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# This Crafty Mom

Free Preschool Lesson Plans,  DIY Silhouette Craft Projects & Tutorials, Free SVGs, Free Printables, a whole lotta Mom wisdom and more!

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Is El Conquistador Resort Worth It? Honest 2025 Review](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/is-el-conquistador-resort-worth-it/) - Is El Conquistador Resort Worth It? An Honest Review If you’ve searched for a Puerto Rican resort, chances are El Conquistador was returned as one of your top results. The website and its stunning images of beautiful grounds, tropical views and white sand shores probably left you easily imagining yourself relaxing at this resort. However,
- [Visiting Vieques Puerto Rico for the First Time](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/visiting-vieques-puerto-rico-for-the-first-time/) - Visiting Vieques, Puerto Rico for the First Time: What You Need to Know Visiting Vieques was the kind of trip that seeps into your soul. From the second you encounter your first wild horse you’ll know there’s something special about this place. Of all the places we visited in our 10 day trip to Puerto
- [Things to do on the West Coast of Puerto Rico: Beaches, Culture and Adventure](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/things-to-do-on-the-west-coast-of-puerto-rico-beaches-culture-and-adventure/) - Things to Do on the West Coast of Puerto Rico: Beaches, Culture, and Adventure The west coast of Puerto Rico is a destination full of rich history, pristine beaches vibrant cultures and stunning naturall gems. From sun-soaked shores to colorful murals historic lighthouses and natural wonders there’s something for everyone on the western shores of
- [How to Spend 10 Days in Puerto Rico](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/how-to-spend-10-days-in-puerto-rico/) - How to spend 10 days in Puerto Rico It’s hard not to fall in love with Puerto Rico - it’s a tropical paradise brimming with stunning beaches, lush rainforests and vibrant streets alive with colorful art, culture, and incredible food! Spending ten days in Puerto Rico could never be enough I think we could visit
- [Best Things to do in San Juan for First Time Visitors](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/best-things-to-do-in-san-juan-for-first-time-visitors/) - Best Things to do in San Juan for First-Time Visitors When we started planning our most recent summer vacation we knew we wanted to visit somewhere tropical, colorful and full of character. It didn’t take much research before we knew that San Juan was the perfect place to begin our journey. What better place to
- [Visiting Amelia Island for the First Time: A Spring Break Adventure](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/visiting-amelia-island-for-the-first-time-a-spring-break-adventure/) - Visiting Amelia Island for the First Time: A Spring Break Adventure When spring break rolled around last year, we only had about 5 days left to go on adventure after our oldest’s travel soccer games took up both weekends. We knew we had to travel somewhere fairly local to us and wanted to keep it
- [What to Know Before Visiting Cumberland Island](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/what-to-know-before-visiting-cumberland-island/) - What to Know Before Visiting Cumberland Island (Essential First-Time Guide) If you’ve been here awhile, you may have noticed a pattern in our vacations. Most of them involve wild horses and that’s by design. Our house has three horse crazy girls, (myself included) and spending our days chasing wild horses, is the most logical choice
- [Is Great Wolf Lodge Worth the Money? An Honest Review](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/is-great-wolf-lodge-worth-the-money-an-honest-review/) - Is Great Wolf Lodge Worth the Money? Yes, Great Wolf Lodge is worth the money for families looking for a fun, convenient, and memory-filled getaway. With indoor water parks, themed rooms, and all-inclusive entertainment, it delivers a full vacation under one roof. In today’s economy, every dollar counts, and parents want to know if the
- [A Fresh Take on Family Fun: Camp Snoopy’s Exciting Update at Carowinds](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/a-fresh-take-on-family-fun-camp-snoopys-exciting-update-at-carowinds/) - If you’ve been here awhile, you know we love a good trip to Carowinds. This summer we had even more to look forward to as the park recently expanded one of our favorite areas - Camp Snoopy. With new rides, refreshed spaces, and a dose of Peanuts charm around every corner, it was the perfect
- [Can't Miss Attractions in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/cant-miss-attractions-in-pigeon-forge-and-gatlinburg/) - Check out this post full of fun things to do in the mountains of Tennessee! From Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg to the Great Smoky Mountains, adventure abounds in these country roads! Spring break came late for us this year and we struggled to decide the best location for our next adventure. Wanting something different than
- [FREE LETTER X LESSON PLAN](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-x-free-preschool-weekly-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [It's a Reel Big One Birthday Party - Destination 40th Birthday Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/its-a-reel-big-one-birthday-party-destination-40th-birthday-party/) - Forty's a pretty big deal, right? I remember many moons ago when I thought forty was soooo old. Now I realize, its actually kind of an awesome era. You've survived your younger years, and best of all are probably finally aware of who you are and what you want out of life. That deserves some
- [Easter Basket Ideas for your 4-6 year old](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/easter-basket-ideas-for-your-4-6-year-old/) - Got a pre-schooler or kindergartener? Easter ideas can be a challenge for this age, so today I wanted to share a post on Easter Basket ideas in the 4-6 year range. My own child falls in this category and her Easter basket will include a few things on this list. I will say, we do
- [Easter Basket Ideas for Tween Girls](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/easter-basket-ideas-for-tween-girls/) - Easter is around the corner and in an effort to gain some control over the chaos that currently reigns my life, I've decided to plan ahead. My oldest girl is now a preteen. I don't know when it happened, but here we are. Gone are the days of stuffing her Easter basket, with toys and
- [Free Letter M  Lesson Plan-  Letter of the Week](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-m-free-preschool-weekly-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It
- [Dollar Tree Pool Birthday Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/dollar-tree-pool-birthday-party/) - Dive into a good time with these pool themed decorations from the Dollar Tree! Check out our pool party decorations and pool themed food ideas sure to make a splash! If you're living in the good old US of A these days, chances are your budget has taken a hit with prices rising steadily in
- [Beat the Crowds & Heat: Tips for visiting Carowinds](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/beat-the-crowds-heat-tips-for-visiting-carowinds/) - Beat the heat and the crowds with these insider tips for visiting Carowinds! Carowinds is one of our favorite summer vacation spots, but the crowds and scorching heat that plague peak season can be a little daunting. No need to worry though! After years of visiting the park, we’ve perfected our park visit strategy and
- [It's My Barkday!  Throwing a Dog Birthday Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/its-my-barkday-throwing-a-dog-birthday-party/) - So we've already established I'm dog crazy right? My two pups are literally just fur covered kids in my eyes. So when the baby turned one, I knew throwing a dog birthday party for her absolutely had to happen. For your convenience, this post contains affiliate links. If you purchase from these links I may
- [Teaching the Alphabet - FREE lesson plan template](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-and-sound-recognition-free-weekly-lesson-plan-template/) - I am super excited about this next series! As a former kindergarten teacher and literacy lover, making sure my child goes to school more than prepared is big on my list of to-dos. Teaching the alphabet was first on my list. My oldest has about a year and a half before she will start kindergarten.
- [FREE LETTER Z LESSON PLAN](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-z-free-preschool-weekly-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [FREE LETTER Y LESSON PLAN](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-y-free-preschool-weekly-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [FREE LETTER W LESSON PLAN](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-w-free-preschool-weekly-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [FREE LETTER V LESSON PLAN](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-v-free-preschool-weekly-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [FREE LETTER U LESSON PLAN](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-u-free-preschool-weekly-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [LETTER T LESSON PLAN – LETTER OF THE WEEK](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-t-free-preschool-weekly-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [Letter S LESSON PLAN – LETTER OF THE WEEK](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-s-free-preschool-weekly-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [LETTER R LESSON PLAN – LETTER OF THE WEEK](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-r-free-preschool-weekly-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [LETTER Q LESSON PLAN- FREE PRESCHOOL – LETTER OF THE WEEK](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-q-free-preschool-weekly-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [Free Preschool Letter P Lesson Plan](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-p/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [Letter O Lesson Plan- Free Letter of the Week Plans](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-o/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [Letter N Lesson Plan- Free Letter of the Week](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-n/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [Letter L Lesson Plan- Free Preschool Weekly Lesson Plan - Letter of the Week (12)](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-l-free-preschool-weekly-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week-12/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [Letter K Lesson Plan - Free Preschool Weekly lesson plan - Letter of the week (11)](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-k-free-preschool-weekly-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week-11/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [Letter J Lesson Plan- Free Preschool Weekly Lesson Plan - Letter of the Week (10)](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-j-free-preschool-weekly-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week-10/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [15 of the BEST places to visit in the Outer Banks](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/15-things-you-must-experience-at-the-outer-banks/) - Summer is around the corner and families everywhere are on the prowl for the perfect vacation. If you're like me, you have a certain type of trip in mind. You want a kid-friendly destination that provides unique opportunities to learn and explore. So let me tell you my friend, if it's an adventure you're after,
- [Letter I Lesson Plan- FREE Weekly Preschool Lesson Plan - Letter of the Week (9)](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-i-free-weekly-preschool-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week-9/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [Letter H Lesson Plan Free Preschool Weekly Lesson Plan - Letter of the Week (8)](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-h-lesson-plan/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [Letter G Lesson Plan Free - Letter of the Week (7)](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-g-free-weekly-preschool-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week-7/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [Letter F Lesson Plan Free  Weekly Preschool Lesson Plan - Letter of the Week (6)](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-f-free-weekly-preschool-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week-6/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [Letter E Lesson Plan Free Weekly Preschool Lesson Plan - Letter of the week (5)](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-e-free-weekly-preschool-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week-5/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [Letter D Lesson Plan- Free Weekly Preschool Letter Plan - Letter of the Week (4)](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-d-free-weekly-preschool-letter-plan-letter-of-the-week-4/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [Letter A FREE Weekly Lesson Plan](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-aa-free-weekly-lesson-plan/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I'm going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I've created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that'll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [Letter B Weekly Lesson Plan - Letter of the Week (2)](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-bb-weekly-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week-2/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It may
- [Letter C Weekly Lesson Plan - Letter of the week (3)](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/letter-c-weekly-lesson-plan-letter-of-the-week-3/) - ****Guess what?! Letter of the Week lesson plans are getting an overhaul! I’m going through and updating all plans, adding new free worksheets and making sure all links are up to date! I’ve created a bunch of templates too for some of the crafts that’ll make your life a lot easier! Hang tight! It
- [DIY Little Mermaid Birthday Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-little-mermaid-birthday-party/) - Looking to throw the best DIY Little Mermaid Birthday party under the sea? Check out this cute and easy birthday bash that's sure to be a hit for any Mermaid lover! My birthday girl has been obsessed with Ariel for a couple of years now. Back before we visited Disney we were discussing our favorite
- [Farm Party Animals Birthday Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/farm-party-animals-birthday-party/) - Calling all Party Animals! This post is full of fun ideas that will have you partying til' the cows come home! This year for her birthday, my daughter had a very specfic request. She wanted a farm party animals birthday party. Now there are hundreds of ideas for party animals and a hundred different ideas
- [Is Disney World Worth It?](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/is-disney-world-worth-it/) - If you're planning your next vacation and considering Orlando, FL, you might be wondering, is Disney World worth it? This post takes an honest look at the pros and cons you may want to consider before booking a Disney vacation. If you're on social media these days, it seems Disney is catching a lot of heat
- [Hocus Pocus Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/hocus-pocus-party/) - Sanderson sisters reunited at last! It's time to celebrate with a spooky sweet Hocus Pocus Party! After 29 long years it is time at last to light the black flame candle again. Hocus Pocus 2 premiered on Disney+ just a few days ago! I’ve always sort of thought of myself as the 4th Sanderson sister,
- [7 Reasons to Visit Tweetsie Railroad](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/7-reasons-to-visit-tweetsie-railroad/) - I can take or leave the beach, but I’m a mountains girl at heart. Our home is situated right at the foothills of the NC mountains, where we are blessed with beautiful views and what I like to call, “baby mountains,” so I’m fortunate to get a tiny taste of mountain life every single day.
