Smilemonsters

2011-09-30T08:26:00.000-05:00

I will be taking a little break from Fun For Kids Friday. My co-host, Local Fun For Kids, will continue hosting every Friday so be sure to drop by her blog and link up.

I hate being so bloggy lame but running around and taking care of all my kids STUFF is currently taking a front seat. I hope you will all hang in there with me until I get myself back on a regular blogging schedule. Lots of fall and Halloween ideas floating around in my head!

A big thanks to all of you!

Fun For Kids Friday

2011-09-22T12:56:00.000-05:00

I'm tellin' you, Fun For Kids Friday keeps sneaking up on me! It's that time again.

Here are 6 of the super stars from last week:

1. Apple Pie Smoothie - Homespun With Love

2. BANG! a flashcard game - Come Together Kids

3. Perfect Potato Prints - Jellyfish Jelly

4. Lunchbox Notes - Making Memories

5. Jack-O-Lantern Shirts - Come Together Kids

6. Itsy Bitsy Spider - Three Boys and a Dog

Grab a featured button and celebrate your craft-tastic-ness!

________________________________________________________

On to the the best ideas, recipes, and projects for kids around!

Local Fun For Kids and I, Mrs. SmileMonster are looking for your latest and greatest kid related recipes, projects, and ideas.

1. Read the rules!

2. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

3. Please grab a button so every one can see where you like to party. It doesn't matter where you put our button, it's just nice to put it somewhere. If you don't like buttons simply link back with text. No stress here, it's the nice thing to do and I know you are nice.

4. Link directly to your project post. No giveaway links, Etsy shops, or other rif raf.

5. Become a follower of SmileMonsters and/or Local Fun For Kids if you want to be extra sweet.

6. Take the time to visit at least two other links and let them know you stopped by. Spread the love around a little. Consider it one of your random acts of kindness.

The link party will start at noon Thursday and end at noon on Sunday(central) each week. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a Fun For Kids Finds feature with proper credit going to you, all you.

Thank you bunches to all of you that link up, we appreciate each and every one. We can't wait to see what you have been up to!

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-09-15T10:49:00.002-05:00

Fun For Kids Friday is here!

Here are just four of the super stars from last week.

1. No-Sew Fabric Pumpkin - Happy Hour Projects

2. Naughty Spot - Patty Trends

3. Baseball Bean Bag Toss - Ladybird Ln.

4. Apple Tree - Structured Play

Grab a featured button and celebrate your craft-tastic-ness!

________________________________________________________

On to the the best ideas, recipes, and projects for kids around!

Local Fun For Kids and I, Mrs. SmileMonster are looking for your latest and greatest kid related recipes, projects, and ideas.

1. Read the rules!

2. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

Target Bounce

2011-09-14T07:27:00.000-05:00

A super simple game to get a little kiddo energy out.

My cub scout leader husband has to come up with ways to keep those little scouts interested and involved. So the theory here is to let them get a little energy out the first few minutes of meetings, bounce around, and have a little fun. Then their listening ears will be more tuned to actually listening!

Empty egg carton, a ping pong ball, and a few sharpies and you are set.

Have the kids take turns bouncing the ball at the egg carton aiming at the pockets with the most points. This can be done with the egg carton on the floor, standing a few feet away or table top. Little prizes are awarded to the highest point holders.

This would be a great rainy day activity!

I will be sharing HERE.

Just Because Gifts

2011-09-12T10:59:00.001-05:00

Giving and receiving is fun. It's even more fun when it's just because!

We put together these large reusable drinking cups and straws, filled with goodies for the teachers at our schools. School is up and running, everyone is back to the routine, and the learning is in full force. A little thank you and we appreciate you gift is always a good thing for anyone. Teachers, sisters, wives, moms, you know.

A mini hand sanitizer - pretty much a requirement around little kids.

A pack of gum

Small packs of almonds

Starbucks VIA iced coffee packs

Burt's Bees lip balm

That is all we could stuff in there!

We stayed true to our school colors and kept things as orange and black as we could. Then added circles with inked edges, and a little bow. A little tip: Zots adhesive dots work really well on the circles, for layering the two different papers and sticking them to the cup.

Show your teachers a little love!

I'll be sharing {HERE}, of course.

Fun For Kids Friday

2011-09-08T11:15:00.000-05:00

It's that time! Fun For Kids Friday!

Here are a few of the super stars from last week.

1. Sunrise Orange Julius - Eating My Way Back

2. Baby Name Embroidery - Lines Across My Face

3. Angry Bird Marshmallow Pops - Pam's Party and Practical Tips

4. Honeydew Popsicles - Homespun With Love

5. Eye Candy Necklace - A Creative Princess

6. Cinnamon Apples - Budget Saving Mom

All 6 of these are pretty awesome.

Grab a featured button and celebrate your craft-tastic-ness!

________________________________________________________

On to the the best ideas, recipes, and projects for kids around!

Local Fun For Kids and I, Mrs. SmileMonster are looking for your latest and greatest kid related recipes, projects, and ideas.

1. Read the rules!

2. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

Bottle Vase Trio

2011-09-07T16:23:00.001-05:00

I love the look of these little soda bottles.

We like to indulge in the occasional Dublin Dr. Pepper. So we have a few of these cute little bottle hanging around. They were begging to have some flowers put in.

Here is what I came up with.

Two 16 inch sections of pallet board

3 DP bottles

Wood glue

Hot glue

Jute

This was made to hang on the wall, as soon as I find the perfect place.

What have you done with those cute little soda bottles?

I will be sharing with all my favorite blogs HERE.

Wooden Oval Pumpkins

2011-09-05T10:46:00.002-05:00

Fall is coming! We celebrated with making a few pumpkins.

You will need:

Wooden oval shapes

Orange and brown paint

Glue - we used liquid nails. Hot glue or wood glue would be fine too.

A little sand paper

A stem - we used a bit of grapevine wreath that I broke off. You could use anything really, a stick from the yard, a popsicle stick painted brown......

Super strong magnets

The boys got busy painting the ovals orange. The thick gloppy painting style of little kids adds to the texture of the pumpkin. No worries. Let them have at it.

Once those were dry I sanded them a little. Heavy on the edges to expose the wood.

A layer of brown paint over the entire oval went on. Then with a paper towel rub off as much or as little of the brown as you like. This leaves you with some more texture and a distressed look.

Using clothes pins as clamps we got down to the business of gluing. Just a dab of glue on one side of one of the disc, place it, clamp it. I let that dry before adding the third disc.

Layer like so.

Once the glue is dry. Add your stem with a dab of hot glue. Now it's looking more pumpkin like. Last, add your super strong magnet with a little strong glue like E-6000.

And here they are hanging out on my fridge.

These will be super duper for displaying that art work from school.

Did I mention fall is on the way? Yipeeeee Oh, and I will be sharing {HERE}.

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-09-01T15:27:00.001-05:00

It's FFKF already? What?

Here are just a few of the super stars from last week.

1. Monster Crafts - Crafts -N- Things

2. Reese's Cheesecake Brownies - Chef in Training

3. Angry Birds Round Up - Sun Scholars

4. Paint Chip Notepads - Capital B

5. Bottle Rocket - Science Sparks

6. Personalized Teacher Gifts - Greene Acres Hobby Farm

Grab a featured button and celebrate your craft-tastic-ness!

________________________________________________________

On to the the best ideas, recipes, and projects for kids around!

Local Fun For Kids and I, Mrs. SmileMonster are looking for your latest and greatest kid related recipes, projects, and ideas.

1. Read the rules!

2. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-08-25T12:00:00.003-05:00

It's that time again.

Time to link up your latest and greatest kid friendly ideas.

Here are a few of the stars from last week.

1. Rain Gutter Bookshelves - Sweet Cheeks Tasty Treats

2. Peanut Butter Fudgesicles - Homespun With Love

3. Clear Beanbags - Lines Across My Face

Grab a featured button and celebrate your craft-tastic-ness!

________________________________________________________

On to the the best ideas, recipes, and projects for kids around!

Local Fun For Kids and I, Mrs. SmileMonster are looking for your latest and greatest kid related recipes, projects, and ideas.

1. Read the rules!

2. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

Poptarts

2011-08-20T06:00:00.003-05:00

A week or so ago we tried our hand at homemade poptarts.

This was our result.....

We started out with a basic pie crust.

Pie Crust

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons sugar

2/3 cup shortening

6 tablespoons of ice water

1. Mix flour, sugar and salt.

2. Cut in the shortening with a pastry cutter.

3. Add ice water one tablespoon at a time using only enough to form a ball of dough.

4. Roll onto a lightly floured surface, cut into rectangles as big as you want your poptarts.

We filled some with our favorite blackberry jam and few others with a mixture of brown sugar, and cinnamon. I didn't measure here, just went on taste. Placed our dough rectangles on a parchment lined cookie sheet and filled. Placed on a lid. Crimped the edges with a fork and pricked the tops.

