Alice in Wonderland Mad Hatter Tea Party with printable activities

You don't need to have a reason to throw a party. You also don't need to spend any money. I found that out, as a homeschooling mom with many kids, living in a cramped mobile home on a shoestring budget. So I declare today, Alice in Wonderland Day, for no other reason than that it is cold and dreary and Through the Looking Glass is a frabjuously good story. 

Here's a way to celebrate Alice and her friends with activities from Disney's the old cartoon version, Tim Burton's new versions and Lewis Carroll books "Through the Looking Glass," "Adventures in Wonderland" and "Jabberwocky." Start with free printable Alice in Wonderland activities from the Tim Burton version. Print Disney coloring pages from the cartoon here.  

Of course, have a Mad Hatter tea party with these Alice in Wonderland crafts, birthday party decorations. Use free printable valentines as Mad Hatter tea party invitations, thank you notes, greeting cards and party supplies. Or have a Valentine's Day party with a Red Queen of Hearts theme? How about a Mad Hatter tea for kids birthday parties or a Jabberwocky theme for tweens and teens. Or use as an inspiration for a Jabberwocky Halloween costume!

Have guests dress as the Red Queen, White Queen, Mad Hatter, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, Alice, the Cheshire Cat or Blue Caterpillar. Use free printable Lewis Carroll Alice's Adventures in Wonderland coloring pages for vintage images, clipart and crafts. Here are Alice in Wonderland movie activities and lesson plans,  free printable tea party crafts and Disney Alice in Wonderland tea party invitations. 

Check out recipes for tea party snacks, too. 

Kids party activities: Birthday party games, DIY party crafts, activity centers

While there are dozens of adorable preschool kids party activities to buy, I find it best to go with simple, inexpensive birthday party games for kids. Here's a DIY party planner for activity centers with cheap, homemade kids party crafts and activities. These activity centers--based on preschool learning centers--feature different kids party crafts and activities at stations or tables. Party guests circulate and try different kids party crafts and games. DIY party activity centers offer flexibility for hosts and plenty of kids party activities to keep over-active children busy. Activity centers avoid competitive birthday party games which can so often end in tears and frustration.

Cupcake decorating kids party activities. Instead of a birthday cake, give each child a plain unfrosted cupcake to decorate. Set out a variety of candies, sprinkles and frosting options. Give each child a disposable Popsicle sticks to frost cupcakes. Each guest should have her own little cup of frosting, so that when she samples, and she will sample, germs won't get spread around. Assemble the finished
cupcake on a platter and add candles for the birthday girl to blow out. Photograph and give each child her cupcake to eat.

DIY party tattoos and body art activity centers. Set out temporary tattoos, napkins and washable markers. Teach guests to apply tattoos by pressing damp napkin over tattoo until paper is wet. Remove paper to reveal tattoo. Child can also make their own tattoos by drawing on paper towel and pressing design on their arms. Older kids can draw their own.

Giant birthday card kids party crafts: Set out sidewalk chalk and ask guests to decorate your sidewalk or driveway with huge card for the birthday child. Each child gets a square of sidewalk to decorate. Or draw kids party activities on the driveway or sidewalk that children must complete, like a treasure hunt or giant board birthday party games for kids.

Fish pond birthday party games for kids. Set out a child's wading pool and inexpensive plastic fishing game. Children can fish for prizes for birthday party games. Make your own fishing game by tying a magnet to the end of a dowel. Fill little plastic bags or paper bags with treats and prizes. Attach a paper clip to the bag. Child catches a treat by getting magnet to attach to paper clip and 'reeling' it in.
Painting booth kids party crafts. This went over like a house afire at our youngest daughter's 5th birthday. My eldest daughter set out her array of finger nail polish choices and everyone got a manicure. For boys birthday party games for kids, buy little unpainted wooden vehicles for kids from Hobby Lobby. Or get small treasure boxes. Let guest paint these with quick-dry non-toxic paint and take home as party favors.

