Free Building Clinics in May

The free kids building clinics are a great way for your child
to get a sense of accomplishment!

Ahhhh, spring is springing and the April showers bring May flowers...  Theoretically that is. With teh unpredictable weather though, May is still a great time to take the kids to one of the free kid's building clinics available at Home Depot or Lowes.

This May there are three opportunities to get the kids in on the action too. The events are mostly geared for kids 5-12.

• On Saturday May 5, 9:00 a.m. - noon, your child can make their own planter box for mom during the Home Depot Kids Building Workshop (3300 Carpenter Rd., Ypsilanti). Your child will get their own apron, and a certificate for attending.
• On Saturday May 12, at 10:00 a.m. sign your kids up to attend the Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic (5900 Jackson Rd. and 3900 Carpenter Rd., Ann Arbor) to make a Picture Frame Planter Box. Then later in the month, on May 26, sing them up to make their own ice cream truck! In addition to the item your child builds, they can also get their own mini-Lowe's apron and a patch for attending.

Register Now for Upcoming Kids Build-it Clinics

I'm back - After a great family vacation I thought I'd better get back to work providing Ann Arbor families some great free and low cost ideas! Since these building clinics often require advance registration, I thought to pass them along:

• Doesn't matter which football team your kids support, at Home Depot they can build their own football stand on Saturday September 4 from 9:00 a.m. - noon. (I'm thinking too that it might be possible to flip this over for a small football shaped shelf/stool too!). This hands-on free workshop is designed for children ages 5-12 and is available at participating Home Depot locations.
• On Saturday, September 11 at 10:00 a.m. your children can build the family pooch a cute leash hanger for free at Lowe's! This dog-friendly kid's building clinic requires advanced registration though at the Lowe's Build and Grow website!
• Teach your kids about fire safety and have some fun doing it while building an awesome Fire Truck on Saturday, September 25 at 10:00 a.m.  This Lowe's Build and Grow project kit even includes a working siren and stickers. Make sure to register early though so that the classes are not filled up!

Create Your Own Ice Cream Bowl This Sunday!

After some very HOT, humid weather in the Ann Arbor area of late, I'm personally ready for a break. I've been cooped up inside with the A/C blaring coming out only after dark. I'm starting to feel like a vampire... Maybe that's an exageration, however I know of families everywhere who have been hiding from the heat, and that's where this fun (and cool) event comes in... How about having a "Sundae" @ the Ann Arbor Art Center?

On Sunday, August 1, 2010 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. Ann Arbor area families are invited to head over to the Art Center to paint their very own, one-of-a-kind, ceramic ice cream bowl. Your bowl will be fired and ready for pick up after the event, and while you wait, enjoy your very own ice cream sundae! Since the kids typically get finished much faster than the adults when doing craft projects, the folks at the Ann Arbor Art Center will also have face painting, balloon animals, and a building scavenger hunt for the day.

This would be a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon, together with the people you love most. Tickets are only $10 and can be purchase online at the Ann Arbor Art Center or by calling, 734.994.8004 x 101.

Free Upcoming Kids Build-It Clinics

Kids who love to build or work with their hands will thoroughly enjoy the upcoming free building projects available at Home Depot and Lowes. In general the clinics are geared for children ages 5-12. They are a great way to spend quality mother-son or father-daugher time with a parent, they are fun (and free), and finally the workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment!

Upcoming projects for August projects, highlighted below, focus on bugs and (gasp!) back to school projects...

• Saturday, August 7, 2010 - Build your own school bus pencil or crayon organizer at a Home Depot kids clinic between 9:00 a.m. and noon. Besides receiving their free constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron and an achievement pin.
• Saturday, August 14, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at a participating Lowe's, children can build their own "beetle shaped" bug box for capturing their favorite critter. Besides the project, each participant will receive a free apron, goggles, a project themed patch, and a certification of merit - As an added bonus, kids who participate in the Lowe's Build and Grow projects this summer will receive a coupon for their own FREE Jr. Frosty at Wendy's. To sign your child up for the free Lowe's Build and Grow clinic of choice, be sure to register in advance at the Build and Grow website.
• Saturday, August 28 at 10:00 a.m. kids can build a cool school bus at Lowe's. The clinic includes stickers, and a secret compartment in the bus to store chalk. The cute school bus even has a sliding chalboard on top to get creative on!

Upcoming Kids Craft Events

Check out the great upcoming craft projects that are happening throughout the month of July at Tree Town Toys (2611 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor).

