Reuse Cardboard Toilet Tubes Holiday Party Favors or Christmas Decorations: Treat Baskets

Treat Baskets Ornaments for Christmas Tree

How to Reuse Cardboard (Toilet ) Tube rolls to make Treat Basket Ornament Decorations for the Christmas Tree or a Classroom Party Gifts.These little Christmas Tree Decorations from Toilet Paper Rolls are fun to make.  Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.*

Update: This post was created in the days of flip phones. Our apologies for the photos, but it is such a rewarding project, you'll enjoy creating something beautiful to hang on the tree and fill with goodies! If you do, share a photo in the comments.


I saw a post on toilet tube crafts. They look like they were made by a professional. I thought we'd try it out. Here are our kid versions. We added a mouse, penguin, tree, and an angel.

Easy Toilet Tube Cardboard  Holiday Ornaments.

Cut your toilet or paper towel tubes in half. I cut up the middle and then cut in half. Your cut won't show. Tape together. Cover the cardboard with felt, fabric, or construction paper and decorate to your hearts content!

What great Christmas tree decorations and ornaments to fill with goodies from Santa, but they also make good party favors or table placeholders too!

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Santa made by 7 yr.old boy, Angel by teenager.

Snowman Angel.

Christmas Tree.

Mommy's Penguin.

Mommy's Snowman.

Made by 5 yr. old.

Reindeer with Harness.

Mommy's Mouse with Pipecleaner tail.

Whiskers are wires from bread twist tie.

More Holiday Crafts for Kids:

Reindeer  Sausage Business Card Snowman Felt Scraps Cream Cheese Peanut Tree Puppet Waffle Cone Pipecleaners Buy Felt and other supplies for this project at Amazon: Felt* Googly Eyes* Recommended Reading: Little Christmas Decorations to Knit and Crochet* Holiday Crafts from Cardboard Tube Rolls

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.

Halloween Ideas: Diy Decorations

DIY Halloween Decoration Ideas

Halloween is so much fun! The holiday seasons begins with hayrides, bonfires, and pumpkin patches. To get you into the holiday spirit, we're sharing some Halloween decor ideas that you can make at home or purchase online at Oriental Trading and display around your party area. Make homemade Halloween lights to show off your festive Halloween decor. Enjoy!

Oriental Trading supplied these items in exchange for a post. 
This posts contains affiliate links for your convenience*

Beach Theme Pool Party Ideas for Teens and Tweens

Sweet Sixteen Pool Party Decorations and Ideas

Planning a pool party for a sweet 16? A beach themed pool party is a lot of fun! It can be difficult to plan a birthday party theme for teens and tweens. Even if you don't have a "real" pool you can have a pool party for a sweet 16 birthday party. Just get an inflatable pool (or two) and add lots of fun decorations and beach themed food. We love planning parties with The Oriental Trading; they are our go to spot for summer fun. They have the most fun decorations at the best prices. So, have the best pool party ever for teens or tweens with these pool party activities, food, and fun decorating ideas with a pink and green flamingo theme. Enjoy!

Valentine's Day Party Ideas for Tweens Tutorial

Tween Valentine Party Activities Tutorial

Wondering what to do for a Tween Valentine Party? These Valentine's party ideas for tweens will keep kids busy afterschool. Invite their friends over for a fun filled Valentine's Day party with craftivities galore. Girls and boys alike will have fun making their own one of a kind snowflake hearts and Duct Tape Valentine Snack Treat Box to use while watching their favorite movie. Enjoy!

Heart Craftivities for a Valentine's Day Party for Tweens.

Your tweens may not enjoy exchanging classroom valentines or making valentine's mailboxes for school, but they probably enjoy eating fun food and having a party. You can make this as a surprise valentine treat for kids or you can have them help make the Valentine crafts as an afterschool activity.

Tween Valentine Party Activities Tutorial.

To decorate for our Valentine's Day party, we made a few heart crafts that are fun for kids of all ages.

First, we made paper snowflake hearts. Want the full tutorial? Click the link:  How to Make Paper Snowflake Hearts.

Once the snowflake hearts are cut out, glue them to a colorful background paper and cut them out. Use these lacy hearts as decorations hanging from the ceiling, placemats, or write fun sayings on them and hand them out as Valentine classroom exchange cards.

