How to Make a Pool Noodle Boat + Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Men Tell No Tales on BluRay!

Looking for some fun STEM crafts for your school-aged child? Why not make these fun pool noodle boats and challenge your child to find a design that will float and race! This post contains affiliate links. By clicking on the link, I will receive a small amount of money back if you purchase anything. 

This summer we spent a lot of time outdoors. Whether we were playing, exploring on our own, or making updates around the yard at the house, it just made sense to stay outside as much as possible. And with that, we also wanted to spend time with friends so we made sure we didn’t miss the movie night hosted at our kids school. 

In celebration of the great weather and being outside, we put together a cute pool noodle boat station where kids could come up and design their own boats and race them against their friends. It was a great activity to share before the movie started and kept the kids active as it became dark. 

What we loved was how easy it was for the kids to “get” it and start to create their own designs with little to no help from us. And I loved seeing all of their final designs once they were done decorating them. If you’re looking for a great outdoor STEM activity for the kids to try, grab some pool noodles, straws, and parchment paper and make a pool noodle boat to race! 

How to Make a Pool Noodle Boat

What you’ll need: 

  • pool noodles (we preferred having 2 colors/shapes)
  • straws
  • parchment paper
  • hole punch
  • stickers/markers/crayons to decorate
  • drink umbrellas
  • Rain gutter with end caps

What you do: 

Cut the pool noodles into 1″-1.5″ rounds. Place in a shallow container. 

Taking the parchment paper, cut out sails in trapezoid shape. Punch a hole on the top and bottom that fits a straw. Place sails in container with cut pool noodles. 

Place straws in a cup with drink umbrellas and set next to cut pool noodles and sails. 

Let kids put together their boats using their own designs and then have them decorate them to make them unique. 

Fill rain gutter (with end caps secure) with water and let the kids race their boats. Try using extra straws to blog into the sails unless you already have a natural wind going. 

Did the boats float? Did they sink? Did they move down the rain gutter with ease? 

Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Men Tell No Tales on BluRay

Did you know that Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Men Tell No Tale is coming out on n 4K Ultra HD™/Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and On-Demand tomorrow? YUP!! This activity would be a fun way to celebrate this new release. Just set up a movie night with your family or invite friends over for some fun, grab a copy of Pirates of the Carribean, set up an outdoor movie night and enjoy a fun time outdoors! 

What’s your favorite outdoor STEM activities for kids? 

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Pirates of the Caribbean Activity Sheets

We’ve ben waiting with anticipation for the release of the latest Pirates of the Carribean movie and the time has come! I was invited to attend the screening and was able to treat my dad to a sneak peek at  Johnny Depp’s return to the big screen as the iconic, swashbuckling anti-hero Jack Sparrow in the all-new “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.” Basically, I gave him his Father’s Day present early because he is a HUGE fan of Pirates. 

This latest rip-roaring adventure finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack (what’s new!) feeling the winds of ill-fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar, escape from the Devil’s Triangle bent on killing every pirate at sea—notably Jack.

Jack’s only hope of survival lies in the legendary Trident of Poseidon, but to find it he must forge an uneasy alliance with Carina Smyth, a brilliant and beautiful astronomer, and Henry, a headstrong young sailor in the Royal Navy. At the helm of the Dying Gull, his pitifully small and shabby ship, Captain Jack seeks not only to reverse his recent spate of ill fortune but to save his very life from the most formidable and malicious foe he has ever faced.

The story that unfolds not only sucked us in but kept us at the edge of our seat the whole time! I may or may not have literally jumped in my seat (with arms raised up) at least 2 times. While this movie was fantastic for adults, I wouldn’t suggest taking your kids if they’re under 12. Maybe 10 if they’re mature. 

The best part about this movie is how wonderfully it weaved into the previous films. If you loved the first Pirates movie, then you will absolutely love this one. And please remember to stay seated until after the credits are done! You won’t be disappointed. Cannot wait for the next one! 

Download the Pirates of the Caribbean activity sheet here! 

 

Visit the official Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales website here. And follow along on social! 

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram 

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES opens in theaters everywhere today, May 26th!

Star Wars Rogue One Perler Bead Templates: Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire

Use these Rogue One Rebel Alliance and Galactic Empire Perler Bead Templates to show the world if you’re on the dark side or the light side and see if your true Jedi comes out! 

May the 4th… er… April the 4th be with you. 