Sunday, July 18, 2010:
Stop into the store between 11:30am and 5:30pm to get a free color-in tattoo. If your children are like mine, this event will be a "must do" family outing... Tree town Toys staff will help kids apply the temporary tattoos that they can color in!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010:
Pablo Picasso saw geometric shapes in the planes of the human body - He didn't worry if facial features were scattered on the canvas. Think of his artwork as the perfect kid friendly project! From 1:30-2:30 p.m. kids ages 6+ will learn how to use a variety of angles and shapes to capture energy and motion in a Picasso-inspired portrait with Faber-Castell watercolor pencils on a canvas. Cost for this kids’ project is $5. Please make sure to register in advance by calling 734-929-6545.

Thursday, 22, 2010:
Children ages 6+ may create a one-of-a-kind "designer puppy" from 10:00-11:30 a.m. - Each pup can be designed as a favorite dog breed or create a one-of-a-kind polka dotted pooch! All puppies get tired, so kids will also decorate a bed for their puppy. Cost for entire project is $6.

Saturday, July 24, 2010:
Sticky Mosaics are a fun way to create magnificent mosaic artwork. It's also an excellent summer learning activity since children follow the numbers and place the colorful sticky foam squares onto the patterns. From 3:00-4:00 p.m. kids can create one mosaic in the store and get a second, different pattern, to take home to occupy their time later. This activity is geared towards children ages 3+ and costs $3.00.

More events will posted next week, so stay tuned. To RSVP to any of their kids' events, check out the Tree Town Toys Facebook fan page, or the Tree Town Toys website or call the store at 734-929-6545.

Watch the Animals Find Easter Eggs at the Toledo Zoo

For those Ann Arbor families with a zoo membership and with a day off this Friday, I have a wonderful, inexpensive and fun idea - Head to the Toledo Zoo's annual "Animal Egg Hunt".

This Friday, April 2, animals throughout the Zoo take part in their own Animal Egg Hunt as they track down eggs hidden in their habitats as part of the zoo's enrichment program. Through enrichment, the animals’ senses are stimulated which encourages natural behaviors. It’s a key component of their over all well-being!

In addition to animal enrichment, a fun craft in the Great Ape Interpretive Center from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. and story times will be available throughout the day to stimulate young two-legged mammals!

Toledo Zoo Animal Egg Hunt Schedule:

10:15 a.m. Gorillas in the Kingdom of the Apes
10:30 a.m. Harvey the Chimp and Orangutans also in the Kingdom of the Apes
10:45 a.m. Primate Forest
11:00 a.m. Story Time in the Aviary
11:15 a.m. Tortoise feed in the Reptile House
11:45 a.m. Octopus feed in the Aquarium
12:15 p.m. Story Time in the Great Ape Interpretive Center
1:15 p.m. Otters in the African Savanna
1:45 p.m. Meerkats in the African Savanna
2:00 p.m. African Wild Dogs in Africa!
2:30 p.m. Story Time in the Arctic Encounter®
Throughout the Day visit the Aviary

Free Kids Craft Projects Tomorrow at Michael's Crafts

Be sure to take your family to a local Michael's craft store tomorrow, March 27 from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. for a FREE family "Make It, take It" event. While supplies last, kids can create a fun spring craft project with new Crayola® Model Magic® Presto Dots™!

I'll admit, I've seen the Crayola® Model Magic® Presto Dots™ in the store while wandering aimlessly and have been intrigued - they sure look interesting, and fun, plus the opportunity to create a "messy project" in someone else's space tops my reasons for wanting to attend! Supplies may become quickly limited, so be sure to arrive early.

The nearest area Michael’s location is at 3655 Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor with a second store nearby in Canton, a short 15-minute drive from the Ann Arbor area.

Upcoming Kids Building Clinics at Home Depot and Lowes - Free Kids Projects!

A couple of really great kids building clinics are coming up that I thought to highlight -And they're FREE! Whether you're feeling cooped up and need to get the kids out of the house, the weather doesn't cooperate or simply you want to complete a fun kids project, stop by and check these out:

On March 27, 2010 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. build your own classic Kaleidoscope toy at the Lowes Build And Grow clinic. Give your child the opportunity to say, "I built it!", and help promote childhood confidence! Each participant ring will build a FREE wooden project while also receiving a free apron, goggles, a project themed patch, and a certification of merit upon completion of their project. Be sure to sign up for Lowes Build And Grow clinics in advance though!

If you are planning on participating in any Ann Arbor area Easter Egg Hunts on Saturday April 3, 2010, then plan on dropping by your local Ann Arbor Home depot location to build a beautiful butterfly house. Children ages 5-12 are encouraged to join in the building fun the first Saturday or every month from 9:00 a.m until noon for these free monthly kids projects!

Celebrate an annual rite of spring with the soon-to-arrive "Detroit Tiger's Opening Day" by building your own tabletop mini baseball game at Lowes!  This fun tabletop game will be enjoyed by the entire family after your children build it on April 10, 2010 from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.

