Valentine’s Gifts on a Budget

Groundhog Day Puppets

Today is Groundhog Day. The celebration derives from the Pennsylvania Dutch superstition that if a groundhog emerges from its burrow and sees its shadow, it will retreat to its den and winter will go on for six more weeks. If the groundhog does not see its shadow, spring will arrive early. The kids love making […]

Pom-Pom Valentine’s Card Box

An older girl in my care is so excited for Valentine’s Day! To help her build anticipation for the holiday I helped her make a Valentine’s card box to hold all the Valentine’s cards she gets from school, friends, and family.  I got the idea from designedimprovised.com. Children will need assistance with cutting out the […]

New Year’s Eve Cheesecake

I wanted to make a clock face on this cheesecake for a New Year’s Eve Party. But I’m not the best at piping frosting or decorating cakes. So, I simply bought the candy 2025 and hour and minute hands at a local craft store. Using a stand mixer makes this an easy cheesecake has a […]

Easy Homemade Dreidel 

Children of any faith love playing the traditional game played during Hanukkah called dreidel. You don’t have to buy a dreidel to play the game. See how I made these simple dreidels with cardboard and pencils that my Nanny Family already had in their home.  Be sure to read these children’s books about dreidels before […]

Cardboard Ornaments

It couldn’t be cheaper or easier than making crafts using the cardboard in the recycling bin at work. The boys and girls I care for at my nanny job, and those I babysit, enjoyed decorating cardboard ornaments with gel markers, paint pens, and markers. You Will Need: Cardboard Scissors X-Acto Knife Paint, Gel Markers, Paint […]

Could Dough

I love making different types of homemade play dough with the kids. Could dough is a great boredom buster anytime of the year. But, I pulled out the Christmas, Hanukkah, and snowman cookie cutters for the kids to play with this batch of dough to prepare for the winter holidays. I used baby lotion and […]

Struffoli Honey Balls

Struffoli is a holiday favorite in Italy. I found this struffoli recipe on the nonnabox.com web site. I wanted to try to make a holiday recipe using the amazing local honey from Javelin Bee Products for the children I care for to enjoy on New Year’s Eve. The web site explains that the authentic struffoli […]

Happy New Year Hats

As New Year’s Eve approaches making these party hats with children is a lot of fun. I let the children I care for decorate six different hat designs. Click the links below to print the different paper hat templates. Click here to see the template for Party Hat #1. Click here for Party Hat #2. […]

Salt Dough Ornaments

Making salt dough ornaments is an easy holiday craft with impressive results. They look like cookies that are good enough to eat, but they are Christmas decorations and gifts. All you need is all-purpose flour, salt, water, and some decorations. Just mix, cut, bake, and decorate! You Will Need: 4 cups all-purpose flour1 cup table […]