Crafting & DIY

Lemon and Lavender are one of my favorite essential oil combinations – fresh, bright, and clean, this Lemon Lavender Foot Scrub is a favorite for that reason.  They are especially fitting for springtime when I want all the scents around me to be light and just slightly floral.  This scrub was a concoction I put together while experimenting with some of my favorite bath and body diy ingredients – just 5, including your essential oils.  Most are things you probably already have in your pantry or bathroom cupboards.  I like to use this by preparing a foot tub of hot water, then I scrub my feet and calves, rinse off in the tub of water, then soak for a deliciously relaxing mini spa treatment.  The coconut oil also leaves your skin soft and moisturized for an added bonus.  With Mother’s Day coming up this is a great handmade gift to bring a little comfort and relaxation mom’s way.  Enjoy!

Lemon Lavender Foot Scrub

Ingredients:

½  cup Epsom salts

¼ cup baking soda

2 Tbsp. liquid castile soap

1 Tbsp. coconut oil

5-7 drops lavender essential oil

5 drops lemon essential oil

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a glass bowl that leaves plenty of room for mixing.

Stir until well combined.

Transfer to a glass jar with a tight fitting lid- like a mason jar or upcycled salsa jar – do not store  in plastic as the citrus acid will eat away at it.

Store in a dry area for up to 6 months.

To use: Scrub feet and calves, rinse well, pat try.

We love this lemon lavender foot scrub, because it is so simple to make and it really gives you the feeling of a luxurious at home spa day.  Add in some fun nail polish and scented candles and you can create a great at home spa day for yourself and your daughters with this easy foot scrub.

Check out our other favorite body scrubs, lotions and spa treatments!

Sore Muscle Body Scrub

Honey Almond Sugar Scrub

Citrus Basil Body Scrub

Rosemary Clove Beard Conditioner

Honey Lemon Lotion Bars

Valentine’s Day is so close and I love having some fun Valentine’s Day printables and crafts on hand for those busy days when the kids need something to occupy their time! Around this time each year, we love to do lots of crafts and print out fun stuff to do. I scoured the Internet to find some fun printables that our readers would enjoy. I love all of the creativity out there on the Internet for sure. V-day is that one time a year you can get away with all of the fun heart stuff. One of my favorite things is making stuff for other people and giving it to them. That may be so kindergartner-ish, but it’s fun! If my sons or husband can take the time to show they love me though a letter, printable, coloring page, or craft, I will do the same. Check out these coloring pages, printables, crafts, and other fun Valentine’s Day stuff!

25 Valentine’s Day Printables And Crafts

1. Free Valentine’s Day Color Pages from You Brew My Tea
2. Printable Coupon Book For Valentine’s Day from You Brew My Tea
3. Printable Valentine’s Day Word Search For Kids from You Brew My Tea
4. Lunch Box Notes and Jokes from Craftaholics Anonymous
5. Printable Non-Candy Valentines from I Can Teach My Child
6. Love Bugs from Mom Luck
7. Rainbow Heart Suncatchers from Fireflys & Mudpies
8. Burlap Heart Wreath from Where The Smiles Have Been
9. Kids’ Candy Huggers from Lia Griffith
10. Heart Banner from Eighteen 25
11. Mustache and Lip Printables from I Heart Naptime
12. Heart Caterpillar Craft from Crafty Morning
13. DIY Valentine Initial Mugs from Sugar Bee Crafts
14. Subway Art Printable from Catch My Party
15. Gem of a Friend Printable from Bloom Design Online
16. Fruits with Messages from Cake Whiz
17. Soda Can Candy Bouquets from Miss Kopy Kat
18. Easy Valentine Art from Artsy Chicks Rule
19. Gummy Wine Hearts from Thrive Style
20. Donut Forget Me Printable from The 36th Avenue
21. Chic Printable Signs from We Heart Parties
22. Sugar Scrub Recipe with Printable from Your Beauty Blog
23. Heart Cards Garland from Happiness Homemade
24. Printable Monster Valentine’s Memory Card Game from Gluesticks and GumDrops
25. Origami Heart Valentine Gifts For Kids To Make from Mainly Homemade

I love getting the kids involved in making gifts and crafts for the holidays.  Even these Valentine’s Day printables and crafts are a great way not only to teach them how to cut, color, paste and write messages, but also about giving to others.  Valentine’s Day is a great holiday to focus on showing love.  It’s not just about romance, but also about loving the people around us.  To show love with the kids, we focus on giving something special to those around us.  That includes doing things like taking cookies or treats to friends, sending these cards and notes to those we love, or even when money allows buying a special meal for someone.

