More Elf on the Shelf Ideas

Tis the season for the Elf on the Shelf again!  If you are anything like me, simply not forgetting to move the elf is a huge accomplishment let alone creating adorable scenes for the Elf. 

So,  after picking through Pinterest and creating an Elf calendar for myself  

{in hopes of not forgetting the little guy}, here are a few of my favorite Elf moments that are simple and easy to do. 

XOXO    

Randi

Kick Off Summer with Kiwi Crate

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Kick off summer with Kiwi Crate!

Are your kids bored in the summer like mine? Kiwi Crate has several monthly options to help cure summer bordem.

A fresh new theme - like Lemonade Stand or A Day at the Lake - each month

Each crate includes 2-3 hands-on projects for hours of play

16-page explore! magazine filled with puzzles, DIY activities and more!

Summer Fun Scavenger Hunt

It is so easy for kids to get bored in the summer. They are used to using their minds for 8 hours each day while at school.  I had the problem with mine children being bored after only the 4th day out of school.  So, I created a Scavenger Hunt for them. It was nothing fancy, but they had a blast!


What You Need:

• Brown paper bag
• A Note card or piece of paper
• A Marker

What To Do:

Create a list of items that the kids can gather from either around the house, the yard or at the park. I picked items that could all fit into their brown paper bags. I wanted my kids to be challenged a bit so, I included detailed items like:

3-grey rocks with black spots

1-stick that is the width of your hand from thumb to pinkie

1-dark green leaf

1-light green leaf

1-dead bug {they loved this one!}

4-blades of grass

1-Something round

1-Something square

{I was trying to be creative and unique in what I had them find so that it would take them some time to complete}

Once my list was complete, I gave each child a paper bag with a list of items inside.  Each list started with a different item so that they were not looking for the same thing at the same time.

I had them all sit with the bag closed and in their hands until I told them "Go."

They raced around the yard, each collecting the items. They lined up their bags as they came in. As I checked each bag for correct completion of the list, a new winner emerged.  It was funny to see the older kids faces when the littlest one won because she found all of the items exactly.

So, there was even a lesson to be learned when playing. It's not who comes in the fastest, but the one who does it thoroughly wins the race.

I think they had me create a new list 3 or 4 more times. So, needless to say it was a big hit.
Happy Hunting!

Backyard Twister

It's super easy & fun for the kids!

WHAT YOU NEED:

• Green spray paint
• Yellow spray paint
• Red spray paint
• Blue spray paint
• Twister board

WHAT TO DO:

Simply paint 5 circles of each color in a row, repeat with each color to create a twister "mat"

DIY Yard Yahtzee

The The Pinning Mama had such a cute idea ...

• Wooden 4×4 (approx 2 feet)
• Acrylic Craft Paint 
• Round sponge brush
• Sealant

You will need 6 wooden cubes for this project.  I found the easiest and most economical way to get them was to cut down a wooden 4×4.  You can find one easily at your local Home Depot.  To cut the cubes you have a few options.  First some stores have the ability to cut them for you.  In that case make friends with the guy in the wood department and keep all that saw dust in the store!  If they don’t have an electric saw to cut them, they will always have a regular saw you can make cuts with for free in the stores.  Or if you have a saw at home, you can cut them there.

When you cut the 4×4 into cubes, it is important to measure the actual width of the wood first.  A 4×4 isn’t actually 4″.  The wood has experienced shrinkage while it was waiting for you to buy it, and so it is probably closer to 3.5″x 3.5″  So after measuring the actual size of your 4×4, use that measurement to cut the length of the wood into cubes.

Now we get to the part where our little guys can help out!  The next step will be to paint your cubes.  I let my kiddo pick out his own color palate and he went with a bunch of bright colors!  If you would rather you can make them all matching or even use stain instead to give them a more natural look.  Whatever color scheme you choose, use a foam brush to cover each side with the paint and let dry.  You will probably have to come back and do the bottom after the other sides have dried.

Once ever thing is painted and nice and dry, we will use our round foam brush and a contrasting acrylic paint color to paint the dots onto our dice.  You can find the round sponge brush in the stencil section of any craft store, mine was 1 inch in diameter.

DIY Pool Noodle Games

How to Make a Ring

1. Cut a toilet paper tube lengthwise.

2. Roll up the tube and insert it into a thin (2 1/2-inch-wide) hollow pool noodle.

3. Attach the other end of the noodle and secure it with duct tape.