Hosting a glow party? Going in the outdoors and need a kids lantern? This glow-in-the-dark rainbow lantern craft has easy step by step instructions to make a camping lantern for the kids with glow sticks. Also an adorable craft for glow party lighting!

Easy Glow in the Dark Rainbow Lantern Craft

Has anyone else been on full speed since the last school bell rang this summer? This house of seven has been very busy. We have hit every museum, gone to numerous pools, stayed up late catching fire flies, chased splash pads around the city, and watched all the movies we can handle. While the creativity this mamma has had has been pretty top notch,  I must admit, I am frequently referring back to the calendar counting down the days until the first school bell rings… can anyone else hear that faint sound?

If you are trying to fill the gaps between the last bell and first bell or whether you are still winning at checking off the summer bucket list, both sides of the mom camp will enjoy this creative and VERY EASY Rainbow Lantern Craft. Pull out the remainder glow sticks you didn’t use over the Fourth of July, grab your excess mason jars, and pick up these affordable mason jar wire hangers.  You can go camping in the great outdoors or you can avoid the misquotes and make it something special for the kids to read their book by at night (in their bedroom, in the AC, while you sip wine in the other room!)

You are still winning mom! You got this. Happy rest of the summer break!

Supplies:

• 1 pack 8 count glow bracelets
• 8 oz mason jar
• Mason jar wire hangers

Directions:

1. When you are ready to enjoy your lantern, “crack” each glow stick down it’s entire length to that the light is activated.
2. One at a time form each glow stick into a bracelet shape and push the glow stick down into the mason jar so it hugs the jar from the inside.
3.  Repeat step 2 until all 8 glow sticks are inside your jar hugging the inside. If your jar is taller, add more glow sticks until your desire length is reached.
4. Screw your lids back on and place the mason jar wire handle around the rod and lock in place.
5. Use to light up a walkway, a tent, a bedroom, back yard or many more ideas! We love this for a glow party!

Tackling this idea over summer? We have more ideas for you.  Take a look at this Visual Summer Bucket List for the kids. Pin to Pinterest.

We have other creative ways to use lights. Take a look at these Upcycled Christmas Lights (for ideas year-round!). Pin to Pinterest.

Looking for lighting ideas to brighten your back yard? Check out these Midsummer Nights Patio Ideas with Lights. Pin to Pinterest.

Taking the lantern out in the great outdoors? Take a look at these other Camping Hacks and Tips. Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

If you’re looking for an easy tutorial on how to make stickers using the Cricut machine, then you’re in the right place. I will simplify the process, so you can focus on your creativity. Continue reading this easy step-by-step tutorial.

How to Make Stickers Using the Cricut Machine

Making stickers is one of the fastest growing trends, and not just for creatives. There are planners to decorate, containers to label, invitations to hand out, and the list can keep going on.

Learning how to make stickers using the Cricut machine isn’t that difficult with the right tips and help along the way. And today, I’m going to guide you through the Cricut Design space and show you how you can make your own stickers.

How to Make Stickers Using The Cricut Machine

For this project, you will need printable sicker paper for your machine. Cricut has it online and it is often discounted.

The first thing you’ll want to do is create your stickers. You can do this by using programs such as Microsoft 3D Paint or Procreate, which is a drawing app available on Apple products.

Once your stickers are created in the program of your choice, you’ll want to outline your images in a light grey color (make sure to leave plenty of white space around your images) so the Cricut machine will know where to cut.

I would strongly recommend using the light grey color because this color will not show when your stickers are cut. Once your image is ready, save your file as a JPEG for easy uploading into Cricut Design Space.

Next, you’ll want to log into Cricut Design Space and select “Create a New Project.” You’ll want to go to the bottom left of your screen and select “Upload.”

Upload your greyscale image and select “complex” so you will have all of your features and colors from your stickers. This is especially important if your stickers are very detailed. Then select “continue.”

Since you don’t want to print out any of your grey colors from your stickers, you want to click on the wand in the top-right hand corner of your screen.

Then click on any grey area of your image and watch the grey be replaced with a checkered pattern. This tells Cricut Design Space to only print your stickers and ignore everything else on the page. Select “continue” to make your stickers.