Baked in a 350 degree oven for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Schmeared with butter they were pretty tasty.

What I learned:

1. Making poptarts at home isn't hard but a little time consuming. Probably best for a lazy day.

2. Next time I would try a different crust recipe like THIS one from Smitten Kitchen. I would also apply some of the great tips included in that post as well. Had I looked up homemade poptarts before diving in I would have known these tips. Instead I just went with winging it like everything else I do, then figure out what I did wrong!

3. Homemade poptarts are so much better than store bought card board-ish poptarts. At least with this version you know what is in them!

PS. Sharing HERE.

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-08-18T12:00:00.001-05:00

It's Fun For Kids Friday time!

Here are two of the top links based on "clicks" and two of my personal favorites. Though FFKF was packed with great ideas last week. Thank you to all you crafty whipper snappers that link up!

1. Silly Bandz Flip Flops - Family Embellishments

2. S'More Cupcakes - Chef in Training

3. Fresh From the Freezer Muffins - Ladybird Ln.

4. Spaghetti Play - Adventures of the Smith Family

Grab a featured button and celebrate your craft-tastic-ness!

________________________________________________________

On to the the best ideas, recipes, and projects for kids around!

Local Fun For Kids and I, Mrs. SmileMonster are looking for your latest and greatest kid related recipes, projects, and ideas.

1. Read the rules!

2. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

Back to School Notes

2011-08-17T16:17:00.004-05:00

School starts on Monday!

We have been getting our school goods together and savoring our last week.

I made a few labels and lunch notes and here they are for you to use as you'd like.

1. Click the image you like to bring it to full size.

2. Right click and save it.

3. You can print it then or go to Picnik, open it there to edit it any way you like.

I added my second graders name and a frame of orange and black. Printed it on card stock then laminated it for durability.

Here are the notes:

Save these the same way. You can print these two to a page and use them to drop a sweet little note in that lunch box.

Have fun!

PS. I will be sharing HERE.

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-08-11T12:00:00.007-05:00

Here we are again......Fun For Kids Friday! My favorite day of the week.

As promised, here are the picks from the last TWO weeks. A mix of the top links based on "clicks" and two of my favorites thrown in there . I love all of them!

1. S'Mores on the Go - Come Together Kids

2. Monster Pants - Christy's Cuties

3. Homemade Hawaiian Punch - Little Wonders' Days

4. Back Yard Camp Out - Snails ans Puppy Dog Tails

5. Ice Cream Sandwich Maker - Green Acres Hobby Farm

6. Lunch Box Notes - Rook No. 17

Grab a featured button and celebrate your craft-tastic-ness!

________________________________________________________

On to the the best ideas, recipes, and projects for kids around!

Local Fun For Kids and I, Mrs. SmileMonster are looking for your latest and greatest kid related recipes, projects, and ideas.

1. Read the rules!

2. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

Sno Cone Syrup

2011-08-09T09:18:00.000-05:00

Make sno cone syrup at home with the kiddos!

1 package of your favorite Kool-Aid flavor

2 cups sugar

3/4 cup water

1. Bring the water and sugar to a boil
2. Remove from the heat and whisk in the Kool-Aid

3. Let cool

4. Once cool enough transfer to a container with a squirt top and refrigerate

Tips:

Do not boil for long or your syrup will get to thick.

Experiment with less sugar. Next time I'll be trying a half cup less.

The dye free Kool-Aid is perfect for keeping mess to a minimum!

Have fun!

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-08-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

It's Fun For Kids Friday ya'll!

No features this week, due to me being out of town/sick/focusing on another project. Next week will be a double feature to make up for my being a slacker.

On to the the best ideas, recipes, and projects for kids around!

Local Fun For Kids and I, Mrs. SmileMonster are looking for your latest and greatest kid related recipes, projects, and ideas.

1. Read the rules!

2. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

The link party will start at noon Thursday and end at noon on Sunday(central) each week. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a Fun For Kids Finds feature with proper credit going to you, all you.

Thank you bunches to all of you that link up, we appreciate each and every one. We can't wait to see what you have been crafting up this crazy hot summer!

Creamy Cantaloupe Popsicles

2011-07-30T10:30:00.000-05:00

Creamy Cantaloupe Popsicles

1 1/2 cups of pureed canatloupe

1 cup of half & half

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Puree the cantaloupe

2. Warm the half & half then add in the sugar stir to dissolve. You could try sweetened condensed milk here. I had the half & half on hand and needed to use it.

3. Mix all ingredients together well, pour into molds, and freeze for about 4 hours.

You will get a creamy packed with cantaloupe popsicle that is sure to help you stay cool.

Have a popsicle recipe? Share it! Click on the One Cool Summer to share and see other great popsicle recipes.

P.S. I will be sharing HERE.

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-07-28T10:42:00.003-05:00

These summer days are flying by! It's Fun For Kids Friday already?! We are getting a little bit of an early start today. Let's get crackin!

Here are the top two links from last week based on "clicks"

1. Good Deeds Jar - Scout Mom 2. Pudding Cookies - Chef in Training

This Cheerio Bird Feeder from Here Comes the Sun was my personal favorite. Kids love simple projects with quick results. To many steps and you loose them! This is perfect.

Grab a featured button and celebrate your craft-tastic-ness!

________________________________________________________

On to the the best ideas, recipes, and projects for kids around!

Local Fun For Kids and I, Mrs. SmileMonster are looking for your latest and greatest kid related recipes, projects, and ideas.

1. Read the rules!

2. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

Tie Dye

2011-07-27T12:11:00.001-05:00

We are in that last stretch of summer. School is fast approaching and we are running out of that summer gusto that we had in early June.

Our project yesterday was another oldie but goody. Yet, something we had never done before! In all my crafty life I have never tie dyed.

We picked up a kit at the local craft store. It's really the best way to go. $10 gets you all the dye you need for 8 shirts, gloves, and rubber bands. You can't beat it. Also at the craft store t-shirts were on sale 2 for$5!

We all wanted a spiral pattern.

1. Pinch up a little fabric and twist where you want the center of your spiral.

2. Keep twisting

3. Twist until your shirt looks like a big cinnamon roll.

If you want two or more spirals just pinch and twist those areas.

4. Begin stretching the rubber bands around your rolled up shirt. Keeping the shape as much as possible.

5. Cross the rubber bands.

6. Add at least 4 rubber bands to keep the folds(spiral) of your shirt tight.

Now comes the fun part.

Cover the area you will be working on with a large trash bag. Just do it, you'll be glad you did.

The directions on the kit are very straight forward: Add water to the dye and get after it. Watch the little ones with the dye. I did end up with some on my hands but it was gone by the next day.

Slip your shirts on to a large zip lock bag and forget about them for at least 8 hours. We let these sit over night.

Remove the rubber bands and rinse with cold water until the water runs clear. Then run them through a cold wash cycle in the machine by themselves.

Here are a few of the patterns we ended up with.

Here is short stuff proud of his project.

We had lots of fun with this project and the kids love that they can wear what they created.

Sharing {HERE}

Chocolate Banana Chips

2011-07-25T14:24:00.000-05:00

Chocolate and banana were made for each other.

These little treats are super simple and pretty tasty.

banana chips

dark chocolate chips

a microwave

1. On a plate arrange several banana chips.

2. Pile a few chocolate chips on.

3. Microwave for about a minute. Watch for the chips to start melting.

4. Top with another banana chip.

Pop them into the fridge for a few minutes to firm up the chocolate.

These could go several different directions. Use your imagination and have fun!

Sharing{HERE}

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-07-21T12:00:00.006-05:00

Fun For Kids Friday has rolled around again.

Last week was a good one! Lots of great ideas to keep those kids busy while hiding from the heat.

Here are two of the top five based on "clicks".

Love Photoshoot - The Letter 4

A Crabby Lunch - Kitchen Fun With My Three Sons

Monster Tooth Pillow - The Crunchy Mamacita
This is my personal favorite. How could I pass up a monster?!

Grab a featured button and celebrate your craft-tastic-ness!

________________________________________________________

On to the the best ideas, recipes, and projects for kids around!

Local Fun For Kids and I, Mrs. SmileMonster are looking for your latest and greatest kid related recipes, projects, and ideas.

1. Read the rules!

2. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

4. Link directly to your project post. No giveaway links, Etsy shops, or other rif raf.

5. Become a follower of SmileMonsters and/or Local Fun For Kids if you want to be extra sweet.

6. Take the time to visit at least two other links and let them know you stopped by. Spread the love around a little. Consider it one of your random acts of kindness.

The link party will start at noon Thursday and end at noon on Saturday(central) each week. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a Fun For Kids Finds feature with proper credit going to you, all you.

Thank you bunches to all of you that link up, we appreciate each and every one. We can't wait to see what you have been crafting up this crazy hot summer!

