Madagascar Party Ideas!

Planning a Madagascar themed party? Here's a great activity for kids:

Paper plate animal masks!

All you need are paper plates, scissors, glue, construction paper, markers, or whatever else you want to decorate your masks with!

Looking for decorations? Check out these King of the Jungle decorations! Click here to order.

Best iPhone and iPad Apps for Kids

Peekaboo Barn
Available for iPad iPhone or Android


This app will help your child learn the names of animals and the sounds the make by tapping the big red barn and guessing the animal by sound or picture! Available in English and Spanish.

Make it Pop
Available for iPad/iPhone


Really engaging for children who like to make things pop! Kids will learn shapes from popping bubbles, letters from popping balloons, colors from popping firework rockets, and numbers from popping popcorn!



The Monster at the End of This Book
Available for iPad/iPhone


Starring Sesame Street's Grover! This app brings to life the 1971 book of the same name that you'll remember from your childhood! Through different activities your child will help decide how to move the story along developing listening and beginning reader skills.

The New Rice Crispy Treat!

Peanut Butter Cheerio Bars


Ingredients:
6 cups Peanut Butter Cheerios
2 Tablespoons butter
1/3 cup smooth peanut butter
10 ounces marshmallows (approx. 40)
1 cup chocolate chips


Directions:
-Prep a 9×13 pan with cooking spray or buttered parchment.
-In a pan over medium high heat melt the butter and peanut butter. Add in the marshmallows and let them melt.
-Add the Peanut Butter Cheerios and stir to combine making sure all of the cereal gets coated.
-Press into the prepped pan and while the cereal is still warm, sprinkle the chocolate chips on top so they melt slightly.
-Let cool and cut into squares. These taste best if served the same day.

Making Summer Rain

Has a rainy day taken over your summer plans? Here's a great art project for kids on that rainy day!

Making Rainsticks

If you've never heard of them, a rain stick recreates the sound of the rain by turning the stick upside down. It's easy to create one of your own and what better way to spend a rainy day than creating your own rain stick. Here's how:

Materials:
cardboard tube (paper towel or toilet paper roll)
card stock or cardboard
tape
aluminum foil
seeds (beans or rice work as well)
markers or paint to decorate
any other additional items to decorate

Directions:
- Cut out two circles from either the newspaper or the cardstock to fit on the ends of the cardboard tube.
- Attach one circle to one end with tape.
- Twist a piece of aluminum foil into a snake like shape. Place it inside the tube.
- Add seeds (beans or rice) to the inside.
- Place your hand over the tube and listen to the sound. Add or remove seeds until you like the sound of the movement of the seeds.
- Cover the other end of the tube with the other circle and tape.
- Decorate your rainstick with paint, markers, beads, and any other material that you have chosen.
- Let it dry before playing with your new rainstick.

Review: Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted

Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted takes the kids to the circus! I would explain the plot, but it's the colors, action, and energetic music that makes this movie the great wild ride that it is. Madagascar 3 follows all of our favorite characters Alex the Lion (Ben Stiller), Marty the Zebra (Chris Rock), Gloria the Hippo (Jada Pinkett Smith), and Melman the Giraffe (David Schwimmer) on their crazy journey to return to the Big Apple from Africa. But at first attempt they crash their monkey-powered plane into a Monte Carlo casino and catch the attention of and animal control office Chantel DuBois (Frances McDormand) to escape from capture they pretend to be circus animals and join the traveling troop ,Circus Zaragoza. Members of Circus Zaragoza introduce our Madagascar newcomers Vitaly the Tiger (Bryan Cranston), Stefano the Sea Lion (Martin Short), and Gia the Jaguar (Jessica Chastain). Along their travels kids will be excited and educated by the amazing European backdrops. Watch it in 3D or not either way this movie will entertain kids of all ages!

Celebrate Dad!

Father's Day is just around the corner! Here are a few Father's Day craft ideas for kids!

Personalized Paper Note Cube:


Here's what you need:
Blank notepad
Markers


Let the kids draw pictures and special messages for Dad all around the paper note cube. Great for the office!






Daddy's Tool Box:


Here's what you need:
Construction paper
Scissors
Glue
Markers


Cut out a few tools and let the kids color them in and write a special note to Dad on the back of each tool, let them decorate the outside of the toolbox however they wish!







Custom Mouse Pad:


Here's what you need:
Craft foam
Markers


Let the kids decorate the craft foam with a special message to Dad! Or cut the foam in the same of his favorite animal or sport and decorate!

4th of July

The 4th of July will be here before you know it! Here are some awesome ideas to help you get started with your party planning! Delicious and patriotic!

Don't forget to add a party banner to pull it all together! We can create a custom banner for your party.

Crayon Art

Here is a great idea for a custom art piece to hang on your wall! Crayon Art!

All it takes is a few supplies and two easy steps.

Here's what you'll need:

A blank canvas

Crayons (Crayola brand works best)

A hot glue gun

A hair dryer

Step 1: Glue the crayons to the top of the canvas in whatever order best fits your color scheme.

Step 2: Set the canvas upright leaning it against a wall with a drop cloth underneath. Point the hair dryer at the crayons about two inches from them and watch them melt!

It's that easy!

If you're feeling extra creative you can try some of these designs as well!

Welcome Baby Edward Cullen!

Did the Twilight Saga inspire the top baby names for 2011?

With Jacob and Isabella topping the list, it sure looks that way!

Were these names inspired by Twilight's Jacob Black and Isabella Swan? Most likely. Are baby name choices influenced by pop culture? Most definitely. It's no surprise that the names George and Lucas jumped over 100 spots in the baby name ranks after the release of Star Wars, or that Jack and Rose jumped the list after the release of Titanic. Pop culture influences many aspects of our life apparently including picking the names of our children. Will this trend continue? Considering 2012 is already seeing an increase in the babies named Rue, Gale, Primrose, and Cato - all characters from the popular book and movie series The Hunger Games - I would say yes.

It's a Boy! Nautical Themed Party

If you're hosting a baby shower with a Nautical Theme, here are some great custom decorations!

Click Here to see more custom decorations in this theme!

(Clockwise from top left)

• "It's a Boy" Banner - Each circle measures 5 1/4” and is made from two layers of cardstock with printed lettering. The banner measures approx 4' long.
• Food Tents - Accent your buffet table with these coordinating Food Cards. These can be customized with your choice of text, or can be left blank for you to fill in the details. When folded, the front of each card measures 4” by 2”.
• Cupcake Toppers - 12 cupcake toppers measure 2 inches in diameter and are printed on high quality cardstock. They are mounted to give a 3-D look.
• Baby Shower Printable Invitation - This baby shower invitation will be emailed to you as a digital file (either jpeg or pdf). You can print from home, have it printed at a print/copy center or email it to your guests. No printed materials will be shipped, this 5x7 invitation will be emailed to you.