Allegedly Mystic YA Fiction Aurora Series Book One
Here's the original cover from the YA Fictions Supernatural blog series. Aurora, you've come along way, baby. She is my baby. I've started the next book in the series, I hope to have it completed by Christmas. Things are going much faster these days, I've learned a lot over the years.
Whether you're a future novelist or a seasoned pro, hop over and learn new things or share your books with my Facebook group: Author Friends (Historical Fiction Books)
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Book Reviews and Recommendations from Kids Creative Chaos
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Heirloom Ornaments and Decorations from our Family Tree
Our tree has lots of beautiful ornaments, expensive ones, antique family heirlooms, and decorations celebrating the kids' first Christmas. The best Christmas ornaments are those we make ourselves. They don't have to be embarrassing! These homemade ornaments are craft projects you can do as a family, and they will last for years to come. Enjoy!Fimo Clay is easier than salt dough, and it lasts longer than play dough. Many craft stores carry it. Just open, create, and insert hole in top with a straw. Voila! Quick, simple, holiday ornaments or package tie-ons.
One year, my niece made everyone beautiful homemade gift ornaments from Fimo clay. |
Christmas Tree Cardinal Legend. |
The cardinal is considered the Christmas bird and is a reminder to Christians of their faith in Christ. This one is an old family heirloom, but you can make a homemade no-sew new one with felt and tacky glue. Cut two layers of the cardinal, stuff with scrap fabric or tissue paper, glue the seams together, and use Sharpies to draw the features.
Ever since I can remember, we've had a cardinal near the top of our tree.
Handmade Winter Snowflake Crochet Craft for Tree Ornament. |
Crochet a beautiful snowflake like my Grandmother did, then paint it with a glue/water solution or Modge Podge. You can also use Fabric Starch. Make a solution, place snowflake into bag, pour in liquid starch. Find How to DIY here.
Old-fashioned cookie cutters make awesome Christmas Tree ornaments. Just insert a ribbon. |
Homemade Craft Stick Snow Ski Ornament Craft. Perfect After-school or Scout project. |
Just paint two craft sticks with acrylic paint, hot glue them in the mid-point forming an "x", apply fake snow or white glitter paint to each end, and decorate with a bow. Holiday Snow Ski Ornament is a great Christmas craft idea for kids.
Homemade Christmas Tree Craft Stick Fridge Magnet or Holiday Puppet. |
Get preschoolers and elementary kids crafting with this simple holiday decoration. I cut out two of various holiday shapes: Triangles, Circles, Stars. Then, place a popsicle stick between the layers and glue the edges together.
Collect old advertiser fridge magnets, cut them up and repurpose them. You can attach to the back with tacky glue or glue between the layers to hide the magnet.
A red triangle and pink circle make a great Santa Face. Let the littles decorate the ornaments with glitter, star stickers, and pipecleaners. Place low on fridge and let the little use them to make a holiday puppet show or give as gifts to the Grandparents! :-)
Homemade Christmas Decoration Fridge Magnet. |
DIY Handmade Paper Pulp Heart Christmas Tree Craft Ornament. |
Here is a fun link explaining how to make these ornaments or plantable paper seed cards. Great gift idea! My high school Art teacher (the spark of my creativity) gave these as gifts one year.
Recommended Reading:
Christmas Party Games
Heirloom Ornament Ideas for Tree
Little Christmas Decorations to Knit and Crochet*
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! :)
Different Ways to Inspire Creativity in Your Child
As a parent, it's often challenging to see your child struggling, especially with their creative endeavors. It's essential to inspire children to explore their passions and interests. For young girls, especially, it can be difficult not to get pulled along by peers and lose sight of personal interests and passions. One way to help all kids find their voice and unique passion is to inspire their creative flow with lots of creative activities. Encourage your boys and girls to try something outside of their comfort zone!
This post contains Amazon and other affiliate links for your convenience.
School plays are a creative outlet that builds self-confidence and life long friendships. |
Inspiring creativity is a challenging tasks for most parents. Kids often choose not to do something simply because their parents have suggested it. Other times, they may feel insecure about trying something new. Try to encourage different creative pursuits as an outlet for self-esteem, fellowship, and mental health. Here are a few simple ways on how to cultivate your child’s creativity.
Mayhem in a school band production. |
Introduce kids to different types of crafts
Introducing your child to different ways to be creative allows their mind to develop away from the rigid confines of the creativity taught in many schools. It shows children the art of critical thinking and developing passions beyond the ordinary. Ask your child what interests them, but also give them options and ideas to inspire their creative and critical thinking.
