Easter Egg Decorating Kit - Moms Buzz's Favorite

Busy moms need simple, ready to use things to make our lives easier, and even more so when the kids get excited about crafting something as special as Easter eggs!   Of all the kits the Moms Buzz has used in the past, Williams-Sonoma's is Easter Egg Decorating Kit is the best by far.  Here is why.

Making Holiday Stockings

Moms Buzz loves the Martha Stewart website because it is filled with wonderful ideas for every occassion, and more so for the holidays.  Our pick for this season is making nice looking stockings that you can bring out and update every Christmas, year after year, as your kids grow older.

 

They are quite easy to make.  Only the stocking requires sewing; the designs are glued on, for easy updating. For letters and numbers, enlarge a font from your computer and trace. Draw other shapes or photocopy and trace an existing image; attach with fabric glue. Keep the basic shape simple, then add details with felt, yarn, or marker. The snowflake's cutouts were made with a craft punch; the drum is embellished with embroidery floss.

To make the ones shown above in the image, go to Keepsake Stocking How-To using Martha Stewart's  stocking templates and cut felt pieces.

1. Pin a cuff to each stocking piece, lining up top edges. Trim long edges of loop with pinking shears; fold, and place between one cuff-and-stocking pair as shown (line up top edges). Sew along top edges. 2. Flip cuffs up, and stack stocking pieces (raw seams out); pin. Sew around stocking (use 1/4-inch seam allowance), including sides of cuff; leave top open. Pink sewn edges. Fold cuff down; iron to crease.

Happy crafting!

- The Moms Buzz

source and image: www.marthastewart.com

Sewing Sites for Mom Aficionados

If you are one of those moms who love to sew everything at home from napkins to totes to pillows and outfits for your children, Country Living magazine recommeds the following sites:

• Purisoho.com - the online home of Purl and Purl Patchwork, sells natural, heirlookm-quality fibers, and fancy fabrics such as cashemere and warm alpaca! Tools and accessories are sold there. www.pusisoho.com.
• Burdastyle.com - not only an online store, but also has a forum where fellow sewers can share ideas and tips.  You may also download free patterns. As an open-source sewing operation, members can also barter and sell their creations through the site. www.burdastyle.com.
• Sewmamasew.com - is a virtual seweing circle where members can share tips, projects, and sewing resources.  The site features a full online shop.  www.sewmamasew.com.

Happy sewing!

- The Moms Buzz

source: www.theweek.com

 

B.O.W. - Weekly RoundUp of the Best of the Web!

Today, Tuesday, Moms Buzz is happy to bring you B.O.W. - the Best Of the Web in a weekly roundup of posts from fine blogs and sites featuring fashion, beauty, lifestyle, parenting and much more. 

Style, Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle and Health

Glamspirit: A Must-Have for Your Medicine Cabinet. Discover the Wonders of Tea Tree Oil.
 
Couture in the City: Dvb Jeans by David and Victoria Beckham.  Okay so its official – I am giving up chocolate. And chips. And the occasional glass of wine I so soooo love. Actually I may as well give up eating all together if I am going to be able to indulge the latest love of my life. Yes, I have fallen again for the impossible, the gorgeous, the have to have latest buy that just happens to come in a size zero and is designed to make a size 4 look like a candidate for Jenny Craig.

Shrimpton Couture Contest: Win $100 by sending in your suggestions!
   
Stiletto Jungle: Is Dreaming Tommy Hilfiger Delicious? Three real-world women review the newest fragrance from Tommy Hilfiger.

Stylenotes: Win a $100 Montgomery Ward Gift Certificate. Register for a chance to win a $100 Montgomery Ward Gift Certificate from stylenotes starting on Tuesday, March 25th at 10am. Montgomery Ward offers an array of products ranging from home decor, furniture and bedding to fitness, pet care, jewelry,and apparel.

Parenting, Family, Kids & Moms

Tot Snob Contest - Travel Horror Stories. Tot Snob wants to hear your worst travel horror story for a chance to win the CARES seat belt.

Boston Mamas: Food Fight. To serve the need for repeated mealtime tee changes with a dose of humor and sass, there’s food fight’s impressive menu of trendy onesies and tees for babies and kids.
   
Clever Parents: Organization-Motivation: ABC, MP3. Looking for a little organization inspiration? Check out this play list to groove - and get organized too. 
   
Coochicoos: The Perfect Playhouse Design Competition. 10 Grain and coochicoos.com sponsor a kid's design competition - "What's your perfect playhouse?" 
   
