Nancy Blakey

Love it. Want more Mudpies! Wish I knew about these when my kids were younger.

I got an idea for an April Fool's joke that I will probably play on my family this year. And the Ice Ornaments would be terrific in a colder climate (or maybe even a colder winter). Bread painting looks like fun, too, especially if you already have food coloring in your cabinet.

And the idea to take an old sweater and make mittens is a definite keeper - the way little kids lose mittens every family should know how to do this. You do have to 'felt' the sweater first, but that's not difficult, and the rest is super easy for anyone who has every threaded a needle.

It's especially good because 1. though accessible to kids, and shelved in the children's section, the narrative is actually directed to the mom/ caregiver. And 2. the projects are ones that a mom/ caregiver would feel worthwhile. They generally don't create a huge mess, or require significant purchases, and they often produce something useful or at least attractive enough to be in the family area of the home.

(Too many of these 'crafts & activities for kids' are full of ideas for things like gluing glitter to dry pasta to make necklaces, which fails on Mess, Money, and Appeal.)… (meer)