Face painting kids party activities. Our younger son manned this booth at our daughter's party. He made up a poster showing the different images he could do. He even learned some new ideas when guests asked for something different. Remember to use non-toxic face paint. Make your own face paint with lotion and food coloring. Or use non-toxic markers.

We were fortunate to have older children to run the activities. If you don't have older children, import some older neighbor children or family members. Older children love to help with these types of parties and will usually work for food and a treat bag. For more awesome DIY party ideas, come visit DIY Party Planner.

Thanksgiving party printables, cards, holiday activities for kids

As the fall holiday season counts down, you'll want free Thanksgiving printables and activities. Print Thanksgiving decorations, greeting cards, party invitations, place cards, place mats, coloring pages, activities, table décor, clipart, children's activities, games, worksheets, cut, paste and assemble activities and lesson plans. Use these printables for home, classroom, Sunday School, scout troop, 4H group, after school programs, library programs, PTA/PTO/PTSO, day care, home school, etc. These activities are perfect for activity coordinators of senior centers, nursing homes and adult foster care or home-bound groups.

Thanksgiving Fun Cards offers you access to many other printable Thanksgiving greeting cards plus cards for all occasions. Printables are primarily animated cards. Get your free Thanksgiving lesson plans at The Teacher's Corner. You'll find history activities on Plymouth, the Puritans, Native Americans and colonists. But it's not all worksheets! Print turkey crafts and coloring pages too!

Disney Family has Disney character Thanksgiving and fall activities to print. The Kidz Page is an online community where kids can play and learn. Print out Thanksgiving Day activities, games, clip-art, lessons, kid friendly video clips, puzzles of all kinds, coloring, flash games and much more.

Satisfy your inner colorer with lots of free printable Thanksgiving coloring pages which can be colored online or printed. Kids Free Crafts has loads more Thanksgiving crafts, activities, printables and more. Visit the printables page for a cross-referenced index of autumn holiday activities. For Thanksgiving clipart and cards, visit Pic Gifs. Print a huge packet of activities and when kids say they're bored, whip it out! Or pack in the car for long holiday travel.

Free or Crazy-Cheap Children's Birthday Party Activities: Ways to Save Money on Party Games, Crafts, Food, Decorations

I love party planning, especially children's parties. But I don't love spending money. Not because I'm a cheapskate--I just see no reason to support corporate greed overpaying for birthday party supplies when I can make my own better ones. Here's a DIY party planner guide for free or cheap kids' party activities, games, crafts, food and decorations based on  KISS (Keep it simple, sweetie).

* DIY kids' birthday. Birthday parties for children should be fun for parents, not just kids. But they won't be if you're stressed out. If mama and papa ain't happy, ain't nobody happy. And you can keep yourselves and your kids happy if you keep it simple. Contrary to popular belief, kids are very easy to please. Most (regardless of age) would rather just play with friends at birthday parties than have a bunch of fancy trappings.

* DIY party decorations. Run screaming from overpriced décorations at Party City, etc. For birthday parties for children. DIY it. Use free printable party supplies. Check this blog for printables on just about any theme. Put the money you save toward presents. Your kids will enjoy gifts more than throw-away decorations and so will the earth.

* DIY birthday parties for children at a park, beach or playground. Some kid party venues charge $15 per guest. Parks are free and often have bathrooms and trash cans for easy cleanup. Park parties mean less wear and tear on your backyard, too. You can run over-rambunctious guests and circumvent potential behavior problems. Choose one close to home with a pavillion, in case of emergencies or bad weather.

* KISS--Limit guest list at kids' parties. My kids party planning rule of thumb is one guest for every year the child is old, including siblings and the birthday child. I don't recommend making kids invite their whole class to parties. It's awkward and hurtful as guests who are invited only because parents force it often feel left out. And please, speaking as a teacher, don't let kids distribute party invitations at school. That's a recipe for disaster.

* Award everyone (or no one) a prize for party games. Competitive games don't work for several reasons. It's sometimes difficult to determine who won. It encourages greed and ruthlessness. Avoid prizes and also keep little take-home goody bags simple. If you do prize bags, give useful stuff like school supplies. Pick those up SUPER cheap at back-to-school sales and squirrel away for parties.  Make-it-take-it crafts do double duty as party activities and treat bags. If you're giving out goody bags at the end, skip prizes.