Make paper snowflake hearts to decorate for a Valentine's Day party.

Using colorful cardstock, make heart sculptures. Cut out two hearts and then cut halfway up the bottom of one, and half way up the top of the other. Slide the hearts together (upside down) to form a 3D base for balloons. Punch a whole in the top of them, and slip a ribbon through to attach a balloon bouquet. They make fun, whimsical table decorations too- no balloons required.

3D heart sculpture table decorations.

Next, make heart garland to hang vertically in the window. These are a good scissor skill activity for younger kids. They also work fine motor skills. Fold paper in half, draw half a heart at the crease line of the paper. 

After the heart is cut out, keep it folded and cut two- 1" slits 1-2" apart. Open the heart and weave ribbon or string through the slits.

Using a glue stick (it works just fine) or hot glue gun, attach a pom pom to the end of the garland to give it a whimsical finishing touch.

How to make heart garland for Valentine's Day party decorations.

Surprise the kids with snack treat boxes made from recycled cereal boxes. Make these ahead of time or let the kids choose their own patterns and make their own. 

At the Dollar Tree, we purchased duct tape in various colors. Not only does this decorate the box, it also makes the box sturdier giving it protection against spills or greasy food. 

While shopping, we found little red cups that make perfect Valentine treat holders. Fill them with dip for veggies or yummy candy treats. Ours are filled with Valentine candy conversation hearts.

Valentine snack treat boxes for movie time or after school snacks.

Start with a cereal box. They are the perfect size for sitting on your lap. Cut out a large flap for the main course and then cut out two smaller wholes for the mini snack cup and a juice pack or drink holder. Trace the bottom of the cup and juice box to insure you cut out the perfect fit.

Things to do with a recycled cereal box.

Carefully wrap the box in designer duct tape. When going around round the cut-outs, score the tape (cut a slit in the tape before folding it over), this allows for a cleaner, more attractive edge.

Snack box decorated with duct tape.

Once your box is covered in tape, attach a heart on the inside of the flap. Personalize it with your child's name or candy heart sayings like, 'Be Mine', 'Your the Bomb', 'Hers', or even 'Happy Valentine's Day'.

Treat box for Valentine's day or movie time snack.

Place colorful plastic wrap or tissue paper inside the food flap. Then, fold four flaps over on a paper plate to form a square, paper bowl. Fill your food section with popcorn or a mini heart shaped pizza. Click the link for the full pizza recipe tutorial.

Mini heart shaped pizza for Valentine's Day.

These cute Valentine glasses were a steal at the Dollar Tree. They have lots of fun designs. If your tweens are too grown up for juice boxes, make a special drink for Valentine's Day. Keep scrolling for our easy Valentine's Day drink recipe.

Make a special tween drink for Valentine's Day.

Ever heard of a Shirley Temple? It is a non-alcholic fun, fizzy drink. To make a simple Shirley Temple, fill a glass with lemon-lime soda and then give it a splash of Grenadine. Grenadine is sweet, so a little goes a long way. For a fun version of the Shirley Temple, just add a bit of pink cotton candy. Don't forget to put a cherry on top!

Add a layer of plastic wrap or tissue paper to protect the inside of the box.

How fun was that? Kids will love getting invited to such a fun filled Valentine's party. Once everyone has their snack box, head over to the living room and watch a fun, Valentine's theme movie. 

Peanuts is always a good choice. Charlie Brown never gets the Valentine he hopes for.

Valentine treat box complete.

Tween Valentine party ideas and activities.

These activities are so easy, if you don't have Valentine's Day plans, you can prep for this party in about 2 hours. So, go make your own fun! Hope you have a fabulous Valentine's Day!


Recommended:

Fill your treat box with Homemade Heart Shape Pretzels.

Valentine's Day Movies for Kids*





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! :)

For Blog's Anniversary: 5 Holiday Decorating Crafts and Activities with Disney Phineas and Ferb's Perry (Agent P)

Like Agent P? So, do we! 5 Perry the Platypus Holiday Crafts

It's my blogiversary! Today, the blog is officially 5 years old per the first post, although, I am certain I deleted some less than perfect posts from those first few months. Mayhem and Jake have grown so much over these last 5 years! We wanted to share our favorite things and that includes Perry the Platypus. Enjoy!