Today’s the day!! Did you preorder your copy of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story? If not, get on it! It comes out on Blu-ray/DVD today and is the perfect addition to your ever-growing collection of Star Wars movies. 

The fact that it is being released on my husband’s birthday did not escape me. How perfect is it to have one of your favorite movie franchises release a movie ON your birthday? Kismet! In celebration of my husband’s birthday and the release of Rogue One on store shelves, my daughter and I got to crafting to make the perfect birthday gift for dad: Star Wars Perler Bead creations! 

My daughter has been obsessed with her Perler beads since receiving them for Christmas this past year so when she was thinking of what to make her dad for a birthday gift, she immediately went and grabbed her Perler bead kit. But she couldn’t figure out what to make.  [Read more…]

DIY Rose Hair Tie inspired by Beauty and the Beast

In celebration of the new Beauty and the Beast that hit theaters last week, my daughter asked me if I could make her a special hair tie to wear when I take her to see it. And since I’m always up for a challenge, I got to work to quickly make a cute DIY rose hair tie for her to wear. 

Since she also had some leftover hair clips from St. Patrick’s Day, we used a few of those to make rose clips as well. We always try to craft with what we have around the house so feel free to adapt and create as you go to make the perfect rose hair accessory for you or your little one! 

What I love about this craft is how easy it is to put together. You can have a super cute hair accessory in less than 5 minutes! 

Here’s how: 

DIY Rose Hair Tie

What you’ll need: 

  • red felt
  • green felt
  • scissors
  • hair ties or hair clips
  • hot glue gun or crafting glue

What you do: 

1. Cut a 2″ circle out of the red felt. The size of the rose will be determined by the size of the circle so you can adjust to a larger circle for a bigger rose or smaller circle for a smaller rose. 

2. Cut out a spiral into the circle leaving a small center to use as the base of your rose. 

3. Take your spiral and cut a scalloped edge on the outer edge of the spiral to create the petals of your rose. 

4. Gather the spiral scallops and, taking the center, start to tightly wrap the petals around the center of the spiral until a rose forms. 

5. Using the glue, secure the edge of the rose to the side so that it doesn’t unravel. 

6. Cut out some leaves out of the green felt. Start by cutting out a marquis first and then cutting into the marquis to form a round center with two petals coming out of it (see video for visual instructions). 

7. Take your hair tie and glue the leaves onto the bottom end of the seam of your hair tie. Then add glue onto the hair tie and leaves to adhere the rose to the center. 

8. Let set completely before pulling your hair into a pony tail to show off your new hair tie! 

Did you see Beauty and the Beast yet? What did you think? 

Read our review here

What Age is Appropriate for Beauty and the Beast? Plus FREE Memory Game and Coloring Pages

The story and characters audiences know and love come to spectacular life in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” a live-action adaptation of the studio’s animated classic featuring an extraordinary ensemble cast, including Emma Watson as Belle and Dan Stevens as the Beast. 

Directed by Bill Condon and based on the 1991 animated film “Beauty and the Beast,” the screenplay is written by Stephen Chbosky and Evan Spiliotopoulos. Alan Menken provides the score, which includes new recordings of the original songs written by Menken and Howard Ashman as well as three new songs written by Menken and Tim Rice. And those three new songs? Oh my! So good. 

What I loved about this movie was that as soon as it started I was wrapped up in to the tale. It was almost magical how the story guided me through Belle’s life and shared her journey to finding the Beast. Another great part about this movie is that it delves deeper into Belle’s past, sharing who her mother was and how she died, making Belle more real and relatable. 

The characters were as loveable as ever and the movie, while staying true to the original classic, had some great additional hilarious moments brought out by Lefou, played by Josh Gad. The inflection and way that he presented his lines turned Lefou into a character who almost took the limelight away from Gaston. 

At first, I wasn’t too crazy about the adaptations of the characters like Mrs. Potts, Chip, Cogsworth, and Lumiere, but as I watched the movie I came to love the attention to detail and character put into each and every one of them. The literal personification of each character was put into their outward appearance and watching the difference between who they were as humans in the beginning of the movie and how they transformed was quite interesting. 

Throughout the movie I kept being taken back to when I was a small girl watching Beauty and the Beast on repeat in my house and thinking of how my kids would react to seeing the movie. And I have no doubt that just like me, my 6 and 8 year old would love it. 

Now there are scary parts in this movie that the littles might have a hard time with just as with the animated classic. There are wolves in a few scenes as well as the end when Gaston and the Beast meet. And the Beast himself can be quite alarming when you first get to know him. 

