DIY Family Disney Road Trip Kits

This Disney Road Trip Kit project was sponsored by Oriental Trading Company.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Last month, our family of 5 took a family road trip to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida for the very first time!  Not knowing when we'd have the chance to make this trip again, I knew I wanted to make it as fun and memorable as possible for my children.  The ride was two days in the car each way, so a Disney Road Trip Kit for each child seemed like just the thing to make the ride more enjoyable.  Before I got started, I checked out some Mickey Mouse party supplies for inspiration.

Are you planning on hitting the road to Disney?  Here's what you'll need to make some Disney Road Trip Kits of your very own . . .

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Large Red Gift Bags

Black & White Reversible Chevron & Polka Dotted Table Runner

Red Chevron Cake Bags

Red Dotted Cupcake Boxes with Handles

Round Hang Tags

Round Monogrammed Stickers (One per child)

Thin Permanent Marker

Scissors

Glue Stick

Step 1. Get your hang tags ready.  With the hole at the top, place one monogrammed sticker centered on the front of a round hang tag. Then repeat with another sticker (same monogram) on the back.

Step 2.  Find a free printable mouse head template online. Print out the template and cut out the mouse head shape with scissors.  Then, with the desired pattern facing down, trace the mouse head shape using the template and a thin marker right on the table runner.

Step 3.  Cut out the mouse head shape on the patterned paper with scissors.  Affix the mouse head with the preferred pattern facing up onto the front of a large red gift bag using a glue stick.  Press firmly and allow to to try completely.

Step 4.  Tie on a monogrammed tag to each child's bag to help them know whose bag is whose. (Either remove the paper tag that comes on the gift bag or write something fun on it with a thin black permanent marker.)

Step 5.  Use the remaining monogrammed stickers to label goodies and water bottles for each each child.

We filled these cake bags with mini homemade chocolate chip cookies, using one monogram sticker to keep each bag closed, and another to identify whose bag it is on the front.

We also labeled one box of savory treats and one box of sweet treats for each child with the monogrammed labels.

TIP #1:  If you expect the treats will not be consumed within a day, it would be best to place the treats inside a sandwich bag prior to placing inside the box to maintain freshness.

Now our basic Disney Road Trip Kits are ready to go.  What fun items would you add to personalize these kits for your children?

Here are some things we added to our children's Disney Road Trip Kits . . . 

1. Mickey Mouse ears & Minnie Mouse ears
2. Disney Pin Trading Pouches
3. Road Trip Bingo Cards
4. Custom Made Disney-inspired T-shirts
5. Write-on Safety ID Bracelets
6. A book from each of their favorite book series

I think it's safe to say that my daughter's favorite parts of the road trip kit were the mini chocolate chip cookies and the pin trading pouches.  Her two brothers ended up sleeping for quite a bit of the car ride to and from Disney.

Enjoying a snack after a long #roadtrip nap! #orientaltrading #ad

A post shared by Karen Coutu (@karen3g2s) on Feb 17, 2018 at 9:52am PST

TIP #2:  It would be extremely helpful to put together a list of free offline (no Wi-Fi required) games together for your children.  They can download all the games on their devices prior to leaving on the trip.  Then they'll have new games to keep themselves busy while their siblings are napping in the car. (Don't forget to pack fully charged external batteries and cords!)

Like this Disney Road Trip Kit idea? Pin it for later . . . 

What kinds of surprises would you include in your children's Disney Road Trip Kits? Tell us in a comment here.

Celebrate the New Year or Any Special Day with a DIY 'A Year of Smiles' Mason Jar Craft

This 'A Year of Smiles' mason jar craft post has been sponsored by Oriental Trading Company.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Years ago, I created another 'Year of Smiles' craft for my own family's use.  It was a makeshift craft, using an empty potato chip can.  Eventually, it was retired.  This year, I feel like many families around me have been struggling with gratitude, including my own.  This motivated me to rethink this craft, and to turn it into something gift-worthy.

