Category: DIY

Cupcakes in a Jar: Father’s Day Gift + Printable

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Father’s Day is lurking around the corner, and if you’re anything like me, you’re already brainstorming ways to make Dad feel extra special. Whether it’s your dad, husband, grandpa, or a few amazing father figures in your life. Nothing says “I appreciate you” quite like a thoughtful homemade treat.

This year, I’m making Cupcakes in a Jar, a fun and easy DIY dessert that looks as good as it tastes. Not only are they delicious, but they’re also portable, giftable, and absolutely adorable with a little ribbon and custom tag. These are especially perfect if you’re gifting to multiple dads or delivering something sweet from afar.

What You’ll Need

How to Make Cupcakes in a Jar

1. Bake Your Cupcakes:
Prepare the cupcake mix according to the box instructions. Bake and let them cool completely. (Tip: Don’t overfill the tins so your cupcakes stack nicely.)

2. Make the Frosting:
Whip up your buttercream frosting and fill a piping bag with a decorative tip.

3. Layer in the Jar:
Unwrap a cupcake and place it in the bottom of the jar. Pipe a generous swirl of frosting on top. Repeat with a second cupcake and another layer of frosting.

4. Seal It Up:
Once the jar is filled, close the lid tightly to keep everything fresh and intact.

Finishing Touches:

5. Print & Cut Your Gift Tags:
Download and print these adorable Father’s Day tags. Cut them out neatly.

6. (Optional) Make Them Stickers:
If you have a Xyron Sticker Maker, you can turn the tags into stickers—just run them through the machine and peel off the backing. Easy, cute, and mess-free!

7. Add Ribbon & Tags:
Tie a ribbon around the jar for an extra festive touch. If you didn’t use the sticker option, simply punch a hole in the tag and thread it through the ribbon.

You’ve just created a sweet and thoughtful Father’s Day gift that looks like it came straight out of a bakery window. Whether you’re delivering them in person or dropping them off with a card, these cupcakes in a jar are sure to be a hit.

So grab your apron, get a little frosting on your fingers, and have fun celebrating the incredible dads in your life.

Happy Father’s Day! 💙

DIY Father’s Day Golf Gift & Printable

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Looking for a fun and meaningful Father’s Day gift that’s perfect for the golf-loving guy in your life? Whether it’s for Dad, Grandpa, or another special father figure, this easy DIY idea is guaranteed to make him smile and maybe even improve his game (with some luck and love from the kids)!

This gift is simple to put together, budget-friendly, and a great way for kids to get creative. All you need are a few basic supplies and a little imagination.

Screenshot

What You’ll Need:

How to Make It:

  1. Set out the golf balls and markers, and let the kids go wild with creativity!
    • They can draw Dad’s favorite things, funny faces, or leave sweet, positive notes like “You’re tee-rific!”
  2. Once the golf balls are decorated, place them in the jar.
  3. Tie a ribbon around the top for a festive touch.
  4. Attach one of the printable tags to finish it off. Tags are available for Dad, Pops, Grandpa, and Gramps!

Not only is this gift thoughtful and personal, but it’s also something he’ll cherish. He might even sneak a couple of these special balls into his next round of golf, though don’t be surprised if he chooses to keep them on display instead.

Grab Your Free Printable Tags:

Download Here

DIY Pen Pal Kit

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Looking for a fun and meaningful way to keep your kids entertained (and off screens) this summer? I put together a Pen Pal Kit for my kids and it’s been a hit! With most kids still too young for phones, staying in touch with friends and family during summer break can be tricky. I wanted to make it easy and fun for my kids to write letters without scrambling for supplies or tracking down addresses every time.

What’s in the Kit?