Rose Ring Update

2011-07-20T15:59:00.003-05:00

This is my rose ring that I made and chatted about way back in October.

The photos were embarrassing me, believe it or not this little ring gets a lot of attention. That post is now updated with new photos. Same ring, better photos. Oh boy, do I feel better.

Hello?

2011-07-20T09:40:00.001-05:00

An oldie but a goody.

Two soup cans

Spray paint

Yarn

Equals a cool can phone that will keep the kids busy for a minute.

Hello?

Is anyone there?

P.S. I'll be sharing this classic {HERE}.

White Chocolate Banana Pudding Pops

2011-07-16T10:00:00.009-05:00

It's popsicle time.

White Chocolate Banana Pudding Pops. Yeah, that's right.

1 pkg. white chocolate pudding

milk

vanilla wafers

bananas

dixie cups and popsicle sticks

1. Mix pudding according to directions

2. Dice a banana and toss in a little lemon juice

3. Place a vanilla wafer in the bottom of the dixie cups

4. Layer in a good spoonful of pudding

5. Layer a good spoonful of the diced bananas

6. Top it off with a final spoonful of pudding

7. Place sticks, freeze, enjoy.

The kids liked these because they had a cookie in them. Of course.

They could be taken several different directions. Use chocolate pudding. Mix the bananas in the pudding for more banana flavor. Use a different fruit all together.....white chocolate raspberry. Oh yeah!

Are you on a popsicle kick like I am? Please share! Click the One Cool Summer button there and share away or just go browse the fantastic popsicle recipes.

I'll be sharing {HERE}, Mom's Crazy Cooking, Skip to my Lou & Mom Trends

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-07-14T12:00:00.003-05:00

Fun For Kids Friday aka. FFKF. Woot!
Let's make it a winner.

Check out the super stars from last week!

Here are two of the top five based on "clicks".

Samoa Brownies - Six Sister's Stuff

No explanation needed, I can see why this was in the top 5!

Learning With Ladybugs - Michelle's Charm World

A super way to learn numbers and matching while having fun.

Rainbow Fish - Classified: Mom

This is my favorite link. It's simple, we all know I love a good simple project. Let the kiddos color/experiment with wet chalk. It creates a different art medium for them to explore. Don't forget to set their art with a shot of hairspray.

Grab a featured button and celebrate your craft-tastic-ness!

________________________________________________________

On to the the best ideas, recipes, and projects for kids around!

Local Fun For Kids and I, Mrs. SmileMonster are looking for your latest and greatest kid related recipes, projects, and ideas.

1. Read the rules!

2. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

4. Link directly to your project post. No giveaway links, Etsy shops, or other rif raf.

5. Become a follower of SmileMonsters and/or Local Fun For Kids if you want to be extra sweet.

6. Take the time to visit at least two other links and let them know you stopped by. Spread the love around a little. Consider it one of your random acts of kindness.

The link party will start at noon Thursday and end at noon on Saturday(central) each week. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a Fun For Kids Finds feature with proper credit going to you, all you.

Thank you bunches to all of you that link up, we appreciate each and every one. We can't wait to see what you have been crafting up this super hot summer!

Camp Fire & Sun S'Mores

2011-07-13T13:31:00.003-05:00

We are working with what we have here. Heat advisories and triple digit temperatures. So what do you do? Make fire. Fake fire, please.

We head out this morning looking for sticks and rocks. We have plenty of those.

Then set about hot gluing them to a circle of cardboard.

I squeezed hot glue, they stuck them on.

Happy with our fire ring we moved on to fire wood. Placing sticks and gluing as we went.

It's starting to look like a camp fire!

Orange tissue paper makes great fire.

Make cuts on a 3-4 inch strip of tissue then roll it up. Add fire until it makes you happy.

Proud camp fire maker.

We all know what goes best with a camp fire. S'Mores!

We made pockets of foil to hold graham crackers, mini marshmallows, and dark chocolate chips.

Today our "fire" was the sun. We placed them in a high, ant free area in direct sun for 30 minutes. Sun S'Mores! What can I say? We are making the best of this oven-like weather.

PS.....I will be sharing this summer fun{HERE}
and at {TCB}, Red Ted Art

Salt Art

2011-07-12T20:28:00.000-05:00

It's hot outside. We have reached the triple digits of summer. The portion of summer that means if you aren't floating in a pool somewhere you are under the cool air in the house.

Salt art kept us busy today.

1. Dump a good amount of salt and a few drops of food color in a zip lock bag. Make sure it is sealed up tight, shake it all about. Now you have colored salt.

2. Glue. We made our own with corn starch and water using a recipe we found on the net. Of course.

Tried and True Glue

3 Tablespoons corn starch

4 Tablespoons water

2 cups boiling water

Pour the water starch mixture into the boiling water. Boil until it becomes clear and thick.

This glue worked very well for this particular project. It makes a gel like glue that was easy to brush on. I don't know how it would work in other situations. I can not attest to how tried and true it really is.

3. Decide what you are covering in salt. We had some left over foam board from our fridge frames. We decided on a whale theme based on a few of the scrap shapes.

Here comes the fun part.

4. Brush on glue.

5. Sprinkle on the salt.

6. Shake off the excess. We used a paper plate to catch the excess and dump back into the bags.

It's messy. I'm pretty sure I will still be cleaning up salt this time next week.

7. Once happy with your masterpiece, lay it in the sun for a bit to dry.

8. I sprayed ours with a clear sealer to keep the salt in it's place.

Salty whales with button eyes.

Beautiful.

I'll be sharing our salty fun HERE.

How About a Biscuit?

2011-07-11T11:13:00.000-05:00

I'm a biscuit lover from way back.

These Butter Dips are no exception. I had this recipe "pinned" and I'm so glad I did.

Butter Dips

1/4 cup butter

1 1/4 cup flour

2 teaspoons sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup milk

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees

2. Melt the 1/4 cup better in a square baking dish. Mine is 8x8, the original recipe calls for a 9x9.

3. While the butter is melting mix the dry ingredients together. Add in milk and stir together to form a wet dough.

4. Turn that dough onto a floured surface. I knead it a few times to reduce the sticky. Form into a strip of biscuit dough goodness.

Like this.

Don't forget your melting butter in the oven. Take it out when completely melted.

5. With a knife dipped in flour cut strips. About 12, give or take a few.

6. Dip your strips in the melted butter, coating both sides, place in dish side by side.

Bake for 15-18 minutes.

This is how I eat mine. Drizzled with honey no additional butter needed. Oh so yummy.

I fully plan on playing with this recipe. Add cheese and garlic for a dinner time biscuit. Add more sugar and some cinnamon for a sweet treat.

Here is the original recipe via Betty Crocker.
I will be sharing my biscuits HERE.

Banana Berry Popsicles

2011-07-09T06:00:00.003-05:00

I promised a healthier popsicle. Here we go......

Banana Berry Popsicles

adapted from Martha Stewart

1 1/2 cup buttermilk

1 banana

1/2 cup berries

1/4 cup honey

Blend and freeze.
Enjoy.

Use any berries you like. I used a frozen mixture of blueberries and strawberries.

The cream layer here is just 1/2 cup buttermilk, honey to taste, 1/2 tsp. vanilla.

Do you have an awesome popsicle recipe? If so, please share by clicking on the One Cool Summer button right there.

I'll be sharing HERE.

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-07-07T12:00:00.004-05:00

Fun for Kids Friday already?!

Last week was so full of awesome ideas. You all are pretty darn crafty, I must say.

Here are two of the top five from last week based on "clicks"

Died And Gone To Heaven - Chef in Training

Wowzers, that's all I can say here.

Coffee Filter Fireworks - You'll Thank Me One Day

Coffee filters are such a great art staple.

Sand Paper Art - Come Together Kids

The sand paper art is my personal favorite this week. Though it didn't turn out exactly how Laura planned it is a great project for the kids and looks good too!

Grab a featured button and celebrate your craft-tastic-ness!

________________________________________________________

On to the the best ideas, recipes, and projects for kids around!

Local Fun For Kids and I, Mrs. SmileMonster are looking for your latest and greatest kid related recipes, projects, and ideas.

1. Read the rules!

2. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

4. Link directly to your project post. No giveaway links, Etsy shops, or other rif raf.

5. Become a follower of SmileMonsters and/or Local Fun For Kids if you want to be extra sweet.

6. Take the time to visit at least two other links and let them know you stopped by. Spread the love around a little. Consider it one of your random acts of kindness.

The link party will start at noon Thursday and end at noon on Saturday(central) each week. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a Fun For Kids Finds feature with proper credit going to you, all you.

Thank you bunches to all of you that link up, we appreciate each and every one. We can't wait to see what you have been crafting up this super hot summer!

