Then we’re watching the news last night and it’s supposed to snow on Saturday. Ahhh – I knew this was all only a dream!

Related Pages: Spring Flower Coloring Pages, Easy Spring Kite Craft, Butterfly Coloring Pages, Spring Preschool Crafts

Spring Worm Coloring Page	Boy Riding Bike Coloring Page	Spring Kitten Coloring Page
Spring Birds Nest Coloring Page	Kite Flying Coloring Page	Flowery Bear Coloring Page
Spring Chick Coloring Page	Spring Tulip Coloring Page	Rainy Rhino Coloring Page

Be sure to check out all of the Spring Kids Activities from the Woo! Jr. Network!

Be sure to check out cat mask, monkey mask, and bear mask, too!

Printable Pink Bunny Mask

Printable Bunny Mask Coloring Page

Want More Animal Masks?

Then check out these awesome cut out animal mask books at Amazon:

Wild Animals Punch-Out Masks

Cut & Make Cat Masks in Full Color

Cut & Make Dinosaur Masks

Here’s a new set of Easter poems for kids. One is cute and funny – the other a little more serious. And I should note that if you have any standards about mentioning religious themes in your classroom, you should review the Easter at our House poem to ensure it’s appropriate for your curriculum.

Related Pages: Spring Kids Poems, Easter Mad Libs, Printable Easter Cards, Printable Easter Mazes

Easter Poem - Egg Hunt

Easter Poem - Easter at Our House

Craft Jr. has tons of Easter kids crafts and Easter recipes, too!

A few weeks ago I put up a rather popular post on pincushion patterns – I guess that the title of “10 Kick Ass Pincushion Patterns” really threw people off. Whoddathunk that you could get away with putting “Kick Ass” and “Pincushion” into the same sentence?!

Well, get ready for even more pincushion kickassness, because my friends Kim and Kris (who used to write for me on CraftBoom! when I owned Sparkplugging) have just launched a fantastic new web show called The DIY Dish. Check out their very first episode with a super-adorable double layer cake pincushion project – easy enough to complete in less than an hour!

They are also giving away a Janome embroidery sewing machine if you enter before the end of March – go, go GO!!

Related Pages: Tinkerbell Coloring Pages, Snow White Coloring Pages, Disney Princess Party Supplies, Disney’s Rapunzel Coloring Pages

Sleeping Beauty Coloring Page	Maleficent Coloring Page	Disney Princesses Coloring Page
Sleeping Beauty in the Forest	Disney's Sleeping Beauty Fairy Godmothers	Singing Princess Aurora and Prince Philip

More Disney Princess Coloring Pages and Printables

The Princess and the Frog Word Search

The Princess and the Frog Coloring Pages and Activity Sheets

Sleeping Beauty Singing

Sleeping Beauty with the Prince (as shown below)

Sleeping Beauty Coloring Page

If you like these Disney coloring pages, you may also like our princess coloring pages on Fantasy Jr.!.

You may also like our mermaid coloring pages, our princess coloring pages, or our fairy coloring pages, too!

Iris Flower Coloring Page	Iris Flower Coloring Page	Iris Flower Coloring Page
Tulip Flower Coloring Page	Tulip Flower Coloring Page	Tulip Flower Coloring Page
Lily Flower Coloring Page	Lily Flower Coloring Page	Lily Flower Coloring Page
Dahlia Flower Coloring Page	Dahlia Flower Coloring Page	Dahlia Flower Coloring Page
Daffodil Flower Coloring Page	Daffodil Flower Coloring Page	Daffodil Flower Coloring Page

Be sure to check out the rest of our flower coloring pages or all of the coloring pages on the Woo! Jr. Network.

A group of friends and I started a blog carnival recently to support each other and additional creative bloggers out there. This week the theme was supposed to be cooking with kids – but instead the submissions were all over the board.

I think spring fever does that to folks.

So here’s a good roundup of family living links – enjoy!
(And feel free to submit your own links the next time around – nothing’s better than link love!)

Creative Cooking and Crafting

Jen presents Yummy Banana Bread posted at Projects for Preschoolers, saying, “a quick and tasty treat the kids will love to help prepare and munch on all day long”

Heather presents Gluten-Free Easter Candy List posted at Celiac Family.

Heather Mann presents Make Photo Pencils posted at Dollar Store Crafts, saying, “Such a great idea for a handmade birthday gift: personalize pencils with a child’s photo.”

Heather presents Make Your Own Snack Mix posted at Celiac Family, saying, “Kids celebrate 100th day of school by making their own snack mix: 10 pieces of 10 different food items.”

