Multiplying rabbits!

You know all the old jokes about rabbits and their reproductive habits? 

Here's one: How are bunnies like calculators? They can multiply real fast! 

Well, bunnies tend to multiply around my house too. I'm not just talking about the dust bunnies either. At the moment, Joseph has nine stuffed bunnies in play — there's Baby Bunny, Momma Bunny, Grey Bunny, Snow Bunny, New Bunny ('cause he was new duh), Blue Bunny, another Blue Bunny and several waiting for names. (Let's not even count the secondary puppy dogs, dinos and bears that cover his bed.)

Time to make more bunnies for Easter!

So clever! So easy to make! Oh Happy Day

From my favorite folks at Mr. Printables. They also
 have a giant egg for coloring and an egg hunt
 board game. Hope you asked the Easter Bunny
 to bring you more ink.

Clever Martha folks. Pompom noses (and tails) always please me.

These cuties are going to multiply all over my house. Besides
using it as a garland, I love the idea from Printable Paper Craft by Happy Thought
to attach them to sticks and decorating the yard.

I couldn't find an original source for this picture.
What a cute prop for Easter pictures with the kids.

The not-a-box disco party box

It feels like it's been raining forever! At least every day this week and last. The only thing that has saved my sanity is THE BOX. I spied the box at a neighbor's house. Seems they got a delivery. We're all tight on my street so I immediately asked for the box, dragged box to my house, barely got it through the door and then rejoiced in the peace and quiet the box brought to my house. Not so much the quiet because jailers and prisoners can be rather loud when an escape attempt is ongoing. The day after I got the box is when it started raining and raining and raining. (Good Lord, when will it stop?!) Which is sad because I had dragged the second big box to the backyard for more fun and it's now a sad pile of damp cardboard. 

Now when I first spied the box, all kind of ideas ran through my head. Ideas that I had pinned just waiting for the opportunity to show up on the curb. Should I make a playhouse? A reading nook? 

Holly/Life as a Thrifter

Come on, isn't this amazing?!! What a lovely little house. My hats off to this mom for all the love she put into making it. Wallpaper! A mirror! But before my fantasies ran away from me, I stepped away from the craft supplies and decided to just let my boys decide where the play led. So the box is unchanged expect for some markers and a barred window in the back for the prisoners. EXCEPT for the Christmas lights which hey, they were still plugged up so not too hard to add them to the box. I got the idea here. It's fun listening to the boys and their friends play or for us all to pile in to read books. 

To be honest, while I love the occasional rainy day best spent reading in bed, these days of damp are starting to get to me. We're promised some sun on Friday but that's after a chance of snow Thursday. Which at my house, will more likely just be more rain. Time for an inspirational quote: 

Download your own copy at Addicted2Decorating

(Free) Thanksgiving activities for the kiddos

Activity Place Mat

Whatever DeeDee Wants

Turkey Feathers Game

The Idea Room

Sticker Activity Book

Our Wonderfilled Life

Roll a Turkey Game (two versions)

Be Different Act Normal

Turkey Leg Placecard (fill with goodies)

Beurrista

Decorate the Whole Table

Paper Glitter

Halloween masks in snap

Making cupcakes for the school Halloween party? Trying to find the missing piece to the costume your kid's been wearing for two weeks and can't go trick-or-treating without? Kids bugging you about what you're going to dress-up as? 

Or is that just my Halloween? Never fear, you still have time to come up with something, anything to make the kids happy as you run down the street with them. Plug in the printer and embrace the spirit of the day! (Click on the picture to take you to DIY instructions and PDF files)

Wee Alphas

Design House Digital

Cut and Fold Costumes via How About Orange

Mr. Printables

or you could be like this momma — grab the nearest milk jug and cut away.

Happy Halloween!

Free valentines to print, kid edition

COUGH! SNIFFLE! COUGH! COUGH! I'm not feeling too hot. I intended to have a Valentine's Day roundup posted so much earlier this week but oh well. COUGH! Here it is. If you're like me though, it's not too late. Me and the boys will be crafting our valentines this weekend. 

Not sure where I saw the bouncy ball valentines first but I like the designs from Paging Supermom, pictured above, and Tip Junkie.

Love bugs!!! From Dandee Designs

Is there an award for prettiest arrow? They deliver pencils (groan, COUGH).
From Sweet Muffin Suite

Even pirates can show some love. From Mer Mag

Butterfly lollipops, Will's choice this year. From Skip to My Lou

Joseph will either be delivering bear hugs aka Teddy Grahams (from Family Fun magazine) or fish aka Goldfish (from Happy Clippings). Fish? Why fish? The saying is "Of all the fish in the sea, I'm glad we swim in the same school." Awwwww!

The now-classic kid holding lollipop. From 24-7-365

You can find even more inspiration on my Valentine's ideas Pinterest board.

Keeping track of time

I had an uneasy feeling the last week of December. I hadn't yet gotten my 2012 desk calendar. January was around the corner and I hadn't written down birthdays or appointments or the most important thing, when school started back! My left eye started twitching so I ran down the street to Wally world and instantly felt better.

