Travel Game Cards
If you’re looking for something to keep the kids or grandkids busy while traveling this summer, here’s a fun and easy idea. Make a set of travel game cards that the kids can pull out and browse through when they need something to keep them occupied.
Each of these six games requires nothing other than willing participants on a road trip or waiting in line. I created a pocket to hold the cards using the Mini Pocket Template Die, adding a flap with a velcro closure to keep the cards secure inside.
To create the pocket I trimmed a 3″ x 9″ piece of patterned paper and then scored and folded the top down at 1 1/2″. Then I placed the die over the paper and lined up the folded top just below the end of the die as shown below. I punched the corners of the flap with my Scallop/Cloud Corner Chomper.
Then I folded up the pocket and glued the flaps around the back side. I added some sticky back velcro to keep the top closed, and then embellished the front of the pocket.
This set of game cards is perfect for summer travel for yourself or to give as a gift. If you’d like to make your own set of cards you can download a free printable pdf file HERE.
Summer Boredom Busters Jar
If you’ve spent time around kids during the summer, I’m sure you’re familiar with the “I’m bored!” phrase that seems to pop up all too often. Well, this summer nip that in the bud with an easy Boredom Busters Jar.
Simply find an empty jar or other container, decorate it with your favorite papers, stickers, or other embellishments (you can even get the kids involved in this) and then fill it up with strips of paper containing fun, cheap, and easy summer activities.
I used papers, a tag, and alpha stickers from the Farmers Market collection. I die cut some pennants from the paper using the Pennants Punches Dies, and then added ribbon and some washi tape (Coral and Chevron) to finish off my container.
To come up with fun activities you can ask your kids/grandkids for suggestions, and you can browse the internet for great ideas as well. Pinterest has a wealth of summer boredom busters that require little or no set up/cost. Here’s the list we came up:
- Use spaghetti noodles and mini marshmallows to build a bridge
- Make sea animals from colored paper plates, stickers, and markers
- Create a laser maze in the hallway using red crepe paper
- Use straws and a cardboard box lid to make a marble maze
- Using a small milk carton as a base, make a log cabin with pretzel sticks and Nutella
- Save your toilet paper and paper towel rolls to make a ping pong ball run
- Learn how to fold five different origami shapes
- Grab some plastic buckets and rope from the dollar store and make stilts
- Play flashlight games
- Make chocolate chip cookies
- Paint a T shirt
- Learn how to finger knit
- Make Kool-Aid play dough
- Play balloon ping-pong with paper plate paddles
- Write your own script, make sock puppets, and record a puppet movie
- Run through the sprinklers
- Read a book out loud together
- Make a blanket fort
- Go to the library
- Skype your friends
Happy summer blog readers!