Sun Catcher Butterfiles

2011-07-05T07:40:00.000-05:00

We here at SmileMonster headquarters are coming off a week long trip of adventures. We camped, hiked, explored, paddled a canoe for 10 miles, and marked off several items on our summer bucket list. We had a great time and week away from home but now we need a few days to recover.

These sun catchers are super easy and big on fun.

You will need:

Clear contact paper

Tissue paper

Glitter

1. Lay out a large piece of contact paper sticky side up.

2. Let the kids add squares of tissue and glitter. You can get more creative here and make tissue paper hearts, circles, whatever you like. It's best to not cover the entire surface, leave some contact paper showing for the layers to stick to in the next step.

3. Place another piece of contact paper on the top, sticky side down. Sandwiching the art work in the middle.

4. Cut shapes of what makes you happy, we did butterflies.

5. Hang on a sun filled window

The bodies and antennae are construction paper that we cut to size and glued on.

Craft on kids, I'm going to rest today!

I'll be sharing HERE.

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-06-30T13:26:00.000-05:00

It's Fun For Kids Friday again!

Here are the top two links from last week based on "clicks". They are both about sweet treats. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with a super sweet tooth!

Fourth of July Sparklers from Homespun With Love

Mini Ice Cream Cones from Chocolate on my Cranium

I did not pick a personal favorite this week but things will be back to normal next week for certain.

Grab a featured button and celebrate your craft-tastic-ness!

________________________________________________________

On to the the best ideas, recipes, and projects for kids around!

Local Fun For Kids and I, Mrs. SmileMonster are looking for your latest and greatest kid related recipes, projects, and ideas.

1. Read the rules!

2. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

4. Link directly to your project post. No giveaway links, Etsy shops, or other rif raf.

5. Become a follower of SmileMonsters and/or Local Fun For Kids if you want to be extra sweet.

6. Take the time to visit at least two other links and let them know you stopped by. Spread the love around a little. Consider it one of your random acts of kindness.

The link party will start at noon Thursday and end at noon on Saturday(central) each week. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a Fun For Kids Finds feature with proper credit going to you, all you.

Thank you bunches to all of you that link up, we appreciate each and every one. We can't wait to see what you have been crafting up this super hot summer!

Root Beer Cupcakes

2011-06-29T06:00:00.001-05:00

What feels more summer than a tall frosty glass of foamy root beer? Root beer is quite the American treat, dating back to the 1870s.

When I came across this recipe for Root Beer Cupcakes I had to give it a shot. Here is where I took a turn.....

Rather than use the frosting with the recipe, I made root beer fluff.

1 cup root beer

1 3.3oz. package of vanilla pudding

1 8oz. container Cool Whip

Beat the root beer and pudding together until firm. Fold in Cool Whip. Done!

I wasn't sure this was going to work but it did and it's pretty tasty. I love the direction it could take too. Coke fluff, Dr. Pepper Fluff, and on and on!

I took photos this morning and then I had to eat it for breakfast with a large cup of coffee. Oh, the blogging sacrifices I make.

I'll be sharing this yummy fluff HERE.

Firework Garland

2011-06-28T06:00:00.003-05:00

Popsicle sticks are one of the best kid craft staples EVER. These are the large variety.

The boys made this firework garland for the mantle.

Paint the sticks red, white, and blue. We added glitter while the paint was wet.

Once the paint was dry we glued the sticks together in a firework type shape. Then glued those to a nice long piece of jute.

Use your imagination and run with it. These could be made two sided and glued to sticks for a centerpiece or add a string of lights to the garland or add them to a wreath or........

I'll be sharing HERE

Caramel Vanilla Popsicles

2011-06-26T11:49:00.003-05:00

This popsicle of the week is a 4th of July tribute.

Red, white, & blue.....

or in this case pink, cream, & baby blue. We could just have a baby shower. But not for me.

Caramel Vanilla Popsicles

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup water

fresh lemon juice

2 cups milk

2 teaspoons vanilla

patience

I'm going to be honest here, this popsicle was a little more work than I like to put out for a popsicle. If you are a whiz in the kitchen then I'm sure this is a snap and your probably giggling at me. It's alright.

If you have never caramelized sugar then I suggest you watch a video or four.

1. In a heavy bottom pan over low heat add your sugar, water, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Follow the directions in the video link above. The first batch I burned and it tasted absolutely terrible. The second batch crystallized. By this point I was determined I was getting this caramelizing thing down. The third time was a charm.

2. While you are working on the caramelizing process put your 2 cups of milk in a good sized pan over very low heat. Just warm it up.

3. Once you have your caramel ready slowly add it to the milk. Careful, that caramel will be crazy hot. The caramel will harden some due to the change in temperature. Turn up the heat a little and whisk until the caramel dissolves completely into the milk

4. Add in the two teaspoons vanilla, whisk well.

5. Pour into molds and freeze.

This makes a very sweet bite-able popsicle that tastes every bit like caramel and vanilla. I will offer up a more "healthy" popsicle next week, I promise.

I'm wondering if you couldn't just dissolve a prepared caramel(like a dessert topping) into warm milk. Add the vanilla and arrive at a similar result with half the work. I did like the challenge of learning something new in the kitchen. Though next time, half the work sounds like a winner. Oh, and maybe I'll add some bananas. Banana caramel vanilla popsicles sounds like a hit!

If you have a super popsicle recipe please share it by clicking the One Cool Summer up there. Of course, I'll be sharing these cool treats HERE, & at Skip To My Lou.

Laundry Detergent Bottle Re-Worked

2011-06-25T06:00:00.001-05:00

Easiest upcycle EVER.

1. Drill holes into the lid of an empty clean laundry detergent bottle.

2. Fill it up with water. The no spill spout on the bottle pops right out for easy filling.

3. Hand it to the kids and send them outside.

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-06-23T12:00:00.009-05:00

It's another Fun For Kids Friday! My how time flies when your having fun.

Here are two of the top five links based on "clicks".

Goldfish Crackers - Iowa Farmer's Wife

We will have to give this one a try.

Shark Attack Lunch - Gabe's Babes

Look at those faces!

Recycled Boat - Living at the Whitehead's Zoo

This boat is my favorite because my boys love creating things out of recycled items. We have yet to do a boat. I'm just a smidge jealous that we don't have that pool in our back yard.

Grab a featured button and celebrate your craft-tastic-ness!

________________________________________________________

On to the the best ideas, recipes, and projects for kids around!

Local Fun For Kids and I, Mrs. SmileMonster are looking for your latest and greatest kid related recipes, projects, and ideas.

1. Read the rules!

2. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

4. Link directly to your project post. No giveaway links, Etsy shops, or other rif raf.

5. Become a follower of SmileMonsters and/or Local Fun For Kids if you want to be extra sweet.

6. Take the time to visit at least two other links and let them know you stopped by. Spread the love around a little. Consider it one of your random acts of kindness.

The link party will start at noon Thursday and end at noon on Saturday(central) each week. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a Fun For Kids Finds feature with proper credit going to you, all you.

Thank you bunches to all of you that link up, we appreciate each and every one. We can't wait to see what you have been crafting up this super hot summer!

Baked Oatmeal

2011-06-22T06:00:00.006-05:00

My grandma taught me to love oatmeal a looooong time ago.

Baked Oatmeal

3 cups oats

3/4 cup brown sugar

2 teaspoons cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

2 eggs

1/4 cup melted butter

1/2 cup apple sauce

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a large bowl mix together oats, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Add in milk, eggs, butter, apple sauce, and vanilla. Stir together well. Spread into a greased(Pam) 9x13" baking dish.

Bake for 40 minutes.

Serve with fresh whipped cream and fruit.

Can you see the reflection of my helpers in the spoon?!

Fresh berries would have been super yummy here but bananas will do.

These are a great snack later in the day minus the whipped cream and fruit. I grab a square and munch away.

I'll be sharing my Baked Oatmeal with some of these awesome blogs.

Paper Tube Rockets

2011-06-21T06:00:00.002-05:00

Summer is in full swing.

We are working our way through our Summer Bucket List. I'm already hearing mumblings of "I'm bored." and "There's nothing to do." and my all time favorite "It's to hot to go outside.".

This should keep them entertained for a few minutes.

We covered toilet paper tubes with craft paper, added a cone, some ribbon, and sparkles.

See how both the cones are crushed in, flight practice.

We cut strips of scrap book paper for the tubes. I added dabs of hot glue while they rolled it onto the tube.

To make a cone. Cut a large circle, make a cut to the center of the circle, twist around until you reach the desired cone shape, a dot of hot glue will hold it in place. I ran a bead of hot glue around the top of the tube, they added the cone.

A few strips of ribbon and sparkles and you have yourself a rocket.

Look at that face. That is the: We are no longer doing what I want to do face/stop taking photos face.

For more flying fun we printed off cool paper airplane templates, folded, and threw them all over the house.

I will be sharing our rockets with these radical blogs.

