Although I think mami should be celebrated every day, why not celebrate in an extra special way on that one day a year dedicated solely to her? How about making something just for her, something she can enjoy and admire for days, weeks even?!

I love flowers. I love to see them, grow them, cut them, receive them, and give them. So it should come to no surprise that flowers are what we plan to make this Mother’s Day for all the lovely mothers we know – tissue paper flowers to be exact. Tissue paper flowers are easy for little hands to make and lovely to look at. Besides, who doesn’t like to get flowers?

Would you like to learn how to make these tissue paper flowers?

DIY Tissue Paper Flowers Craft

Materials Needed:

• Tissue paper
• Pipe cleaners
• Washi tape
• Twigs
• Scissors

You can purchase all these materials (with the exception of the twigs) at Walmart.

How to Make Tissue Paper Flowers for Mother’s Day:

Begin by cutting your leaves. You can cut several at the same time (I cut 6 at the same time). Then, with the yellow tissue, cut a thin strip, about 3 inches in width, and whatever length you choose. Do the same with the pink tissue (or any other color you choose), but this time it should double in thickness (about 6 inches) and keep the same length.

Make the flower center and petals following the steps in the photo below:

Add the stem and leaves following the steps in the photo below:

Make one or make a bunch of tissue paper flowers and gift to that special mami you know!

Disclosure: As a participant in the Walmart Moms Program, modernmami™ received compensation for the time and effort in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

All photos © Lisa Renata

I’m not sure there’s much about Easter that kids don’t love – fluffy bunnies, cute chicks, pretty flowers, and of course, Easter eggs! The true meaning of the holiday is not lost on me, either, but I know that kids really enjoy all the pretty colors and fun of Easter. Because of that, I wanted to make a fun, but easy Easter craft for kids. I would never consider myself a crafty person, but this Easter craft is simple enough and requires few materials. Plus, it makes a really cute table-top decoration or a fun puppet the kids can play with!

Hopping Easter Bunny {Kids Craft}

Using materials found at Walmart and our very own Easter bunny ears and feet template, you and the kids will have a blast creating these hopping bunnies!

Download Easter bunny template here. (PDF)

Materials needed:

• White paper, either construction or copy paper works
• Color construction paper, various pieces of your choice
• Toilet paper roll
• Cotton ball
• Scissors
• Glue stick
• Markers

Instuctions:

1. Cover the toilet paper roll with white paper.
2. Using the bunny ear and feet template, cut out your bunny ears, bunny feet, and bowtie (if desired). You can also draw your own bunny parts, if you prefer.
3. Trace your bunny ears, feet, and bowtie onto whichever color paper you would like for each. I chose to keep the inner ear white against a color outer ear, but that was just my preference.
4. Cut out your bunny parts and glue onto the toilet paper roll. Glue the ears onto the inner front side of the roll. You’ll also need to fold the bunny feet along the dotted line, and glue just the tab, so the leg folds out.
5. Draw a bunny face using markers.
6. Glue a cotton ball on the backside for a tail.
7. That’s it! Make a few bunnies to create a cute centerpiece for a table, decorate around the house, or for the kids to play with as puppets!

Have fun making this easy Easter bunny craft with the kids and check out more Easter items at Walmart.

Happy Easter!

Disclosure: As a participant in the Walmart Moms Program, I received compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

All photos © Melanie Edwards/modernmami™

Today officially marks the beginning of the month of love, otherwise known as February. If you talk to my 7-year-old, though, you’d think Valentine’s Day is the only day in February. She loves celebrating everything about Valentine’s – love, friendship, pink, red, chocolates, flowers – you name it, this holiday was made for my girl! In past years, we’ve picked out Valentine’s cards so she could hand out to her classmates. This year, I thought we might try something a little different and test out Brach’s Create Your Own Conversation Hearts, a new product exclusive to Walmart.