You could gift these A Year of Smiles Jars for New Years, birthdays, graduations, or any other special day.  Recipients just need to write down all the things that made them smile, big or small, along with the date, using the included pen and paper.  If participating as a family or group, be sure to have everyone write their name or initial on the paper as well.  Then just fold the paper up and drop it in the jar. When that date rolls around again the following year, take all the smiles out of the jar and read them to relive those wonderful memories.

How to make 'A Year of Smiles' Jars . . . 

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

mason jars with lids (30oz size or larger)

glossy acrylic sealer

foam paint brush

baker's twine

confetti, sequins, or seed beads

4 x small notepads (approx. 4") per jar

personalized round stickers (approx. 2" diameter)

personalized ballpoint pens (approx. 5" to 6" tall)

scissors

TIP #1:  Since the mason jars are rounded, choosing smaller confetti to decorate the outside of the jars helps to ensure that each piece will lay flat against the glass.

Step 1.  Using the foam brush, apply an even layer of acrylic sealant to a small section of the outside of the jar. Then place the confetti, sequins, or beads as desired.  (For example, I made it so that these leaf confetti pieces were touching and overlapping towards the bottom of the jar, but placed them less densely as I went upward on the jar.)

TIP #2:  Avoid applying sealant to the bottom of the jar and to the threaded neck of the jar to ensure the jar does not stick to surfaces while drying and that the lid will sit correctly on the jar when closing it.

Step 2.  After the first layer of sealant has dried, inspect your decorated jar to see if you would like to add additional confetti, sequins, or beads.  If yes, then apply sealant to those spots and add additional pieces as desired. Drying time of the sealant will depend on your climate.

Step 3.  After the sealant has dried, apply a thick even coat of sealant, covering the entire outside wall of the jar from the base of the neck to the base of the jar.  Allow to dry completely overnight.

Step 4.  Starting at the binding, roll up the small notepads and secure with baker's twine by wrapping the twine around the roll several times, and tying into a bow.  Double-knot the bow for added security.  I chose to use silver and gold baker's twine because they work with all color themes.

Step 5.  When the sealant has dried completely, screw on the lid of the jar until it is closed completely, but not so tightly that the recipient will have trouble opening the jar.  Next, choose which side will be the front of your jar.  Then apply the round sticker to the lid so that the words face the front of the jar.

TIP #3:  Avoid applying the stickers to the jar lids prior to putting the lids on the jars.  This will cause the sticker to face a random direction when the lid is twisted onto the jar.

Step 6.  Open the jar. Place 4 rolled notepads and at least one pen into the jar.  Then close the lid again.

Step 7.  (Optional) Wrap baker's twine around the circumference of the lid 8 to 10 times.  Then tie a bow with the two ends on the side that is the front of your jar.  Double-knot for added security.  For a special touch, tie knots on the two tails of the bow.  (You may need to knot the baker's twine in the same spot 2 or 3 times to create a visible knot.) Then trim the tales below the knots with scissors.

Handtied with love. #orientaltrading #ad

A post shared by Karen Coutu (@karen3g2s) on Nov 18, 2017 at 6:15am PST

You're done!  I made the fall-themed jar below for my sister's November birthday.  The colors also match her living room.  She just loved it, and thought it would be a wonderful activity to do weekly with her husband and grade-school aged son.

I made this ombre beaded jar for my own home.  The winter colored beads match my kitchen and dining area.  If you have blue in your home, there are all kinds of winter craft ideas that include pretty shades of blue.

TIP #4:  When making a beaded jar, be sure your final coat of sealant is a thick one.  I generously dabbed on acrylic sealant over the beads to be sure the sealant filled the spaces between the beads.  Do not brush the sealant over the beads because it may cause beads to fall of the jar.

I made the jar with the confetti stars for friends of ours who like to celebrate New Year's.  My daughter is planning on making one just like it for her favorite 5th grade teacher.  'A Year of Smiles' Jars would make a great gift for almost anyone who would like to be (or needs to be) more positive.

Like this easy craft? Pin it for later . . . 

Who do you know who could use A Year of Smiles?

Tell us in a comment here.

