inches long. Make a double knot towards the end. Note: if you hole punched, you might find your hole to be too big. If need be, you can tie a bead to the inside OR add a blob of hot glue to your knot to make it bigger.

2. String it from inside your basket to the outside, so that the knot sits on the inside.

3. Thread the other side from the outside to the inside of the other hole.

4. Tie a dobule knot on that side to secure.

If you’d like, you can glue your knot for added security, and then trim it close.

The color & Craft variation

1. Print your basket on cardstock and color it in.

You can color in your handles if you’d like, or not.

2. Cut out your parts.

3. Fold on the dashed fold lines.

4. If you’d like, punch holes where the circles mark the spot.

5. Assemble your basket by gluing each tab to the corresponding spot.

6. Attach a paper handle with a brad pin on each side.

7. Or, attach a rope handle the same way you did above!

Download your free color & craft paper basket templates!

To download, fill out the form below. You’ll be signed up for our free newsletter – unsubscribe at any time in the footer of the emails. I respect your privacy and the law and won’t share your information with anyone.

The post Paper Basket Templates + FREE Printable appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Preschoolers love to color, but they’re also approaching that stage where they’re past just scribbles. They can start making simple, imaginative drawings that just make you smile – especially when they describe their illustrations!

Today, I’m sharing a really fun seasons activity for preschool. It’s a simple drawing prompt that’s intended to be collaborative.

This seasons activity for preschool comes with eight pages including

You’re getting two sets of activities in one – weather and seasons. You can also check out this weather craft for kids for a more robust weather option.

Use them as a set or use them separately. You can also do the seasons pages individually as each season comes.

Seasons:

• Spring
• Summer
• Fall
• Winter

Weather:

• In the rain
• In the sun
• In the wind
• In the snow

Love this post and want more like it? Hit “Thank the creator” in the sidebar, the beginning, or end of this post, and send over some confetti so I know to create more like this! You can choose from free or paid stickers. Any sticker shows me you loved this. Paid stickers sponsor the coffee to fuel the next post.

How to do this seasons activity for preschool

Encourage kids to illustrate the season or weather, what you’d find, how things might look. Two kids should take turns illustrating something to fit.

You can open up the discussion of the effects that different seasons and weathers have. In the rain can mean that something’s wet, that snails come out, or that flowers grow.

Fall can mean that there are colorful leaves, that a girl is wearing a scarf or that there is a house with a pumpkin in front.

Having kids take turn teaches them collaboration and turn-taking skills. Keeping this activity open-ended gives opportunity for self-expression and creativity.

I love Crayola Supertips for art activities like this, however younger kids might do better with standard Crayola markers, or with these Stabilo triangular ones.

Download the free seasons drawing prompt

To download, fill out the form below. You’ll be signed up for our free newsletter – unsubscribe at any time in the footer of the emails. I respect your privacy and the law and won’t share your information with anyone.

More tips for using this as a classroom tool or home activity

This seasons activity for preschool can be done as a single unit for seasons, or use the pages seasonally. You can make these a classroom display (in half the space, since kids pair up for it).

My favorite way to do activities like this: print it in beautiful, full color. Laminate it. And do it with dry erase marker! Not only can it be reused year after year, but even within a session, kids can do it endlessly. Plus, they’ll love getting their hands on those whiteboard supplies. Make sure to get washable ones (standard dry erase is NOT easily washable).

And finally, if you’re doing this at home, you can keep these as a reusable activity within a binder. Get smooth glossy sheet protectors to make them dry erase. Get the type with a sealing top, or tape it shut so that your kids won’t be sure to pull it out. This season activity for preschool makes a fabulous project for sibling collaboration!

Who will you be doing this with? Any tips for collaboration? What are your favorite ways to teach turn taking skills? Comment below!

The post Seasons Activity for Preschool: Drawing Prompt appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Some kids can be handed a marker and papers and go wild. Some kids just need a little more help.

That’s why I love sharing thought starters to get kids who are past the scribble stage making art.

While it might seem counterintuitive to provide too much for simple illustrations, it can really enhance creativity as long as it’s open-ended. These free printables are designed to be just that. As a bonus, they’ll practice turn-taking and collaborative planning.

Kids can take turns illustrating what they’d like in this easy kids’ drawing activity! They can begin to learn position words with a collaborative art project. It’s also fabulous for teaching about different environments, what lives where, and what can be found where.

Pages included in this kids drawing activity

This free printable includes the following pages

• Under the sea
• Up in space
• Underground
• Up in the sky
• In the mountains
• On the moon

How to do this kids drawing activity

The idea is for kids to take turns with a sibling or a classmate. One child illustrates something that fits in the scene. The next continues.

If you’d like, decide in advance if you want it to be realistic or if a little fantasy or silliness is okay. Or, just let the kids do what they’d like and see how their personalities emerge based on what they choose to do!

You can also try spinoffs. Each child draws only a single stroke or line of the drawing and they can see what they come up with! But it has to fit the theme too…

I highly recommend Crayola Supertips for drawing activities for young kids like this one. You get a fabulous selection of colors in an affordable package and the size is a perfect in-between.