Using the kit that we were sent by Walmart and Brach’s, my baby girl and I sat down to create some nice hearts for her friends and write encouraging messages using the food-safe pen that’s included. She decided to write her classmates cute messages such as ‘U are the best,’ ‘U R my BFF,’ and ‘U R #1′ – she also made her teacher a special heart, as you can see in the photo below.

I really like that the hearts are large and have ample room for kids to write their messages, since they typically write bigger than an adult. I also like that these Create Your Own Conversation Hearts take a long-standing fun Valentine’s tradition and adds an element of personalization. Now you can write whatever message you want for your Valentine instead of digging through the standard conversation hearts to find an appropriate message. No more awkward moments of handing your classmate a heart that says ‘Be mine’!

My girl decided to try a few of the extra hearts in a home-made ice cream sundae to see how they’d taste. While she didn’t think the conversation hearts mixed well with her ice cream, she did have a lot of fun writing her friends special messages for Valentine’s Day. In turn, I enjoyed spending a little one-on-one time with my girl and talking about each of her friends as we created the hearts. We even made a couple of extra special hearts to give to her daddy and baby brother!

How do your kids usually celebrate Valentine’s Day with their friends?

Disclosure: As a participant in the Walmart Moms Program, I received a sample and compensation for my time and efforts in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

All photos © Melanie Edwards/modernmami™

We’ve been waiting for snow around our neck of the woods, but no luck. In fact, our winter so far has been a pretty mild one. The kids keep peeking out the window first thing in the morning in hopes of seeing a white covered yard. Nothing. So when I mentioned to them about creating a winter journal, where they could draw and write about anything they saw around this time of year, they were ecstatic. And why not make it a snowflake themed journal? After all, it seems those are the only snowflakes we’ll see around here for a while.

Would you like to make one with the kids? It’s pretty easy!

DIY Kid’s Craft: Winter Snowflake Journal

Materials needed:

• 1 marble composition book (any color, you’re going to cover it)
• 1 or 2 pieces of a wintery solid color cardstock (my girl used blue for her’s and my little guy used black)
• 2-3 empty toilet paper rolls
• Elmer’s glue
• Sharpie or pencil
• White washable tempera paint
• Paint brushes

I got all of my supplies at my local Walmart. (A little saving’s tip: During back to school sales, I like to pick up marble composition books by the bulk and have the kids use them throughout the year as different kinds of journals – school, travel, favorite quotes, seasonal, stamps, and sticker collections are just some ideas.)

How to make a kid’s winter journal:

1. Start by gluing the cardstock to the top of the marble composition book (see photo above). Make sure to flatten out all air bubbles. Then, open the notebook and follow the steps below. If you like, you can repeat the same steps for the back cover.

When you are done, it should look something like this:

2. Now, it’s time to prepare the snowflake stamps.

Using an empty toilet paper roll, draw lines (about an inch long) around one of the ends. Then cut and fold. Follow the steps below.

If you notice on the last photo above, we made two types of ends. The one on the left has a pointy end, and the one on the right, we left straight. Once you’ve completed these steps, make sure to also cut off every other strip. This will help the stamp look more like a snowflake and less like a flower.

3. Let’s decorate those journals!

Let your little ones have fun stamping away. It’s okay if the snowflakes aren’t perfect – what snowflake is? Then with the paint brush, have your kids paint some dots around the cover. Finally, add the word ‘Winter’ and the year.

DIY Winter Snowflake Journal for Mom

Materials needed:

• Moleskine journal
• White tempera paint or a white-out pen
• Thin-tip paint brush

How to make a winter journal for yourself:

As cute as the kids’ winter journals are, I wanted to make something a bit more sophisticated for me. I used a white-out pen to draw snowflakes of different sizes and shapes. I then wrote the word ‘Winter’ and the year. I love the contrast of the white and black. Don’t you?

Make sure to let the journals dry for about 24 hours before you head outdoors to explore your wintery surroundings and document it all.

Have fun!