- [Back to School Teacher Gift - A Noteworthy Year](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/back-to-school-teacher-gift-a-noteworthy-year/) - Summer's dwindling lazily to fall, and soon school will be back in session. As I write this post, teachers across the nation are working in their classrooms to prepare for the coming school year. As a former teacher, trust me when I say they are hard at work. They are moving furniture, creating cute bulletin
- [7 Reasons to Visit Carowinds Theme Park](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/7-reasons-to-visit-carowinds-theme-park/) - Summer is winding down, and we are NOT ready. We've spent a ton of time enjoying the sun and the pool, but haven't really made time for our traditional summer excursions to museums and parks. Recently, we decided we needed to amp up the fun before school's back in session. We decided to go BIG
- [Miraculous Ladybug Birthday Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/miraculous-ladybug-birthday-party/) - Last year, my then four year old fell in love for this first time. "He is dreeeeaammy," she would purr. "Oh, Adri-kins." Luckily, her "Adri-kins" wasn't real, rather a character on her favorite TV show. The character Adrian doubles as a superhero who saves the world with a pig-tailed super girl named Ladybug. Their true
- [DIY Faux Outdoor Planter to liven up your porch!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-faux-outdoor-planter-to-liven-up-your-porch/) - If you're like me, your thumb is so NOT green, it's practically black. Therefore, keeping any plants alive is problematic. Since plants are a decor staple in most households, this can make dressing up your home's vibe a little difficult. However, all is not lost. There are in fact options that can make your home
- [5 Teacher appreciation gifts teachers are sure to love!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/5-teacher-appreciation-gifts/) - Teacher Appreciation Week is approaching and let's be real...teachers deserve ALL the gifts. I don't have to tell you how difficult this pandemic has been for parents, but can you imagine being a teacher right now? So for this fist week of May, we really need to pull out all the stops and shower them
- [Free Your Friendship is my Favorite Accessory Valentine](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/free-favorite-accessory-valentine/) - I know it sound super cliche, but I kind of love Valentine's Day. My hubby and I don't get a lot of nights off, but pre-Corona, we tried to least celebrate with a nice dinner with the kids. Additionally he steps up his game with the expected flowers and usually a card. I obligatorily fulfill
- [Is Matilda Jane worth it? 10 reasons it is!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/is-matilda-jane-worth-it-10-reasons-it-is/) - If you've have daughters, and haven't been living under a rock, you've probably seen or heard about Matilda Jane Clothing before. Most women go through phases when looking at Matilda Jane clothes. The first stage is noticing it's uniqueness, maybe even being a little bit smitten with the styles. You might find yourself thinking it's
- [The Cutest Ever Horse Themed Birthday Party!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/the-cutest-ever-horse-themed-birthday-party/) - So 2020...Enough said, right? This has been a YEAR like none other for all of us. I went from working a part time job, with a toddler in half day preschool and a school ager in full time kindergarten to a full on Homeschooling Mom. I'm talking with my kids TWENTY FOUR/SEVEN with little to
- [Free Ocean Animals Preschool Unit -](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/free-ocean-animals-preschool-unit/) - One of the first things that comes to my mind when I think of summer is the ocean. We try to go at least once a year. Personally, I'm more of a mountains girl, but there's something to be said about sitting on the beach in the hot sun, listening to the waves crash on
- [Game-changing Checklist & Cleaning Schedule](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/game-changing-checklist-cleaning-schedule/) - All my adult life I've been searching for a way to organize the chaos that is my life. For a long time I thought it was planners. The money I spent on planners is absurd! I had Lily Pulitzer and Erin Condren planners; I spent hours making a bullet journal. And I still have a
- [Playroom Organization and Toy Rotation System](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/playroom_organization_and_toy_rotation_system/) - I mean let's be honest... Is my playroom white and pristine and Pinterest perfect? No. But, it's really cute (check out my recent redecorating adventure) and super functional. It's a space where my daughters can imagine and play and just be kids. In a couple of weeks it will also dually function as a virtual
- [DIY Playroom Makeover](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-playroom-makeover/) - Life now is so different than it was 6 months ago. If you'd told me 6 months ago that playgrounds would be empty, schools would be closed, and kids would primarily be confined to their homes as all large social events would be canceled, I'd have thought you were c-r-azy! It's funny how much we
- [Virtual Halloween Party on Zoom](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/virtual-halloween-party-on-zoom/) - This is the never-ending summer. Corona-times have changed everything, and when you're a stay at home Mom like me, the days start to bleed into one another. I miss having events to look forward to since there's not much on our calendar these days. So when I learned Party City wanted my help showcasing their
- [Barbie Birthday Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/barbie-birthday-party/) - Birthdays in Corona-times are hard. Espcially when you're five. Each summer, I help my sister plan the perfect party for my sweet niece. We usually reserve the pool we are members at and invite all her close friends and family. But this year the pool's closed, and social distancing made it unsafe to have a
- [Teaching CVC Words through Word Study](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/teaching-cvc-words-through-word-study/) - When teaching a child to read, CVC words are the turning point where you really start to see the everything come together. Just in case you're not down with the Phonics lingo, CVC words are consonant-vowel-consonant words. They are the foundation of reading instruction, and those first baby steps to becoming an emerging reader. They
- [FREE TRANSPORTATION THEMED PRESCHOOL LESSON PLAN](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/transportation/) - We've reached the end of my 10 days of Free Preschool Lesson Plans series and today I'm sharing a theme that's tried and true. It's always a hit with my boys, but girls have a blast with this too. Today we're talking things that go. Planes, boats, trains, bikes, cars, submarines; all forms of transportation.
- [FREE WEEK LONG BUTTERFLY THEMED PRESCHOOL LESSON PLANS](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/butterfly/) - Today's free themed lesson plan, is one of my favorites! I have always loved teaching about butterflies and found a way to work them in to practically every grade I taught. I'm just fascinated by a butterflies metamorphosis and all it can represent. I love raising caterpillars and the look of wonder on a child's
- [FREE WEEK LONG DINOSAUR THEMED PRESCHOOL LESSON PLANS](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/free-week-long-dinosaur-themed-preschool-lesson-plans/) - Todays free lesson plan doesn't need much of an introduction. I mean what kid doesn't love dinosaurs? Kids love learning about the time before they existed and they are generally even more fascinated by a time before anyone existed. Dinosaurs are big, loud, wild and fierce. Kind of like a young child. Hhhmmm....Think there's a
- [FREE WEEK LONG OUTER SPACE THEMED PRESCHOOL LESSON PLANS](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/outer-space-themed-preschool-lesson-plans/) - All my life, space has fasicinated me. The idea that we are but a speck of matter in a vast and perhaps infinite universe is mind boggling to me. As a child, I spent many nights staring at stars, wishing on stars and wishing to one day go to the stars. That's why this week's
- [Free Week Long Plants Themed Preschool Lesson Plans](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/plant-themed-preschool-lesson-plans/) - And we're back! 6 day into my 10 days of Free Preschool Lesson Plans and today I'm bring you a free week of plans about plants! We did a bunch of these a couple of months ago and had so much fun with it! My girls and their Dad have even planted a little mini
- [Free Week Long Weather Themed Preschool Lesson Plans](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/weather/) - We're on Day 5 in the 10 days of Free Preschool Lesson Plans series and I just wrapped up four weeks worth of free lesson plans about the seasons. What better direction to next next than weather? It can easily follow up the seasons as you explore different types of weather and learn what causes
- [Free Week Long Winter Themed Preschool Lesson Plans - Seasons Weekly Themes Part 4](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/winter/) - I'll admit, I'm not winter's biggest fan. I did love delays and snow days as a teacher, but they lost their allure after having kids and being stuck indoors with them for days in a row. Still, I'm not a total Grinch. I do enjoy a good fluffy snow and a nice fire in the
- [Free Week Long Fall Themed Preschool Lesson Plans - Seasons Weekly Themes Part 3](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/fall/) - Apple picking, bonfires and stews, pumpkin patches, the changing of the leaves...What's not to love about fall? I love that after a long, hot summer I can look forward to a brisk, beautiful fall. I love it even more that fall brings about the absolute cutest crafts and activities! So, I've rounded up some of
- [Free Week Long Summer Themed Preschool Lesson Plans - Seasons Weekly Themes Part 2](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/summer-themed-preschool-lesson-plans/) - Next up in my 10 Days of Free Themed Preschool Lesson plans is the second post in my Seasons unit. And it's my favorite season of all! Summer! As a teacher, I think I'd love summer by default even if I didn't love everything else that comes with it, but I love everything summer! Watermelon,
- [Free Week Long Spring Themed Preschool Lesson Plans - Seasons Weekly Themes Part 1](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/spring-themed-preschool-lesson-plans/) - As a Kindergarten teacher, I loved to teach about seasons, even though it wasn't addressed in the curriculum every year. Understanding the passage of time is such an abstract concept for young minds and breaking it down into bigger chunks helps them begin to understand. Once they know there are four seasons in a year
- [Teaching Blending and Segmenting - Your Students will Read and Spell in No Time!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/teaching-blending-and-segmenting/) - What do you do after your child has mastered the alphabet? Once they know all the letters and sounds, how do you begin to teach them to make sense of it all? How do you guide them to use this newly acquired knowledge to read and spell words? The answer is fairly simple. You do
- [Word Study Instruction for Beginning Readers & Spellers](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/word-study-instruction-for-beginning-readers-spellers/) - As a teacher, I had colleagues often ask how I pulled out such good reading scores year after year, no matter the group of kids I had. I'd like to say it's because an amazing teacher for whom students always behave and strive to preform for. But if you've taught school you'll know that's a
- [Free Word Study  Schedule and Activities](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/word-study-activities-and-weekly-word-sort-schedule/) - One of my favorite things about using Word Study in the classroom is how well it lends itself to a schedule. I love schedules for so many reasons, but as a teacher, they are a Life-Saver. Having a schedule cuts planning time in half and gives students structure and predictability, which so many of them
- [The Ultimate Spelling Schedule for Beginning Readers](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/3669-2/) - When I first started teaching, spelling was a bit of a mystery. Teachers in my school used a variety of methods. Some taught spelling and site words together, some used words from the outdated Reading series, some used vocabulary words, and some didn't really do it at all.When I first started teaching I was lucky
- [Field Day at Home - The Ultimate Guide to a Fun Filled Day!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/field-day-at-home-the-ultimate-guide-to-a-fun-filled-day/) - With the onset of COVID-19 and the cancellation of schools, our kids have lost so much. My oldest is a kindergartener and missed out on so many firsts. She didn't get to go on her first field trip, she'll miss kindergarten graduation, and worst of all, she didn't get to experience her first field day!