  • Clipboard
    We picked one that opens and holds all the supplies inside. It’s a great way to keep everything in one place—no more lost stamps or missing pens! We chose a blank one so that we could decorate and personalize it.
  • Address Labels
    I printed out return address labels and pre-printed labels for their friends and family. It saves time and lets them send off letters on their own without needing to ask for help.
  • Stationery
    We found some colorful, fun stationery sets. Cute paper makes writing more exciting and receiving a cheerful, handwritten letter is a special treat!
  • Stickers (optional)
    Just a little extra something to decorate envelopes or letters. It adds personality and creativity to each note.
  • Pens & Pencils
    Keep it simple with standard supplies or let them pick out fun pens like glitter, neon, or multicolored ink!
  • Stamps
    Want to make it even more fun? Take a field trip to the post office and let your kids choose stamps with cool designs.

My kids are genuinely excited to write letters now—and even more excited to receive them back. The Pen Pal Kit has made it easy and enjoyable for them to stay connected with friends and family during the summer.

Pro tip: Keep everything stocked and stored in the clipboard so it’s grab-and-go ready for rainy days, quiet afternoons, or post-playdate reflections.

Have you made a Pen Pal Kit before? I’d love to hear what you included!

DIY Instax Magnetic Frames with Personalized Charms

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If you’re like me, capturing memories with your loved ones is something special. That’s why I’m obsessed with my Instax Fuji Film printer. It lets me print my favorite moments straight from my phone and instantly bring them to life. But what I really love is finding creative ways to showcase these memories both at home and at work.

Today, I’m sharing a super fun and easy DIY project: Instax Magnetic Frames with Personalized Charms! These adorable frames are perfect for adding color, personality, and a little sparkle to your printed photos.

What You’ll Need:

How to Make Them:

  • Step 1. Print our your favorite photos using the Instax Fuji Film Print.
  • Step 2. Select your favorite charms and glue them onto your magnetic frames.
  • Step 3. Once the charms have dried, insert your printed pictures into the frame.
  • Step 4. Display them anywhere! On your fridge, white board, filing cabinet, anywhere they can be seen!

Pro tip. Try creating a seasonal set like beach photos with seashell charms for summer, or holiday memories with tiny snowflake charms for winter. It’s a great way to keep your displays fresh and fun!

DIY Painted Frames with Charms – A Fun Summer Craft for Kids!

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Looking for a creative and meaningful activity to do with your kids this summer? These DIY Painted Frames with Charms are the perfect way to keep them busy and the end result is a sweet keepsake you’ll treasure for years to come.

This project is not only fun, but also a great way to reflect on your favorite summer memories together. All you need is a photo that captures a special moment, this can include a beach day, a picnic, or a backyard adventure, and a few simple craft supplies.

Why You’ll Love This Craft:

  • Kid-friendly
  • Encourages creativity and storytelling
  • Doubles as a personalized décor item or gift
  • Helps turn summer memories into lasting keepsakes

Here’s what you’ll need:

This is great way for you and your kids to use your creativity to make something special. Our daughter Riley had so much fun making one for herself, she wanted to make another one to share with someone special. Adding charms gives these frames a whole new level of fun and really brings out the personality from the photo. Share your finished frames with me on Instagram, just tag @shortstopdesigns so I can see and celebrate your creations!

DIY Clay Bead Bracelet: A Perfect Craft for Kids

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Our daughter, Riley, loves to craft and is looking for ways to stay busy, especially at her brother’s baseball games. A couple years ago, she met another girl on one of the teams who would make things and sell them to people during games. This inspired Riley and she wanted to do the same! We thought bracelets would be perfect for her since it’s easy to put together and would keep her entertained at home and at the games.

One day while I was scrolling through Amazon, I saw these Clay Bead Spinners and thought this would be perfect for her if it really worked… I was definitely skeptical at first but decided to buy it. When we got it, we were amazed at how well it worked! We were able to complete a bracelet in 5 minutes if we kept the machine on without making any changes to the bracelet. Our boys were even fascinated by it and made a couple themselves! Here are a couple tips when using it.

