Get Your Game On, V-Day Style!

For day 4 of the Valentine's Countdown I'm hosting over at Nickelodeon's Parents Connect, I'm sharing some great games and activities for February 14th!  There are lots of fun ideas (most with free printables!) from Shindig Parties To Go, Katie Did, Make & Takes, Woo Jr., The Crafting Chicks, The Pretty Blog and more. And here's another one you don't want to miss from The Superchick herself, Genevieve from Celebrate Today.... the Superchick Way!

Gen created this awesome heart memory game - "A Perfect Match," get it? - that's great for kids of all ages.  And it is so simple to make.  Just print out the game pieces and either use a paper punch or scissors to cut them out.

You can stop there or if you want to get fancy with it - as true superchicks do! - glue each piece to some colored card stock.  To jazz 'em up even more, add some scrapbook paper to the backs too.

Then wrap the pieces up and you're good to go!  You can give them out along with valentines or just use them at home.  Either way, this is an activity your kiddos will love on February 14th and beyond.

To get the full how to and download the free printable games pieces, visit Celebrate Today.... the Superchick Way.  And for more V-Day games and goodies, check out my post over at the Valentine's Countdown at Parents Connect.  Oh, and don't forget to enter to win some fabulous prizes while you're there!

Images: Celebrate Today.... the Superchick Way!

Valentine Freebie Festival, Day 11! {FREEBIES}

Today's pick from our VALENTINE FREEBIE FESTIVAL a super fun activity older kids will love - Conversation Heart Bingo!

Nicole, aka The Party Animal, created this game and it's so easy to play.  Just put a bunch of conversation hearts in a bag and have the "caller" draw them one at a time.  Roll each one onto the calling card and then have the players mark off the result - the color of the heart plus the letter from the card.

And the best part of this game is that everybody wins because there are lots of tasty candies to eat when it's over!

You can download the free printable conversation heart Bingo game here at The Party Animal, and if you have a free Valentine's printable you'd like to share, enter it into the link up below!

*If you are reading this in via our e-mail newsletter or RSS feed, the link up won't show up. You have to visit the post on our website to view it.

Holiday Freebie Festival, Day 18! {FREEBIES}

For day 18 of the HOLIDAY FREEBIE FESTIVAL, I'm featuring a printable I've already used.  Twice.  I found it over on Simply Modern Mom and it was designed by one of my favorite bloggers, Ez from Creature Comforts.  It's perfect for anyone who want her gifts to look fabulous but doesn't necessarily have the time - or the skill - to make it happen.

  

Yes, that's a printable bow!  Just print it out and stick it on any old bag or box and presto!  Instant show stopper.

They even double as gift tags.

The bows come in the two colors show above and there's also a color-your-own version that's great for letting your little Picassos add a personal touch to your presents.  Does it get any more fabulous - or simple - that that?

Download the printable bows at here at Simply Modern Mom and if you have a free holiday printable you'd like to share, enter it into the link up below!

*If you are reading this in via our e-mail newsletter or RSS feed, the link up won't show up. You have to visit the post on our website to view it.

Holiday Freebie Festival, Day 3! {FREEBIES}

Pssst!  Have you noticed how long our list of  fabulous free holiday printables is getting?  I love that people are participating in our HOLIDAY FREEBIE FESTIVAL, and if you've used one yourself, be sure to send us pictures so we can share those too! 

For day 3, I wanted to feature a simple but super set of fun printables from Nicole at WhipUp.net.  You can download 30 different patterned templates to create your own paper garland!  Just print this:

Cut out the design(s) you want, tape or glue them together and presto!

You've got a paper chain ready to hang!  some of the patterns are very holiday:

While others are more generic:

And could be used all year long. You can use one design or mix them all together but one thing's for sure - this is an easy and inexpensive way to add some festive flair to your home.  Plus, it's a great activity for the kiddos! 

Visit WhipUp.net to download the template and if you have a free holiday printable you'd like to share, enter it into the link up below!

*If you are reading this in via our e-mail newsletter or RSS feed, the link up won't show up.  You have to visit the post on our website to view it. 

Throw Your Own Thankful Party, Party 2: The Crafts {FREEBIE}

With Thanksgiving just 8 days away, it's time to get crafty with your kiddies!  If you're throwing a Thankful Party, any of these fun and easy projects will keep all of your little guests totally entertained.

I adore this cute 3-D Thankful Turkey Bag: 

And how fun is this Pumpkin Pie Thankful Spinner?

These Sunflower Pilgrim Pots would make great place cards or party favors:

Pipe cleaner finger puppets will keep the kids occupied before, during and after dinner.

And so will a good old game of Tic Tac Turkey.

{All of the above from Parents.com}

Balance the Busy has a great tutorial for how to make Hand Turkey Shirts using freezer stencils.

Your Starbucks addiction will pay off when your kids use the cup holders to make these mini-Mayflowers.  Get the how-to from 4 Crazy Kings.

Using a glove, you can craft a Turkey Puppet.

And a clothespin can be re-made into a Native American doll.

This Turkey Spoon craft from Ramblings of a Crazy Woman is easy to make and super cute.

And her Indian Dolls project kills me.  I have to make these with pictures of my family.

If your kids want to play dress up in the flesh, you can make some Turkey Hats.

Or go a little quirkier with Turkey Leg Hats.

Print out these fun masks from Craft. Jr. and your little Pilgrims can reenact the first Thanksgiving.

And Woo, Jr. has a turkey mask in both filled in and color-in versions.

While you're there, why not print out some Thanksgiving Mad Libs:

Or word searches:

And I can't resist throwing in a few more sweet treats that you can make with your children or just for them.

Look at these terrific turkey cookies one of our readers, Jaclyn, made!

Aren't they adorable?  Get the instructions at Pillsbury.com.

Family Corner shows you how to transform ice cream cones into Pilgrim hats.

Learn how to make all of these fantabulous cupcakes over at My Cake School.

And get the how to for this amazing giant Turkey Oreo from Munchkin Munchies.

Phew!  That's a whole lot of ways to craft up some thankfulness with your little one! For more Thanksgiving Kids Ideas, be sure to check out our posts on Treats to be Thankful For, our free Thanksgiving Kid's Party printables, and Turkey Day the Kids' Way, Part 1 and Part 2.  

Images: Parents,Balance the Busy, 4 Crazy Kings, Better Homes & Gardens, Ramblings of a Crazy Woman, Family Fun, Craft Jr., Woo, Jr., Family Corner, My Cake School & Munchkin Munchies

Bowling for Boos!

Today's GET YOUR GHOUL ON! MONTH feature is all about knocking the ghouls down in Pumpkin Bowling!

When I saw this great game from Kimbo at A Girl and a Glue Gun, I couldn't wait to share it.  She decorated ten old formula cans with all sorts of Halloween designs - you can print some out from online, or use stickers or even coloring books - and filled each one with a piece of candy or other prize.  Then she let her kids bowl with a little gourd....

And whatever they knocked over, they got to keep!  So fun, right?  I'm sure my girls would just love knocking the tins over, which means I could keep the candy for myself! 

For more details and so many more fantastic projects, visit A Girl and a Glue Gun.  Happy bowling!

Images: A Girl and A Glue Gun