- [Free Drive By Birthday Parade Invitation](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/free-drive-by-birthday-parade-invitation/) - These are strange times we are living in. Invisible enemies lay in way hoping to attack our immune system; a simple trip to the grocery store now requires a mask, gloves, and some serious social distancing; and hugs, the currency of many grandparents, are now in theory, dangerous weapons. I can't imagine being a kid
- [The Best Order to Introduce Letters and sounds](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/the-best-order-to-introduce-letters-and-sounds/) - When we think of the alphabet, almost certainly the famous Alphabet song comes to mind. In fact, I'm just about willing to bet, it ran through your head just now (you're welcome!). Naturally most people assume that this is the correct order to introduce letters and for many years it was done just so. However,
- [Is the Polar Express in Bryson City really worth the money?](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/is-the-polar-express-in-bryson-city-really-worth-the-money/) - Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably heard about the Polar Express train rides popping up all around the country around Christmas. There are a couple around here, but the one we've personally heard the one about most is the Great Smoky Railroad's Polar Express in Bryson City North Carolina. We've had several
- [DIY Shabby Chic Headband](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-shabby-chic-headband/) - Y'all, I wasn't a girly girl growing up. It's hard to believe, but I was a rough and tumble, play in the mud, spend the day playing in a creek or in the barn kind of girl. I'd much rather play with dirt than dolls. But when my daughters were born, that all changed. It's
- [15 Unique Gifts for Fathers and Grandfathers](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/15-unique-gifts-for-fathers-and-grandfathers/) - Ahhhh. The sights and sounds of Christmas are everywhere. Even as the last leaves fall to the ground, color and cheer can be found around every corner. Everything about Christmas is awesome, right? Eh. Maybe not... There's nothing that can ruin that Hallmark perfect holiday picture in your mind quite like the stress of all
- [10 Unique Gifts for Moms and Grandmas](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/10-unique-gifts-for-moms-and-grandmas/) - When it comes to shopping for Moms and Grandmas, I have a pretty solid set of qualifications that make me an expert on gifts for the sort. I mean, I am a Mom, and I have a Mom. Could you get more qualified than that? Still sometimes during the Christmas rush, I find myself scrambling
- [13 Unique Gifts for Pets and Pet Lovers](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/13-unique-gifts-for-pets-and-pet-lovers/) - All my life I've been an animal lover. I was in fact raised by a family of animal lovers, and for most of my life we had a small farm filled with different types of animals. We had everything from cats and dogs to horses and goats and sheep. We raised rabbits, chickens and other
- [The Ultimate Guide to Teaching Reading - A Simple and Crazy Effective Approach](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-teaching-reading-a-simple-and-crazy-effective-approach/) - If you've found your way over to my little corner of the internet via this post you are probably one of two people. You are either a stay at home or homeschooling parent who wants to teach your child to read or you are a teacher in search of resources. Both of whom one might
- [Teaching with Beginning Reading Strategies - Lips the Fish](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/beginning-reading-strategies-lips-the-fish/) - Hey, Hey y'all!! It's the second day in my 10 day series and I've got another freebie and loads of great info for you! The second reading strategy I introduce, Lips the Fish, has had some funny stories through the years. I used to use a hand me down poster with a picture of a
- [CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS FOR 6 YEAR OLDS](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/christmas-gift-ideas-for-6-year-olds/) - My oldest baby recently turned six y'all! SIX big Whole years old! She's a bundle of fire and fierceness and knows who she is and what she wants so she's made her Christmas wish list pretty clear this year. After eating lunch with her little friends in the cafeteria, I can tell you she's not
- [Christmas Gift Ideas for 3 year olds](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/christmas-gift-ideas-for-3-year-olds/) - My littlest baby turned 3 just a bit ago and this year's Christmas shopping is no easier than lasts! The 2nd child conundrum is real! What do you get a kid whose big sibling has it all? Luckily with a little time and research I've found a ton of ideas that hit all the primary
- [Teaching with Beginning Reading Strategies - Eagle Eye](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/teaching-with-beginning-reading-strategies-eagle-eye/) - I am super excited to kick off my 10 day series this year! This series will be a follow up to my previous posts in my Teaching your Child to read Series. If you haven't already, be sure to check out my Letter of the Week Series, print concepts and reading behavior ideas and sight
- [The Ultimate Guide to Teaching Sight Words](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-teaching-sight-words/) - Hopefully you're joining my from my letter of the week, or print concepts series. If so, you're already well on your way to teaching your child to read! But now, you're probably thinking... We get Print Concepts, we know our letters and sounds...Now What? Truthfully, at this point it becomes somewhat of a juggling act. You
- [Spirit Riding Free Birthday Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/3387-2/) - My oldest daughter is obsessed and I mean truly and completely obsessed with horses. It started at about 3 and a half and has progressively grown since then. She has an impressive collection of Schleich horses, of which she can tell you each and every breed and it's distinguishing characteristics. Naturally, her favorite show is
- [Trolls Birthday Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/trolls-birthday-party/) - Several months ago, my youngest discovered the movie Trolls. And by discovered, I mean became utterly and completely obsessed. We watched Trolls approximately eleventy billion times. So many times in fact that I truly believe I could recite the whole movie from beginning to end. So when we started planning her third birthday party, the
- [20 Merry & EASY DIY Christmas Craft Ideas](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-merry-easy-diy-christmas-craft-ideas/) - Yes, I know the leaves are just starting to turn and we're not even through Halloween yet. To me, Christmas and the birth of Jesus represent hope and the promise of better days. Christmas is like this bright light in the middle of a long, cold winter. I also enjoy channeling Buddy the Elf. I
- [DIY Glitter Ornament Tutorial](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-glitter-ornament-tutorial/) - I feel like Christmas always sneaks up on me. It's like the pool closes and then suddenly it's Christmas Eve and you've forgotten gifts. This year I've vowed to get the jump on Christmas. I'm chipping away at my gift list and have got started on my to-craft list. Christmas will not get the jump
- [20 MORE Free Christmas SVGs!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-more-free-christmas-svgs/) - Hot off the heels of the success of my free Halloween SVGs sequel, I've decided to create another roundup of Christmas SVGs to add to my Ultimate Free SVGs post! Christmas is less than 90 days away, and I'm already making my lists and checking them twice. I've also got the jump start on all
- [15 Christmas Gifts Teachers will Love!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/15-christmas-gifts-for-teachers/) - Christmas got away from me last year. I struggled to stay on top of my to-do this and hence, my blog suffered a bit. I had a TON of Christmas blogs I wanted to post and never got around to. But, since we're less than 100 days til Christmas, I'm going to start catching up now!