Mocha Latte Frozen Treats

2011-06-19T11:59:00.002-05:00

I have a new favorite homemade popsicle.

Mocha Latte Frozen Treats

2 cups strong cold coffee

2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk

1 1/2 Tablespoon cocoa powder

Whisk together, pour into molds, and freeze.

Cream layer

1/3 cup heavy cream

1 Tablespoon sweetened condensed milk

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Whisk together, layer, and freeze.

The cream layer has an ice cream texture that makes this popsicle delightful. I don't use that word often but it applies here.

The popsicle linky will be open all summer long. Share your favorite recipes by clicking on the One Cool Summer button.
I will be sharing this grown up treat HERE.

Message Board

2011-06-18T09:04:00.000-05:00

The boys wanted message boards for their bedroom doors. After a little trip to the craft store plus using a few items we had on hand this is what we came up with.

We bought:

large wooden discs

wooden letters M & F

one sheet of scrap booking paper of their choosing

We had:

chalk board paint

mod podge

E-6000 glue

a clear spray sealer

1. We sanded the discs to smooth out any rough edges and painted on two coats of chalk board paint

2. While that was drying we traced and cut out the letters on our scrap book paper and mod podged them to the wooden letters. Super thin layer of mod podge is the key.

3. To take care of any of the paper that may hang over the edges on the letters use a nail file or small piece of sand paper. It will file off any overage and look like a million bucks. We also stained the edges of the letters to finish them off.

4. Once the mod podge and stain was fully dry we sealed the letters with a couple coats of clear spray sealer.

5. Now that the letters and chalk board were dry, using E-6000 we attached the letters to the chalk board.

Hang on the door and write a cool message.

Now we just need to discuss how to spell visit-ers correctly.

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-06-16T12:00:00.025-05:00

It's Fun For Kids Friday, Ya'll!
Our little family just got back from a mini vacation/family gathering. We are trying to get back on track here!

Here are the top two links from last week based on "clicks".

Super Bouncy Balls - Sun Scholars

Kool-Aid Slurpees - My World Made By Hand

This Yarn Painting by Putti Prapancha was my favorite of the week. I can't remember ever doing this cool art project. What a great simple and fun idea.

Grab a featured button and celebrate your craft-tastic-ness!

________________________________________________________

On to the the best ideas, recipes, and projects for kids in town!

Local Fun For Kids and I, Mrs. SmileMonster are looking for your latest and greatest kid related recipes, projects, and ideas.

1. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

2. Please grab a button so every one can see where you like to party. It doesn't matter where you put our button, it's just nice to put it somewhere. If you don't like buttons simply link back with text. No stress here, it's the nice thing to do and I know you are nice.

3. Link directly to your project post. No giveaway links, shops, or other rif raf.

4. Become a follower of SmileMonsters and/or Local Fun For Kids if you want to be extra sweet.

5. Take the time to visit at least two other links and let them know you stopped by. Spread the love around a little. Consider it one of your random acts of kindness.

The link party will start at noon Thursday and end at noon on Saturday(central) each week. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a Fun For Kids Finds feature with proper credit going to you, all you.

Thank you bunches to all of you that link up, we appreciate each and every one. We can't wait to see what you have been crafting up this super hot summer!

Magic Shell

2011-06-15T06:00:00.002-05:00

Make your own magic shell for all those banana pops you will be eating this summer.

Magic Shell

1 1/4 cups dark chocolate or semi sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup coconut oil

Pop in the microwave for about a minute and stir together well.

Done.

This will harden as soon as it hits frozen bananas or say some homemade vanilla ice cream.

Ten Things For Dad

2011-06-14T06:00:00.002-05:00

We went hunting for Father's Day ideas that our dad would love.
This is what we found.....

1.

World's Greatest Dad goody bucket - Bargain Hoot
Fill this thing with cookies, candy, or what ever floats your Dad's boat!

2.

Hand stamped key chain - Girl In Air
Something personal.

3.

Root Beer Sampler - Homemade By Jill
Love this idea!

4.

The kids holding giant DAD letters - Smashed Peas and Carrots
It doesn't get any sweeter.

5.

Daddy & Me mug - Kaboose
Let the kids go at it and be creative.

6.

A printable sports quote - Less Cake More Frosting
You can't go wrong with a great quote plus a sports one at that.

7.

Peanut Butter Truffles
Our dad loves these Reese's knock offs.

8.

Chad's Best Nanner Muffins - Nothing But Country
An oh so yummy treat for Dad. I have made several batches of these babies!

9.

Bleach Dyed T-Shirt
Let the kids do what they do best, "mess" up a t-shirt.

10.

Let's face it your running out of time! Go search Father's Day ideas on Pinterest!

Lemony Lemon Popsicles

2011-06-12T06:00:00.003-05:00

These cool lemon treats are my favorite so far.

Lemon Buttermilk Popsicles
via Epicurious.com

1 2/3 cups buttermilk
3/4 cup sugar
5 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 Tablespoons lemon zest
pinch of salt

Whisk together, pour into molds, freeze, and prepare for the delight these bring.

The layered version has a berry layer.

1/2 cup berries(I used frozen strawberry and blueberries)
4 Tablespoons of the lemon buttermilk mixture.
Blend together, layer, freeze.

These really pack a lemon punch and you would never know they were made of buttermilk. The buttermilk makes for a creamy bite-able popsicle. Just my kind.

This recipe is a keeper.

We will be making more of these. I wish I had one right now.

If you have an awesome popsicle to share click on the One Cool Summer there and link up! I'd love to see it.

I'll be sharing this popsicle of the week with these superb blogs and Mom Trends Friday Food

Road Trip Helper

2011-06-10T19:21:00.002-05:00

We don't do movies in the car. Not because I'm a big fat meanie, well not all the time. My kids get their fair share of TV as it is. I try to come up with other ways to pass the time while on road trips with the kids.

One clipboard with storage.

Throw in a few of these.
Small washable markers fit well in the storage of the clipboard.

A few of these.

No sharpener needed.

A hand full of these for the readers in the bunch.

Printable word searches. These work well for both readers and beginning readers. As long as they can recognize letters they can do this!

Add a hand full of blank sheets of paper and stickers to the mix.

Look at the excitement on that face and we haven't even left the garage yet.

That should last for at least 15 minutes!

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-06-09T12:00:00.004-05:00

It's Fun For Kids Friday again. Woot!

As always, last week was full of fun for kids goodness. Crammed full of ideas to keep your kids busy, creative, and full of yummy treats.

Here are the top two links based on "clicks" from last week.

Cool off the kids for FREE! - Poor Badger Creations
Free is the magic word here.

Ruffle Top Rainbow Cake - Crafty Mama
Who wouldn't want to eat a rainbow?

Snickers Salad - Ladybird Ln.
This was my personal favorite because I'm dying to try this. Snickers+apples+cool whip! How could that not taste like a dream?

Grab a featured button and celebrate your craft-tastic-ness!

________________________________________________________

On to the the best ideas, recipes, and projects for kids in town!

Local Fun For Kids and I, Mrs. SmileMonster are looking for your latest and greatest kid related recipes, projects, and ideas.

1. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

2. Please grab a button so every one can see where you like to party. It doesn't matter where you put our button, it's just nice to put it somewhere. If you don't like buttons simply link back with text. No stress here, yet it helps BOTH of us if you follow this simple step.

3. Link directly to your project post. No giveaway links, shops, or other rif raf.

4. Become a follower of SmileMonsters and/or Local Fun For Kids if you want to be extra sweet.

5. Take the time to visit at least two other links and let them know you stopped by. Spread the love around a little. Consider it one of your random acts of kindness.

The link party will start at noon Thursday and end at noon on Saturday(central) each week. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a Fun For Kids Finds feature with proper credit going to you, all you.

Thank you bunches to all of you that link up, we appreciate each and every one. We can't wait to see what you have been up to this week!

Best Dad

2011-06-08T18:14:00.004-05:00

While browsing my favorite time waster, Pinterest, I came across this idea for Father's Day.

Here is our spin.........

Poster board that we cut down to 8"x10".

Hand prints from each kidlet with black and orange ink.

Black foamy letter stickers that I put on with the help of my trusty ruler. I could not trust my eye ball to get those letters in a straight line. Not this time.

One cheap frame with a plain old white mat. A little spray paint will fix that. Now we have a good looking orange mat.

Put it all together and it looks like a million bucks for less than twenty. Oh, and we threw in some sparkly glitter. If you look close you can see it and a reflection of the jeans and t-shirt I was wearing today!

I'll be sharing with these radical blogs.

Super Simple Art Display

2011-06-07T11:34:00.007-05:00

This super simple art display took me minutes to put together.

I had everything on hand.
A piece of pallet wood
Clothes pins
Liquid nails

I did take the time to sand the wood smooth but the finish is just the way it was found.

