Kid Crafts n Books

If you are looking for a quick decorating or gift idea, this Tabletop Snowman  will fit the bill. All you need are a white tube sock, a styrofoam ball, some scraps and odds and ends, and a roll of toilet paper. That's right: tp is the secret thing that forms the base of the snowman and makes it easy to set on a shelf or counter. It's a great project for kids because it goes together quick & they can spend their time decorating it to suit their artistic fancy. The Snowman Gift Bags  come with a printable template and also come together in a flash. Just trace the snowman design onto a bag, then decorate with bits of patterned paper. It's also a way to eliminate wrapping waste, as you can use the bags again and again. There you have it: two simple ways to bring some cheerful snowmen into your home.  

  The genius of the Harry Potter books is that we can immerse ourselves in their universe. Whether you are planning a Harry Potter theme for your party, or you are searching for ideas for Halloween, here are a few great ideas to delve into his world: Costume Idea: How to Make a No-Sew Harry Potter House Tie Trivia Game Idea: 180 Printable Trivia Questions for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Other Game Ideas: Entertaining Harry Potter Games   -- Wizard Name Generator, Polyjuice Potion Game, Pictionary Game, Bingo, and more! Decor Idea: How to Make a Harry Potter Library Craft Idea: Make Harry Potter Paper Silhouette Pictures

  All kinds of sites have been popping up that review the best in new narrative nonfiction books for kids. They offer a great way for children to get acquainted with nonfiction because they relate true stories in that narrative form that they know so well. And the topics are fascinating! I've learned so much from the narrative nonfiction books I've read. I've learned who came up with the idea of a Supersoaker. How the first Slinky came to be. And who wrote the stories about Superman. I know the story of the first "service baboon." I followed disability rights activists as they crawled to the top of the Capitol steps in Washington DC. Here are the sites I've found so far: A Review of the 57 Best Narrative Nonfiction Books for Kids A Review of 10 of the Best Children's Narrative Nonfiction Books About People With Disabilities A Review of the 16 Best Children’s Narrative Nonfiction Books about Innovations and Inventions 20 Children's Narrative Nonfiction

 This site give you all the tips for making a Peeps diorama.  I love putting together dioramas. You get to create your own little world.  From this site, How to Make an Easy and Inexpensive Peeps Diorama , I learned there's a lot to creating these dioramas. For instance, if you are using the rabbit Peeps, it's a lot easier if you cut their little bottoms off flat and let them dry out a bit. Who knew? It's great bit of fun to try out your creativity this time of year. 

 Looking for gift ideas for the kids or your grandkids? These are some of the best winter-themed picture books for kids. Lovely artwork. Nice stories. Books make great presents and keepsakes. Here's the link  12 Great Winter Picture Storybooks to Get as Gifts for Your Kids and Grandkids

 Here is a roundup of crafts that are quick to do. If you need a template, they have printables along with step-by-step instructions. In the links below, you will find these easy snowmen, superfast gift bags to decorate, and cards that feature pop-up reindeer. How to Craft a Quick and Easy Tabletop Snowman   All you need are a men's tube sock, a styrofoam ball, a roll of toilet paper, and some scrps for embellishment. How to Make a Snowman Gift Bag: A Printable Pattern and Instructions   These are super easy and cute. For this, you just need a paper bag, some decorated paper scraps, and the template you can print off the site. How to Make Printable Reindeer Pop-Up Greeting Cards   So  cool and yet super easy witht he templates you can print and cut to make this unique greeting card.