Lisa Renata is a proud multicultural Latina of Mexican, German and Japanese descent. She and her husband of German, Scott-Irish descent are raising their two lovely kids bilingual and in a home full of diverse traditions. She holds a degree in Cultural Anthropology and is a certified Interpreter. She is also the creator of SaboraCajeta.com, where she shares her craft ideas, and her passion for sewing and photography. You can find Lisa occasionally sharing simple and fun crafts here on modernmami.com.

Disclosure: As a participant in the Walmart Moms Program, modernmami™ received compensation for the time and effort in creating this post. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

Crafts have never really been my thing. My mom used to create cute decorations for her house when I was younger, but I never joined her in doing so. It’s never been something I’ve had a talent for. Now that I have children, though, I wish I was more creative in that aspect and could come up with cute craft activities to do with the kids. Luckily, craft kits exist to help parents like me that come with all the necessary items and instructions to guide me in the creative process.

I take the opportunity to use craft kits together with my daughter, especially, since baby boy is typically too young for those types of crafts. She enjoys doing crafts together, so this way I’m able to enjoy such an activity with her, without becoming stressed that I don’t know what I’m doing. We recently had the chance to check out a few craft products sold at Walmart and test them out together; you can see them in the photo above.

My baby girl chose to complete the Made by Me Birdhouse first. We both enjoyed the ease of putting it together and she even commented it was cool we didn’t need any nails! All necessary items and tools came with the kit, which makes it so convenient for people like me that aren’t crafty. After quickly snapping the pieces in place, she began to paint her new birdhouse – don’t you love the vibrant colors she’s chosen so far?

We’re thinking of giving one of the items as a gift to one of her cousins because my daughter is sure she’ll love it. In fact, we often purchase craft or art kits when buying presents for birthdays and holidays – I love it because it’s so much better than accumulating big toys the kids will only play with for a bit! These particular kits are all really affordable too; the birdhouse we completed is only $9.97.

Have you ever tried a craft kit or do you typically create your own crafts?

Disclosure: modernmami.com and its owner, Melanie Edwards, is a member of the Walmart Moms program, resulting in compensation for this post.

Photos © modernmami

Fourth of July is just around the corner! If you’re looking for an easy and fun kids craft to help make your house festive for Independence Day, then look no more! Get your little ones ready to help you make this super easy 4th of July banner.

4th of July Banner Craft for Kids

All you need are three things and a lot of crafting enthusiasm from you and your little ones. Scrapbook paper, ribbon and a stapler (all of which you can find at your local Walmart) are all you need!  Okay, maybe a ruler and pencil too, but really that is all you need.  I promise.

Instructions:

First, pick out festive paper.  The typical colors for the 4th of July are red, white and blue, but why stop there?  You can add a bit of glam by adding a lighter shade of blue and some prints.  Once you’ve picked out your paper and ribbon, gather all the little helpers in the house to begin.

Start off by making a triangular template.  This will help guide the kids.  Once you’ve made the template (using steps one and two in the photo above), you can give it to your little one to begin tracing the triangles onto the scrapbook paper (steps three and four on photo).  I do advise, however, that the triangles are traced on the back of each paper that way the lines (or little mistakes little hands make) will not show up on the front of the banner.

Once your little one has traced all the triangles, have him or her cut them out.

Lay the cut triangles out on the floor and play around until you and/or your little one is satisfied with the order they will be in.  Then cut your ribbon.  We used about 4 yards of sky blue satin ribbon.

Begin to staple each triangle onto the ribbon by starting in the center and moving outwards.  Staple each triangle twice, one on each end.  When you add the following triangle, make sure that the tip of each end touch.  Continue until all triangles are stapled onto the ribbon. *Note: you can also sew a straight line over the ribbon and triangles if you choose to.

You are done!  Time to decorate and…

Happy Independence Day!