1) The machine randomly throws on beads on the needle, so if you’re going for a colored pattern bracelet, you probably won’t want to use this. If you’re a go with the flow type of person, this is perfect for you! You’ll want to choose colors that go well together! In the end, it still creates something very cute and colorful.

2) Add more clay beads in the dish! This will help the clay beads fall onto the needle and make the process of making a bracelet go a little bit faster.

3) Finding the right speed and rotation of the spinner can make all the difference. You can adjust the speed of the spinner, along with having it rotate clock-wise or counter clock-wise.

Here are the materials you’ll need:

It’s a tool that is great to use when you’re having a movie/craft night and perfect for littles who love creating something for friends and family! If you or your kids love giving bracelets as gifts, take a look at this post on Boutique-Style Packaging Ideas + Printable.

Best Supplies for a Fun Lemonade Stand

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Looking for things to do while your kids are home for the summer? A lemonade stand is a great way to keep them busy and can be a great educational experience while they’re out of school! We have done three lemonade stands and learned the best times and best places to host a lemonade stand. Today, I’m sharing some of our tips, supplies, and our favorite cookie recipes to help you and your kiddos have a successful lemonade stand!

Lemonade Stand Tips

  1. We’ve discovered the best time to host a lemonade stand is when our neighborhood is having some type of event, like a neighborhood garage sale. These usually draw in shoppers who are already looking to spend some money, and are supportive in helping out kids with their small business venture!
  2. Location is key! We are in the back of the neighborhood, and we know that there’s going to be less “foot” traffic, which means less buyers. If it’s feasible for you, bring your lemonade stand to the front of the neighborhood for better visibility. We have brought all of our supplies in a wagon (or the car depending on how we’re feeling) with us so we don’t have to go back and forth between the house and the front of the neighborhood.
  3. Market to your friends and family to draw in a crowd! In case things get slow, it’s always a great idea to let friends and family know you’re hosting a lemonade stand. Plus, the kids also appreciate seeing familiar faces supporting them.
  4. Sell baked goods or treats! Funny enough, we’ve found that selling baked goods has brought in more money than selling lemonade.
  5. Stay hydrated and bring water with you! Depending on how long you and the kids are willing to stay out, it’s likely you’re going to be out there for 1-2 hours. Plus, you don’t want to drink up the inventory!

Cookie Recipes That We Love

As mentioned before, selling baked goods is key to making your lemonade stand successful! Remember, it’s going to be hot out there, so you’ll want to try to avoid anything that will melt and ruin the look of your treats. Here’s a few of our favorites:

Lemonade Stand Supplies

When it comes to the set up, you’ll want to create one that stands out so everyone can see it when they’re driving by! I like to add a cute table cloth, a tiered tray to hold the treats and farmhouse drink dispenser to draw some attention. You can also tie in cute cups, patterned straws and packaging for your treats. Can’t forget the lemonade! Depending on how much time I have (and effort I want to put into it) I sometimes like to make the from scratch. But this last time I decided to grab a lemonade mix and it made my life a little bit easier. Top it off with some fresh lemons and you’re all set!

There are so many ways to make your lemonade stand look fun! The biggest thing is to let your kids help out and give them a chance to see what it’s like to run a small little business for the day. It’s a memory that your kids will remember for the rest of their lives, even if you do it just once!

Night Before Christmas Gift Tags

The night before Christmas gift tradition is one that is popular in many homes. These “Night Before Christmas” gift tags will help you remember which gifts can be open before Christmas!

Growing up, my parents let us chose one gift we could open the night before Christmas. I loved this tradition and I’m glad it was something my husband’s family did as well. Their tradition was the “Night Before Christmas” pajamas, and we’ve stuck with that since we’ve been married. I love it and it’s something my kids look forward to every Christmas. We’ve done matching pajamas, themed pajamas, cozy pajamas, you name it! While they may know that they’re going to be opening a set of pajamas the night before Christmas, there’s still an element of surprise, and it’s one more sleep until Christmas!

