How to Make Snow Cones or Sno Cones or Ice Cones or Shaved Ice Slushy Slush Puppy

Make a Snow Cone with Shaved Ice

So how do you make an Ice Cone? I mean it's just ice and syrup, right? Isn't a slushy the same thing?  What is a Sno-cone; is it really made out of snow?  Well, we made one from real snow.  It's springtime in Indiana, so anything goes.  Here's a list of everything you never wanted to know about the tasty shaved ice treat.

Rainbow Slushy Popsicle Ice.

Wikipedia defines snow cones as a North American variation of shaved ice commonly served in paper cups. Shaved ice is finely crushed ice. Hawaiian's call it Shave Ice. Baltimorians call them Snowballs.

Slushies are all about freezing water. Snow is frozen water, right?

Authentic Snow Cones.

We cheated. We scooped up some Indiana snow and added the Hawaiian Punch syrup we found on clearance at Walmart. They put it on clearance when snow is in season, go figure. This was the easiest snow cone recipe ever. Start with clean snow. 

Mayhem leaves out collecting bowls whenever they are predicting snow. Was it good? Um... yes. It is softer than shaved ice, and oh so perfect for a snow cone. Just like the real thing, if you live in Baltimore.

Snow cone syrup: Get this, the first flavor of syrup for shaved ice was EGG CUSTARD. Apparently, during the American Industrial Revolution  New York ice houses started selling ice to Florida. When the truck passed through Baltimore, kids started asking for free samples. Each time the truck came through they got their wish. The mothers decided to flavor the ice. Since eggs, butter, and sugar were readily on hand, they made egg custard flavor shaved ice. Of course they did. Yep, Baltimorians invented this tasty treat. Later during the Great Depression, it was an inexpensive snack earning the Baltimore Snowball the name "Hard Times Sundae".

The Hawaiian's added a scoop of ice cream at the bottom of a cup and poured a little milk on top. Thank Hawaii for the rainbow colors too. Thank India for Salt and Pepper flavored shaved ice popsicles known as Kala Khatta. Hmm... I'll just stick to the colored, sugary syrup.

Sensory Play with Fake DIY Snow

When I was a kid, growing up in Indiana the Slush Puppie was the cat's meow. What a treat to get a $1.00 from Grandpa and head into the corner store for a Slush Puppie.

Slush Puppies.

Snow Cone Syrup Recipes (How to Make)

You need Sugar, lots of it, for a healthier alternative you could try Clear Corn Syrup or Light Maple Syrup. That's funny right there. For a healthy alternative how about ice and food coloring.

2 C. Sugar, 1 packet Kool-aid Drink Mix, 1 C. Water

Stir sugar and water together in a saucepan (or substitute one of the syrups above). Bring to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Stir in Kool-aid. Cool and store in a recycled glass bottle. Wait for a snow storm or use one of those nifty ice shaving contraptions or use the crushed ice from your fridge dispenser. Now pour the syrup over the ice. Tada! You should start your own snow cone biz 'cause you are officially a pro.

Recommended Reading:


Snowmen at Night*

Maple Doughnut Glaze

Kids Creative Chaos Cooks: Kitchen Kids Series: Holiday Recipes*

Big Red Barn Coloring Sheet and Creative Country Sayings: Farm Edition

Don't you love Margaret Wise Brown Books? One of my favorites is "The Big Red Barn" about animal life on the farm. 

Here's a free printable coloring sheet and some cute country sayings from down on the farm.

Cow coloring page to use with Big Red Barn activity.
Click here for Printable Cow Barn Farm Coloring Sheet: 
"Moo to you!"

Make this easy Big Red Barn Farm Craft 
from an envelope and cardboard tube.

Creative Country Sayings and Farmer Quotes:

What happens in the barn stays in the barn!

Well that just dills my pickle.

What part of moo don't you understand?

Don't go digging for water under the outhouse.

She's so tall if she fell down she'd be halfway home.

How did the farmer fix his jeans? With a cabbage patch!

Knock Knock. (Who is there?) 

Interrupting cow. Knock Knock. 