Lisa Renata is a proud multicultural Latina of Mexican, German and Japanese descent. She and her husband of German, Scott-Irish descent are raising their two lovely kids bilingual and in a home full of diverse traditions. She holds a degree in cultural Anthropology and is a certified Interpreter. She is also the creator of SaboraCajeta.com, where she shares her craft ideas, and her passion for sewing and photography.

Disclosure: ModernMami.com is a member of the Walmart Moms program, resulting in compensation for this post.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and you know abuelita is waiting for that special card to arrive. Why not make it extra especial and have your little ones make their very own card for abuelita?

My four year old chiquita made the one you see above. Okay, she had my help, but trust me, with a little supervision and prepping, even a 1-year-old can make a card for abuelita.

Homemade Mother’s Day Card for Abuelita (Grandma) – Craft for Kids

Materials:

You can pick up all of these supplies at your local Walmart.

• assorted card stock and scrap-booking paper
• 1 brad
• glue
• scissors

Instructions:

First you will need to make a stencil in the shape of a teardrop. You will use the same stencil to trace the leaves and the flower petals. Cut three of each coordinating color: three green teardrops for the leaves and three sets of three different coordinating papers for the petals. Set them aside.

Pick a solid color of card stock to make the card. Fold it in half.

Using a coordinating solid color, cut a slightly smaller rectangle. (My daughter loves purple so she picked a darker purple for the main card and a lavender for the smaller rectangle.) Have your little one glue it in place.

To help guide your little one, draw a dot somewhere around the middle upper half of the card. This will help guide where each petal needs to go. Make sure that the pointy side of each petal is placed over the dot. Have your little one glue on the first petal.

Moving clockwise, have your little one continue gluing each petal overlapping slightly.

After all the petals have been glued, the card should look like the one above. Now, let’s add a stem to our flower.

To make the stem, either you or your little one can draw a straight line using a ruler and a green marker. Do this starting at the bottom of the flower all the way down to the end of the smaller rectangle.

Now let’s add some leaves!

Using the green teardrops previously cut, have your little one glue them individually on to the stem. Make sure that the pointy side is now facing outwards.

Using some yellow card stock (or any other coordinating color) cut a small circle. Have your little one glue it onto the center of the flower. Let it dry for a few minutes.

You can leave the card as is, or you can add a little dimension and bling, by adding a brad to it.

With a needle or pin, pierce a tiny whole in the center of the flower. Insert the brad, turn the card over and fold brad ends.

You are done!

Now glue a piece of white paper to the inside of the card (if you like) and let your little one write her words of love for abuelita.

­­­­¡Feliz Día de las Madres!

Lisa Renata is a proud multicultural Latina of Mexican, German and Japanese descent. She and her husband of German, Scott-Irish descent are raising their two lovely kids bilingual and in a home full of diverse traditions. She holds a degree in cultural Anthropology and is a certified Interpreter. She is also the creator of SaboraCajeta.com, where she shares her craft ideas, and her passion for sewing and photography.

Disclosure: ModernMami.com is a member of the Walmart Moms program, resulting in compensation for this post.

Have you been looking for the perfect Easter basket and haven’t had any luck finding one? I hear you loud and clear!  How about making your own Easter basket with things you might have lying around the house? Or you can also pick up the items on your next shopping trip to Walmart!  Sound good?

It is so easy, even your children can have a hand in creating such beauty; plus it is versatile too!

DIY Easter Basket: How to Make an Easter Basket from a Canister

What you need:

• an empty large canister (I used a family-size Ovaltine container. It measures about 16 inches around and 4 1/2 inches tall.)
• two pieces of white card stock
• assorted ribbons and trims
• flower for embellishment (optional)
• all purpose glue
• scissors
• hot gun & glue (optional)

Instructions

Begin by cutting the pieces of card stock that will cover your bin.  Because the bin I used was longer than the length of my paper, I ended up using two pieces of card stock.  All you need to do is measure around your bin (that’s the length), then the  side (that’s the width).  Once you’ve cut your piece or pieces of card stock, begin to cover your bin.  Start at one end by placing a generous amount of glue on the bin and then pressing down the card stock, making sure not to leave any air bubbles.  Continue until you get to the end, overlapping your paper and glue.

