Crafty Family Ideas: Projects to Make, Things to Bake, and Lots of Homemade(ish) Fun

By Kristin Gambaccini

Crafty Family Ideas will show you tons of simple and cute crafts, recipes, and other ideas for a fun and creative family life! Featuring 55 delicious recipes and playful DIY projects for parents – from a bubblegum machine to homemade bug spray and Christmas cookies – this engaging and entertaining guide is jam-packed with endless fun for

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing
• Release date: May 25, 2021
• ISBN: 9781607658948

Kristin Gambaccini

Kristin Gambaccini is a mom of eight, baker, creator, self-taught DIYer, and humorous author behind her popular blog. Her relatable, real-life stories and crafty tutorials have gained both local and national attention, as she regularly appears on local television, radio, and even The Kelly Clarkson Show. With a devoted passion for everything homemade, Kristin enjoys demystifying the intimidating world of DIY so anyone with any level of artistic ability can achieve wonderful results. She’s also passionate about instilling a love of creating and crafting in today’s busy families, as she sees it as a great bonding experience between parents and their kids. In a technology-driven world, she also finds crafting as a way to set children up for an inventive future so they too can do things themselves with confidence and creativity! To learn more about Kristin and her work, visit www.KristinGambacciniBlog.com or find her on Facebook and Instagram @KristinGambaccini.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Spring Break

Ahh, springtime. We all know the age-old adages pertaining to the spring season—the beauty of change and new beginnings and all that flowery jazz full of fuzzy baby chicks and adorable tiny bunnies. The air is lighter, everyone’s steps are peppier, and the world seems brighter (even if we’re still walking around in dirty, snowy slush here in the Midwest for what seems like forever). It’s a time for spring cleaning, colorful projects, and getting outside. In this section of the book, you’ll find the projects, recipes, and ideas I’ve learned along the way to make the most of the season.

My family typically stays home during the week of spring break itself. Instead of a vacation, we take advantage of some overdue cleaning around the house as well as the garage and shed. It’s definitely not the most enjoyable activity to partake in. Once we’ve finished the hard work, though, we have F-U-N. Our best-loved annual springtime activity is one that Edward and I made up years ago. We call it Park Palooza, and here’s how it goes.

After we’ve completed all the cleaning, we make a checklist of every local playground in the area. We pack up snacks and drinks, load the kids in the Gam-bus (our fifteen-passenger family van), and head to the first park on the tally. Setting a timer, we typically give the kids thirty minutes or so to run around, slide to their hearts’ content, and swing like animals on the monkey bars. When the time’s up, we pile back into the van and move on to the next park on the list, continuing until the kiddos are sweaty, worn out, and too tired to play anymore. When it comes down to it, any situation—even spring cleaning—can be enjoyable with the right mindset and a little creativity. You can make great memories without spending a dime by simply giving the kids your time and attention.

Illustration

The whole gang gets together for a springtime bonanza!

Illustration PROJECT

Embellished Umbrella

SUPPLIES

•Plain white umbrella

•5 yards (4.5m) mini pom-pom ball fringe trim

•Hot glue

•Fabric puffy paint

•Round sponge brushes (various sizes)

•Paint palette or plate

I have come to understand that nothing ensures my kids will sleep well at night quite like a day of playing outside. I live for the nights when their little cherub heads hit the pillow and they instantly fall into a sweet dreamland. Unfortunately, these peaceful and uneventful evenings are few and far between at my house. For some reason unbeknownst to me, Mr. Sandman has left my husband and me high and dry to tame these wild and tireless animals on our own.

Difficult bedtimes are why we try to encourage the kids to play outside even in the winter snow or the summer showers. They need to get outside and move around, to run and bike and skate and jump, to expel even the slightest bit of that cooped-up energy. And playing outside, stomping around in muddy puddles, means that the crafty-crazy in me wants to give them a cute umbrella to keep them dry, naturally! This embellished umbrella is the perfect way for your kiddos to add their own style to an otherwise plain wet-weather accessory.

TIP

You can use acrylic paint in place of fabric puffy paint. Acrylic paint is water-soluble when wet, but it becomes water-resistant when dry.