(Who is-) 

Moo!

He's as nervous as a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

Well butter my behind and call me a biscuit!

They are off like a herd of turtles.

It's slicker than snot out there.

Well slap my head and call me silly!

Recommended Reading:

Mrs. Wishy-Washy's Farm Children's Book

Pete the Cat: Old MacDonald Had a Farm Book for Kids

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Saint Patrick's Day Party Games for Kids: Perfect for Circle Time

Planning a themed Saint Patrick's Day Party? 

These easy games can be played with one child or more. Try some leprechaun approved games for kids. Use these Saint Patrick's Day games in a circle time setting with preschoolers or early elementary school. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.*

Saint Patrick's Day Party Games for Kids.

How to make a Kitchen Stove for Kids Pretend Play from a Cardboard Box

Recycle Boxes and Bottle Caps for the Best Cardboard Play Stove Ever.

Is there anything better than cardboard box for creative play? A box is the best toy ever so we made a cardboard kitchen stove for kids pretend play. Here's a 'how to make' picture tutorial.

Cardboard Pretend Stove with all the Recycled and Upcycled bells and whistles, ahem, knobs and handles.

DAY ONE

First, measure a width of wax paper and trace onto cardboard front of your box. Nevermind, if a flap is in the way, we'll fix it later. Now cut out the window (for your oven door) and reinforce the flaps with duct tape. Tape the wax paper on the inside. You can also use plexiglass and duct tape. Get a cardboard paper towel tube and attach to top of oven door. This will become your handle. 

The difficult part is attaching the interior shelf. Get a glue gun and attach strips of cardboard to each side to serve as the ledge the shelf sits on. Make them 2-3 pieces of wide, glue together, and attach face side to the right and left walls of oven. Cut shelf to fit. I used flaps from another box. Now it will slide in and sit atop your pieces of cardboard. I also added "legs" for extra play durability. (The cat likes to climb in and sleep on our shelf!)

Now tape up the bottom and back side flaps of the box. Leave the top box flap up to serve a the area for a clock and knobs. See the photo above, I also added a flap from another box to hold this flap upright, otherwise it likes to fall closed. You are tired and worn out from all of the cutting, taping, and thinking. Sleep on it and save the rest for day two.

DAY TWO

See picture below. Now, trace the fast food cup holders on the top of your box. You may have room for four burners. Cut the hole about 1/2" smaller than the tracing. I used duct tape to attach the burners, but I encourage you to use hot glue and reinforce with tape... BUT NOT YET.

First, cover the sides and the door with some leftover wrapping paper. I used a glue stick on the box and secured the edges with tape. Then, cover your cardboard tube with foil. Cover your stove top with foil. Yes, the whole top. Poke a hole in the center of each opening and cut a small "x". You will have a slit opening with triangles. Fold the triangles in and tape on the underside to the "stove top". Now you can attach your fast food "burners". Tip: I cut the foil about 3" more than what I needed to cover the top of the stove and neatly folded it down forming a chrome edge. 

Go take a break; it will look better after you've had some time away from it.

When you return, attach your knobs (soda and milk lids glued together) and your clock front (Numbers printed off from a Word Document). Let these dry for at least 15 minutes. Remind the kids not to really turn the knobs these are the push to start variety :) We lost one on the first play!

Now, call the kids! It's time for a session of creative play. We save the little french fry containers, small cereal boxes, and juice containers to pretend.

And... the Mommy you are awesome hugs and rewards are worth the frustration :)  

Make a PAPER CHEF HAT

Make a cardboard kitchen stove.

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How to Make a Chef's Hat Cat in the Hat What's She's Wearing

Wondering How to Make a Chef's Hat? 

I suggest you make one for a child's costume and not for your cat. Your cat does not want to wear a hat. He doesn't want to wear it in a chair. He doesn't want to wear it over there. He doesn't want to wear it in the kitchen. No, I'm sorry, your cat doesn't think a hat is bitchin'. He doesn't want to wear a hat near the stair. Believe me, he doesn't want to wear a hat anywhere. Enjoy!

