While He Was Napping

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DIY Scratch Off Cards that will Spice Up Date Night

Hi there! Are you looking for a fun way to spice up your love life that won’t break the bank? Or maybe you’re searching for a fun DIY gift? Do you ever play the “Well, whatcha wanna do?” game on date night? Do you love scratch off cards – or maybe know someone who does? Then these DIY scratch off cards are just what you are looking for!

In just 8 super easy steps and an afternoon, you’ll create a one-of-a-kind set of DIY scratch off cards that will add a little fun and mystery to date night. They are perfect for romantic gifts or just for a little change of pace.

DIY Scratch Off Cards Romance on a Budget

 

DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS: SPICE UP DATE NIGHT WITH A LITTLE FUN AND MYSTERY

The best part about these DIY scratch off cards are that you can customize them to fit your needs. If date night has become predictable and lost it’s excitement, then something like a Date Night Lotto card would liven things up! Scratch off a square and you have a great date idea without adding a ton of stress or prep to date nights!

Or maybe you’re looking for a way to reconnect with your sweetie or to spice things up in the bedroom a bit? Then a set of Lover’s Lotto or Spicy Lover’s Lotto cards might fill your needs best. Scratch off one of those squares and forget your boring, old routine! Right at your finger tips is a great new romantic idea to fill your evening!

And I’ll give you the blank templates in just a minute! Doesn’t get much easier than that!

(But, if you do want it to get easier, I have pre-filled, ready-to-print cards as well as an editable PDF you can just plug your own ideas into in my Etsy Shop.)

 

ARE DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS YOUR KIND OF PROJECT?

This project is pretty simple, but it’s not for everyone. So, how do you know if it’s the kind of thing you’re looking for? Who is this post written for? What demographics will benefit from this information? Make an emotional connection and hit a pain point.

  • Do you enjoy a good, simple DIY project?
  • Are you looking for a way to liven up your love life?
  • Do you need a romantic gift idea that doesn’t cost a lot, doesn’t take a ton of time to put together and is something your gift receiver will love?
  • Are you trying to stick to a budget?

If you said yes to those – or any combination of those – then this project is exactly what you’re looking for.

 

However, if you’re looking for something RIGHT NOW or don’t like DIY projects this might not be what you’re looking for. (My printable Date Night Jar or printable Truth or Dare: Couple’s Edition bedroom card game might fit your needs better right now. They are literally print and cut and done.)

Date Night Lotto DIY Scratch Off Cards

 

HOW TO MAKE DIY SCRATCH OFF LOTTO CARDS

With just a few simple supplies and an afternoon, you’ll have custom DIY scratch off cards perfect for your needs. A quick print job, some trimming and laminating, and a splash of paint is all you need to get one step closer to a spicier love life.

And don’t worry, most of the project time is waiting for the paint to dry. While it will take a few hours for your DIY scratch off cards to be all ready to go, you don’t need to carve out a whole afternoon to spend slaving away.

DIY SCRATCH OFF CARD SUPPLIES:

  • Blank scratch off card templates – Print your free blank templates HERE or you can grab all the pre-filled, ready-to-print cards and the editable PDF files to fill in yourself RIGHT HERE)
  • Printer and Paper
  • Scissors or paper cutter
  • Clear contact paper, cold laminating pouches or a thermal laminator and thermal pouches (I absolutely LOVE this thermal laminator starter kit – works great and totally affordable. I have the older model and it still works like a charm.)
  • Acrylic paint and paintbrush – any color will work, but a metallic paint will look most like a typical scratch off card. Follow your colorful heart, there is no wrong choice.
  • Paint palette or something to mix your paint on
  • Dish soap – the kind you hand wash dishes with, not the kind you put in the dishwasher.
  • Skinny 3mm washi tape – optional

DIY Scratch Off Cards made with simple supplies

 

PRINT & FILL IN YOUR DIY SCRATCH OFF TEMPLATES

Step #1: Download and print your blank lotto card templates. I recommend printing with a laser printer and on card stock for durability. Ink jet and regular paper will work just fine though.

*If you choose to grab my editable PDF files from my Etsy shop, you’ll want to fill those in before you print them.

Step #2: Fill in the blank templates with a pen or marker. Leave some space around your writing to make sure it won’t stick out from under the paint when you cover them up. You don’t need to leave a lot of space, but try not to write all the way to the borders of the boxes.

DIY Scratch Off Date Night Cards

 

COVER AND CUT YOUR DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS

*If you use laminating pouches or a thermal laminator, you will want to switch steps #3 and #4. Cut the cards apart first and then laminate each individual card. After each card is laminated, cut it apart and trim the cards, if desired.*

Step #3: Cover the front of your lotto card templates with the clear contact paper. You can cover the back too, if you want, but it’s not necessary. This cover will help protect the cards and is how the paint will scratch off your DIY scratch off cards.

