Mickey Mouse Gift Tag Ornaments

Add a special touch to all of your gifts this holiday season with the help of play doh! These easy Mickey Mouse gift tags can be used as a one of a kind ornament after the gifts have been opened.

My family loves to play in play doh. We have used it for fun and learning, but now we are looking at ways to make it giftable for all ages. I found the perfect way with these easy as can be gift tags. 

I went with a Mickey Mouse style because all of my wrapping paper is in Disney prints this year. Plus, this is such an easy design that anyone can make it. Even the kids!

You only need a few supplies to make these easy Mickey Mouse Gift Tags:

Play Doh

Bakers Twine

A Straw

Sharpie

Directions:

Form a play doh ball that is the size of a nickle.

Form a dime size play doh ball. Tear it in half.

Flatten the balls into small flat circles.

Press the smaller circles into the larger one, leaving a small space between them, like Mickey's ears.

With a sharpie, or washable marker, write the name of your gift recipient. 

With a straw, punch out a hole in the large circle of doh.

Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.

Allow to cool.

Thread the twine through the hole.

Attach to your gift.

Find more Christmas crafts here
Button Tree Ornaments

Foot Print Matching Activity

This easy homemade puzzle challenges toddlers and preschoolers with supplies you probably have on hand. 

Kids will love figuring out who made what prints in the play doh!

This foot print matching activity is so much fun for little ones! It gives them a quick and easy homemade puzzle that will engage toddlers and preschoolers. Mix it up with different dinos or animals for a puzzle that changes every time you play with it.

This is such an easy and fun activity for kids. It gives them a chance to be a young detective while engaging in hands on play. Parents and caregivers will love that this one is so easy to set up. All you need to do is grab a can of play doh and a few action figures.

My son was crazy about Dinosaur Train when he was little so we have a ton of these little dudes in the toy bin. My daughter has been interested in them for a few weeks, so I decided to involve the trusty Dinosaur Train friends in this puzzle to keep her exploring and learning. You can use any kind of toys you want, from dinosaurs, to super heroes or even other animals.

This post contains affiliate links.

Supplies:

Several action figure type toys

One can of play doh

Directions:

Flatten out a can of play doh.

Grab a dino or action figure and press the feet into the doh. Press hard enough to make an imprint, but not so hard that the doh tears or rips. 

Repeat with other dinos or action figures.

Line up the toys and ask your child to figure out who left what set of prints.

If you want to challenge your child, you can mix the prints up, or if you want to make it a little easier for younger kids, keep the prints in a line.

If you are looking for more boredom busters and ways to keep your playing and learning check out some of our favorite kids activities .

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Button towers

Apple Tree Addition

Mickey Mouse Christmas Ornaments

These play doh Mickey Mouse ornaments are perfect for adding a handmade touch to your tree!
These are easy enough for kids to make and are so much fun to display and share!

I don't know who likes play doh more; my kids or me. We always have a few cans on hand and we always have a next up recipe to try for a homemade variety. I think it is safe to say that it is our preferred vehicle for creative expression. Bringing that fun to Christmas is a natural!

I came up with these so easy play doh Mickey Mouse ornaments and my kids loved them. We decided they are perfect for the Christmas tree.

This post contains affiliate links. 

Supplies:

Play Doh

Bakers Twine

An ink pen

Directions:

Form 2 small balls of play doh. One ball should be the size of a nickle, while one ball should be the size of a dime.

Flatten the ball the size of a nickle into a flat circle.

Tear the dime size ball in half.

 Roll into 2 smaller balls.

Flatten these smaller balls into flat circles. These are your ears.

Attach them to the top of the larger circle. 

Leave just a small space between the ears.

Poke a hole in the large circle with an ink pen, poke through.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Allow to cool.

Thread bakers twine and hang on the tree.

Find more Christmas fun here.

Reader favorites include:

Mickey Mouse Jingle Bell Ornaments

Top Gifts for Girls

This year there are so many awesome gift options that the hardest part of making Christmas wishes come true is deciding on what to buy! I have been busy as one of Santa's elves testing out some of the hottest toys and I have found some super fun ones! I am so excited to present these fun toys to you in my top picks for girls gift guide!

