Make and Takes

OK.........I'm not sure, but I'm thinking I have told you all how much I love tutorials! Even though I can be crafty, I'm not always a risk taker. Some crafts I think are too hard, so I don't try them. Lame....I know. But you mom's know.......you know how precious your time is.........I don't need to suck up a bunch of time on a project that's not going to work. Let someone else figure it out........then teach me. That's my motto. That's what Make and Takes is all about.

Marie with Make and Takes is the typical gung ho mom that makes alot of us look lazy.........not that we really are......it just looks that way next to super mom Marie. She's got one up on us though.......she was a kindergarten teacher for a few years before staying home with her own darlings..........see I told you, she a professional. I know how these k-8 teachers think..........you see I had 4 room mates that were k-8 elementary ed majors........I was the only k-12 PE major. These gals saved EVERYTHING. McDonald's Styrofoam big mac containers (yes, mikky d's has come a long way.......at least they're not using that crap anymore), toilet paper rolls, buttons, ........you name it and they had it. Fast forward 20 years and I found myself saving all this junk for crafty things for my son. I should have never scoffed at their habits.

Anyhoooo................................Marie with Make and Takes has so many great ideas for family fun. Some really simple and some really inventive. She keeps these kids busy. What happened to watching TV?

Kids love stamping with food. Love these Apple Cards......

And I have always wanted to do this........melt down a few crayons.
Into these........what fun.

Hand puppets are always fun for little ones.
Now this one is one I can honestly say that I have never seen or heard of. Painted bread that you toast. Yum yum.......I think. But I bet the kids loved it.

And another one I have never heard of or thought of. Probably because it takes planning......as in planning ahead. You take a bowl, place a toy inside, fill with water and freeze. You can place it in their bath or let them play in the sink. ..........because you know how they love playing in the sink.....and it NEVER makes a mess. Just wait til her son wants to play in the sink with his hot wheels that have been in the sand box all winter.......yea.....no mess.With Spring just starting to show it's self here, I loved this idea. And it's recycling at the same time........I guess that's really what all these elementary teachers are doing.........recycling. This bird feeder is so cute. And it doesn't look too hard.But for those rainy days you know will happen, here is a project that uses...........you guessed it........a toilet paper roll. She's got the tutorial on her site. In fact EVERYTHING is pretty much a tutorial. I will leave you with this last project that I think is brilliant! Etched casserole dishes.......Great for a gift or just so you get it back. The tutorial is on her site.If you have little ones around, this site is great! So many simple everyday ideas to entertain even the most active child.

Don't forget to tell her how you found her.