Step #4: After the contact paper is on the cards, cut the cards apart. The files are formatted to cut an 8.5″x11″ paper into quarters. You absolutely can cut the cards smaller though. I did trim mine smaller for neater edges and smaller margins.

DIY Scratch Off Cards DIY Gift Idea

 

PREPARE YOUR DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS FOR PAINTING

Step #5: If you choose, mask off the edges of the cards. 3mm washi tape is perfect for this! Just put a line of tape on all the grid lines on the card. It’ll keep your paint lines nicer. Repeat with each card.

Step #6: Mix your acrylic paint and dish soap with an approximate 2:1 ratio – 2 parts paint, 1 part dish soap. It’s not rocket science and you don’t have to have precise measurements for this to work, so don’t stress over it.

DIY Scratch Off Cards

 

PAINTING YOUR DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS

Step #7: Apply a thin layer of paint over the words on your card. Let the paint dry thoroughly.

Step #8: Repeat step #7 until you can no longer see the text through the paint. Depending on what color paint you use, you may need 3-5 coats. Let dry overnight once you can no longer see text through the paint layers.

DIY Scratch Off Cards with Acrylic Paint

That’s it, your ready to spice things up!

 

DIY SCRATCH OFF CARD TIPS & TRICKS

** A laser printer will keep your ink from smudging, should the cards get wet. Using laminating pouches will also accomplish this. An ink jet printer will work just fine, just be cautious not to get the cards wet if you don’t laminate them with pouches.

** Skinny 3mm washi tape is perfect for masking off your grid lines while you paint, however it is NOT a necessity. It will keep your paint lines neater, make painting easier, and make your cards look better overall, but free-handing the painting process is definitely an option and will save some time if you don’t have to mask off your grid lines. You could also cut down and use masking tape or scotch tape, if you prefer.

** Use fresh paint. By that, I mean not paint you’ve had in a cupboard for a few years… As you can see in that last photo, I started using silver paint. But it was old. It was clumpy and kept separating and didn’t mix well with the dish soap, so I ditched it for the red and pink paints. Newer, non-clumpy paint will give you a much better result with far fewer coats of paint.

** The painting and waiting to dry process is the longest part of this project, but it will turn out so much better if you do thin layers rather than a thick, globby one. You can use a blow dryer on low heat, low air flow to speed this process up.

** If all this masking off and painting thing is more than you want to deal with, you can use scratch off stickers to cover your date ideas instead. Take this cute idea and simplify! Find scratch off stickers on Etsy or on Amazon.

Got more questions? You’re always welcome to leave a comment or shoot me a message!

 

Romantic DIY Scratch Off Cards

 

READY TO MAKE SOME DIY SCRATCH OFF CARDS AND SPICE UP YOUR LOVE LIFE?

In just an afternoon you can spice up date night and add some fun and mystery to your romantic life. This project is simple and fun. It’s a great romantic gift idea that is customizable to fit your exact needs. And who wouldn’t love to get some DIY Scratch Off Cards like these?!

Turn on some mood music, grab a coin and start scratching off those fun ideas!

Spice up Date Night with DIY Scratch Off Cards

 

If you want more romantic gift and date night ideas, check out the Date Night Jar (or HERE is a printable version!)

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Amazing Fall Simmer Pot Recipes – All Natural Ingredients!

Welcome and hello! I’m so glad you’re here! Autumn is creeping in on us here in the desert. Our days are still in the 70º’s, but there’s a definite chill that comes with the night and lingers just long enough for sweaters in the morning. There’s so many amazing things about Fall, but the smells are arguably some of the best. If you want to bring those amazing scents into your home, you need these Fall Simmer Pot Recipes! And they are made with all natural ingredients – nothing hard to find and definitely no chemical smells!

These 12 Fall Simmer Pot Recipes - made with all natural and easy to find ingredients - will bring the best autumnal aromas to your home all season long!

MAKE YOUR HOME COZY AND INVITING WITH FALL SIMMER POT RECIPES

I am the first to admit that, with three young boys in my home, it doesn’t always smell like roses. Let’s be honest, if I didn’t make my boys wipe down the toilet on an almost-daily basis (and sometimes two or three OR FIFTY times a day), my house would smell like pee.

#boymomproblems

Thankfully, simmer pot recipes have helped me control what my house smells like. Because that kind of stuff makes an impression and “lady with the pee house” isn’t exactly how I want people to remember me.