This post contains partner and affiliate links. Products and or payment was received for promotional considerations.

1) LeapFrog Epic Academy Edition Kids Tablet
This was my top pick for Harper this year because she really wants to use my ipad all of the time, but I worry about some of the things she wants to watch and play. The ads that pop up on so many of the games. This tablet is completely perfect for her, right out of the box. It has 20 learning games installed for family friendly entertainment, it also has a free trial of Leapfrog academy included. This offers kids a great chance to learn a variety of subjects anywhere they may go. The search feature is super safe, which I love. I no longer have to worry about my 4 year old landing on inappropriate youtube videos!

Retailing for under $120, this is a tablet that will grow with Harper. Ideal for ages 3 to 9, this is a colorful and durable tablet for kids that helps them learn and play all in one. A great feature is that as your child is ready to explore new android apps, you can add them to this tablet. That was a deciding factor for me as it will allow her to use the tablet with some of the other toys she will receive on Christmas morning!

2) Dance Code Belle
This is such a fun way to introduce your daughters to coding! They can create dances for Belle, and she will show them her moves! Control her from the app, press her necklace, or hold her hand for different ways to play with Dance Code Belle.

Coding seems like it would be hard, but girls as young as 5 can get in on the action by drawing the steps out, or a simple dot to dot style of coding. This is a great way to introduce a concept that may play a big role in her later life through an irresistible option!

Retailing for under $100 you can find this gorgeous Belle doll exclusively on Amazon this holiday season.

3) Baby Alive Sweet Tears Baby Doll
If your little girl loves babies this is the ultimate doll for her! Not only is it really adorable, but it also gives kids hands on tasks to make baby happy and smiling again! Your little one can play caregiver to a very interactive doll that smiles, giggles and even cries real tears!

The Sweet Tears Baby Alive comes with so much more than just a doll! She comes with everything you need to nurse her back to health when she is ill, feed her a snack, or brush her hair. One of my favorite features is that this doll isn't just for little girls. With a simple flip of a switch you can take your interactive doll from mommy to daddy mode for fun for little boys. Sweet Tears Baby Alive can make 35 phrases and sounds as an added bonus!

Retailing for under $50 this is a super fun gift option for little ones that love dolls!

4)  Play Doh Letters and Language Set
This is such a fun way to combine play and learning! The set has 26 letter stamps, 6 cans of play doh, a stylus, a roller, a mat  and a guide book for a complete letter learning experience.

One of the reasons we love play doh is it is such a wonderful tool for fine motor skill development. Harp has been playing with the classic dough since she was about a year old, and has developed so many crucial skills for life with the squishy dough in her hands, including using scissors. As we are learning all about the alphabet and making a lot effort on letter recognition in her preschool years this is a set that will bring her so much more than fun on Christmas day. It will help her build on a solid foundation of early learning with a favorite play time staple.

Retailing for under $20 this is a gift I recommend to anyone shopping for an early learner!

5) Go Go Smart Friends Shimmering Seashell Castle
This fun playset is perfect for little ones that like mermaids! The sandcastle features 3 points that when Pearl the mermaid is placed will produce fun sounds and phrases. The set includes friends for Pearl the mermaid to make playtime an epic underwater adventure.

Retailing at under $40 this is a great V tech toy for dramatic play and discovery. I love dramatic play tools for Harp so this was a natural choice. She will play with this in so many ways and I know she will introduce Pearl and the underwater friends to a lot of other toys.

This set features so much more than just a cute house. There is a vanity, a slide, a carrousel and so many more fun features to make this an exciting choice for little ones!

6) Hape Toys City Cafe Play Kitchen
This is a seriously adorable little kitchen. I love that it is wooden, because it looks so much more realistic than the heavy plastic varieties. It is compact enough for small space play, but in that tiny space it packs a lot of fun!

Featuring everything your little one needs to cook up a great time, the City Cafe Play Kitchen is one of my favorite gift ideas this year. As I mentioned above, I love to encourage dramatic play in my preschooler. With something as simple as a cute little kitchen, she can learn in so many ways!

