Arts and Crafts

Great Designs for DUCK TAPE® Water Bottles!

DuckTape roll photos by Ducktape.com

Ready to drop those water bottles in the cooler, but you are worried that the labels you spent a lot of time and money on will fall apart as soon as the ice melts? Fear not... you can have water bottles that match your color scheme that are cute AND waterproof!

Doing your party in black and white? What about Zebra Duck Tape?

 

Going with an animal print theme? Combine the zebra bottles with some leopard ones!

 

Now, Duck Tape is actually a brand of DUCT tape.  When most people think of duct tape, they think of the shiny silver tape used in duct work in the ceiling - well, not anymore.  Duck Tape brand duct tape now comes in a lot of fun colors and patterns, and people use it for everything from flowers and flags to house shoes and prom dresses!

Anyhew - the whole point of duct tape is that it is weather proof - perfect for the cooler full of ice and water!

These never made it into the cooler, but they could have!  Next time you have a party and you want your water to match your party theme AND to be cold, try some colorful duct tape.

1. Remove the original water label

2. Unroll about 8 inches of duct tape. Cut.

3. Line up the edge of the tape with the grooves in the bottle where the label used to be

4. Wrap tape around the bottle until the edges overlap

 

 

Duct tape comes in rolls and sheets with various patterns, so let your imagination run wild with all the things you can do.  For ideas, or to share your own, go to http://www.duckbrand.com. Here are some of the patterns available.

Got a denim theme? They've got tape for that...

 

 

 

How about preppy? Try out some argyle to go with those socks.

 

 

Feeling the 70's? Maybe the 80's? Tie Die or paint splatters... will those work?

 

 

 

There are even more in the stores including NFL licensed tape! You know I have some... I'll post pics as soon as we have a football party...

DuckTape roll photos by Ducktape.com

What do you use Duck Tape for?

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Carnival Face Paint Tutorial: Beyond the Butterfly

No kiddies Carnival in your area? That's okay! Get your kids to feel like they are part of the parade with Carnival face paint!

Baby girl LOVES to get her face painted.  I mean LOVES it.  It is hard to get her to get anything other than that butterfly and maybe a unicorn... maybe.

Most Carnival parades start in the morning around 10, so you would want to make sure to keep the paint away from the mouth since they'll probably be eating shortly after they get there.  You may also want to consider that depending on the day, it may be pretty hot.  I would suggest bringing an extra washcloth and maybe a bottle of water so that you can start to remove the face paint as they get tired of it, it runs, or it gets sweaty.

She and I both had a ball with this one, although you can't tell from her face in the beginning. She frowned a lot because I wouldn't let her see it... Now she's prancing around to soca music like she's a Carnival queen!

Also test an area before you really get started so that you can be sure your child doesn't have a reaction to the face paint.

Different day, same butterfly.

You'll need brushes and sponges.  I got the ones you see - all of them and some that aren't in the photograph, for about $6.   The face paint is a little more expensive, but if you are just painting your own kids faces every now and then, it lasts for a really long time.

What do you do with your kids during the Carnival parade in your area to get them involved?  Here's a fun at home activity - get out the glitter, glue, paint, crayons, and color pencils, and have your little ones design their own face paint look here - Carnival Face Paint Design Activity

Enjoy!

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Craft Challenge: 30 days of Crafty Fun (for you too, Mom and Dad!)

Okay parents, who has secretly thrown away their kids’ craft projects so that we don’t have to clutter closets, basements, and garages with stuff they’ll never use (and frankly – aren’t too easy on the eyes)? I am not the mom that lies to her kids and says everything they make is gorgeous.  I let them know that it is interesting, let them tell me what it is and explain their concept, and when they ask me if I like it – I tell them that I like it because they made it and it shows how creative they are.

I would post pics of their most recent craft catastrophes, but who would that really help – besides, they look over my shoulder sometimes… and they read.

So let’s get to work on stopping the lies. Start with a good, fun, attractive craft project so you don’t have to lie in the first place.  Writers, bloggers, crafters, moms, dads, homeschoolers – all ya’ll – submit your craft projects to the community for the opportunity to be featured on SocaMom.com!

What makes a craft project fun for the kids?

1. Fast
2. Age appropriate
3. Colorful
4. Can be used, worn, or played with

What makes a craft project fun for parents?

1. Fast
2. Easy set up and clean up
3. Affordable
4. Easily stored or displayed

So here are the rules:

1. The project can’t be ugly. I know you tell your kids that everything they make is gorgeous, and feel free to keep doing that – however, these projects will be cutting down on the likelihood that the finished product will be unsightly.
2. The project has to be easily stored. For some people (like me) the trash can is excellent temporary storage for the kids projects, especially if they take up a lot of room (after I take a pic with my phone, of course).
3. The project has to be finished in less than 1 hour. This time doesn’t include set up and clean up.
4. The project has to cost less than $20 per 3 kids. If you have more than 3 kids, you can add $7 per kid.

Pretty ambitious, I know, but I think we can do it. Five things must be covered with each craft project.

1. What to get. (supplies)
2. Where to get it. (stores)
3. How much it cost. (budget)
4. What to do with it. (instructions)
5. Where to put it. (storage)

How to submit your project and have it featured:

1. If you are a blogger, you may search your past posts for ideas that fit, but be sure that the rules are followed, AND that you have supplies, stores, instructions, and storage covered. Use the form below to send the link to your project.
2. If you are not a blogger, and have a great idea for a project, follow me on Pinterest, and tag me in a pin of the finished product.  If your project is chosen, I will contact you directly.

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Making a Carnival Headpiece for Your Child!

With Carnival happening all over the world, from Trinidad to Toronto, there are many opportunities throughout the year to introduce your children to one of the most recognizable and entertaining facets of Caribbean culture.

Here is a fun craft project to get you and your child involved in the festivities.  Anyone who has taken kids to a Disney theme park knows how important the “ears” are.  Kids and parents stand on the sidewalks during the parades with their ears on, waving to the characters as they dance by.  Those ears make them feel like they are part of the show they are watching.

These fun, easy, and inexpensive Carnival headpieces will make your child feel like part of the pageantry, even if she isn’t in full costume.

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