Treasured Memories Make A Gift of Past, Present, Future

Make A Memory Box or Memory Card: A Great Recycle Craft That Turns Yesterdays Memories Into a Fabulous Gift That Lives on Forever

Make a Memorial Box Preserve Memories Forver

The Memory Box

If your wondering what special thing you can do for someone you love this Christmas that can be meaningful and fun to make, try a memory box or card.

Whether it be a sister, parent or best friend, a memory gift will be a keeper.

Find special momentos for your memorial box

Memory Box Directions:

.      Use a store bought or recycled box in any shape.  Here we bought a heart shaped box since this was an anniversary gift for Mom and Dad.

.      Cover it in paint or cloth or both.  *This one has a painted bottom and cloth covered top.  

.      We added 3 knobs to the bottom for feet

.      Adorn it with momentos and ornamentation. *This one has antique ribbons and trim.  Old buttons from Mom's favorite dress, her old hanky found in a purse, Dad's dog tags and firemans badge, a key from their first house and other tokens found in their drawers along with photos we photocopied.  

Ideas and Other Options 

.      Why not add old greeting cards, ornaments from service uniforms, wedding invitations, and jewelry parts

.      For a child's box you can use certificates, name beads, small toys or prize ribbons, a coin for the year they were born

.      For a friend use momentos from trips together, tickets from nights out and fill with photos of good times. 

You can leave the box empty for the recipient to fill, put in a gift certificate for them to make a new memory or  fill it with old photos. 

Add loving touches and special moments to the memory card

The Memory Card

If a memory box is overwhelming make a simple memory card ! Or make both and give them together.

The Memory Card and Frame Directions: 

.      As the base get some nice paper at the craft or art store.  Here we used a parchment for an old world feel.

.      As an alternate make your own paper from recycled papers.  Use one of the paper making recipes found on Planetpals.com

.      Adorn it much the same as the box.  using buttons, beads, ribbons, doilies, photos, cards, recipes, whatever conveys your message.  This one was for a fiftieth wedding anniversary.  We used photocopies of old valentines, old photos, yarn and more.

.      Ideas and Other Options

      Use ideas listed under memory box for a tailor made card

      You can frame it for an added touch

      Insert a ticket to a special event 

      Give it with a memory box

  

Frame a special memory card.

Make memories that will hold someone in your heart forever.

For more ideas for memorial celebrations , gifts, moments and sayings check out our memorial pinterest page 

Pot Gardening Even You Can Do

Ever Wonder How To Grow In Containers?

Not everyone has space or a place for a garden. But we all have a place we can put a pot or two or even three, indoors or outdoors.

So, if you would love to have your favorite fresh fruits, herbs or vegetables at your fingertips, you can with a pot garden of your very own. You can grow everything from Cauliflower to Lemons to Herbs.

What can you grow in pots?

Veggies: There are over 2 dozen! They include:
Lettuce , carrots, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, peas, radishes, green beans and more.
Fruits: There are loads:
Lemons, pineapples, cherries, watermelon, strawberries, figs, peaches, cumquats, and more
Herbs: Just about any herb can be grown in a container...some grow better than others, just like fruits and vegetables.  

We made you a board full of the best Container Garden tips and tricks for wherever you live! So, if you are already tasting fresh crops...learn how!

If you want to learn how regrow vegetables and herbs from scraps, such as celery, carrots or basil...read about a garbage garden.

If you are looking for ideas for containers from upcycled materials we have that covered.

Want to know what grows best with what?  Here's your answer.

Life Is A Rainbow

Color Your World With Rainbows!

Rainbows are not only symbols of things like hope and purpose but have ancient roots. It's legend that the rainbow is also a symbol of yin and yang in Chinese. In this sense, the Chinese recognize five colors in the rainbow, and harmonized, they represent perfect balance.

We came across some pretty fun UPCYCLE rainbow painted ideas for your home that will fill your world with color.

So, whether you add a little color to your indoor or outdoors, here are some clever suggestions, why not try one and make your world brighter!

For a slew of rainbow crafts, check out our rainbow Pinterest board!
For more fun painted furniture ideas check out our painted furniture Pinterest Board

Rainbow Shades

Rainbow Shelves

Rainbow Bookcases

Rainbow Picnic Table

Rainbow Benches

Rainbow Lounger, Something Fishy!

Rainbow Wall

Rainbow Stairway

Rainbow Radiator

Rainbow Decorating

Rainbow Bureau

Rainbow Planters

Rainbow Musical Instruments

Rainbow Mat Made of Wood

Go Green Baby!

Greener Ideas For Your Baby Even You Can Do!

We've done all the work for you!  Whether you are looking for baby helpers, useful charts, better foods, simple sew solutions, or just plain great DIY baby ideas and hacks that are simple and greener, we have gathered them here on our pinterest page.

It's the best collection for help with baby room, traveling, nursing, play, babysitters, baby clothes and baby food for everyday.

So, whether you already have a baby or are having one, don't miss out on these great ideas, suggestions and hacks.

These are a natural!

Here's Your Sign For Earthday

Our Gift For Earthday To You!  

A useful Earthday FREE DOWNLOAD from Planetpals.com.  It's a sign!

At Planetpals we are always trying to come up with ideas to make Earthday better for all our Pals.  This year we are offering free Earth Signs that each of you can use.

Download these Earthday signs for your personal craft projects, school projects, or to decorate your room or classroom for Earthday.

For Other Earthday Ideas and helpers check out our famous Best Earthday Pages Ever. There is more ideas, downloads and projects there than you will ever need! 