- [20 MORE FREE HALLOWEEN SVGS!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-more-free-halloween-svgs/) - Last year's Free Halloween SVGs post was a huge hit. It seems there are a lot of my fellow Sanderson Sister alumni out there! In fact, it was such a big hit that I've decided to create a second series devoted to All Hallow's cuteness. Seriously guys, Pinterest is crawling with cute free SVGs! It
- [The ULTIMATE Free SVGs Round-up!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/the-ultimate-free-svgs-round-up/) - If you're here, you likely found your way over from one of my previous round-up posts. I spend a lot of time pursueing Pinterest, in search of the cutest free SVGs out there! But as a busy Mama, I am all about saving time. I'm not going to lie, an afternoon leisurely pinning on Pinterest
- [20+ Spooktacular and FREE Halloween SVGs](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-spooktacular-and-free-halloween-svgs/) - It's officially fall y'all! And here, in my neck of the woods, it's like Mother Nature was waiting for that date on a calendar. I stepped out on my front porch this late this morning to let the dog out and enjoy a hot cup of tea and was meet by cool air with the
- [Frozen Pool Party - Birthday Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/frozen-pool-party-birthday-party/) - My sweet niece celebrated her fourth birthday this year. As you've probably figured by now, my nieces have me wrapped. So when she asked for a Frozen birthday party, I knew I had to get my party planning in gear and help with a fun little fiesta! Since she has a summer birthday, her Mom
- [15 tips for visiting Carowinds with Small Kids](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/15-tips-for-visiting-carowinds-with-small-kids/) - When I was a kid, Carowinds was the place everyone wanted to go. It had all sorts of cool rides perfect for thrill seeking adolescents. I didn't get to make it as often as I liked, but when I did I had a blast. I'd ride rollar coasters and eat junk food until I thought
- [15 Tips for visiting Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/15-tips-for-an-amazing-visit-to-wet-n-wild-emerald-pointe/) - If you've seen our Great Wolf Lodge series, you know my family and I are huge fans of water park fun! We knew we wanted to add a new adventure to our summer Bucket List, and found the perfect destination just an hour away. Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe! When I was a kid, we
- [Teaching with Beginning Reading Strategies - Tryin' Lion](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/teaching-with-beginning-reading-strategies-tryin-lion/) - At last, we reach our final strategy in our reading strategy series. I think we've pretty much covered all the bases when it comes to problems your child may encounter when decoding a word. All except for our last friend, Tryin' Lion. I wish I had some cutesty story to introduce him, but I'm all
- [Teaching with Beginning Reading Strategies - Cover-it Chameleon](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/cover-it-chameleon-reading-strategy/) - Chameleon's are one of nature's marvels. They have the unique ability to be able to camouflage themselves to match the appearance of their surroundings. I remember reading about it as a child and being super jealous of this amazing adaptation. I even wrote a paper about what I'd do if I were a chameleon. I'd
- [Teaching with Beginning Reading Strategies - Wise Owl](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/teaching-with-beginning-reading-strategies-wise-owl/) - My sweet Mama has always had an odd obsession with owls. Her house is covered in little knick knacks with an owl theme and for many, many years that was all anyone gave her for birthday or Christmas gifts. She told us she liked them because they represented wisdom and wisdom was something she aspired
- [Teaching with Beginning Reading Strategies - Rhyming Rabbit](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/teaching-with-beginning-reading-strategies-rhyming-rabbit/) - Who didn't love Dr. Seuss as a kid? His books contain casts of colorful characters and tongue twisting tales of fun and imagination. His silly antics have been bringing giggles to home for decades. However, his books aren't just fun to read. They are also extremely important as a beginning reading resource as they contain
- [Teaching with Beginning Reading Strategies - Skippy Frog](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/teaching-with-beginning-reading-strategies-skippy-frog/) - Do you remember the game from the eighties, with the frog leaping across traffic, trying not to get smushed? Maybe I'm just showing my age, but still, I find the game Frogger a great analogy for the next reading strategy. You see much like that little frog, our young readers are trying to successfully make
- [Teaching with Beginning Reading Strategies - Flippy Dolphin](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/teaching-with-beginning-reading-strategies-flippy-dolphin/) - Other than visiting Sea World when I was eight, I don't think I've ever seen a dolphin in real life. We've visited many aquariums and I don't think any had a collection of porpoises. I've read it's due to the fact that dolphins are such social animals and that keeping them in a tank is
- [Teaching with Beginning Reading Strategies - Chunky Monkey](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/teaching-with-beginning-reading-strategies-chunky-monkey/) - This is the strategy that makes me sentimental. My youngest baby was and sort of still is, quite the chunk. One of her nicknames as a baby was Chunky Monkey. So, when I think of this strategy, all those adorable baby rolls come to mind and I just about melt. I mean, is there anything
- [Teaching with Beginning Reading Strategies - Stretchy Snake](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/teaching-with-beginning-reading-strategies-stretchy-snake/) - If you know me, you know I am TERRFIED of snakes. If I see a snake in the woods, I panic. My husband thinks I'm nuts, because I don't want my kids playing in the woods. Even though, I great up playing in the woods. I'm not even sure how or why my phobia developed,
- [$150 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/150-amazon-gift-card-giveaway/) - Who doesn't love Amazon? Y'all...this mom lives on Amazon Prime!! I seriously don't know how I survived without it. From school supplies to birthday presents to groceries, I love the convience of having stuff delivered right to my front door! Sooo....I'm super excited to announce I'm helping give you a shot at a $150 Amazon
- [20 End of Year Teacher Gift Ideas](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-end-of-year-teacher-gift-ideas/) - I'm not sure there are many people in the world who deserve a summer break as much as a teacher at the end of the school year. Imagine your patience by the end of summer. It's relatively the size of a flea, right? Now imagine how you'd feel if you took your child and multiplied
- [20 End of Year Treat Bags for Classmates](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-end-of-year-treat-bags-for-classmates/) - By now, y'all know me and my holiday treat bags! As a teacher, I loved to spoil my students at holidays and the tradition just kind of carried over when my own kids started school. I saw those sweet little faces like up in my own classroom, and wanted to continue to spread that joy
- [20  DIY Father's Day Gift Ideas](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-diy-fathers-day-gift-ideas/) - Father's day is quickly approaching. Why not give Dad a gift he can truly cherish? I mean, everyone knows hand made gifts are the best, right? I've rounded up some of the sweetest, funniest and easiest DIY Father's Day gifts on Pinterest and compiled them all in this handy-dandy post just for you! From funny
- [Turning photographs into SVGs](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/turn-photographs-into-svgs/) - I've seen all the posts of these sweet memory projects where people have converted one of their pictures into an SVG file. I've read a few tutorials, and thought I could easily do one myself. I've been a photographer almost a decade, and have a good bit of experience with Photoshop, so it didn't seem
- [Hilarious DIY Father's Day Toilet Paper Gift](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/hilarious-diy-fathers-day-toilet-paper-gift/) - I mean what Dad isn't obsessed with poop? For real y'all.... I remember the boys in my college dorms walking down the hallways discussing the impressive girth of their post burger bender poops. And how my 16 year old boyfriend thought it was hilarious to fart in the car and then lock the windows so I
- [20 DIY Mother's Day gifts Mom will LOVE!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-diy-mothers-day-gifts-mom-will-love/) - I just looked at the calendar and imagine my surprise when I saw Mother's day is NEXT weekend! Eeeek!! So I'm hopping off the teacher appreciation train, and getting ready for Mother's Day. I've got on super special Mom, and amazing Mother-in-law to shop for so I've got to get started. Luckily, if there's one
- [DIY Puppy Cake Smash/First Birthday Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-puppy-cake-smash-first-birthday-party/) - I'm that dog mom and l own it. While people have failed me, my dogs have always been there. They don't judge, they don't hold grudges, in fact, they don't talk at all. They just offer unconditional, truly devoted, love. So when my sweet pup turned 1, I planned a sweet & simple family birthday party
- [20 Free End of School Year SVGs](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-free-end-of-the-school-year-svgs/) - The classroom countdown to summer has started. School children everywhere are growing even more antsy by the day. Teachers are feeling the pressure as the school year comes to a close and end of year assessments abound. They know the reward of summer is just around the corner and anxiously await it. Everyone is excited
- [20 Free SVGs for Summer](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-free-svgs-for-summer/) - Summer is my absolute favorite time of year. Flip flops, swimming, beach trips, the smell of the fresh cut grass after a thunderstorm.... What's not to love? I eagerly await summer all year long. Now that the countdown is short, I can't contain my excitement and I'm already crafting up a summer storm! So today
- [20 FREE SVGS for Dads!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-free-svgs-for-dads/) - The day of Dad's is quickly approaching and everyone is searching for the perfect Father's Day gift. If you're a DIY'r, like myself, you're also looking for free Father's Day SVGs. So to help up both out, I've rounded up this list of 20 Free Father's Day SVGs that Dad will love! Virtually all these
- [20 Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas with FREE Printables!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-teacher-appreciation-gift-ideas-with-free-printables/) - As summer draws closer, parents everywhere are realized just how much they value their children's teacher and what they do. It is of course, the perfect time of year for Teacher Appreciation week! Teachers are running on steam as the end of the year approaches. They've worked hard all year long, and the end of
- [DIY Glitter Acrylic Keychain Tutorial](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-glitter-acrylic-keychain-tutorial/) - Years ago, I remember these cute little glitter acrylic keychains catching my eye at a craft show. I sat there pondering how it was made and quickly did a little research. From there, I found out where to purchase them and quickly started creating my own. I've made a ton of different styles and colors!
- [10 Practical Tips for taking Road trips with young kids](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/10-practical-tips-for-taking-road-trips-with-young-kids/) - Taking a road trip with kids, is like trying to contain a small pack of Gremlins in a car. It is no easy feat. A lot of people hold off on travel until their children are bigger. Especially if it involves lots of time in the car. There are also those who believe that travel
- [Sight Word Lesson Plans - Free Weekly Template](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/sight-word-lesson-plans-free-weekly-template/) - So you can use my free lists and play games all you want, but we both know, everything works better with a plan! As I've mentioned, I've been working hard on designing a sight word curriculum for my daughter that is both fun and interactive. I dug into my vault of teacher tricks and designed
- [20 fun and unique ways to practice sight words](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-fun-and-unique-ways-to-practice-sight-words/) - Sight word flashcards...bleh, right? At some point in your life, you're bound to have had an encounter with flash cards. I mean, who didn't have to endure the endless drill of them when learning their times tables years ago? You likely don't have the fondest of memories of them. They are without a doubt boring.
