Felt Books

I'm always looking for quiet activities to keep my kids reverent during church.  More importantly I try to find things that are religious and quiet.  I mean, if they're not going to be listening to the speaker then at least they can be coloring a picture of Noah and the ark or looking at pictures of Jesus instead of playing with a Cinderella doll, right?

Several years ago I came across these felt play books:

I think they're so much fun.  The front cover contains a pocket that holds all the felt pieces and then each page of the book contains a large felt area where you can place the different pieces to create the story.  A couple of years ago I decided that I wanted to get them for my kids.  I found them at a Christian bookstore but they were $20 each!  I needed one for each kid and $40 seemed liked a bit too much to spend on two quiet books.  I haven't been able to get them off my mind lately and finally thought to look on amazon.com.  Of course I found them there and they were only $12 each.  That's more like it.  I bought a couple and am going to be placing them in my kids Easter baskets this year.  I can't wait to have them to bring to church with us.

Don't forget to check out some of our past Easter projects too:

The Easter Story

Bird Nest Treats

Jelly Bean Bracelet

Easter Rolls

Bunny Banner

Bunny Banner

I'm starting to get excited for Easter.  I don't really decorate for any holiday except Christmas but I love to make holiday crafts with my kids, especially things to hang and display in their play room.

My daughter and I made this fun bunny banner last week to hang up in the play room.

I first drew up some of these cute little bunny outlines.

We then set to work cutting them out.   It was no easy task for a four year old, but she's great with the scissors and we worked together.

Next was the fun part.  We went through my scrapbook paper and made our bunny tails using my 2 inch scalloped punch.  This punch is the only scrapbook toy I have and it was worth every penny.  I use it for so many things.

We then taped those bunny tails on and used a hole punch to punch the holes in the ears so we could string them together.

. . . And my daughter thought it would be funny if she had a bunny tail too . . .

All strung together, looking bright and springy!

Cute bunny tails . . .

What do you do to make Easter fun in your home?

I'm linking to these parties.

Spring Headband

I'm so glad spring is here . . . and all the darling spring clothes that I get to buy for my kids now.

Here's an idea for a hair accessory to add to your cute spring outfits . . .

I started by cutting my lace fabric into a six inch circle.  Your finished flower will be half the size that you start with, so my finished flower is three inches in diameter.

I then folded and pressed a quarter of an inch edge all the way around my fabric.  Once that was done I hand stitched all the way around the folded edge (for more detailed instructions look here) and then pulled my gathered thread to create a three inch flower.

Then chose a button for the center and stitch it on.

Cut a small circle out of felt and hand stitch to the back of the flower.

Cut two slits in your felt so you can slip in a hair clip or headband.  Some people like to glue their fabric flowers to their headbands, but by making them removable you can use the same headband with multiple fabric flowers.

All done.  Enjoy Spring!

Easter Rolls

A friend gave me this recipe to make "Resurrection Biscuits".  I thought it would be fun to do with my daughter (because she loves to cook) as well as a great opportunity to talk about the real reason we celebrate Easter.  She loved it.


This is what you'll need to make your own:
(The recipe calls for canned biscuits.  I didn't have any so I made my own bread dough.)

Take a large canned biscuit for each person.  Flatten the biscuit out until it's about 5 inches across.  Spread melted butter, sugar and cinnamon on it.  Explain that the spices represent the spices used to anoint Jesus' body before His burial.

Hand out one large marshmallow to each person.  The marshmallow represents Jesus.  It is white because it stands for His purity and His sinless life.  Place the marshmallow in the center of the biscuit.

Then fold the sides around it forming a "tomb".

Put more butter, cinnamon and sugar on the outside.  Talk about the sweet taste of the spices and how Jesus gave us the sweetest gift we will ever receive.  Place the biscuits crease side down on a greased baking sheet so they will not open while cooking.

At this point you can bake the buns.  Follow the directions on the biscuit package to bake them.  Allow a little cooling time because the marshmallow will be very hot.

When you bite into your rolls you will be surprised to find the center empty.  The marshmallow has melted.  As each person discovers the empty tomb, discuss the scripture Matthew 28:6 "He is not here: for He is risen . . ."

Enjoy!

Edible Easter Bracelet

Are you ready for Easter???  

It's just a few days away . . .

This jellybean bracelet will help keep your kids busy between now and then . . . or you can make one after Easter to help use up all the candy the Easter bunny brought.

I love the Starbust jellybeans.  Definitely my favorite.  They work well for this project because they're pretty soft as far as jellybeans go.