However, preschool kids might do better with standard Crayola markers. For 2-4 year olds these Stabilo triangular ones are fabulous too. the point goes into the marker so that they can’t smash it, and they survive for surprisingly long uncapped.

Download your free printable drawing prompt

To download, fill out the form below. You’ll be signed up for our free newsletter – unsubscribe at any time in the footer of the emails. I respect your privacy and the law and won’t share your information with anyone.

Love this post and want more like it? Hit “Thank the creator” in the sidebar, the beginning, or end of this post, and send over some confetti so I know to create more like this! You can choose from free or paid stickers. Any sticker shows me you loved this. Paid stickers sponsor the coffee to fuel the next post.

More tips for this free printable kids drawing activity

This kids drawing activity can be done individually or all at once. You can make these a classroom display (in half the space, since kids pair up for it). You can use them as you learn about these different settings.

While you can totally use this simply as a coloring page, I prefer to upgrade it – and make it reusable. To do this, print it in beautiful, full color. Laminate it using an inexpensive laminating machine. You now have a super cool dry erase activity!

Not only can it be reused again and again, in a classroom or at home, but even within a session, kids can do it endlessly. Plus, they’ll love getting their hands on those whiteboard supplies. Make sure to get washable dry erase markers as standard ones don’t necessarily come out easily in the wash.

And finally, if you’re doing this at home, you can keep these as a reusable activity within an art binder. You’ll find that it produces so much less waste – and it’s more exciting for the kids! Get smooth glossy sheet protectors to make them dry erase. The sheet protectors I linked have a top seal so kids can’t take it out! If yours don’t, simply tape it shut.

This kids drawing activity makes a fabulous project for sibling collaboration! I love stocking activities like this by my kids’ art desk.

What’s YOUR favorite kids’ drawing activity? Comment below!

The post Kids Drawing Activity: Under In On appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

I initially decided to share this information after struggling to potty train M and sarcastically posting on Facebook that I think I’m gonna share how NOT to potty train a kid. Or rather, “how to potty train your 3.5 year old in 5 months”. But then a few friends chimed in that they could really use realistic advice. You know, “learn from your mistakes” kind of advice.

Thousands have read this advice. Now, four and a half years later and two years after potty training my second son, I decided it’s time to update this advice with my new experiences. So here goes…

• How I eventually realized I was making potty training mistakes:
• 6 Common Potty Training Mistakes You’re Probably Making:
• Potty Training Mistakes #1: Not being consistent
• Potty Training Mistakes #2: Using disposable training pants
• Potty Training Mistakes #3: Using a potty seat or potty ring
• Potty Training Mistakes #4: Turning it into a power struggle
• Potty Training Mistakes #5: Starting too soon
• Potty Training Mistakes #6: Using only reward charts
• When your potty training mistakes are getting to you…

I was frustrated to say the least.

I read up on my advice.

I tried and tried.

Nothing was working.

My son was three years old plus some. We had tried before the baby was born. We had tried in the summer. And now the pressure was on – his preschool wanted him out of diapers, and he was the only one left.

I thought that the peer pressure – all his friends wear underwear – would help.

I thought that getting a BLUE potty seat would do the job and excite him.

I even thought (knew?) that going commando may help.

But something was obviously not working.

How I eventually realized I was making potty training mistakes:

After abandoning the advice I read online, after five months of trying, after making every mistake possible, M was finally fully trained. He was (is) even ready to night train! (Update: he night trained very soon after).

I took the opportunity to think back and reflect on what exactly I was doing wrong!

Here’s the thing: you’ll read all sorts of advice, amazing tips, and cool strategies for easy potty training two-year-olds over the weekend. And it may work for some.

Potty training is an individual formula – and that is one of the first and most critical potty training mistakes that many moms make!

So why am I writing this list?

Call it a “potty training troubleshooting guide”. Go through it. Figure out if that’s what’s holding your child back.

Oh, yeah, one more thing.

You are still an amazing mother if your child is NOT potty trained by three years. You are doing a great job! Potty training is not easy, but you’ve got this.

So, while I was joking about writing a blog post on “How to potty train your 3.5 year old in five months”, I decided to go forth and share some common mistakes that I made, and the solutions and ways around them.

6 Common Potty Training Mistakes You’re Probably Making:

Potty Training Mistakes #1: Not being consistent

You can’t potty train over the weekend if you’re not going to head straight into the week with the same agenda.

Potty training is really habit forming, so if you take a break, you’re interrupting the whole pattern. Even more so, your toddler probably won’t understand why or when he or she gets to wear diapers sometimes and not others.

BE CONSISTENT.

We wanted to send M to preschool fully trained and realized his teachers probably did NOT want to clean up his accidents.  But this was interrupting the whole flow. I was so frustrated that he was perfect on the weekends but during the week, when we’d change into underwear after school, he’d consistently have accidents.