Now you are ready to start decorating.  Pick out your trim and cut to the length of your bin.  Begin to glue (I used a glue gun for this part) where your card stock meets.  Glue around once again, pressing to make sure there are no air bubbles left.

Continue the same process until you’ve almost covered all your bin, leaving the top clear for later.  Make two holes and insert your ribbon (or ric rac) to make your handle.

Knot each end on the inside of the bin.   Glue the ends to give it extra support (after all, it is for holding lots of goodies!)

Now you can finish adding the last round of trim to the top of the bin.  When you get to the handles add a generous amount of glue to reinforce the handles.

For a final extra touch, you can add a flower.  I made my own using a dye cut machine, but you can very well buy a flower already made and glue it onto the basket.

You are done!

Now you have a lovely Easter basket your little one can be proud of!

You can also use this basket after Easter as a centerpiece!

It is all up to you! (Okay, and maybe your little one.  ¡Si te deja!)

For the centerpiece, all I did was insert a pint-size mason jar, added some water, tied some fresh flowers with a rubber band, then inserted them into the jar.  Ta-da!  The Easter basket becomes a lovely centerpiece.

Have fun creating!

Lisa Renata is a proud multicultural Latina of Mexican, German and Japanese descent. She and her husband of German, Scott-Irish descent are raising their two lovely kids bilingual and in a home full of diverse traditions. She holds a degree in cultural Anthropology and is a certified Interpreter. She is also the creator of SaboraCajeta.com, where she shares her craft ideas, and her passion for sewing and photography.

Disclosure: ModernMami.com is a member of the Walmart Moms program, resulting in compensation for this post.

Looking for an easy, fun Easter project to make with your little ones this spring break? How about making a fun and simple tic-tac-toe game, where the fun part is eating goodies if you win!

DIY Easter Tic Tac Toe Game for Kids

What you need:

• Sharp blade or scissors
• Piece of cardboard (cut 5″ x 5″)
• Card stock or construction paper in a solid color
• Coordinating scrapbook paper
• Sharpie marker
• All purpose glue
• Easter candy
• Small candy bags or snack bags

You can easily find most of these items at your local Walmart store.

Instructions:

Begin by cutting your colorful scrapbook paper the same size as the 5″ x 5″ cardboard.  (For the cardboard I used an old cardboard box I had stashed in our craft/up-cycle bin.)  Then cut a smaller square ( 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″) using the solid card stock or construction paper.

Glue the larger scrapbook paper square onto the cardboard.  Make sure to press firmly and evenly to get rid of any  air bubbles.

While the glue dries…

With a Sharpie draw your game squares onto the smaller 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ square. Each line should be about 1 1/2″ wide.  Let it dry and then glue the smaller square in the center of  the decorated larger cardboard square.

While they are drying…

These will be the game pieces.  I picked up some Easter shaped candy in the holiday candy aisle. The small baggies you can find in the cake/candy making section.

Time to play!

Or you can make a bunch of tic tac toe boards, place them in clear plastic bags, tie them with a pretty ribbon and give them as gifts this Easter.  That’s exactly what I’m doing.

They are perfect for little ones to play with.  Once all the candy is gone, you can make some tokens out of construction paper. Then keep it in the car for the perfect game to entertain your kids while traveling.

Have fun creating!

Lisa Renata is a proud multicultural Latina of Mexican, German and Japanese descent. She and her husband of German, Scott-Irish descent are raising their two lovely kids bilingual and in a home full of diverse traditions. She holds a degree in cultural Anthropology and is a certified Interpreter. She is also the creator of SaboraCajeta.com, where she shares her craft ideas, and her passion for sewing and photography.

Disclosure: ModernMami.com is a member of the Walmart Moms program, resulting in compensation for this post.