I distressed the clothes pins with brown and black ink that I just rubbed on.

Glued the clothes pins about every 8 inches with liquid nails and let dry over night.

Super simple!

If you haven't tried these

Command picture hanging strips, I highly recommend them! It's how I hang everything on the walls these days.

I'll be sharing with these super blogs.

Coconut Cream Popsicles

2011-06-03T19:20:00.002-05:00

Coconut Cream Popsicles

1 14oz can of lite coconut milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup sugar
6oz of whole milk

or

instead of milk and sugar use my favorite, sweetened condensed milk.

Whisk ingredients together, pour into molds, & freeze.

The blue strip there is just a bit of blue food color for fun.

1. I tried these with both full fat and low fat coconut milk. Both worked just fine, I preferred the lite version.

2. The coconut flavor was subtle. For more coconut flavor maybe a smidgen of coconut extract.

3. Mini sized baking cups are a dixie cup popsicle's best friend. Cut a small slit in the center, poke the stick through, then into your dixie cup. While in the freezer they serve as a cover and stick stabilizer. When you remove the dixie cup, once your popsicle has frozen, it becomes a drip catcher.

4. Have fun!

I have created an entire page to popsicles! I'll be adding my popsicles as I feature them. I also want to see your popsicles. Link up your greatest frozen treats. Click on the cool button below. Then try to say popsicle 5 times in a row really fast.

I will be partying with my popsicles HERE and...

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-06-02T12:00:00.003-05:00

Fun For Kids Friday has rolled around once again.

Last week was full of awesome-ness.
Here are the top two links from last week based on "clicks".

Make Marshmallow Shooters with Mom's Crafty Space. These will bring lots of summer fun for sure!

Five Fun Ideas For Summer Fun from Come Together Kids. Laura always has great ideas for the kiddos.

Make shell pets and more with googly eyes via Simple As That. This was my personal favorite because you can't underestimate the fun of googly eyes. They keep my boys busy for a good while turning anything and everything into pets.

Grab a featured button and celebrate your craft-tastic-ness!

________________________________________________________

On to the the best ideas, recipes, and projects for kids in town!

Local Fun For Kids and I, Mrs. SmileMonster are looking for your latest and greatest kid related recipes, projects, and ideas.

1. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

2. Please grab a button so every one can see where you like to party. It doesn't matter where you put our button, it's just nice to put it somewhere. If you don't like buttons simply link back with text. No stress here, yet it helps BOTH of us if you follow this simple step.

3. Link directly to your project post. No giveaway links, shops, or other rif raf.

4. Become a follower of SmileMonsters and/or Local Fun For Kids if you want to be extra sweet.

The link party will start at noon Thursday and end at noon on Saturday(central) each week. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a Fun For Kids Finds feature with proper credit going to you, all you.

Thank you bunches to all of you that link up, we appreciate each and every one. We can't wait to see what you have been up to this week!

King Dad T-Shirt

2011-06-01T06:00:00.002-05:00

Father's Day is right around the corner.

We made this King Dad shirt for the occasion. Around here King Dad's favorite colors are black and orange. No, he doesn't have a year around love for Halloween. It started with his love for Oklahoma State, where he and his father both attended college. They are his company colors and yep, our school colors too. So the black and orange is absolutely perfect here.

You will need:
A nice quality 1oo% cotton t-shirt
A spray bottle
Bleach
Freezer paper(not wax paper!)
From around the house, an iron, scissors, and somewhere to hang your shirt outside.

By now you have all heard of or tried the freezer paper stencil trick, right? If not, HERE is a pretty good tutorial.

1. Use that freezer paper method but in reverse. Meaning you want the color on the outside of your letters not the traditional inside. I hope that makes sense. Use the crappy picture from my laundry room above for reference.

2. Put something between your shirt layers to protect the back. You want a super cool bleach spatter on the front of your shirt only. I pinned a plastic grocery sack to the inside of the t-shirt. Worked like a champ.

3. Hang your shirt outside. Pretty important step since you are spraying bleach.

4. I filled a spray bottle with bleach and water. I eye-balled it like I do everything but roughly half bleach/half water.

5. Spray away. Check it real close. Spray some more.

It really doesn't take much.

The bleach will go to work pretty quick.

The longer you leave the bleach solution the more "bleached" your shirt will become.

6. Once you have reached the desired color rinse with cold water. Here we removed the crown stencil because we were eager to see the results. Take them off before or after rinsing, I found it doesn't matter.

7. After a good rinsing with cold water run it through a full cycle in the washing machine.

8. Stand back and admire your craft-tastic-ness.

Here is an article in Threads magazine that has a few pointers.

I'll be sharing my King Dad t-shirt HERE.

Hey Smartie.....

2011-05-31T08:46:00.006-05:00

I think most of the grade school bunch have already seen their last day of school. We haven't. This weekend we made these sweet little cards to hand out on the last day of first grade.

The inspiration came from HERE.

School pride is major around here so we went with school colors and the big "A". Twenty-two cut by hand big "A"s I might add.

We hope your last day of school was or is Awesome!

I'll be sharing HERE.

Enjoy Your Weekend

2011-05-27T19:49:00.003-05:00

It's a holiday weekend and you know what that means......

a little relaxin'.

I will be relaxin' with a few of my favorite things.

Cream Soda

5oz soda water(carbonated water)
2oz half & half
1 1/2 - 2oz flavored syrup(I like vanilla)

1. Pick a pretty glass and put some ice in it
2. Add soda and flavor
3. Add half & half(I buy the fat free kind)
4. Stir around with a little umbrella or swirly straw

To fully enjoy your cream soda, you must first put up your feet.

Have a great long weekend with your families!
I'll be sharing my cream soda with some super blogs.

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-05-26T12:00:00.001-05:00

It's another Fun For Kids Friday! Each week I co-host with fellow blog Local Fun For Kids looking for your latest and greatest kid friendly projects.

Next week I'm going to merge Fun For Kids Finds and Fun For Kids Friday. HERE are the picks from last week. Therefor, my picks from this FFKF will not appear until next Friday. Don't miss out on the picks at Local Fun For Kids too!

1. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

2. Please grab a button so every one can see where you like to party. It doesn't matter where you put our button, it's just nice to put it somewhere. If you don't like buttons simply link back with text. No stress here, yet it helps BOTH of us if you follow this simple step.

3. Link directly to your project post. No giveaway links, shops, or other rif raf.

4. Become a follower of SmileMonsters and/or Local Fun For Kids if you want to be extra sweet.

The link party will start at noon Thursday and end at noon on Sunday(central) each week. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a Fun For Kids Finds feature with proper credit going to you, all you.

Thank you bunches to all of you that link up, we appreciate each and every one. We can't wait to see what you have been up to this week!

Summer 2011 Bucket List

2011-05-25T08:38:00.015-05:00

We always have a mental list of things we want to do over the summer. The blog Little Wonders' Days inspired me to actually make a list this year.

Here is our summer bucket list.

We also color coded our list.
Trips or day trips = blue
Things we can do at home = pink
Projects = orange

Here are a few things on our list:

Trips or day trips(stuff we have to leave the house to do)
1. ~~See The Alamo~~
2. Play putt putt
3. Visit the science museum
4. ~~Visit the dinosaur museum~~
5. ~~See dinosaur tracks~~
6. ~~Visit the LEGO discovery center~~
7. Visit the zoo
8. Visit Grandpa
9. ~~Swim~~
10. Go fishing
11. ~~Camp~~
12. ~~Go to a rodeo~~
13. Go to the tractor pull
14. Visit the local farmers market
15. ~~Go hiking~~
16. Discover new parks in the area
17. Visit the library as many times as possible
18. Learn to skip rocks at the local lake
19. Visit the local sno cone stand as many times as possible
20. ~~Go to a MLB game~~
21. Go to an outdoor concert
22. ~~Go to a drive in movie~~
23. ~~Swim lessons~~
24. ~~Basket Ball camp~~
25. ~~Ride a roller coaster~~

Things we can do at home:
1. Star gaze
2. Eat lots of banana pops
3. Catch fire flies
4. Practice baseball
5. Practice basketball
6. ~~Put on a puppet show~~
7. Build things(my boys love LEGOs and blocks of all kinds)
8. Have water balloon and sponge ball fights
9. Pick a new topic to learn about each week

Projects:
1. Make duct tape flip flops
2. Make zip lock bag ice cream
3. Make stepping stones(I have had the materials for over a year!)
4. Come up with as many popsicle recipes as possible
5. Make a terrarium
6. Make a bean bag toss game
7. Make a awesome rock collection
8. ~~Build a rocket for the Cub Scout Rocket Launch~~
9. Make glow in the dark rocks
10. Make a bug habitat

We will be adding to this list as ideas come to us. We still have several days of school before summer officially starts here. We will be prepared for certain.

