Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for “fifth of May”) is a holiday commemorating the Mexican army’s victory over French forces on May 5, 1862 in the Battle of Puebla. It is a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with your kids and make mini pinatas together! Here’s how…

What You Will Need:

• 2 Paper Cone Cups for each Pinata


• Scissors


• 12 inch length of Ribbon


• Crepe Paper


• Hot Glue (used with adult supervision)


• Pinata Filling Items (see ideas below)

What You Do:

• Use a scissors to cut the very tips off of the paper cone cups. This opening should be about 1/8 inch – just large enough to get a ribbon through the opening.


• Cut a 4 inch length of ribbon. Form a loop with the ribbon and tie the ends together in a knot.


• Push the loop end of the ribbon through the hole of one paper cone cup – the knot in the ribbon should be inside the cone. This loop becomes the hanger for the pinata.


• Cut two more 4 inch lengths of riibbon and fold them in half. Tie the two ribbons together into a knot at the folded end to create a tassel.


• Push the tassel ends of the ribbons through the hole of the second paper cone cup – the knot in the ribbon should be inside the cone, and the loose ends hang outside the cone.


• Place small candies and trinkets (see idea list below) into the paper cones.


• Use hot glue to glue the two cones together. CAUTION: To avoid burns, this step should be done by an adult.


• Cut a length of crepe paper to about 12 inches long, then use a scissors to carefully cut fringes all along the crepe paper (be careful not to cut all the way through the crepe paper). If you like, you can fringe both edges of crepe paper.


• Wrap the fringed crepe paper around the middle of the mini pinata (where the two cups are glued together) to add a coloreful decoration. Hot glue the crepe paper in place.


• If desired, glue additional embellishments onto the crepe paper. Items like stickers, buttons, and tags work very well.


• When your mini pinata is complete, it’s ready to hang! Give your kids a small stick and let them knock it down!

Variations:

• If you don’t have paper cone cups, you can make your own! Simply form a cone from any sheet of paper (we like to use Blank White Card Paper) by rolling the paper to shape. Use a glue stick to hold the cone shape together. When the glue has dried, trim the top of the cone so it is even (like a paper cup). Repeat this step to make two cone shapes, then follow the directions above to complete your mini pinatas.


• Instead of using hot glue to attach the two cones together, you can also use a length of clear heavy-duty tape – such as packing tape.

Pinata Filling Ideas:

• Mini Test Tube Touchable Bubbles – These colorful test tubes of long-lasting touchable bubbles make perfect pinata prizes!


• Jar of Stars – Place a dozen or so mini glow-in-the-dark stars into your pinata for glowing fun!


• Fortune Telling Fish – This classic novelty is always fun for kids!


• Glow Bracelet – Kids love things that glow-in-the-dark! This bracelet is a perfect fit for a pinata!


• Wikki Stix Fun Favor – Colorful Wikki Stix are versatile and fun! You can even use them to decorate the outside of your pinata!


• DirtBag Classic Footbag – Footbags (hacky sacks) keep kids active and help improve coordination. Oh, and they’re fun, too!


• Jelly Belly Jelly Beans – Everyone loves the unique flavors of Jelly Belly Beans!


• Original Silly Putty – A classic toy that’s perfect for a pinata!

You May Also Like:

• Multicultural Calendar Activity Set – Learn about festivals and holidays from around the world with this set.


• Mexico Activity Book – 40 Activities to Experience Mexico, Past and Present


• Inflatable Globe – Help your kids learn about our world with this handy inflatable globe!


• A Life Like Mine – A book about how children live around the world.

Still need a few fun ideas for Easter decorations? Here’s an easy project that kids of all ages can do. It’s also a great way to recycle for Earth Day tomorrow!

Make a dozen or more stuffed paper eggs, hang them from your windows or from tree branches, and have a Happy Easter!

Stuffed Paper Eggs

What You Will Need:

• 2 Sheets of Paper, any kind (we like to use old music sheets, old maps, wrapping paper, magazine pages, or Natural Kozo Paper)


• Egg Template (click this link to download and print)


• Scissors


• Pencil


• Ribbon (optional)


• Glue Stick


• Scrap Paper (for stuffing)

What You Do:

• Print the egg template and cut it out to use as a pattern.


• Place the egg template onto two sheets of paper and trace around the egg.