* DIY kids' party food. Picnic foods are great for a kids party-- hamburgers or hot dogs (precooked and stored in foil-covered, disposable pans). Make huge sub sandwiches and cut into single servings. Or let guests make their own pizzas--Dollar Tree has mini pizzas 2/$1. Provide water bottles or juice boxes. Serve individually-packaged ice cream novelties. Make cupcakes instead of a cake. Let kids decorate their own. Pop in candles before serving so you can sing to the birthday child.


These party planning tips make for win-win kids parties

Free printable Halloween party activities, crafts, games

Halloween is creeping up and children of all ages, even the young at heart are getting ready for the fun.Here are free printable Halloween activities for parties, school groups, etc. 

Count down the days to Trick or Treat with dozens of free printable Halloween activities, coloring pages and crafts from Making Friends.com. Print free craft projects for all sorts themes. Making Friends has a really holiday activities, coloring pages, cut and paste, paper dolls, Trick or treat wrappers, worksheets, Halloween puzzles and mazes. Print word searches, crossword puzzles and word games, perfect for Halloween language arts lessons. Print Halloween card games, flash cards, dioramas, masks and pumpkin carving patterns and stencils.

Here free printable Halloween lesson plans, worksheets, games, coloring pages, activities and puzzles. Use for Trick or Treat themed math, reading, writing, literature, science, language, social studies and crafts. All Free Printables has free Halloween crafts, greeting cards, party invitations, decorations, cut-outs, coloring pages, masks, party invitations, name tags, treat bags, pumpkin cut-outs, book marks, picture frames and lots more. Puzzlemaker lets you create templates for printable Halloween worksheets, puzzles, mazes, jigsaws, dot to dot, Soduku, crosswords and activities galore.

Print Activities is another mega site for all your school and family activity printing needs. Look for units, printable worksheets and lessons focused around Halloween and trick-or-treat. Disney Family offers a plethora of free printable Halloween Disney activities, crafts and coloring pages. Coolest Holiday Parties has free printable Halloween party supplies. You'll find cards, invitations, treat and punch bowl printables, banners, place cards, name tags, wall hangings for a ghoulish party.

Stargazing party for kids: Eclipse and astronomy activities for children's backyard birthday party

Here's a fun and easy end of summer party for kids. To celebrate the solar eclipse, why not host an astronomy themed backyard birthday party? Enjoy a family stargazing campout  or backyard slumber party under the night sky. Here's all you need for this simple to plan, inexpensive (darn near free) stargazer fest.

Walk the beach if you can. Sleep on the beach if possible. That's the best sky panorama. Or just sleep outside under the stars. No need for a fancy-schmancy RV. You bring the backyard or apartment deck, Mother Nature does the rest.

Pitch a tent. Don't have a tent? Borrow one or make one by hanging a tarp over a suspended rope and securing with clothespins. Stay close to home in case rain drives you indoors.

Don't have expensive camping sleeping bags? Haul out old blankets and pillows and make a tent wall to tent-wall family bed. Plan on family pets nabbing the choicest napping spots.

Have a campfire. Campfires lend the ambiance. Portable fire pits are fairly inexpensive, like $35 at Walmart. Some communities allow you to dig your own (line it with a few old cement blocks). Collect brush and burn recycled paper to clean up the environment and do a little volunteer work too.

Sing camp songs. Ultimate Camp Resource has lyrics for all the old camp songs we learned as kids (and some we'd like to forget). Focus on songs about the sky, stars and nature. Play astronomy trivia. Check skymap.com for ideas.

Teach fire safety to get some learning time in. Have a bucket of sand at the ready to douse the flames and first aid kit. Discuss wildfires and caring for the environment. Show kids how to outen fires correctly.

S'mores and hot dogs are camping haute cuisine, but you can simply roast marshmallows if it's easier. Make your own roasting sticks by whittling down tree branches. (many pointed ends means more marshmallows). Teach knife safety and whittling for good survivalist-scouting lessons.

