Glow-In-The-Dark Dance Party ~Kids Co-op

This week I decided to just feature my favorite link up from last weeks Kids Co-op.  There were so many great ideas that I had a hard time choosing.  With my kids help we decided that the one thing they “for sure” had to try was this simple Glow-In-The-Dark Dance Party from Crayon Freckles.  Click on the red link to take you to her post.  Thanks for sharing your creative ideas, I can’t wait to see what you link up this week!

Glow-In-The-Dark Dance Party

Come back every Thursday to see if your creative idea were featured and link up any new ideas! (I will be using one image and a link back to your blog.)

If you don’t want to miss out on any of the fun we are having at Housing A Forest, make sure to follow us on PinterestFacebookGoogle + and Twitter.

Weekly Kids Co-op



20 Valentines Card Holders

Create the perfect holder for all your Valentine Cards

I’ve been on the lookout for some simple, and of course, cute ways the kids can contain all their Valentine Cards for school.  Lots of these simple Valentine card holders are quick and easy to make.  I hope you enjoy our top picks for “best of the web” in DIY homemade Valentine’s Day card holders!

20 creative Valentine Card Holders ~ adorable ideas for the kids Valentine's Day Party

Our house is gearing up for the kids school Valentines party.  The kids are putting the last minute touches on their homemade Valentines.  Once that is finished we need to create 3 Valentines card holders, one for each kiddo.  I am drawing a blank this year, so did a quick Google search for inspiration.  Here are a few of my favorite Valentines Card Holders from around the web just in case you are like me and in need of a little inspiration as well.

Valentine Card Holders created from a cardboard box

Valentine Card Holders created from a cardboard box

Valentine Card Holders created from a Recycled Container

Valentine Card Holders created from a Recycled Container

Valentine Card Holders created from Bags, Plates and Jugs

Valentine Card Holders created from Bags, Plates and Jugs

Valentine Card Holders created from a Cereal or Tissue Box

Valentine Card Holders created from a Cereal or Tissue Box

I would love for you to leave a comment on what your favorite Valentine Card Holder is, or what your kiddos created.  Since we have a ton of egg cartons laying round, I’m sure that we will be using them some how.  I will post as soon as they are created.

For more creative Valentine Boxes, check out our:

20 of the cutest Valentine Boxes

3 Easy Valentine Card Holders

Super Simple Valentine Box

DIY Mailboxes

Simple Valentines Stamp

How to Make a Simple DIY Stamp

My kids made these little Ornament Valentines last year for their friends.  I found the hearts on clearance after Christmas.  They were originally intended to decorate your Christmas tree, but they made perfect as Valentines.  I still have a few of the felt hearts floating around and decided they would make the perfect simple Valentines Stamp.

DIY Valentine Stamp ~ simple homemade stamp

 

Who knew a Christmas ornament would make such a great stamp!

Ornament Valentines

All I did to transform the felt ornament into a stamp was hot glue it onto a piece of cardboard.  That’s it.  Nothing fancy, but I love the impression it leaves behind.  The stamp looked perfect on the front of a card.

DIY Valentine Stamp

I have posted about making my own stamps before (links below) and to tell you the truth, I like them better than the store bought ones.  Each of them are unique, and have character that their store bought counter parts are lacking.  I hope that I inspire you to think out side the box and look at everyday items in a new way.  If it has texture, or a raised design then it probably will make a great stamp.  You might be surprised at what you find.

DIY Valentine Stamp

Here are a few of my favorite DIY stamps that we have made: (click on the red link to take you to the tutorial)

I would love to hear what you have made stamps out.  I love hearing creative uses for everyday materials.

Bleeding Tissue Paper

Tissue Paper Hearts ~Valentines Art for kids

This pack of Bleeding Tissue Paper has been in the back of our art cupboard for a while. We used it often before I started blogging, but for some reason it got pushed to the back of the cupboard and forgotten about.  If you have not used bleeding tissue paper before, it is a special type of paper that is sold in art and craft supply stores.  It is designed to run and bleed when it gets wet, creating a simple art work.

Tissue Paper Hearts ~Valentines Art for kids

You will need:

  • Heavy Weight Paper
  • Bleeding Tissue Paper
  • Paint Brush
  • Container of water
  • Spray Bottle

Bleeding Tissue Paper Heart

We started out by cutting a large heart out of heavy weight paper.  Hand your little one a paint brush and a container of water, and invite them paint the entire surface of their paper with water. Bleeding Tissue Paper Heart

Once everything is good and wet, lay squares or strips of the bleeding tissue paper on top of the wet surface.  We found that overlapping the tissue paper creates a wonderful effect.  This process based art work is perfect for little fingers.  Encourage them to continue painting their project with water, the wetter the better!

Bleeding Tissue Paper Heart I also handed the kiddos a spray bottle, just to ensure that the tissue paper was entirely soaked.  This step will intensify the colors of the tissue paper bleeding into the paper.  The kids loved using the spray bottle.

Let the project dry entirely before lifting the tissue paper off to see their master piece. The kiddos enjoyed removing all the pieces of dry tissue paper and were excited to see what colors had transferred to their paper.
Bleeding Tissue Paper Heart

The colors are slightly muted from the original tissue paper colors, but still beautiful.  A little glitter on top and they were perfect (according to the kids).  Apparently a little glitter makes everything perfect:)

This is one of the easiest art projects, and perfect for even the littlest hands.  I would love to try this with regular brightly colored tissue paper.  Has anyone tried this with regular tissue paper and had good results?

60+ Valentines Crafts and Activities

Welcome to the weekly Kids Co-op!  So many wonderful ideas were shared last week, so thanks for linking up!  I love curling up with a cup of coffee and browsing through them.  Last week I featured 12 Easy Kid Valentine Crafts perfect for little fingers to make.  Looking at the links, we must all have Valentines on our brains!  I had a hard time choosing my favorite, so I thought I would let you decide.  Check out  this list of 60+ Valentines Crafts and Activities that were linked up from last weeks Kids Co-op.

60+ Valentines Crafts and Activities

Valentines Crafts

Valentines Art

Valentines Reading and Math

Valentines Science

Valentines Recipes

Valentines Activities

If you were featured this week, feel free to grab a Housing A Forest button.

Come back every Thursday to see if your creative idea were featured and link up any new ideas! (I will be using one image and a link back to your blog.)

If you don’t want to miss out on any of the fun we are having at Housing A Forest, make sure to follow us on PinterestFacebookGoogle + and Twitter.

Weekly Kids Co-op