• Use a scissors to cut out both sheets of paper (you can either cut both at the same time, or cut them out separately – whichever is easiest for you). See pictures below.


• Save the scraps of paper that you cut away – you can use this paper as stuffing for your egg.


• Use a glue stick to apply glue around the edges of one egg cut-out – leaving about 3″ to 4″ open at the top of the egg (you will need this open in order to stuff the egg).


• Place the second egg cut-out on top of the cut-out with the glue applied and press into place.


• Allow the glue to dry completely before stuffing the egg.


• When the glue is dry, crumple up small pieces of scrap paper and stuff the crumples into the egg. Make sure to be careful not to rip the egg.


• When the egg is stuffed as full as you like, place a loop of ribbon at the top of the egg, then use a glue stick to glue the egg shut with the ribbon between the two egg halves.


• Hang your stuffed egg for a fun decoration!

Variations:

• If you prefer, use a sewing machine with a zig-zag stick to seal your egg instead of a glue stick. The look is great!


• Use plain white paper for your eggs, then let your kids decorate the paper eggs with markers, colored pencils, stickers, or paints. A nice custom variation for this project!


• Why stop at paper! Use fabric scraps to create the “shell” of your egg! Either hand-stitch the egg shut, or use a sewing machine or fabric glue.


• Add a small gift tag to the egg, and give it as a gift!


• There are so many ways you can embellish your eggs! Glue or sew ribbon around the edges of the egg, add beads, sequins, or glitter. Be creative and let your egg show your personality!

You May Also Like:

• Lime Green Play Silk – This large natural silk square isn’t just for playing with! Use it to wrap your Easter gifts or to line an Easter basket!


• Scramble Squares Bunnies – Challenge your brain and see if you can put the bunnies together again!


• The Complete Adventures of Peter Rabbit – Share this timeless classic with your kids this Easter! A fun read-aloud book!

Copyright © 2007-2011 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.

Children of all ages love to receive small Spring-time gifts at Easter. Little gifts can be hidden inside plastic eggs, or tucked inside an Easter basket. But there are lots of other creative ways to wrap those special Spring gifts, too!

Here are some ideas to get you started…

Tubtrugs Not only is a Tubtrug a perfect basket to use for Easter, it becomes a durable, useful household item, too! Place green shredded paper into the Tubtrug, then fill with special surprises. Add a colorful bow to the handle, along with a customized gift tag and you have an Easter basket that is sure to put a smile on the recipients face! Available in six bright colors and four sizes – you’re sure to find the perfect one!
Cloth Drawstring Bags A small Cloth Drawstring Bag is a fun way to hold little gifts! Customize the bag by using craft paint, fabric paint, markers, ink pads, or our Iron-On Transfer Paper. We like to use our Iron-On Transfer Paper to transfer vintage Easter images onto the cloth bags – good old-fashioned fun! Regardless of how you decorate the bags, they make a great alternative or addition to using plastic eggs for an Easter Egg Hunt!
Take Out Boxes Customize a White Wire Handle Box to hold your Easter surprises! Use craft paint, permanent markers, or Nature Paper stickers to decorate the outside of the box. Not sure what to put in the box? We like to place a sealed, zippered-top plastic bag full of potting soil into the bottom of the box, followed by a seed package of favored flower seeds. Top this off with a few foil wrapped chocolates and a gift tag, and you have a wonderful Spring gift! When it’s time to plant, the gift box can be used as the seed starter – simply dump the soil right into the box, plant the seeds in the soil, add water, and watch your garden grow!
Glassine Bags These simple Glassine Bags are perfect for holding candy and make a great table decoration, too! Fill a bag with colorful candies (our favorite for Easter is Chocolate Covered Sunflower Seeds). We also like to include a slip of origami paper inside the bag – either patterned or a bright solid color. Fold over the top of the bag, then use a paper punch to punch two holes into the folded top and tie a colorful ribbon through the holes. Cut an egg shape from white cardstock, decorate the egg with markers or colored pencils, and glue it to the treat bag, or attach it to the ribbon. A simple, yet elegant party treat!
Play Silks Instead of using plastic “grass” to line your Easter baskets, use a Green Play Silk instead! Not only does this look great, but the Play Silk becomes a fun gift, too! The Play Silk gives your basket a unique flair. And when the holiday is over, the Play Silk becomes a great item for creative and imaginative play!
Folding Boxes Make an origami-style box to hold your gifts! Use your favorite art supplies and be creative as you decorate this special box. Once you have the flat shape decorated, simply fold along the creases to form a box. Fill the box with special holiday treats and trinkets. The top snaps down to hold the contents in place. These folding boxes make unique table decorations, too!