I cut ear holes so he couldn't squirm out as easily- fail. 
No animals were hurt in this post.

Cardboard Stove Tutorial for Pretend Play

I tried to hold him very still for the picture. 
The picture is bad from all the movement.

Almost.

Shaking it off. Yep, that was the hat.

"Oh geez, just get this over with, will you!"  
After three days of trying, this is the best we can do.

So, make your hat bigger for you kids.

You only need paper, scissors, and tape 
to make a Chef's hat at home. That's easy :)

She's wearing a chef hat and apron.

Not shown sparkly pink shoes and lacy dress.

For a cat's hat or doll's hat, use 8 1/2 x 11 paper. For a child's hat, use legal size paper or tape two sheets of letter size paper together. Now draw a line (or eyeball it) about 2" from the edge of the paper. Next, cut strips about 2" wide to your line. Your paper will look like giant fringe. Take the fringe and gently fold it over the edge of your 2" border. Tape it down and repeat. When all of the fringe pieces are taped down wrap the paper around your cat/child/doll's head to measure for proper fit. Tape to secure. Now you know how to make a hat for a cat  child's costume for an impromptu session of creative play! Would also make a great hat for a teddy bear.

Does your cat like to wear clothes? Here's our "Little Rascals" style KCC Kid's Video Mayhem bakes bread in the  "Sweet Shop".



Recommended Reading:

Kids Creative Chaos Cooks (Kitchen Kids Book 1)*

Or you could just... Buy a Chef's Hat for Kids Costume*






ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Monkey Valentine Conversation Hearts Sight Word Game

Conversation Heart Sight Word Game for Kids

Get crafty for Valentine's Day using Cupid's arrows and Conversation Hearts in a Sight Word game for kids. This simple activity is perfect for early childhood literacy. Store the arrows and hearts in the monkey pocket, and then mix and match to form sentences. Scroll below for printable pattern and how to play the game. Enjoy!

Make Conversation Hearts into a Sight Word Literacy Game for Kids.

Template pattern for Monkey Valentine game.

You will need:
Construction paper, markers, scissors, glue, and scrap gift bags.

How to make the game:
Cut out pieces per pattern above. Glue monkey's face together. When gluing monkey face to paper; glue only  the outermost edge. Important: do not glue the top of the paper down (between his ears). Now you have a pocket to store your game pieces. Cut out game pieces and write simple sight words on the arrows and hearts. Make sure to use lots of action words, pronouns, nouns, and verbs.

Ideas for heart words might include feeling words like happy, sad, mad, funny.

Arrow words should include words like the, boy, girl, I, a, dog, cat, was, is, could, ran, likes. Cut more than 10 arrows to make the sentences more interesting.

How to play the game: (two players)
You will need 2 dice. Place hearts upside down on table. Each player takes turn drawing for a total of 5 hearts. Hold in hands like cards or place face down on table. Each player takes a die. Youngest player rolls first. Player must roll a 3 or 6. When a 3 is rolled player draws an arrow from the pocket. When a 6 is drawn player draws 2 arrows. With each turn, the player tries to form a simple sentence. Player must pass if they cannot make a sentence. Players can work together to make sentences too. The first player to use all of their conversation hearts wins! 


Recommended Reading:

Monkey Mask Craft and Story Ideas

Monkey Snack

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed*













ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Jake's Journey in Art Mask Making 101: Phineas Mask and African Art Mask for Mardi Gras

How to make a Phineas Mask for Mardi Gras or Halloween Costume. Tip: It starts with a birthday party hat.

This latest in a series of Jake's Journey homeschool projects teaches the art of Mask Making and formal balance. We included a tutorial to make an African Art Pende Mask and a Phineas mask which is a little more fun for kids. You might also enjoy this Mardi Gras Bird Mask. Enjoy!

How to make a Phineas Mask 
for Mardi Gras, Halloween, or a Birthday Party Hat.