This was a great option to pair with our Hape toys play food that we have been collecting over the years. Retailing for under $100, this is a gift that will bring years of learning through play.

7) Hape Toys Mighty Echo Microphone
This was another great choice for dramatic play. My kids have always wanted to get their hands on a microphone and with this choice it is possible without damaging eardrums or sanity levels.

This microphone has amazingly good sound quality for a battery free toy! I think it is a fun way to encourage kids to sing and again, engage in dramatic play. This makes a great gift for kids 12 months and up.

This would make a great stocking stuffer or gift exchange option as well.

8) Voice Activated BB8 
If your little girl looks up to Rey, then the natural choice is the Voice Activated BB8 from Hammacher Schlemmer. This is such a fun toy! Standing at about 19" tall this cute little robot is ready for adventure! The Star Wars character can be controlled using an included 40' range remote or set to an interactive mode that responds to voice commands such as “Come here”, “Where’s Rey?”, and “Stand guard!” Complete with lights and sounds from the BB8 we all know and love, this is a one of a kind toy that will make Christmas dreams come true as she sets out on an adventure with her new interactive friend. Retailing at under $230 this is the perfect gift for Star Wars fan girls of all ages. Not only is the BB8 droid adorable but he is so interactive! his moods are funtastic and the sounds are completely realistic. Also, check out kids advent calendars on Kidsco for more inspiration for various toys.

I would love to hear what your favorite gift options for girls are this year!

Glittery Playdough Made with Sunscreen!

This glittery no cook playdough is perfect for summer play. It is made with a unique ingredient for a fun and fragrant hands on play session!

I have been making lots of homemade playdough for Harper. I love using different ingredients to create something I know she will love. 

This post contains affiliate and partner links. If you make a purchase I will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

When Sea Star Sparkle sent me an assortment of sunscreens, I thought this would be a fun chance to try a unique glittery, fragrant sunscreen playdough. 

This recipe is easy and requires no cooking. It comes together in a matter of moments to create a fun way to have hand on play, with ingredients you may have at home.

I used Very Berry Scented sunscreen. I love that it is made with eco friendly glitter and the scent really adds something special to this playdough! It makes for a totally pleasant sensory experience between the soft dough, eye catching glitter and delicious fragrance!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of sea star sparkle eco friendly sunscreen

Water; several tablespoons

Neon Food Coloring

1- 1.5 cups of flour 

Directions:

Place 2 tablespoons of water and 1 cup of water in a medium mixing bowl.

Add a few drops of food coloring and 1/2 cup of sea star sparkle sunscreen to the flour.

Stir until well combined and the contents begin to clump.

At this point, you will decide if you need to add additional flour. If the mixture feels sticky, add an additional 1/4 cup of flour, and continue to stir.

When the flour has been incorporated, test for stickiness. 

Add additional flour if needed

When the playdough is not sticky, it is ready to play with!

Store in an airtight container when not in use.

When you are not playing with the dough, be sure to store it in an airtight container for up to a week.

You can find more hands on fun here.

Find all of my play doh ideas here

Birthday Cake Sensory Bin

This easy birthday cake sensory bin is perfect for any little aspiring chef! Made with homemade playdough and complete with loads of sprinkles and fake candles, this bin keeps preschoolers happily baking up something good!

After many years of mothering, I have learned that it is a good idea to have an activity planned for the afternoon. I usually have something set up for Harp like a paper craft or something she can get creative with, but lately we have been LOVING sensory bins. 

Harper loves to bake, so the idea for this birthday cake sensory bin came around. I thought she would love the chance to play with sprinkles, and I was right. When she came home from preschool, she was ready to get her hands into this bin! I have a feeling your little one will want to do the same should you recreate this project.

This was easy to assemble and super economical. You likely have all of the supplies on hand!

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase I will earn a small commission at no cost to you.

Supplies:

1/2 cup of shampoo (any kind will do, including something from the dollar store!)

 2 tablespoons of water

1 cup of flour

Sprinkles

Silicone cupcake molds, small cake pans, small dishes for forming cakes. Your childs play food collection is a great place to find materials to use in this bin.