And, this little image, sealed the deal ;) Thanks again, friends!

When I started, I never believed I would make it this far. I never thought it would be possible to not only make a real living with my blog, but also to employ others who needed income and wanted to stay at home. 

Now, 5 years into it, blood, sweat, and tears behind me; I leap forward into a new career as an internet entrepreneur. I have never felt so empowered, and I am excited to see what gifts and lessons the future has for me. 

Thank you for reading our posts. Thank you for sticking with me all these years! If you've just stumbled upon us, welcome! Help us celebrate by leaving a comment or giving us a G+ 1 high-five. 

We leave our failed attempts, messy chaos, and more for you to review. The future is a gift to you. The blog will share more and more ideas for homeschool projects, preschool activities, and crafts for adults and kids alike as well as my chaotic musings on life.

The post that started it all- I've come a long way baby!  Spiffy title though, "Watch me Pull a Chicken Sandwich out of a hat", a la the Amazing Mumford from Sesame Street ;)

In 2014, we'll be introducing a whole team of bloggers here. Each with a special creative talent or skill. Want to get in on the action? You can submit a post for publication and get paid! Paid Submissions? Yes, I can do that ;)

To celebrate, here are 5 Holiday Crafts and Printables honoring one of our blog's favorite characters to craft, Perry the Platypus!

1.  Disney Family has free printable Phineas and Ferb (and Perry) Christmas tree decorations.  

Perry the Platypus and Phineas and 
Ferb Printable Christmas Tree Decorations.

2.   Free Phineas and Ferb Christmas Coloring Page Printable


3.   Squidoo has a Free Printable for Perry the Platypus Day. 

Perry the Platypus Day Clipart.

Say What?  Did you know there is a Platypus day? Apparently, it is March 2. That is very close to my birthday; Perry and I must be soul mates!

4.   Okay, so these aren't all Holiday Crafts for Perry the Platypus, unless you consider Platypus Day a holiday, but you could add a fun Santa hat to this paper bag puppet to make it so! The kids will love learning how to craft Perry into a puppet like this one from Chatting Over Chocolate.

Make a Perry the Platypus paper bag puppet.

5.  This Perry Merry Christmas card is also from Disney Family. What a cute card to make with preschoolers! 

Perry the Platypus Christmas Card paper craft to make.

Here is a bonus Perry the Platypus crocheted Christmas ornament decoration for you Christmas tree. You could make your own or buy it. It is the cutest thing! I found it on Etsy.

Perry the Platypus Christmas tree ornament decoration by kiki and jojos.

Recommended:

Perry the Platypus Costume Idea

Perry the Platypus Water Bottle*






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! :)

Fun Patriotic Party Ideas and Activities

Red, White, and Blue Party Decor for Fourth of July

Red, white, and blue decorations make these fun patriotic party ideas and activities special! If you are looking for simple party decor for an indoor or outdoor party, these star spangled holiday decorations fit the bill. We found gorgeous Fourth of July bunting and more from Oriental Trading. Read on for ideas and activities for a patriotic theme party that works for birthdays, Memorial Day, Veteran's Day, Labor Day, or Independence Day celebrations and backyard barbecues. Enjoy!

This post contains affiliate links and was sponsored by OTC.

Oriental Trading gave us our choice of products for review for this party post. The kids have summer birthdays just before and after the Fourth of July. American flag theme decor decorates our rustic country living and dining room, so these items are a welcome compliment to the decor. With the great prices at OTC, you will be ready to celebrate a party or backyard barbecue without breaking your budget.

Have the Best Patriotic Party with these Ideas from Oriental Trading

What says Independence Day more than red, white, and blue bunting? Okay, fireworks do, but the second best answer is definitely bunting. We found several kinds of bunting for decorating for a patriotic party. Below, the flag bunting is durable and outdoor friendly. Tie knots every few feet to give it and old-fashioned flair.

Outdoor red, white, and blue bunting for Fourth of July party decor.

Hang bunting in a twisted swag for a simple outdoor holiday decoration.

Galvanized buckets make a festive flatware caddy.

Traditional Fourth of July bunting used as a window valance.

