Sweet and Fresh Blueberry Wrap with Cream Cheese Recipe

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September 6, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Education, Pinterest, Recipe

We are bringing back an oldie but goodie recipe from our friends at www.simplysprouteducate.com. This week enjoy a seasonally Sweet and Fresh Blueberry Wrapup.

It’s just that, a lot of yumminess wrapped up into a crowd pleasing treat! If you’re lucky enough to live in a location with blueberry and strawberry patches nearby, we encourage you to take your children to experience the joy of picking their own fruit. What better way to show how the food we eat goes from the soil to the supper table!

Ingredients:

1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup sugar
1 8oz container of cream cheese
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1 package of crescent rolls

Preparation:

Cream together cream cheese, sugar and vanilla in a small bowl and set aside.
Wash blueberries and gently stir into cream cheese mixture. Open crescent rolls and align 7 of them in a pinwheel fashion, equally on a baking sheet. Use the 8th one to fill in any holes in the middle.
Spoon cream cheese and blueberries onto the middle of the crescent pinwheel that is formed. Carefully pull points of crescent rolls overlapping them over the middle in a criss cross fashion.
Bake in a pre-heated oven on 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Also enjoy our Strawberries in a Lemon Cake Recipe.

A seasonal treat for all to enjoy! At Simply Sprout we’re cooking up lots of great ways to make learning fun and educational. Join us at www.simplysprouteducate.com.

Follow all Recipes on Frugal Coupon Living as well as FCLAsh on 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.

Munchkin Sandwich Cutter 3 Piece Silly Sandwich Set $2.50 Each

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August 26, 2014 by Frugal Coupon Living Writers Filed Under: Amazon, Back to School, Kids, Online Shopping

Shop this deal for the Munchkin 3 Piece Silly Sandwich Cutter Set for $7.49 or $2.50 each! This adorable set is a Amazon Best Seller and comes HIGHLY RATED! The Munchkin Sandwich Cutter is a perfect way to make your child smile while they are having lunch with their classmates.

Munchkin 3 Piece Silly Sandwich Cutter Set allows you to:

Make fun shapes out of sandwiches, pancakes and more
Keep the kids engaged and interested at mealtime
Create an elephant, a penguin, or create a sandwich puzzle
Get one of each color, Green, Pink, and Blue

Get the Munchkin 3 Piece Silly Sandwich Cutter Set today!

Grab a FREE Trial of Amazon Prime or score Free Shipping with your order of $35 or more!

Get more Amazon Deals on Frugal Coupon Living.

Back to School Sharpie Tie Die Book Cover Art

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August 22, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Crafts, Education, Pinterest, Summer

SHARPIE TIE DIE BOOK COVER ART
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Who doesn’t love school supplies? We love them as much as teachers as we did as students, and now we like to find lots of creative ways to use them. At the beginning of each school year it’s a tradition to cover your textbooks. Gone seem to be the days of boring brown paper bags, and now book covers show a student’s style. Why not combine a cool school supply art project and a way to re-purpose something old?

Grab an old t-shirt that you’re going to toss and make it into a one of a kind book cover!

All you need is:

100% cotton t-shirt (preferably white)
Sharpie markers (a variety of colors)
Rubbing alcohol
Medicine/eye dropper
Cookie sheet
Clothespins

Cut your t-shirt down to a rectangle that is long and wide enough to create a cover for the book of choice. Lay the t-shirt flat and clip to the sides of a cookie sheet using clothespins. Make sure to pull the t-shirt as taut as possible while clipping. Using your Sharpie makers make designs such as the circle and dot pattern seen above. Pour rubbing alcohol into a small bowl. Fill your eye dropper with alcohol and then start dripping in the middle of each design. The more you flood the center area, the more the design spreads. There is no way to mess this back to school art project up, so have fun!

We love how our book covers turned out, but you could do tons with Sharpie art. Cut the shirt into smaller pieces and slide into the front cover of your binders. You could make artwork for your locker, recover an out of date lunch bag, make patches for an old backpack, and more.

If you are going to wash the item that you’ve designed it is suggested that you set your artwork with a hot iron first and wash on cold separately.

For more back to school inspirations and creativity for kids visit us at www.simplysprouteducate.com and our newly opened Teacher’s Notebook store.

Do not forget about the First Day of School Printables. Pin to Pinterest for next year!

Lemon Cake with Fresh Strawberries

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August 20, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Crafts, Education, Pinterest

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Spring is in the air, and what better way to welcome a new season than with this delicious lemon cake with fresh strawberries. A local farmer’s market always lends itself to a great family outing. Point out seasonal fruits, like strawberries, to your children. Introduce your children to the men and women who grow food that we eat. This recipe combines the simplicity of a box mix with the sweetness of the season.