Visit our Easter Shop for lots of fun gift ideas! And… we have over 900 fun products that are under $10! That’s a whole lot of fun!

Copyright © 2007-2011 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.

If you have snow where you live, here is a fun idea that is sure to surprise your kids!

After your kids are in bed for the night, get on your winter gear, grab a flashlight, and head out to your backyard and make gigantic hearts in the snow just by walking and shuffling your feet. To make this idea even more special, spray paint the snow heart outlines.

For smaller hearts, use our Snow Paint Kit to paint red hearts in the snow.

When your kids wake up on Valentine’s Day, see how long it takes them to notice the giant hearts in the yard!

This is a fun “gift” to give a friendly neighbor, too.

Have fun, and Happy Valentine’s Day!

You May Also Like:

• Ice Lantern Mold – Freeze Red Hot candies in ice to make a sizzling cool lantern for a Valentine’s Day dinner!


• Ice Dessert Mold – Freeze your favorite juice, along with red cherries, and then serve ice cream in this clever frozen dessert bowl! Perfect for Valentine’s Day!


• Water Wizard Buddha Board – Paint giant hearts with water on this red Buddha Board!


• Cool Jewels – Make dazzling “diamond” ice cubes to serve in your Valentine’s Day beverages! Cool fun!

Copyright © 2007-2011 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.

Help your kids count down to Valentine’s Day with these special cards that tell them how much you love them!

The countdown cards are a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s Day (or any day of the year)!

Valentine’s Day is almost here – get started on your countdown today!

What You Will Need:

• Valentine’s Day Countdown Cards (click this link to download and print the FREE countdown cards from our store)


• Cardstock Paper


• Color Printer


• Scissors


• Pen

What You Do:

• Click the link above for complete directions and to download your free cards

♥ While visiting our store for this activity, make sure to check out our Valentine’s Day Shop for lots of fun gifts and ideas! Place your orders by February 9, 2011 to ensure delivery in time for Valentine’s Day!

As a Mom of three boys, my kids and I are usually inventing gadgets, building things, digging in the yard, riding go-karts, catching frogs… you know, all things young boys like to do. We also like to make things from scratch. We experiment with cool concoctions like slime and putty, and we make some awesome marble runs. Making Valentine’s Day cards, however, is not really something that is at the top of my boys “most fun” list – go figure!

But, since we like to send cards to family and friends, I wanted to find a way to make creating handmade Valentine cards more fun for my kids. I remembered a saying from my childhood – “Yours till the horse flies” – and my kids thought it was cool. So, we’ve been brainstorming to come up with more sayings like this one.

Here are the sayings we have so far – just waiting to be turned into Valentine’s Day cards and gift tags:

• Yours till butter flies


• Yours till the bed spreads


• Yours till the kitchen sinks


• Yours till ginger snaps


• Yours till the barn dances


• Yours till the fire escapes


• Yours till the cat naps


• Yours till the car tires


• Yours till the peanut butters


• Yours till the cookie crumbles


• Yours till the square dances


• Yours till gold rushes


• Yours till bacon strips


• Yours till the ice ages


• Yours till space rocks


• Yours till the hedge rows


• Yours till the cow slips


• Yours till cement walks


• Yours till the video tapes


• Yours till the remote controls


• Yours till the glue sticks


• Yours till ice screams


• Yours till the banana splits


• Yours till the bubble wraps


• Yours till the water falls


• Yours till the sun burns


• Yours till the pool drains

Next, I think we’ll see what we can add to the age-old poem of “Rose Are Red, Violets Are Blue….” That should be fun, too!

Try this out with your kids and see what clever sayings they come up with!

Have fun!
…Yours till the board walks

Sure… you could give store-bought, prepackaged candy to all your Valentine’s this year, and that’s nice. But why not wrap the candy in a unique way instead?! Something straight from the heart.

Here are some of our ideas to wrap your candy in style! These ideas are all quick and easy – and your Valentine’s are sure to love them!

Get your kids together and have fun wrapping!