If you wonder what this might look like, consider introducing your kids to different expressions of art that inspire creativity. For example, listen to music with them, discuss musical instruments and let them try one. Many cities have musical petting zoos or other opportunities to test an instrument.
Activities for Creative Expression
Jake in an adaptation of Brother's Grimm. |
You can also show your kids different forms of creative expression with painting and other arts and crafts. Allow them to play and explore. The earlier kids start experimenting with creativity, the better chance it will have an affect on their emotional stability and self-esteem. So, be sure to take your kids to museums, the theater, and to music concerts to inspire their senses and allow them to engage in all sorts of artistic pursuits. If you want to learn more about that, here's an article from Berkeley on why the arts matter.
On a side note, always remember to read with your children and encourage critical discussion on the book and its themes. A child with a curious mind will find it easier to access their personal creativity.
Surrealist Art Activity for Elementary Children
Give Kids creative gifts
Giving a child and exciting gift that isn't clothes or a video game, might inspire them to think creatively or get actively moving and making art. If you're struggling for ideas for your daughter, there are many gifts for girls to choose from that don't need to sit within the confines of gendered stereotypes. For example, you could buy her a zine-making kit. Firstly, making things helps kids to be more creative, but secondly, creating their own magazine can encourage kids to use their voice for good. Zines are a great way for children of all ages and genders to write and be creative. Click here for gift ideas that are targeting boys but can work for either gender. My daughter always hated to be excluded from toy cars, trains, and Transformers and my son loves to use hot pink as an accent color for sunglasses, hats, or other accessories. He gets a kick out of people giving him a hard time. Self-confidence at work!
Allow kids to explore
Finally, one of the most important ways to inspire creativity within your child is to allow them to explore on their own. For a child, exploring comes in many shapes and forms, from creative play to fashion. If you want your child to develop a unique identity and a sense of themselves, they have to learn what they like and don't like.
See how we encouraged our daughter to dress however she pleased.
Kids have to try out activities and get things wrong. Making mistakes is an excellent way for a child to learn, and this can also be applied to their creative endeavors. So, give your kids some paint or a dress-up box and encourage them to explore. Then, stay engaged in their exploration and find out more about what they are doing and why, but never force it- being an over zealous parent can backfire. Play it cool, and watch your kids have fun with the skills you helped to create.
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Get Musical Instruments on Amazon
My Musings on Life, "Ask Amanda" Kid Advice
Amanda is always full of fun musings on life. This is her column for kid advice.
Mandy Mayhem has lots of advice. Just ask Amanda. |
Amanda always takes her seat-belt off while I'm stopped on the street waiting to pick up the after-school kids. One of the elementary schools is no big deal, the other one is a busy city street. Policemen and Crossing Guards direct cars there.
Amanda: "What? That policeman saw me, and I didn't get arrested."
Mommy: "What if we have an accident?"
Amanda: "We're stopped."
Mommy: "Well, if a car doesn't see us stopped on the street and runs into the back of us, you'll go flying thru the window. You could get whiplash or even die! What would I do with your Christmas presents if you died?"
Amanda: "Put them on my carving stone at the cemetery."
Mommy: Speechless.
You know how people live on golf courses? We live like that on a cemetery garden. In the Spring, Hispanics gather to remember a slain country singer who escaped to America to flee would-be murderers.
I don't know the particulars, but they found him and then murdered him in a small town near our house. His gravestone is over 6' tall and nestled behind the trees in our backyard. They bring him gifts, play music, and even have picnics.
I can only assume that is how she formed this silly hypothesis.
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How do you Plan a Nursery?
The prospect of becoming a first-time parent is an equally daunting and exciting journey. There are many things that need to be done in preparation for your baby’s arrival, and for first-time parents, the list can often seem never-ending and overwhelming. Wondering how do you plan a nursery? A key task within that list is decorating the nursery, and organizing a space for the newest member of the family. Although it’s a joyous project, there are various factors and small details that are required to create the perfect nursery for your baby. Here at We Buy Any Home we’ve composed a guide on how to renovate a nursery for first time parents, along with things to include and some helpful tips. This article is written by Holly Herbert.
