Crafts & DIY

Our Nutcracker party planning continues… and no party is complete without themed decor.  This week we created a simple burlap holiday banner featuring Nutcracker silhouettes for less than $10, with great Pottery Barn-esque effect! DIY Nutcracker Silhouette Holiday Banner For Day 3 of our Nutcracker series, I created this simple holiday…

The Nutcracker is more than just ballerinas and tutus!  The battle scene features the Nutcracker and his army of toy soldiers versus the Rat King and his minions.  Today, I’ve recreated this battle with a fun Nutcracker game on a cinnamon stick tic tac toe board! The Nutcracker Series Welcome…

People thought I was crazy when I took Big M, then age 3, to see The Nutcracker last holiday season.  She was captivated from the opening curtain to the final curtsies.  She still watches it almost daily, narrates the scenes, requests to listen to the soundtrack in the car, and re-enacts…

Growing up, I always looked forward to December 1st, and my Mom’s reveal of our annual Advent Calendar.  On a recent trip through Target, I saw an adorable 3D Christmas tree version… for $30.  And it still needed gifts to go inside.  I knew I could create my own version…

Black Friday pandemonium looms just one week away.  I, personally, have never been one to join in the shopping at midnight insanity.  I prefer to stay home, enjoy my family and let my turkey digest.  I am, however, all in favor of getting a jump start on preparing for Christmas.…

Who else loves paging through the Pottery Barn catalog?  I certainly do.  However, the hubby definitely doesn’t care for the price tags associated with it.  So I limit myself to using it as inspiration, and love it when I can create something, with help from the kids, for a fraction…

It’s Friday, and this week, We’re in Love with Leaves!  This is the second week of our weekly link-up party, It’s Friday, We’re In Love!  Each week, one of our 8 co-hosts will share featured ideas we LOVE from that week’s theme… and best of all, the link-ups will remain…

With the move to our new, forever house, everyone in the family got exactly what they wanted… The girls got a great new playroom and a yard to play in.  I got the kitchen I’ve always wanted.  And hubby got his man cave.  He has been plotting his man cave…

Happy Friday, y’all!  If you’re new here, welcome!  I’m Meghan, the founder of Playground Parkbench.  I write about parenting, household tips, and at-home activities for kids.  Every Friday, I partner with four of my fellow bloggers to bring you We Love Weekends, an open forum for our favorite family-friendly bloggers…

For those who have been followers for a while, you know we are gearing up to move into our forever home.  After two years of searching, another 6 months of designing and contract negotiating, followed by another year of construction, it looks like we are finally moving this month!  And…

Nothing says summer like July 4th and red, white & blue! The girls and I have been in the patriotic spirit this week, first making festive stained glass decor, and then, at Big M’s request, tiaras, or as I prefer to call them, Liberty Crowns!  We made some jeweled tiaras…

Nothing provides more entertainment at our house during warm weather than bubbles.  And after three summers of blowing bubbles until I was breathless, Big M has hit an awesome milestone: she can now blow her OWN bubbles!  However, this leads to Lil’ M wanting to as well, and mostly she…

I’m a gift giver… I love everything about it.  I love brainstorming for the perfect idea, going out shopping to find it, and especially love putting it all together in the perfect package (back in my broke college days, I was known to spend more on wrapping than the gift…

Big M, at 3.5, has become increasingly interested in the concept of days and times.  When she is awaiting a holiday or Grandma coming to visit, she will ask what day it is happening, and then everyday ask if it is that day yet!  Similarly, she has picked up on…

We have had so much fun from my dust covered golf bag this last month.  Starting with our Backyard Golf Ball Hunt, to refining the girls’ fine motor skills with Golf Tee Challenge, and Big M’s favorite to date – Create a Creature with Golf Tees.  On Monday, we were…

When you spend your whole childhood in one place, you grow up believing the foods you eat and traditions you celebrate are the norm for children everywhere.  It wasn’t until I graduated from high school and went to college across the country with people from everywhere that I came to…

Big M’s paper plate wreaths are beginning to become a fixture in our kitchen.  As soon as we remove one at the end of one holiday season, she asks to make another one for the next!  So far for Valentine’s Day, we have made 3 easy Valentine wreaths… two paper…

My Instagram project sneak peeks put the pressure on to get these posted!  We first saw these on PopSugar as gifts for Mother’s Day, and like many of you clamoring for the How To…, we fell in love at first sight.  We finally got the chance to make them ourselves,…

Who remembers making these simple, DIY ornaments when you were a kid?  When we put up our tree last weekend, I found one I made nearly 30 years ago, and decided I had to make them with Big M this year. DIY Ornaments with Cinnamon Dough It’s a perfect, low maintenance recipe…