Dress warm. Summer nights can be chilly. Young children may wet the bed (or sleeping bag) if they get cold, even if potty-trained. Make sure they're bundled up. If it gets hot they can peel. Wearing long clothes means kids won't need as much bug repellent.

Have kids make stargazer survival kit (another great scout activity) Pack in waterproof container:
flashlight, cheap notebook (to draw stars, constellations, night sky), water bottle, midnight snack, field glasses, portable telescopes, cuddle toy (just in case) and umbrella. Allow nothing digital except a camera to take pictures (no texting, movies, TV, games).

Print an interactive night sky map from Your Sky that you can personalize for day and area. Here are free printable star charts, night sky maps and constellation maps. Here's a kids astronomy activities link with printables. Help kids track stars and learn the names of the constellations they're seeing. Provide notebooks and pencils and let them draw stars and constellations.

'Counting On' Joe Duggar, bachelorette Kendra Caldwell share odd bachelor party

Duggars, bachelorette parties, stag bashes and co-ed sleepovers: which of these don't belong? If you said the duggar family, you're wrong. People magazine showed the Christian morality experts of "Counting On" engaging in some pretty worldly activities since the fall of "19 Kids and Counting."



Joseph Duggar and his girlfriend, Kendra Caldwell shared a bachelor party. Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth had a joint stag party with a co-ed slumber party. Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar were onboard for the unorthodox premarital events.   'Counting On' Joe Duggar, bachelorette Kendra Caldwell share odd bachelor party

Mothers Day gifts, Teacher Appreciation presents from recycled valentines

Little Miss took her neatly-labeled valentines to school and arrived home with reciprocal Valentine cards from friends. So now, what to do with these prized missives? Clean freaks will toss when she isn't looking. Sentimental (ahem, packrat) parents will urge saving. Artsy (messy) moms won't know what happens to valentines because they will filter into general room litter. None of these is very satisfying considering cost, work and love put into valentines. Here are five cheap, homemade crafts using recycled and repurposed children's valentines. Perfect to use as gift crafts for Easter, Teacher Appreciation Month, Mother's Day, Father's Day or Grandparent birthday gift.



Scrapbook/Journal: Give child a cheap notebook (picked up at back-to-school sales and squirreled away by practical mama). Provide scissors, tape, crayons and pencil. Label the page with school year and teacher. Show how her how to arrange valentines, collage-style. She might cut pretty bits from

each or line them up like gallery next to each friend's picture. Add stickers or decorations.



Pirate Treasure Box: If Johnny B Goode made a particularly nice valentine box for school, save and use to store special stuff--treasures, awards, collectibles, tchotchkis, trinkets, medals, feathers, rocks, keys, bits of a disused bird's nest---so dear to a boy's heart. Or decorate a box using valentines, old maps, scrap aluminum foil, colored plastic, pictures, recycled bin fodder to and magazines. Water down school glue and paint over decorations to to "laminate" or decoupage. He could use his box as a "mailbox" too.



Jewelry box: Repupose old pasteboard, metal or wooden boxes. If decorations are peeling, scrub them off, down to basic box shape. If box is wooden, sand down blemishes. If metal, clean rust and grime with scrubber or Mr. Clean white sponge. Dry thoroughly. Paint box or decoupage valentines on with thin glue. Glue on flowers, faux gems, sequins, ribbon or lace if desired. If clasp is broken, glue a button on the bottom of the opening and a loop of yarn to the top. Loop yarn over button to close.



Picture frame: Buy a wide-edge photo frame or cut your own. Measure opening to fit picture and cut from cereal box. Cut inner edge with decorative scissors. Paint frame or cover with plain covered fabric or wrapping paper. Cut pictures from valentines or magazines. Use decoupage method to decorate edge with cut valentines.



Bookmarks: Decorate cardboard strips cut from dry goods boxes. Paint with fabric paints. Decoupage valentines on bookmark and write message ("Grandma-You're my Valentine Year-Round", "Dad I'm always thinking of you.") Give as Mother's Day, Father's Day or Grandparents' Day gifts.

