Teddy Bear Picnic

If you go out in the woods today
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go out in the woods today
You'd better go in disguise.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain, because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

Let's gather up the stuffed animals and gather under a shady tree for a teddy bear picnic.

We'll need tiny sandwiches and drinks.  Easy sandwiches kids love are of course peanut butter and jelly, sliced strawberries and cream cheese, nutella, banana and nutella.  Make as desired.  Quarter the sandwiches or use mini cookie cutters for fun design sandwiches.  Bag up some baby carrots or celery.  It's a teddy bear picnic so no need to make fancy drinks.  Just whip up some kool-aid or lemonade to refresh outside.  A cute tiny and easy to make dessert is Teddy Graham sandwiches.  Take Teddy Grahams spread nutella, peanut butter, jelly or icing on one and top with a second graham.

If it's getting a little too hot then head in and let the kids have fun making this paddington bear craft. I found it on http://www.dltk-teach.com/alphabuddies/mpaddington.html. Print out the template of paddington on the site. You'll also need crayons/markers (if coloring), glue stick, scissors and a used toilet paper roll.

 No toilet paper roll then just cut a used paper towel roll in thirds.   Let the kids color away.  Depending on your childrens age let them cut the parts of Paddington out or you cut the pieces and allow your kids to paste him together.

Picnic time for teddy bears,
The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today.
Watch them, catch them unawares,
  And see them picnic on their holiday.
See them gaily dance about.
They love to play and shout.
And never have any cares.
At six o'clock their mommies and daddies
Will take them home to bed
Because they're tired little teddy bears.

Easy Father's Day

Instead of buying an over-priced greeting card let the kids give Dad a homemade valuable card. 

Take a piece of paper fold in half crosswise and if you or the kids want a smaller card then fold once again. Give the kids crayons, markers, glitter, glue sticks and/or stickers. Don't forget to make sure they sign or you help them sign it. Great ideas for kids that need direction is draw a picture of them and daddy doing there favorite activity. We actually got the one in the picture while shopping at Old Navy last week.  You can also print out cards to have the kids color from these sites: 

 http://www.parents.com/holiday/fathers-day/printables/printable-fathers-day-cards/

http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=5254&e=thumbnail&mcat=pcFathersDay

http://holidays.kaboose.com/dad-printable-card.html

http://familyfun.go.com/printables/fun-fathers-day-coupons-704055/

For the tech savvy kids and Dads don't forget free e-cards.

Let Dad be KING for a day. You'll need to borrow your husbands hat for this one. You will also need cardboard or poster board, paint or foil, tape measure, scissors and decoration supplies (glitter, letters, markers). Measure Dad's hat for width of crown but add an inch. If you don't have a tape measure just wrap the board around the hat, lightly mark where it comes together and estimate about an inch. 

Cut cardboard to length with extra inch added. Cut the cardboard into a crown design. Now either foil the crown or paint. If you paint then wait for it to dry but if you foil be very careful when you decorate so you don't tear the foil off.   

  When done wrap around to glue together or staple together.  Make sure to put KING on the crown because we wouldn't want Dad thinking he's the princess! Once done decorating you can crown Dad.

We didn't make gifts this year for Daddy because he's a Mavs fan.  So he got Mavs stuff during the finals.

Happy Father's Day!

Shrinky Dinky

So seriously who remembers shrinky dinks? I loved making those things when I was a kid. So when I saw some kits at the stores I bought a couple. After purchasing them to give to my daughter I wondered do I really want a bunch of shrinky dinks all over my house. My youngest is only a year old. Here are some great ideas of what else you can do with them so they don't end up everywhere in the house.

Keychains - punch hole and add a chain (available at hobby/craft stores).

Necklace - punch hole and add chain or ribbon.

Gift Decorations - take a bow for a present, punch holes in the shrinky dink and tie to bow. If using a gift bag then punch hole in shrinky dink cut ribbon in assorted lengths. Tie ribbon to shrinky dinks and bag.

Action figures - Use cardboard for this one. Cut board in dome shape then cut slit in middle. Slide the dink into the slit. Use an old sandwich box or shoe box for storage.

Fridge Magnet - You will need to buy magnet strip with a sticky side (available at most stores & hobby stores). Easy enough. Cut magnet strip to fit on back off shrinky dink. Untape & stick. Let it sit an hour then stick to fridge.

Or you can look for kits like the Barbie one I bought. I actually divided it up to use as party favors.

If you punch holes and are using a hole punch then do it before baking!