Healthy Bump: Baby Celebration LA. Call your best friends or moms and plan to spend the entire day at Baby Celebration LA April 12 & 13, 2008! If you went to Baby Celebration LA last year you know that it is a truly magical experience! Guess what? It is even more exciting this year!
   
MomFinds: The Best Time-Savers for New Moms. Your day is hectic enough, so we've rounded up a few of our favorite time-saving products to use with baby, at home and on-the-go to make life easier.
   
Moms Buzz: 10 Commandments of Pregnancy Exercise. For those busy moms who are expecting their first baby, second or other #, and love to and can exercise, here are 10 handful tenets worth warding.

One Chic Mama: A Tutu for Your Tee. We review Tu for Tee's adorable new spring collection - make sure you register to win one for your daughter!
   
The Nest Baby: DwellStudio Crib Set Giveaway. One lucky user will win a crib set of her choice from DwellStudio! Submit your best nursery decorating tip to be eligible.
   

Easter Eggshell Votives - An Easy to Make Craft

Easter eggshells don't need always be filled with chocolate or other goodies.  You can transform Easter eggshells into votives for your table or as an Easter hostess gift. It's so easy to make that you can involve your children in this project.  Here's how to make Easter eggshell votives:

Material:

• Egg shells as many as you would like
• Egg cups to use as the base
• Food coloring
• Egg carton
• Warm and hot wax or tealight candles

Instructions

1. Make a hole in the top of each egg with a pin; enlarge the holes, and pour out the yolks;
2. Clean shells;
3. Then dye them with food coloring (follow package directions).
4. Nestle shells in a carton.
5. Cut wire-core wicks to 4 inches long, flatten one end, and fasten in shell with a bit of warm wax.
6. Using a funnel, fill shells with hot wax (tinted with dye pellets). Let the wax cool. Trim the wicks, and light.

An alternative is to use tealight candles instead of using pure wax.  You would need to make the egg holes large enough so that you can insert the tealight candles.

Get crafty for Easter!

- The Moms Buzz

source and image: www.marthastewart.com

Join the Knack - Where Kids Discover by Michaels

For those busy moms with younger children, you will be happy to know that Michaels® created The Knack.  The Knack is an online program to show parents new ways to engage, create and build confidence in their kids. It helps parents to encourage kids to discover new skills and have fun in a memorable way. Every child has a knack for something!

When you join the "Club", as a member, you'll be inspired by:

• 24/7 access to exclusive online projects
• A monthly e-newsletter featuring new projects, products and events
• Email updates about new events and products
• Invitations to special promotions, offers and sweepstakes
• And much more—all with the convenience of a Michaels store nearby

When you join The Knack today and you'll automatically be entered into The Knack/Crayola® Sweepstakes. Five lucky winners will each get over $1,400 worth of Crayola products!! Wow!

Here is the link to join.

Let The Knack give you the power to help your kids discover theirs!

- The Moms Buzz

B.O.W. - Weekly RoundUp of the Best of the Web!

Today, Tuesday, Moms Buzz is happy to bring you B.O.W. - the Best Of the Web in a weekly roundup of posts from fine blogs and sites. 

GlamSpirit: Fun Gift Giving Tip from Japan. If you’re planning to give a sweet Valentine’s Day gift to someone special this week, why not present it in a gorgeous red fabric rather than some paper that will just get tossed away.

Moms Buzz: Moms' Night In - Tips and Ideas. After a week's full agenda, we are probably left with little energy, opportunity or incentive for hitting the town with our girl friends. But, that doesn't mean we can't create an equally fun moms' night in! Get the tips!

Couture in the City: New York Fashion Week, Fall 2008, Best of the Best, Temperly London. Thank ye gods for Temperly London…IMHO, Temperly London is the best of the best for New York fashion week, fall 2008. If I had to see one more “Working Girl” 80’s inspired business suit, I was going to hurl…but luckily TL saved my sanity.

Work it Mom!: Quick Valentine's Day Crafts For Kids. Your kids want to make something creative for Valentine's Day and you have exactly two minutes to help them. Check out this list for some quick and fun ideas that don't require your inner Martha Stewart.

Señora Cartera: MARC by Marc Jacobs Fall 2008 Collection. MJ Loves The 80s Feast your eyes on the youthful, chic and retro-fabulous fashions from MARC by Marc Jacobs' Fall '08 collection and find out which handbags the designer has in store for us.

Stiletto Jungle: Peek Inside the Grammy Style Studio. Music and fashion go hand in hand, particularly when it comes to fabulous awards show swag. Stiletto Jungle hit this year's Grammy Style Studio and reports back with all of the fashionable details.

Stylenotes.com: Take Note -- Seeing Red (on the Runways). The abundance of red on the runways this season caught our eye – check out our favorite red looks, and our picks on how to partake in the trend.