One of my criteria for simmer pot recipes is real ingredients that are easy and inexpensive to get my hands on. And that is exactly what you’ll find in these recipes.

These fall simmer pot recipes use 12 real ingredients – no weird things you can’t find at your local grocery or out in nature and definitely none of those chemically smelling wax melts! There are 12 different combinations to bring the best things of Fall into your cozy home, so you’re sure to find one that will suit you.

Because Fall smells like cinnamon, not cinnamon scented chemicals.

These 12 Fall Simmer Pot Recipes - made with all natural and easy to find ingredients - will bring the best autumnal aromas to your home all season long!

A SIMMER POT MIGHT WORK BEST FOR YOU IF:

Sure, there are lots of ways to make your home smell better. Deodorizers, cleansers, candles and other aroma diffusers are widely available. Because, who wants the gym stank to hang around or the funky game day laundry you haven’t had a chance to do yet?

I’ve tried a million ways – I swear it feels that way – to try to keep the stink and funk under control. Living with a bunch of boys can be a real stinker, especially in the winter when we keep the house closed up and heated. A simmer pot works best if you’re looking for:

  • a set and forget method to make your home smell amazing that is easy to turn off and on.
  • no open flames or melted wax to worry about – a huge perk with little ones wandering around!
  • inexpensive options that don’t bring a lot of chemicals into your home.
  • options that don’t clutter your electrical outlets.

 

HOW DO YOU SIMMER? WHICH METHOD IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

There is more than one way to simmer a pot. I’m going to present you with three ways and leave it to you to choose which method fits your life best.

Let’s discuss the pros and cons of a small simmer pot or candle/wax melt warmer, a small slow cooker, or a pot on the stove.

SIMMER POT

A simmer pot is electric and you plug it into a wall outlet. It uses a light bulb to heat whatever you put in the small bowl.

If you want a simmer pot, I suggest this ceramic one that you can find on Amazon. The ceramic will make it easier to clean up and this one has pretty good reviews. It has a decent size bowl for a simmer pot, but you’ll need to keep an eye on the water and refill it more often since the bowl is small. (You can also search wax melt warmer or candle warmer and see some other options.)

I personally don’t own a simmer pot currently, but have in the past. My biggest complaints were having to change the light bulb when it dies, constantly refilling the water and inconsistent heating.

 

SMALL SLOW COOKER

Personally, I like to simmer in a small slow cooker like this one. I have this pot and it works great! Why do I recommend a small slow cooker over an actual simmer pot? Here’s why:

  • It can hold more water and ingredients, which means you can scent more square footage with just a single simmer pot. And there are fewer water refills to keep your pot simmering.
  • The adjustable temperature control. Almost every single simmer pot I’ve researched – and definitely every budget simmer pot – one of the biggest complaints is how hot or not hot they get. Adjustable temperature takes care of that.
  • It’s super easy to clean. Clean it out, rinse and put it in the dishwasher. If you forget to clean it out or don’t have time when you turn it off, just clean out the loose stuff, soak the removable crock and wash. Easy peasy.
  • Budget-friendly and multi-functional. Off brand small slow cookers usually cost less than a decorative simmer pot; sometimes, you can find them for less than half as much. I simmer in my kitchen, so a small slow cooker on the counter is no big deal. And, because I only simmer with natural ingredients, I don’t worry about putting food in my slow cooker after it’s been cleaned.

STOVE TOP IN A POT

This is great if you need a large batch that you can set up in the morning and then just leave it alone all day. If you have company coming that evening, but still have cleaning to do, a large batch on the stove top is a great option. Again, just make sure you don’t run out of water.

My biggest hang up with this method is that it heats the house (which is fine in November, but less desirable in September here in the hot desert) and it takes up a burner on my stove. But my biggest issue is that I have to leave the stove on and, with all my little kids around, I just cringe at all the things that could go wrong with that scenario.

SIMMERING IS SUPER EASY WITH THESE NATURAL INGREDIENT FALL SIMMER POT RECIPES

If you’ve never simmered anything before, let me tell you how easy it is. Pretty much if you can boil water, you can simmer. Actually, I think boiling water is harder. In just 3 simple steps, you’ll be ready to simmer your way into Fall aroma heaven.

  1. Gather natural ingredients in your pot
  2. Fill pot with water
  3. Place pot on warmer and turn the warmer on

Yep, for real, it is THAT easy.

The only thing you have to remember is to keep the water topped off. You can even reuse your pot for 7 consecutive days if you put it in the fridge overnight, which can help your pennies stretch even further without giving up those Fall scents we all love.

