Easy DIY Secret Message Decoders

Do your kids love ciphers, spies, and secret messages? My two boys LOVE pretending to be spies. We recently tried our hand at making some secret message decoders from recycled items around our house. Both boys loved this craft, so I'm sharing the directions here!

How to Make DIY Secret Spy Decoders

Carving Ivory Soap Boats

Did you know you can carve boats from soap?  

Last week during an impromptu playdate, we tried our hand at carving Ivory Soap Boats. This was such an affordable, easy and fun activity that kept two 3rd graders engaged for about 1/2 an hour!

How to Carve Ivory Soap Boats with Kids

50+ Super Cute and Easy Origami and Kirigami Projects for Kids

Looking for origami projects that are unique, cute, and easy-to-fold? Or, do you feel the need to grab a pair of scissors and cut some beautiful kirigami designs?  If you're on the hunt for kid-friendly paper folding projects for spring, summer, fall, and winter, then I've got the ultimate post for you. Here's a growing list of over 50 super cute origami and kirigami ideas for kids!

50+ Easy and Kid-Friendly Origami and Kirigami Projects

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4 Kits to create your own DIY Summer STEM + Robotics Camp

Love the idea of sending kids to summer STEM and Robotics camps... but not the prices? I get you! We love doing easy science and STEM activities at home. This past summer, we considered sending my eldest to some robotics camps, but then realized that they just weren't in our budget. So, instead, we set up our own STEM and Robotics camps... at home by purchasing a couple of STEM/ Robotics kits and building them together. Here's a quick review of the 4 kits that we tried out!

A Review of 4 STEM and Robotics Kits 

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Balancing + Rocking Origami Tutorial

Did you enjoy playing with those balancing bird toys (aff link) as a kid? Well, if you did, today's origami project will be highly satisfying. We're balancing a piece of paper on our hands... using the power of origami! Fold and then place your creation on your finger. It will balance, rock back and forth, and even turn... without falling!

How to Fold Balancing, Rocking, and Turning Origami!

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How To Regrow Lettuce from a Stump

Have you ever tried growing food from scraps? Did you know that you can grow romaine lettuce... from a stump? It's true! I have a black thumb and yet the kids and I were still able to enjoy this super easy science "gardening" activity.

How to Regrow Lettuce from a Stump

Grow Borax Crystals... on Nature!

Do people still celebrate Christmas in July? We don't, but today's crystal craft adds a bit of a frosty, winter element to our crafts.  (Come to think of it, this would also make a great craft for kids who love Anna, Elsa, or Olaf from the Frozen movie.) We're using Borax to grow crystals on natural items like seed pods, sticks, shells, and leaves. The process is super simple and the results are super sparkly.  You'll only need a couple of items and a bit of patience to do this easy and fun STEM activity.

How to Make Sparkly Cyrstal Leaves, Shells, and Twigs!

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Quick Borax Crystal Pipe Cleaner Sculptures

Ever try your hand at growing crystals... on pipe cleaners? Here's a super easy to grow your own crystals overnight. All you need are Borax, pipe cleaners, and some hot water to create your own sparkly sculptures!

Quick Crystal Sculptures

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No-Sew Felt Drawstring Pouches

Looking for an easy, summer camp craft?  Or, do you have a child who loves collecting little toys or coins?  Or, are you looking for a sweet way to hold teeth for the Tooth Fairy?   Or, are you looking for a crafty way to teach about math and circles?

Well, today's super easy felt craft is the perfect craft for you.  We're making super easy, no-sew felt drawstring bags!

No-Sew Kid Made Pouches!

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DIY Homemade Spirograph

Ever play with a spirograph toy?  We LOVE them and the other day I got to wondering.... could we make a DIY version using materials around our home?  Well, the answer is... YES!  Today I'm sharing this artsy- science craft.  It got a big two-thumbs up from my eldest. He really loved trying it out with me.

Let's Make a DIY Homemade Spirograph Toy!

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Painting on an Icy Snowman

Looking for a fun, winter-themed kid activity? Try painting an ice snowman.  This is a perfect activity for kids who are stuck inside and looking for something creative to do!

How To Make an Ice Snowman (and Paint It Too!)

