Thanksgiving Fun for Kids: Art Activities to Print

This Turkey Needs Pizazz Coloring Page (click THIS link to view, then print)

Give the kids some fun art projects this Thanksgiving to keep them busy and happy! Click on the links UNDER the pictures (for full size) and then print the image from your browser... as simple as that (each picture is sized perfectly for an 8.5"x11" paper.)

I've created 3 different printable art projects...

First off is a coloring page to give the turkey some Pizazz! Hold a contest to see which kid can come up with the craziest turkey, cooliest turkey, most 70's turkey, or whatever you'd like!

Fill Your Thanksgiving Plate Coloring Page (click THIS link to view, then print.)

Second is the "Fill Your Thanksgiving Plate with Food" coloring page. Yeah, they can be traditional... turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans... but what else might show up on their plate?

A Thanksgiving Feast - Art Recipe Coloring Page (click THIS link to view, then print)

Lastly, one of my favorites from when I was a kid... an art "recipe," - A Thanksgiving Feast. It's amazing what artists can make with these recipe projects. Although everyone has the same ingredients, everyones' looks different!

Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

P.S., Keep on the look out for more Art Activities to print from me soon!

Let the shows begin...

The holiday craft shows have begun... now it's time to get out there and shop!

I just had my first show of the holidays last night. A small show in Belmont, CA that went very well. Lots of great feedback and of course sales!

I unveiled my new line of tags: goodie bag tags, personalized tags, holiday tags, the works! They got great reception-- Now it's time to get the line up on my website... Stay tuned, and definitely get yourself to a holiday show this season!

Thankfully Busy!

The piles of paper are stacking up...

everywhere.

The laundry needs to be put away...

and a new round started.

There's homework (for the kids), and

end of year soccer parties...

... and orders are coming in!

Life is busy,

and I am thankful!

Very thankful!

... and let the shopping frenzy begin

Assorted Rosie Flo Colouring Books

It's time... Halloween is over and the holiday season is in full swing (eeeghads, how early it begins!) So, to help you out in the shopping madness, I'm going to highlight over the next couple weeks some GREAT finds... at least I think they're pretty neat!

First off is Rosie Flo. I just stumbled upon this colouring (yes, it's British) book at a local book store (in California) and couldn't put it down! Should I let me daughter have this, or should I keep it for myself??!! :)

Sample (low resolution, sorry) Image from Rosie Flo's Animal Colouring Book

Such incredibly creative drawings that you color in. You also have the task of adding a head, legs and arms... anything goes. The book themes are great-- the image above is from the animal coloring book. All the fancy dresses are some type of animal, or animal theme (see above, the bee hive, and the bug wings...)

So, check out the Rosie Flo website, and make sure to get one of these books for that artist in your life... young or old!!

P.S., I found my copy at a local bookstore, but I also found it on Amazon as well.

Trick or Treat: The Best and The Worst Things to Get

I hope you can quickly spot the trick in this collage above!! I mean, what kid really wants to get a toothbrush when they're out collecting as much candy as they can possibly imagine?? I know it's got great intention (handing out the toothbrush), but unless you're a dentist, I'd say keep the toothbrush in the bathroom for the night!

So, what are the best and worst things to get when you're out trick or treating? Here's my thoughts...

1. The Good Stuff (reserved for special folks...)

My mom used to have a great tradition where she'd run down to Fran's Market (a small Mom and Pop shop in Palo Alto, CA), and buy a whole bunch of cool wax items for the special folks in our neighborhood-- you know, the next door neighbor kids and kids we knew on the block. These wax items, as AWFUL as they tasted were quite a hit-- wax fangs, wax lips, wax fingers. Oh, how I could chew on those for hours until they were extremely deformed, and just plain disgusting. Today I'm hope to bake a couple cookies for our "special" neighbors... it's such a great tradition.

2. The Retro Stuff (candy like when we were kids...)

Did you know how many cool retro candy websites are out there? I sure didn't until I started looking... It's a bonanza of great stuff. I say, pick out YOUR favorite retro candy from one of these sites (or a local store if you know of one), and hand that out this year... it's just a little more meaningful, perhaps, than the stuff you can get at Costco.

