DIY Interactive Bilingual World Map for Kids

Make believe is a great way for kids to learn!  This bilingual map is interactive and because it's laminiated we are constantly writing on it showing our kids where family and friends live. Since we travel a lot our boys are really into playing make believe "travel". 

Supplies:

Laminiated map or Bilingual Place Mat Map (I bought this at Walmart)

felt

adhesive velcro dots

foam sheets

I made the airplanes, car, ship, Diva travel bag from felt.  I couldn't help myself using leopard felt for the travel bag, I am sure my boys are going to love that girly suitcase.  

All of these are attached with velcro so that they can move around the world as they please. Place velcro pieces on the back of the felt objects and on the map.  When they are done playing, it goes back on the velcro so the pieces aren't lost.

The Diva travel bag opens up and is loaded with labels made from foam of the 7 continents that are also velcroed so they can label the continents as they please. 

Here is a close up of the felt car and airplane.

Now for the MAP.  I bought this map at Walmart before we moved to South America.  It is a placemat.  I love it because I can also write on it with a marker to show our children specifically where we have been in the US or where our missionary friends live.  I also love this map because it is bilingual in Spanish and English.  You can also print a world map from the internet or buy a world map and laminate it. 

The things they learn from maps: when my son was 3 he discovered Dijbouti in Africa it quickly became his favorite country because he pronounced it as 'De-booty'. 

DIY Wall Art

Painting is one of my joys and everytime someone comes over they say "oh I could never do that".  Well, I made this piece of wall art that I really think you can make.

Material needed:

-blank canvas whatever you size you wish

-different sizes of flat styrofoam circles

-acyrclic paint (you can get the small tubes at Michaels) 

-paint brush

-craft glue

1. I painted the canvas beige. I mix my own colors so a beige from the store may not look like mine.

2. After it was semi dry I randomly smeared across the top with a paint brush some off white over the beige to give it a two tone look.

3. Then I began choosing my colors for my styrofoam circles.  I used colors to coordinate with my room.  You can use less circles, more circles or all the same size cirlces have fun and play with it.  The styrofoam circles are really inexpensive so you can either buy new ones or turn them over if you are not happy with first color combinations. 

4. Once the circles are dry than begin placing them which ever way you wish but don't glue them until you figure out where your permanently placing them.  I put 4 on the bottom and 2 on the top. 

5.  I used clear craft glue to adhere the styrofoam circles to the canvas.

6. Once it was all dry I decided I wanted a little design on 2 of the circles so I painted them on with cream colored paint.

Your done! It took me about 45min with drying and testing colors and placement and it cost under $8. Let me know if you try it!

Gift packages from toilet paper rolls

I love boxes! Everytime we get something that comes in a small box I usually keep it because I think of the countless things I can use it for in the future.  Most of the time I don't use them :(.  Well, these cute little boxes will surely be put to use because they are easy, practical and use things you already have in your home.

Material:

-toilet paper roll w/o the paper on it:)
-scrapbooking paper, gift wrap or tissue paper
-ribbon
-glue
-scissors

Instead of tossing your TP rolls now you can put them to use or you can use kitchen towel rolls for larger boxes: 
1. flatten the roll out.  Press both sides firmly to flatten
2. trace the roll on your scrapbooking paper.
3. cut it out and glue on roll
4. press the open ends down to create your top and bottom closure
5. put some ribbon on it to keep the top and bottom closed

You can use it to put a cute little note in it, stuff it with small acts of kindness gifts: tea, chocolates, gum, mints, etc... Great for party favors and cover it with the theme your going with!