- [20+ DIY Teacher Appreciation Gifts](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-diy-teacher-appreciation-gifts/) - Spring is in the air and that means the end of the school year is creeping up on us. Summer break has 2 definitions: 'A teacher holiday dedicated to the multitude of teacher veterans who survived yet another school year' or 'A break from school designed to torture parents." For teachers it is a long
- [DIY Teacher Potholder](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-teacher-potholder/) - Today I'm sharing with you a quick and easy tutorial for one of my absolute favorite DIY teacher appreciation gifts! You'll be hard pressed to find a teacher who doesn't have a sweet tooth, which makes the combination of cookie or brownie mix and this cute oven mitt absolutely perfect! These are simple, sweet and
- [20+ Free SVGs for Teachers](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-free-teacher-svgs/) - When my oldest starts big kid school in the fall, I'll be returning to teaching with her. The transition is bitter sweet, as I'll be leaving my baby during the day, but I'm excited to get back in the trenches. With teacher appreciation week around the corner, I've been searching for cute free teacher SVGs
- [20 Free Mom SVGs - Perfect for Mother's Day!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-free-mom-svgs-perfect-for-mothers-day/) - Mother's Day is around the corner, and what better way to celebrate Mom than giving the gift of custom cuteness? I've been prowling Pinterest for a few weeks now, in search of the funniest, sweetest, and just all around best free SVGs for Moms that are in existence! These files can be put on shirts,
- [DIY Hello Spring Grapevine Wreath](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-hello-spring-grapevine-wreath/) - If you saw my list of Free Spring SVGs, you noticed this one rounding out the top! This design is my absolute favorite, just because it is so sweet in it's simplicity. When I was working on this file, I immediately pictured it on a front door. But I also wanted it to be a
- [20+ Amazingly Adorable FREE Easter SVGs](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/test-post-easter-svgs/) - Easter is right around the corner and already I'm stalking Pinterest, looking for craft ideas! I've been pinning up a storm and I hit the jackpot in cute craft ideas! Even better, they are all completely free! Who doesn't love free? I know I can't resist! So today I'm offering up the cutest free Easter
- [20+ Free Spring SVGs](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-free-spring-svgs/) - The days are gradually getting longer, and the air is slowly getting warmer. Spring will be here soon and I CAN NOT WAIT!! The novelty of winter wears off for me after Christmas and the 1st snow. Actually, I wouldn't mind if we skipped winter entirely around here. I'd gladly just plan a vacation to
- [15 Adorable Easter Crafts to Try](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/15-adorable-easter-crafts-to-try/) - Bunnies, bright spring colors, Cadbury Eggs... I mean what's not to love about Easter? To me, Easter represents the light at the end of that long, dark, cold winter. Everything after Christmas seems a little less to me. Until Easter is on the horizon! Then suddenly a glimmer of hope and warmer weather appears! So
- [DIY Rustic Easter Bunny Sign](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-rustic-easter-bunny-sign/) - I've officially caught spring fever, and can't stop crafting. This year I've been on a farmhouse decor kick and I wanted my Easter decorations to fit with that theme. I knew I wanted to make a Rustic Easter sign, and once I found the perfect paint color, I knew exactly how I wanted it to
- [DIY Easter Burlap Banner](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-easter-burlap-banner/) - This year I wanted to create a farmhouse style Easter set (pics to come!) and needed some budget friendly décor. So I spent a week working on Easter projects and one of the results was this adorable DIY Easter burlap banner. It turned out so much cuter than I'd pictured and has already earned a
- [20+ Free St. Patrick's Day SVGs](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/grab-your-lucky-7-free-svg-files-saint-patricks-day-roundup/) - When I was in college, St. Patrick's Day meant green beer and crazy parties. My...how the tide's have turned. Today, for me, St. Patrick's Day is just another excuse to craft and create cuteness for my girls! It may not be Saint Patrick's day yet, but it's your Lucky Day! Since St. Patty's Day will
- [15+ Easy and Adorable Easter Treats for Kids](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/15-easy-and-adorable-easter-treats-for-kids/) - By now you've heard my spiel. If you've been following my Ultimate List of Teacher Gift Ideas, you know I like to send sweet treats to my kids teachers and classmates at each holiday. I just love the idea that they can be a sweet surprise for someone and maybe brighten their day. I remember,
- [15 Sweet Easter Treats for Teachers](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/15-sweet-easter-treats-for-teachers/) - Springs in our sightlines and kids are wild, crazy, and ready to get outside and play. I'm not sure about your part of the world, but lately we seem to have moved into a swamp. Literally the lyrics to a Kid Rock sign have been constantly chorusing in my mind. I ain't seen the sunshine
- [10 Easy Easter Basket ideas for your 2 to 3 year old](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/10-easy-ideas-for-easter-basket-fillers-for-your-2-to-3-year-old/) - My baby is in full-blown toddler-hood. So this Easter she's treading that fine line between the comfort of baby toys and the independence of big kid toys. This can make filling her Easter basket a little tricky, so to help myself, and reader out, I did some research and came up with 10 easy ideas
- [12 tips to ensure your child is ready for kindergarten](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/12-tips-to-ensure-your-child-is-ready-for-kindergarten/) - One day I blinked and my baby was five. I literally just blinked and this tiny coo-ing bundle of drool and giggles turned into a sweet and sassy preschooler. And now that she's five “whole years old” she knows everything and is super excited to start “big kid school” in the fall. Me not so
- [20+ Easy and Affordable Valentine's Treats for Kids](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/20-easy-and-affordable-valentines-treats-for-kids/) - Valentine's Day is around the corner and Mom's everywhere are feeling the pressure. Sure, you can grab a drugstore box of Valentines and slap some names on them in a few minutes, but...maybe you want your child's Valentine's to be as original as they are. It's truly not much more effort on your part, and
- [15 Valentine's Day Treats Teachers will Love!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/15-valentines-day-treats-teachers-will-love/) - Now that Christmas is over, the stores are painted red. Everywhere you look, you'll find a reminder that the day designated to love is upon us. It's a day where we show the people we care about that we love them by indulging them in sweets and cards. And even though, I try to share
- [10 tips for throwing an amazing baby shower](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/10-tips-for-throwing-an-amazing-baby-shower/) - I just love a good baby shower. It’s overflowing with cuteness and brimming with love and hope. Despite the difficulty, pregnancy is a magical time for Mamas, and baby showers share a tiny piece of that magic with loved ones. The last 5 years of my life has been brimming with babies. Virtually all of
- [Teaching Print Concepts and Reading Behaviors](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/printconceptsandreadingbehaviors/) - So you've taught your kid their letters and sounds. You've been through my entire FREE letter of the week curriculum. Now what? It's as simple as sounding out words now, right? Nope. Not at all! See your little Einstein there, may have a clear understanding of graphemes & phonemes (lay-Mom's term - letters and sounds),
- [25 FREE Valentine's SVGs](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/25-free-valentines-svgs/) - Is it just me, or is the end of Christmas somewhat depressing? You spend all this time shopping and planning, maybe an entire month or more. For a couple of wonderful days you're hanging with family, eating great food, singing Christmas carols and then it's just over. All that's left ahead is a bleak and
- [25 FREE Thanksgiving SVGs](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/25-free-thanksgiving-svgs/) - Halloween is over and the house in littered with candy wrappers. Like seriously, I find them everywhere. Between my husband, kids (and *ahem* maybe myself), there is a too much candy being snuck & consumed. My daughter even asked for vegetables the other day because she thought she needed some. That's why I look forward
- [25 FREE Christmas SVGs](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/25-free-christmas-svgs/) - Christmas is around the corner, and like many of you, I'm craftin' up a storm! I could listen to Christmas music, drink hot chocolate and happily do Christmas crafts until January! Lucky for me (and you), there are tons of free SVGs to help me achieve this very goal! And as a Christmas gift to
- [DIY Unicorn Birthday Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-unicorn-birthday-party/) - This year's birthday party theme may have had me a little giddy with excitement. It's a party theme I myself would've loved as a young girl. So when both my daughters agreed to a unicorn birthday party, I hoped on Pinterest and started brainstorming ideas immediately! The result was a sweet and magical unicorn party
- [Truths for New Dads about the first few days with Baby](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/truths-for-new-dads-about-the-first-few-days-with-baby/) - The first few days with a new baby are like none other. All of a sudden, this tiny person has been thrust into your arms and sent home with you. Even if this is not your first child, your world is still turned upside down. Those first few days are the beginning of finding your
- [6 Tips for Scoring Big at Consignment Sales](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/6-tips-scoring-big-consignment-sales/) - Who doesn't love a good bargain? The season of bargains is upon us my friends, and I am so. stinking. excited!!! Two of my favorite things packed into a few short months! Consignment sales and Clearance Racks! Stores will be purging their winter lines and making room for spring wardrobes to display. This means
- [CUSTOM DOORMAT - HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/custom-doormat-holiday-giveaway/) - The holidays are fast approaching and everyone is on a mad hunt for the perfect gifts. Some people are soooo hard to shop for. Finding the perfect gift can be SUCH.A.PAIN!!! So today I'm sharing my go to gift for practically any person on your list. I'm even kicking off the holidays with a super
- [Fun & Easy Christmas gift ideas for 2 year olds](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/fun-easy-christmas-gift-ideas-for-a-2-year-old/) - My baby is 2 this year, so I've begun my search for the perfect Christmas gift ideas for her. It is a lot harder for her than with my oldest. We already have so much of the typical 2 year old stuff so this year, I'm having to look a little harder. And my extra
- [Christmas Gift Ideas for 1 year olds](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/christmas-gift-ideas-for-1-year-olds/) - Santa's on his way, and Mommy and Daddy are scrambling to find presents to pile under the Christmas tree. It's not always as simple as it seems. Kids at different ages have different wants and needs and some ages are a little harder to shop for. For instance...a 1 year old? They likely haven't really
- [The Ultimate List of Teacher Gift Ideas!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/the-ultimate-list-of-teacher-gift-ideas/) - I taught for 10 years. There were lots of things I loved about my job, but it was not easy. I often felt over-worked and underappreciated, as do many other teachers. Every year, I had a few sweet parents who would send goodies throughout the year and it always put a smile on my face.
