Q: I'm looking for instructions to make a marshmallow shooter. Can you help me?A: You obviously have boys! I guess this would be a good way to keep them occupied.
A marshmallow shooter is a fun craft project for the kids to help you with, so be sure to involve them.
You'll need to use pressurized 1/2"-diameter PVC pipe. Cut it into 8" lengths with a hacksaw, or have it cut to length at your local home-improvement store. Be sure to wash the pieces in warm sudsy water, rinse and dry.
Let the kids use permanent markers to decorate the pipe, and have them put their initials somewhere on the pipe so they'll know which is whose.
Create paper targets using brown paper lunch bags. A good way to do this is to blow them up with air and tie them shut with a string. Place the targets at least 15' away, load the shooters with miniature marshmallows -- and stand back.
Q: We travel a lot and have small children. Any ideas for games to keep them occupied in the car?
A: Nothing's worse than a bored child and a long car ride. Here's an idea that should make your trips more enjoyable: a travel board game using a map of your route.
1. Enlarge the map on a copy machine to fit inside a baking sheet and highlight the towns you will be passing through with a marker.
2. You can attach the map to the baking sheet using double-sided tape, and for your game pieces, use buttons. Glue magnets to the back so they don't slide around your board.
3. Use index cards and a pencil to make Chance Cards. These cards tell the players what to do: how many spaces to advance or move back. For example, if you're taking a trip to the beach, one card might say, "Stopped for a lobster dinner, skip a turn" or "Hurry to the beach for a swim, move ahead three spaces." Or say you're headed to the mountains: try, "Eeek! There's a bear in the road, go back to the previous town" or "Stop to build a campsite, skip a turn."
Here's another suggestion that's simple -- and you can use the other side of the baking sheet.
1. Use a label-maker to create beginnings and endings of easy words (for example: st, op, c, ar, ap, h, at, ple, sh, ed and so on).
2. Place the labels on magnetic sheets and cut around the word beginnings and endings.
The kids can put the sounds together to make words. This will keep them busy for hours.
Q: How can I preserve my children's art in a more meaningful way?
A: I have the perfect idea, and it makes a great gift for grandparents: decoupage the artwork onto a glass plate or platter.
1. Start with a clear glass plate. Place it on top of the artwork and trace around the base of the plate.
2. Cut out the scene along the traced line.
3. Turn the plate upside down and put it on a can. With a sponge brush, paint the back of the plate with decoupage glue.
4. Press the drawing face down on the base of the plate, making sure you smooth out any air bubbles with your fingers.
5. Decorate the edge of the plate in the same manner, using tissue paper in a coordinating color.
6. Let the plate dry for an hour, then trim away the extra paper from around the edges.
7. Paint the entire back of the plate with white paint and let it dry completely.
Note: Use a damp sponge only for washing: these cannot go in the dishwasher.