I'd love to hear your summer bucket list ideas! Link them here and we can all share our ideas to keep summer full of fun. Be sure to check out Little Wonders' Days link of Summer Bucket Lists too!

Root Beer Float On A Stick

2011-05-23T17:04:00.011-05:00

Popsicle season is right around the corner. We are preparing for the best popsicle season ever.

Root Beer Float On A Stick

1 12oz. root beer or 1 1/2 cups
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk

Mix root beer and sweetened condensed milk together with a whisk. If it gets to foamy set it in the fridge for a bit to settle down. Pour into popsicle molds. I prefer dixie cups and popsicle sticks. I let the popsicles set up(about an hour) before I insert the sticks.

Or you can get fancy like these Root Beer & Cream sicles.

The root beer mixture is the same. Pour into your cups or molds about 1/3 of the way. Freeze for about an hour.

For the cream layer mix together
1/3 cup whole milk
1 Tablespoon sweetened condensed milk
1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Pour that in even amounts into your molds and freeze another hour. Then top off with remaining root beer mixture. Freeze again but don't forget to insert your sticks once that top layer has gotten firm. This takes a little more work but they look super.

Tips:

You can decrease the amount of sweetened condensed milk for a more icy popsicle. Make up the difference with milk. Meaning, you want a 1/2 cup total of your "float" part of the mixture.

The sweetened condensed milk gives it a great creamy texture. To much will not allow your popsicle to freeze solidly though. So more is not better in this situation.

There are several molds you can buy for popsicle making, I have three. I still like the shape and size of the dixie cup.

See the holes in the popsicles in the top photo and not as many in the lower photos. That is the difference in letting your root beer go a little flat before you pop it in the freezer.

Of course, I will be sharing this with all my favorite blogs and there will be more popsicle fun in the near future.

Fun For Kids Finds

2011-05-23T07:39:00.006-05:00

Another successful Fun For Kids Friday full of great ideas has came and gone. The links are still there for you to pick up all kinds of inspiration! Go take a look, this was our most successful yet.

Here are just 3 of my favorites. Fun For Kids Finds will be my go-to file for things to keep my boys busy this summer!

Duct Tape Flip Flops - My World Made By Hand

Morning Monkey - Kitchen Fun With My Three Sons

Paper Plate Snakes - Crafts -N- Things For Children

Thank you all for the inspiration and I hope to see you here again on Friday!

Birds Love Stale Bread

2011-05-21T06:00:00.002-05:00

My youngest graduated from Pre-K this week. So Thursday was his first day of "summer". We made a stale bread basket for the birds with our new free time.

We had these stale sandwich rounds in the pantry. So, that got me to thinking about feeding the birds rather than throwing them out.

We also have this junk pile in our back yard that comes in pretty handy now and then for crafty projects. The draw back is that it's also a popular hang out for all the spiders in the yard. Big spiders.

We also, also have this rusty squeaky pair of needle nose pliers/wire cutters. Those are paint sticks there at the top of the photo. My little one painted those green for our little project.

It was decided we needed our basket to be about 5" by 5".

With our trusty wire cutters we(I) cut a piece(eye-balled, as always) of chicken wire. Then went to work bending the ends together and twisting the ends around each other to make a three sided basket.

This part is not kid friendly. The wires are sharp and I did come away with a few wounds. I made sure all the sharp ends were turned in with my needle nose pliers. This took a little time but the weather was nice and it was good outside time.

Our finished basket is roughly 5" by 5" by 1". The top is left open, of course. We had ideas of the paint sticks being bottom and sides but this project took it's own direction. So we glued the sticks together to make a roof of sorts. Then drilled holes on each side so it could be attached to the basket.

We ran jute through the holes and tied it to the basket. A big ole dab of hot glue will keep the knots from coming un-knotted. Another long piece of jute was tied to each side of the basket for hanging in the tree.

I made an S hook out of some sturdy wire that fits around the branch and leaves a hook for the feeder to hang on. That allows for the basket to be taken down and easily replenished with stale bread.

There ya go! A stale bread basket for your birds.

This is definitely a project that requires adult help but the kids like feeding the birds and refilling the basket. Plus I can watch the birds right out my desk window when I'm day dreaming.

I'll be sharing at these fabulous blogs.

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-05-19T12:00:00.004-05:00

It's another Fun For Kids Friday! Each week I co-host with fellow blog Local Fun For Kids looking for your latest and greatest kid friendly projects. Let's make this one Awesome with a capital A since we had technical difficulties last week!

1. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

2. Please grab a button so every one can see where you like to party. It doesn't matter where you put our button, it's just nice to put it somewhere. If you don't like buttons simply link back with text. No stress here, yet it helps BOTH of us if you follow this simple step.

3. Link directly to your project post. No giveaway links, shops, or other rif raf.

4. Become a follower of SmileMonsters and/or Local Fun For Kids if you want to be extra sweet.

The link party will start at noon Thursday and end at noon on Sunday(central) each week. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a Fun For Kids Finds feature with proper credit going to you, all you.

Thank you bunches to all of you that link up, we appreciate each and every one. I can't wait to see what you have been up to this week with your kiddos!

In Case You Have Forgotten......

2011-05-17T16:33:00.005-05:00

Forgotten how easy and yummy no-bake cookies are, I am here to remind you.

Best No-Bake Cookies

1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
4 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups quick cooking oats
2 teaspoons vanilla

In a sauce pan add butter, sugar, milk, and cocoa. Bring all that chocolatey goodness to a rolling boil, continue to let that boil for 1 minute, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat.

Add in oats, peanut butter. and vanilla.

Stir, stir, stir.

Drop spoonfuls on to wax paper. After I have dropped them all I smoosh them down with a spatula for a more cookie like appearance.

Lick the bowl.

Let the cookies cool before you dive in.

I'll be reminding you of this recipe at THESE link parties.

Now for a little rif raf:

Last Friday Blogger was having issues of some sort. Therefor Fun For Kids Friday was up for a short time then it was removed by the powers that be. I am sorry for the goof. It reappeared on Monday after the link list was closed. Sooooo, FFKF will be up and running this Friday and let's make it awesome!

Thank you! Thank you!

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-05-12T06:24:00.000-05:00

It's another Fun For Kids Friday! Each week I co-host with fellow blog Local Fun For Kids looking for your latest and greatest kid friendly projects.

In case you missed the finds from last week they are here.

1. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

2. Please grab a button so every one can see where you like to party. It doesn't matter where you put our button, it's just nice to put it somewhere. If you don't like buttons simply link back with text. No stress here, yet it helps BOTH of us if you follow this simple step.

3. Link directly to your project post. No giveaway links, shops, or other rif raf.

4. Become a follower of SmileMonsters and/or Local Fun For Kids if you want to be extra sweet.

The link party will start at 12:00pm Thursday and end at 11:59pm on Sunday(central) each week. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a Fun For Kids Finds feature with proper credit going to you, all you.

Thank you bunches to all of you that link up, we appreciate each and every one. I can't wait to see what you have been up to this week with your kiddos!

Chocolate & Bananas

2011-05-11T14:05:00.005-05:00

So, chocolate and bananas......

were meant to be together.

May I suggest a chocolate banana frozen treat.

2 bananas peeled, cut, and frozen
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa

Throw them in the food processor and blend until creamy.

Enjoy!

A cool, yummy, simple, healthy treat.

Invitations With A Bow

2011-05-10T06:00:00.002-05:00

Printed invitations can be expensive and you always order more than you need. For smaller casual events just make your own!

I made these using Picnik, white card stock, and some cute ribbon.

Starting with a white background add in your text and border. I like simple, so these are simple. Print on card stock. Once you have them cut out you can add a cute little bow to the top.

Punch two holes with a regular old hole puncher.

Thread your ribbon through the holes. Don't pull to tight. You want a little slack there on the front side of the card. I like wire edged ribbon, it holds a cute shape and keeps your bow fluffy looking.

Now your going to thread the ends of the ribbon back through the hole on the back side. The opposite hole you put it though on the front side. Pull it through.

Your bow is starting to take shape! We have to do something about the ugly ends on the ribbon.

Fold it in half like shown.

Cut it at an angle just like shown here, towards the center of the bow.

Look at that cute bow you made!

Done!
Cute invitations that took you just a few minutes to knock out.

I will be sharing HERE.

Fun For Kids Finds

2011-05-09T09:44:00.003-05:00

Another successful Fun For Kids Friday full of great ideas has came and gone. The links are still there for you to pick up all kinds of inspiration! Here are just 3 of my favorites. Fun For Kids Finds will be my go-to file for things to keep my boys busy this summer!

A candle with a handmade touch that could be created for any occasion.

Fingerprint Candles - Come Together Kids

Butterflies that give your kids lots of creative freedom.

Eric Carle Butterflies - My Oatmeal Kisses

Toast with a creative twist.

