This is a fun and decorative way to serve fruit at a party or picnic. WATCH THE VIDEO for directions.

I seemed to be obsessed with recycling. My grown children often make fun of me about it. I get excited when I can use something I already have to make something new. But that also means saving stuff (or junk as some like to refer to it). Well, I used some of that stuff to make this paper plate shaker. The left over paper plates from a New Year’s Day celebration and ribbons from various different gifts I have received over the year. You can have your children and grandchildren make a shaker then sing songs together. It would be fun to make then at a family reunion, neighborhood, church, or community party and have a parade.

You’ll need:
2 paper plates for each shaker (I used the small ones because they are easier to hold onto and you don’t need as many beans.)
Ribbons, crepe paper or other items for decorating
Markers, paint or crayons
Stapler
Beans

Directions:
1. Decorate the outside of the paper plates
2. As you begin to staple around the edge add your decorations
3. When you are near the end fill your shaker with beans
4. Then finish stapling making sure you have stapled close enough so the beans don’t fall out

Melanie is the winner of the $50 Toys-R-Us gift certificate. Thanks for all the fantastic self-portraits.

You can serve these lollipops and other snack at your 4th of July celebration or any other summer activity. They can even be used as a centerpiece.
I found the idea in Rebook Magazine then used ingredients I had on hand. Choose the foods you and your family like.
I used:
cherry tomatoes
avocado
olives
strawberries
blueberries
cottage cheese
Triscuits
Other ideas:
cream cheese
cheese squares
pineapple chunks
The possibilities are endless.

tomatoes, avocado, olives

strawberries, blueberries, cottage cheese

Triscuits, cottage cheese, strawberries, blueberries

Your kids or grandkids can make these
FUN NAPKIN RINGS for a family Independence Day celebration.

You can make this simple star garland to decorate your table, door or banister for your 4th of July celebration. Your kids and grandkids can help.
You’ll need:
String or yarn
Paper stars of various colors (you can buy them, cut them yourself or use a dye-cut)
Directions:
1. Decide how long you want your garland and cut the string.
2. Arrange the stars on the string.
3. To glue the stars apply glue on 2 stars then put them together like a sandwich with the string in the middle.

These songs are sung to familiar tunes so you don’t need a piano. What a great activity for a family reunion or a neighborhood celebration. Get Songs

I love this idea. The United Service Organization is sending these hearts to soldiers at home and overseas. Also, to support our troops, the USO created Operation USO Care Package. This program has distributed more than 1.5 million care packages to service members, and continues to distribute some 25,000 packages a month to troops around the world.
SweetHearts Brand is proud to show its heartfelt thanks to the troops by supporting this program with a minimum donation of $75,000 to the USO!
Show your support by making a donation at USO
You can order conversation hearts and other patriotic candy at Patriotic Conversation Hearts

Here is a sample of some of the gorgeous jewelry my friend Karen creates. I have one of her necklaces and every time I wear it someone comments on it. Someday I’m going to buy the charm bracelet!

JMarKarenMcCoun

Organizing things in categories is a fun way to help your child with math. Using scissors can help develop small muscle coordination and eye-hand coordination. You probably didn’t realize how important these simple tasks are to your child’s development. This activity can give them lots of practice.

Cut out pictures of food from the newspaper or magazines. Organize them in categories and make a book.
Some categories might be:
Foods that are alike (fruits, vegetables, come from an animal, etc)
Colors
Foods you like or dislike
Healthy or not so healthy
Taste (sweet, sour, salty)
Create a balanced meal

Idea from Classroom Connections, Deseret News