- [15 Thanksgiving Teacher Gift Ideas](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/15-thanksgiving-teacher-gift-ideas/) - I don't know about you, but one of the things I'm MOST thankful for this time of year are my kid's teachers. The descent into holiday madness has begun and I swear it only gets crazier from here until New Year's and so I'm super thankful for the sweet ladies who watch over my kids 9
- [DIY Unicorn Mason Jar](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-unicorn-mason-jar/) - I'm in party planning mode over here, working on my girls 2nd and 5th birthday party! We are horse and unicorn obsessed, and our party theme will reflect that! So today I'm sharing with you two of the labor of love projects I've created for my girls' party. I've included tutorials for both so
- [7 places to get Cute & Unique Blank shirts and sets (for vinyl & embriodery)](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/7-places-to-get-cute-unique-blank-shirts-and-sets-for-vinyl-embriodery/) - If you're like me, one of the big appeals of being a Silhouette owner is being able to make cute, custom shirts. True to my Southern roots, I love it even more when those shirts are extra cute with ruffles or some other Southern signature. In the beginning , I had the hardest time finding
- [DIY Unicorn Floral Crown](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-unicorn-floral-crown/) - DIY Unicorn Floral Crown For each birthday I created a themed photo shoot for invitations. It's a little extra, but so much fun. I've done everything from Snow White to Doc McStuffins, but I think this years' shoot will be my favorite. This year our theme is unicorns and I am so stinking excited! Birthday
- [DIY Halloween Soap & Sanitizer Tutorial - with free cut files!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-halloween-soap-sanitizer-tutorial-with-free-cut-files/) - I love decorating for seasons & holidays. Something about the simple out of setting out decorations makes me feel all sorts of festive. And despite summer being my bestie, fall quickly grows on me. After I got my Silhouette a couple of years ago, I also developed an obsession with seasonal crafting. I love making
- [5 Fun and Easy DIY Halloween Crafts](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/5-fun-and-easy-diy-halloween-crafts/) - One of my favorite parts of any holiday is the excuse to decorate and craft. I find it hard to take the time to craft and create for myself, but for some reason when a new season or holiday rolls around I feel compelled to. And I'm hoping you'll be able to find the time
- [15 Halloween Teacher Gift Ideas](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/15-halloween-teacher-gift-ideas/) - Halloween's around the corner and it's the perfect opportunity to surprise your child's teacher with a sweet treat! You know how wild your own child gets around Halloween. Now multiply that times 20! The least you can do is show your appreciation through a tiny treat! To make things easier, I've rounded up 15 of
- [Easy & Affordable DIY  Halloween Gift for Teachers (with free printable!)](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/easy-affordable-diy-halloween-gift-for-teachers-with-free-printable/) - Halloween is the perfect time to give your kid's teacher a sweet reminder of how thankful you are for all they do. Seriously y'all. Teachers work hard, and they deal with your children (and 20+ others) all day long! That deserves a lifetime supply of chocolate and alcohol in my humble opinion. But since plying
- [Witches Brew Treat Bag *with free printable!*](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/witches-brew-treat-bag-with-free-printable/) - We all know Halloween is candy overload! I mean, we usually end up with candy for MONTHS! Between school, trunk or treats and grandparents...these girls really rack up! So this year, I was racking my brain for something non-candy, but fun to send for class treats. So I came up with this sweet little treat
- [25 Fun and FREE Fall SVGs (cut files)!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/25-fun-and-free-fall-svgs-cut-files/) - It's almost fall y'all! I'm one of those people who has to be drug out of summer kicking and screaming. I love the sun, the longer days, swimming, campfires and cookouts. Summer has always been my favorite season. That said, fall has a beauty all it's own. Of course, I love the fall foilage -
- [DIY Garden Flag Tutorial - Applying HTV to burlap](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-garden-flag-tutorial-applying-htv-to-burlap/) - Even though I've got the summertime's ending blues, I can still appreciate fall. I mean the cooler temperatures, fall festivals, pumpkin patches, and beautiful leaves are some of the bigger allures of the season. I'm not a fan of pumpkin spice (*gasp*), but I can appreciate the seasonal food no doubt. And truly one of
- [DIY Coir Doormat](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-coir-doormat/) - Of all the things I create, this is one of my favorites. I have made a ton of these diy coir doormats and they look amazing! There is also something so gratifying about seeing how they turn out. And, with a diy coir doormat - design possibilities are endless! I'm tempted to make one for
- [DIY Teacher Gift - Back to School Prayer](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-teacher-gift-back-to-school-prayer/) - If you're coming from my Ultimate List of Teacher Gift Ideas post, you know I'm a fan of surprising my girls sweet teachers with little gifts throughout the year. This year, I've challenged myself to take it a step above, and design my own cute gift ideas and create printables to go along with them.
- [10 things you can do when dealing with food allergies at school](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/dealing-with-food-allergies-at-school/) - One afternoon, just after she turned one, my husband fed our oldest daughter part of a Reese's Cup. I mean...she was over one, we followed what we'd been told and waited til after our first birthday. I don't even know if he'd realized I hadn't given it to her yet. And peanut butter was literally
- [Pencil Hairbow DIY Tutorial - Back to School](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-pencil-hairbow-tutorial-back-to-school/) - The back to school clock is ticking down, and while most of me is sad, part of me is also excited. My girls go to preschool a few days a week in the mornings so I can get some work done. My oldest will be starting her final year of preschool and can't wait to
- [First day of School Chalkboard DIY - Free Cut File](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/back-to-school-chalkboard-free-cut-file/) - T- minus approximately 4 weeks until my girls start back to preschool. I may or may not have a mental countdown going on in my head. Seriously...I love them both more than life, but working at home with 2 small children is no easy feat! Plus - Mama needs a break from the tantrums and
- [11 Adorable and FREE Back to School SVG files!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/11-adorable-and-free-back-to-school-svg-files/) - Summer's half way over y'all and stores are filling their shelves with school supplies. Y'all know what that means.... Soon mothers everywhere will breathe a sigh of relief. Kidding (maybe). But it does mean back to school is right around the corner. If you're like me, back to school is yet another reason to create
- [7 Breastfeeding truths you MUST know before starting your breastfeeding journey](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/what-no-one-tells-you-breastfeeding/) - Between my kids I've spent 4 out of the last 5 years breastfeeding. I am an avid believer in the magic of breast milk and the amazing things it can do for your baby and even you! I have come to treasure my nursing relationship with each of my children. The bond it creates is
- [First and Last Day of School Free Printable Sign](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/first-last-day-of-school-free-printable-sign/) - As a photographer, pictures are so important to me. I love how pictures commemorate a moment in time. Looking back on pictures and reflecting on my girl's growth is one of my favorite things to do. So for me. Pictures on the first and last day of school are a necessity! In fact, as you'll
- [Cutting and Applying HTV Tutorial with FREE SVGs!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/316-2/) - If you are like me, being able to make t-shirts was one of the big draws of a Silhouette Cameo. I love to dress my girls up for special holidays and occasions, and what is cuter than an personalized shirt? I think my very first projects were just vinyl decals, but very soon after, I
- [How I exploded my Pinterest traffic from 7K monthly viewers to 400 K](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/how-i-exploded-my-pinterest-traffic-from-7k-monthly-viewers-to-400-k/) - I've always been a huge fan of Pinterest. Before Pinterest existed, I was totally that girl cutting magazine articles and keeping them in a binder for reference. So when Pinterest entered the world back in 2010, I was beyond stoked. I am not sure exactly when my account was created, but it wasn't too many
- [Peppa Pig Birthday Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/peppa-pig-birthday-party/) - My niece is a big fan of Peppa Pig and recently turned 3. So deciding her bday party theme was easy! While we couldn't have a muddy puddles in true Peppa Pig fashion, we did have access to a pool. So a Peppa Pig pool party was born! I am all about the party planning,
- [7 Techniques for Amazing Pin Design](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/7-techniques-for-amazing-pin-design/) - One of the most crucial steps to success with Pinterest, is quality pin design. The pins you create are a direct reflection of you and your brand. It's like you and your content have been wrapped up in a tiny little present for your audience to open. Unfortunately, they are also being thrown hundreds of
- [How to Quickly Gain Pinterest Followers](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/how-to-quickly-gain-pinterest-followers/) - If you've taken one things from all the Pinterest changes lately, it should be that followers are key. Your followers and what they pass on is the key to your success with Pinterest. So of course you want to know... How do I grow my following on Pinterest? I converted my personal Pinterest account to
- [5 Fundamental Blog Design Tips](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/5-fundamental-blog-design-tips/) - Your blog is the face of your brand. It's like a living, breathing. advertisement of who you are, what you represent, and why people should like and listen to you. For this reason, your blog design is crucial to the success of the blog. I didn't study design in college, but post collegiate experience led
- [Starting a Wordpress Blog with Bluehost - a simple step by step guide](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/starting-a-wordpress-blog-with-bluehost-a-simple-step-by-step-guide/) - So you've done your research on the basics of starting a blog. You've looked at your options and decided that starting a Wordpress blog hosted by Bluehost is the right decision for you. And you are right. Choosing these two companies together is the right start for your blogging career. If you missed my first
- [Starting a Blog in 7 Simple Steps](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/starting-a-blog-in-7-simple-steps/) - So you wanna start a blog? You're doing your research and trying to decide whether or not you'll take the leap. Or maybe you've completed your research and are in the tentative stages of launching a blog. I've been there. And not too long ago! I have been truly fortunate in that my little blog
- [Amazon & Target Giveaway!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/amazon-target-giveaway/) - It's officially here y'all! Sweet, sweet, summertime! And...remember when I told you'd I'd have 3 fabulous giveaways for you to participate in this month? The last one starts today! What better way to celebrate the start of summer? I'm sooooo stinking excited about this! This fantastic giveaway features two $50 gift cards to two of
- [Father's Day Photo Ideas with Free Printables!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/fathers-day-photo-ideas-with-free-printables/) - For Father's Day...one sure fire present win for Dad is pictures. Today I'm sharing with you 5 adorable and easy Father's Day photo ideas along with free printables! As a photographer, I love this kind of thing. Last year I did father's day minis and thought it would be fun to offer a collection of ideas
- [15 Free & Fun Fourth of July Cut Files (SVGS)](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/15-free-fun-fourth-of-july-cut-files-svgs/) - The Fourth of July is right around the corner! This is one of my favorite holidays for many reasons. Mostly because it's my grandpa's birthday. I have lots of great memories of family fun when he was alive. Now I love the new traditions we've built with my little family. Cookouts, campfires, fireworks and fun
- [FREE Bugs & Insects Preschool Unit Plan - Preschool Weekly Science Theme](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/free-bugs-insects-preschool-unit-plan-preschool-weekly-science-theme/) - There are lots of awesome things about summer. Long days, summer sun, nice cool pools, swarms of bugs & insects. Kidding of course. Bugs are my least favorite part of summer. But the one good thing about summer and creepy crawlies is that it makes the perfect time to cover insects in your preschool curriculum.
