10 Kid Friendly Mardi Gras Crafts

Do you celebrate Mardi Gras? If not, you really should! Here are ten ways to help you get in the holiday spirit with your family and friends.

1) Mardi Gras Slime from Little Bins for Little Hands
If you have a kid between the ages of 4 and 14, you definitely know all about slime! It's the latest craze and kids are obsessed. This recipe allows you to make your own festive slime while spending time together as opposed to just buying it from the store.

2) DIY Mardi Gras Masks from 100 Directions
No Mardi Gras celebration is complete without a fancy mask! These are easy to make using paper, a straw, and the provided template. You can make these as simple or as gaudy as you'd like. Kids will love to jazz them up with glitter, jewels, and feathers!

3) Mardi Gras Calming Jar from Mom Dot
While beautiful to look at, calming jars are also behavior education tools that help a child in the throes of a meltdown for whatever reason calm down. Kids will love watching the baby float serenely around the jar.

4) Mardi Gras Paper Plate Tambourine from Activities for Kids
Half the fun of a Mardi Gras celebration is the musical entertainment! Your kids will be able to join in on the New Orleans jazz with these little tambourines made from paper plates and beads. This would be a great craft for Pre-K and lower elementary classes.

5) Pom Pom Mardi Gras Creatures from S&S Blog
These little guys will surely brighten up anyone's day! It's funny how some pom poms and crazy eyes can make crafts come alive. Use purple, green, and gold as your main creature colors and you'll have your very own Mardi Gras themed pal.

6) Paper Jester Hat Craft from Mardi Gras Outlet
Every Mardi Gras party needs a jokester! Kids will enjoy using green, purple, and yellow paper to create their very own jester hats. The provided template makes it super easy to create. This would be another great activity for an elementary class. Try printing the templates onto the colored paper to save even more time!

7) Mardi Gras Mask from Activities for Kids
Here's another take on the traditional Mardi Gras mask. This one has you use foam sheets for the mask so they are safe and comfortable for little faces. There is a long list of possible decorating materials for your masks. I really like the idea of using cupcake liners!

8) Mardi Gras Bead Coasters from Rust and Sunshine
If you've ever been to a Mardi Gras celebration, there's one thing you surely have-lots and lots of beads! Why not recycle some of those necklaces into festive coasters for your guests to enjoy at your next Mardi Gras bash? I like how versatile this craft is. By changing up the color of the beads, you can easily make coaster sets for any holiday!

9) Fat Tuesday Calming Jar from Mom Dot
Here's another option for a calming jar that fits a Mardi Gras theme. If you haven't tried these out with your kids yet, you really should! If for nothing else, they give kids a sensory experience that helps ease their minds and emotions before bedtime.

10) King's Crown Craft from All Parenting
Every kid wants the chance to be king or queen for a day, so they will love this crafty activity. Use purple and green embellishments to make a crown fit for Mardi Gras royalty!

Happy Fat Tuesday everybody!

10 Kid Friendly Mardi Gras Treats

From beautiful macarons to beignets to the traditional King Cake, New Orleans inspired desserts are just what you need to get in the spirit of Mardi Gras! Here are ten edible ways to celebrate Mardi Gras with your family and friends.

1) King Cake Dip and Pretzels from Homemade Hooplah
King Cake is traditionally like a large cinnamon roll flavored with caramel and pecans. This dip takes it to a whole new level! What really shines in this recipe are the festive candy-coated pretzels! YUMMY!!

2) Mardi Gras Cupcakes from Holly's Cheat Day
These cupcakes scream Mardi Gras with their purple, green, and yellow sprinkles! The original recipe calls for a splash of rum, so you'll need to make a few simple tweaks if you're serving these to your kiddos.

3) Fleur de Lis Spritz Cookies from Bake Love Give
These bite-sized cookies are perfect for Fat Tuesday celebrations! This is such an easy recipe, but it also calls for rum, so tweak for your audience.

4) King Cake Roll from Hungry Happenings
This is definitely not your traditional King Cake, but look at those festive Mardi Gras colors! This striped cake roll is filled with a fluffy cream cheese mixture. Each slice reveals colorful stripes that are guaranteed to get the kids excited!