 

ALL NATURAL FALL SIMMER POT RECIPES PRINTABLE

Keep your home smelling amazing all season long with these 12 Fall simmer pot recipes. All 12 recipes use 3-5 all natural ingredients. Your home will be cozy and inviting with the best scents of Fall greeting guests and visitors. Kick the funk to the curb and instead fill your home with the cozy smells of Fall.

Click the image or link below to get your printable copy of my favorite 12 Fall Simmer Pot Recipes. The download page will open in a new tab. Just click the download button and then save the image to your computer. Print a copy to keep near your simmer pot. Be sure to follow those steps so you get the full resolution image and not a grainy web version.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE PRINTABLE

Fall Simmer Pot Recipes that will bring a cozy Autumn inside your home!

BANISH THE FUNK AND ENJOY THE BEST FALL AROMAS ALL SEASON LONG

Whether it’s boy bathroom stink, Halloween costume sweat or ski trip laundry funk, banish the nose-scrunching smells and fill your home with the sweet and savory smells that we all love about Fall. Invite visitors in with warmth from the moment you open the door this Fall season. These Fall Simmer Pot recipes will make your home a place everyone wants to escape from the chilly air.

Happy Fall!

These 12 Fall Simmer Pot Recipes - made with all natural and easy to find ingredients - will bring the best autumnal aromas to your home all season long!

 

 

Ever wish you could focus better? Check out these Essential Oil recipes that will help improve your focus!

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27 Spring Printables You NEED!

Hey there friend! If you’re trying to be more organized, make more memories with your family and just be a better you this year then you are in the right place! Once again, I’ve teamed up with some fabulous digital designers to bring you some amazing digital products – all for one incredible price. Yes, the All Things Spring Printables Bundle really IS that fabulous, amazing and incredible!

We’ve put the very best Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Spring printables all in one place!

If you’re new to these bundles, trust me when I say- you DO NOT want to miss out on this!

But, that lovely little timer below? It’s counting down FAST! When it hits zero, this deal DISAPPEARS FOREVER!!

I’ve teamed up with 25+ extremely talented bloggers and designers to create this ULTIMATE Spring Printables bundle!

This bundle is so full of fun, I don’t even know where to begin. You’ll find things from some of your favorite bloggers and online shops and maybe even discover some new favorites too!

All Things Spring Printables

What you’re looking at is OVER 540 PAGES of Spring printables for you, all in one handy dandy place.

Not only have we all come together to offer these great products to you in one convenient place, you can SCORE THEM ALL for 90% OFF! No, that’s not a typo. TONS of crazy, cute printables—ONE crazy, low price!

You’ll get $242 of ADORABLE items for only $18!

Here’s the catch—this deal only lasts for THREE DAYS!

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

This is a 3-Day sale!

  • Buy on January 24th, 25th or 26th for ONLY $18
  • You’ll get 540+ pages of high quality Spring printables you can reuse and refer back to again and again
  • These products are worth over $240 on their own from 25+ online shops
  • After Jan 26, 2018, this deal is GONE FOREVER!

WHAT’S INCLUDED:

This baby seriously has EVERYTHING you could ever want or need for Spring including…

  • Classroom Valentines
  • Valentine’s Day Activity Book
  • Romantic Valentine’s Day Gift
  • Easter Basket Gifts
  • Christ-Centered Easter Countdown
  • Easter Egg Hunt
  • Spring Wall Art
  • Spring Cleaning Kit
  • Printable To-Do Lists
  • Favorite Freezer-Friendly Meals
  • AND SO MUCH MORE! {See all the goods below!}

My contribution to this bundle sells in my Etsy shop for $10, that’s more than half the cost for this insane bundle! And you get 25+ MORE products for just $8 more?! This is a no-brainer!

 

WANT TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT WHAT’S INCLUDED?

Thought so! Just wait until you see all of the printable goodness…

 