- [Free Farm Animals Preschool Unit - Preschool Weekly Science Theme](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/free-farm-animals-preschool-unit-preschool-weekly-science-theme/) - So today I want to take a quick break from the letter of the week lesson plans and switch to something else I consider super fun - themed units- particularly themed science units! My letter of the week series have been some of my most popular posts, so I wanted to share some weekly science
- [$100 Giveaway to Rainbow Resource Center](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/100-giveaway-to-rainbow-resource-center/) - Who couldn't use more money for school supplies? Whether you're a homeschooling Mama or a teacher, let's face it, money's tight! A $100 gift card to an amazing educational retailer would be all sorts of awesome, right? Sooo....I'm so excited to announce I'm helping give you a shot at just that! If you've not heard
- [Birthday Giveaway - Free CUSTOM Party Package!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/birthday-giveaway-free-custom-party-package/) - Woooo-hooooo! It's my birthday y'all (we won't talk about how old I am)! And what other way to celebrate than with a GIVEAWAY! And this won't be my only giveaway in the month of June! I will be partnering in TWO other giveaways with big fabulous prizes later this month. So be sure you've liked
- [10 Easy Father's Day Gifts Dad will Love!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/10-easy-fathers-day-gifts-dad-will-love/) - Father's Day is just around the corner, and sometimes, Dads can be a little hard to shop for. I mean a guy can only need so many Best Dad Ever coffee cups and trophies...right? To help you out I worked with my husband to create a list of gifts Dads want. He's your typical guy
- [DIY Motivational Water Bottle](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-motivational-water-bottle/) - Motivational Water Bottle Tutorial - Step by Step I know I'm supposed to drink lots of water. I feel better when I do. But still I struggle getting the appropriate amount daily. I know I'm not the only one, and I was so excited when I saw super cute motivational water bottles pop up in
- [10 Breastfeeding Essentials for Nursing Moms](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/10-breastfeeding-essentials-for-nursing-moms/) - Be prepared with these nursing essentials. Want some real advice about breastfeeding and being a new Mom? It's not all rainbows and unicorns. In my last post I dropped some breastfeeding truth bombs that may surprise you. As natural as it seems, breastfeeding is not always easy. As scary as that sounds, help is out
- [The Ultimate Baby Shower Registry Guide (with FREE printable)](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/the-ultimate-baby-shower-registry-guide-with-free-printable/) - When you are registering for baby gifts, it can be hard not to go a little crazy. I mean there is so much cute stuff out there, and those little pricing guns at the store are so stinking fun! Am I right? But...that's how you end up with a ton of crap on your registry
- [Why you NEED the Ultimate Breastfeeding Class in your Life](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/why-you-need-the-ultimate-breastfeeding-class-in-your-life-2/) - I've been there. I've been that first time Mom, wondering if breastfeeding was the right choice for me and my child. I remember feeling so overwhelmed and wishing I could find some way to ease my fears. So many of my friends struggled with breast feeding and the horror stories had left me leary. They
- [28 Must-Have Baby Essentials!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/28-must-have-baby-essentials/) - When you're buying or registering for stuff for your baby, it can be a little overwhelming. There are so many products and so many opinions on them. Who really has time to figure it out? Most Mom's don't, but I'm a little OCD when it comes to my kids, so luckily you've stumbled across my
- [If Co-Sleeping is wrong, I don't want to be right](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/reasons-for-co-sleeping/) - As I sit here writing, my four year old is curled up at my feet and my 16 month old is snuggled by my side. I can see her breathing in the dim glow of my laptop. She puckers her lips in her sleep, and her beautiful blonde curls turn into a lions mane. My
- [DIY Canvas Magnet Tutorial with Free SVG](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-canvas-magnet-tutorial/) - How cute are these canvas magnets? With Mother's Day around the corner, these would make the perfect gift for that Mom in your life (or just yourself!). These are so simple and quick to make! Craftiness Level (0-10): 3 Time Investment:15 minutes (not including design time) Materials: Blank canvas 3 X 3 in ** Vinyl
- [10 Amazing Mother's Day gifts](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/10-amazing-mothers-day-gift/) - Mother's Day is right around the corner and everyone is looking for the perfect Mother's Day gift. But let's face it...Moms aren't always the easiest to buy for. So to help you out I've rounded up some of the most awesome gifts for Mom on the internet! Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Purchases
- [Gift Ideas for a 1 - Year Old](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/gift-ideas-for-a-1-year-old/) - I have been to a TON of one year old birthday parties in the past few years! Every time I struggle and scramble last minute to find a gift. Thank God for Amazon! I say every time I'm going to create a list of ideas so I can just draw from that and here I
- [10 Easy Birthday gift ideas for a 2 year old](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/10-easy-birthday-gift-ideas-for-a-2-year-old/) - On the heels of my Sesame Street 2nd Birthday party post, I wanted to share some gift ideas for a 2-year-old. These toys are tried and true by my own kiddos and family members and sure to be a hit for any two year old tot. I tried to keep all the gift ideas uni-sex
- [Doc McStuffins 3rd Birthday Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/doc-mcstuffins-3rd-birthday-party/) - Today's Birthday Party is one of my favorites! Right before she turned three my oldest child decided she wanted to be a veterinarian. All thanks to a little show called "Doc McStuffins." She watched the Pet Vet series and was hooked. For months, she played doctor on me and her dad, the cats and dogs,
- [10 Really Fun Gift Ideas for a 3 year old](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/10-really-fun-gift-ideas-for-a-3-year-old/) - Yesterday, I shared our Doc McStuffins birthday party post with you. My daughter was three years old and already becoming hard to shop for. In keeping with my theme, I decided to share a quick shopping list for 3 year olds. I hope you can find some useful ideas in this post. These toys have
- [Beauty and the Beast Birthday Party Ideas](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/beauty-and-the-beast-birthday-party-ideas/) - Next up in our birthday party series is an epic Beauty and the Beast Birthday party! There is something about the movie Beauty and the Beast. Maybe it's the classic love story. The whole "Tale as Old as Time" thing. Whatever it is, it seems to have an almost magical allure for little girls. In
- [10 Awesome Birthday Gift Ideas for a 4 year old](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/10-awesome-birthday-gift-ideas-for-a-4-year-old/) - Next up in my party series? Gift ideas for a 4 year old! In her four years on the planet, my oldest kid has been invited to more birthday parties than I can count. We are shopping for birthday gifts practically all the time. At her age, it's pretty easy if you know the kid
- [10 incredibly useful baby shower gift ideas!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/10-incredibly-useful-baby-shower-gift-ideas/) - Since I just shared my Dr. Suess baby shower post, I felt it appropriate to follow up with a baby shower gift ideas post. These aren't just any baby shower ideas - these are the BEST baby shower ideas. Being a mom of two and having tons of friends with babies - I've had my
- [Minnie Mouse 1st Birthday](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/minnie-mouse-1st-birthday/) - What kiddo isn't a fan of Minnie and Mickey Mouse? In fact, I have been to many a Minnie Mouse birthday party. Today I want to share one I helped plan! So..full disclosure...this party wasn't exactly mine. It was for my cutie-pie neice's 1st birthday. But I promised I helped a bunch! My niece was
- [Dr. Suess Baby Shower](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/dr-suess-baby-shower/) - Next up in the party series I am switching it up a little. Today I will be sharing an adorable Dr. Seuss baby shower. Because...when you are a family of teachers and your sister gets pregnant, there is only one type of baby shower to throw. Dr. Seuss of course! We come from a looonnng
- [Sesame Street Second Birthday Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/sesame-street-second-birthday-party/) - When she was about 18 months my oldest developed an obsession with Sesame Street. She loved to "clap, clap" with Elmo and "stomp, stomp with Count. That summer we went on an amazing road trip (which I hope to share more about later) and one of our stops was Sesame Place in Langhourne, PA. It
- [DIY Washable Coloring Shirt Tutorial](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-washable-coloring-shirt-tutorial/) - Today I'm sharing one of the cutest gift ideas out there! Cute and so much fun, a washable coloring shirt makes a great present! These are fun to color and can be used again and again. We recently discovered these and they have since been making the rounds at our friend's birthday parties! Not only
- [DIY Galvinized Tin Planter](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/diy-galvinized-tin-planter/) - Spring is here, and I am loooving the site of all the pretty flowers everywhere. This time of year, we spend a lot of time outside. One of my favorite things to do is sit on the front porch and watch my girls play on the lawn. I love to decorate my porch with pretty
- [The 3 Things Dads Need to Know about Labor & Delivery](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/the-3-things-dads-need-to-know-about-labor-delivery/) - If you are reading this you are most likely a 1st time Dad or seasoned father looking for a refresher course. Maybe you're a well intentioned baby Mama, pinning stuff for Daddy to read. Either way, you're all here for the same reason. Soon(ish) you will be having a baby. People tell you lots of
- [3 Things Dads should know about Life after Baby](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/3-things-dads-should-know-about-life-after-baby/) - So here's what you really want to know. How will having a baby change things? The truth is, it changes everything. Some of the changes you will barely notice. Some, like trips to the store with cranky kids, will slap you in the face every time. You will never appreciate silence and solitude as much
- [Snow White First Birthday Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/snow-white-first-birthday-party/) - So if you know me really well, you know one of my favorite things to do is throw big parties. I love planning baby showers, birthdays...you name it! Even though I've only been in the baby business about 5 years now (my oldest is 4), I've thrown my share of parties. So for my next
- [6 Tips for Consignors to Help your Stuff Sell!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/6-tips-consignors-help-stuff-sell/) - Shopping consignment sales is a ton of fun, but everyone knows kids clothes cost money. Buying new clothes every season can be hard on the budget. One way to re-coup some of that money is by consigning their outgrown clothes. As my children have grown I've sold clothes, shoes, baby equipment, toys, car seats, baby
- [Reverse Canvas Tutorial](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/reverse-canvas-tutorial/) - Alright y'all! First tutorial it is! It's a rainy day here in the sticks and I'm going to spend it with you, sharing how to create the coveted reverse canvas. This is one of my personal favorites due to the versatility of it. They can be made to fit with any décor. I just learned
- [When does it end?](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/when-does-it-end/) - You can't have missed the news. It's everywhere, all day. 17 kids dead in yet another tragic school shooting. You can't escape it no matter where you look. It's a constant reminder of our failing society. And while you would hope a nation would rise above, work together, and find SOME way to prevent this
