A tradition at my daughter’s high school is for parents to take turns making locker signs for all a team’s players on days when the have league home games. This year I thought it would be fun to make locker pennants that the girls on my daughter’s softball team  could keep as a souvenir of the season.  These could also be used for a team party or strung together and hung on the backstop as a colorful banner. Best of all, they are no sew, so all you need is an iron to put things together! Here is how to make your own player sports pennants.

Materials: (I searched online for pennants and iron-on letters and found the best selection and prices at http://www.hobbylobby.com)

• Felt pennants (or sheets of felt that you cut into long triangles) 
• Ribbon (narrow for edges, and thicker for top piece)
• Iron-on letters, numbers, and any additional embellishments you choose
• Heat Bond iron on backing (for ribbon) — you could also use hot glue to attach the ribbon
• Scissors
• Ruler or yard stick
• Iron

Directions:

1. Measure and cut all your ribbon pieces so that they are the right size to fit your pennant.
2. Follow the label directions to attach the Heat Bond backing to the ribbon pieces. (Try not to have the Heat Bond go beyond the edges of the ribbon or it might show when you apply it to the pennant.)
3. Use your iron to attach the pre-bonded ribbons to your pennant. (Or use a hot glue gun to attach the ribbons.)
4. Carefully lay out the iron-on letters, numbers, and extras and use your iron to attach them. (I used a yard stick to ensure the letters were in a straight line and spaced evenly.)
5. Allow the pennant to cool. You’re done!

Here is a quick, inexpensive, and easy birthday keepsake craft

1.  Dollar Store ceramic plate

2. Permanent Sharpie markers

3. Have guests write a birthday message

4. Bake in the oven at 300 degrees for 30 min.

5.  Let cool in the oven.

6.  Your plate is ready to use. Hand wash to clean

**This would also be great instead of a guest book for an anniversary or wedding.

This is one of my all time favorite childhood books. I was so happy to find it for sale on Amazon. I have purchased it for my nieces and nephews for their Easter baskets this year.

Here is a picture of my well loved book

Here are the top selling Easter books at Amazon

Last Easter my kids and I were looking for a fun baking activity to try around Easter and we came upon these adorable little chicks in a nest. Who could resist the combination of Twinkies and toasted coconut? I was so sad when Twinkies went away because I thought that we wouldn’t be able to make this snack again, but when I was shopping yesterday I came across a look-alike product called Dreamies, so now we are back in business. Here’s how to make this super easy (and super yummy) Easter dessert. Have fun!

Easter Chick Cakes

What You Will Need:

Baking Sheet
Wax Paper
Shredded Coconut
White Chocolate Chips
Dreamies Snack Cakes (or other similar product)
Chocolate Sprinkles
Orange and/or Yellow Frosting
Candy Lemon or Orange Slices

Directions

1. Toast 1⁄2 cup of shredded coconut on cookie sheet in the broiler for one minute. Remove, stir, and toast for 30 seconds more. Repeat as needed.

2. Cut the snack cake in half to make two chicks, and decorate using frosting for the beaks and sprinkles for the eyes.

3. While the frosting sets, melt 1⁄4 cup of white chocolate chips on the stovetop. Remove from heat and stir in the coconut.

4. Stand the chicks on the wax paper and spread the coconut mixture around them to look like chicks in a nest.

5. Use some yellow frosting to stick on the trimmed candy slices for wings.

For more Easter party ideas take a look at our sister website, Creative Party Themes.

From the time our girls were very tiny, our family has always enjoyed creating a wee bit o’ magic on St. Patrick’s Day. Whether we have made leprechaun catchers, hunted for gold coins, or turned our milk and eggs green, we always try to do a little something special to celebrate our Irish roots on St. Patrick’s Day. Here are two great recipes that the kids originally brought home from their pre-school classes. They are tried and true St. Paddy’s Day favorites for kids of any age!

Magical Shamrock Potion

You will need:

• Frozen lemonade concentrate
• Lime sherbet
• Lime flavored seltzer water
• Lucky Charms cereal (for those adorable little magic marshmallows)
• Colored sprinkles
• Glass or clear plastic cups

Directions:

1. Add a heaping teaspoon of lemonade concentrate to your cup.
2. Add a full scoop of lime sherbet.
3. Add the lime seltzer water and stir.
4. Top with the marshmallows and sprinkles.
5. Drink up for some St. Paddy’s Day luck!