But with those moments being small parts of an otherwise beautiful and happy movie, I believe that this movie would be perfect for 7+ unless you have a 6 year old who doesn’t mind a scare here and there. 

Want a peek at what’s in store? Watch this trailer: 

We have some fun activities for your kids to partake in! Simply download them here and enjoy coloring your favorite characters or printing out a fun matching game to play with the kids.

Click Here to Print 

Beauty and the Beast Memory Game

Click Here to Print 

Beauty and the Beast Coloring Pages

Looking to bring Beauty and the Beast to life in your home? Make a gorgeous DIY Rose Hair Clip to wear when you go see the show! Click on the image below to read our tutorial. 

DIY Beauty and the Beast Rose Hair Tie Tutorial

DIY Moana Bangle Bracelet

This DIY Moana bangle bracelet is a fun and easy craft the kids can do. Let them personalize their bracelets with their own choice of Moana-inspired charms and wear it proudly as they sing along. 

Who else has a HUGE Moana fan at home? While you’re in luck. Moana is coming out on DVD next Tuesday!! We received an early copy for review and my girls have been playing it non-stop since it came in the mail. And the 6-year old asked to buy the soundtrack. How cute is that? Don’t worry, dear daughter, already done! 

To celebrate the release of Moana on DVD on March 7th, we’ve made a fun DIY Moana bangle bracelet for each of the girls. I purchased bulk charms and bracelets from Amazon so they could make a few and then let them choose a few special charms during a visit to Michaels. Surprisingly Norah wanted the exact same charm Molly did so they went with plumeria flowers. But you could find something more suited to your likes for the “star” charm. 

This post contains affiliate links. 

Moana Bangle Bracelet

What you’ll need: 

What you do: 

Take charms and loop over hook edge of the bracelet. Circle around and up to add to the bracelet. 

Add as many or as few as you’d like to create the look you want! 

That’s it! How simple is that? Oh, and if you want to pre-order a copy of Moana, grab it here

What’s your favorite part in Moana? 

Here are some fun activities to do with the kids while you’re making your bracelets:

Download Moana Island Crafts

Looking for more fun? Check out these awesome posts:  

Aloha Hawaiian-Themed Baby Shower

Kakamora Ornaments

How to Create a Wishing Star Wand + Pinnochio on DVD

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My daughter is obsessed with all things wands, swards, and sticks. Anything she can swing around and bop people on the head with (gently of course), she loves. And with our recent obsession with Pinocchio since it came out on Blu-Ray, it was the perfect way to commemorate the movie.

As we were planning for a family movie night, I decided to let the kids make their own wands customized to their likes and needs. It really was a simple craft and the kids had a great time doing it! With the help of mom and a glue gun to finish everything off.

So if you’re little princess loves wands as much as mine do, I highly suggest trying your hand at making a wishing star wand. It’s simple, easy, and takes less than 5 minutes!

How to Create a Wishing Star Wand

What you’ll need:

  • wooden dowels, cut to size (we purchased 48″ dowels and cut them in thirds)
  • felt, any color
  • ribbon, any color
  • glue gun

What you do: 

1. Cut out felt into the size and shape you want for the top of your wand. Cut out coordinating ribbon in the amount and length you prefer.

2. Do a dry run before gluing everything together to make sure the felt pieces fit together on the top of the wand.

3. Tie the ribbon onto the top of the stick and secure with the hot glue.

3a. Make sure to go all around the dowel so that the ribbon doesn’t slip down.

4. Now it’s time to glue down the felt pieces. Start with a small dab on one side of the dowel and adhere the first felt piece.

5. Then add a few dabs of hot glue to the other end of the dowel and the felt piece already adhered. Place the second felt piece on top covering the top of the dowel completely and sandwiching the ribbon in between the two felt pieces.

 
6. Hand the wand over to your favorite princess and watch them play! 

See how easy that was?

What type of wand would you make?

Disney’s timeless tale Pinocchio, considered one of the greatest animated films ever made with two Academy Awards, joins the Walt Disney Signature Collection. Now it will delight a whole new generation of dreamers with its masterful animation, unforgettable characters and award-winning music.

The movie which inspired the world to wish upon a star, arrives for the first time on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on Jan. 10, and on Blu-ray™ and DVD on Jan. 31 with hours of new and classic bonus features.