- [5 simple steps to making the first cut with your Silhouette.  (with free SVG)](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/5-simple-steps-making-first-cut-silhouette-free-svg/) - When you first get your Silhouette Cameo, it can be quite overwhelming. I remember finally getting everything installed and sitting there staring at the machine thinking, “Okay...what now?” However, I assure you, it's not nearly as complicated as you think it is. Today I will be sharing a step by step tutorial with pictures in
- [10 Easy things to fill your infant-1 year old's Easter Basket](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/10-easy-things-fill-infant-1-year-olds-easter-basket/) - Easter Basket shopping can be a challenge for the little ones. Most little children haven't yet shown great interest in toys, nor have they developed much of a preference for certain types. I struggled through the years with buying things for my youngest's Easter basket. After the first Easter, I started keeping a list to
- [6 tips to saving big on a trip to Great Wolf Lodge!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/6-tips-saving-big-trip-great-wolf-lodge/) - This weekend my family is going to one of our favorite places for a mini-vacation. Great Wolf Lodge! We have been going here since my oldest was 2. We fell in love the first visit and have since tried to go twice a year. If we could afford it, we'd go much more
- [10 Tips to Maximizing your stay at Great Wolf Lodge.](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/10-tips-maximizing-stay-great-wolf-lodge/) - This, the second piece, in my 3-part series about the Great Wolf Lodge, discusses ways to make your stay everything you hope it to be. For tips on how to save when booking, visit my previous post. The final post in the series discusses packing tips and even provides a free packing checklist! I have
- [What to pack for Great Wolf  Lodge (and what NOT to) with a free printable!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/pack-great-wolf-lodge-not-free-printable/) - If you are like me, preparing to leave on a trip with kids is complete CHAOS. I have also found that often when we arrive at our destination, we have left a few necessities in the whirlwind to get out the door. Visiting Walmart everywhere we went, and buying duplicates of stuff we already own
- [Just Like You](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/hello-world/) - I'm just like you. My Pinterest boards are bursting at the seams with things I want to buy, recipes I want to make and things I want to create. It's hard to find time for any of these things and when you do find the time, reading and understanding another person's explanation is not always

## Pages

- [Free Letter of the Week Lesson Plans!  Complete Series!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/free-letter-of-the-week-lesson-plans-complete-series/) - Surprise!!! This entire series has recieved a total overhaul in 2023! I've added craft templates and free worksheets in hopes of making your life easier! You're a busy Mama. To be honest I'm impressed that you're here! It's hard enough to find time to balance the juggling act that is parenthood, let alone attempt the
- [TRAVEL](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/travel/) - Is Disney World Worth It? 7 Reasons to visit Tweetsie World Is the Polar Express in Bryson City Worth the Money? 7 Reasons to visit Carowinds 6 Tips for Saving Big at Great Wolf Lodge 10 Tips for an Amazing Great Wolf Lodge Trip What to Pack for Great Wolf Lodge 15 Amazing Outer Banks
- [Party](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/party/) - Party Inspiration Reel Big One 40th Birthday Party Farm Animal Birthday Party Little Mermaid Birthday Party Hocus Pocus Party Miraculous Ladybug Birthday Party Horse Themed Birthday Party Pup Cake Smash Party Barbie Birthday Party Drive-by Birthday Party Spirit Riding Free Birthday Party Trolls Birthday Party Snow White Birthday Party Sesame Street Birthday Party Doc McStuffins
- [Teach](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/preschool/) - I'm a former kindergarten teacher turned Stay- at-Home Mom to a preschooler. My teacher heart lives on through creating lesson plans and teaching my daughter to read. Here you'll find links to my Free Lesson Plans and other resources for teaching your child to read. 12 Tips for Preparing your Child for Kindergarten Reading Essentials
- [10 Days of Free Preschool Weekly Themes Lesson Plans!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/free-preschool-weekly-theme-lesson-plans/) - 10 Days of Free Preschool Weekly Theme Lesson Plans Summer's here, and I've been looking for ways to keep my girls entertained. It's been a long 3 months of being stuck at home because of Coronavirus and so in addition to what I'm working on them with academically I wanted to have some fun with
- [Free Stuff!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/free-stuff/) - Click on the titles for a free download! Happy Crafting Y'all! Santa Cam SVG Silhouette Studio file here. Santa's Little Helper SVG Silhouette Studio file here. Santa is my Bestie SVG Silhouette Studio file here. Dear Santa, My Sister/Brother made me do it SVG Silhouette Studio file here. Fly Like Rudolph SVG. Silhouette Studio file
- [CRAFT](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/crafty-mom/) - Here's where you'll find tons of craft tutorials and tips, free SVGs and DIY Party Planning ideas. There are tons of free files in here so be sure to bookmark it to return frequently! Craft Tutorials DIY Spring Wreath DIY Acrylic Keychain DIY HTV Toilet Paper Turning Photographs into SVGs DIY Oven Mitt tutorial DIY
- [Gift Guides](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/gift-guides/) - Gift Guides Father's Day Photo Gift Ideas 10 Unique Gift Ideas for Mother's Day 10 Father's Day Gifts Dad will Love Christmas Gift Ideas for your 1 year old Christmas Gift Ideas for your 2 year old 10 Easy Easter Basket ideas for your infant - 1 year old 10 Easter Basket ideas for your
- [Mom](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/crafty-mom-wisdon/) - Here's where you'll find all the Mom wisdom I have to offer. From pregnancy to birth to starting school. These posts share tips and tidbits I've learned in my five years as a mom of two. Be sure to scroll all the way down! Pregnancy, Birth & Breast feeding The Ultimate Baby Registry Guide 28
- [Free Reading Strategy Posters and Lessons!  Complete Series!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/free-reading-strategy-posters-and-lessons-complete-series/) - If you've been following along, you've seen my multi-part series on teaching letters and sounds, print concepts and reading behaviors, and sight words. These are all part of a bigger picture, an entire reading curriculum for beginning readers! As a veteran teacher of over 10 years, turned stay at home Mom, I just couldn't turn
- [10 Days of Beginning Reading Strategies](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/10-days-of-beginning-reading-strategies/) - Are you teaching your child to read and struggling with where to go next? They know their letters and sounds, have print concepts, and are starting to recognize some sight words. So, what now? No worries, Mama! I've got you! I've got a decade of experience teaching beginning readers and a MA in Reading Education.
- [Our Ultimate Outer Banks Experience](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/our-ultimate-outer-banks-experience/) - I have this weird obsession with travel blogs. Seriously. I can spend hours perusing Pinterest and reading about other people's adventures. I don't just do quick destination searches either. I want the whole story and all the pictures. This way I know what to expect and how to plan for these trips we will hopefully
- [2 Amazingly Unique Experiences at the Outer Banks you MUST try!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/2-amazingly-unique-experiences-at-the-outer-banks-you-must-try/) - So you're planning a trip to the Outer Banks and looking for some amazing experiences, huh? Well, today is your lucky day, my friend! I've got two of the most amazing adventures that exist on the Outer Banks. You may have seen the Outer Banks before, but you've probably never seen it like this! These
- [Blog](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/blogging-tips/) - Are you interested in blogging? Want to know how to get started and start getting traffic? Check out my series of posts on how to get started with a new blog AND how to start bringing in traffic!! Getting Started 7 Simple Steps to Start a Blog Today! Getting your Blog hosted through BlueHost 5
- [Home](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/home/)
- [Work With Me!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/advertise/) - Collaberation Looking to connect with a specific client base of 30-40 something moms and/or craft lovers? If so, you should consider working with me! We can collaberate through: -Ad space -Sponsored Blog or Social Media Posts -Product Reviews -Giveaways -Guest Posts for your blog -Social Media Promotion To get in touch with me and get
- [Resources](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/resources/) - Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens, booming blog traffic and fuzzy pink mittens. Pinterest strategies that droves of traffic bring. These are a few of my favorite things. Ok...so I may have paraphrased Julie Andrews' character Mrs. VonTrap a little bit... but in all seriousness...These are truly a few of my favorite blogging things.
- [Privacy Policy & Disclosure](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/about/privacy-policy-disclosure/) - This privacy policy discloses the privacy practices for thiscraftymom.com. This privacy policy applies solely to information collected by this web site. It will notify you of the following: What personally identifiable information is collected from you through the web site, how it is used and with whom it may be shared. What choices are available
- [10 Days of FREE Preschool Lesson Plans & activities!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/preschool/10-days-of-free-preschool-lesson-plans-activities/) - You're a busy Mama. I get it. Cooking semi healthy meals your kids refuse to eat, cleaning infinitely growing messes, car pooling kids half way across the world daily, tackling mountains of laundry...and that's just a tenth of it. Homeschooling your kids is just another task on an already over-flowing list. Planning those lessons shouldn't
- [Target & Amazon Giveaway!](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/target-amazon-giveaway/) - It's officially here y'all! Sweet, sweet, summertime! And...remember when I told you'd I'd have 3 fabulous giveaways for you to participate in this month? The last one starts today! What better way to celebrate the start of summer? I'm sooooo stinking excited about this! This fantastic giveaway features two $50 gift cards to two of
- [Preschool](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/preschool-2/)
- [About](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/about/) - Hey y'all!! I'm Amanda, creator of This Crafty Mom. I’m a stay at home mom to two beautiful girls who have way too many toys and don’t eat enough vegetables. I am southern to the core. I drink too much sweet tea, use y’all as a pronoun, and spend my summers sitting on the front
- [Sample Page](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/sample-page/) - This is an example page. It's different from a blog post because it will stay in one place and will show up in your site navigation (in most themes). Most people start with an About page that introduces them to potential site visitors. It might say something like this: Hi there! I'm a bike messenger

## Categories

- [Uncategorized](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/category/uncategorized/)
- [Crafts & DIY](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/category/crafty-mom/)
- [Mom Wisdom](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/category/crafty-mom-wisdon/)
- [Preschool](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/category/preschool/)
- [Weekly Letter Recognition plans](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/category/preschool/weekly-letter-recognition-plans/)
- [Blogging Tips](https://www.thiscraftymom.com/category/blogging-tips/)