Michael’s Summer Mystery Box

 I grabbed one of the Michael’s in‑store mystery boxes for just $10, brought it over to my mom Maryann, and this haul was way better than I expected.

The box was packed with tons of plasticware and paper plates, which my office is always looking for. So that alone made this box worth it.

Then we pulled out some wood table décor that looked like juggling sticks. After the video, my mom asked to keep one “as a weapon in case anyone breaks in. Only Maryann would turn a craft stick into home security.

But the big winners were the pride boas. My mom modeled them like she was on a runway. She's becoming an internet icon.

There was a lot more in this box, so check out the video to see the full haul. This was best $10 I’ve ever spent on a mystery box.

High Quality Themed Craft Box Subscription

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We Craft Box:  The Kids Crafting Experience

Each month, for less than $30, parents can open up a colorful, turn-key, fun, creative and educational craft experience for their children ages 3-9.  The beautifully-packaged craft kits arrive with everything you need – just open and enjoy.  A story and easy to follow video is also included.  It’s the perfect gift for siblings to enjoy with each other, an amazing gift from the grandparents, and of course for parents and family friends to share and enjoy.

We Craft Box is has earned a slew of prestigious consumer awards for its thoughtfully designed, affordably priced, high quality and completely fun craft box kits. 

Founded by mompreneur Betsy Wild after the arrival of her newest baby (a son!) she realized there was a real need for creative, easily accessible craft experiences which would encourage self expression and a chance to bond with a loved family member or friend.  Her training as a fine artist and illustrator and prior experience as a creative director means that each box is extraordinarily well produced, highest quality and educational as well as fun!

My Thoughts 

Amazing... I mean, just, amazing. These boxes are so adorable. My son and I had so much fun. I love that there are supplies to make two of everything. I do not know if that is a standard thing with every box, but it seems to be a pattern. These items are made with high quality materials, and make some beautiful keepsakes. We made pinecone turkeys, bead corn cobs, turkey crowns, glitter water photo frames and a family tree. The decorations were detailed, with bright large pictures for the different steps. All of the supplies you need are in the box. I believe the only thing I had to get up and get was scissors. It also came with the most beautiful set of crayons. 

We even had extra supplies in most cases so we could make another or repair them if need be. My son loved the magic puffs that we made the turkeys with. These boxes have so much thought and creativity put into them. You can do the month to month plan or prepay for 3, 6, or 12 months to save money. Each box is themed as well. If you do not want to sign up for the monthly option they have some single boxes you can buy as well. They have a Hippo Party Kit, and face painting sets as well. This is definitely every mom should check out. 

Connect with We Craft Box

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Easter Gift Guide - Yoobi

This Easter, let Yoobi help you fill your baskets with craft supplies kids will enjoy all year long. They have everything you need to spread add a little color to your spring season. Here are just a few of our favorite products.

 Cover your pavement in stunning designs with this giant rollers of sidewalk paint.

Perfect for Easter, these cute bunny bags are great for storing all your favorite art supplies.

These stamps work well with the paint rollers and allow kids to draw their favorite emojis with ease.

These fun Easter stamps can be used to make cards for all of your family.

Finally, this adorable rainbow chalk can be fun for Easter or St. Patrick's Day. My kids are going to have a great time decoaring our sidewalks as soon as it gets warm enough., thanks to Yoobi's art supplies. These awesome colorful products are sold exclusively at Target and are also available at Yoobi.com. 


In addition to providing all these fabulous art supplies, Yoobi also gives back to the community. Many kids in the U.S. don’t have access to basic school supplies, unless teachers pay for them out of their own pocket. Through Yoobi’s partnership with the Kids In Need Foundation they distribute Yoobi Classroom Packs all across the U.S. to the kids that need them the most.  If you'd like to learn more about Yoobi and all the products they offer, be sure to visit their website or follow them on social media. 

Connect with Yoobi

Face Book       Twitter        Pinterest     Instagram   You Tube

Your Next Valentine's Day Craft and #Giveaway from Kwik Stix

Make a quick, cute and mess free craft for Valentine’s Day with Kwik Stix and Michael’s!