TotSnob: Tassimo Coffee for the Tired, Busy Mom. A coffee maker for the mom on the go, perfect for those of us who need a dose of joe without the wait. Now you have time to get both you and your child ready for the day!

Snowflakes Ornaments for Your Holiday Dinner Table

These are a nice flat snowflakes ornaments that you could use to decorate for the holidays. You do not necessarily need to hang these snowflakes on the tree, but use them instead as a decorative piece on your holiday dinner table or as part of the centerpiece, or on any other table in your house that you may want to dress up very festive. Make them and then spread them out alongside the table. They are so easy to make and look so beautiful!

Snowflake How-To
1. Enlarge Templates as desired (5 to 12 inches in diameter).

2. Tape to a piece of heavy mat board or smooth cardboard; place over a protective surface, such as a self-healing mat.

3. Using a utility knife, cut through layers to create snowflake shape. Remove template. Using a medium paintbrush, coat one side of shape with craft glue. Sprinkle with fine glitter. Let glue dry; shake off excess glitter.

4. Repeat, using glass-shard glitter. Repeat process on other side. Using silver thread, hang snowflakes from removable adhesive hooks.

Let is snow in colors and glitter!

- the Moms Buzz

source and image: www.marthastewart.com First Published: December 2005.

Kids: Craft Ideas While You are Cooking Your Thanksgiving Meal

By now, you must have your Thanksgiving menu planned out, groceries almost bought, and maybe the only thing left to do is how to keep the kids busy while you are doing all that cooking, right?  Well, here is a nice craft idea, the Leaf Turkey Picture, your kids will love to do and show for Thanksgiving.

If you do not have this material at home, add it to your grocery list so that you are ready all around:

Leaf Turkey Picture

Material:

• construction paper
• fallen leaves, different colors and shapes
• glue
• markers

Instructions:

1. Cut out a complete turkey body from an activity sheet or draw it yourself like this: Paint each child's palm and thumb with pencil or markers, then draw the other four fingers with whatever color they choose -these are the feathers. Try to exaggerate their hands so that the fallen leaves will fit within the drawn fingers. 
2. Glue the cut-out turkey onto another piece of paper and add the eyes and feet.
3. If you drew your turkey, add the eyes to thumb finger, and draw the feet.
4. Take the fallen leaves and glue them on the back of the turkey to form the tail feathers and wing.

It is so easy and fun to do and it involves physical activities to collect the fallen leaves, and creativity to put everything together. You will see how different each turkeys turns out to be. For other craft ideas for Thanksgiving try, www.dltk-holidays.com, www.theideabox.com; and www.easy-child-crafts.com.

Happy crafting!

- The Moms' Buzz

source: www.theideabox.com; image: www.easy-child-crafts.com

 
 

Tip: What to Do With Your Children's Artwork

Good morning busy moms!  Moms' Buzz brings you the latest buzz on what you can do with the artwork of your Petite Picassos: because you don't want to throw it way or stash it in a box - you want to preserve, share and treasure your children's artwork, right?  Artimus Art is the way to go!

You will be happy to know that a mom of 3, Dana Hostage, created Artimus Art to help us organize, print and share the precious drawings, sketches and hand-painted art pieces of children's earlier years. Artimus Art will publish ultra-high-resolution digital reproductions of your original kid art in a gorgeous hardcover, weather-proof, portfolio book suitable for any coffee table or display case.  Or for just flipping through when you’re sharing family moments.  Each Artimus Art book features elegant, custom typesetting and professional-grade printing and binding. 

Artimus Art customers also get a free Webfolio with their order, an online gallery for storing, viewing and sharing each child’s art collection. For customer convenience, the price of every Art package includes pre-paid shipping and preprinted labels. 

Simply visit  www.artimusart.com and choose an art package based on how much original art you have and how many books you wish to print.  Prices start as low as $155.00 for a complete art package a Webfolio for one child.

Anything that can help us organize in our busy lives, it is worth it!

- The Moms' Buzz

Note: from our editorial policy we do not get compensated for mentioning a product or business in our posts.  For more info, please read our editorial policy or write to us at info @ themomsbuzz.com. For advertising opportunities, please contact, sales @ themomsbuzz.com.  To participate in Moms' Buzz free Monthly Deals Vendor Program, get details here.

Weekend: Halloween Craft Ideas, Games and Fun at Candy USA

This weekend you can have an excellent repertoire of craft ideas and fun games for children of all ages.  The Candy USA site is filled with neat puzzles, games, coloring pages and craft ideas for this Halloween. 

