Stitching with Beatrix Potter -- a Crafty Weekends Review and Link Party

Disclosure: C&T Publishing sent me this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own! I will receive a small stipend for purchases made through the links in this post. Thank you for supporting Crafty Moms Share!

I remember going to the library as a young girl and taking out the little Beatrix Potter books. I loved her stories and the beautiful illustrations. This is what inspired me to decorate Hazel's nursery in the theme of Beatrix Potter. I made curtains and a crib skirt with Beatrix Potter themed fabrics. I didn't finish the quilt for Hazel, but gave it as a gift later. I also used some of the fabric to make clothes for Hazel when she was younger and used some on her nursery rhyme quilt that still is on her bed. She loves Beatrix Potter books as well. Therefore when I saw Stitching with Beatrix Potter: Stitch, Sew & Give 10 Adorable Projects Featuring Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck & Friends by Michele Hill. 

Fun Facts about Honey Bees and Honey -- National Honey Bee Day!

Today (August 18) is National Honey Bee Day. It is the third Saturday in August each year since 2010. (It was the fourth Saturday in the first year, 2009.)Why do these buzzing little stingers deserve a special day? Well the numbers of honey bees is way down and life without these little flying miracles would be awful for us all. There has been so much out there about helping the bees. I thought today I would share some fun facts about these amazing pollinators and the delicious food they make themselves (besides all the food they help grow for us).

Young Adult Books about Kids with Disabilities/Illness and Troubled Teens

Disclosure: I was sent these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

So I have had some young adult books sitting on my shelf for awhile. I haven't been great about getting them read. I am going to share three with you today. Each of these books share a view into the lives of kids struggling with issues. I am going to start with the non-fiction book. It is If I Kiss You, Will I Get Diabetes? by Quinn Nystrom.

Kids' Felt Cuties -- a Crafty Weekends Review & Link Party

Disclosure: Leisure Arts sent me a copy of this book in return for an honest review. All opinions in this post are my own. I did not receive any other compensation for this review. The links are affiliate links where I will receive a small percentage of any purchases made through them at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Crafty Moms Share!

We enjoyed a few days visiting the very western part of our state. We finally took Hazel to the Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum. We promised her a couple of years ago we would take her. Then we saw a few natural wonders and relaxed at the pool. I didn't have a lot of time for crafting, but want to share with you a fun book to make kids' felt toys. It is Kids' Felt Cuties by Kim Layton. 

Fun Facts about S'mores and Recipe Round-Up

Did you know today is National S'more Day? It is a day meant to get us out in our backyard making these fun treats!! Last year at our family reunion my cousin was in charge of s'more supplies for the family camp dinner night. She went crazy with all sorts of candy bars for the chocolate. My favorite was the Ghiradelli caramel squares. Hazel really liked the Reese's peanut butter cups. What variation is your favorite? Today I am sharing some fun facts about s'mores and their ingredients as well as a recipe round-up. 

Fun Facts about Cats for World Cat Day

Did you know today (August 8th) is World Cat Day? To honor our furry friends (we have two) I am sharing some fun facts about cats. There are so many interesting things about cats out there so I divided them up into categories: General Facts, Cats in History and Around the World, Cat Records and Cats versus Dogs. 

Fluffy Napping with Hazel and Steve

U.S. History/Government Resources Review

Disclosure: I was sent these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Are you getting ready for a new school year? Looking for some fun resources to help your child(ren) learn about the American Revolution and the United States Constitution? I have the perfect books for you!! First we will look at the book about the forming of the United States--The American Revolution: Experience the Battle for Independence by Judy Dodge Cummings and illustrated by Tom Casteel. 

Fabric Fun! Natural Dye and Tie Die -- Crafty Weekends Fun and Link Party

This week we have been having fun with fabric and dye. Back in 2012, we experimented with sun dyeing wool yarn with various natural items. However Hazel really does not remember any of it and she inherited my wool allergy, so we never did anything with the yarn. I thought it would be fun to dye some cotton fabric and let her try it again. I also bought a tye die kit earlier this summer and have been wanting to let her try it. So this week we did natural sun dyeing and tie dyeing. 

August Sharing Saturday 2018

It is time for Sharing Saturday!! This is a link party to share all of your child-oriented crafts, crafts made for kids, activities and lessons as well as your parenting and/or teaching posts. So glad you joined us!! This summer we are trying a monthly party since so many people are out and about instead of writing posts. So be sure to come back and share all month long!! I hope you have been seeing my features on Facebook each week!! 

On Sunday night we also host Crafty Weekends for all your crafts (done by any age), patterns, and craft product reviews! It is the perfect place to share your creative side!! 

Fun Facts about Ice Cream Sandwiches -- National Ice Cream Sandwich Day!