Painted Drawstring Bags Take plain Cloth Drawstring Bags and turn them into special surprises! Use craft paint, fabric paint, markers, or ink pads to create colorful hearts on the bags. Make sure to insert a piece of cardboard into the bag before painting or decorating to prevent the paint from bleeding through to the other side, then allow the paint or ink to dry before removing the cardboard. When the paint has dried, fill the bags with candy or small gifts.
Love Potion Candy Test Tubes Fill Wondertube Test Tubes with red, pink, and white candies for a cool “mad scientist” gift! Add a ribbon around the cap or neck of the test tube with a gift tag that says “I’m Mad about you!” You could even add a sticker to the test tube that says “Love Potion #9″!
Candy and Gift Sachets At Christmas, kids receive stockings full of small surprises. At Easter, it’s baskets full of goodies. For Valentine’s Day, fill Organza Sachets with candy and small gifts and hang the sachets on the doorknobs to your children’s bedrooms for a special Valentine’s Day surprise – what a fun treat to wake up to!
Jelly Belly Doilies White heart-shaped doilies are perfect for concealing Jelly Belly Conversation Beans! Sew two heart doilies together with red thread (with a sewing machine or hand-stitching) and fill with jelly beans or Red Hot candies before completely sewing the two hearts together. Present the candy-filled hearts to your Valentine with a note that says “You’re a heart breaker!”, “Don’t break my heart!”, or “My heart throbs for you!”
Elegant Glassine Bags Fill Glassine Bags with pink, white, and red candies. Fold the top of the bag over and punch two holes in the fold. Thread a red ribbon through the holes and tie into a bow. Add a special gift tag and you have an elegant Valentine’s Day treat! Put a bunch of these glassine treat bags into a large clear bowl, and place the bowl on a table for a Valentine’s Day Party – a nice decoration and a party favor, too!
Handle Boxes Make a special Valentine’s Day party favor box! Just add a sheer red ribbon and a few heart stickers. A quick and easy way to wrap your treats! Click Wire Handle Box for more information and ideas.
Silk Gift Wrap Ideas Make your Valentine’s Day gifts extra special… wrap them in silk! It’s two gifts in one! Not only is wrapping gifts in silk a unique, fun activity – it’s eco-friendly! The silk can be reused again and again for other presents, and can be played with for imaginative play. Wrapping gifts in silk squares is also easy for young children to do. No tape, no scissors required. Be creative! Click Silk Gift Wrap Ideas for more information and for folding instructions.

Copyright © 2007-2011 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.

Well… okay, they only look like diamonds – sort of – but your kids will be just as impressed!

This is a fun science project for kids and it results in a unique Valentine’s Day gift.

Alum crystals are actually easy to grow and they really are stunning when done. If you get started today, you’ll have some really nice sized crystals just in time for Valentine’s Day! Give them as gifts, make them into a necklace, use them for holiday decorations, or keep them for yourself!

What You Will Need:

• 1 cup of Hot Tap Water


• 6 tablespoons Alum (found in the spice aisle at your grocery store)


• 24″ of Nylon Fishing Line


• Pencil


• 2 clean Glass Jars or Large Glass Beaker


• Spoon


• Paper Towel

What You Do:

• Pour hot tap water into one clean jar.


• Slowly stir in alum, adding a little bit at a time. Continue stirring and adding alum until it stops dissolving. NOTE: You won’t necessarily use the entire 6 tablespoons of alum. If the mixture remains cloudy, let it stand for a few minutes to allow the suspended alum to settle.


• Place a piece of paper towel over the jar to keep the dust out, set the jar somewhere where it won’t be disturbed, and leave it sit overnight.


• The next day, pour the alum solution from the jar into a second clean jar. Small alum crystals will have formed at the bottom of the first jar. These small crystals will be used as the “seeds” to grow larger crystals.


• Tie a piece of nylon fishing line around the largest of the seed crystals, then tie the other end of fishing line around a pencil. You will want the length of the fishing line to allow the crystal to hang in the second jar without touching the sides or bottom of the jar. Depending on the size of the crystal you want to grow, make sure to keep the seed crystal at least an inch off the bottom of the jar to allow it room to grow. NOTE: You may want to save the remaining seed crystals as a reserve, in case anything happens to your first choice. Just place these extra seed crystals in a plastic zip-top bag to keep them from drying out.


• Hang the seed crystal into the jar with the alum solution.


• Place a piece of paper towel over the jar to keep the dust out and set the jar in a place where it won’t be disturbed.