Heather Mann presents 9 Photography Tips for Crafters posted at Croq Zine – The Blog, saying, “Improve your blog photos with a few simple photography tips.”

Linette G. presents Sweet Pea Cupcake Toppers and Scrapbook Pages posted at The Kid’s Birthday Fun Review, saying, “A wonderful cupcake topper and scrapbook page idea if you have a little sweet pea in your life.”

Family Humor

Ann Goebel presents Mr. Clean posted at The Chronicles of a Wife.

Madeleine Begun Kane presents Musical Accord (Spoof Contract) posted at Mad Kane’s Humor Blog.

Heather Mann presents Lady Liberty Likes a Good Laugh posted at CraftFail, saying, “What happens when a Statue of Liberty Chia Pet grows horribly, horribly wrong?”

Pamela Jorrick presents Evil Chickens posted at Blah, Blah, Blog.

Banquet Manager presents Firefighters Dig Out Snowed-in Bride on Wedding Day posted at So You Want To Be a Banquet Manager….

Family Freebies

Randa Clay presents Free Audio Stories posted at Free Stuff 4 Kids, saying, “The kids can either listen to this growing collection of free audio stories on the computer, or they can be downloaded to add to an mp3 player.”

Debra Jacobson presents How To Be Frugal: Saving Money on Eating Out posted at All Things Frugal, saying, “In lean economic times, eating at restaurants is generally avoided. However, there are ways to eat out without breaking the bank.”

Family Living Tips

TaraG presents Why We Chose Cloth Diapers, Part 1 posted at Go Green Street.

Heather Mann presents Reducing Instead of Reusing & Recycling posted at Croq Zine – The Blog, saying, “Recycling has become second nature to us, but are we forgetting about Reducing?”

Fred Lee presents Parenting: Tips for Surviving the Day posted at Parenting Squad.

Dan presents Adventure Guides is Just Right for This Dad posted at My Dad Blog, saying, “Ever hear of Adventure Guides? Neither did I until a neighbor introduced me to it. It’s a great program run through our YMCA for Dads and their sons or daughters to explore and spend time together on a monthly basis in a group setting. My son loves it so far.”

OurBlogs presents First Boyfriend or First Girlfriend posted at A Guide to Raising Great Kids.

Amy Porter presents Women Who Inspire: Erma Bombeck posted at Equinaut.

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of all things family using our carnival submission form.
Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Here is a brand new set of Easter mad libs for kids!

Related pages: Spring Mad Libs, Printable Easter Cards, Easter Puppet Craft, Printable Easter Mazes

Easter Mad Libs - Chocolate Bunny!

Easter Mad Libs - Easter Brunch!

Easter Mad Libs - Easter Hunt!

Soon we will have tons more Easter worksheets, too!

I’d like to start this post by saying I luv Anthropologie. And then I’d feel a little stupid. Of course I do. Who doesn’t?! DUH.

But what I love even more about Anthropologie is the design behind their products. They either have the most talented design staff on the planet, or they have buyers with the most impeccable taste on the planet. Probably a combo of the two.

Over the last year or so, I’ve come across some truly resourceful and amazing bloggers who have successfully knocked off the “Anthro Look”. These are true DIY Anthropologie inspired project ideas – here are 10 of my faves!

Anthropologie Plastic Bottle Flowers on Oh So Happy Together

(And more from Anthropologies’s own Flickr Group!)

Vintage Inspired Mirrors on Mitzi’s Collectibles

Tuxedo Scarf on Crafty Habit

Easy Fabric Watch on Christina Close

DIY Custom Sized Ruffle Skirt Pattern on Communing with Fabric

Embellished T-Shirts on Fine Craft Guild

Knit Scarf Pattern from Knitlit

Ribbon Bracelet on Craftig

No Sew Patchwork Pillow on Crafter Hours

Beaded Necklace on Croqzine

Fabric Roses Headband on Rae Gun Ramblings

What? That was 11 things, not 10? Forgive me. I get carried away. (Either that or I can’t count.)

Don’t miss these language arts review worksheets and these antonym and synonym worksheets on our sister site Classroom Jr.!

Spring Synonym and Antonym Worksheet

Spring Spelling Worksheet

More Spring Worksheets

Spring Math Worksheets

Spring Mad Libs

Printable Spring Poems

Keeping organized is always a challenge with two kids, but if you stay consistent – things will remain in place. Or, at least in organized chaos! Last year I listed “what to sell on eBay” each month as a blog post to keep readers a bit ahead of the game. This year, everything has been compiled into a guide! 