5) Masquerade Sugar Cookies from Bake Love Give
These adorable mask cookies are just perfect for spreading carnival cheer! It's easy to add a touch of bling by adding a few edible gold sugar pearls. Make this treat interactive by adding a wooden stick so kids can hold the masks up to their faces.

6) Mardi Gras Macarons from Blogging Babies and the Bayou
Look how precious these little guys are! Who doesn't love macarons? I love how this recipe has gold sugar around the edges to add a bit of Mardi Gras flair. So fancy!

7) Mardi Gras Smoothie from Pint Sized Baker
This smoothie may look indulgent, but it's actually full of healthy fruits and veggies. This would be a great way to start off Fat Tuesday and set off all that King Cake you're going to be eating later!

8) 30-Minute King Cake from Frog Prince Paperie
I have made my share of traditional King Cakes since my dad grew up in New Orleans and they take much longer than 30 minutes to make. I'm impressed that using store-bought crescent rolls can save so much time and still make a decent cake. Don't forget the baby!

9) King Cake Baked Doughnuts from Recipe Runner
This recipe takes the traditional King Cake and turns it into delicious bite-sized doughnuts. What a fun twist on a Mardi Gras classic! This allows for easy portion sizing and are perfectly sized for small hands.

10) Mardi Gras Beignets from Kudos Kitchen by Renee
Beignets are a New Orleans staple, but normally they are covered in powdered sugar instead of icing. By making this simple topping switch, you can easily incorporate the Mardi Gras colors of purple, gold, and green into your breakfast.

I hope you enjoy these holiday treats. Laissez les bon temps roulez!

10 Kid Friendly Valentine's Day Crafts

What is it about Valentine's Day that just screams "MAKE ME!"? I always get into the DIY spirit for this holiday. I know I love handmade gifts all the time, but there's something truly special about a handmade Valentine. Below you'll find 10 Valentine's Day crafts that you can make with your little ones to celebrate the holiday.

1) Tulip in a Heart Card from Easy Peasy and Fun
This year while shopping for Valentine's Day cards, I noticed that some of the cute pop-up ones can cost between $7-$15! You can save money and keep the wow factor by making your own tulip card following these simple instructions. Older elementary school kids should have no trouble making these (with adult supervision of course).

2) Valentine's Day Slime from Little Bins for Little Hands
If you have children under the age of 18, then you probably know that slime is THE hot commodity. Kids love making their own and showing off their latest slime creations so why not put a Valentine's Day spin on it with this craft? Your kids will be obsessed!

3) Heart Puzzle Piece Wreath from A Few Shortcuts
Chances are you have a puzzle hidden in a closet somewhere at this very moment. They're fun to put together on a rainy day, but don't have much replay value. Now you can up-cycle them into an adorable holiday wreath. It's as simple as paint, position, and glue! Try painting the pieces different colors and you can make puzzle wreaths for every holiday.

4) Paper Plate Valentine's Day Owls from Artsy Momma
Whooooo's ready for a cute little craft? This owl would be a great elementary classroom project for Valentine's Day. Even the littlest hands can enjoy creating their own Valentine's Day themed owl using simple materials and patterned paper.

5) Pom Pom Valentine Monsters from Crafts Unleashed
How cute are these little guys?! With little more than some yarn and googly eyes, your kids can create their very own Valentine monsters. While an actual pom pom maker is nice to have, it's unnecessary- a piece of cardboard works just as well!

6) Cut Paper Valentine's Day Card from Woman's Day
Nothing says 'I care about you' as much as a handmade Valentine's day card! Try cutting out pieces of decorative paper and gluing on embellishments like candy hearts to really express how you feel about your loved ones. This card can be as simple or as complex as you choose!

7) DIY Valentine Necklace Kits from Non-Toy Gifts
This DIY kit is a genius idea! Give kids the necessary supplies in a cute little package and let them make their own necklaces or bracelets. The color of the beads can easily be changed up to represent any occasion. These would make excellent and affordable party favors!

