Thanksgiving printables and craft ideas that are a lot easier than cooking a turkey

by Christina Refford | DIY

I consider myself fortunate that I do not have to cook Thanksgiving dinner—as does most of my extended family, as they will tell you. But, that doesn’t mean I can’t help all you hosts out with some great (and inexpensive) Thanksgiving craft ideas, to...

Simple, seasonal crafts for the not-so-crafty

by Cool Mom Team | DIY

Back before I had kids, I was actually pretty crafty. But add four bundles of joy and I’m struggling to think of something to make for dinner, let alone what to do with empty egg cartons. Well, thanks to this new book from one of our fave craft bloggers, Marie...

Because kids really do say the darndest things

by Christina Refford | DIY

Between a personal blog, a paper journal, Facebook and my memory, I have plenty of places to jot down those hilarious things my kids say. The problem is, I have too many places. But mama Alexandra of the creative Kinderpendent blog has designed a sweet little template...

Your kid: The next Paul Klee

by Christina Refford | DIY

I’ve tried to encourage my tween’s intense love of all things art since she was a wee thing. To fuel her fire, we have loads of art books from “open-ended” coloring books like Rosie Flo’s and those by Taro Gomi, to more academic tomes...

The coolest Halloween printables – go forth and be crafty!

by Christina Refford | DIY

With the money I’m spending on Halloween costumes and bags of candy, I’m not about to drop a fortune on decor too. So, I’m so pleased to have found so many affordable (and free!) printables that don’t require me to do much of anything or spend...

Smencils: A no-sugar Halloween treat that is no trick

by Christina Refford | DIY

My kids are at the age where their Trick-or-Treat bags return home weighing almost as much as they do. At this rate they’ll be up to their knees in mini-treats until 2012. So I’m often looking out for other things to hand out at Halloween parties, or when...

Furniture even a kid can build

by Stephanie Mayers | DIY

I love family projects that are truly intended for the whole family. You know, instead the kind where on parent works (and gets frustrated), the other parent helps (and offers constructive advice), and the kids sit waiting impatiently. Sprout, a US based modern...

DIY: animal storage jars from all those figurines lying around

by Cool Mom Team | DIY

I am so not a crafty mom. I’ve said it a zillion times. But this here tutorial is so easy, and the results so awesome, even I can do it. The animal craft jar project idea at House to Home is literally as easy as gathering up all those animal figurines...

McSweeney’s is turning little book lovers into book writers too

by Christina Refford | DIY

After our local Border’s bookstore closed, I became a bit “woe is me” about the future of books. I’m one of those people who just can’t imagine sitting down my kids for a bedtime story with my iPad in my lap. So, I’m rejoicing over...

Take my heart, please.

by Cool Mom Team | DIY

Some mornings, as I leave for work, my daughter says, “Mommy, give me something from your bag so I can remember you!” I reach in and pull out a business card, a pen…anything will do really. It’s become a sweet little tradition between us. But...

Hide the good scissors!

by Delilah S. Dawson | DIY

Hide the good scissors isn’t just something you say because the kids will just ruin them cutting cardboard and digging holes in the dirt. It also happens to be the name of a super-sweet Etsy shop that we’re digging hardcore. The good news is they’ve...

Pop art for tots

by Eva Glettner | DIY

If you know kidrobot, then you know its team of artists create masterpieces of culture. Lots of words have been used to describe the appeal, and I love all of them: quirky, pop-art, Warholesque, cartoonish, comical….the list goes on. There are even a few of...