Grab your complimentary copy so you can stay on top of what you should be doing each month! Print it out and keep it close! 

Grab your Selling Guide Here for an instant download.

Happy Selling!

I didn’t even know who Bjorn Wiinblad was until about a week or two ago. In my never ending hunt for vintage-tastic stuff, I came across some of his work. And then I went and found more. And then I fell in love.

And then I was sad. Bjorn Wiinblad died in 2006. He was one of Denmark’s most famous and beloved artists of all time, working from the ’50’s through his death on paintings, sculpture, pottery, posters, illustrations, glassware – he’s even immortalized on a Danish postage stamp. His work was incredibly whimsical, yet contemporary and classic. It was flowery without being obnoxious. And he was so ahead of his time. His work looks just as stunning today as it did 60 years ago. You might see some similarity with Kaj Franck’s work, the two were both prominent designers during the same era.

The worst part about his work is that most of it isn’t cheap. I’ve seen hard to find sculptures on Ebay for $20K. Even his mass-produced vases and decorative plates can go for $75-$300. I’m saving my pennies to start a collection of Bjorn Wiinblad pieces. I found some of his pottery on Etsy for only $30, because the seller didn’t know they were Wiinblad-made. Lucky me.

Anyway, the most surprising thing to me about his work is that it made me want to draw again. I’ve always been into art, but I haven’t actually done original artwork in over 10 years. But I wanted more Bjorn Wiinblad art so much that I decided to draw something myself. And if he were alive today, I wondered what he would do, faced with a blank canvas and an extra hour of time.

Totally weird.

So yeah, my photoblog just turned into an art and photoblog, I guess. I don’t know if I will continue to do more illustrations, but I must say this was insanely satisfying. Even if it was a complete knock-off of someone else’s style.

Thank you, Mr. Wiinblad.

Related Pages: Sleeping Beauty Coloring Pages, Tinkerbell Coloring Pages, Snow White Coloring Pages, Disney Pumpkin Stencils

Disney's Rapunzel Coloring Page

Disney Rapunzel Tower Coloring Page

You might also like our printable Disney Crossword Puzzles, too!

Related pages: Smurfs Coloring Pages, Scooby Doo Coloring Pages, Printable Movie Crossword Puzzles

Yogi Coloring Page	Cindy Bear Coloring Page	Yogi and Boo Boo Coloring Page
Yogi and Boo Boo Napping Coloring Page	Yogi Bear Coloring Page	Yogi and the Ranger Coloring Page

The Woo! Jr. Network has hundreds more coloring pages, all free!

Related Pages: Scooby Doo Coloring Pages, Hello Kitty Coloring Pages, Care Bears Coloring Pages

Smurf Coloring Page	Smurfette Coloring Page	Baby Smurf Coloring Page
Papa Smurf Coloring Page	Sassette Smurfling Coloring Page	Grumpy Smurf Coloring Page

Check out all of the cartoon coloring pages from Cartoon Jr.!

We interrupt our current programming for a gushing mom moment.

My husband and I are horribly right brained. We’re always late. Can’t remember much. House eternally messy. But with these curses comes amazing creativity. And as if we didn’t already know – this picture makes it obvious that our daughter inherited it from both sides.

All of our kids are very creative – but what makes this especially awesome is that it was drawn with no input or help at all from anyone – by my daughter who is 7. SEVEN! If I drew like this at that age my work would be hanging in the Art Institute by now.

I made very simple new years resolutions this year. 1 – be better at bookkeeping – check. 2 – get more family time – double check. That’s it.

Just a few years ago, these goals would not have seemed ‘big’ enough for me. But I’ve found that I totally underestimated just how amazing life can be when I make things less complicated. You know – the changes that seem so little that they can’t possibly make a big difference – until you actually do them. And then you feel a little silly and foolish, wondering why you didn’t do this thing long ago.

My resolution to get more family time started to form last December. I was sitting at the kitchen table and an old episode of the iconic ’70’s sitcom All in the Family came on. I’m hearing that opening song and I’m physically still in my kitchen, but in my mind, suddenly I was 7 years old again. I felt like I was sitting in my grandparent’s family room, smelling pipe tobacco and Downy and pot roast cooking in the kitchen. I could hear my grandpa laughing at Archie Bunker, sometimes for all the wrong reasons. I imagined my grandma worrying about not having enough food for us (a trait my mother and I have unfortunately inherited from her). Every Tuesday we went to my grandparent’s house for dinner – and we always watched All in the Family together.

