Archive for December 2010
This recycled project is possibly the easiest custom ornament I’ve ever made. They are kid friendly ornaments ( or even gift tags) with a dash of learning in the mix as well . These big foam letters are part of a floor puzzle that we’d grown out of , but there are similar bath ones for much less available online , thrift stores or you can use small ones that you can find in the dollar section of Target and Walmart.
- Gather your materials. You will need some foam letters, newspaper , markers, glue, glitter and ribbon. You will also need something to poke the ribbon hole in your foam, we used a paintbrush.
- Start by covering your table with plenty of newspaper or something you can simply fold up and throw away. Glitter is awesome, I love it but it’s a drag to clean up , when you can simply fold and throw it’s much easier.
- Lay out your letters and color with markers. Be prepared for your kid’s hands to get covered in marker, the foam doesn’t absorb it easily and it will smudge. If this will frustrate your child, skip it and move onto the glitter. I am trying to do everything I can to get my son writing ,he has little interest in it, so I sneak it in everywhere.
- Add glue!
- Add glitter. Don’t be shy dump it on.
- Let dry. I let them dry for 2 days , then shook the extra glitter off . If your marker was still wet when you added the glitter , the glitter will have initially stuck to the wet marker but will now fall off. A few taps will take care of it.
- Poke a hole in the letter.
- Thread the ribbon through.
- Hang up!
Christmas Books
The Twelve Days of Christmas 
It’s Christmas 
Ho, Ho, Ho, Tucker! 
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Don’t be shy, show us your best and read the posts , tutorials and holiday musings that others link. I need this post more now than ever, the preparations for our holiday celebrations are coming to a head and I barely have time to shower let alone read other blogs ( or write mine). So instead I snuggle with this linky in my bed and read it on my iPod before drifting off. I love it, hope you do too!
Little hands can make big differences and these little ones did this week! I was hoping that we’d get flooded with pictures of our little readers making a difference but we weren’t. It’s a busy time of year and even if you are too busy to grab your camera and snap a picture I hope these posts inspire you to find that extra dollar in your pocket for the red kettle or extra box of mac and cheese to pop in the food bank box at the market. Check out some of the good deeds No Time For Flash Card readers have done.
Eryn’s daughter ( pictured above) gave her own allowance money to the Salvation Army.
Sharon’s children put together shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child . This is what she said about the experience ” My son was really excited to give his little boy airplanes and trains because those are his favorite. The kids colored a picture to send along with the box, so it was a little more personal for them. We love doing this every year.”
Lauren made cookies and cakes with her kids to say thanks for her community workers and all they do. They delivered the treats to police and fire stations as well as waiting at the door to present cookies to their mail carrier!
Here is my little man dropping off toys for tots. I was particularly proud of him giving away ( his idea) 2 toys he got for his 4th birthday that he already had.
Other acts of giving that were shared with us without pictures were : donating winter coats , church toy drives, making meals for a grieving family, many many Salvation army kettle contributions, giving new socks to a homeless man and multiple food bank donations.
Thank you to everyone who did something for someone else this week.
Send your pictures and stories in allie@notimeforflashcards.com
Stick Man
Christmas Morning
Santasaurus 
My son likes lacing activities, but sometimes he needs to be more creative than those can allow. What can I say, I have created a monster.
So we tried this activity and it was a huge hit. I wanted to share it with you. You will need scissors,paper, marker, plastic craft grid, yarn needle, and yarn (or embroidery floss).
Draw a rough sketch of the shape you would like. Remember, the simpler the design the easier. I did a regular rectangle and heart, but I did a dump truck and a bulldozer, too. You do not need to have artistic abilities for this, as you can see.
Place the plastic grid on top of the paper.
Cut out the designs.
Thread your yarn needle. Here is a closer look at the needles I used. I purchased these at JoAnn Fabrics, but they are at Walmart and other craft stores.
Start your kids off by tying the end of the yarn to a spot on the cutout.
Then let them have a blast as they thread the needle into the small squares.
This activity is great for fine motor skills. It also introduces them to grids and creating lines. Creating lines this way is so different from drawing them. Your child will understand points of origin and plotting the lines. Of course you don’t tell them that is what they are learning. The journey is so much more fun!
This activity is great for quiet time. It travels really well, too. That fact makes it a plus for road trips or doctor offices.
While you won’t be selling them at the local craft fair, you will have a cool keepsake. This activity could easily be adapted into ornaments, too. You can use cookie cutters to create fun shapes such as bells or gingerbread men.
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Kim is a contributing writer for No Time For Flash Cards, a mom to a toddler, a preschooler, and a foster parent, too. She juggles her day by trying out fun activities and crafts with the kids. After all, she is just a big kid herself. See what she has been up to over at Mom Tried It.
