How Does Your Brain Work? An activity inspired by Temple Grandin

I recently received a copy of the picture book  The Girl Who Thought In Pictures.  It's a kids book about one of my heroes- Dr. Temple Grandin.  She's a professor of animal science who also happens to be on the autistic spectrum.  She's funny, brave, persistent, and full of insights.  And I love how she reminds us to value those who see the world in a different way.

Inspired by her story, my son and I tried to explore how our brains work with this simple art activity.

How Does Your Brain Work?  

An Art Activity Inspired by Dr. Temple Grandin

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Charming Cardboard and Felt Bird Ornaments (Template Included)

I am IN LOVE with today's cardboard and felt bird ornaments.  This Christmas craft reminds me of something you would find in Anthropologie.  The birds are super sweet and folksy.  And they're made of recycled cardboard and scraps of yarn and felt.  So they're super easy on the wallet and good for the environment too!  Getting excited? Let's get crafting!

Charming Bird Ornaments

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Christmas Word Doodle Art Challenges! (Free Printable included!)

The countdown to Christmas is on!  I love this season and usually share tons of easy Christmas activities and crafts.  But this year it's been tough getting into the Christmas spirit.  With all the wildfires in California, we've been more somber and going slightly stir-crazy staying inside.  (The smoke is pretty bad.)  So today I'm sharing an activity that we recently did.  This fun, no-prep, and creative Christmas activity helped us to pass the time while stuck indoors.

Free Christmas Word Art Challenges!

Word Doodle Art Challenge: Can you transform words into pictures?

If you've been on my facebook page lately, you'll see that I really enjoy sharing videos of people doing creative things.   (I love getting inspired!)  Recently, I shared this super neat video of an artist transforming words like "unicorn," "cat," and "fish" into pictures.  My son and I enjoyed watching that video so much that I made some more "word doodle sheets" for us to try out together!

Word Doodle Art Challenge!

Free Thanksgiving Acrostic and Word Hunt Printables

Looking for an easy, no-prep, last minute  Thanksgiving activity for the kiddos?  Well, look no further!  Here are 2 super fun printable sheets that will keep the kids entertained while the turkey bakes.

Two Free Thanksgiving Printables!

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Twirly Whirly Paper Snowflake Mobile (And our favorite snow books)

Is it a good time to make snowflake crafts with the kids?  The answer to that question is always, "YES!"  Snowflake crafts in summer, snowflake crafts in spring, snowflake crafts all time of the year is my personal crafting mantra.

Well, now that we've removed all the Halloween decorations (sob, sob) my son and I are starting to decorate our home for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  While I've yet to find a good kids' Turkey craft that I like, I can always count on snowflakes to tide us creatively over while I keep looking.

Today's twirly whirly paper snowflake mobile is just such an easy and fun craft.  We made ours ona whim one night together before bed.  Don't you just adore it?  You get to make snowflakes AND watch them "fall" from a cute cloud.

(Hmm, I bet you could easily incorporate some STEAM lessons with this art activity as well!)

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Easy Zentangle Pumpkins for Kids and Adults!

Recently I saw this super gorgeous and easy to draw zentangle spiderweb idea....  and I was so inspired, that we drew our own versions- zentangle pumpkins!   The process was so fun that I thought I'd sharing the idea here.

Easy Zentangle Pumpkins- Great Kids and Adult art activity!

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Halloween Doodle Art Challenge

We love doing easy Halloween activities together.  It's a great way to hang out as a family and celebrate the season! Today I'm sharing a really fun art activity that you should try out with the kids.  It's time for the....

Halloween Doodle Art Challenge!

Easy Script Name Skeletons

Some days you just need an easy and fun activity to bond with the kiddos.  Our household always feels hectic at this time of the year. (Ok, who am I kidding?  It feels hectic year round... Oy!)  So I came up with this fun Halloween activity to create and connect with my eldest son.   Lately he's been learning to write script letters, so he loved making his own Script Name Skeleton with me.

Handwriting Skeletons

Lovely Accordion Folded Paper Leaves

Fall is in the air!  And if you're ready to decorate your home, here's an easy way to do it with the kids- make these lovely accordion folded paper leaves!  They're the perfect fall kiddo craft!