Eventually I realized that this may be an issue.

When we eventually realized this, I took him to his preschool, brought him to the toilet a few times, and almost overnight he was fully trained. We traveled with him in underwear at that point – a two plus hour road trip! (Having a travel potty for backup definitely helped.)

But let’s backtrack a few steps in this process and go onto the next common potty training mistakes.

Potty Training Mistakes #2: Using disposable training pants

Here’s what you need to know about disposable training pants:

1. They feel just like diapers
2. They don’t hold a poop

When we felt like M was staying dry on the weekends, we sent him to preschool with his training pants. Well, he pooped straight up his back. I had to come in to clean him up. He was screaming the entire time.

Did I mention that it was pouring rain that day? That I didn’t have a car? And that I was wearing his little brother while doing all this? I got sick afterwards.

Training pants are great for when you don’t EXPECT your child to use it, but you want it as a backup. This applies to a FULLY TRAINED child who has already formed his toilet-going habits, and is used to going to the bathroom when he needs. We use it now during nap time, and it’s great for long road trips too. We also use it for night training once we have a few dry nights with a diaper, to make it easier for the child to go to the bathroom if they do need it.

A possible alternative if you feel you need it (which I have not tried, by the way, so I’m not vouching for it) is cloth training pants. These are pretty much underwear with extra padding, so there’s less to clean up if there’s an accident.

So why didn’t M just go to the bathroom that day if he had mostly formed this habit? Yeah, about that…

Potty Training Mistakes #3: Using a potty seat or potty ring

We didn’t have space for a potty seat (though I was drooling over some adorable ones) so I just went straight to a ring that sits on the seat. All went without hitch, until that fateful day mentioned above.

We learned the hard way that when your child gets used to a potty ring, you’re stuck. She will now be afraid of every toilet without a potty ring.

M was terrified of his school toilet. He is a very skinny boy, and he really can’t sit straight on the seat. Except that he can. He just needed to learn how to hold himself up with his hands. By now he doesn’t even need to.

In case you’re wondering, yes, he does sometimes try doing it standing, but that doesn’t work in all circumstances (note the blowout I had to clean above).

After our training pants episode, when I realized that he was afraid, I offered his teacher (who is an experienced mother herself) our spare potty ring. She did not want to start with it, and encouraged us to teach him to go without.

We literally had to train him from scratch. And he did not choose a good day for that.

So, while in some circumstances a potty ring can be a great transitional step, if you’re having trouble training your child, you might want to evaluate your own situation. If your child is in a place regularly with a toilet that does NOT have a ring, you’ll want to skip that step.

If M can do without, you child definitely can!

And here’s where I provide an update with Y: we made the same mistake twice. He has a more adaptable and social personality so he was easier to retrain, but yep, we had to retrain him to go without the potty ring again!

Potty Training Mistakes #4: Turning it into a power struggle

Once things don’t go straight and clean from the start, you head into power struggle zone.

I was actually aware of this from the start, so it was not the cause of most of our issues, but we did experience this some. There were two things that I tried to do consistently that helped us avoid the struggle (meaning, when I slacked on them, that’s when the power struggle set in.)

1. Step back- To some extent, potty training is hands-on. You need to stand behind your child and be there for him.  But we were guilty sometimes of asking him every second of the day if he needed to go. Your child needs to learn how to go on his own. Gently reminding a few times, at the very beginning of your training, is enough.

The biggest learning experience for your child is his accidents. Your child will naturally feel bad about it and want to do better.

Potty training will need to be an independent experience, this is a basic skill your child will need to be fully trained outside of the home as well.

2. Give choices – Do the words “I don’t WANNA wear underwear, I wanna diaper!” sound familiar? This is the sound of the initial excitement of the patterns on the underwear wearing off.

Giving a choice puts your child in control – even if both of the choices are exactly what you’re telling him to do…

“Do you want the Elmo underwear or the airplane one?” simply works better than “We’re wearing underwear, not a diaper”. You can even give your child the option of going bare-bottomed or wearing underwear. It’s surprisingly age appropriate.

Potty Training Mistakes #5: Starting too soon

Another thing we did wrong, way before all of the above incidents, was trying before the baby was born? M sat on the toilet and had no idea what to do. We tried a number of times.

Make sure that your child is really ready before you try to train. Here are some guidelines you can follow, since clearly I’m not an expert on this. Some people have told me that potty training in three days did work when they tried again later on, so if your child is very young you may want to try again later.

Potty Training Mistakes #6: Using only reward charts

Reward charts make a great incentive for potty training, however, at least in the beginning, you want an immediate incentive as well. Unless your child is thrilled with the concept of placing a sticker on a piece of paper, she is simply too young to understand the concept of future rewards.

Aim for immediate gratification.

All who know me know good and well how I feel about junk food. However, M has eaten so many chocolate chips and had so many lollies (our earlier poop treats), I no longer recognize myself and my parenting principles.

