Here’s a fun and easy way to add custom stamps to your child’s art supplies! Go check out Mel’s Own Place for a tutorial on making these stamps using bottle caps!

Have you noticed that posts have been rather inconsistent around here lately? I have. I get enormous satisfaction out of finding projects that I want to make for my kiddos and sharing them with you folks. I have a ton of items starred in my reader, a few submissions waiting to be posted, and another Independence Day crafty round-up in the works. Unfortunately, I have a backlog of my own projects that I’d really like to finish (because you people are an endless source of inspiration!)…plus…its SUMMER! I’m finding myself busier than ever with my toddler and preschooler. I have no doubt that you can relate to everything I’m talking about here. So…for the next month or so my presence here will be spotty. I’ll be in and out, but I don’t think I’ll be able to maintain any sort of consistency until these warm summer months start winding down. Thanks to everyone for coming by every day and for keeping this blog fun for me! And don’t worry…I’ll see you soon!

Hi Everyone,

This is Chrissy’s tech support (otherwise known as her Dear Hubby). Sadly we’ve run into some technical difficulties with our internet, and will be offline for a couple of days. We hope to get it back soon, and I’m sure Chrissy will have lots of goodies when she returns. Thanks!

I’ve been kicked out of the house today for some work to be done so I don’t have any goodies to post. But, I did want to pop in for a sec to remind you that today’s the last day to enter the Crobots Book Giveaway! I’ll post the winner tomorrow along with a little something for everybody else. Click here to enter!

P.S. I know things have been a little wonky on the blog this week. I added the LinkWithin widget and I think it’s causing some problems. I’ve contacted the folks at LinkWithin and if it’s not fixed by the weekend then I’ll remove it and find an alternative. In the meantime, just scroll on down and you’ll find the rest of the posts. See you soon!

Today is Children’s Day in Japan and That Artist Woman has a fun way to share a bit of Japanese culture with the kids! Click on over to learn how to make windsocks from paper or fabric (she has a tutorial for each!).

Here’s a knitting pattern that I’m totally loving right  now. Julie from This Cosy Life was inspired by Where The Wild Things Are and knitted up some crowns for her little ones. She shares the free pattern here and as soon as my needles are free this crown will be on them!

Seeing these towel-bags from The Idea Room has be hankering for a trip to the beach! Drawstring backpack or sling-style? Whatever your pleasure, Amy has you covered! Go check out her tutorials here!

Minibooks can be used in so many ways! This one is made from one piece of cardstock and yields 15 pages of endless possibilities! Check out the tutorial at This Little Project and make one for your kids!

There’s really nothing pretty about formula cans, so Megan at Just Trying to Have Some Fun did something about it! Very inspiring! (Thanks to Dana (Made) for the tip-off)

If I ever find a big patch of dandelions I will now know what to do with them. 5 Orange Potatoes has me convinced that dandelion syrup would be a tasty topping for our breakfast breads and she tells how it’s done here!

You may remember that I mentioned posting another giveaway this week. It’s taken me all week to get it up!

Crobots is a book of 20 amigurumi robot patterns, and I have to say….these robots are very cute! My personal favorites are the little dogbot and ninjabot:

These would make great homemade toys for older children (or spouses!). Many of the patterns include screws, nuts, bolts, or springs which would not be suitable for very young children.

For those of you who are new to crochet, don’t be too intimidated by these little guys. The beginning of the book is devoted to showing all of the techniques needed to complete the dolls.

If you’d like to enter the giveaway, leave a comment below!

If you really really want to win the book, you can increase your chances by tweeting about or posting about the giveaway. Just come back and tell me what you did…if you tweet and post about the giveaway leave separate comments for each.

I’ll close comments at midnight on Thursday and announce the winner next Friday.

Good luck!

Quiet books are a great way to keep the kids entertained when you need a few minutes of, well, quiet! I can think of several occasions when one of these books would have come in handy! Here are just a few of the pages found at Naptime Journal Creations. Click here to see more of her pages and read about her many sources of inspiration!

Roots and Wings Co. has put together a fabulous post of various sensory integration activities that you can make at home. These activities are often used to help children who have difficulty processing sensory information, but when it comes down to it many of them are worthwhile sensory experiences for all kids. Click over to see what they’ve come up with!