Accordion Folded Paper Leaves

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Easy Owl Origami

Whoo loves owls?  We do!  We recently fell in love with these birds at our local natural history museum.  They are beautiful!   With fall in the air and owls on my mind, here's a fun (and easy!) origami project for you- ORIGAMI OWLS! 

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Cute Cat, Pumpkin, and Skull Halloween Kirigami

Today I'm sharing three designs for cat, pumpkin, and Day of the Dead skull kirigami!  Awhile back we made these super easy Halloween paper chains from construction paper.  This year I upped the ante by creating designs that opened up like snowflakes.   Aren't they neat?  I love creating different fun snowflake designs so this paper craft was right up my alley!

Super Cute Halloween Kirigami Designs

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Hula Girl Wrapping Paper

Love birthday parties?  Me too! This weekend we're going to a luau / Moana-themed party and I thought it would be fun to wrap our birthday gift so that it looks like a hula girl.

Isn't she sweet?

Play the Mixed-Up Monster Doodle Game!

Looking for an easy way to be creative and play with the kids?  Well here's a super easy low-prep art activity that's perfect for fall and Halloween- play the mixed up monsters doodle game with them!

Mixed-up Monster Doodle Game

How to make Giant Gorgeous Jellyfish

Giant Jellyfish Decorations?  What?  Yup.  Hi friends! Today's craft is a departure from my normal kids crafts.  But I just had to share this gorgeous jellyfish craft here.  Our church recently redecorated its nursery room.  The new theme is under the sea and one of my very talented friends came up with this super easy (and cheap!) jellyfish design.  We made about a dozen of them to hang up in the room and they look absolutely ethereal and gorgeous.   So I thought I'd share what we did here in case any of you want to make your own giant floaty sea creatures too.

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Easy Printmaking Project for Kiddos: Colorful Initials!

Howdy friends! Today I wanted to just pop in and share this colorful, kid-friendly printmaking project.  I know, it's been awhile since I've shared a printing project here. (I've been shying away from messier projects lately because my youngest has now entered the VERY precocious and active toddler years. Ahhh! )  But, I recently took a printmaking course and was enamored with the whole process.... so I had to try out the process with my eldest.

Let's Print Kid Initials

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Happy Woven Paper Turtles

Does anyone else enjoy weaving with kids?  One of my most popular posts to date has been these adorable popsicle stick woven turtles.  And I totally get why... they're super cute, easy to make, and teach kids a neat skill- yarn weaving!

Well, once again we've been bitten by the weaving bug.  This time we took a different approach and made some woven paper turtles!  Like their yarn counterparts, these are also super cute and kid-approved.  (My 5-year-old loved making one alongside me!)

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Easy and Colorful Sheet Music Art

Do your children enjoy listening to music?  Well, great!  Here's an easy way to combine music and art into an easy and colorful activity!

My boys loooooove holding dance parties at home.  While listening to one of their favorite songs (on repeat--- oh boy, do we love Moana, Trolls, and 80s music), I thought of trying out this fun activity.  Tada!  Today we're making sheet music art!  

Make Sheet Music Art with Kids

Cute and Cuddly 3D Perler Bead Sheep

It all started last week with this 3D Perler Bead Pokemon and Squirtle.  Well, you know me and of course we couldn't stop there.  Today I have another super adorable 3D perler bead craft for you.  We're making these adorable perler bead sheep!  Baaa!

How to Make 3D Perler Bead Sheep

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Totally Awesome 3D Perler Bead Pikachu and Squirtle (Free Patterns)

If you are OBSESSED with Pokemon then you gotta check out today's awesome Pokemon Craft.  Yup.  We made a 3D perler bead Pikachu AND Squirtle.    They're like little adorable puzzle cubes of fun. Swoon, craft-loving friends, swoon!

3D Perler Bead Pokemon Creations!

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Watercolor Painted Paper Lanterns (with Jellyfish too!)

I am a sucker for kids watercolor art and crafts.  They're colorful, easy to set up, easy to clean up, and give us such bright and happy results.  (Plus, who doesn't love watching colors blend with one another?  It's pure magic.)  Today I'm pulling out another watercolor craft that will look just beautiful decorating your home this summer.  Tada!  We're painting some paper lanterns!

