Holidays -

Elf Snacks Gift Jar

I’m sure the elves are already busy making toys! Do they make them year round? Well this has to be their busiest time of year and they deserve some sweet elf snacks. Plus, your friends and family also deserve elf snacks. I made these simple holiday treats and gift jar that make the perfect easy food gift. I used mini marshmallows dipped in chocolate to make small enough treats for an elf. Plus, you can’t feel guilty about eating sweets when they are in tiny bites like this. That is just a fact! I was originally going to make little sugar cookies for elf snacks but it was hard to get good cookies that were tiny enough for elves. These chocolate covered mini marshmallows are waaaayyy easier to make than cookies and the perfect little treats. I made elf printables for the jar you can use some or all of them on a jar of elf snacks. What you need for the jars: mason jars green paint(optional) tape scissors ELF PRINTABLES and white card stock paper For the elf marshmallow snacks: mini marshmallows melting candy wafers or candy melts in red, green, or white(2 colors are good for the sizzling on top) sprinkles in any holiday colors read more

About Valerie Jackson

Hi I'm Val! I love making simple crafts with my kids using free printable templates. Come craft with us!

DIY Santa Gift Bags

Christmas, DIY, Gift bags, Holidays / By Valerie

Santa’s coming, Santa’s coming, I know him! I still love Santa and the magic that comes with Santa around Christmas. My daughter believes still and I will keep that going as long as I can. Santa brings presents so why not bring presents to others dressed up as Santa or bring some Santa “kisses”. This DIY Santa gift bags are perfect for school class gifts, gifts to friends or Christmas parties. You can get creative with what you put inside these cute gift bags! It doesn’t just have to be candy, although Hershey Kisses work well for the Santa kisses. I made easy Santa belts to go on the bags. You can use both the gift tag and Santa. You could also pick one or the other depending on your preference. read more

About Valerie Jackson

Hi I'm Val! I love making simple crafts with my kids using free printable templates. Come craft with us!

Feed the Turkey Thanksgiving Game

Games, Holidays, Thanksgiving / By Valerie

Thanksgiving isn’t always the most fun holiday for kids. Yes, you have family and food but kids need more excitement. Plus, at least my daughter isn’t a big fan of Thanksgiving food. I don’t blame her, I was a really picky eater as a kid and would mostly eat stuffing and pie. Ok maybe I still do that but I just gravitate towards the carbs and sugar. At least on Thanksgiving there are no rules when it comes to eating, just pile it on, no shame! This easy feed the turkey Thanksgiving game is great simple entertainment. Kids can play this indoors while adults are still dilly dallying with their meal. You can also bring it outside where it’s nice out. Adults and kids can play this game. I used candy to toss in the Turkeys mouth but you can use small balls or bean bags sort of like corn hole. read more

About Valerie Jackson

Hi I'm Val! I love making simple crafts with my kids using free printable templates. Come craft with us!

DIY Easter Chick Balloons

Balloons, Easter, Holidays, kids / By Valerie

I feel like my blog and life needs more balloons! You will be seeing more balloons from me coming up. They are just such an easy decoration and you can make so many cute things in balloon form. Like these diy Easter chick balloons. They were incredibly simple to put together and I just love how adorable they turned out. My daughter also absolutely loves balloons. She will keep a balloon as long as possible. I have to get rid of them when she is not around or else it makes her cry. Yes, she cries a lot and her new thing is to say I am breaking her heart. You know if I threw out the milk that has gone bad it breaks her heart. Getting rid of balloons definitely breaks her heart. I actually love how sensitive she is because it took me until I was 30 to be okay with crying in front of people. She cries and is over it in a minute then off to play a game. I have also gotten very better at holding back my laughter when she is crying over a ripped piece of paper. Anyways, no one is crying when these cute chick balloons are around. At least not until they have to go back to the “farm”. They are fun for spring and of course Easter decorations. read more

About Valerie Jackson

Hi I'm Val! I love making simple crafts with my kids using free printable templates. Come craft with us!

Rainbow Pot of Gold Candy

1 Comment / Candy, Holidays, St. Patrick's Day / By Valerie

I love how many holidays there are around this time of year. However, some holidays like St. Patrick’s Day I just don’t have the time to go all out for. I at least have to do a little something. I have a few decorations like my rainbow balloons https://simplecraftyfun.com/2016/02/diy-mini-balloon-rainbow/ and last year we had a party for a leprechaun that was adorable https://simplecraftyfun.com/2016/02/diy-mini-balloon-rainbow/. My daughter really loved that! I don’t think most people do a ton for St. Patrick’s Day since it is so close to Easter.These rainbow pot of gold candy are the perfect easy, half assed but still adorable dessert. Yes, I said it somethings you have to half ass as a mom and human. I’m a half ass Martha Stewart, I love yummy, crafty, cute stuff but things are not going to be perfect and I usually look like a mess while making things. For this you don’t have to bake anything, you just put a couple candies together with frosting and sprinkles. There you go you have a festive treat! I’m serious when I say these are easy to make. You can have them for a party or just for fun. Plus they are tiny so if you are trying to trap some leprechauns they would definitely be enticed by this rainbow pot of gold candy ;). read more

About Valerie Jackson

Hi I'm Val! I love making simple crafts with my kids using free printable templates. Come craft with us!