VALENTINE’S DAY

Spring Printables Blogger Bundle Valentine's Day

1. Kids Printable Valentine Bundle by Paper & Taigh – Love is in the air! Your kiddos will be the hit of their class with these darling printable Valentines! There are even two options to choose from: superhero suckers or mini Valentine s’mores kits. Both equally darling and fun.
2. Valentine’s Jumpstart Pack by Love Hope Adventure– Need a done for you Valentine’s gift for your sweetie? Print of this romantic Valentine’s card, Week of Love gift tags with ideas for each day, and a sexy game to play as the grand finale’ to the holiday.
3. Valentine’s Day Printable Cards by Whispers In Design – This Valentine’s Day Printable Card set includes 6 beautiful hand lettered designs. These original cards will be perfect to gift on Valentine’s Day, but can also be used for many other occasions like Anniversaries, Birthdays, or just to tell someone how special they are! The cards measure 5”x7” and can easily be framed and used to brighten any room as well.
4. Heart Attack Printable Kit by Our Kerrazy Adventure – These printables will make it so easy to spread sunshine and love. Simply print and trim and heart attack your neighbor, friends, and loved ones.
5. Valentine’s Day Kids Activity Book by Kids Activities – Kids are most likely to learn when they are being creative and having FUN! So we grabbed our crayons and gave our inner child some chocolate in order to create this 15-page, Valentine’s Day Activity Pack for your kids. Grab it now for Valentines’s Bingo, Color-by-Number, Word Searches and more!
6. Emoji Valentine’s Breakfast Pack by Paging Supermom – Show your emotions this Valentine’s Day with this super-cute Emoji Breakfast Pack. It’s 25 pages of ideas and printable templates including decorative banners, placecards, party flags, toppers, tray liners and table confetti. There’s even a printable template for making those adorable Emoji Pancakes! The pack has everything you need to create your Valentine’s breakfast, including Paging Supermom’s best-selling Emoji templates, which aren’t just for Valentines — use them for birthday parties, baby shower and really anytime.
7. Printable Classroom Valentines by Skip to my Lou – Your kids will have the cutest Valentines this year! 50- YES, we said 50- printable Valentines! Just print and attach a small gift! There are so many cute ideas to choose from- you can use these printables for years and years to come.

 

VALENTINE’S DAY & EASTER COLLECTIONS

Spring Printables Blogger Bundle Combined Holidays

8. 3 Printable Collections by Piggy Bank Parties – No, not just one- you’re getting THREE different collections: 1. Sugar Cookie Valentines Collection, 2. Springin’ Gingham Easter Collection, and 3.Noah’s Ark Collection! Throw a sweet Valentine’s Day party with our Sugar Cookie Valentines Collection! These sugar cookie inspired print at home party decorations and valentines are perfect for school parties, bridal showers, Valentine’s Day events or an anniversary party. Celebrate Easter with our Springin’ Gingham Easter Collection! These sweet print at home pastel gingham party decorations are perfect for an Easter egg hunt or your family’s Easter celebration. Celebrate the mother of twins, a twin birthday or your favorite two-year-old with the Noah’s Ark Collection! These two-of-a-kind print at home party decorations are perfect for your next baby shower and birthday party.
9. Valentine’s & Easter Set by Papers&Plenty – This printable set includes Valentine’s Day Cards, Easter Basket Gift Tags, AND an Easter Basket Checklist. These sweet treats Valentine’s Day cards are so fun, everyone is sure to love them! Set includes 7 cards, each with a doughnut or cupcake and matching saying. Just fill-in the names and add them to your treat, perfect for kids and adults! You’ll also receive adorable Valentine’s Day vehicle cards! Set includes 8 cards, each with a different mode of transportation and matching saying. Just fill-in the names, great for kids, teachers & more! The perfect addition to any Valentine’s Day party! Finally, we’re also including cute Easter tags to attach to all your Easter goodies! Two sets of tags, “From the Easter Bunny” or blank cards to write your own message! PLUS a bonus checklist full of ideas to fill those Easter baskets for all ages!
10. Spring Planner Sticker Printable Set by Mod Podge Rocks – You’ll love these THREE sheets of printable planner stickers for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Easter!! These stickers are perfect for spring and fits a variety of planner types like Happy Planner, Erin Condren, Day Designer, bullet journal and more.

 

