Spyglass Party Craft for Your Pirate Crew!

Mermaids and Pirates!
     That was the theme for Sophie's 3rd birthday party this weekend.  I'm a big fan of having a craft available for the kids to create at birthday parties.  Last year, we did mini canvas paintings for Sophie's Rapunzel themed party.  This year we decided on a spyglass craft for treas-arghhh hunting.  I, for one, think they turned out pretty darn cute.  They were a hit with our crew of 3 year old pirates too!  Here's how we did it.

Supplies

Toilet paper rolls

Paper coffee cups

Knife

Medium brown spray paint

Dark brown spray paint

Yellow 1inch wide ribbon

Hot glue gun

Glue

Tons of your favorite stickers

Directions For Parents.

1.  Cut a hole (smaller than that of the diameter of the toilet paper roll) in the bottom of the paper cup.

2.  Hot glue toilet paper roll to bottom of cup.

3.  Spray paint with Medium brown first, then with dark brown to add textured look.

4.  Hot glue ribbon in 3 places around either end of craft and in the middle.

Directions For Kids.

5.  Use letter stickers and other favorite picture stickers for to decorate the craft.  We suggest spelling your name with stickers first and then follow up with your favorite stickers.  Happy treasure hunting!

Tell us your favorite craft experience.  There are many more birthdays to use all your wonderful ideas!

Turbo: Family Summer Movie Must-See

     Race, Race, Mooove.   Turbo opens today and is the perfect afternoon activity.   And if your first question, like mine, is what age of child should watch this...the answer is 1 to 100.  The content is funny, driving and an ultimately positive message for kids.

     We saw a screening the night before Sophie's 3rd birthday and the message of "Don't give up" obviously resonated with her.  At the end of the night, she looked at Daddy and me and said with a gravely serious expression "My birthday is over, but there will be another one.  I'm not givin' up!"

     That universal truth sank in with a 3 year old because this movie encourages freedom in imagination and gives us a license to dream.  There are sweet truths brought forward by our unlikely hero following his heart and we all need to be reminded that success is in the colorful journey, not just the ending.  

     The characters are more bright and distinctive than anything you will find on MMC.  The crew of snails have a humanity...an ability to move you and make you laugh. During one of the touching scenes where two brothers journey to understand each other, the reflection in the eyes of one brother, layered with the glistening of emotion you would see in an Oscar winning Streep performance, gives uexpected weight to these characters.  

     One thing is absolutely for sure.  You. Must. Have. This. Soundtrack.  As I looked in front of me, I saw little heads bobbing up and down to the driving music of this racing movie.  The music is infectious.  How can you not feel cool when Snoop is chanting his lyrics and the beats are crazy good.  I will be using this as my summer anthem now, thank you.  So when you see a Chrysler Town and Country Touring Van roll up next to you, with a car seat in the back, and Snoop on my speaks...you'll know it's this mommy feelin' oh so fly.

     Don't take it from me though.  My 3 year old is the real expert and she says seeing Turbo in the theatre is "so so much fun!"

     www.turbomovie.com

What is your favorite family summer movie?