Did you know today is Ice Cream Sandwich Day? To celebrate here are some fun facts about ice cream sandwiches and at the end there is a round-up of recipes to try!

Nothing Left to Burn -- Young Adult Book Review

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

It seems like every summer into fall wildfires are in the news especially in California. Have you ever thought about what it must be like to live where they are? Or perhaps you do. Today I am going to share with you a book about a teenager who is dealing with so much. She is home alone when her neighborhood is evacuated. The book is Nothing Left to Burn by Heather Ezell.

Cool String Art -- a Crafty Weekends Review & Link Party

Disclosure: Leisure Arts sent me a copy of this book in return for an honest review. All opinions in this post are my own. I did not receive any other compensation for this review. The links are affiliate links where I will receive a small percentage of any purchases made through them at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Crafty Moms Share!

Tonight I am going to share a fun book from Leisure Arts called Cool String Art by Lori Wenger. String art is a fun decoration and is fairly easy to make. You can see some of the string art we have made previously. 

Resources to help love nature

Disclosure: I was sent these products in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

Have you been watching Shark Week? It ends tomorrow. Now I will admit to not watching it because I see enough about sharks in the news (just saw this on the news as I write this post) with all the sightings around Cape Cod and off the shore of Boston. However I love how this week gets people thinking about these amazing creatures and nature in general. To keep this going I am sharing some great resources about nature and helping you get your kids loving it. To begin we will start with a DVD for younger kids that includes a bit about sharks. It is Thomas Edison's Secret Lab: It Always Sharkest. 

The Girl With More Than One Heart -- a Middle Grades Novel about Dealing with Loss as Well as a Sibling on the Spectrum

Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Today I am sharing a book that is suggested for grades 3-7. It is touching and such a real life story. It deals with death, a sibling with autism and being a 13-year-old and all life brings with it. The book is The Girl with More Than One Heart by Laura Geringer Bass. 

Books to Introduce Young Ones to Coding

Disclosure: Penguin Random House sent me these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

There is a big push for STEM for kids and for coding. We have really enjoyed the Girls Who Code Series and now they have come out with board books about coding for babies (and toddlers). Introducing the Baby Code! Series by Melissa Horning and illustrated by Melissa Crowton. These books are an introduction to coding and what it does for young children (baby-3). The four books are a bit similar but use different things to introduce the coding concepts. I wish the books were not just about babies. I love this idea for toddlers and preschoolers, but feel a 3-year-old would be put off by the name baby throughout the books and I feel a baby is probably not going to pick up as much about coding as a preschooler would. The first book in the series is Baby Code!

Quilt Projects & New Books -- a Crafty Weekends Review & Link Party

Disclosure: I was sent me copies or ecopies of these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Some of the links are affiliate links where I will receive a small percentage of any purchases made through them at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Crafty Moms Share!

This week I have been focusing on quilting. I have six quilt books to share with you and two of them are kid-oriented! The first is Get Quilting with Angela and Cloe by Angela Walters and Cloe Walters. 

The Ultimate Book of Sharks -- Perfect Shark Week Resource + Shark Craft Round-up

Disclosure: I was sent this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. 

It is summer time and I always find summer to bring on sharks. Between the shark sightings in the news and the internet going crazy for Shark Week as well as television. Well Shark Week starts on Sunday. Today I am going to share an amazing resource to learn all about sharks. It written for kids ages 9-12 years old. It is a book from National Geographic Kids. It is The Ultimate Book of Sharks by Brian Skerry with Elizabeth Carney and Sarah Wassner Flynn. 

Fun Facts about Hot Dogs-- National Hot Dog Day

Did you know today is National Hot Dog Day? There are all sorts of events going on in honor of it. Be sure to check out this article for some of the deals you can get. Today I thought I would share with you some fun facts about hot dogs. 

Picture Books Review

Disclosure: I was sent these books in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Do you have a child who loves picture books? Or maybe you are looking for something to spark his or her imagination this summer. I have a picture book for every child and they are full of creativity and imagination as well as other fun ideas. Our first book is An Atlas of Imaginary Places by Mia Cassany and illustrated by Ana de Lima. 

Garden Crafts & More -- a Crafty Weekends Review & Link Party

Disclosure: I was sent these books in exchange for honest reviews. All opinions are my own. 

I can't believe it is already midJuly. Where is this summer going? I know my gardens are started though they need some work and I need to replant some of the vegetables that the rabbits didn't let grow past a few leaves before the devoured them. I also have to figure out how they are getting through the fences. Today I am going to share some books to help you bring plants to your life--indoors or out as well as a wonderful way to dispose of your food waste that will help your plants. We will start with indoor garden ideas. These are for people like my parents who love plants, but no longer have a yard or much space. The first book is Miniature Terrariums by Fourwords.