10 Super Cute and Fun Clothespin Crafts

What do you think about clothespins?  Are they good craft materials or not?  I wasn't a big fan of them for a long while because I just couldn't think of what to do with them.  But after peeking around online I saw some pretty cute and fun clothespin crafts.  If you're like me and you have a ton of wooden clothespins lying around (from when you needed just needed a couple but they only sold packs of like 100 at the store) then hopefully this list of 10 cute and fun clothespin crafts will offer you some creative and crafty inspiration too!

Clothespin People and Doodles

I needed a few clothespins for some crafts... but ended up acquiring a whole bunch more than necessary.  They were just lying around, so I fiddled around  and came up with a really fun, open-ended art project:  Clothespin Doodles!

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Long time, no see!

Hello there blogging friends!

I know, I know, it's been awhile.  I just wanted to apologize for my 2 month long absence from this blog.   I really didn't think anyone would notice... but then I received a super sweet comment from a reader asking about my whereabouts...  and I figured I owed y'all an explanation.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so here's a picture for you:
(This is what my garage wall currently looks like)

Yup.  It's cardboard central over here.

No, we're not building the great wall of cardboard.  And nope, we're not moving.  But yes, this does have to do with my absence.

I haven't been posting regularly because I've been writing a craft book.  *Gasp*  I know.  It's really strange sharing this because I'm not quite done, but I figured it was time.

I've collaborated on several awesome craft and STEAM books over the years.  This past year I  dreamt about authoring my own book.  But I wasn't sure how to go about it.

Two months ago a book publishing company contacted me to write a cardboard and duct tape craft book for them.

What?  Could this be?  I LOVE cardboard and this was such a wonderful surprise.  So I jumped headfirst into the opportunity.

I'm so excited to share the final project with you!  And I think you're going to really love all the neat projects inside.  But, I also gotta be honest and say that writing a book is both exhilarating and exhausting.  There are just two more weeks before the final deadline and with watching the kids, attending end-of-the-year activities, and staying on top of other commitments...  well gosh...I'm just pooped out.

So, dear reader, I'm sorry that I haven't shared any crafts in awhile.   But, I shall return once the last page of the manuscript is done.  Thank you for joining with me and supporting me on this crafty adventure.

I hope you are all doing well and having a great end of the year!

- Leslie

Kids Map Art- Creating with kids!

If you're looking for an easy art project to do with your kids, this is it.  I love finding cheap treasures from the thrift store and using them to make art with my family.  Here's our most recent project- a painted wooden map.

20+ Cutest and Super Fun Popsicle Stick Crafts

We love popsicle stick crafts! (Or do you call them craft stick crafts?)  Whatever you call these wooden sticks, I think we can all agree that they offer endless opportunities to create.  Stuck in a rut about what to do with them?  Well, here is a list of over 20 easy, cute, and fun popsicle crafts!

Easy Pom Pom Shooter (Made in less than 10 minutes!)

Lately my son has been obsessed with this DIY pom pom shooter.  Not that I blame him.  It's got a pretty sweet trigger.  Simply press down on the clothes pin.  The rubber band then releases, flinging pom poms into the air.

And you wanna know the best part about today's craft?  You can make one yourself in less than 10 minutes.  Cool right?  Wanna know how?  Keep reading to find out!

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Popsicle Stick Boxes for Easter and St. Patrick's Day

Last week I received a box of goodies from Oriental Trading company.  And you know what craft items excited me the most?  The popsicle sticks.  I love popsicle stick crafts.   Some of my favorite crafting memories were making popsicle stick boxes in summer camp.  Today I'm sharing popsicle stick boxes that we made for Easter, St. Patrick's Day.... and Pokemon Day! (Ok, I made the last  holiday up. We're just seriously crazy about Pokemon right now.)

Colorful, Rainbow Train Tracks (inspired by Old Tracks, New Tricks)

Today we're sharing another super easy rainbow craft.  Why?  Because I love rainbows.  And, because I love breathing new life into our old toys.

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Create a Rock Maze

Is the weather getting warmer where you are? Yesterday we embraced the sun with this quick and easy STEM activity.  We grabbed some rocks and made our very own rock maze for cars!

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Snowflake Doily Crown

Over here in California we've been getting a lot of rain.  And even though I enjoy the colder weather, the east coaster in me misses seeing snowflakes.  Today's Winter craft brings a bit of cold weather fun with these adorable snowflake doily crowns.