In the games section for Halloween, there is a Halloween word search, design your own Jack-o-Lantern and pumpkin coloring pages!

In the craft ideas section for Halloween, you can do you own spooky Gingerbread House, design your own Jack-o-Lantern, or make candy-filled paper pumpkins!

Many options to keep your kids entertained and build up the Halloween spirit!

Happy crafty weekend!

- The Moms' Buzz

source and image: www.candyusa.org

Weekend: Learning to Tell the Time: First-clock

Moms you will love doing your child's first crafty clock, and it is a great activity for the weekend.  If you have toddlers or young children, this is a wonderful and fun activity that will teach them to learn how to tell time because, as you may figure, they won't really learn it until they are in at least first grade or beyond. But this charming no-number clock is a great way for toddlers to learn the fundamentals of timekeeping. 

This clock idea was developed by two mothers — children's book author Lynne Bertrand and illustrator Janet Street: the woodland clock features a slow painted turtle for the hour hand, a faster gray squirrel for the minute hand, and a speedy ruby-throated hummingbird on the second hand. To make the best use of this clock, be sure to hang it at your child's eye level.

Instructions:

You can assemble a clock much like the one in the image by printing out the art materials, and applying them to a clock from a do-it-yourself kit. These kits come in a variety of sizes and from a variety of manufacturers. The one in the image comes from Walnut Hollow, www.walnuthollow.com: a #23026 Round Clock, 11" x 11" x .06875, a #TQ700P Clock Movement, and a #23089 Silver Clock Hands (includes sweep). All told, it will cost you about $18, plus shipping. You can view the company catalogue online, but you have to call (800.950.5101) or fax (608.935.3029) in your order.

1. Cut out the three animals (squirrel, turtle, hummingbird) and the two halves of the clock face.
2. Glue the clock face onto the Round Clock, lining up the holes in the middle.
3. Tape the hummingbird to the second hand, the squirrel to the minute hand, and the turtle to the hour hand.
4. Follow the directions that accompany the Clock Movement for putting the movement, the clock, and the hands together.
5. Put AA battery into the Clock Movement.
6. Hang the clock at your child's eye level.

Have a great weekend and a good time!

- The Moms' Buzz

source: www.wondertime.com

Kids' Fun Center at Crayola's Website

This weekend get hands-on at Crayola.com Creativity Center for Kids. You won't believe the wealth of fun activities this site has for children of all ages!  The site is visually appealing and kid's friendly. Crayola.com has more than 1000 print-and-color images, games, activities, and crafts to engage creative young minds. You will be able to find art activities for parties, rainy days, or any day. You can search by theme or art material to find all your creative project ideas.  Parents will learn about the importance of creativity and find simple ways to bring creativity into your home. For your convenience, there is also product catalogue where you can find all the Crayola supplies you may need for school or home activities, supplemented with helpful categories section for easy access to products.  Plus, you may want to check out tips on traveling with kids for this summer to print out travel games and enjoy hours of traveling fun!

Have a creative and crafty weekend!

- The Moms' Buzz

source: www.crayola.com

Cooking with Children: Sail Boat Cupcakes

Whether you're throwing a birthday party or just celebrating summer, these sail-boat-shaped cupcakes are sure a delicious activity to keep children busy and get the little help you may need; for example, have them choose the colors of the sail boats (the colors in the image are just a suggestion). These summer treats are easy to make, and as you will find out, also fun for kids to prepare and eat, of course! Below are what you need and how to prepare it.

Crafting Time: Varies with experience. 
Skill Level:  1 being the easiest

What you need:

- Standard Muffin Pan
- Standard Baking Cups, White
- Butter cream Icing
- Decorating Tip No. 5
- Icing Color, Royal Blue
- Icing Color, Red-Red
- Icing Color, Christmas Red
- Lollipop Sticks, 4-inch
- Tapered Spatula
- Construction paper, white Cellophane tape
- Corn starch

Due to the seasonal nature of some merchandise, actual availability of some products pictured may vary in your local crafts store.

How to prepare:

Please note the following color combinations: Combine red-red and Christmas red to achieve the shade of red shown.

1. Bake and cool the cupcakes.

2. Ice fluffy with the spatula to resemble water.

3. Pipe in tip No. 5 oval boat bottom shape on the top of the cupcake (smooth with finger dipped in cornstarch). Outline the shape with tip No. 5 and overpipe two more times to build up the boat sides.

4. Cut the sail shapes from construction paper and tape to the lollipop stick; insert into the boat on the cupcake to finish. Each cupcake serves 1.

Baking can be colorful and fun this summer!

- The Moms' Buzz

source: www.michaels.com