But hey! He’s trained…

Bigger prizes (read: new toys) were given as follows:

• First successful pee
• First successful poop
• First full day dry and clean
• First full day at preschool dry and clean
• Subsequent potty training charts that were used for smaller incentives.

Yes, I DID do charts as well. I used them for bigger prizes and to track our success. At first I gave him one sticker every time he TRIED to make in the toilet. We used another at the end to mark ten days totally dry – and after that we were good to go.

Charts were a HUGE part of our potty training system. They were, however, part of a system. I finally decided to share that system with you:

I can’t reshare this post without first sharing with you an essential tip we gained from training Y, our second child.

The best way to train is to let your child go bare-bottomed. Ever dealt with the frustration of your child peeing in the underwear the moment you give up after trying to sit on the potty for an hour?

Babies learn to hold things in when they’re uncovered, when you’re changing them, and let it out when they’re covered with their diapers. When you potty train, they need to reverse this. If your child is bare bottomed, eventually they’ll need to let go.

But Y did not want to go bare bottomed. He felt naked.

The solution ended up being putting on him his big brother’s shirts. Longer t-shirts helped him feel covered but not TOO covered. So if you’re having this issue, especially with boys who aren’t wearing dresses and skirts, it’s worth a shot!

When your potty training mistakes are getting to you…

Remember the following:

1. Potty training is extremely hard. Mom friends have told me it’s the worst part of parenting. That might sound extreme, and maybe it is, but regardless, it’s hard enough to make moms say that.
2. You’re not alone. Most moms are announcing things they are proud of. They’re not broadcasting that their 3+ year old is now trained. They’re not announcing their potty training mistakes, because they’re not proud of them. Most bloggers who offer you tips are only doing so when they feel successful at it. Not when they struggled as well. But dare I say that the majority of moms struggle?
3. The job you are doing potty training your child is NOT  a measuring tape for how good a mother you are. How much  you love your children, how much effort you invest in them, how much you care when things get difficult. If you’re read until here, you clearly care.
4. Finally, when you’ve successfully trained your child reward yourself. You deserve it.

Do you know of any common potty training mistakes to add to the list? Do you have any other tips to offer struggling moms? Comment below – and be nice 😉 !!

The post Common Potty Training Mistakes appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

This post was originally published in August 2017 and sponsored by STABILO. It was updated to make it more relevant today!

I love crafting alongside M and I know that many of you love to bond over craft time as well.

So I designed this fun paper houses craft to be something that moms (or grandmas, aunts, and babysitters) can create together with kids of all ages.

I truly believe that arts ‘n crafts come in all sizes, and I love crafts that ANYONE can do, which is why I took this direction. You can add texture and detail and make this craft more complex.

Or, do like M did and just color for the fun of it!

I pulled out our big stash of coloring supplies, and set it up on the dining room table so that M and I can craft together.

M and I colored these using a mix of STABILO markers. M loves using the Power Max markers because it looks just like the Power markers that I use, but it’s chunkier and easier for him to grip. I love them because they’re washable, and don’t dry out for a long time, even if he forgets to cap them.

Color-in paper toys are the perfect “together” activity, because they are open-ended enough for multiple age groups to enjoy. I designed these with a mature enough style for adults but it’s still relatable for kids.

Even though they’re designed for kids, I found the Power markers to be so much fun to use! The color quality is on par with my “grown-up” markers but it has the same quality as the Power Max markers: if I forget to cap them properly, they don’t dry out for weeks!

These printable paper houses were created in a blend of whimsical and realistic styles.

You’ll find vintage homes, fairy houses, and even an apartment block!

I also included a copy of my “blank template” that I designed as the basis for these so that you can get more creative and design a simple paper house yourself.

You can leave the doors and windows as is, or cut them open. When you’re done, they are the perfect DIY paper toy, holiday display, or whatever you want to use them for! Add them to your car play or to your train set for a customizable play experience for your little ones!

You can also color them in holiday themes to turn them into seasonal decor (especially the whimsical styles!) You can see how I printed these on colored paper to turn them into printable paper houses for Christmas here!

If you’re looking for a more 3-D paper house template try using the template for this gingerbread house craft – it can be made as any type of paper houses!

Ready to get crafting? On to the printable and the tutorial!

What you need to create beautiful paper houses:

• The printables – download them by entering your email address into the form below, and then check your inbox for the PDF file! Print them on card stock.

 

Download Your Paper Houses

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•  Markers
• Optional: a craft knife (adults only)
• Optional: glue stick

How to craft and assemble these printable paper houses:

Watch the video below to see it in action. Or scroll down for step-by-step photos:

1. Color, color, color! This part is the most fun! Use different shades of similar colors for a little extra texture.

Add your own detail, or to simplify things, combine details and color them in together.

Or, add your own detail to the blank templates.

2. Cut out your printable paper houses using scissors. If you want (grown-ups only) you can cut out details such as windows and doors. On this one, I even made the shutters open and close.

3. (Grown ups only) use a craft knife to cut slits in the lines underneath your house as pictured.