Ingredients:

1 box lemon cake (oil, water and eggs as per package instructions)
oversized cupcake pan
strawberries
cream cheese frosting
lemon frosting

To make these mini lemon cakes use an oversized cupcake pan and your favorite lemon cake mix (why reinvent the wheel and spend all your time baking in the kitchen while your family is outside enjoying this beautiful weather, save time and use a mix). Follow package instructions for baking. Once cupcakes are done cooking let them rest on a wire rack to cool down. Once cool slice cupcakes in half and spread on a generous amount of cream cheese frosting. Cut strawberries into thin slices and layer onto cupcake. Place top of cupcake on and use lemon icing to decorate your mini cake. Get creative and use a piping bag to add a little flair to your frosting. Top your cupcake off with a strawberry. Filled with a burst of flavor, this delicious dessert goes well with vanilla ice cream and is sure to be a crowd pleaser this spring.

When trying out your favorite new recipes have your little ones help you in the kitchen. Break out the measuring cups and turn cooking time into learning time. For more ideas on how to get your little ones involved and learning visit www.simplysprouteducate.com.

Welcome Back Apple Stamped Back to School Lunch Sacks

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August 9, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Crafts, Education, Pinterest, Summer

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We’re kicking off a Back to School Bash with Frugal Coupon Living this week! When Ashley asked us to share some back to school ideas, we couldn’t be more thrilled. Being teachers we get just as excited (or nervous) to head back to the classroom as the kids do. For the next several weeks we’ll share with you some fun and educational ways to get in the school spirit.

Packing lunches can be a dreaded task in even the most organized of households. Use this art project as a perfect way to have your little ones help jump start your packing parties.

Supplies:

Paper lunch sacks
Washable paint (we used red, green, and white)
Apple sliced in half
Cork
Scraps of ribbon
Hole puncher
Black marker
Paper plates

Lay out a couple of paper plates for your kids with some paint on each of them. Show them how the apple can double as a stamp. Have them cover the cut side of apple with paint and stamp their bags. They can use the cork to make polka dots. Once they’re dry you can use the black marker to finish off the design. By folding the top of the bag over once and hole punching, you’ve prepared your bag to be used as soon as school starts. Have the kids design special ones for themselves or their siblings. Let them dry and store them away for back to school time. The final touch is some cute ribbon through the holes on the top once it’s stuffed with a yummy lunch!

For more educational ideas visit us at www.simplysprouteducate.com.

Don’t forget our FREE First Day of School Printables – Pin to Pinterest!

Check out these other Back to School Frugal Coupon Living FREEBIES and Crafts:

1.) Introduction – Project Lunchbox – Pin It

2.) ABC School Days Theme – Pin It

3.) Shark Week Lunch Theme – Pin It

4.) Camping Theme Lunch – Pin It

5.) Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Theme – Pin It

6.) Bug Lunch Theme – Pin It

7.) Birthday Lunch Theme – Pin It

8.) Keep Calm and Teach On FREE Printable and Pencil Vase – Pin It

9.) Face Fruit and Food Stickers and FREE Lunch Notes – Pin It

Also check out Back to School Deals on Frugal Coupon Living.

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.

Easy to Make Colored Pasta and Do It Yourself Toddler Activities

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August 7, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back to School, Crafts, Education, Pinterest

or Pin to Pinterest

Colored Pasta Tutorial and Activities

Colored pasta is an inexpensive, fun way to teach your toddler a wide range of beginning math skills. Your tot will think they are just playing but they will be soaking up knowledge, and if you let your little one help you can add in a science lesson by mixing colors such as red and yellow to make orange or yellow and blue to create green.

Items Needed:

2 cups of pasta (for each color)
2 tsps. Food Coloring (gel or liquid)
2 tsps. rubbing alcohol
Ziploc Bags
Gloves ( unless you are interested in coloring your hands also in which case…carry on)

Mix the alcohol with the food coloring in the baggie and then add the pasta. Put all into a Ziploc bag. Massage pasta and coloring, making sure to cover the pasta with the liquid. Allow to sit for 5 minutes to absorb (Do not let it sit any longer than this as pasta will become gummy) Massage bag again for even distribution. Spread pasta out and allow it to dry for at least an hour.

Color Recognition/Sorting

Begin with the basics ; Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, and Purple. Give your child a bowl of mixed pasta, and an empty, clean muffin tin. Sit with your child and encourage them to sort the pasta by colors or shape. Reinforce their knowledge by calling out colors as they pick them up, or ask your child to name the color.

Patterning

Patterning is a very important beginning math skill. Begin with abab patterns (red,yellow,red,yellow) encourage your child to copy your pattern or make one of her own. Lay out a simple pattern line and ask your child to mirror the pattern underneath. If your child masters simple patterns move onto patterns like abc and aabb.

Counting

Begin by placing several pieces of pasta out on the table, show your child how to point to each piece as you count. This teaches one to one correspondence and will show your little one to count in an orderly fashion. Start with no more than 5 as not to overwhelm your child, when they master that add more or maybe even basic addition or subtraction. “ How many are left if I take away 1?”

