All About Kids Meme Crafts

This meme is from Super Mommy To The Rescue. It is all about kids. I was remembering an arts and crafts project that I did with my kids several years ago. It was for Easter and I think that I will do it again this year for the fall holidays. Both of my kids painted a pine cone and after they went to bed, I added the candy. They are sitting in a little easter container that I had found. My kids loved them.

Crafting for Autism

One of the ways to make money for autism is to use your artistic talents. Crafting is an old idea, but a good one. People love to buy homemade items from talented crafters because they are unique. They aren't something you can just go buy at the local hobby store or discount stores. True crafting creates gifts that are not like any which are mass manufactured. They insure the special touch of the creator.


Hints for selling crafts for autism: The best way to insure interest in your crafted items is to make them coincide with the season. Christmas items are not likely to sell during Easter. Make the most of the upcoming season and find the best way to display your items. Display is important in showing your talents to the best of your ability. Make sure your sales sign indicates that the money will go to a legitimate need. Include a photo if you are helping a particular child. State the reason for the need for the sales. Display your prices clearly, and allow the visitors to choose the option of just donating to a money jar. Choose a well-traveled area to set up your display (making sure it is legal and that you have permission).

Adequate pricing for your crafts is crucial to your sales. Pricing may depend on your particular area. Pricing will certainly need to include consideration for the costs of the items to create your masterpieces. Keep in mind that even selling for a worthy cause such as autism will be a disappointment if you overprice your items. You may never be able to recuperate the cost of the time you put into your crafts. But quickly and cheaply made crafts can also mean pitiful sales. Finally, remember to take some sort of bag for your crafted items to go home with their buyers. If you are really motivated, you can create papersacks with a logo for autism, pretty stickers of the season you are crafting, or thank you notes right on the bags. Include wrapping paper to insure the safe trip of your items to their new homes.

Some people like to change the wreaths on their front doors to accommodate the seasonal colors and interests. The wreath in the photo with this blog post is one I created for a friend of mine who enjoys changing her decorations inside and outside her home to show the colors of the season. She rotates her decorations year-round for this purpose. Fall is her favorite season, so I chose fall colors.

Christmas Wreaths

I'm taking a break from my learning articles today to post a Christmas craft. When my son was little, he did a really cool project in school that even autistic children may be able to enjoy.

The class brought plain wreath circles to school and scraps of material. The teacher and parents helped cut the scraps into long enough strips to tie around the wreath shapes. This made a repetitious craft, which was easy for the kids to catch onto. They learned how to tie knots, which was a helpful skill. They learned how to use scraps to decorate, which is thrifty. Plus, they made a decoration which could proudly be displayed for any season, depending on which one you wish to make one for! It doesn't even have to be for Christmas. This helps self-esteem.

For the circles, any round shape that can be a base to tie material around is great. The resulting wreath makes a great door decoration/conversation piece the kids can be proud of and also a good, low-cost gift for family and friends.

Before you throw away those old clothes or favorite blankets the kids love, consider using the material for a wreath they could hang on their door. You could even take material from a parent's or grandparents' disgarded clothing, make a wreath for someone that would contain sentimental value.

Enjoy your scraps today!

Crafts for Christmas

Crafts are a fun and inexpensive way to make presents for everyone in the family. Here is a list of some ideas or websites that are full of creative and low cost craft projects.

FaveCrafts “Our Christmas Crafts section http://www.favecrafts.com/Christmas-Crafts has thousands of craft projects that people can make for Christmas. I’ve always loved the idea of making ornaments for holiday gifts. For those on a budget, ornament crafts can use recycled materials. These are also great activities for kids.
Old CDs: http://www.favecrafts.com/Ornaments/Beaded-CD-Ornaments
Old Fabric (Old sweater would work beautifully): http://www.favecrafts.com/Ornaments/Fabric-Stocking-Ornament
Even old sheet music: http://www.favecrafts.com/Ornaments/Music-Notes-Star-Ornament “ -
Caley Walsh, Editor, www.FaveCrafts.com, www.FaveCraftsBlog.com



You Can Make This has free ebook downloads for crafts you can make, plus they sell completed crafts at low prices.


Hillbilly Housewife - I love ingredients in a jar for making cookies, cakes and more. Hillbilly Housewife has recipes for making numerous kinds of beverages and baked goods that can be stored in a container and given as a gift. Here is an example:

1/2 cup instant coffee
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup instant nonfat dry milk powder
1/4 cup powdered coffee creamer
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup store bought instant butterscotch or vanilla flavored pudding mix (optional)
Measure all of the ingredients into a clean, dry bowl. Use a fork to combine everything evenly. If you are ambitious, you can powder everything in a blender. I don’t always do this because I am lazy. You do get really impressive results from it though, and it is easier to do than one would expect. Transfer the mixture to a resealable container, or a pretty jar. Makes 2 1/2 cups.
To Prepare: Place 2 tablespoons of dry Cafe Vienna into a coffee cup. Add hot water to fill up the cup (about 3/4 cup hot water). Stir and serve.

Looking for Gluten or Casein free recipes to make yummy sweets as a gift for someone on a special diet? Check out One Frugal Foodie She also has a cookbook called Go Dairy Free that you can find on Amazon.








Craftbits.com has crafts you can do at home and give as Christmas gifts. Here are a few examples:

Natural Rock Bracelet - http://www.craftbits.com/project/natural-rock-bracelet
Aromatherapy Candles - http://www.craftbits.com/project/aromatherapy-candles
Polymer Clay Teapot - http://www.craftbits.com/project/polymer-clay-teapot


“It's a great time of year and getting kids involved in the passion of giving is important for them. Creating gift baskets at home is an inexpensive way to give wonderful, memorable gifts. If you look around your home, you probably already have the supplies you need to creating some great gifts.

Gather any extra baskets or containers that you have around the house that would make a great holder of homemade baked goods. Have a baking day and work with the kids to bake cookies, brownies, fudge and holiday delights that they can put into cellophane bags and tie up with ribbon. You can pick up some inexpensive labels at an office supply store and let the kids create their own labels.

It's a fun, easy way to send holiday cheer to your friends and family.” - Debbie Quintana, President & CEO, Gourmet Gifts


Have you thought of giving the gift of an in home spa treatment? With Epsom Salt, you can pour some in a glass container and attach one of the following recipes to it.

“· To exfoliate: Mix 2 cups of Epsom Salt with 1/4 cup of petroleum jelly and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Use the mixture to gently scrub away dry skin patches.
· Facial: Mix 1/2 TSP of Epsom Salt into cleansing cream for a deep-pore cleansing. Massage on skin. Rinse with cool water. Pat dry.
· For a relaxing soak: Add two cups of Epsom Salt to the water in a standard-sized bathtub; soak for at least 12 minutes, three times weekly. For an extra treat, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil for a refreshing scent.
· For a simple hair volumizer: Combine equal parts of warm, deep conditioner and Epsom Salt. Work the warm mixture through your hair and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse.
· For a foot scrub: Mix 2 cups of Epsom Salt with 1/4 cup of petroleum jelly and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Use the mixture to gently scrub the heels and dry, rough patches on the feet. Repeat every few days.” - Peter Smolowitz | Senior Account Supervisor, Eric Mower and Associates www.mower.com