Stamped Paper Cube: Great idea for Fathers Day from Nanny Gael Ann and her "creative assistant"

What you need:

blank paper cubes (I got mine from Oriental Trading Company)

rubber bands

magic markers

rubber stamps

stamp pad

Use the rubber bands to stabilize the pad.

I also found it helpful to hold the paper tightly for my creative assistant.

Then decorate away with rubber stamps... 

Or magic markers on three sides (the fourth side has the glue on it).

Close ups of some of our favorite sides

Just add a bit of ribbon and a pen and these would make great gifts!

For dads or grads or teachers or as a small thank you gift. 

Pasta Butterfly Garden by Nanny Gael Ann and her Creative Assistant

Today my creative assistant and two little friends are going to show you how to make this lovely spring craft.

Supplies Needed:
Popsicle sticks (7 for each garden)
pipe cleaner (one for each garden)
farfalle pasta (we found regular and mini size at the local grocery store)
flower/bug stickers
magic markers
craft glue or glue dots
white craft paint (if you wish)
hot glue gun (adults use only)
This just happens to be the brand we found, any brand will work.

I premade the "gardens gates" by hot gluing the popsicles sticks together and attaching a pipe cleaner hanger to the back of the top rail. (older charges could help with this part)

If desired, you (or older charges) can paint the garden white. We decided we liked the look of the bare sticks best.

Then using magic markers my helpers colored the dry pasta.

close up examples of some of our butterflies

Next my helpers stuck flower stickers on the garden gates.
(The package I picked up at the craft store had two sizes of craft foam flowers and ladybugs.)
And using glue dots (or craft glue) they attached their colored pasta butterflies.

Here are their gardens ready to hang up and enjoy!

I couldn't help myself and I made one too!