Frugal Coupon Living

Stretching Your Pennies, Saving Your Dollars

Lemon Cake with Fresh Strawberries

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

by Filed Under: Crafts, Education, Pinterest

published date: April 06, 2012
modified datt: August 20,2014

Pin to Pinterest

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.


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.

Welcome Back Apple Stamped Back to School Lunch Sacks

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

by Filed Under: Back To School, Crafts, Education, Pinterest, Summer

published date: August 09, 2014
modified datt: August 09,2014

Pin to Pinterest

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.

free-first-day-of-school-printables-signs-frugal-coupon-living-with-boarder

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

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

by Filed Under: Back to School, Crafts, Education, Pinterest

published date: July 07, 2013
modified datt: August 07,2014

SONY DSC

  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.

SONY DSC

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.

SONY DSC

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.

SONY DSC

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.

SONY DSC

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?”

SONY DSC

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.

SONY DSC

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 …

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

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

by Filed Under: Back To School, Crafts, Education, Pinterest, Summer

published date: August 16, 2012
modified datt: August 01,2014

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.  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


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 | FREE Keep Calm, Teach On Note and Craft

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

by Filed Under: Back To School, Crafts, Education, Pinterest, Summer

published date: August 01, 2013
modified datt: August 01,2014

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

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.

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


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.

Fourth of July Kid Friendly Firecracker Craft

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

by Filed Under: Crafts, Education, Pinterest, Summer

published date: June 29, 2013
modified datt: June 27,2014

Firecracker Craft -Pin to Pinterest

The Fourth of July makes us POP with excitement at Simply Sprout!  A holiday filled with patriotism, outside play, family, and of course fireworks!  Fireworks and Lil Sprouts aren’t the best combination, so we’ve thought of a way for toddlers to get in on the fun!  Just in time for Independence Day you can make this kid friendly firecrackers!

 What you’ll need:

  •  Tennis ball canister
  • Red, white, and blue ribbon
  • Construction paper
  • Red, white, and blue glow sticks
  • Any additional embellishments (pom poms, sequins, stickers, etc.)
  • Glue gun

Directions:

After you have let the hot glue gun heat up (please supervise any children around a hot glue gun), make a line of glue around the bottom portion of canister.  Working with about one inch of glue at a time would be best. Place scraps of patriotic themed ribbon in the glue.  If you don’t have ribbon scraps at home you could use streamers, strips of paper, curling ribbon, etc.  Be creative!  Continue gluing ribbon from the bottom of the canister until you have made it around the entire circumference.  Take a thicker piece of ribbon and cover up the tops of the ribbon where you have already glued.  Continue wrapping the ribbon until you get to the top.  Take a piece of ribbon and make a handle by gluing the bottoms to each side of the canister.  Using the ribbon that you wrapped the canister with, circle the top portion so that ends of handle are now covered.  To make it look like an official firework, we added a cone made of construction paper to the top and decorated with sequins and such.  Now for the fun part!  Stuff your canister with red, white, and blue glow sticks (we found ours at Target for $1).  Another great idea is to fill the canisters with candy, flags, beads, or other patriotic treats for your young guests!

A creative way to let even our littlest sprouts feel festive on the Fourth of July without worrying a bit!  Have a BLAST this July 4th!  Come visit us at  www.simplysprouteducate.com.

Find more Fun July Fourth Crafts on FCL’s Pinterest Board. Also don’t forget this Patriotic Bike Clip Art from Martha Stewart.


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.

Summer Camp Care Package – Daily Missing You Notes

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

by Filed Under: Crafts, Education, Pinterest, Summer

published date: June 03, 2014
modified datt: June 03,2014

Summer Camp Care Package
Pin to Pinterest for Later

Summer officially began this week and for a lot of kids that means it’s time to pack up the duffel bags and head off to camp. We have fond memories of all the summer time joy that goes along with sleep away camp. One of the best parts of the day was mail time in the mess hall! Your kids are sure to be happy campers with something sweet tucked in their bag and some mail to brighten their day!

Here is seven days of sweet sunshine for your camper. Fill each day with some candy or goodies and a note. They will love it!

Pin for Later

Other ways to send love from home to your campers are:

  • Postcards mailed each day with one letter written on each. By the end of their stay the message might spell something like, “I miss you!”
  • A personalized pillowcase with sweet dream messages.
  • A CD or playlist for their iPod with their favorite music.
  • A recorded message card so a camper can hear a familiar voice from home.
  • A care package of their favorite homemade baked goods.
  • A candy gram. Use the names of candy bars to write a special note

Be sure to print/download the Camp Candy Care Package Tags.

Note: This is also fun for overnight spend the nights or backyard camping. If you can’t use candy, get creative and fill the small cubes with other thoughful gifts – rings, glow-sticks, poppers, etc.

We’ve been camping all week at Simply Sprout and we’re keeping on these happy trails through the weekend! Come visit us at  www.simplysprouteducate.com.

Be sure to pick up a camping packing list at Live Life, Shop Smart – ShopRunner’s Blog.


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.

Easter Centerpiece and Chicken & Orzo Recipe

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

by Filed Under: Crafts, Education, Pinterest, Recipe

published date: March 26, 2012
modified datt: March 05,2014

Who wants to be in the kitchen when you could be outside enjoying the extra sunlight and spring temperatures in your neck of the woods? We’ve put together a simple one dish wonder for your family to enjoy on a weeknight or on a lazy Sunday. Since Easter is approaching, of course we had to include carrots in our recipe!

Ingredients:

  • 8 ounces dried orzo
  • 2 cups fresh green beans
  • 1 whole roasted deli chicken
  • 1 8 ounce container of semisoft cheese with garlic and herbs (we used the light version)
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 1/2 sliced carrots
  • 1/8 tsp of salt
  • 1/8 tsp of ground pepper
  • 2 tablespoons snipped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley or fresh Sage

Cooking Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking dish or 3-quart oval casserole; set aside. Cook orzo according to package directions, adding green beans during last 5 minutes of cooking; drain. Meanwhile, cut chicken in 6 pieces; set aside. In large bowl whisk together cheese and milk until combined. Add hot orzo mixture, salt and pepper; stir until coated. Stir in carrots. Spoon into prepared baking dish. Top with chicken pieces. Bake, covered, 30 to 40 minutes or until heated through. Let stand 5 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley or Sage. Six servings.

Add some chick-a-dee fun to your tabletop with this kid friendly Easter centerpiece. All that you need to complete the look is a large vase and a smaller vase to fit inside the larger one. Have your children help you count out Easter candy of your choosing (we used Peeps and Starburst jellybeans). Pour the jellybeans at the base of the larger vase, layer Peeps in rows until you’ve reached the top of the larger vase. Slide your smaller vase inside, being mindful not to damage your Peeps! Fill the smaller vase with water and your favorite springtime flower.

There you have it, a meal and a centerpiece that will have everyone hopping to the table!

Check out some fun bunny and carrot educational activities at www.simplysprouteducate.com.


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.