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15+ Happy Rainbow Crafts

Raise your hands if you love rainbows! I'm a big fan of all colorful crafts.  Awhile back, I shared my favorite 20+ rainbow crafts from this blog.  Today I'm sharing my favorite rainbow crafts from other bloggers.  So take a look at the links below.  You're bound to find something you like!

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Make a Simple Braille Slate and Stylus (inspired by Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille)

Today's blog post takes a different turn.  Instead of a cute kid craft, we're doing some STEAM crafting and making an old time Braille slate and stylus.

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Lift-the-Flap Valentine Chocolates Card

Happy Valentine's Day!  I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating with your loved ones.  Today I'm sharing a Valentines's Craft that my son and I made this year for my husband.  It's a lift-the-flap Valentine's Day Box of Chocolate Card.  You lift the flap to reveal secret messages from the ones you love.

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Origami Ladybug Valentines (with free printable)

If you love easy origami projects for kids, then you're going to swoon over today's Valentine's day craft.   I've seen so many cute bug-in-jar themed Valentine's cards floating around the internet.  So I figured I'd add my own flare with these adorable origami ladybug valentines.  (Free bug jar printable included below!)

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Printable Rainbow Danish Hearts

Next week is Valentine's day and today I've got another fun Valentine's Day Craft to share with you!  I love seeing red and white Danish heart ornaments during Christmas.  But why should we only make them in December?  Why not make some Danish hearts for Valentine's Day too?

Yup. We're going all rebel crafter today.

Oh. And since we're breaking the crafting rules, let's ditch the traditional red and white colors for hyper-colorful rainbow colors instead.

That's right.  Living on the wild side.

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3D "I Love You" Hand Craft (And our Favorite Books about Love)

It's already February and I haven't yet put up any Valentine's Day Crafts this year.  Oof! What kind of kid crafter am I?

I've just been so caught up in what's happening in our country and world that I haven't fully had the heart or energy to embrace doilies, flowers, chocolate, hearts.... basically anything Valentine's yet.  But today I'm turning a new leaf.  Here's my first Valentine's day craft of the season... these 3D "I Love You" Hands.

(They're not quite hearts and flowers and pun-ny sayings.. but it's a start, right?)

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Mini Magformer Art

Ever notice how Magformers look like little frames?  

Today I'm over at The Artful Parent sharing this lovely Magformer framed art activity.  It's a creative way to reuse old toys and infuse a bit of art into kids' play!

Happy making, friends!

Shower You With Love Valentine's Decoration

You know I luuurve me some paper plate crafts.

Today I'm over at Red Ted Art sharing how to make these adorable "Shower You with Love" Valentine's decorations. 

(Oh, the cuteness!)

Happy making, friends!

DIY Rainbow Notebook (And Review of a book!)

It's been raining cats and dogs over here.  So I felt like we needed a rainbow craft to cheer us up!  Here's a quick and easy rainbow notebook to bring fun and color to this drab winter season.

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14+ STEAM Activities for Valentine's Day!

Looking for easy ways to incorporate more STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) into your everyday activities with kids?  Want some with a sweet Valentine's Day twist?

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Origami Troll Dolls

Hi everyone!  Today I'm sharing a really neat origami project based on the movie Trolls!  One of my son's best friends LOVES the new Troll movie.  We haven't yet seen it, but I have such fond memories of Troll dolls as a kid, that I felt like I NEEDED to do a Troll craft.

So tada! If you love Trolls or the new Troll movie, try your hand at making these tiny paper origami troll dolls!

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DIY Wooden Block Dolls

We've had a box of wooden blocks gathering dust in our closet for a couple of weeks now.  Recently I tried breathing life into them with this fun craft.  We made our own Wooden block dolls!  Armed with stickers and Sharpies, we transformed plain jane blocks into cute characters.  Aren't they adorable?  I love how they're full of personality and charm.

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Origami Mushroom Wreath

Happy New Year!  Random question- have you seen any mushrooms hanging around?  Nope?  Did you know that some cultures consider mushrooms to be lucky?  Yup.  I read that some people will hang up mushrooms to bring luck and fortune in the New Year.  (Who knew?)

So,  in hopes of bringing a bit of luck to our family (and yours) here's a fun origami craft to ring in 2017.

(We're making an origami mushroom wreath!)

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