10 Second Tip

Repurpose a glass jar by painting it in sections with Mod Podge (or watered down white glue) and sticking on colored tissue pieces. C made a baby food jar into a votive candle holder. They make lovely vases too.

10 Second Tip

The plastic lids from coffee cans are great reusable paint palettes. Save up enough milk caps or juice can lids and with two sheets of the same stickers, you've got a memory game. Recycling!

10 Second Tip

Recycle those Christmas cards by cutting them into puzzles. Instead of random pieces, cut same size squares from the front of each card. Mix them up and let the matching begin!

Homemade Silly Putty Recipe

Way easy. Equal parts white school glue and liquid starch. I use 1/2 c. of each. Add a few drops of food coloring to get the desired color. Stir it up and you'll have your very own silly putty!

Best done over tile, kitchen counter or table.

Recycle It Tip: Save large empty cereal bags, cut open to form a large playmat or placemat. It'll make clean up easier!

Recycling Greeting Cards

Turn a greeting card into a puzzle by cutting it into pieces, as many as you think your child can handle.

Punch holes around the outside of a card to make lacing cards. Weave a shoelace through the holes. Try cutting out specific shapes from the pictures on the cards and punch around those.

*Extension: Laminating will extend the life of the pieces.

Share recycling with your children.
Is this the world you want to leave them?

Postal Clerk

I'm going to forgive myself the last week or so that I haven't posted. I've had an awesome time with my boys and my husband and enjoying summer has been our top priority!

Set up your very own pretend post office with a table and chairs and various writing utensils, paper, printing tools, and materials to encourage writing. Include materials for mailing- envelopes, stamps (stickers), address labels, greeting cards, postcards, stationery, lined and unlined paper, etc. Write, sort, and deliver!

*Extension: This is a great use for "junk mail," especially business reply mail envelopes. Pat yourself on the back for recycling!

Juice Can Lid Memory

Save up those metal juice can lids (or milk caps!) for a customized game of memory. Wash with warm soapy water to remove sticky juice residue. Dry thoroughly. Buy two sets of stickers in the theme of your choice and adhere the matches to the lids. Shuffle up and place sticker-side down to play.

*Variation: Get doubles of family photos to glue onto the lids.

Share recycling with your children.

Is this the world you want to leave them?

Berry Basket Weaving

**Once you've enjoyed some summer berries (dipped in vanilla yogurt?), recycle the container by weaving pretty ribbons throughout.**

Share recycling with your children.
Is this the world you want to leave them?

Toilet Paper Tube Binoculars

Share recycling with your children.

Is this the world you want to leave them?

Tape two toilet paper tubes together and you have binoculars for a bird walk or spotting animals at the zoo. Maybe a nice addition if your little man is playing soldier for the day or if your princess is looking out the window for her prince charming to come along. Decorate 'em, paint 'em camo, add a string...make it yours!

Play Food

Since it is C's birthday, I wanted to talk about probably his all- time favorite "toy" and it's pretend food; play food. Now I've seen this done plenty of ways- you can spend money on the plastic or wooden version at the toy store. If
you are crafty and have some time, you can make fake food from felt. If I were only so talented I would, it can look really beautiful.




Over the years, C acquired a few sets of the plastic stuff. But I just wanted to call your attention to recycling food packaging. Empty oatmeal cylinders, cereal boxes, spaghetti noodle boxes, rinsed out plastic condiment bottles and juice cartons. It is the very cheapest play food! And you can cycle the old out as you eat the new, bringing excitement back to playing house all over again!

Share recycling with your children.
Is this the world you want to leave them?