Rainbow Toast

You will need:

• 5-6 plastic cups
• 5-6 different colors of food dye
• Milk
• Bread
• A sanitized paintbrush

Directions:

1. Fill each cup with about 1/4 cup of milk.
2. Add enough food coloring (one color per cup) to each cup to get your desired level of each color.
3. Place bread on a plate and use a clean paintbrush to create a colorful pattern of milk dye on your bread (try not to oversaturate the bread).
4. Toast bread in a toaster or on a cookie sheet in the oven.
5. You might add some cinnamon or sugar sprinkles to your bread once it is toasted for an extra sweet treat!

Have an amazing St. Patrick’s Day!

 For more fun St. Patrick’s Day ideas, be sure to take a look at our sister site, Creative-Party-Themes.com

Read Across America is on March 2, 2013. Read Across America is an event initiated by the NEA and inspired by Dr. Seuss. The event is on Dr. Seuss’ birthday and typically involves reading Dr. Seuss books, celebrating reading and doing many literacy oriented activities. Here are some great activities to help get you in the Dr. Seuss spirit and inspire you to Read Across America in 2013!

Host a Pajama Day

Have a pajama day at school or home (many schools are celebrating Read Across America Day on Friday, March 1st). If you are celebrating at home, invite parents and kids to bring in their favorite Dr. Seuss book along with a pillow or stuffed animal.  Parents and/or kids can take turns reading aloud from their books to the group.

What’s in a Quote?

There are many meaningful quotes within Dr. Seuss books. Let students/children look through their books and pick out one of their favorite quotes. Next, they should write about the quote, telling why they chose it and what it means to them. For some quotes and examples click here.

When everyone is finished, you could make copies of each page and compile them into a book for the kids to take home.

Seussville 

Seussville.com has tons of fun activities. There are certificates of participation, a word search and a Cat in the Hat door hanger. Click here for tons of printables and here for lesson plans. The site also has interactive games and so much more.

Hat decorations and wearables for your Dr. Seuss Celebration

Here are directions for making your own felt  version of the cat’s famous hat.

Here are some great online finds to make your Dr. Seuss Celebration even more special:

Dr. Seuss hat and gloves	Dr. Seuss Party Supplies	Removable Wall Decorations
I Can Do That Game	Matching Game	Dr. Seuss Books Box Set

Hope you have a day that’s as full of fun and whimsy as the Cat himself!

For more great Dr. Seuss inspired ideas, check out our Cat in the Hat Party page at Creative-Party-Themes.com.

Last year my family wanted to do something special  for our Valentine’s Day dinner, so we came up with the ideas of making our own unique pizzas — shaped like hearts, of course! Not only were these super fun and easy to make, but I didn’t have to worry that anyone would be unhappy with their dinner!

To make these, all we did was roll out some refrigerated Pillsbury pizza dough and form it into the shape of a large heart instead of the traditional circle. Then I set out a variety of toppings and let everyone choose what went on their half of the heart. (Because we have 4 people in our family we made two separate pizzas.) We then followed the directions on the dough package for baking time and temperature.

As you can see, my daughters each got to express their own unique tastes on their pizza halves. One is a pepperoni lover while the other prefers pesto and veggies.  Voila! the perfect solution to a Valentine’s Day dinner that everyone enjoyed.

Hope you all have a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

In 2013 Chinese New Year falls this Sunday, February 10th. According to the Chinese zodiac, this year will celebrate the year of the snake, which is noted for steady progress and attention to detail. Why not put those characteristics to good use in completing this fun paper lantern craft activity!

Materials:

• Red construction paper
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Scissors
• Glue
• Gold glitter

Directions:

1. Fold paper in half lengthwise.
2. Lay a ruler along the length of the paper on the open side and lightly draw a line across. (This will be where to stop cutting)
3. Measure off spots at 3/4 inch intervals along the folded side of the paper and along the ruler line. Use a ruler to lightly connect the dots.
4. Cut along your measured lines from the fold to the ruler line.
5. Open your paper and make a solid line of glue along the two lengths of the paper and sprinkle glitter into the glue.
6. Allow to dry.
7. Glue the ends of your paper together so that the fold encircles the middle.
8. Add a strip of constriction paper to the top to make a handle if desired.
9. Hang your lanterns as fun decorations for your Chinese New Year celebration!

“Gung Hay Fat Choy!”

I just made a trip to the grocery store for dinner tonight, and couldn’t believe the displays of potato chips and soda pop beckoning soon to be Sunday Super Bowl watchers.

Here are some Healthier Super Bowl Snacks

Oven-Fried Zucchini Sticks

Chile Con Queso

Barbecue Chicken Pizza

We’d love to hear from you, and share with our readers, some of your healthy recipes for the big game!

Another free printable just for you!

Download these Valentine’s Day Straw Flags here