Printable Dreidel Gift Boxes

Gift bags, Holidays / By Valerie

These printable dreidel gift boxes are really easy to put together and perfect for gelt or tiny treats. I made them to fit gelt but you can put other small candy, stickers or bubbles in there. They are perfect gifts for a large group or favors at a Hanukkah party! You could also use the dreidels for a banner or table top decoration.

What you need to make them:

download the printable at the bottom of the page

white card stock paper

tape

scissors

something fun to put inside!

Print out the printable and cut out the dreidel shapes. With the extra paper cut a strip 3 inches long and about 2 inches wide. Fold the white strip of paper into thirds. Then put tape on the inside of both sides with sticky side out. Press the dreidel with the design facing outwards against the tape. Repeat on the back with the plain dreidel. read more

About Valerie Jackson

Hi I'm Val! I love making simple crafts with my kids using free printable templates. Come craft with us!

Dreidel Marshmallow Pops

Chanukah, Desserts, Holidays / By Valerie

We are now on the third night of Chanukah! Which means dreidel marshmallow pops! It is hard to get ready for Chanukah when it comes so soon after Thanksgiving. That is why we need some easy things to make to celebrate. I leave the latkes up to others to make but I am really good at eating them, not to brag ;).This year we already did some Chanukah crafts and made a Chanukah house. The Chanukah house was like a gingerbread house with yellow and blue decorations. Manichewitz makes the Chanukah house because when the house falls down mama might need a little wine. I wish there was more of a selection of Chanukah items in the stores and ideas. The section is usually about a foot wide sandwiched in between the Christmas stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas decorations but Chanukah could use a little love too! My mom is always creative and resourceful when it comes to Chanukah ideas. I get my love of holidays from her. read more

About Valerie Jackson

Hi I'm Val! I love making simple crafts with my kids using free printable templates. Come craft with us!

Halloween Party Crafts and Treats

Decorations, Desserts, DIY, Halloween, Holidays / By Valerie

I can’t believe it is finally Halloween week! I have been so busy with Halloween projects for the past month. I thought it would be a good idea to put them all together in case you missed anything. These Halloween party crafts and treats are all easy to make for a fun Halloween party. We are definitely prepared for Halloween, at least with decorations and desserts. I still don’t have a costume but I always throw something together last minute. I keep seeing so many adorable diy costumes I just haven’t been able to decide. My indecisiveness leads to procrastination and then I will be up late the night before making a costume haha. My daughter on the other hand has been wearing her costume for the past couple weeks. She wants to wear it all the time! Hopefully it will make it to Halloween in one piece. read more

About Valerie Jackson

Hi I'm Val! I love making simple crafts with my kids using free printable templates. Come craft with us!

Fireworks Craft

3 Comments / 4th of July, Crafts, DIY, Holidays / By Valerie

I just cannot believe it is already going to be the 4th of July this week! It really snuck up on me. I might say that too much because a lot of holidays somehow sneak up on me. Besides Christmas since they start putting out decorations in July, you can’t miss that one. I wanted to make a little craft with Keira but I was trying to avoid a mess. What says 4th of July more than fireworks?! It seems like all of our crafts are messy and as much as I love making a huge mess I don’t always like to clean up. This fireworks craft was so easy to make and can also work as a decoration for the 4th. All you need are pipe cleaners in any colors you want (I went with red, silver and blue) and scissors. read more

About Valerie Jackson

Hi I'm Val! I love making simple crafts with my kids using free printable templates. Come craft with us!

Earth Day Cake Pops!

3 Comments / Desserts, DIY, Holidays / By Valerie

Earth Day is coming up soon! In the past I haven’t really done much for this day. The last couple of years my daughter Keira was too young to really get into it. This year though we have some fun things planned. We are going to plant some fruits and vegetables at my parents house. We live in an apartment and despite my best efforts I can’t keep plants alive. It is better for the Earth if I don’t personally own plants. I am also setting up an easy recycling activity with items laid out to recycle and Keira can put them in the pretty recycle bin. I know one of the best ways to get Keira’s attention is with something yummy or a fun crafts. Like mother like daughter. I made these Earth cake pops for a party but they are perfect for Earth Day. read more

About Valerie Jackson

Hi I'm Val! I love making simple crafts with my kids using free printable templates. Come craft with us!