Who needs the Easter basket full of chocolate eggs when you’ve got this winning Easter basket cupcake, topped with tinted coconut to resemble grass and garnished with jelly bean eggs? The waffle bowls can be found in the supermarket with all the ice cream toppings. For a special presentation, decorate with cute yellow marshmallow Peeps and arrange on a platter with wheat grass surrounding the little baskets. It’s best to eat these cupcakes with a fork.
* Makes 10 baskets (4 inches each)
Create a pirate ship, a photo booth, a corner market, or just a place to play hide and seek. This is an incredibly easy think to do. You can be as simple or elaborate as you want. It's amazing how kids will find ways to use their imagination by just cutting a few holes in a box.
Play-doh made from scratch is incredibly easy, and you can make an endless array of colors with basic food dye. Plus, it doesn’t have that awful commercial-brand smell. Spread the outdoor tablecloth on the floor, and give them dull knives, a rolling pin, and some cookie cutters.
A geodesic dome is the strongest dome you can build. Geodesic domes are made of interlocking geometric shapes—often triangles. Because loads are spread over many triangles, these domes are especially strong. Make yours out of newspaper and see how strong it can be. For instructions: www.pbs.org/wgbh/buildingbig/educator/act_geodesic_ho.html
Grab some seeds, wire, a jar of peanut butter, and a pine cone. Twist the wire around the top of the cone to create a hanger, then let your kids spread peanut butter ocer the cone and sprinkle the seeds on top. Place your creation in the freezer for an hour. Hand the seed-covered cone in your backyard, and watch the birds come flocking. For an educational twist, have a copy of The Audubon Backyard Birdwatcher on hand, or head to www.whatbird.com to identify the birds that drop in for a snack.
To keep the rope from scarring your tree, slip a section of rubber hose around the part that touches the branch. Make sure the limb is very sturdy. Your kids will have loads of run.
Alexander Calder gave the form cred by infusing his works with something unknown to mose modern art: fun. find a Calder near you at www.artcylopedia.com, then let your kids create their own mobile with a hanger, string and a little imagination.
Pick a selection of objects that represent this specific moment: today's newspaper, a mix CD of music, this weeks TV Guide, your last grocery receipt, a stamp, an amazon.com printout of the top-selling toys, a magazine with photos of the latest fashions, and the like. Then write a note to your future selves describing what everyone likes to do and their plans for the future. Finally, make a prediction about what things will be like in 10 years hence.
Marshmallows are incredibly cool -- not only do they taste good, but by lighting them you can create a great source of light in a dark campsite! Kids love them and they will love to make them. Have some fun with them too...see who can stuff the most marshmallows into their own mouths.
Marshmallows are actually a candy, and have existed in present-day form since the mid-1800s. They are called "marshmallows" because part of the early recipe called for sap from the root of the marshmallow plant.
What fun to design, build and fly your own kite. The supplies are easily found at your local hardware store or hobby shop. If you're not that "skilled", buy a complete kit. Keep your design simple or make it complex. Build a basic kite or one that can do stunts.
Check these sites for more resources: www.kitebuilder.com & www.skratch-pad.com/kites/