Painted Toast - Seven Alive

Thank you all for the inspiration and I hope to see you here again on Friday!

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-05-05T12:00:00.001-05:00

It's another Fun For Kids Friday! Each week I co-host with fellow blog Local Fun For Kids looking for your latest and greatest kid friendly projects.

In case you missed the finds from last week they are here.

1. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

2. Please grab a button so every one can see where you like to party. It doesn't matter where you put our button, it's just nice to put it somewhere. If you don't like buttons simply link back with text. No stress here, yet it helps BOTH of us if you follow this simple step.

3. Link directly to your project post. No giveway links, shops, or other rif raf.

4. Become a follower of SmileMonsters and/or Local Fun For Kids if you want to be extra sweet.

The link party will start at 12:00pm Thursday and end at 11:59pm on Sunday(central) each week. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a Fun For Kids Finds feature with proper credit going to you, all you.

Thank you bunches to all of you that link up, we appreciate each and every one. Now get to linking!

Sock Cupcakes For Mom

2011-05-03T00:01:00.002-05:00

Mother's Day is creeping upon us!

All of my Mothers will be getting sock cupcakes!

Oh so simple to put together and something they will use. I found these baking cup-like cups at Hobby Lobby for under a dollar each. I had three mothers to make for so I bought a 8 pack of socks at Target. I had to keep in mind who the socks were for so I bought solid colors I knew they would actually wear. Otherwise I would have went for the zebra knee socks.

Roll the first pair starting at the toe. Then add your second pair to the roll.

Tie with a ribbon to hold things in place.

Once placed in the cup you can mess with it to make it more cupcake like. I folded in the heel portion and fluffed until I was happy.

Every cupcake should have a cherry on the top! I printed Happy Mother's Day on red card stock. Cut out cherry shapes, 2 for front(the printed side) and back. I hot glued a piece of leather cord and a toothpick between the two cherry shapes. Done, a Happy Mother's Day cherry on top.

These sock sock cupcakes will be shipped to all the Mamas. This is what they will get when they open their boxes.

Please take a look at my linky party page for a great list of places to share. I'll also be linking to Today's Creative Blog, and Sassy Sites Mother's day linky.

Fun For Kids Finds

2011-05-02T16:52:00.003-05:00

Yet another successful Fun For Kids Friday full of great ideas has came and gone. The links are still there for you to pick up all kinds of inspiration! Here are just 3 of my favorites.

Two great projects the kids can help with and an activity to keep them busy for a little while.

Yarn Ball Lights - Kim's Kandy Kreations
Let the kids dive in and get nice and gluey!

Decorative Hand Soap - Homespun With Love
I love that the kids can help with this Mother's Day gift idea.

Simple Felt Food - The Iowa Farmer's Wife

Thank you all for the inspiration and I hope to see you here again on Friday!

My partner in kid crafty crime has picked a few of her favorites too!

Teacher, You Measure Up!

2011-05-01T13:45:00.006-05:00

Teacher Appreciation week is this week!
We will be giving this to our super first grade teacher.

A cute set of measuring cups or spoons tied to a dish towel with a little note. I love a clever gift.

This is little on expense but sends a very sweet message. Everyone can always use an extra dishtowel and measuring cups. Right?!

If you missed the Glitter Shakers for teacher check those out. It is another inexpensive way to show your appreciation to the teachers in your lives.

I'll be sharing HERE.

Freeze Pop Holders

2011-04-29T00:01:00.004-05:00

What is better than frozen sugar water on a hot day?!

Keep those little hands unfrozen with a freeze pop holder.

2 strips of felt 4 1/2" x 2"
Add a heart, initial, strip, whatever you can dream up.
Sew them together!

I left the bottom open so it would slide up as needed.

Slide on......

and your on your way to refreshment.

I sewed mine by hand with embroidery floss because I like the look. The machine would work perfectly too.

Sharing HERE and HERE and Whipperberry and

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-04-28T12:00:00.002-05:00

ThatGirl Crochet
Handmade headbands, scarves, and more stuff to make you cooler than you already are.

It's another Fun For Kids Friday! Each week I co-host with fellow blog Local Fun For Kids looking for your latest and greatest kid friendly projects.

In case you missed the finds from last week they are here.

1. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects/ideas or family friendly recipes.

2. Please grab a button so every one can see where you like to party. It doesn't matter where you put our button, it's just nice to put it somewhere. If you don't like buttons simply link back with text. No stress here, yet it helps BOTH of us if you follow this simple step.

3. Link directly to your project post. No giveway links, shops, or other rif raf.

4. Become a follower of SmileMonsters and/or Local Fun For Kids if you want to be extra sweet.

The link party will start at 12:00pm Thursday and end at 11:59pm on Sunday(central) each week. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a Fun For Kids Finds feature with proper credit going to you, all you.

Thank you bunches to all of you that link up, we appreciate each and every one. Now get to linking!

Teacher Appreciation Glitter Shakers

2011-04-27T14:15:00.005-05:00

If you have elementary age kids chances are you know next week is Teacher Appreciation Week. If you don't know, it is May 2-6 with Tuesday the 3rd being actual Teacher Appreciation Day.

We will be giving these as a small token of our appreciation. After all, they have to put up with my kid 5 days a week. They deserve much more.

So cute and simple to make.

Glitter shakers
Cute ribbon(I like wired for big bows)
Scrap book paper
Glue

I didn't want the label to show so I covered it with a strip of scrap book paper. I ran a thin line of hot glue at the ends to secure the new label.

I printed the saying on the back side of coordinating scrap book paper. Cute on both sides! Then finished it off with a big bow.

They are an inexpensive yet creative way to send your teachers a little love.

I'll be sharing HERE.

Fun For Kids Finds

2011-04-25T08:16:00.005-05:00

Boo Boo Box - Free Pretty Things For You

Peppermint Patties - Making Memories

Teacher Appreciation Gift - Crissy's Craft

Thank you all for the inspiration and I hope to see you here again on Friday!

My partner in kid crafty crime has picked a few of her favorites too!

Who Loves You?

2011-04-23T09:23:00.005-05:00

3 random things that are in my head.

I DO!

1. Just a little appreciation post to all of you that read, follow, and comment. Give your self a big hug, that was from me.

2. Look what is coming next week!

3. Help me with my latest addiction.......

What I love most about Pinterest is getting to see what you all love. Oh so addicting!

Don't forget there is still time to link up to this week's Fun For Kids Friday. Monday I will pick my 3 favorite links.

Lastly, Wookies. That's all I'm going to say about that.

Cake Mix Cookies aka Wookies

2011-04-21T17:22:00.008-05:00

You are going to love this.......

Cake mix cookies baked in the waffle maker.

A few weeks ago I made cake batter bark. That little project only used a small portion of the yellow cake mix. What to do? What to do? Make cookies.

Cake Mix Cookies aka Wookies

1 cake mix
3 eggs
1/3 cup oil
2 tablespoons water

Mix it all up

Drop spoon fulls onto a greased(I use Pam) waffle iron.

Cook for 90 seconds.

They will be soft right when you take them off but get more cookie like after they cool.

We sampled. The boys declared that I was the best chef in the world. Thank you, thank you very much. They, then decided we should call the cookie/waffles Wookies.

We took it up a notch by smearing them with cream cheese frosting and dropping on a few sprinkles.

These would be oh so great with maple butter cream frosting, chocolate chips, or any kind of cake mix. I can't wait to try chocolate!

I'll be sharing my wookies HERE and

Fun For Kids Friday!

2011-04-21T12:00:00.000-05:00

It's Fun For Kids Friday! Each Friday I co-host with fellow blog Local Fun For Kids looking for your latest and greatest kid friendly projects.

In case you missed the finds from last week they are here.

1. Link up your best kid crafts, kid related projects or family friendly recipes.

2. Please grab a button so every one can see where you like to party. It doesn't matter where you put our button, it's just nice to put it somewhere. If you don't like buttons simply link back with text. No stress here!

3. Link directly to your post.

4. Become a follower of SmileMonsters and/or Local Fun For Kids if you want to be extra sweet.

The link party will start at 12:00pm Thursday and end at 11:59pm on Sunday(central) each week. By entering your link, you are giving me permission to use any part of your post including pictures in a Fun For Kids Finds feature with proper credit going to you, all you.

Thank you bunches to all of you that link up, we appreciate each and every one. Now get to linking!

T-Shirt Bracelets

2011-04-20T13:45:00.004-05:00

Fun stuff to do with old t-shirts #2

We have made t-shirt rosettes and t-shirt flowers. Now we are sporting t-shirt bracelets.

I doesn't get any easier than this.

1. Cut long strips of old t-shirt.

2. Stretch the strip so that the edges roll in.

4. Braid, knot, twist, whatever you fancy.

5. Tie a basic knot and secure with a little fabric glue.

Wear one and share the rest.

I will be linking up to these super blogs.