You need a cardboard birthday party hat, a cereal box, egg carton, gift bag, and construction paper. First, draw Phineas' hair (think reindeer antler.) Cut two sections, glue  a red gift bag (as pictured) or construction paper pattern onto the cardboard, let dry, and cut out. Cut a 2" slit in the center of the base of each hair piece, and slide them into each other. Next, cut about 1" off the top of the party hat. 

Draw pattern as pictured on paper folded in half.

It should look like this, cut two.

Take the hair piece and insert it into the hole in the top of the hat. Secure on the inside with tape.  Now, take your birthday party hat and wrap it in pink construction paper and tape with clear tape where it overlaps. Grab a second piece of pink construction paper and holding it in a cone shape, insert it inside the base of the party hat and attach with tape. For this step, it is helpful to have another set of hands. Push the interior cone to the front and attach a hairband inside the hat. Cut out two egg holders from the egg carton, color the center for eyes and attach (hot glues works best) to the front of your hat/mask.  Place the headband on your head as shown in the above picture. Voila!

You might also like to make a Perry the Platypus costume from a cardboard box. 

Make your own Phineas and Ferb Mask 
for a Costume from a birthday party hat.

Masks are a great way to teach the art of formal balance when both sides are exactly alike. Mask can look like animals, humans, or your favorite cartoon hero such as Phineas above. Make these masks to celebrate Mardi Gras.

Many tribes in African countries still use masks as part of their special occasions, or ceremonies.  Examples of Tribal African Mask  Jake chose the Pende Mask, "Panya Ngombe," which was hung above the door of the Chief's dwelling. It is a combination of human and buffalo features with incised triangular grids creating a checkerboard effect. 

Since, Jake seemed to enjoy this project, and the focus was on balance, I didn't split hairs when it came to neatness and creativity (always choose your battles).  Read more about Jake's Journey as a reluctant artist.  Anything to do with mythology, tribes, dinosaurs, he's all over it and loves to learn as much as possible, even if it means doing art!

Pende Mask.

Right click to print the Pende Mask Pattern Printable 
(Fold your paper in half).

Mayhem's "Cat/Person" African Mask.

Recommended Reading:

Timothy Hubble and the King Cake Party

How to make Mardi Gras Masks

Mardi Gras is Shrove Tuesday

Winter craft ideas for Kids: How to Make Snow for Pretend Sensory Play in Ice Age and Christmas Village

Make Fake Snow with Wax Paper

This winter craft idea for kids focuses on how to make snow for your Ice Age Dinosaurs. In this DIY, you'll use wax paper. Enjoy!

Ice Age creative play with Dinosaurs, Diego, and
wax paper snow activity for kids.

We've shared many sensory activities for kids, but this winter one is the cat's meow! So, I've been saving a a bag of snow since my Grandmother passed away.  I inherited it with a few pieces of her snow village.  A few years ago, I used store bought snow for my village, as I wasn't ready to use hers or risk losing it around the cats and little ones. This year, I pulled it out and dumped it around my village.  It was as remarkable as I remembered. Enjoy!

 Winter Preschool Activity

And then, it wasn't... 

The cat kept climbing in it spreading it all over the floor. During the holidays, I brushed it under the table to clean up later. Later came, I began carefully picking up the pieces preparing to place them in a baggie for next year, when somehow the glistening bits of fake snow appeared more familiar than I'd ever known. This wasn't fake snow at all.  It was tiny pieces of shredded wax paper!  I made a collage with snowy scenes around my house so you can see how natural it looks.

Make Fake Snow out of Wax Paper.

Ice Age Dinosaurs, Sensory Snow Play.

Grandma's fake wax paper snow village versus real snow
covered pine trees in the landscape.

Sneaky Grandma, surprising me from the grave. I hadn't realized she was so creative. One year, on my parents twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, she volunteered to get SILVER vases for the table centerpieces.  She brought them just before the guests arrived, and I was astonished to see plastic glasses of some sort wrapped in aluminium foil. Not her crafty-ist moment. It felt a little tacky for what I had planned, but certainly creative. 

And now, the snow.

What an easy project for your snow globes, snowman in a jar, I -spy Christmas ornaments, or just for an ordinary day of creative play with plastic animals or Legos.  We decided to play Ice Age with ours.  I'll save Grandmas, just thinking how she took the time to craft it makes me smile.