Earth Day is right around the corner, enjoy a little bit of spring indoors and an early celebration of Earth Day with your own "See It Grow Planter".  Children will create their own mini planter from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. on Saturday April 17, 2010 - Make sure to add this to your calendar, as sign-up for it should be available on the Lowe's Build and grow website very soon.  Sign up early too since space is limited!

Build your own back-yard birdfeeder on Saturday April 24, 2010 at a local Ann Arbor Lowes - I was lucky to glance an advanced notice of this project, and like with the See It Grow Planter, you'll soon be able to register for the free kids clinic, so keep your peepers peeled!

And finally on build mom her own cute Picket fence Planter on May 1, 2010 at a local Home Depot then add a tiny pot of miniature roses or cute sunny pansies - It'll be a gift she'll surely treasure!!!  Be sure to stop by early, this is sure to be a popular evet.  Children can build their project from 9:00 a.m. until noon!

Happy St. Patrick's Day - A Fun Kids Project in Celebration!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, if you are looking for a fabulous and fun project to celebrate the day (and surprise the kidd-o's) check out Family Fun magazine. I made these cute rainbow cupcakes for my daughter's pre-school class and they all loved them!  They are a little time-consuming but so CUTE and sooo worth the time.

Tree Town Toys Crafty Wednesday

I've been searching around town this week for fun events - That is especially since it is supposed to rain on and off much of the week. beyond story times, I haven't seen a lot during the week. THAT'S when I remembered that Tree Town Toys has a scheduled low-cost craft project every week.

Stop by Tree Town Toys this Wednesday at 2:00 pm to have your child, age 3 and up, create their very own fuzzy, "no-mess" sock puppet! (Hey it's already "No mess" considering it's not done in MY home!)

Create-Your-Own Sock Puppets
When: Wednesday August 19, 2:00 - 4:00 pm
Where: Tree Town Toys - 2611 Plymouth Rd AA 48105
(734) 929-6545
Cost: $4.00

Project Description: Transform super-soft socks into fuzzy puppet friends. This "no-mess" project features peel and stick felt shapes, self-adhesive wiggly eyes and fuzzy fun embellishments. This is a great activity to foster language development and spontaneous creative play for any child - just add a little imagination and let the show begin!

photo by Tammy Mayrend / photo: Zachary Mayrend and his sock puppet

Homemade Father's Day Projects

Growing up, one of the things that SO reminded me of my dad was "Old Spice" cologne. (Yes I'm a child that grew up in the 70's, How'd you guess) Some of the things we bought him for Father's Day or his birthday was fishing lures, golf balls and soap-on-a-rope. He never complained, he simply smiled and thanked us (if we got THAT much of a response).

I often wondered why as children we were drawn to these types of gifts. Then it dawned on me that, yes they were all hobbies HE enjoyed but they were also inexpensive trinkets we could afford. With the current economy, and the fatc that my husband really doesn't NEED anything

Here are three EASY projects for children to do for dad this Father's Day.

Make Your Own Soap-on-a-Rope

- several bars of ivory soap
- a cheese grater
- twine (or rope)
- warm water
- wax paper
- essential oils of choice

This is a simple project for the kids to make - Mom should grate the soap. Next add warm water to the grated soap slowly until it becomes the consistency of oatmeal. Have the kids dig in and mush the soap and water together. (After all they're PLAYING with soap, how dirty can it be?) Next add a few drops of essential oil (We actually added grated orange peel too since Daddy likes citrus scents and the peel will help exfoliate!) and mix a bit more.

Next mom should cut the rope to an appropriate length and tie a knot at the end. Then, grab a good amount of the soap/water mix and create a ball "around" the rope. Let your soap-on-a-rope dry for approximately 24-hours on wax paper before moving.

Another great idea is to build something WITH DAD in the Skil Building Memories contest sponsored by Skil, Lowes and World's of Discovery. SKIL, Lowes' and Worlds of Discovery came up with a great contest to encourage families to work together on a special Father's Day project. There are (4) possible projects in all with simple, age-appropriate plans for many levels of children - PLUS there are some wonderful prizes to be earned including a 4-day all expense paid family vacation! All you need to do is capture in film, the creating of your materpiece!!!

If you are a parent who prefers NOT to lead your own DYI Father's Day projects, there is a great alternative for you at Treetown Toys in Ann Arbor ~ Keep the kids busy AND make dad his special present!!!

There are several times/days available to make dad his gift from Thursday June 17-21. Kid's can choose to decorate a "dad themed" wooden frame or pencil holder sure to elicite a joyful smile from ANY dad! Check for available days/time and make sure to register in advance at 734-929-6545 or on the Treetown Toys website. The cost for the project is $6.