Easy DIY Wall-Mounted Shoe Organizer

This post was sponsored by Oriental Trading Company, where the possibilities for DIY and home decor projects are infinite.

We live in a small townhouse, and are often challenged by the lack of space we have for five people (and all their belongings) to live comfortably.  One of the first rules of living in a small space is to maximize usage of the walls.  I was pretty happy when we put up two rows of hooks on the wall by our backdoor.  Then after awhile, I started to think about how we could make this wall even better . . .

Before Photos:

Two rows of coat hooks plus a shoe bench.

A bench stuffed with the shoes belonging to two tweens and one teen.

There were three main things that were not ideal about our setup.  1)  The coats were spread out between two rows of hooks, and not every hook was being used. 2) Depending on how many pairs of shoes or boots our children owned at the time, there were times when the shoe bench was too full to close the lid properly.  (Also, the shoes were getting dirty from being thrown on top of each other. I think that bothered me more than the children though.) 3) There was no room for my husband's shoes, so he would leave his shoes strewn about the first floor of our house.

PROJECT:  Wall-Mounted Shoe Organizer

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

Unfinished Flower Boxes

Unfinished Wood Slat Crate

Semi-Glossy Latex Paint

Paint Brush

2-inch Drywall Screws (3 per Flower Box)

Cordless Screwdriver

Level

Measuring Tape

Pencil

Chalkboard Sign

Chalk Markers

Woven Table Runner(s)

Step 1. Decide how many flower boxes you need for your space. The ones we used measure 24" x 6" x 6". You can configure them in multiple rows to fit your space. We used one row of three across.  You can make this project fit almost anywhere, from a mudroom to a closet.

Step 2. Add one coat of paint on your unfinished flower boxes and crate.  Add up to two more coats of paint, making sure the previous coat is completely dry before adding the next.

Step 3. Lightly mark on the wall where you'd like your flower boxes to be positioned with a pencil. Use your measuring tape to ensure each box will be the same distance from the floor.

Step 4.  Pre-drill 3 holes in each of the flower boxes for the screws to help prevent the wood from splitting when screwing the flower boxes to the wall.  (See photos below for screw placement.)

Step 5.  With the help of your level and the marks you've made on your wall, secure the flower boxes to the wall by screwing the 2" drywall screws through the pre-drilled holes and into the wall.

Step 6.  Place woven table runners on the floor along the wall under the flower boxes to have a place for boots or wet shoes.

Step 7.  Add a crate to hold wet hats and mittens.

You can create a sign easily using a chalkboard sign and chalk markers.  I made two! One for hats and mittens in the winter, and a second sign for flip-flops in the summer.

Our whole family agreed that the new Wall-Mounted Shoe Organizer worked out great.  Our children could see all their shoes easily and never had to search for the second shoe.  My daughter could fit most of her shoes sole-to-sole, but put her high-top sneakers side-by-side.

Look!  There was enough room for my 3 children's shoes AND my husband's shoes.

After Photos:

If we could have, we would have mounted the flower boxes a few inches lower so our children could hang their backpacks on the row of hooks right above them, but we did not want to cover the existing electrical outlet.  Instead, we are using those hooks for hats, umbrellas, and dog leashes.  All their coats fit on the top row of hooks because we are now using every hook.

Like this DIY project? Pin it for later . . .

What would you want to change about your coat and shoe area?

Tell us in a comment here!

Handcrafted Spirit Bracelets - An Easy School Fundraiser Idea!

This school spirit craft fundraiser post was sponsored by Oriental Trading Company.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Our twins started 5th grade this fall, which is a year filled with many field trips.  There are also yearbooks, a graduation ceremony, a graduation party, the class gift to the school, and the gifts to all the 5th grade teachers.  Since money is tight for many of the families at our school, we are trying to raise as much money as possible to minimize the cost of all of the above for the families.

My daughter and I wanted to do our part.  Since we're both pretty crafty, I had the idea to make spirit bracelets in the school colors to sell at the Fall fair at school.  I found everything I needed at Oriental Trading Company with the exception of the P, R, and S beads.