So, grab your wax paper.  Do not cut it. Tear it into tiny shreds and store in a Ziploc bag for your kiddos. So easy, so fun and perfect for SENSORY PLAY!  Thanks, Grandma!

What will you pretend?


Recommended Reading:

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs (National Geographic Little Kids First Big Books)*

Dinosaurs! by Gail Gibbons*

ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

'Twas the Night Before Christmas in Our House...

The Night Before Christmas Poem: At Our House

We wish you a Merry Christmas! Hope you all have a Christmas Eve filled with warm memories and  stockings full of happiness. Here are a few photos from around our new house (old farm houseand a poem about our night before Christmas. 

We'll celebrate with a Christmas Eve children's service and then our older children and close family friends will stop by on the eve of Jesus birth for a gift exchange. Christmas day, we'll make the trek over the river and through the woods to Grandma's house. Enjoy!

Stockings hung by the piano with care.

'Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house,
every creature was stirring except for the mouse.

The stockings drooped from the piano with flair,
hanging onto their reindeer hooks with special care.

Droopy stockings on heirloom piano.

The children wrestled each other banging heads,
while double vision sent them straight to their beds.

Snowy day play! We were blessed with a white Christmas.

A

nd, Mom with her nurturing and Dad with his crap
Tried to settle us down with Angry Bird Apps.

When from the kitchen there arose such a clatter,
I stopped playing to see what was the matter.

Snowy Christmas Village courtesy of my Grandmother.

My small sister shot past me like dynamite
Knocking me into the wall causing a fight

Shattered glass and spilled milk were on the clean floor
And crumbs fell from kitty's mouth as he cried for more.

When what to my wandering eyes should appear ~

Oops, Grandma got tun over by a reindeer.

Waving his finger in the air, a red suited man
stood in a fog standing next to the trash can.

With his furrowed white eyebrows and crumpled red nose
I knew in an instant it must be St. Nick.

More rapid ranting than Mommy's his reprimands came
And he pointed and shouted and called us by name.

Now Jake, now Mayhem, now Tigger please listen...

Santa and the Misses.

Why aren't you sleeping? Are those bumps on your head? March up those stairs and climb into your warm beds.

A tiny tornado erupted inside

lifting the cat's mess and tossing it aside.

My heirloom talking tree courtesy of my Grandfather. 
He sings and scares!

So, up to our bedrooms sister and I flew
with thoughts of toys and fears of Santa too.

And then in a twinkling, I heard on the wall
the kneading and pawing of each little claw.

As, I covered my eyes listening to the sound
up the stairs my bad kitty lept with a bound.

An heirloom "robot" Santa.

Santa cleared his throat and his belly it rumbled
He tripped on the cat and on the floor he tumbled.

The bundle of toys he had flung on his back
flew out onto the floor emptying his red sack

Santa Claus?

I s

nuck out to spy on old Mr. Kringle
His cheeks were flushed and his smile had lost its jingle

He surveyed the damage and gritted his teeth
And the cat, it encircled his feet like a wreath.

Santa Bunny got covered in snow.
Hey, at least it's not a duck.

Covering my face and trying not to laugh
I saw St. Nicholas twitch his nose at my cat.

He flew up landing next to the Elf on the Shelf.
And I laughed when I saw it inspite of myself.

Infamous heirloom Elf on the Shelf.

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head
Soon led me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word but went straight to his work
collecting the toys then he turned with a jerk.

And laying his hand under the kitty's back
he scooped it up giving its head a light pat.

Heirloom elf ousting the angel.

Shaking from side to side he gave a little laugh
And said, "Listen naughty cat, it's time you had a bath.

Instead of punishment, he handed me the cat
At least without our cookies he's a little less fat.

Grandma recovered from her reindeer incident.

And I heard him exclaim as he disappeared from sight,
Merry Christmas to all and to me... 

A cat-free night!


Recommended:

Decorate Christmas Bags

Get Your Own Elf on the Shelf