4. Fold your house on the dashed lines – those are marked for folding.

5. Insert your tabs into the slots from the outside inward. This is a bit difficult. If you pull it through from the inside of the house, it will work, but if need be you can widen the slots (it will just be less secure once assembled).

If you really want the kids to be able to complete this on their own, you can skip the “tab and slot system” and just glue the tab to the base. If you DO use the tab and slot, you can fold them flat for storage, but kids will need help cutting the slots open, and may need help pulling the tab through.

They’ll also need help if you’re doing cutout windows and doors.

Details, details, who cares? The idea is that you have the time of your life creating these paper houses and that you allow yourself and the kids to be creative while doing so.

Don’t be afraid to use color and imagination as I did when creating the templates.

What will you be using these paper houses for? Comment below!

Want more like this? Check out these adorable mix ‘n match animal blocks that are great for crafting together too!

You can also check out the printable paper gingerbread house template!

Still haven’t printed your paper houses? Print them by entering your email address below and then check your inbox! (Check your spam folder too if you don’t see it right away).

 

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The post Foolproof Free Printable Paper Houses for kids and grown-ups! appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

Make your own LEGO cap that has REAL bricks on it – something you simply can’t purchase in the store! A bit over a month ago, I shared this amazing LEGOs T-shirt that I made for M and mentioned that I need to order more bricks to create a cap. As with many of the ideas I have, it would have taken forever for me to get to and share. But then ZURU stepped in to sponsor this post and since it was paid for, it got expedited – so now you’ve got it in time for Summer 2018! Disclosure: this post contains commissioned links.

If you have a kid who is obsessed with LEGO, you’ll understand the excitement of having something with actual bricks on them – not just pictures!

Both M and Y are obsessed with this LEGO cap, but only M gets to wear it (Baby Y is still too little…)

Creating this LEGO cap is simple. All you need is some Mayka brick tape by Zuru to turn almost any surface into a play surface compatible with all leading building bricks! We dug into M’s LEGO stash to turn this plain baseball cap into the coolest one ever.

To make this LEGO cap secure, be mindful of the following tips:

• The wider the brick surface you have, the harder it’ll be to get it to hold, because the cap seems to resist the tape. I used a very wide section – if you struggle with it, use a narrower piece.
• Originally, I tried making my M with as few pieces as possible, using larger bricks. I later swapped it out for smaller bricks . This is once again due to the heavy movement the cap gets. keep in mind that even though the tape is flexible, the building bricks aren’t. So while I LOVE the tape’s flexible property when using it for brick play, and it needs to be flexible to curve it on the cap, it still needs to be used with small bricks.  Go for bricks that fit the width of the tape – those no larger than 2×2 worked best.
•  The smaller bricks stayed in place MUCH better, even without gluing them. I did choose to glue them down since it’s a wearable item, M is very active, and Baby Y likes to annoy him and remove the bricks from the cap.

As you can see, I’ve already done all the “trial and error” with this craft so that now you can get it right the first time!

I loved using ZURU Mayka brick tape to make this LEGO cap!

It is made from a flexible premium, non-toxic silicon that cuts easily with regular scissors.

It has grid markings, so when you’re cutting a few pieces to line up in a row like I did with this LEGO cap, it’s easier to cut it evenly and align it.

It’s removable. While that meant that I DID have to glue this in place, it also allowed me to play with the positioning. It held it somewhat in place while I arranged, without accidentally attaching it permanently.

You can get it in 2 pegs wide or four pegs wide and in different colors.

It’s compatible with all leading brick brands including LEGO (which we used to make this cap).

It’s great to create new play surfaces for building bricks, as well as cool LEGO themed crafts like this one!

What you need to make a LEGO cap:

• Mayka Tape
• A plain baseball cap
• Building bricks in the standard size
• Industrial strength glue
• Scissors

How to make a LEGO cap:

Watch the video below to see it in action! Or, scroll down for step-by-step instructions:

1. Measure and cut your Mayka tape to size. Remember: a narrower area will be easier to handle.

2. Measure more rows so that your brick section is as large as you’d like it to be.

3. Remove the backing to practice your placement. Since it’s removable, it won’t be stuck in place, but it’ll hold just enough so that you can see what you’re doing!

4. Secure the ends with glue.

Tip: let it dry with a weight on top (squash the hat so that the Mayka tape section is flat under the cap.)

5. Plan your brick layout! I decided to create an M because my adorable preschooler is obsessed with his initial. Remember: smaller bricks work better. This layout shows my original layout – not the final one that works best.

6. Place your bricks as you’d like them on your cap.

And then reshuffle as needed! I decided to tweak my M design after I first put it together.

7. When you are totally satisfied with your design, glue your bricks down to make it permanent – if you want to do that. For older children and teens you don’t need to do that, as long as you used bricks no larger than 2×2 that’ll flex with the movement of the cap and the Mayka tape.

Your LEGO cap is ready to wear and be loved!

Who will you be making this LEGO cap for? What will you do with your leftover Mayka building brick tape? Comment below!