If you ever have the problem of misplacing those gifts under the tree or forget which gifts are supposed to be open the day before, these gift tags are the perfect solution! Simply cut out the printable, and tape them onto the gift, or use a hole puncher at the top of the tag and tie it with ribbon. These will be a life saver when you’re searching for those gifts the night before!

Download the “Night Before Christmas” Gift Tags

“No Peeking” Christmas Gift Tags

In case your friends and family need a little reminder, these “No Peeking” gift tags are a fun little add on to your Christmas presents.

When my kids see the presents starting to pile up under the Christmas tree, they want to poke around and count the number of presents there are. Sometimes, they’ll even try to shake their gift and try to guess what it is. While this is pretty typical of my kids (if not all kids), it is definitely tempting for them to want to open a present now. They are definitely old enough to resist the urge at this point, but seeing their excitement is so much fun and I can’t wait to see their faces on Christmas day!

While many of us already know that we have to wait until Christmas to open up our gifts, adding these fun “No Peeking” gift tags add a little silliness to your presents. You can add just the “No Peeking” gift tag by itself, or pair it with the “Special Delivery” tag to add a whimsical touch to your presents.

Print these off easily at home on some cardstock and you’ve got yourself a fun set of gift cards your friends and family will adore!

No Peeking & Special Delivery Gift Tags

No Peeking Gift Tags

Printable Advent Calendar + 30 Activity Ideas

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We’ve reached the end of the year and the busiest season of the year! My kids ask every year for an advent calendar and they absolutely love it. We’ve done a variety of advent calendars: candy, socks, activities, you name it! I will admit, their favorite has definitely been the candy ones, but I know they also love getting into the holiday spirit with Christmas activities.

Here is an advent calendar that you can print off and use for years. Knowing that every year is going to be different, you can also change the text so that you can plan the activities based on your schedule. The text can be changed in Canva and is free and easy to use!

Here’s what you’re going to need:

How to put it together:

  1. Print out the Advent Calendar Cover on cardstock.
  2. Using a cutting mat and precision/exacto knife, start cutting 3 sides of each box on the Advent Calendar so that it opens up like a door. You don’t want to cut off all of the sides on each box.
  3. To print out and/or change the text on the Activity Page, go to Canva and edit the text on the template.
  4. To print out the Activity Page, select “Share” at the top right corner, choose Download and for file type, choose PDF Print. Once you’ve selected the file type, click download.
  5. Line the Advent Calendar and Activity Page behind it.
  6. If using a matted frame, tape the pages to the matte and line up the 2nd page. If using a frame without a matte, sides down to fit a 8×10 frame.

See the video on how to put the Advent Calendar together: Instagram Video

Need some ideas for your Advent Calendar?

  1. Watch a Christmas Movie
  2. Look at Christmas Lights
  3. Bake Cookies
  4. Make a homemade gift and deliver to a friend/neighbor
  5. Wear an Ugly Christmas Sweater
  6. Look at Christmas Lights
  7. Make a holiday craft
  8. Write a letter to Santa
  9. Read a Christmas Book
  10. Hot Chocolate Bar
  11. Make a Ginger Bread House
  12. Make Magical Reindeer Food
  13. Donate a gift to someone in need
  14. Go Ice Skating
  15. Listen to Christmas Songs
  16. Send Christmas Cards
  17. Have a Sleepover by the Tree
  18. Visit Santa
  19. Watch a holiday show
  20. Visit a Christmas Market
  21. Play in the snow
  22. Make a Christmas Ornament
  23. Play board games in Pajamas
  24. Wrap Christmas Presents
  25. Try a new Christmas Cookie Recipe
  26. Donate Food
  27. Take family pictures
  28. Go Sledding
  29. Leave Cookies for Santa
  30. Attend or Host a Christmas Party