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Make a Mini Science Journal Booklet from one sheet of paper

Have you ever tried making tiny notebooks?  My eldest is currently obsessed with pocket-sized books.  He loves using them to doodle, jot down ideas, or record stories.  Today we're doing a STEAM themed craft and turning a single white sheet of computer paper into a cute science journal.  It's the perfect place for young scientists to jot down observations, hypotheses, and ideas for experiments.

Let's get making!

How to Make Mini Science Journal Booklets

(from 1 sheet of computer paper!)

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Squishy, Slimey, Squelchy Halloween Monster Slime (Only 3 Ingredients!)

So what are your thoughts on slime?  Love it?  Hate it?  We've made slime a handful of times before with mixed results.  (Sometimes we get slime... and sometimes we just get weird wet stuff.) 

Personally, I love the idea of slime... but I have mixed feelings about the mess that it entails.  Recently, I was sent a copy of The Slime Book to review and I jumped on the opportunity.  40 easy slime recipes all in one book?  Count me in. 

Authors Stacey and Jennifer share a ton of fun ideas, but with Halloween approaching, the orange Metamucil slime recipe caught my eye.  I added some googly eyes to their simple 2 ingredient recipe and boom.  Then, boom.  Instant slimey Halloween monster goodness.

Super Squishy and Slimey Halloween Monster Slime 

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Can you explode a Watermelon?

How many rubber bands does it take to explode a watermelon? That's a question that I issue to you, dear reader.  And it's one that we recently tried tackling in today's fun science activity!   Now, I'm not a mom who enjoys making a mess... but when I saw people exploding watermelons with rubber bands, I just couldn't help myself.  We had to try the challenge too!  So, we celebrated the end of summer with this explosive science activity.   It was super duper fun and so, so easy to set up. 

Here's how you Explode a Watermelon with kids!

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How to Build an Epic Cardboard City With Kids (And our 15+ Favorite Books to Inspire Building)

Looking for an easy and affordable group craft idea?  I recently hosted a cardboard craft event to celebrate the launch of my new cardboard craft book Epic Cardboard Adventures (aff link).  Kids and parents were invited to help me build a cardboard city.  If you're looking for an easy group crafting activity, I really recommend this one.  It's super easy to set up and both adults and kids had a lovely morning of crafty fun!

How to Build an Epic Cardboard City with Kids

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Play-dough and Cardboard Mazes

Hello friends!  I'm currently on the lookout for easy (and not too messy) ways to keep the kids entertained.  Today I'm sharing a fun preschool STEAM activity that kept both my boys entertained.  We've made outdoor rock mazes, edible candy mazes, and Lego mazes.  Today we're keeping the theme going with these super easy play-dough mazes!

Let's Make Play-Dough Mazes!

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STEAM Kids Kitchen- 70+ Activities and Recipes for Creative Kids

It's here! It's here!

If you have curious and creative kids who love to tinker and question and make... then you'll love our new STEAM Kids in the Kitchen book!

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Painting with Dandelions

One of our favorite Spring crafts is painting with dandelions.   Dandelions are such a funny flower because every kid loves them, but every home-owning adult seems to despise them.  We don't really have a front yard, so I personally adore them.  My youngest and I recently spent one morning picking the yellow flowers and blowing the seeds around (sorry, neighbors!)  Awhile back, I shared how we turn dandelions into dandelion chains and crowns.  Today, I'm sharing another fun craft to do with the yellow flowers- paint with them!

Origami Friendship Math Quilt Craft

Brr, it's cold outside!  Lately I've been enamored with quilt designs and origami crafts.  Their bold colors and gorgeous geometric patterns really make me swoon!  Today's post combines my love for both crafts.  These origami paper quilts are really quite beautiful to look at.  Folding them can be a bit of challenge, because there are so many units to fold.  But, make them with some friends and you're sure to have some indoor fun during these cold winter nights.

Origami Friendship Quilts

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Mystery Grid Art Challenge

Howdy! Today I'm sharing a STEAM activity that combines art and math.   Put on your creative hats and grab your favorite color pencils.  We're trying our hand at the Mystery Grid Art Challenge!

Think you can conquer the Mystery Grid Challenge?

(Well, read on and find out!)