However, my desk calendar, while useful, is plain. I want something pretty to hang on the wall. I have found lots and lots of options, FREE to print, designed by some very talented folks.* I'm sure you'll find one or several you'll want to print too.

U Me It

The TomKat Studio

Skip to My Lou

Pizzazzerie

Living Locurto

My Owl Barn

JeannieJeannie

A Number of Things

Kid Independent

Dollar Store Crafts

Clementine Creative

Lula Louise

What's perfect to pair with a calendar?

A Pair of Pears

*Check back here soon for my very own special Lego calendar! 

Placing the last bricks now!

Let the countdown begin!

Our advent calendar this year is a Book Advent Calendar. I decided on the idea last year after seeing it around the blogsphere. Which means I had plenty of time to shop after-Christmas sales and found even more at the local thrifts. Not to mention that we already had a ton of Christmas books in the house. It took two hours of television, but I got them all wrapped and ready to go for today. Looks like our elf wants in on the fun too.

This is a busy time of the year. Us moms and dads are already over-extended as it is. You might be thinking you don't have time to do anything cool this year. You're wrong! Here are four (free!) easy-peasy cool-looking ideas:

Make and Takes

A puzzle to put together, one day at a time ... Make and Takes

Skip to My Lou

Print, cut, glue snowflake countdown ... Skip to My Lou

Gluesticks

I love how Santa's beard gets shorter ... Gluesticks

Inviting Printables

Another Santa! So cute to add cotton balls for the beard ... Inviting Printables

Only thing scary here is running out of ink

Halloween is getting close. We've got a few Lego pumpkins on the mantle but that's about it. But these freebies will help me get ready. Hope you enjoy them too.

Alpha Mom

Monster Mash-Up calendar ... Scout Creative

Mini haunted house luminaries ... Just Something I Made

Everything you need to throw a party ... Skip to My Lou

Halloween snack bag toppers ... Blooming Homestead

A cool and creepy skeleton from 1875 ... Just Something I Made

Need cupcake toppers or stickers? Creative Mamma and We Love to Illustrate have the cutest.

Though my favorite cupcake topper is from Alpha Mom and pictured above. Light bulb: Use same toppers to make a fast and easy garland for mantle. Just cut, attach to ribbon, hang and enjoy!

Visit Tip Junkie and Family Fun for a gazillion more printables.

Don't forget the chevrons ... Two Twenty One

Coming soon, a post on all the Halloween crafts I won't have time to do!

Father's Day freebies

Last year, I couldn't find any printables for Father's Day. So not the case this year!

TIE-riffic goodies ... It's Always a Party at the Parkers

Father's Day PINGS (and for us clueless, she tells us how to use them. For us who remain clueless, she has free printables) ... Ladybird Ln

Retro soda labels ... Delightfully Noted

Catch My Party

Everything you need to throw a party for dad ... Catch My Party (designed by Love Party Printables) FYI, they have two other party packs to choose from ... all free!

Motorin' cards ... Funkytime (might be my new favorite design blog)

Father's Day retro clip art ... Just Something I Made

"King for the Day" crown ... Family Fun magazine

Cake banner (also good for sandwiches and pancakes) ... Dearie Designs

Super Dad iron-on transfer and banner ... Delightful Designs

For the golfing dads ... Tatertots and Jello

This roundup not big enough for you? Not what you need? No problem.
More ideas ... here, here, here and here. Whew!

DIY Easter: Free printables

Easter Candy Pouches ... Simply Modern Mom

Easter candy box ... I Still Love You (check this one out too)

Easter owl goodie bag and bookmarks ... My Owl Barn

Origami bunny favor boxes ... How About Orange

Lego Easter bookmarks ... Living Locurto

Easter memory game ... Modern Parents Messy Kids

Tumble bunnies ... Made by Joel

Bunny egg holder, napkin ring and treat bag topper ... Skip to my Lou
(more freebies too)

Easter bunny chocolate bar wrappers ... Katrina's Kreations

Basketful of activities ... We Love to Illustrate

Bunny party invitation ... One Charming Party 

(several wordings to choose from)

The bunny cupcakes I'm making for Joseph's party ... Thirty Handmade Days

Bunny cupcake wrapper ... Skip to my Lou

Lucking out

Here's a roundup of St. Patrick's Day printables to help you celebrate ... 

I love buttons so I had to print this one right away.

Button rainbow printable ... Funky Polka Dot Giraffe

A good quote for any rainy day.

Rainbow quote printable ... Simple as That

These tags are best with magically delicious things.

Polka dot gift tags (and lucky pillow boxes too) ... Hello, Good Gravy!

There is no end in sight for "Keep Calm and Carry On" inspired posters. 

I want one for every holiday!

Get Your Irish On printable ... Flamingo Toes

Nice bag topper and fun detail on the bottom of the kisses.

Treat bag printables ... It is what it is

Here's a few crafts to make with the kids:
Rainbow cookies ... Can't Stop Making Things
Shamrock necklaces ... Home Confetti
Wee leprechauns ... Let's go Fly a Kite
Flower centerpiece ... Silly Eagle Books