Kwik Stix are the mess free alternative to traditional paints. These tempera paint sticks are gluten, egg, nut, soy, and dairy free and need no prep nor cleanup. Kwik Stix applies wet and dries in 90 seconds or less with a paint like finish, working on paper, canvas, wood and more!

Create a great Valentine’s gift in minutes with Kwik Stix and a wooden picture frame (with a dowel for standing), all available at Michael’s! We chose red, white, pink, neon pink and metallic pink Kwik Stix for this project.

After you’ve gathered your materials, get to decorating! We went with a striped pattern, and used the white space to add polka dots.

Now all that’s missing is the perfect photo! Pick up both Kwik Stix and a wooden frame at Michael’s in store or online at www.michaels.com.

To learn more about Kwik Stix and all the cool products available from The Pencil Grip, be sure to visit their website.

The Giveaway

One lucky winner will receive a prize pack withe everything you need to make this fun craft.To enter, just fill in the Giveaway Tools form below. This giveaway will end on 2/20/18. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Open to the US only  Thanks again to The Pencil Grip for offering this fantastic prize. 

Entry-Form

The Art of the Moulin Rouge - Book Review

If there is one trip on my bucket list, it is going to Paris! I have always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower and enjoy all the French cuisine of the region. Some day I hope it will happen. As a wish, I have decorated my guest bedroom in Paris décor including prints from the famed Moulin Rouge.

I am excited about this book - The Art of the Moulin Rouge! This interactive book features more than 25 projects all inspired by the famed Moulin Rouge. The first part of the book details the coloring projects with color patterns to use. Behind the tutorial are beautiful full color prints of many of the posters.
The details on the prints are fantastic! I love the descriptions of the years of each design. Each of the colored prints can be used to help color on the activity coloring page for the corresponding print. The colored print mentions the matching coloring page for ease in finding.

There are 15 coloring pages, all on single sided pages. Dot to dot pages come next followed by several color by number pages. These color by number pages are my favorite. The book includes a suggested color by number template that can be matched to most colored pencils.


At the back of the book are postcards in full color that can be removed and mailed.

This book has a lot of activities to enjoy! I like the several types of activities. This is a crafty book for any coloring devotee. Fans of Paris and its Moulin Rouge will love the assortment of colorful prints. This is a piece of history and artistry in a fun to complete book.

Buy The Art Of the Moulin Rouge from your favorite online bookseller.

The Art of the Moulin Rouge by Walter Foster Creative Team

More than 25 interactive projects inspired by the artwork of the world-famous venue

Author: Walter Foster Creative Team
Format: Paperback / softback, 112 Pages
ISBN: 9781633223042
Publisher: Walter Foster

Kwik Stix Halloween Pumpkin Craft - Get Them at BJ’s Wholesale Clubs!

Kwik Stix are one of our favorite craft items.  They are a combination of paint and markers. They work like markers, because you simply rub them along the paper to create any design you like. However, they give you the type of beautiful artwork you can really only get with paint. They work on paper, wood, posters, or any other surface, and kids can create lovely masterpieces in minutes. It even dries in only 90 seconds. 

For Halloween, my children created a quick and easy pumpkin craft using Kwik Stix. It only takes about half an hour and requires minimal clean up. We are going to share it with you today.

What You'll Need

Orange, Black, and Green Kwik Stix
Popsicle Sticks
Scissors
Glue


Step 1

Line up popsicle sticks and cut to size to create the pumpkin shape.

Step 2

Glue the popsicle sticks together. A glue gun works best, but any craft glue will do.

Step 3

Add a stem to the tip of your pumpkin. You can use the scraps to conserve your sticks.

Step 5
Color the pumpkin with the orange Kwik Stix and the stem with the green Kwik Stix. Allow 90 seconds to dry.

Step 6

Glue and color some of the scraps with the black Kwik Stix to create a Jack-O-Lantern Grin and draw triangles for the eyes.

Step 7

Glue a popsicle stick to the back to create a stand.