Loved this LEGO cap tutorial? Check out the crafts below:

• 14 Cool Crafts for Teens
• Summer Crafts for Teens and Tweens
• Name Keychains
• Make a Monogram shirt!

The post LEGO Cap – Create a Super Cool Cap using Real Bricks! appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

My boys are obsessed with glasses. I don’t know what it is about them – maybe it’s because both my husband and I wear them and they want to be like us?

I don’t know, but I’ve been meaning to create these paper glasses for them to play with for ages!

You can assemble these paper glasses a few ways. You and your kids can color them in and create new designs. Or, trace the templates onto scrapbook paper to create them.

They were designed to fit kids’ faces but they might be a bit off since every face is different so just adjust them to suit your needs by enlarging the eye holes as needed.

For the temples, I was planning on using craft sticks with the end bent back. I did that on some, but I found it easier to cut a paper straw to fit. If you want you can create your own temples from card stock and color that too.

We love coloring crafts that then double as toys, like these paper houses and clothespin puppets we did a year ago.

I colored some using Stabilo Power markers:

And some using dot markers:

If you’re going to be coloring these directly on the template, make sure to print it on card stock.

If you’re going to be tracing it onto scrapbook paper, it doesn’t matter what you print it on.

What you need to make paper glasses:

• The template – print it below:

• Scissors
• Coloring supplies OR Scrapbook paper (go for thicker, card stock papers)
• Craft sticks and a utility knife OR paper straws
• An adorable kid model…

How to make paper glasses:

Watch the video below, or scroll down for the step-by-step photos and tutorial:

 
1. Color in your glasses.

2. Cut it out.

3. Cut out your eye holes.

4. Or trace it on scrapbook paper instead of coloring.

(Optional: Back it on another piece of card stock for reinforcement.)

5. Score the tip of a craft stick well with a craft knife (grown-ups only).

6. Bend it back. You might not have 100% control of this, but do the best you can. Trim if needed.

7. Glue your temples onto your glasses fronts.

8. Or, trim paper straws to size and glue those in place.

9. Prop your glasses against something that’ll hold them in place (a stack of books, etc) until the glue is set.

Look how proud M is to be wearing these paper glasses!

What are you making these paper glasses for? Which variations will you be trying? Comment below!

Want more like these paper glasses? Check out the cool ideas below!

The post Paper Glasses – Color-in Pretend Glasses Craft appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

When I picked up a few solid colored tees in the dollar store, I knew I had to create something cool for M! First, he told me he wanted a shirt with an M on it, so I made this cool monogram shirt.

Then, I decided to make this LEGOs t-shirt using some LEGO bricks from our stash, to match the LEGO Kippah that is his absolute favorite. I have since also created for him a LEGO cap which he is obsessed with! For back to school, we tried this LEGO backpack using a new way to glue the bricks on and it was a huge hit!

To make a DIY LEGOs t-shirt, I started with a base of flexible brick tape. The tape has an adhesive back, but I did not want to rely on that for something that will be washed all the time. It would have made the process simpler (with glue, you need a cardboard in between the front and back of the shirt, and you need to make sure to remove it after the glue has set, but before it has dried).

If you feel like experimenting, go ahead and try it with only the brick tape adhesive, toss it in the wash, and see how it lasts. I know it sticks pretty well to fabric, since on the Kippah that I made, I only used the built-in adhesive.

For those of you who are wondering “what is brick tape?” – it’s this super cool flexible silicon tape that has LEGO-compatible studs on it.

Once you get your hands on it, you’ll want to LEGO-up EVERYTHING!!

The main sizes are 2-4 studs thick. I used 2 stud tape because when making wearables, I want it to have flexibility in all directions. That being said, once I created this DIY LEGOs t-shirt, I discovered that I was anyway losing that flexibility when the bricks overlapped between rows.

So, the bottom line is, do what works best for you!

For those of you who are probably thinking that this will NOT work – your child will play with it, the bricks will get lost, etc. I’ve thought the same. Which is why the bricks are glued on.

Yep, I sacrificed these bricks for the sake of the LEGOs t-shirt, so make sure you use bricks that aren’t specifically needed for future use with a particular kit.

If you’re looking for another cool summer craft for tweens, you can give these paracord headbands a go! They’re a new skill to learn, so if you  want something more repeatable, go for it!

What you need to craft a DIY LEGOs T-shirt:

• A plain t-shirt
• Brick tape (I used 2 studs thick one, you can go with 4 studs if you prefer a larger surface)
• LEGO Classic  bricks from your stash
• A scrap of cardboard
• E6000 glue (use the clear stuff, NOT the black. Bad mistake on my part…)
• Scissors

How to make a DIY LEGOs T-shirt:

  Watch the video below or scroll down for step-by-step photos and instructions:

 
1. Insert a scrap of cardboard between the front and back layers of your t-shirt. Make sure it’s sitting between the layers where you plan to place your design.

2. Trim your block tape to size.

I used four rows of 2×10 studs for an 8×10 stud rectangle.