• Check on your crystal each day to observe it’s growth. Continue to allow the crystal to grow until you are happy with the size.


• When the crystal is the size you like, usually within a week, remove the crystal from the solution and allow it to dry. Your crystal is now ready to give as a gift!

Tips:

• Crystals will grow on a piece of sewing thread, but they cannot grow on nylon. If you do not have nylon fishing line, you can smear Vaseline or Cooking Oil on the thread to prevent the crystals from creeping up the thread.


• If crystals start to grow on the sides or bottom of the jar, carefully remove your crystal and pour the alum solution into another clean jar, then replace your crystal in the new jar. This will allow your crystal to grow, without having to compete with the other crystals in the jar.


• If you want to grow a really large crystal, you will need to remove the crystal from the solution once a week and then either redissolve any crystals that have formed in the solution or suspend your crystal into a fresh, saturated alum solution. You may also need to use a larger jar or beaker, so make sure your alum solution has enough alum in it to remain saturated.


• If no crystals have formed after several days, your alum solution is not saturated enough. You may need to warm the solution and allow it to sit for a day to let some of the water evaporate.

Notes:

• Alum is non-toxic and is safe for kids to handle.


• The materials used in this experiment can be safely disposed of in the trash.

You May Also Like:

• Sound Reactive Star Crystal – This little star brings a smile to everyone who sees it, and it lights up to sound!


• Ein-O Science Instant Snow – Grow snow with this chemistry kit!

Copyright © 2007-2011 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.

Valentine’s Day will be here soon – now is a great time to sit down with your kids and get started on making unique Valentine’s Day gifts!

Rock Candy Sticks – Rock candy is fun to make, and a great way to grow sugar crystals; a science experiment you can eat! You will need about 6 to 7 days to allow the crystals to grow, so get started now! Click this link for our recipe and complete instructions.

Old-Fashioned Taffy – Making taffy is a fun activity for an entire family, and it tastes so good! Wrap several pieces of taffy and add a gift tag that says “I’m stuck on you!”, or “You’re so sweet!” Click this link for our recipe and for fun ideas.

Valentine Game Scrolls – Instead of giving candy for Valentine’s Day, use sheets from our Best of Mad Libs book as Valentine Day cards and a gift! Just roll the puzzle page into a scroll, wrap a band of decorative paper around the scroll and secure with a ribbon. Tie a gift tag made of cardstock to the ribbon with a clever phrase such as “I’m Mad about you!”, “You have Mad skillz”, “I Lib for you” – you get the idea!

We have lots more great ideas for Valentine’s Day! Make sure to check our blog regularly – or click the By Email icon in the upper-right corner of this window to subscribe to our blog posts via email!

You May Also Like:

• DIY Valentine’s Card Making Kit – We’ve assembled a variety of fun supplies for you to use to make your own Valentine cards! Be creative!


• Vintage Valentine Postcard Book – This book features many adorable cupids, pretty ladies and charming children, and much more.


• Red Play Silk – Use this beautiful red play silk to wrap your Valentine’s Day gifts in! Not only is it an eco-friendly way to wrap a gift, it becomes a gift, too!


• Heart Cookie Cutter Set – Sure, it’s a cookie cutter set, but click this link to see all the OTHER ideas we have for this set!

Copyright © 2007-2011 Escapade Direct LLC. All rights reserved. All content on this site is property of Escapade Direct LLC and may not be used without our written permission.

Show your Valentine spirit and enter the Escapade Direct Valentine Draw It! Color It! Contest for a chance to win!

This isn’t your typical coloring contest, it’s a “draw it your way” coloring contest! We get you started, but it’s up to you to finish the drawing and then color it in. Use your imagination and be creative. Think outside the lines, and draw it your way!

CONTEST INFORMATION

What Are the Age Groups?

There are three age groups. A first, second, and third prize winner will be selected from each age group.

• Group 1: Children ages 4 to 6


• Group 2: Children ages 7 to 9


• Group 3: Children ages 10 to 12

CONTEST PRIZES

Prizes are as follows:

• 1st Prize – $50 EscapadeDirect.com Store Credit


• 2nd Prize – $25 EscapadeDirect.com Store Credit


• 3rd Prize – $10 EscapadeDirect.com Store Credit

To download your coloring pages and complete contest information, please click Draw It! Color It! Contest.

Good luck, and have fun!