3. The Lookin' Good Stuff (the candy you can play pretend with...)

Another one I just loved growing up were the candies that last much longer than just eating them... you know, the ones you can play pretend with... candy rings, candy necklaces... not only do they taste good, they look good too!

4. The Traditional Stuff (the candy you see in cartoons...)

I've never given out candy apples, or large lollipops, but wouldn't it be fun to give out a real traditional Halloween treat? Read up on some Halloween History and get your own ideas.

5. The Bulk Stuff (everyday candy...)

There's nothing wrong with a tasty Reese's Peanut Butter Cup!! I love 'em. Tootsie Roll lollipops are good too! Those are some of my favorites, what are yours?

6. The Alternative Stuff (anything BUT candy...)

OK... I've already ragged on the toothbrush idea... I've also read about the "spare change" idea... that's a pretty good alternative idea... but I just read about a really cool idea, Books for Treats. I love the idea of cleaning out my kid's dusty, well loved, board books that haven't had an eye or ear for several years... I wonder how this approach would be received? Anyone tried it before?

Would love to hear about your trick or treat ideas! What was (or is!) your favorite thing to get? Happy hunting!

What Are Yoooou Gonna Be?

Image and idea from marthastewart.com

So yesterday was Halloween-costume-making day. I'm so proud of myself... I was actually sewing and assembling my kids' costumes almost a week a head of the actual day!

This year, we scoured through all my magazine clippings of costume ideas, and my daughter loved the Sherlock Holmes outfit from Martha Stewart (it is adorable, isn't it?) and my son just wanted to be a spider.

The spider was pretty easy... just stuffing a lot of black baby tights, and finding a black outfit for my son to wear. And, to my surprise, the Sherlock Holmes cape wasn't that hard to make either! We used a little different style wool suit fabric, and wish we had a blood hound to go with the outfit, but I think we're definitely in the ballpark!

So, what are you going as this Halloween?

Halloween Party Game Ideas

Your Halloween Party is coming up any day now... How on earth are you going to entertain a bunch of hyped up, sugared-filled kids? A Halloween game or 2, of course!! So, here it goes...

Best Scream Contest

OK, so for this game you need a lot of patience, and perhaps and ear plug or 2, but I'm sure the kids will love it. First off, describe different types of screams to the kids, so you don't just get the loudest shout they can manage. Here are some good descriptions for different screams:

1. The I'm-in-the-shower-when-someone-scares-me Scream

2. The it's-the-biggest-spider-I've-ever-seen Scream

3. The I-can't-be-loud-because-I'm-being-chased-by-a-man-eating-zombie Scream

4. The I've-just-entered-into-Frankenstein's-lap-and-his-head-is-open Scream

Now that you've given the kids some ideas... have them line up, give them a number, and let 'er rip! For awards, give them descriptions like above for their signature scream.

Monster Mash Freeze Dance

This is an old favorite-- freeze dance-- but now play it to your favorite Halloween tune. Monster Mash is a good one! The directions are simple. Have all the kids get into the middle of a big room or open space. Tell them they need to continue to dance until the music gets turned off. If they move when it's off, then they're out. For an award, you can give them a mummy oscar statue for best performance (take an old Barbie and wrap it in gauze bandage.)

Costume Awards Show

Instead of just "scariest costume" or "funniest", try to think of unique and creative categories! For instance, best costume for "Who You Would Not Want to Meet in a Dark Alley." Here's some more:

"Most Believable Costume"

"Goriest Costume"

"Most Likely to Be Put in Jail"

"Costume Most Likely to Win an Oscar"

etc.

For the awards, you can make a mummy Barbie (like mentioned above), or pick up one of these Skeleton Award Trophies at buycostumes.com.

Would love to find out what your favorite Halloween party game is!

P.S., If ya like the artwork here, be sure to check out my Spooky Halloween party invites and Spooky banner... both are posted on etsy store.