Any of these would make a lovely gift for a lonely senior friend or shut-in. Why not pay it forward in the upcoming Easter holiday? Find a lonely old person and share your time and talent. You can find more recycled crafts at my blog Green Crafts.

Kate Gosselin feels sad but justified excluding Collin Gosselin from his birthday party

You've heard of kids being excluded from other children's birthday celebrations? Well, Kate Gosselin took it one step further--she didn't invite her son Collin Gosselin to his own birthday party. The Nov. 29 episode of TLC show "Kate Plus 8" showed the sextuplets' lavish birthday bash minus one sextuplet (Collin) who's in some kind of behavior therapy. Mom says she's sorry for herself and Collin's siblings that he couldn't attend his party but says it's best for everyone. Who does this kind of thing?? No matter what his behavior problems are he deserves a party! I've a feeling he's just a little strong-willed--hmm who does that remind you of?? Kate Gosselin feels sad but justified excluding Collin Gosselin from his birthday party

Kate Gosselin feels sad but justified excluding Collin Gosselin from his birthday party

You've heard of kids being excluded from other children's birthday celebrations? Well, Kate Gosselin took it one step further--she didn't invite her son Collin Gosselin to his own birthday party. What kind of mother does that? The Nov. 29 episode of TLC show "Kate Plus 8" showed the sextuplets' lavish birthday bash minus one sextuplet (Collin) who's in some kind of behavior therapy. Mom says she's sorry for herself and Collin's siblings that he couldn't attend his party but says it's best for everyone. But no matter how naughty he may have been the child deserves a birthday. It sounds to me like this is just control freak Kate Gosselin at work again. Kate Gosselin feels sad but justified excluding Collin Gosselin from his birthday party

Candy alternatives for birthday party game prizes, loot bags: 100+ cheap non-food, non-candy, giveaways that are cheap

Are you in charge of planning some kind of huge party for kids, say a Christmas or Halloween shindig? You'll need prizes for games, most likely. Parents, do you need ideas for birthday party prizes that are cheap (er, I mean frugal)? Perhaps you need low-cost stocking stuffers. If you want to avoid the whole candy thing, use these 100 plus treat ideas for stocking stuffers, Valentines Day, Easter, birthdays, Christmas, Halloween, year round! Halloween alternatives: 100+ non-food, non-candy Trick-or-Treat prizes, giveways

Jinger Duggar, Jeremy Vuolo hushed, rushed wedding plans bypass parents: why the secrecy?

A rogue Duggar wedding? That's what Jeremy Vuolo and Jinger Duggar are planning and their nuptials don't include the parents Jim Bob or Michelle Duggar. The "Jill & Jessa: Counting On" reality TV couple has flouted courtship, hands-off engagement and now even marriage traditions, saying they're doing relationships their way. Family members hint Jinger will be pregnant in the new year, so that suggests a wedding in the next two months. The couple are keeping wedding plans secret but say it will be small, so a destination wedding leaps to mind. Why all the hushed rush with these two?  Jinger Dugger, Jeremy Vuolo hushed, rushed wedding plans bypass parents: why the secrecy?

DIY kids party activities: Cheap, easy homemade birthday parties for children

As a mom to four kids, ages 28 to 18, I've planned a plethora of kids' party activities. I'm also a teacher and I've hosted numerous classroom events. I've had some great successes and colossal fails. From those experiences, I've compiled a list of tips for parents on party planning for children. Being a frugalista, these party planning hints focus on cheap, homemade party activities.   DIY kids party activities: Cheap, easy homemade birthday parties for children | Examiner.com

Science activities, outdoor games, nature crafts, snacks for end of school party

 Arbor Day, celebrated in April is the older holiday from which "stems" (pun intended) the modern celebration of Earth Day. Arbor Day is traditionally observed by planting trees and I say why wait till April? Celebrate an end of school party by planting trees, plants or flowers. Here are summer science activities, outdoor games and nature crafts and summer snacks for the perfect end of school party. Homeschool parents, you can throw an end of school party or incorporate these science activities in summer school lessons.Science activities, outdoor games, nature crafts, snacks for end of school party

Free printable Star Wars coloring pages: May the Fourth be with you | Examiner.com

 May the Fourth be with you! It's Star Wars Day, said USA Today on May 4. Time to get your Stars Wars geek on! Cue the Empire's Theme (admit it, it's sexier than the Rebel's Theme) and haul the light sabres and Jedi robes out of mothballs. Don your Leia buns (the brass bikini, maybe not) cause it's time to party like a droid!