The bracelets made of Crystal Bicone Beads and Cut Crystal Round Beads were a huge hit!  If you charged $6.00 for one or 2/$10.00, you would make approximately $4 per bracelet to support your cause.  We tried to make a variety of styles, adding Bow Charms and Star Beads here and there. You could easily charge more based on how much your community would be willing to spend.

We also made lots of Pony Bead Spirit Bracelets.  You could sell these for $3.00 each or 2/$5.00, making approximately $2.30 per bracelet on behalf of your cause.  Be sure to use clear stretchy cording for added durability since some of these will be worn by children.

Presentation is everything!  I truly believe that we would not have sold as many bracelets if we had not created an eye-catching display.  All I did was add our school colors to the base of a Black and White Wishing Tree Centerpiece.  Although this inexpensive tree was made of lightweight cardboard, it was sturdy enough to hang a few bracelets on the branches, and it was easy to transport because it folds flat.

Bonus Fundraising Idea . . . 

One of the easiest donations to obtain for a raffle is free classes.  It doesn't cost a martial arts, dance, or fitness studio anything to add one more person to their class for a few weeks.  Plus, they have the opportunity to impress a potential new student.

It's great when people buy one raffle ticket, but even better when they buy more than one, right?  Why not offer a small thank you gift to those buying more than one raffle ticket?  Just a little something so that they don't leave empty-handed.  These Ninja Mini Prisms, for example, cost about $0.13 each.  A parent could walk away with a happy child if you had a small toy like these to hand out, while you just sold 2 or 3 raffle tickets instead of just one.

What tips do you have for a successful school fundraiser?

Share them with us in a comment here.

Easy-to-Make Venus Flytrap & Snake-Wrapped Candy Halloween Centerpiece

This easy Halloween centerpiece post has been sponsored by Oriental Trading Company, your Halloween headquarters.  All opinions expressed are my own.

October is a busy time of year for us, especially now that my children are older and are not all at the same school.  Between all the fall festivals, fundraising, and help with homework, I hardly have time to even think about Halloween.  That's why I was super-excited to come up with an easy Halloween centerpiece that both my children and trick-or-treaters would appreciate.

Putting together an easy display like this would be a fun Halloween activity to get the children involved in.  That's right!  This centerpiece is so easy to make that a child could probably do it.


How to Make a Halloween Serving Tray . . .

All you need is a basic serving tray and some printed Halloween-themed paper.  The tray can be black, woodtone, brown, orange, green, purple, or any other color that reminds you of fall.  Then measure the inside dimensions of the tray and fold the edges of the printed paper under itself to match the tray measurements.  Then place it inside the tray.  That's it!  I chose not to glue the paper down so that I can switch it out for different themed paper in the future.  The printed paper could be from scrapbook paper, wrapping paper, or a Halloween bag.  Use your imagination!  I used part of a paper Halloween table runner.

How to Make Snake-Wrapped Rock Candy . . . 

It's tough finding candy that everyone will like that is also safe for children with allergies.  I discovered that rock candy is gluten-free and dairy-free.  These rock candy lollipops paired with some cute fuzzy hair monster bookmarks are sure to be a big hit with trick-or-treaters, even ones with some dietary restrictions.


Here comes the fun part!  To wrap bendable snakes around the rock candy, first coil them around your index finger.  When the snakes are in a coil shape, wrap them around the rock candy lollipops.  If you intend to display these treats in a cup or a pail, like I have, then be sure to keep the snakes towards the top of the lollipops.  This would also work well with hard candy sticks.

How to Put Together Your Halloween Centerpiece . . .

I was lucky to find a set of 3 Halloween pails that I fell in love with.  Either little pails or flowerpots would work well in this case.  The first pail is for holding your decorative Venus Flytrap plant.

The other two pails are for holding your snake-wrapped rock candy lollipops.  Place the three pails in the Halloween serving tray you created.  Add a few snakes here and there, and you're done!

Like this Halloween decor idea? Pin It for later . . .

What ideas do you have to delight trick-or-treaters?

Share them in a comment here.