Llama Valentines

February 3, 2021March 15, 2022 / ProjectMom / Leave a comment

We visited Utah a couple of years ago and took a day hike with llamas at Capitol Reef Resort. Avery got paired up with Woody (the smallest and sweetest of the bunch) and absolutely FELL. IN. LOVE. She lead Woody on our hike with the confidence of a well-seasoned backpacker, and soaked up every minute of the 5 mile trek.

Since our trip, she understandably has become llama-obsessed and learned about alpacas as well. After discovering they are smaller than llamas, she concluded they are “even more adorable!” and decided alpacas are her new favorite animal – with llamas as a close second. 😉

Avery asked if I could make llama-themed Valentine’s Day cards for her class celebration this year, so we brainstormed some options and I showed her a few cute favor ideas from Amazon:

She chose the llama bookmarks and we clipped them on to Valentines we created.

Click on the below image or HERE to purchase the printable Llama Valentine from my Etsy Shop. Purchase i-Clips Magnetic Llama Bookmarks: HERE

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is llama-valentines-pip-thumbnail.jpg

If you love llamas and have a chance to visit Utah, I highly recommend checking out Capitol Reef Resort. Staying overnight in their covered wagons was a one-of-a-kind, unique experience. We had such a blast and walked away with memories to last a lifetime.

Video Game Valentine

January 20, 2020February 4, 2021 / ProjectMom / Leave a comment

My little gamer, Evan, is currently obsessed with Mario Odyssey. Well, anything Mario actually. He’s read the Mario Encyclopedia from front to back several times and – whether he’s played a particular game or not – can shoot off statistics and level details like nobody’s business.

Needless to say, he was super pumped when I suggested Mario themed Valentines so I showed him two cute favor options from Amazon:

Evan preferred the bookmarks, so we went with those. A video game theme with the balance to encourage reading – I like it! 🙂 We came up with a Mario-themed twist on the classic Valentine’s poem (Evan of course had no problem choosing something ‘red’ and ‘blue’) and now he’s ready for his classroom Valentine’s Day party!

Click on below image or HERE to purchase the Video Game Valentine from my Etsy Shop.

V is for Video Games Valentine

Secret Agent Valentine

January 12, 2020January 13, 2020 / ProjectMom / 1 Comment

Jacob received an Invisible Ink Secret Agent Pen for Christmas and has been using it all the time (mostly to write the word “poop” and giggle about it). He thought it would be fun to give his classmates one for Valentine’s Day, so we created these spy themed valentines – because who doesn’t love decoding top secret messages?

Use the Secret Agent Pen‘s UV light to reveal who the valentine is from and decode the mission.

Secret Decoder Message - PIP.jpg

To create your own, simply print out the Secret Agent Valentine (front and back), attach the Secret Agent Pen (with washi tape or something similar) – Mission Complete!

Check out more of my DIY Valentines HERE.

Build a Robot Papercraft Valentine

January 16, 2019January 11, 2020 / ProjectMom / 2 Comments

Jacob has been into origamis lately, so for Valentine’s Day this year I purchased these fun Papercraft Robot Cards. The thick, plastic-like cards are pre-cut and creased, which makes them durable and easy for little hands to work with. No cutting or sticking is required – just pop-out and fold! UPDATE: The product I originally used has sold out, however another company, Box Buddies, offers a similar product.

To go along with them, I created this simple Robot Valentine. We stuffed both of them into fun blue envelopes I had leftover from the boys’ birthday (similar ones available on Amazon), but they could easily be attached by simply using a paperclip. Now Jacob is just “a bot” ready for his Valentine’s Day party at school!

To create your own Robot Valentine, download the FREE printable here.

If you would like smaller Valentines, click here for a PDF with 4 per page.

Other favor ideas for this DIY Robot Valentine:
– Make Your Own Robot Stickers
– Robot Erasers
– Robot Fidget Toy

“Are you a robot – or do you think for yourself?”

Mermaid Valentine Printable

January 13, 2019January 19, 2019 / ProjectMom / 1 Comment

For Valentine’s Day this year, I started by looking up some fun favors on Amazon and presenting them to the kids. Avery was super stoked about the flippy sequin bracelets I found, so we went with a Mermaid theme.

Inspired by her favorite color at the moment – GOLD, I created this super sparkly mermaid Valentine. Paired with the sequin bracelet favors and signed using my glitter pens, Avery’s definitely ready to make a splash at her school celebration!

Favor ideas to pair with this Valentine:
– Mermaid Sequin Bracelet (as shown in photo above)
– Mermaid Folding Paper Fans
– Sequin Mermaid Tail Keychains
– Mermaid Favor Assortment (Stamps, Stickers & Tattoos)
– Glitter Spiral Notepad / Pencils
– Mermaid Tattoos
Depending on your favor, you can tie it on with string, attach with double sided tape, or use a fun glitter or mermaid Washi tape.

To create your own Mermaid Valentine Printable, download here.

“Be a mermaid and make waves.”

Christmas Tree Yarn Craft

December 18, 2018January 10, 2019 / ProjectMom / Leave a comment

Christmas Tree Yarn Craft FREE Printable - projectsinparenting.com

My kids recently made a God’s Eye craft and enjoyed it so much, they asked to do “more things with yarn.”

‘Tis the season – so I came up with this quick and easy Christmas Tree Yarn Craft.