Washi Tape

Small Craft Sticks

A battery operated votive candle

Tissue Paper in orange, yellow or red

A baking dish or a bin with a lid

To make the birthday cake dough:

Add one cup of flour, 2 tablespoons of water and 1/2 cup of shampoo together in a medium bowl. 

Begin to stir, as the ingredients start to bind together, finishing mixing with your hands.

 If the dough feels sticky, you will add a little more flour, no more than 1/4 cup.

Test for stickiness. If the dough is still sticky, add a little more flour and continue to mix until it doesn't stick to your hands.

To make fake candles:

You will need a length of washi tape that can cover a craft stick on both sides.

Allow the tape to slightly overlap the craft stick and place small squares of tissue paper on the top of the stick. I layered orange and yellow tissue paper to resemble a flame.

Fold the tape up to cover the other side of the craft stick.

Trim the edges of the tape on the sides of the craft stick.

Trim your tissue paper to resemble a flame.

To assemble the birthday cake activity bin:

Pour a bottle of sprinkles in the bottom of the dish or storage container you plan to use.

Add the dough.

Add small dishes like play food dishes, silicone cupcake molds, small baking dishes.

Add the fake candles and a battery operated votive candle, if you have one.

Invite your child to explore the activity. They will form cakes, decorate with sprinkles and add candles to serve birthday cake!

Find more hands on play ideas here

In the Sky Bin

Sushi Bin

Play Doh Ideas

Button Stacking Fine Motor Activity

This button stacking activity is easy to set up and is really fun for little hands. With basic household supplies you can set up an activity that will challenge fine motor skills in your kids while giving them a fuss free boredom buster.

Summer is here, but, really, it feels like summer has been here for months already with the school year going as it did. My kids have been getting a little restless.  I have been finding easy ways to entertain them, and give them the quiet play options like this button stacking activity.

Kids of all ages will love this activity. It is perfect for preschoolers and kindergartners as it works their fine motor and pincer grip.  It is just as fun and beneficial for elementary aged kids because it gives them a chance to practice working with fragile materials like brittle spaghetti. My kids like to challenge each other to see who can build the tallest tower the fastest.

This post uses affiliate links, if you make a purchase I will earn a small commission.

Supplies:
Dry spaghetti
Play doh
Buttons

Directions:
Flatten a can of play doh.
Insert two dry spaghetti noodles into the play doh.
Offer your child a pile of buttons.

Encourage them to thread the buttons on the pasta. See how many they can stack up without breaking the pasta.
Or encourage them to make a pattern of colors for variety.

Or encourage them to race!

See who can make the tallest stack of buttons without breaking the pasta!

Find all of our fine motor activities here
Veggie Garden Sensory Bin

Fine Motor Counting

Button Tower STEM Activity

Button Towers are an awesome way to spend the afternoon for stem loving kids! This activity comes together with only two supplies to keep the kids entertained and building all day long.

Now more than ever, creative exploration is important for kids.  Mine have been out of school for over 3 months already and we are not sure what the new year will hold. We have been staying at home, and seeing what we can do with the things we have on hand. This Button Tower Stem Activity has been a big hit with both of my kids, and all of the other kids in the neighborhood too! 

You only need 2 supplies to pull this off. Kids will love seeing who can build the biggest tower and what methods work, as well as which ones don't work!

Supplies:

Buttons in assorted sizes

Play Doh

Directions:

Roll an assortment of play doh balls in various sizes.

Offer an assortment of buttons and instruct the children to build a tower.

My kids opted to alternate balls of doh and buttons to stack them up.

They said the key to making them stand was how you press the button into the doh.

Sometimes the towers tumble over on the second or third button; sometimes they stack easily. Either way it goes; it is loads of fun and presents an enjoyable challenge that kids of all ages will love.

I love that this was as simple to set up as digging around in my craft supplies. Some of the best activities really are simple in design.

Be sure to supervise little ones with this, as buttons can pose a choking hazard.

Find more fun ideas for kids here

Reader favorites include:

Seashell STEM Towers

Easy Aquarium Craft