EASTER

Spring Printables Blogger Bundle Easter

11. Christ Centered Easter Countdown by The Dating Divas – Behind all of the giant chocolate bunnies and treat-filled baskets lie the real reason for this incredible season – Christ. With our Christ-Centered Easter Countdown, you will be able to celebrate, for 14 truly amazing days, all that He is and what He teaches us!
12. Kids’ Easter Basket Activity Coupons by While He Was Napping – Looking for something to put in your kids’ Easter baskets besides candy? Stop looking, because you’ve found the perfect alternative to fill those eggs with! Give your kids memories this Easter rather than a basket of cavities! Kids can trade in their coupons for fun activities and rewards with these 45 printable coupons that will keep on giving long after that bunny has come and gone!
13. Mini Easter Kiddie Table Printables by The CreativiDee Workshop – Create a cheerful Easter table for the kids with this mini printable collection! You’ll find place mats to color, napkin wraps, cupcake toppers, treat bag toppers, mini place cards or food tents, favor hanging tags and a centerpiece for the final touch. Just add jelly beans and have a Happy Easter!
14. A Walk With Jesus–Journaling Through Holy Week by 4The Love ofMy Heart – Have a closer walk with Jesus during Holy Week by taking a step further into what was happening at that time. For eight days, you’ll study the events from a different view. Then follow the journal prompts as you study this most precious time of year.
15. Easter Planner & Easter Egg Bingo Bundle by Sunny Day Family – Everything you need to plan your Easter celebration! From activities & crafts to egg hunts to the Easter meal, you’ll find planning tools, invitations, and thank you cards for the perfect family holiday. Plus a super fun Easter Egg Bingo game to bring your egg hunt to the next level!
16. Easter Party Printable Set by Everyday Party Magazine – This Easter Printable Party Package comes with everything you need for a sweet party! Including: Food Tents, Party Circles, and Mini Easter Basket Bunting!
17. Printable Easter Coupon Book & Egg Hunt by Edventures with Kids – In this fun printable pack you’ll receive 24 printable coupons, including a few blank ones you can customize, along with your choice of 2 Easter Coupon Book covers! We’ve included activities for kids ages 3 – 16 years old too. Choose the activities that fit your child and personalize EACH coupon book for EACH of your kids! You’ll also receive a set of pre-printed Egg Hunt Clues and a detailed list of where to hide them for an Easter Egg Hunt that works in any home!
18. Easter Planner by Peoples Life on Paper – Spring into action and get organized for your family’s Easter celebration with this 28-page printable planner! With everything you need to prepare your holiday dinner, fill the Easter Baskets, plan the annual Easter Egg Hunt, and squeeze in a craft or two, this Easter Planner is your must-have guide to stay organized and enjoy the holiday with your family and friends.

 

SPRING

Spring Printables Bundle, Spring, Cleaning, Misc

19. Hello Spring Bundle by A Lively Hope – This Hello Spring Bundle features a beautifully hand-painted watercolor flower wreath in happy pinks and greens. It includes: one 8.5×11″ Hello Spring art print, one 4.5×6.25″ (folded) greeting card and seven journal cards in various sizes. I love to add journal cards like this to my journal and memory keeping pages! And sending this beautiful card to a friend will make their day, guaranteed.
20. Spring Cleaning Organized Package by Homemaking Organized – Maximize your Spring Cleaning Efforts with our Organized Spring Cleaning Package! Informative ebook, blank Spring Cleaning Planner, and Gorgeous Room Cleaning templates make cleaning your home a breeze!
21. Speed Clean the Deep Clean: A Collection of Time-Saving Cleaning Tutorials and Tips for Busy Moms by What’s up Fagans? – Speed Clean the Deep Clean is the perfect cleaning handbook for moms who want a clean house but aren’t really sure how to clean the various stains and messes in their homes. With more than 50 proven cleaning tutorials and tips, complete with step-by-step instructions, written by a former cleaning professional, you will finally know how to clean the various home and kid-related stains with ease.
22. Printable To Do Lists by Jessica Marie Design – Keep track of your spring holiday to do items with this printable To Do Lists set! The To Do Lists set includes four different page layouts to fit your needs. Simply download the PDF file, open it with Adobe Reader, add text to the fillable sections, and print. Use the files over and over every year!
23. 100 Printable Encouragement Cards by Life is Sweeter by Design – Encouragement cards are the perfect way to stay on track with positive thinking and goal setting. This set of 100 Printable Encouragement Cards make a great gift for a friend or coworker. Pull out a new card each day for and uplifting thought!
24. Garden Shop Printable Pretend Play Kit by The Littles & Me – Get ready for Spring and Summer with some fresh flowers from your very own garden shop. Your kiddo will love setting up shop with this bright and colorful kit that’s sure to provide hours & hours of creative play. It’s no secret that children learn best by learning and doing, which is why pretend play is so important. This kit will help your child learn about themselves and the world around them in a creative, fun, and imaginative way. It’s the perfect addition to your playroom!
25. 30 Favorite Freezer-Friendly Meals e-book by Fun Cheap Or Free – Save not only time, but also save money with the 30 Favorite Freezer- Friendly Meals e-book. 30 tried and tested freezer recipes that can be eaten right away, or frozen for later. Recipes include how to best freeze, then prepare you meals for quick and delicious home-cooked dinner when time gets in the way.
26. Carrie Elle Spend Well Budgeting System Digital Files by Carrie Elle – Are you tired of struggling with your finances each month? The Spend Well Budgeting System digital files give you all the tools you need to succeed at budgeting. You’ll receive an editable spreadsheet, several financial worksheets, labels to create your own cash envelope system, and access to the 60 Day Budgeting Challenge.
27. Turn Chaos Into Peace, 5 Trainings To Change Your Home From Surviving To Thriving by The Mom Conference – 5 interviews with different experts to give you tools that are practical and actually work for those part of motherhood that are hard. We cover how to budget effectively-even if you hate budgeting, dealing with screens in a way that won’t make your kids hate you, raising kids to be successful teens, how to create a life that you love, and my favorite an interview on sibling rivalry you won’t want to miss!