Suddenly I was in tears. Missing my grandparents all over again, even though they have been gone for a very long time. Missing the time my brother and I got with just our mom, because Tuesday was Kiawanis night for my dad. And definitely missing my grandmother’s pot roast recipe, which I have always imitated but never duplicated. I decided right then and there that I wanted to see my own parents more often. I wanted to make more memories like this one. This memory that swept me 30+ years back in time and made me feel loved, happy, and very full of pot roast.

Enter the 2010 monthly Piersall family dinners.

It’s perfect, because my husband loves to cook and is always looking for an excuse to buy overpriced prime rib. It’s perfect, because my sister in law and I adore each other but never find a way to make time to see each other as much as we want to. And it’s perfect, because it’s only once a month and the two most important rules are:

Houses need not be clean and food must be easy to make

It’s perfect because now we get to celebrate the month’s birthdays on our family dinner nights. It’s perfect because I really love hanging out with my parents. It’s perfect, because my kids are always bugging me to see their cousins. And it’s perfect because last time we were all laughing together watching TV while waiting for dinner to be ready – just like we did when I was 7.

And most of all, it’s perfect because when my kids and niece and nephew are all grown up, they will have so many family dinner memories that their heads and hearts will still be stuffed full of love and happiness.

I’m not sure that Archie Bunker intended it this way, but even that hard old jackass might have liked to know he’s done some good.

I’m finding that the more time I spend on Ebay finding incredible vintage stuff, the more questions I have. Who made it? What’s the company history? Is this really collectible? How much is this thing really worth? Two companies that I am starting to get to know are Arabia Finland and Berggren Originals. I don’t know that their stuff is really all that valuable – more that their stuff is freaking beautiful and I want to surround myself with these pieces.

This bowl is from the 1960’s, produced by Arabia Finel and designed by Kaj Franck, a famous mid-century modern Finnish designer. This particular enamelware mushroom bowl is fairly easily found on Ebay or Etsy – but finding some of his more obscure works is proving a lot more difficult – and costly. I’ve seen a very simple enamel teapot designed by him priced at over $300 – one that I’m not even that impressed with. But this bowl? I’m in luv. And it was less than $25.

I’ll feature more of Kaj Franck’s designs as I am able to acquire them – and I’m totally on the hunt. Maybe I’ll have some luck at the Kane Country Flea Market this weekend.

I just got this from eBay Power Up Feb. Edition - three big reasons to start cashing in today:

Reach millions more buyers–for no extra cost. If you ship worldwide, for no extra cost your listings will appear on eBay.eu with access to nearly 200 million more Europeans. (No more switching to eBay UK to list your items)

Only domestic DSRs count. Since only DSRs on your transactions with U.S. buyers count on eBay.com, you can sell globally without worrying about customs or international delivery affecting your eligibility for Top-rated seller or PowerSeller status. ( I had NO idea that DSRs from international selling wouldn’t effect selling out of the U.S – BONUS!)

Be a Top-rated seller in more countries. Now you can also earn and enjoy the rewards of being a Top-rated seller in more countries, including Germany and the U.K., two of the largest export markets for U.S. eBay sellers. (This is great for branding yourself in other countries!)

Get more helpful tips and best practices for international selling.

 

GREAT news from an eBay seller standpoint! It certainly takes the guess work out of selling Worldwide!

People love free things. To the point that they’re willing to pay for them. Huh? IHOP gave away pancakes from 7 am to 10 pm, and asked that customers donated money to the Children’s Miracle Network if they were able. While some people only came for the free pancakes and didn’t donate, many gave, and many bought things to accompany the free pancakes.

IHOP is aiming to raise $5 million for the Children’s Miracle Network within 5 years (this is the 5th). Last year they raised $425,000. That’s a lot of free pancakes!

In addition, fans spread the word. I heard about Free Pancake Day on Twitter, where there were thousands of mentions. Blogs and Facebook, too, were riddled with mentions. Free publicity from people who want to share. Priceless.

Free is a veritable marketing tactic. Whether you’re donating money to charity (also a good PR move) or just giving away the farm to sell some milk, free works. But I can’t afford to give away anything for free, you’re whining. My reply? You very well may not be able to afford not to. Here are some examples of freebies:

• Making a larger size product and selling it for the same price (25% more free!)
• Giving away a bonus item, such as a free table with sale of a couch
• Free info products (get my free book/ebook with a coaching package)
• Free services; if you’re in the services industry, give away something your clients wouldn’t otherwise buy as a way of introducing it

My assignment to you is to think about what you can give away for a month, a day, a week. Promote it. See if you don’t see an increase in sales as a result.

Time to share! What have you given away for free? How did it work?