After you select “continue” you’ll be presented with two options of what you want Cricut Design Space to do with your sticker image. You’ll want to select the option on the left, which is “Save as a print then cut image.”

Don’t forget to name your image what you’d like your file to be known as (this is on the right-hand side of the screen). Then select “save.” Select your image once your file has been uploaded and select “Import Image” so your stickers are inserted into Design Space.

Once your stickers are imported into Cricut Design Space you can easily rotate your image, make your stickers larger or smaller, depending on the size you’d like to print from your printer. If you need to duplicate or rotate your image, you can do so now.

Once your stickers are the size you want, go ahead and select the “Make It” button in the top right-hand corner of your screen.

After you select “Make It” double check to make sure your image is the size and quantity you’d like to print and cut. If so, select “Continue” in the bottom-right of your screen. You’ll then want to print images on the printer of your choice.

Please remember to insert your sticker printer paper into your machine before selecting the print option. This will save you a headache and you won’t find yourself rushing to your printer or wasting ink.

From the print option, you’ll want to select the printer of your choice, leave copies at 1 (if making one page), and turn off the “Bleed.”

Once your stickers are printed out, make sure your Cricut machine is on and connected.

Next, select the “Paper” option under materials and “Continue.” After you place your sticker paper onto your Cricut mat and insert this into the machine, your fine-point tip cutter will do the rest of the work. (Remember to match your sticker paper and lay your paper down on your Cricut mat as the image is showing in your Design Space.)

Then, enjoy your new stickers!

What kind of stickers are you planning on making? Do you have any questions about using the Cricut machine? Ask and share in the comments below.

Take a look at these Cricut Freebies – Tutorials for Your Cricut Projects. Pin to Pinterest.

We love our Cricut Monogram Tutorial. Pin to Pinterest.

Want Another Cricut Tutorial? Learn How to Add Your Own Images to Cricut Design Space. Pin to Pinterest.

A common sought after tutorial – How To Cut Vinyl in Cricut Design Space. Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Make your own LEGO Travel Case. This DIY LEGO craft has building block compatible tape and a tin pencil case. It’s a great travel with kids idea!

DIY LEGO Travel Case

We live in the suburbs of DC. When we take road trips, it takes hours just to get outside the surrounding area of the district. For example, we recently took a trip to the Outer Banks which was supposed to be a  trip less than 5 hours. The car time took 9 hours! Talk about some creative ideas mom had to come up with the make her entire family of 5 happy. That was a trip without a single DVD too!

My number one tip when traveling with kids is making sure that you have snacks. Having well fed tummies makes everyone happy. Also, I find too much sugar in my kids equates to getting car sick, so I have water over a sugary drink. Beyond food and drinks, I have to gather creative crafts. this personalized LEGO bin came in handy when taking our last road trip. We sorta made a game out of it. My girls love the Food Network challenges where they are required to get five ingredients. I told the girls they could use 9 LEGOs to make something and then we compared our final creations and had a vote on who was the most creative.

For this DIY LEGO Case, we found this LEGO Compatible Tape to be best, but there are a lot of building block tape options on Amazon.  Since I am a last minute shopper, my Amazon Prime Membership allowed it to arrive in 2 days and I whipped up this craft really quick before our adventures!

What do you find necessary for the road when you travel with kids? Take a peak at our  Road Trip Hacks and Tips.

Supplies:

• LEGO compatible tape
• Metal/tin school box
• Scissors
• LEGOs or building blocks

Directions:

1. Open your tin school box and measure the top from side to side (only the flat surface, don’t worry about the edges).
2. Now cut around seven pieces of Lego tape the same length (more if your box is larger).
3. Carefully laid the tape down onto the flat metal/tin surface until all pieces are laid out.
4. Once you have it in place, press firmly along each piece.
5. Fill the other side with Legos, close the box and bring with you wherever you go.

This DIY LEGO Travel Case goes great with our Airplane Activities for Kids. Pin to Pinterest.

Going on the road? Instead check out these Road Trip Hacks and Tips. Pin to Pinterest.

Mom might want to flag these! Winning Car Hacks for Moms. Pin to Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.