BUT WAIT…

I’ve got a BONUS just for you!

If you purchase the bundle through any of the links on this page, I’ll send you this set of 12 Kids’ Valentine Coupons just because you are awesome – with no watermarks, of course.

Kids' Valentine Coupons

You can click the photo to see the listing and everything you’ll be getting in your bonus, plus it includes a blank template, in case you want to make your own coupons.  This would be super fun to pair with the Kid’s Valentine Activity Book (see #5 on the list above).

This coupon set also sells in my Etsy shop for $10 – which means between my Easter egg stuffer activity coupons and the Kid’s Valentine’s Day coupons, you’re already saving a couple bucks when you buy this bundle! And you’ll be making some awesome memories with your kiddos! Win-win!

WHEW! So there you have it. Pretty much everything you could ever want for the Spring holidays. I am dying from all that goodness and I just CAN’T WAIT to use all those goodies.

 

And for only 18 buckaroos {for OVER $240 worth of goodies?!} SHEESH!

Sign. Me. Up.

Two super, duper important things to remember:


#1- It’s only available for THREE DAYS!
#2- Midnight MST on the 26th, this deal is gone FOREVER!

What are you waiting for?!

 

HAPPY SPRING!

PLEASE NOTE: The Dating Divas are hosting this fun bundle. If you purchase, you will receive a receipt and delivery email from The Dating Divas. If you have any troubles or questions at all you can always contact me and I will reach out to them for you or go straight to our fabulous hosts and shoot an email to divas@thedatingdivas.com

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The Easy Christmas Countdown You Need This Year

Hi there! Happy holiday wishes coming at ya! I’m so glad you stopped by to check out this easy Christmas countdown.

I’m a sucker for a good, and easy, Christmas countdown; but, December is a busy month! Can you relate? So, when the calendar gets around December 8th, I find myself struggling to keep up with the fun we started just a week before.

I need simple. Do you need simple too?

A countdown where, if you miss a day or two (or five), it doesn’t ruin the whole thing. I totally get that! I also wanted a visual representation, because my kids ask “how many days until Christmas?” every single day. For 25 days. This year I plan to just point my kids to this countdown.

EASY CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN CHAIN

Super Simple, No-Stress Christmas Countdown Chain that'll only take 20 minutes to put together! 2 styles available and if you miss a day, it's okay!

 

 

WHY SHOULD YOU USE THE EASY CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN CHAIN?

Of course, we have some Christmas traditions that I look forward to every year. But, not having an activity assigned to every single day means I can relax more. I can enjoy the traditions without worrying about tomorrow’s activity. This countdown was designed with busy families in mind. This easy Christmas Countdown Chain will help you because:

  • It’s super simple. 20 minutes and it’ll be ready to go. Or just print it and give it to the kids to put together.
  • If you miss a day or two, just remove the extra links to catch up. No stress or drama when life gets crazy.
  • And the kids can see just how close Christmas really is. You won’t feel like you’re stuck on a month long car ride with the kids asking, “are we there yet?” on repeat.

 

KEEPING TRADITIONS PART OF YOUR EASY CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN

But, what about the traditions you DO want to keep? Don’t worry, I thought of that. There are THREE ways to put together the Easy Christmas Countdown Chain so that it works for your family:

  1. One of them has nothing but numbers and is simply just a countdown.
  2. The other one, though, has some fun Christmas activities to do. There’s even blank chain links so you can add your family’s special traditions.
  3. A combination of the two, with activities interspersed through out the month on days you think you’ll be able to accommodate.

So, now you get to customize your chain in whatever way best fits YOUR family. Use whichever Easy Christmas Countdown fits into your schedule better – or – combine the two!

Want an example? My kids will be in school until 3 days before Christmas, so we will have to keep up our school routine during the week. We will also have a brand new baby (we’re talking less than a month old). We won’t have a lot of time this year to throw in extra activities. Weekends will be our best bet, so those days will get an activity link and we can make sure our favorite traditions make it into our schedule.

 

No-Stress Christmas Countdown Chain with Activities

MAKING YOUR EASY CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN CHAIN

When I said this is simple, I really meant it will take you about 20 minutes to put together. Maybe 30 if you let the kids “help”. Simple, yeah?

There’s one more thing you need to know before we get started. You already know there are two versions of the chain (the one with the daily countdown and the other one with the activities), but each version of the Easy Christmas Countdown Chain is also available in color and in monochrome.