You must check out this Goldilocks and the Three Bears themed birthday party recently thrown for a 3 year old. It is truly one good thing after another!

Ruby Ellen, of Cakies, covered every detail including a porriadge “of sorts,” bear hats, three little bear finger puppets, and the most precious stuffable bears to be finished by the guests! Goldilocks never had it so good! I think my favorite is the birthday girl’s Goldilocks dress. It is simply perfection and you can see it here…off you go!

I think it’s a pretty safe assumption that most of you are parents or grandparents who enjoy crafting for children, which is why I am excited to share a new craftivism opportunity with you.

.  From the Craft Hope site:

Craft Hope is a faith-based, love inspired project designed to share handmade crafts with those less fortunate.  It is our hope to combine our love for crafting and desire to help others into a project to make a difference around the world.

Although it is still in its infancy, Craft Hope’s reach is growing daily and will continue to grow as more and more of us spread the word. Currently, they are collecting soft dolls to be delivered personally by Erin (Vintage Chica) to the Casa Bernabe Orphanage in Nicaragua. They have specified the following:

We will need girl, as well as boy dolls.  We ask that the dolls have brown hair and brown eyes, since we would like them to resemble the children they are going to.

I hope that you will consider joining this effort. Blog about it. Tweet about it. Make a doll, or several. Include the kids.  Have fun and really think about the fact that you may be sending a much needed friend to a special boy or girl.

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There are a couple of doll patterns mentioned on the Craft Hope site, but I thought I’d pull together a few more to help get you started! Jade from Craft Hope has confirmed that any of these patterns would be acceptable for the program.

Ragdolls from Grosgrain

Doll pattern from 60 Piggies

Lily Marlene doll from Smooch Designs

Mimi Kerchner’s felt doll tutorial from The Purl Bee

Ruby doll from One Red Robin

Silly Girl doll pattern from Missy Balance’s Crafty Carnival

Boy and girl croched dolls from Lion Brand Yarns (must register)

Doll pattern from Make Baby Stuff

Black Apple Dolls from the Martha Stewart site

Lil Miss Missy Doll Pattern

Yarn hair tutorial from Tantehilde

Yarn hair tutorial from Crafty Sheep

Spool knitting is a great way to introduce kids to the wonderful world of yarn crafts! Help them make their own spool knitter using recycled household items and a how-to from Craftsanity!

Here’s a great way to take advantage of old tees that are no longer in use…turn them into an artist’s smock! See how The Artful Parent made hers here.

Having Fun at Home shares a fun and simple puzzle idea using popsicle sticks, which you will likely start accumulating as the weather warms into summer. Click here to read more!

El-cheapo plastic headbands just got a whole lot cuter! Take a look at mmmcrafts for a tutorial on making pretty fabric covers for your daughter’s (or your) plastic headbands

These little knee pad pants are functional and surprisingly cute! Made shows you how to make a pair and has some great tips for making these little pants grow with your kiddo. Check it out here!

Create Studio has come up with a great way to keep toys available crib-side for when your little wakes up from their nap. Click here for her tutorial on how to make this handy toy caddy.

I am endlessly fascinated by what people can do with a toilet paper roll. Go see how to make toilet paper roll kitties from How to Do Something.

Loving everything about this world map with movable continents from Montessori Mama. You can read how she made it here.

Reminding everyone this Earth Day just how easy and fun it is to use what we have when creating for, and with, our children.  Here are some projects to get you started.

Newspaper flowers from Imagination Station

Rain stick from See the Woods and the Trees

Spice container robot from Katherine Marie Photography

Homemade guitar from The Lark

Sensory box from Teach Mama

Toilet paper roll castle from Her Cup Overfloweth

Nature can from Craft

Paper bag puppets from Our Big Earth

Just poppin’ in for a sec to pass along a giveaway going on right now at Bluezcatt Studio. Go on over to find out how you can enter to win a pair of these handmade baby moccasins. Good luck!

*I love to see all handmade things for kids…tutorials, inspiration, and giveaways. You can send a submission or email me!