This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
Planning a Nursery Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1- Make A Plan:
It’s no question that preparing for the arrival of the baby takes planning, and planning the nursery is no exception. Your nursery will serve as a multi-functional room, not only will it be the place where your baby will eventually sleep, but it's where you will dress them, change, teach and feed them. Ensuring you have an in-depth plan is a great way to make sure you have everything you need and no little detail is missing.
Step 2- Cleaning and Maintenance:
It’s vital that you ensure your future nursery is pristine before you begin to think about decorating. Babies are incredibly susceptible to germs that arise through dust, pet hair and mold, so it's important that you spend a good amount of time cleaning all surface areas. However, try to refrain from using harsh chemicals when cleaning as the fumes can linger in the air and be toxic if inhaled by your baby.
It’s important to consider the smaller factors about the room. Are there drafty windows? Is the main light overbearing? Do the door hinges creak? All these small maintenance checks need to be fixed prior to the arrival of your baby, as you want them to have the most comfortable time in their nursery.
Step 3- Themes and Painting:
Once you have decided where you are going to put the nursery, then it's time to get creative. If you're thinking about painting then your options are limitless. Traditional colors are usually pink and blue, however neutral color palettes are becoming increasingly popular for a minimalist feel to the room. If you're thinking of being extra creative then you may want to consider going with a theme or perhaps a mural wall. A side note- if you opt to paint the nursery, make sure you buy a non-toxic paint that won't flake.
Don’t forget to decorate the ceiling too. Babies spend a lot of time on their backs, so why not give them a feature to look at. Consider adding a ceiling mural or a soothing color to enhance your nursery.
Under the Sea Children's Bathroom Decor
Step 4- A Focal Furniture Piece:
Most nurseries are centered around a focal piece of furniture such as a crib, but there are other options to choose from. A painted dresser can work well, or a large window or alcove. A small checklist of essential nursery items includes:
A cot (mattress and sheets too!)
Changing table or mat.
Nursing station.
Storage for things like clothes and nappies (bibs.)
A helpful tip is to ensure that everything is in reach of the changing table- including wipes, changing table covers, diaper disposal system, laundry hamper and a pacifier. This will allow you to reach for things with ease, avoid stress but more most importantly, keep your eye on your baby at all times.
What Style Baby Sling are You?
Step 5- Don’t Forget About Flooring:
As your baby grows, you will notice that they will begin to spend more time on the floor- therefore it's an important factor to consider before they get to that stage. If you’re opting to lay down a carpet, ensure it’s a shade that won't highlight stains and spills. Wooden floors are a popular choice, and you can put down a rug to add a pop of color and cushion any tumbles.
How to Make a Birthday Balloon Cupcake
Step 6- Sentiment:
This is your baby’s first room, so don’t forget to make it feel like home. Including items of sentiment for example, family photos, generational gifts such as soft toys and blankets are a neat touch to completing your nursery.
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What are the Lyrics to Happy by Pharrell Williams?
What makes you Happy? If you've heard the song, Happy by Pharrell Williams, it probably makes you happy! The song is fun and upbeat, and kids love it. So, of course, Pharell turned it into a children's book which we were given for review by Penguin Kids. We paired it with some kid made giftable picture frame crafts. Enjoy!Happy Pharrell Williams find the Lyrics in His New Book. |
The book, Happy by Pharrell Williams* is colorful and vibrant, just like the song. Children are seen dancing throughout the book. The song is reminiscent of the song, "Don't Worry Be Happy" by Bobby Mcferin. Everytime we think of either song, we think of a happy face, better known as an emoji in today's world.
After reading the fun book for kids, we decided to make some crafts that are suitable for gift giving. Read the book with your family or class and then sit down together for some valuable bonding time while you make these easy, giftable crafts.
Giftable picture frame craft for preschool: Happy! |
Happy! Giftable Chalkboard Picture Frame. |
Using another plain, wooden picture frame from Michael's, paint it with Chalkboard Paint. Then, draw happy faces and fun phrases! The background is the original store insert covered with wall paper.
Make a Picture Frame Gift Craft for the Holidays. |
The picture frame above is a plastic picture frame from the Dollar Tree. With a hot glue gun, glue a ribbon to each side of the frame. Then, add mini clothespins, and attach your favorite phrase or name. It makes a fun, graduation gift when you use the word, "Congratulations!"
So, what are you waiting for? Start crafting up some kid made giftable crafts for the holidays.
Hop over to Penguin Kids' Facebook page to win your own copy!
Recommended:
Happy by Pharrell CD*
Winter Themed Children's Books
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! :)
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