How To Make Less Trash

It's A Good Idea to Make Day Earth Day!

As we approach Earthday it becomes apparent that some of us still haven't figured out how to make less trash.  Certainly, corporations are not helping us by putting less in packages and forcing us to buy more of them. We also succumb to the ease of grabbing a 12 pack instead of a large bottle of something on the go. There are so many reasons why it's hard to be less wasteful! But we can be aware of the simple ways we can eliminate waste in our every day activities.

Here is a great Chart from BeZero.org. 

Memorize it! Use these simple and sustainable ideas to help you cut down.

Learn more about ZERO WASTE on Planetpals Website and be a Zero Hero

Home Made Slime

There are lots of recipes for Home Made Slime, but this one is the slimiest!

Max and Alexa Get Slimy In Their Kitchen!

Max and Alexa, my crafty neighbors, love to play with Play Dough. This time, because it was such a success, so easy  and so captivating,  their Mom said "No More PlayDough!"

Max and Alexa's Home Made Slime Recipe

• 1/2 cup water mixed 
• Combine both liquid mixtures
• 1 tsp of borax mixed
• 1 cup water.
• 1/2 cup glue (clear or white)
• then add food coloring
• once slime forms - squeeze out excess water

Check out all of Planetpals NATURAL Home Made Craft Recipes:

Non Toxic Alternatives for Crafting:

Pastes:

Non Toxic Craft Paste
Non Toxic Paper Glue

Paints, Dyes, Crayons
Non Toxic Finger Paint

Non toxic Water Color

Non Toxic Puffy Paint

Non Toxic Puffy "Snow Paint"

Non Toxic Dyes

DIY Milk Paint

Non Toxic Crayons

Non Toxic Sidewalk Chalk Paint

Non Toxic Scratch and Sniff Paint

DIY Non Toxic Chalk

Dough, Bubble Soap, Glitter
Non Toxic Play Dough

Non Toxic Sand Dough

Non Toxic Cloud Dough

Non Toxic Bubble Soap

Non Toxic Glitter

Non Toxic GAK Silly Putty

Supplies:

Handmade Paint Brushes for Kids

How To Have The Best Earthday Ever

Celebrate your world in a special way. Enjoy this day on Earth with Planetpals best selection of Earth Crafts, Earth Themed Activities and Earthday Food Art. 

  

They are our gift to all our Planetpals for Earth's Birthday: So head on over to  Planetpals greatest collection of Earthday Crafts Ever for every age to enjoy today and Everyday.  

Happy Earthday Planetpals! 

Click here for Earth Crafts, and Earthday Food Art.

For more great Earth ideas see Planetpals Earthday Journal. Jam packed with History, fun facts, ideas for Earth learning and Earthday. Classroom projects for School and homeschool.

 Click here for Earth Themed Activities 

Earthday Products and Wearables:
Exclusive designs.

World Peace That's A Good Tune!

Hmong American Peace Academy encourages kids to sing for World Peace.

"We are all different" poem by Judith Gorgone recited by first graders at Hmong Charter School

In 2004, Hmong American Peace Academy, Ltd. in Wisconsin opened as the first Hmong Charter School in Wisconsin to teach children the importance of their culture and their world.

They believe that by overcoming adversity they will able to better preserve their cultural identity, while earning personal accomplishments and cultural honors along the way.

This winter teacher Jennifer Zappia had her first grade sing Planetpal's IKIDS CLUB theme song "We are all different" to a very receptive audience.  What a great job they did! According Jennifer the reason they sang it was because "one of the main goals of the school which is to teach children to be kind, peaceful, and to care for others."  She also stated "Your poem delivered the perfect message for what I teach my students every day. Thank you for writing it."

The Words to "We Are All Different" Poem: (You can sing it, too!)
© all rights reserved JAG Planetpals.com

We are all born

in a different way

How we look

and what we say

From different countries

around the world

Of different genders:

boys and girls

Of many sizes

and colors , too

The things we like

and the things we do

We're sure glad

it works this way

The world is so colorful

everyday

I f everyone

were the same , you see

You wouldn't be you

and I wouldn't be me!

• Learn more about PEACE and Peace Topics with IKC.
• Do Peace Crafts!

A Door Stop Can Save A Life Or Many!

Sometimes you come a cross an idea that just blows you away.

We're all about a safe, clean, happy world here at Planetpals.  

Sadly, our small world has been plagues with big mass shootings. We all find ourselves wondering what we can do to stop senseless acts of violence as in the recent Mass Shootings such as Parkland Florida and Sandy Hook. We want to know our kids and grandkids are going to school and it's safe. But we cannot control what happens at school, in a mall, any public place.

So, today I saw this post.  It said:


"After the Sandy Hook shooting, I gave both my nieces this little door stop to always keep in their backpacks. It truly pained me when I handed it to them, and I didn’t want to scare them, but it was out of love and they understood. In light of the recent shooting, I wanted to share this with all parents...and ANYONE else for that matter...to get themselves one (I always carry mine in my purse). Sure it’s small, but it can be powerful in keeping you safe if you ever have to barricade yourself in a room. If a gunman shoots out the door lock it will still keep the door from opening and may just buy you some time. I’m really sad posting this but a security expert shared this tip with me so I wanted to pass it on. I pray no one ever has to use it "



Such a simple thing. Though many doors open out, many open in, such as restrooms and homes. It works in this case.Put one in your purse or in your kids backpack.  Hopefully, no one you know will ever have to use it.  Available at places the Dollar Tree!  

Every classroom in America should have some on the teachers desk! 

Join in on the conversation at Grandparents Against Gun Violence on FB.