Rustic American flag burlap table runner.

Americana dining room with red, white, and blue holiday party decorations.

Celebrate Independence Day with Fun Activities like these:

Most Independence Day parties involve fun outdoor activities. We found patriotic inflatable pool noodles (perfect for pool jousting) and inflatable USA boxing gloves. Mayhem is ready to rumble.

Inflatables for fun Fourth of July party activities.

Fun, inflatable boxing gloves from Oriental Trading.

No outdoor party is complete without a bounce house. You can purchase small ones for the backyard from OTC or go all out with a big bouncy castle like this one from Moonwalk Madness in Plainfield, Indiana.

Recommended:

United States Homeschool Lesson

Safety Tips for Fourth of July

Patriotic Dessert for Party

Backyard Barbecue Cookbooks

Easy Independence Day Activities and Crafts from Pinterest

Red, White, and Blue Kid Kabobs

Fourth of July Craft

Outdoor Games and Activities for Independence Day

Summer Beach Theme Party

Halloween Party Ideas from Oriental Trading

Oriental Trading (affiliate)

Five easy ways to throw an eco-friendly birthday party for kids

You can have an Eco-friendly, Up-cycled Birthday Party for Kids and save money too!

This guest post is from Kara Carrero at ALLterNATIVElearning. She and her family are passionate about the environment and conservation. In this post, she has ideas on how to throw an eco-friendly birthday party. Enjoy!

The modern birthday has lots of cake, plenty of decorations, and almost always disposable plates and utensils. However, our family strives to find a balance in making birthdays both special and environmentally sustainable. Birthdays don’t have to lose their luster by choosing to not waste or spend a lot of money.

My daughter’s first birthday was this past fall. Like many first time moms, I had anticipated the day it would arrive since she was about 3 months old and planned little bits here and there throughout the year. But my main goal was to throw an exciting and memorable party without trash or excess.

Eco-Friendly  Birthday Party Ideas

1. Use real dishes or compostable paper plates. If you plan it right, it doesn’t have to be a hassle to use real dishes. In fact, having some small Corelle dishes on hand easily pays for itself. They do not break as easily as regular dishes and are easily replaceable or you can add to them. We grew up with them and rarely broke anything and it’s still what my parents use. My 15 month old has thrown one and it didn’t even chip. If you just can’t do that, use real silverware with basic paper plates that break down in the compost or can be recycled. Even here in Oklahoma (not very eco-friendly) we have options for community compost and recycling.

2. Re-use old décor and don’t throw any away. Up-cycle old material for new decorations. We made bunting from old magazines and used paper, and it was really cute! I had a few things from parties from several years ago, so I reused a couple of things. I also had some SOLO cups that I re-wash and use for the kids while adults use our glass cups.

3. Make the birthday about the experience and not the decor Birthdays are about the fun and not about having perfect decorations. We threw a carnival with fun homemade games instead of investing a lot of time and money into party hats, balloons, and streamers. Even growing up, I don’t remember how my parties were decorated, but I definitely remember the fun I had or the silly things that happened. Focus on making the most of the brief time given rather than stressing over the things that won’t be remembered.

4. Make party favors about memories, experiences, and sustainability. We had two different party favors. Her birthday party was specifically a grow theme, we provided small bio-degradable pots to decorate and soil and seeds to grow a small garden. It’s a gift that keeps on giving!

We also had a a photo booth. We asked everyone who attended to make an up-cycle costume and take a picture with the frames we provided. They left us their email address so then we emailed them a picture when we sent them an e-thank you card for coming and for gifts.

5. Make the gifts count. I know this sounds a bit presumptuous, but in reality it doesn't have to be. Be clear with your attendees because I have never met someone who didn't appreciate knowing that their gift was well-received. For us, we put a line on the e-vite that read “no gifts necessary, but if compelled to bring something we needed x,y,z”.

These are five easy ways to throw and eco-friendly birthday party, not break the bank, and still have awesome memories with friends and family. For us, it’s just one more step in doing better in making conscious decisions about what we need vs. what we want which has become increasingly important with kids.

For more from Kara visit her site at ALLterNATIVElearning.com

Recommended Reading:

Your Birthday Book: A Keepsake Journal

Birthday Monsters!

 
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