Fine Motor Development

Cut a piece of yarn or string approximately inches in length. Tape one end tightly with a piece of masking tape. Slide a piece of tubular pasta over the tape to the other end, wrap around pasta and tie in a knot. Give you child a bowl of the tube shaped pasta and demonstrate how to thread necklace.

Sensory Bins

Use colored pasta as a base for sensory bins. Some ideas are to use all colors, add cotton balls for clouds and use it as a Rainbow bin to teach or reinforce colors. All blue would be fantastic with some plastic ocean animals for an Ocean Bin. Red, yellow, and orange for a fall bin with some silk leaves, and acorns to spark a discussion on Fall themes. Give your child empty cups, spoons, tongs, etc and you can extend the learning even farther. Pouring and pinching with tongs develop fine motor skills. Filling containers Science and math come into play.

Check out …

Six Awesome Ways to do Water Play with Kids – Pin It
Make Colored Rice – Pin It
Rainy Day Activities Round-Up – Pin It

Be sure to Pin to Pinterest and to find more Pinterest Ideas and Recipe Ideas on Frugal Coupon Living.

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.

Back to School | Fun, Cheap, or FREE Teacher Gifts

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August 1, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Crafts, Education, Pinterest, Summer

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Start the school year off on your teacher’s good side with this super sharp back to school gift! A simple and easy craft to do with kids before that first bell rings. Gather a few supplies around the house and be ready to show your teacher appreciation!

Items needed:

A rinsed and cleaned empty spaghetti jar
Several packs of unsharpened pencils
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Ribbon
White card stock paper
Scissors
Flowers
Printable tags found below
White canvas tote*

We love that this craft involves repurposing something that would otherwise be tossed or recycled. Of course any round vase or jar will do. Working quickly, put horizontal lines of glue around the top portion and bottom portion of the jar. Work to cover a little space at a time so the glue doesn’t harden. Press the pencils, eraser end up, on the jar. Continue until you’ve covered the circumference of the jar. Using hot glue, make a ring around the pencils, about half way down. Press your ribbon into the glue to adhere to the pencils. Print the tag below on white card stock paper and tack on ribbon with a dot of hot glue. Now fill with some fresh flowers to brighten your new teacher’s day!

PIN IT TO PINTEREST or get the FREE PRINTABLE

You can really be the teacher’s pet by printing the large circle above on iron-on transfer paper. Pick up an inexpensive canvas bag from your local craft store and make a great tote for your teacher.

For the complete Sunny Days classroom printable kit, plus other great back to school ideas, visit www.simplysprouteducate.com.

* Totes can be found at Hobby Lobby or Michael’s. You can also pick up a FREE tote from Vistaprint. Add the teacher’s name, school name, or even a fun education quote. A simple Google search can help. Grab your Craft Store Coupons!

If You Like This, Check Out These Other Posts:

There is a lot going on in Back to School and the Back to School Series.

Also search our Themed Lunchboxes

1.) Introduction – Project Lunchbox – Pin It

2.) ABC School Days Theme – Pin It

3.) Shark Week Lunch Theme – Pin It

4.) Camping Theme Lunch – Pin It

5.) Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Theme – Pin It

6.) Bug Lunch Theme – Pin It

7.) Happy Birthday Lunchbox – Pin It

Back to School | FREE Keep Calm, Teach On Note and Craft

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

August 1, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Crafts, Education, Pinterest, Summer

Pin to Pinterest

Start the school year off on your teacher’s good side with this super sharp back to school gift! A simple and easy craft to do with kids before that first bell rings. Your child will feel proud and it’s a fun way to show your appreciation for your teacher and help sharpen up her room as the year starts!

Gather a few supplies around the house and be ready to show your teacher appreciation!

Items needed:

A rinsed and cleaned empty spaghetti jar
Several packs of unsharpened pencils
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Ribbon
White card stock paper
Scissors
Flowers
Printable tags found below
Fun tote *optional

We love that this craft involves repurposing something that would otherwise be tossed or recycled. Of course any round vase or jar will do. Working quickly, put horizontal lines of glue around the top portion and bottom portion of the jar. Work to cover a little space at a time so the glue doesn’t harden. Press the pencils, eraser end up, on the jar. Continue until you have covered the circumference of the jar. Using hot glue, make a ring around the pencils, about half way down. Press your ribbon into the glue to adhere to the pencils. Print the tag below on white card stock paper and tack on ribbon with a dot of hot glue. Now fill with some fresh flowers to brighten your new teacher’s day!

PIN IT TO PINTEREST or get the FREE PRINTABLE

For the complete Sunny Days classroom printable kit, plus other great back to school ideas, visit www.simplysprouteducate.com.

Grab your Craft Store Coupons!

If You Like This, Check Out These Other Posts:

There is a lot going on in Back to School and the Back to School Series.