Fourth of July is almost here. Since this holiday happens during the summer, it is important to get the kids involved. This will also let you teach them why we celebrate this day. This is an easy craft for them to do and will give them something to wear all year long.

What you’ll need:

How to make it:

1. Mix together salt, flour and water. If mixture is too sticky, add small sprinkles of flour until doughy.
2. Flatten dough to about ½” and use star cookie cutter to cut out your shape. Make as many as you can from the dough.
3. Place star(s) onto cookie sheet and poke a hole near the top of the star with a toothpick. Carefully move the toothpick in a stirring motion to cause the hole to get larger. It will need to be big enough to thread jewelry cord through.
4. Bake in a 250 degree F oven for 2 – 2.5 hours. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
5. Paint star with white gloss paint and let dry.
6. Thread jewelry cord through the hole in the star. Pull enough cord through until you have the length that you want for your necklace. Trim.
7. Thread 3 white pony beads on to each end of the cord and tie in a knot at the top of the star. Begin threading cord with pony beads, alternating colors as you go (2 red, 2 white, 2 blue, 2 white, 2 red, etc).
8. When finished threading on beads, tie cord into a solid knot and hang around your neck.

Tips:

• You can purchase necklace closures at craft supply stores if you want to make this shorter and it won’t fit over your child’s head.
• Pony beads are available in a large variety of colors and can be purchased in small bags of individual and assorted colors as well as in bulk sized bags.
• Salt dough does not keep well as it will harden. Make however many ornaments you can to cut down on waste.

Summer vacation is in full swing and for many families that means traveling the country and spending time together in either vehicles or planes. Often this is hard for kids because there isn’t a lot to do when they are confined in a small space for long periods of time. Now you can make them a travel kit that you will be able to fill with fun activities that they are do while traveling on the road. What is in our travel kit is just a general suggestion and you can change anything to include something that your child likes.

Stuff You Will Need:

Plastic container
Assorted stickers
Bingo template
Map (route highlighted)
Glue stick
Colored pencils
Crayons
Markers
Activity book (coloring book)
Educational book
Paper bead necklace kit
Summer journal
Snacks

Instructions:

1. Let your kids decorate a clear container with stickers and other embellishments.

2. For the car bingo game, download and print the road signs template from our website. You can also laminate the bingo cards. When a player spots a road sign represented on the board, he or she marks the corresponding picture with an erasable marker. The first player to mark five pictures in a row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, wins. This game is recommended for children over 4 years old.

3. Make an enlarged color photocopy of a map and mark your travel route with a highlighter pen. Giving kids their own maps will help them to develop a sense of direction, distance, and time.

4. Be sure to include writing instruments, such as crayons or colored pencils, as well as an activity book and educational book. Always include a healthy snack, such as trail mix, and a water bottle with a top.

These activites should provide your child with tons of things they can do to keep them happy while you travel this summer.

Tons of people like to feed the birds. For some people they have birds around all year long, but for most of us they are only around while it is warm out. Although having a bird feeder means that often you will have seed all over the yard or squirrels will climb your feeder and eat the food. Well, now you can make your own feeders that will decrease the amount of seed you will find in your yard. Plus since this is more of a solid form, not as many squirrels will be stealing your bird food. Following these instructions you will have a good idea of how to make one of these great feeders. The ingredients are not measured out for you on this recipe so you might have to play with the ratios a few times to find out what the birds in your area like. But this is a great way to save some money and mess from your yard.

Do you have old pillowcases that don’t match any of your sheets? Well, now here is a great way to reuse those pillowcases in a new way. Take your pillowcases and turn them into purses and tote bags. This will give you a unique look and is a great way to recycle something that has just been sitting on the shelf. Following easy instructions, you will be on your way to making tons of these great bags. They make great gifts for any occasion and your friends and family will love them.

Homemade lip balm is a great idea for gifts but will also guarantee that you will never run out. This also allows you to use the scents and flavors that you might not be able to find in stores. It is easy to make and can be a fun craft project for older kids.

Ingredients:

3 teaspoons grated unbleached beeswax

5 teaspoons carrier oil (sunflower, castor, or jojoba)

6 or 7 drops essential oil

1 teaspoon honey, for flavor

Instructions:

1. Melt the beeswax and carrier oil together in the top of a double boiler, stirring to combine. Remove from heat; add honey and essential oil. Mix thoroughly so the honey does not clump.

2. To add a little color, stir in a tiny dab of lipstick with a coffee stirrer. Pour the mixture into containers; let sit 20 minutes before covering or moving. For glossier lip balm, use 2 teaspoons wax and 8 teaspoons carrier oil.