3. Dig into that LEGO box and plan your design!

4. Once you’ve verified that the placement of the block tape works with your LEGO design, glue the block strips on. I actually used glue even though the back is sticky.

Test that the rows align using a LEGO brick that overlaps the strips.

5. Place your LEGO design on your base made up of strips.

6. One by one, pull off the pieces and glue them in place.

7. About an hour after you do it, remove the cardboard so that the glue that seeped through doesn’t stick to it. Make sure your design is not pressed onto the back of the shirt (the glue will be much thicker but not set yet at this point.)

Swell with pride as you watch your child sport his or her new LEGOs t-shirt!

Who will you be making this LEGOs t-shirt for? Which design will you be creating on it? Comment below!

Want more like this LEGOs t-shirt? Check out the cool ideas below!

The post LEGOs T-shirt – Make A Shirt with real LEGO bricks! appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

If you are like most parents, you have some great kids who enjoy relaxing indoors, in front of a screen. While a little screen time generally will not do much harm, sometimes you may feel that your little ones are spending a little too much time in front of the television or tablet. If this sounds like you, you are in luck.

I’m here to help you figure out how to limit screen time, and how to divert your kids from the screen when enough is enough.

Incorporate Screen Characters into Pretend Play

While your child will likely huff and puff when you say screen time is up for the day, there are some great ways to help ease them into another activity. One way is to incorporate their favorite characters they were just watching into pretend play or art!

If their show was only half over when it was time to shut it off, have them draw a cartoon for what they think would have happened next. If they were playing a video game like Minecraft, turn it into real life.

Make a cardboard pickaxe for your child to decorate and have them head outside to “chop” down various trees. Cut out apple and carrot shapes for them to munch or (or provide them with the real food) to help keep their “hearts” full. You can even have them plant seeds into the ground for a pretend wheat or carrot crop.

My boys could play Minecraft for hours, if I let them. Which is why incorporating screen characters into pretend play has been such a great thing for my kids.

While screen time is probably going to be a norm for kids in this day and age, it makes sense to help them use their imagination a little.

Have Loads of Fun Activities to Transition to

Find out what your kiddos love to do. Do they love being outdoors? If so, once screen time is over, head on out for a fun picnic at the park. Play in the sprinklers, or even set up a mini car wash for hot wheels cars. Go on a nature scavenger hunt.

Even if they are not outdoorsy, there are plenty of fun indoor activities like board games, craft time, and even baking cookies. The options are endless, but the key is to find things that your children love doing, other than video games and cartoons. Having something exciting waiting for them will make it a whole lot easier for your child to hit the power switch.

Additional activities are always a great diversion from wanting to do more screen time.

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Time Limits are Always Welcome

I’m the first to admit that screen time is nice because then I’m able to do a lot of my chores or work in peace. However, I know it’s not the best thing for my child all the time. Setting a timer has been an amazing thing for me! Instead of forgetting about my child being on the screen, a timer reminds us both that it’s time to move onto something else.

Think of how quickly time goes when we’re on Facebook or our favorite blog. The same thing goes for our kids, time flies when they’re on the screen and having fun.

Something I’ve been trying to do to divert my kids from screen time is keep the tablets and phones out of sight. I often forget they’re laying around, which makes it easier for the kids to grab anytime they want.

Figuring out how to limit screen time can be tough, but with the right tricks up your sleeve, you’ve got this!

Comment below with your tricks for diverting your  kids from screen time. Can you help your fellow moms learn how to limit screen time?  Got anything foolproof to share?

About the Author:

Jess Weaver has been a work at home mom for almost 8 years. She owns www.jessleewrites.com and specializes in copywriting and ghostwriting. She’s the mom of 3 boys and 1 girl. Her time gets filled with writing, baseball, teaching her kiddos, and exploring the world with the fam.

Loved these clever tips for how to limit screen time? Check out the helpful parenting tips below!

The post How to Limit Screen Time with Clever Diversions appeared first on Moms and Crafters.

With M growing faster than a blue whale calf, I’ve been hunting for the best kids clothing stores online – because who’s got the time to shop in-store? I’ve put together this list and I hope you love it! If you’re looking for the best baby clothing brands and sites check this out instead. Disclosure: this post contains commissioned links.

As you can see, I’ve split this list into the best kids clothing stores online for YOUR needs: be it budget, dress, boutique, or designer clothing. I hope you love it!!

Bonus tip: Shop via Ebates for cash back on your purchases! You’ll also get a gift card or cash bonus from them the first time you shop through them. Install their browser extension and it’ll find coupon codes for you when you shop too, saving you even more! I use them almost every time I shop online.

Table of Contents:

• The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online on a Budget:
• The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online for Dress Wear:
• The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online for Boutique Clothes:
• The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online for Designer Outfits and Gifts:
• What are your best kids clothing stores online? Do you usually shop kids clothes online or in store? Comment below to help a fellow mom!