8) Valentine Butterfly Treats from Crafty Morning
It's amazing what a hot glue gun and googly eyes can create! The post for these uses M&Ms, but you could use any candy that fits your occasion. I know several teachers who like to make these as gifts for their students on Valentine's Day because they're adorable and affordable.

9) Pom Pom Valentine's Card Box from Design Improvised
Valentine's Day class parties are never complete without something to collect all your Valentines in! I don't remember ever making my boxes too extravagant as a kid. It seems like kids are quite crafty these days and the fancier the box, the better! This pom pom covered heart box will definitely be the talk of the classroom. Your kiddo will need some help with the glue gun, so grab some chocolates and have fun making memories!

10) Rainbow Heart Sun-catchers from Fireflies + Mudpies
Sometimes it's the simplest ideas that you love the best. This one is a favorite of mine! Something about gluing tissue paper together brings back all my best childhood memories. These sun-catchers are beautiful when hung in the window and kids love making them because -let's face it- glue is involved!

I hope you enjoy making memories with these Valentine's Day crafts!

10 Kid Friendly Valentine's Day Treats

Valentine's Day is all about the love and what better way to share the sentiment than with delicious, heart-themed treats? Here are ten edible ways to tell your friends and family that you love them this year.

1) Buttermilk Pancake Recipe from The Gunny Sack

Start Valentine's Day off right with a lovely breakfast of heart-shaped buttermilk pancakes topped with Nutella and raspberries. Kids will surely love the festive meal or you could impress your significant other with a romantic breakfast in bed. Try adding red food coloring to the batter for an even prettier pancake!

2) Slice N' Bake Cookies from The First Year

At first glance, these may look like the pre-made slice and bake cookies from the grocery store, but these are homemade! While the store bought cookies would certainly save you time, they don't give you the freedom to customize the cookies or make sweet kitchen memories with your little helpers. Once you've got the basic concept mastered, you could easily make some small tweaks for other holidays.

3) Heart Cutout Cupcakes from Glorious Treats

Everyone loves cupcakes, but these are extra sweet with the help of a small heart-shaped cookie cutter. The maraschino cherry frosting is both beautiful and delicious! Don't forget the strawberry milk to complete the look.

4) Strawberry Sandwiches from Parents Magazine

Combine chocolate wafer cookies with a scoop of your favorite strawberry frozen yogurt or ice cream for a delicious dessert. Kids will love using icing to decorate the wafers. Try rolling the sandwiches in sprinkles before eating for an even more festive treat!

5) Mini Red Velvet Cakes from 100 Decors

How elegant are these little cakes?! Red Velvet and Valentine's Day are a match made in heaven if you ask me. Make these to impress any party guest!

6) Soft Sugar Cookies from Wanna Come With

There's nothing sweeter than a heart-shaped sugar cookie. Kids will enjoy decorating the dough with colored sugar. This would be a simple and fun recipe to make if you have small children who always want to help in the kitchen.

7) Cherry Pie Pastry Envelope from Liz Bushong

Imagine if your favorite cherry pie became the perfect bite-sized treat for a Valentine's Day tea party. Voila! These adorable edible envelopes are bursting with a sweet cherry filling. These love notes speak for themselves!

8) White Chocolate Bark Bites from No. 2 Pencil

Heart-shaped silicone molds make this sweet treat super quick and simple. Kids can decorate their hearts using a variety of sprinkles, chocolate candies, etc. before you pour melted chocolate on top. I'm giving this recipe bonus points for hardly dirtying any dishes so you have more snuggle time with your loved ones.

9) Furry Monster Valentine Cupcakes from Lisa Favre

Kids are going to flip for these adorably sweet monster cupcakes! Candy eyes and pretzel sticks help give these treats personality. Teach kids that it doesn't matter how many eyes or horns you have- it's the sweetness inside that counts.

10) Sweet Cherry Linzer Torte Cookies from Woman's Day

Say everything you need to say this Valentine's Day with these adorable torte cookies and an alphabet cookie cutter set. Light, yet satisfying, these cookies will delight your sweet tooth.

Whether you're celebrating alone, with a special someone, or with an entire tribe, I wish you a very happy Valentine's Day full of love!