First you're going to want to thread a needle and tie a knot at the end.  Ideally you would want to use elastic thread but since I didn't have any I just used regular thread.  It worked just as well.

Press your needled through each jellybean and slide it to the end of your string.  Keep going until you get the desired length you want.

Once you're done tie a knot to form a circle.  Now try on your new edible jewelry and then have fun eating it.

Happy Easter!

Bird's Nest Treat

Last night for our treat we had bird's nests.  I've seen several ideas like this around the internet . . . but no exact amounts for the ingredients.  I think it will take some trial and error.  Next year I'll use a little less chocolate.

Here is what you will need:

*crunchy chow mein noodles
*milk chocolate chips (I used an entire bag)
*peanut butter
*jelly beans or other colorful egg shaped candy
*marshmallow peeps

I melted the chocolate over low heat over the stove and then added a few scoops of peanut butter (because who doesn't like the chocolate/peanut butter combination?)  Once that was all melted, I added nearly the entire can of noodles (I probably would have put the whole thing in, but I needed some for a dinner I had planned later in the week).  Then stir until the noodles are all coated.  Next, I put piles of the mixture on a cookie sheet covered in wax paper.  Shape into little nests.  I found that after I had shaped them it was good to put them in the freezer for a bit so that they set.

Once they were all hardened I let the boys put eggs and a bird into their nest.  The boys thought this was pretty neat . . . and delicious (as evidenced by the chocolate covering my 3-year-old's face.)

**I have seen all different versions of this.  Some use the chow mein noodles but make them like rice crispy treats.  Others just make rice crispy treats shaped like nests.  None put the peanut butter in the chocolate mixture . . . so you could leave that out.  Just experiment and have fun with it!  Your kids will thank you!

Spring Has Sprung

Is anyone else as happy as I am that Spring is here?

And it's here early this year . . .

I guess I have nothing to complain about . . .

I'm in the mood for some spring crafts.  Are you?

This fun spring kid craft helps you recycle too.

First you need to track down an old phone book or newspaper.

Pull out your markers and get coloring.

Trace and cut out different size circles.

Now this is the fun part . . . crinkle up your circles.

Then smooth out the circles and layer them on top of each other to make your flowers.

Happy Spring!

Stuffed Easter Eggs

The last thing my kids need for Easter is more candy. I've stocked up on the large Easter eggs to fill them with goodies instead. Last year I filled them with packages of fruit snacks, stickers, small toys, and these little cuties from Ikea--


Since my daughters favorite toy from Christmas last year was the polly-pocket from her aunt, this years Easter eggs are going to have these inside--


So much more fun than candy--and lasts longer too.

***Amy***

The Easter Story

This is a fun way to share the story of Eater with your children. A lot of you may have seen this before. This was probably one of my favorite Family Home Evening lessons as a girl.

The eggs tell the story. So the next time you run out of eggs save that carton.

In each egg you place an object to represent part of the Easter story.

1. The Last Supper -- Mark 14:22-24 (Sacrament cup and piece of a saltine cracker)


2. The atonement -- Luke 22:40-46 (Picture of praying hands)


3. Thirty pieces of silver-- Matthew 26:14-15 (Three dimes)


4. Crown of thorns -- Matthew 27:29 (Peat moss twisted and tied together to look like a crown)


5. Scarlet Robe -- Matthew 27:28 (Scrap of purple fabric)


6. Wooden cross -- John 19:15-17 (Toothpicks tied together to make a mini cross)


7. Vinegar -- Matthew 27:34 (Small piece of a sponge soaked in vinigar)


8. Earthquakes -- Matthew 27:51-54 (Small rocks)


9. Linen cloth -- Matthew 27:59 (Piece of white cloth)


10. Stone -- Matthew 27:60 (Round smooth stone)


11. Sweet spices -- Mark 16: 1-4 (Potpourri)


12. Empty Tomb -- Matthew 28:2-8 (Empty egg)


When I was a Primary leader I used these eggs for a Sharing Time lesson along with pictures from the gospel art picture kit. I had the children come sit up close on the floor so they could all see. I let the kids take turns picking an egg and showing what was inside. Then we would talk about it. This was definitely my most successful Sharing Time. The kids were so reverent and attentive. They loved it.

We did this the other night for Family Home Evening with my daughter. She loved opening each egg and learning about why we celebrate Easter. Now that she knows the story she likes to open the eggs and tell us what it's about.

***Amy***