Hosting a Star Wars themed party? Here are free printable Star Wars coloring pages for fans from wee-est Wookie to oldest Yoda! Use these for party crafts, games, decorations, even Happy Star Wars Day greeting cards! Free printable Star Wars coloring pages: May the Fourth be with you | Examiner.com

Free printable Spider-Man, Avengers Captain America Civil War, Iron Man coloring pages, party activities

The epic Marvel Comics "Captain America Civil War" opens May 6 and features a clash between Marvel Avengers Captain America and Iron Man. But word is the most exciting part Captain America Civil War is the introduction of Spider-Man to the cast. Spider-Man (Tom Holland) is attracting fans like flies! So now Avengers fans can see Spider-Man, Thor, Iron Man, Venom and all their superheroes in Captain America Civil War. Sounds like some pretty "Marvel" ous fun! Captain America v Iron Man, Batman v Superman--2016 promises to be a summer of brotherly brawling! How about free printable Spider-Man coloring pages to keep you tied up till Captain America Civil War opens?  Free printable Spider-Man, Avengers Captain America Civil War, Iron Man coloring | Examiner.com

Free printable Holi Festival of Colors activities, Hindu Indian crafts, lessons

Holi is the Hindu Festival of Colors and is celebrated on March 24 in 2016. People in Indian celebrate by tossing colored powder or spraying each other with colored liquid. Holi iscelebrated on the full moon, called Phalgun Purnima or Pooranmash. Holi begins with the Holika Dahan--ceremonial bonfires which purge evil spirits, which are lit one day before Holi. Holi comes in the Hindu calendar month of Phalgun. Holi falls in late March to early April in the western calendar. Here are free printable Holi Indian crafts, greeting cards and lessons to help kids understand the Indian Holi Festival of Colors. Teachers, use these free printable Holi activities for social studies lessons. Homeschool parents, why not explore Holi Festival of Colors with kids?  Free printable Holi Festival of Colors activities, Hindu Indian crafts, lessons | Examiner.com

Free printable Holi Festival of Colors activities, Hindu Indian crafts, lessons

Holi is the Hindu Festival of Colors and is celebrated on March 24 in 2016. People in Indian celebrate by tossing colored powder or spraying each other with colored liquid. Holi iscelebrated on the full moon, called Phalgun Purnima or Pooranmash. Holi begins with the Holika Dahan--ceremonial bonfires which purge evil spirits, which are lit one day before Holi. Holi comes in the Hindu calendar month of Phalgun. Holi falls in late March to early April in the western calendar. Here are free printable Holi Indian crafts, greeting cards and lessons to help kids understand the Indian Holi Festival of Colors. Teachers, use these free printable Holi activities for social studies lessons. Homeschool parents, why not explore Holi Festival of Colors with kids?   Free printable Holi Festival of Colors activities, Hindu Indian crafts, lessons | Examiner.com

Free printable baby shower games, shower invitations, baby shower cards

There are several ways to host an inexpensive, tasteful baby shower. If you would like to host a baby shower, here are ways to save money: create free printable baby shower games, invitations, shower cards and decorations.  

Free printable color your own cartoon kids birthday cards, invitations | Examiner.com

Giving birthday cards along with other greetings cards is a time-honored tradition. Children love receiving birthday cards. But with greeting cards a $4 cards now, it's too expensive. So that's why free printable greeting cards from internet websites are so awesome. Here's a list of free printable color your own cartoon greeting cards and kids birthday cards for kids  Free printable color your own cartoon kids birthday cards, invitations | Examiner.com