Disney On Ice Worlds of Enchantment in San Diego Jan. 26-29

Enter the dazzling world of Disney magic, live on ice! Rev up for non-stop fun with four of your favorite Disney stories at Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Enchantment. Thrill to high-speed stunts as Lightning McQueen, Mater and the crew of Disney•Pixar’s Cars race across the ice like you’ve never seen before!

disney-on-ice-worlds-of-enchantment-mickey-and-minnie_finale

Dive into adventure with Ariel and The Little Mermaid’s undersea kingdom. The toys are back in town with heroic action when Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the Toy Story gang escape from the rambunctious tots of Sunnyside Daycare and race for home, in their most daring adventure ever!

Plus, enter the wintery world of Arendelle with sisters Anna and Elsa and pals Olaf and Kristoff from Disney’s Frozen, as they learn that true love comes from within. From wheels to waves, icy wonderlands to infinity and beyond, your family’s favorite Disney moments come to life at Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Enchantment.

disney-on-ice-worlds-of-enchantment-sebastian-with-seahorses

Showtimes:

Thursday, January 26 – Sunday, January 29

Thursday, January 26 7:00 PM

Friday, January 27 7:00 PM

Saturday, January 28 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM

Sunday, January 29 1:00 PM & 5:00 PM

WHERE: Valley View Casino Center – 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego, CA 92110

Location:

Valley View Casino Center
3500 Sports Arena Blvd., San Diego CA 92110

Tickets:

Ticket prices start at just $15!

All seats are reserved; tickets are available for purchase online at AXS.com, charge by phone at 888-9AXS-TIX or visit the Valley View Casino Center Box Office.
*tickets prices are subject to change; additional venue/ticketing fees may apply

disney-on-ice-worlds-of-enchantment-sunnyside-daycare

Which Disney character are you most looking forward to seeing?

Don’t forget to check Disney on Ice out online on Facebook and twitter too!!

*** This giveaway is now closed ***

Congrats, Melissa A! 

Open to US only, 18+. Must be able to attend this event in San Diego on January 26. This giveaway ends January 20, 2017 at 11:59EST. Tickets are valid for weekday performances only (Thursday at 7pm).

Mandatory Entry
Please comment* below with your (or your child’s) favorite Disney character and/or why you’re excited for Disney on Ice.

Bonus Entries

These entries are NOT required, they just give you a few extra chances to win, do one two, or them all, it’s up to you. Please leave a separate comment for each entry you complete. Please note that your COMMENT is your entry, not the action you perform.

1. Do you Like us on Facebook – leave a comment and let us know!
2. Follow us on Instagram and leave a comment with your Instagram url so we can follow back!
3. Follow us on Pinterest and leave a comment with your Pinterest url.
4. Follow us on Twitter and leave a comment with your Twitter user name.
5. Tweet this  and leave a comment with your tweet URL. (you may do this twice a day with at least 2 hours in between each tweet, please leave a comment each time)

Enter to win a 4pack of tickets to Disney on Ice Worlds of Enchantment in #SanDiego from @SimmworksFamily! https://acraftyspoonful.com/disney-on-ice-worlds-of-enchantment/ Ends 1/20

Thank you and good luck!

*Important: By completing any entry in our giveaways, you agree to ALL of our giveaway terms and conditions. Comments such as “Thank you for the giveaway” “I want to win” etc will not be counted as the mandatory entry and will be deleted along with all corresponding bonus entries. Please be aware that comments are moderated and may not appear right away. Make sure you use a valid email address so we may notify you if you’ve won! Giveaway winners will receive their tickets through the mail directly. Winner must provide mailing address to receive these tickets.

Disclaimer: I received tickets in exchange for promotion of this show. All opinions are my own.

Perfect Last Minute Movie Stocking Stuffer Ideas

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One thing I always forget to get until the last minute are the stocking stuffers for the kids. It’s a task I normally will just give to my husband the night before Christmas eve and then we end up with too much or too little. So I’m going simple this year! Each of the kids will get a DVD in their stocking, an apple & an orange (tradition in our home), a See’s santa chocolate, and a Christmas lego. Simple but fun, right? Now what DVDs should I stick in their stocking? 

Here are some ideas: 

the-bfg-on-dvd

The BFG

Disney and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Walden Media, present the fantasy adventure film “The BFG,” the first-ever motion picture adaptation of Roald Dahl’s resonant tale of childhood, the magic of dreams and the extraordinary friendship between a young girl and a big friendly giant. Directed by three-time Academy Award® winner Steven Spielberg, the film reunites the director with his Oscar®-nominated collaborator on “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” Melissa Mathison, who adapted the children’s author’s timeless adventure for the big screen. 