And that's it! In just a few minutes, your kids will have an adorable pumpkin decoration. Kwik Stix dry super fast and wipe off surfaces easily, so there is no messy clean-up involved. This is a great craft to occupy the kids as they count down the days to Halloween.

Kwik Stixs are unique art supplies merge markers and paint in one fun package. They work like markers, because you simply rub them along the paper to create any design you like. However, they give you the type of beautiful artwork you can really only get with paint. They work on paper, wood, posters or any other surface, and kids can create lovely masterpieces in minutes. They even dry in only 90 seconds. Kwik Stix are awesome because you don't need any water or brushes. Just uncap the lid and get to work. They come in a variety of vibrant colors including neon and metallic, and they're completely non-toxic. They are great for kids of all ages for fun and for school projects. Any child would love to add these to their art box, and they would make a fun addition to any art box.  

Kwik Stix are now available at all BJ’s Wholesale Clubs for only $19.99! This is the best price, but if you aren't a BJs member, they are also on amazon. Grab some today for the back-to-school season or get a head start on the holidays.

Back to School Craft - Create Magical Fairy Wands with Westcott Hot Glue Guns

My family is always looking for a way to bring a little magic into our lives. One of our favorite ways to accomplish this is by making our own fairy wands. This simple craft is easy, affordable, and fun for kids of all ages. Even some adults will enjoy creating their own wand. Just follow the simple steps below and see how easy it is to create something magical.

What You Need

Westcott Glue Gum
Glue Sticks
Sticks/Twigs
Acrylic Paint
Paint Brushes
Glitter (Optional)
Anything Else You Want-Rocks, Seashells, Crystals, Stickers,Etc

Step 1 - Gather Sticks 

Gathering your sticks and twigs is completely free and will give you some time out in nature. Go for a walk in the park, nature trail, or anywhere else where trees are plentiful. When choosing your sticks for your wands, be selective. You don't want anything too thick because it will be hard to grip. If they are too thin, they will break easily. Also avoid a lot of bark as this will chip off after you decorate them. Finally, make sure to check for insects.

Step 2 - Paint

The next step to creating your wands is to paint them. Be sure to lay down newsletter or old towels over your work area as this can get messy. Acrylic paint works best, but anything you have on hand should be fine. Just avoid oil paint, because I learned the hard way that it never dries on wood!   Depending on the color you select and the color of your stick, you may need to apply two or three coats. Lighter colors typically need three. Allow the wand to dry thoroughly before moving on to the next coat. With acrylic paint, it only takes about ten to fifteen minutes for each coat to dry.

Step 3 - Glitter

If you decide to use glitter, you will need to do this before the final coat of paint drys. This is very important because it's the only way to get the glitter to stick. I use glitter that comes in a little shaker. You can usually find these in the dollar store. There are three or four colors in a pack. Simply sprinkle the glitter along the wand, but be sure to do it over some type of container so you can dispose of the excess glitter easily. This part is optional and will depend on the design you are working on.

Step 4 - Decorate

This is the really fun part. There are unlimited ways you can decorate your fairy wand. You can use polished stones, pieces from broken jewelry, buttons, or just about anything else you find in your craft box.  The only limit is your imagination. The most important part of this step is finding a good glue gun.  You want your decorations to stay in place when kids are playing with them. The Westcott Hot Glue Gun is my favorite. They heat up quickly, and turn red when they are ready  to use.   Best of all, their glue holds everything firmly in place. Their hot glue pen is perfect for any tiny additions you want to add to your wand. They won't get covered in glue, and you won't get your fingers burned. Here are just a few examples of the types of wands you can create.

Crystal Wand

Fairy Wand

Good Luck wand

Chakra Wand

Drift Wood Wand (Unpainted)

Well, there you go. Beautiful fairy wands that only take about half an hour to make. They are a great craft for birthday parties or rainy summer days.  Best of all, this is a craft that your children will actually play with long after they are completed.  My kids have a whole collection and even my teen daughter still enjoys making them.

To see more fun craft ideas like this one, be sure to visit Westcott Creativators. Look for Westcott Glue Guns & Pens at Michael's.