Project Life | New Maggie Holmes Mini Kit

New at DigitalProjectLife.com today is this great Maggie Holmes mini kit... and it's 20% off until February 2! Here's a page I made with it (I am in love with those big polka dots!):

Free Printable | Lollipop Valentines

One month until Valentine's Day! Want to get started a little early? Here's a quick, easy Valentine you can put together with your kids this year. Just download and print out the free template below. Cut each lollipop cover out, use a small hole punch to punch a hole where indicated, and score/fold along the dotted lines. Stick a small lollipop through the hole (I used the flat kind of sucker that has the flat cellophane wrapper… sorry forgot to get a pic), and fold the front flap over and into the little tab. Staple each side to hold closed. There's a space on the back for your child to sign their name.

Click here or on the image below to download this free printable:

Scrap Paper Garland

I used to be a paper scrapbooker. Years ago. I still love to make handmade cards and other crafty stuff, but I don't really paper scrapbook anymore. Not in the traditional sense anyway… Project Life? Yes! Anyway, I have stacks and piles of scraps of patterned paper. This scrap paper garland is a great way to use paper scraps and pieces that probably won't be used for anything else, and it's pretty cute, too! It's super simple, so get the kids involved. My daughter loved working on this with me.

First, we tore the paper up into little pieces. No measurements, nothing precise… just tear. We used Elmer's glue thinned with a little bit of water (you could also use Mod Podge) and a foam brush to adhere the scraps to a sheet of white card stock.

I think the easiest method is to brush the glue on the paper (work a section at a time so the glue doesn't dry before you're finished) and stick the scraps to them. Overlap the pieces so that there is no white left showing. It doesn't matter if they aren't stuck all the way down because once the white paper is covered, you brush a thin layer of glue over the entire sheet.

Once the white card stock is completely covered and you've brushed a layer of glue over the top, let the mosaic paper dry completely before completing the next step.

Turn the paper over and trace hearts over the entire sheet (we used a cookie cutter as a stencil). Cut the hearts out and punch a small hole on each side.

Thread a thin string (or ribbon, yarn, cord, whatever) through the punched holes of each heart to create the garland.

We used our garland to decorate for Valentine's day. The great thing about this is it can be adapted for any occasion depending on the colors/patterns of paper you use and the shape.

Pinned + True | Balloon Garland

I love Pinterest. I have a lot of pins. (My Pinterest boards found here.) A.LOT. Obviously, more pins than I'll ever have time to attempt. But, I do actually try some of the pins I pin. I've created a board called Pinned and True where I can keep track of things I tried that worked for me. This balloon garland is one of them. It's so simple but genius. All you do is blow up a bunch of balloons and using a needle (careful not to pop the balloons) and thin string, thread the string through the tail part of the balloon. I don't really know what it's called, but it looks like a little tail, right? Anyway… genius, I tell you. No need for helium.

Link to the pinned idea: http://www.agirlandaboy.com/journal/archives/002791.html

Rudolph Root Beer

I have one more fun, quick gift idea for you this week… Rudolph Root Beer!

This is another one where the kids can help! I printed the labels, and the kids helped me wrap and tape them (nothing fancy… we just used Scotch tape). Then hot glue googly eyes and a red pom nose (use a low-temp gun if kids are helping). Wrap pipe cleaner around the top and bend the ends back and forth to resemble antlers. To make the scarf, just cut a strip of felt, cut slits on both ends (for the scarf fringe), and tie it around your reindeer. A great, inexpensive, fun gift!

Rudolph Candy Bars

Here's another quick, fun gift to make for the holidays. This is a great one for kids to help with. My kids helped wrap the kraft card stock, and they punched all the noses and tags and did all the glueing by themselves (just make sure to use a low-temperature glue gun or some other adhesive if they help glue… don't use the high-temp glue guns). We formed an assembly line and watched a movie while we worked. It was fun activity for us to do together. Here are some steps to help with the process:

1. Measure your candy bar (we used Hershey's) and cut kraft card stock to fit around it. We just used Scotch tape on the back to keep the card stock in place.
2. Use a circle punch to punch noses out of red card stock.
3. Create a pattern for the antlers, trace as many as you need on brown card stock, and cut them out.
4. Use a low-temp glue gun (or other adhesive… I just like how fast the hot glue dries) to adhere noses, goggly eyes (available at craft stores), and antlers.
5. Use baker's twine (or other string or ribbon) to attach tag.
6. Give to friends, family, teachers, neighbors, the postman, and whoever else deserves one of these cute Rudolph candy bars!

Snowman Dipped Oreos

I first came across these Snowman Pops at The Idea Room (probably via Pinterest? but I don't remember for sure). My kids and I made them for the first time a couple of years ago. My kids gave them to their friends, and we took a cute bucket full of them to our Neighborhood Cookie Exchange (what our neighborhood does instead of neighbor gifts… it's awesome).

These are pretty straight forward to make, but here are some tips that helped me:

• Use Double Stuff Oreos because it's easier to get the stick in. I don't think it would work with the regular, skinny Oreos.
• Microwave a few cookies at a time for 5-10 seconds to get the stick in without the cookie breaking (my sister shared this tip with me after I had broken several Oreos and was ready to call it quits).
• Popsicle sticks worked better for me than sucker sticks.
• After you dip the Oreos in melted chocolate, hold them upside down over the bowl to let some run off so it doesn't puddle as much when you put it on the pan.
• Make sure to use wax paper on the pan because they'll come right off when you're ready to package them up.
• I colored a small amount of the white chocolate orange for the noses. I put it in a sandwich baggie and cut a tiny hole in the corner of the bag to pipe the noses on. (I use Wilton Candy Colors when I need to color chocolate.)
• If you can't find miniature chocolate chips (mine are Nestle brand), I think mini M&M's would be cute, too.
• Instead of ribbon, I decided to make little scarfs out of felt. Just cut a thin strip of felt, then cut slits at the end of each strip (for the scarf fringe), and tie it around your snowman!

We're going to make a batch of these this week for my kids to give to their friends. My son also wants to make some reindeer ones, so I'll let you know how that goes!