This magical tale of an extraordinary friendship loaded with exciting extras will brighten the holidays for the whole family! “The BFG” comes to Digital HD, Blu-ray™ and Disney Movies Anywhere Dec. 6.

Purchase it on Amazon (through my affiliate link) here: http://amzn.to/2hLaReu

elena-of-avalor-ready-to-rule-on-dvd

Elena of Avalor: Ready to Rule

Disney’s newest princess comes to DVD with the release of Elena of Avalor: Ready to Rule just in time for the Holidays! Join Elena as she learns about being a princess who will one day become a queen and rule her kingdom. She’s saved her kingdom from an evil sorceress who was trying to destroy Avalor, but that was the easy part! Elena’s journey leads her to understand that her new role requires thoughtfulness, resilience and compassion, the traits of all truly great leaders.

This DVD is packed with laughs, new characters to cherish, and heart, Elena of Avalor: Ready to Rule is a must-own for the entire family! Includes Four Full Episodes and a FREE Exclusive Projecting Scepter – A Great Holiday Gift! Bring home this charming series on Disney DVD December 6th!

Purchase it on Amazon (through my affiliate link) here: http://amzn.to/2hLf4Pr

lego-star-wars-freemaker-adventures

LEGO Star Wars The Freemaker Adventures

Are you ready for more fantastic and fun LEGO Star Wars adventures? Of course you are! LEGO Star Wars The Freemaker Adventures Complete Season One arrives in our galaxy on Blu-ray and DVD on Dec. 6th.

Taking place between THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and RETURN OF THE JEDI, this new Lego Star Wars series follows a family of scavengers who build and sell starships from battle debris strewn throughout the galaxy. When their youngest discovers a natural connection with the Force through an ancient artifact – the Kyber Saber –he and his family are thrown into an epic struggle against the Empire to restore peace and freedom to the galaxy. The Freemakers explore new worlds, meet new and familiar characters and discover the strength of family.

Now you can relive all 13 action-packed episodes in LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures Season One, with new bonus features and 6 exclusive Lego Star Wars magnets available nowhere else! This is a must-have release for fans!!

Purchase it on Amazon (through my affiliate link) here: http://amzn.to/2hLauAz

What are your top stocking stuffer ideas? 

Squirt’s Kelp Forest Smoothie Recipe + Finding Dory Now On BluRay/DVD

squirts-kelp-forest-smoothie

Finding Dory picks up shortly after the original Finding Dory. As you can recall Dory suffers from short term memory loss which prevents her from remembering how she become alone in the ocean. Dory suddenly remembers a place from her childhood and sets off to find it with her new adopted family Marlin and Nemo.

Finding Dory Hank

This movie followed the classic sequel formula. It revisited memorable places, interacted with favorite characters, introduced new memorable characters, and added a new environment for the characters to conquer. The movie does a good job of telling an entertaining story and is a solid new adventure. If you enjoyed Finding Nemo you will enjoy this too.

My kids enjoyed the new character Hank the octopus. There was scene in a kids touch pool involving Hank and an ink release that my Daughter thought was funny. She also liked the use of sea shells to that served to guide Dory back home (used as a memory aide for Dory).

Finding Dory Destiny

Squirt’s Kelp Forest Smoothie

  • 1 1/2 cups coconut water
  • 1 cup fresh baby spinach
  • 1 ripe frozen banana
  • 1 pear, cored and sliced
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 4-6 ice cubes
  • 2 fresh strawberries for garnish

Combine coconut water, baby spinach, frozen banana, pear and cinnamon in blender and process until smooth. 

Add ice cubes, as needed, blend until desired consistency is reached. 

Pour into two glasses and garnish with a fresh strawberry to resemble squirt’s red spots. Kids can help with this. Enjoy immediately! 

Print PDF of recipe here

Finding Dory Hank and Dory

Overall a solid family movie and one that will find a spot in your kids movie rotation. Plus it makes a great stocking stuffer!

Purchase it on Amazon through my affiliate link here: http://amzn.to/2fRdCLs

If you’re considering getting a pet, make sure to do your research! You can get help from this great resource here. And remember, while clown fish who resemble Nemo may be good pets with the proper set up, blue tang fish like Dory should not be purchased as pets

FINDING DORY is now on store shelves everywhere!



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