The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online on a Budget

If you’re on a budget like I usually am, check out the best kids clothing stores online with the most competitive prices. Of course, you’ll find quality here too – at least good enough quality to last through two active brothers (my own sons…

Target:

Target is a favorite among myself and almost every other mom I speak to on the subject. They have primarily their own brands – such as Cat & Jack (my personal favorite) – as well as collaborative lines with national brands, such as OshKosh. You’ll also find licensed clothing with your kids’ favorite characters, and plenty of fun prints, with fewer sassy sayings.

Walmart:

While Walmart is often overlooked when it comes to the best kids clothing stores online, I personally love shopping there. Kids grow out of their clothing quickly, and I can often find cheap basics, especially pajamas there. I’ve found some amazing things at Walmart.com and always check in when I’m looking for something specific. They have a couple of new private labels with even more fashionable choices (look up their Wonder Nation line!)

The Children’s Place:

I’ve gotten amazing deals through Children’s Place, and a huge chunk of my kids’ clothing has been purchased there. They have free shipping every day and their online prices are often a fraction of their in-store prices. My favorite: their pants with adjustable waistbands! With a long ‘n skinny kid, it’s hard to find affordable pants that work for them, and The Children’s Place’s skinny pants are one of the few that work. Get a $10 credit here!

PatPat

I discovered this website with Baby A and got a little obsessed. They’re fashion-forward and so affordable. The quality isn’t the best, but they have decent customer service and how much wear does your kid get out of it anyway?

Get $10 off through the PatPat referral program!

The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online for Dress Wear:

When it comes to the best kids clothing stores online for dress wear, much of it is seasonal. Around Christmas and Easter you’ll find that most of the stores have beautiful dress wear for kids available. However, if you need things in the “off-season”, these are some some of my best kids clothing stores online where you’ll always find great dress wear

Janie & Jack:

With a generous selection of blazers and vests for boys, as well as ruffly and lacy dresses for girls, this would be my first stop for dressy kids clothing online. Since they have plenty of choices, you’re more likely to find what you need, in the color and style that you want, at any time of the year. They even have a dedicated “special occasion” section for that really special event.

Returns ship free so you don’t need to worry about getting the size just right!

Zulily:

My absolute favorite limited-time deal site, Zulily has regular kids’ clothing deals, but my favorites are the dressy ones. It’s hit or miss, but when they have stuff it’s good, and usually very affordable.

Burlington Coat Factory:

Yes to shopping Burlinton-style deals online! They  have a dedicated section for boys’ dress wear under $25 as well as girls’ dressy dresses under $25.

If you want free returns, you’ll have to do it in-store but with these prices it may just be worth it.

The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online for Boutique Clothes

If you’re looking for that special touch or style that comes with boutique shopping, these favorites will make you smile. Some of these best kids clothing stores online for boutique fashion are very small and privately owned and some are more established but still specialize purely in what they do, in their own unique way.

Zulily:

Yep, we’re back to Zulily, with limited-time deals – many of them from small, boutique brands! The deals are always changing, but I think you’ll have at least a few boutique brands there regularly.

Tea Collection:

Made in a unique style, with global influence, Tea Collection features beautiful outfits that are ethically sourced! They also feature adorable outfits for siblings to coordinate.

Jojo Maman Bebe:

A brand fit for a princess (literally – it’s been worn by Dutchess of Cambridge as well as Princess Charlotte). Since they have their unique style, it’s easy to match up a whole family here too. I absolutely love how they manage to keep things playful but stylish.

Etsy:

Oh, how I love Etsy! You can get just what you want, how you want it, all while supporting a small business, a fellow stay-at-home mom! Etsy sellers include a huge selection of boutique baby brands, and a very diverse set of options.

The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online for Designer Outfits and Gifts

Whether you’re looking for an upscale gift for a special baby, or you personally want to dress your child in the best, here are some of the best places to buy designer kids clothes online.

Gilt – Gilt features daily deals on top notch brands including many boutique and designers. It’s easy to shop, has a huge assortment of brands and styles, incredible prices for what you’re getting, and is a favorite pick for me. From 7 for All Mankind to Little Marc Jacobs and Jacadi, you’ll find only the best there! They have free in-store returns too!

Saks 5th Avenue – Once again, find all the top brands in an easy-to-shop experience. They also have a beautiful selection of toys, kids’ decor, and baby gear – so you can go all the way!

What are your best kids clothing stores online? Do you usually shop kids clothes online or in store? Comment below to help a fellow mom!

Looking for more cool shopping resources? Check these out!

• Dad-to-be Gifts he’ll absolutely love!
• Elmo Toys for Toddlers
• Gift Ideas for Everyone
• Paw Patrol Gifts – 26 PAWsome Gifts for Preschoolers
• Subscription Boxes for Kids – 18 Favorites
• Big Sibling Gifts for when your new baby arrives
• 20 Amazing Gifts for Crafters
• DIY Gift box from scrapbook paper

The post The Best Kids Clothing Stores Online for every budget! appeared first on Moms and Crafters.