This is meant to help you save ink by printing on colored paper instead of on white paper. Or in case you only have a monochrome printer (I dream of upgrading to a color laser printer someday). So, just be aware of that when we download your chosen files.

MATERIALS NEEDED FOR YOUR EASY CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN CHAIN:

  • Easy Christmas Countdown Chain Printable Files (preview the different files below under step 1)
  • Printer and paper
  • Scissors or paper cutter
  • Tape, glue or stapler and staples

 

DIRECTIONS FOR MAKING YOUR EASY CHRISTMAS COUNTDOWN CHAIN

1. Print the Easy Christmas Countdown Chain links. If you’re using the countdown only monochrome file to print on colored paper, make sure the pages alternate colors. For two colors, page 1 and page 3 should be the same.

Simple Christmas Countdown Chain that will only take 20 minutes to make. A great visual of just how many more days until Christmas!

Simple Christmas Countdown Chain that will only take 20 minutes to make. A great visual of just how many more days until Christmas! And it's okay if you miss a day (or five)!  Christmas Activities Countdown Chain

 

2. Cut the chain links apart with the scissors or paper cutter.

3. Take the first chain link and bend it until the ends overlap and the strip forms and circle.
Secure with glue, tape or a staple.

Simple Christmas Countdown Chain that will only take 20 minutes to make. A great visual of just how many more days until Christmas and you can choose to include fun activities! Best of all - it's okay if you miss a day (or five)!

 

4. Slip the next chain link through the first link and bend until the ends overlap. Secure.

Simple Christmas Countdown Chain that will only take 20 minutes to make. A great visual of just how many more days until Christmas and you can choose to include fun activities! Best of all - it's okay if you miss a day (or five)!

Simple Christmas Countdown Chain that will only take 20 minutes to make. A great visual of just how many more days until Christmas and you can choose to include fun activities! Best of all - it's okay if you miss a day (or five)!

Simple Christmas Countdown Chain that will only take 20 minutes to make. A great visual of just how many more days until Christmas and you can choose to include fun activities! Best of all - it's okay if you miss a day (or five)!

 

5. Repeat the process with each chain link, slipping the new link through the previous one and
creating a chain.

Simple Christmas Countdown Chain that will only take 20 minutes to make. A great visual of just how many more days until Christmas and you can choose to include fun activities! Best of all - it's okay if you miss a day (or five)!

 

6. Hang your Easy Christmas Countdown Chain where you can remove a link each day.

No-Stress Christmas Countdown Chain that'll only take 20 minutes to put together! And if you miss a day, it's okay!

 

 

That’s it, super easy, right?

I hope this makes counting down to Christmas with your family simpler. And I hope you have a very Merry Christmas with your family, making memories and having fun together.

Happy Holidays!

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Thanksgiving Activity Placemat Printable

Hey there, can you believe Thanksgiving is coming so fast?! I know things can get crazy, so let’s keep this short and sweet! If you think you’ll need the kids to be occupied for a few minutes while you finish up preparing for your big Thanksgiving feast then I’ve got just what you need. Keep the kids busy – and out of the kitchen! – with this Thanksgiving activity placemat. The activities range in skill level and are targeted at kids ages 5-12. Although, my 3 year old thinks he needs one too, just because his big brother have one. Older kids may have to help younger ones with reading and spelling.

THANKSGIVING ACTIVITY PLACEMAT

Thanksgiving Activity Placemat for Kids offers 4 fun activities the kids can do when they antsy waiting for the Big Feast! Just print and hand out the crayons!

 

I tried to include at least one activity that almost all ages could complete.  Hopefully, with a word search, maze, fill in the bubble and a word match game there will be something that everyone can enjoy. When the kids get wiggly again, turn the paper over and make turkeys by tracing their hands and making the fingers into feathers.  That’s one of my favorite memories of Thanksgiving with my grandma.

 

Thanksgiving Activity Page for Kid's Table

All you need to do to get your copy of this Thanksgiving Activity Placemat is to download the file to your computer and save it. Hit that big green button above to open the file on Google Drive. You can then save it to your computer. Then, print off as many copies as you need. This printable is free for personal use. Do not sell, share or reproduce any part of this image. Thanks.

Hand out the crayons and watch what happens. We often have more than just the kids try out these Thanksgiving activity placemats. Which means there are usually other adults around to help keep an eye on the kids while I finish kitchen preparations.

 

Happy Thanksgiving… I can almost taste the mashed potatoes now!

 

This While He Was Napping original printable first appeared on AskAnnaMoseley.com in a guest/contributor post. It has been updated and re-posted here for accuracy and relevancy. Enjoy!

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