Things you will need:
– FREE Printable
– Screw Hole Punch (or a 1-hole paper punch)
– Yarn (ideally green)
– Scissors
– Tape
– Star Stickers (I used chip board glitter stickers I found at my local craft store – Here is a similar Amazon alternative or this one)
– Cutting Mat (if using Screw Hole Punch)

STEP ONE:
Print template – FREE Printable here.

STEP TWO:
Punch holes where gray dots are on the template. If you are using a 1-hole paper punch you will need to cut around the tree silhouette leaving just enough space to reach with your hole puncher.

STEP THREE:
Prep yarn string sections (approximately 2-3 feet each, for easy kid-handling) by tying a knot at one end and wrapping the other end with a piece of tape (this helps to feed the yarn through the holes).

STEP FOUR:
Starting with the knotted end in back, feed yarn through the holes to create yarn tree. NOTE: I used several sections of yarn to complete the entire Christmas tree. After each section runs out and you can’t feed any more of the section through, tie the loose/taped-end in back, so that the tree does not unravel.

STEP FIVE:
Top with star sticker…. And if you’re inspired to get creative – feel free to color it and add your own personal touch like Avery did.

STEP SIX:
Have a Merry Christmas!! 🎄

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.” -Burton Hillis

Super Simple Snowflake Sticker Craft

December 14, 2017January 23, 2020 / ProjectMom / Leave a comment

Super Simple Snowflake Sticker Craft - projectsinparenting.com

Last year I hosted a Christmas party with 12 kids. How did I keep that many little ones occupied with a craft that didn’t end up with a huge mess?? — STICKERS!

Using only these cute foam snowflakes and rhinestone gems from Amazon, each kid was able to create their own shimmering piece of art! (Individual gem packs are usually available at your local craft store)

This year, I still had left over snowflakes and rhinestone stickers, so we combined them with some glitter glue for a little extra sparkle!

Super Simple Snowflake Sticker Craft - projectsinparenting.com

With a little bit of water, these snowflakes also stick great on glass / windows. The kids love wetting them down the back and playing with them on our sliding glass patio door. 🙂

“We are like a snowflake all different in our own beautiful way”

DIY Milk Bottle Holiday Candy Gift

December 16, 2015January 11, 2020 / ProjectMom / Leave a comment

I’ve always thought Mason jar gifts are super cute, so I wanted to create something similar for the boys’ teachers this year. I decided to steer clear of any gifts that give the gifted a task – such as “here are some ingredients, now go bake cookies!”… Let’s be real, if a teacher is on “break” that last thing I’d want to do is give her something that requires additional work . That said, I chose the traditional route of candy. Most everyone loves chocolate, right?

I included the following festive assortment:

Holiday M&Ms
Kit Kat Holiday Assortment
Andes Mints
Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffles
Soft Mint Candy

I found these adorable plastic milk bottles at Jo-Ann Fabric for 1/2 off (Score!). They have since sold out, however you can find similar ones HERE on Amazon. Two of the teachers have preschool aged children as well, so I thought they might be interested in re-using the milk bottles. I bought one for myself as well, and plan on using it for “Santa’s Milk” to be left out on Christmas Eve with the cookies.

I’m usually not a fan of puns, but I came up with this “sweet” saying for the tag, so decided to run with it…

FREE Printable

The boys helped me fill the milk bottles with candy, and signed the back of the tags with their name (Note: Leaving the straw in the bottle while stuffing the candy in, avoids you from having to stab through the candy pile later)… Hopefully their teachers enjoy the candy as much as we enjoyed the pieces we taste-tested (for quality purposes of course).

Follow me on Pinterest, for more fun ideas!

“Chocolate comes from cocoa… which is a tree.

That makes it a plant.

Chocolate is salad.”

Stained Glass Sun Catcher Ornament

December 11, 2015September 26, 2016 / ProjectMom / 2 Comments

‘Tis the season for Christmas crafts!

Stained Glass Ornament 2

We decided to make these beautiful sun catcher ornaments, to look like stained glass. They make great window decorations and help set the mood for the season. A super-easy, no-mess craft, perfect for all ages!

1st a little prep-work to get the project ready…

Click HERE for free printable.

Print this ornament shape (provided above), ideally on card stock, and cut out the CENTER of the ornament frame with an X-Acto knife or scissors.

Prepare colored tissue paper by cutting them into squares, strips and/or shapes. For toddlers, squares are perfect. For older kids, shapes would give them the opportunity to experiment with more complex designs (Example: A star in the center with stripes in the background, etc.)… NOTE: I separated the tissue paper squares into coordinating cup colors for easy selection. I’m not pointing this out to show how overly organized I can be, I’m sharing this to display one of the MANY ways I’ve re-purposed the cups provided in our Easter egg dying kit. Great items to save and reuse!

Adhere a piece of contact paper to the FRONT of your pre-cut ornament print-out, covering the entire ornament frame. Lay the paper down, sticky side up, onto a table. (I ran out of contact paper and discovered that clear packaging tape works as a wonderful substitute!) Now it’s time for your little artist(s) to decorate their ornaments. Have them select their tissue paper pieces, and press them down onto the contact paper.

When your ornament decorating is complete, seal the back with another piece of clear contact paper. Trim around the outside of your ornament frame and tape or hang your masterpiece in a window to enjoy the beautiful stained glass colors!

Follow me on Pinterest, for more fun ideas!

“People are like stained glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.” – Elisabeth Kubler Ross

Projects In Parenting

Fun ideas for kid's crafts, activities and DIY projects – including free printables

Winter Crafts