There are so many great Valentine’s Day printables, crafts, recipes and gift ideas out there that focus on romance.  This year, why not spend a bit more time showing love outside your romantic relationships by working on these fun things with your kids as a great winter day project everyone will enjoy!

Check out our other great Valentine’s Day focused posts! 

7 Fun & Frugal Valentine’s Day Activities For Kids

7 Non-Candy Valentine’s Day Ideas

Simple Frugal Valentine’s Day Date Ideas

Valentine’s Day Pencil Toppers

Valentine’s Day Puzzle Piece Frame

My friend Amanda from It’s A Fabulous Life created this adorable Minions Door Wreath and is letting us share it here with you this week.  We loved Despicable Me, and the Minions of course became a favorite in our house.  We can’t wait for the Minions movie be in theaters this summer!  I am sure it will be a great movie to add to our collection!

This fun Minions Door Wreath is a great decoration for your front door, kids bedroom or even a fun birthday party decoration.  With the Minions movie coming out this year I am sure there will be tons of Minions themed birthday party ideas and games, and this wreath is a great addition to any party!

Minions Door Wreath

This simple wreath will take just a few minutes to throw together.  You’ll want to allow some time for paint to dry before assembling all of the pieces, but overall this is a project you and your kids can do together on a weekend afternoon.

Supplies needed:

2 Yellow Feather Boas (you can usually find these at craft stores like Hobby Lobby or Michael’s)

12 inch Wire Wreath (you can use a foam wreath if desired, it will look slightly different but will give the same overall effect)

1 Regular Paper Plate

1 Small Paper Plate (saucer sized)

1 sheet grey/blue card stock (you can usually find in the craft papers at your craft store.  If you want it to match identical to the rest of the grey/blue paint on craft you can simply paint a white piece of card stock instead)

Acrylic paint (she used grey, but you can use bright blue to match the traditional Minions colors)

Hot Glue Gun & Glue

Directions:

Start by tying one end of the yellow feather boa to the wreath.  You can use twine, wire or simply tie the boa itself directly to the wreath.

You’ll then wrap the boa around the wreath until it is completely covered.  Depending on size and type of wreath you purchase, this could take 1-3 boas.  For thicker fuller wreath you can add additional feather boas.

In the center of the smaller paper plate, create a black circle in the center with paint or marker.

Use the grey or blue paint to paint the outside rim of the plate.

If you can’t find blue or grey card stock – paint a piece of plain card stock and allow it to dry.

Once the card stock has dried, cut it into two pieces measuring 4 1/2″ x 2 3/4″.

Turn the larger paper plate upside down.  Place hot glue around the rim and set the wreath on top of it.  Flip your wreath over so the plate is on the top side.

Use hot glue to attach a piece of card stock to both sides of the plate.

Attach the smaller plate to the center of the larger plate creating the eyeball of the minion.

As you can see, this Minions Door Wreath has a few steps, but is really pretty simple to put together with your kids.  Make several and hang them as decorations for a birthday party, or in a kids room that has been decorated in a Minions or Despicable Me theme.

Check out these other Minions crafts and birthday party ideas!

Minions Duct Tape Pencil Holder

Minions Greeting Card Box

Disney Inspired Dole Whip Cupcakes

How To Host A Cheap Themed Birthday Party

I love having something easy and fun on hand for the Wee Child to work on in between regular homeschool assignments during the day.  These Free Valentine’s Day Color Pages are perfect for those times when he finishes up a lesson, but I am still buy with my own project and need to occupy him a little longer.  With his recent participation in our local homeschool group, it is even more fun because he has little friends he can color pages for and then take these with him to class to share.  Plus he has an auntie, sister and grandma out of state that just adore getting mail from him like this.  What better time for him to create something fun than on Valentine’s Day?!

FREE VALENTINE’S DAY COLOR PAGES

Print the Love Color Page Here

Print the Be Mine Heart Color Page Here

Add these great pages to a frame and use as a gift for grandparents or parents this year, or fold and mail them to someone out of town that would love a special treat from your child!  You can also incorporate these into your daily homeschool lesson by assigning specific colors for your child to use when coloring, or even making fun Valentine vocabulary lists to go alongside these color pages for a complete lesson plan.

Check out our Homeschooling for Lazy Parents Facebook Support Group for more tips and ways to make your homeschooling experience easy to manage!

If you like these, check out some of our other favorite homeschool printables and lesson plans!

Using Legos In Homeschool

Free Transportation Spelling Worksheets For Young Readers

Farmer Boy Unit Study

How To Raise A Reader

Valentine’s Day Pencil Toppers

Valentine’s Day Puzzle Piece Frame