May 20, 2025

Summer Boredom Buster - Ultimate Create Crate


Summer Boredom Buster Create Crate
Summer Boredom Buster Create Crate
Summer Boredom Buster Create Crate

I've heard of others putting together "outside" crates or summer baskets though I loved the idea of MAKING one that's customized to each of my girls favorite colors, summer things (watermelon!) and even left a white side for them to paint : )

Though honestly, it would have been super fun to have each girl help paint the entire crate. Just another fun idea.

If you're interested in the paint colors I used, the crate itself and what I put inside each girl tote bag (so they can carry it to the table, outside etc) it's all linked below. Just click on each item.


Blank Crate

Acrylic Paint

Sun - Gold Vinyl

Watermelon - Gold Vinyl,  Pink Vinyl,  Green Vinyl

Unicorn Coloring Book

Twistable Crayons

Reusable Sticker Books

Mom I'm Bored Activity Book

Name Chalk

Water Colors

Poke In Art

Color Roll Set 

Quilting Craft Kit


Happy MAKING! 

Warmly, Steph

May 15, 2025

Mini Grad Hat DIY Gift

end of school year giftThis is one for the non-crafter or bigger DIY mom - as all you need is scissors and a glue gun to MAKE these. Either a fun way to give a grad money or as I did for my daughter's PreK class last year, a simple "Yay" gift as they transitioned to the big time -  "Kindergarten!" 

Want to MAKE your own mini graduation gifts?

Star Garland (tassel + silver star cut to dot)

To see "HOW" I made this one, you can watch a video demo on Instagram  here. 

Enjoy MAKING!

Warmly, Stephnullnull

May 12, 2025

Ice Cream Party Favors

end of school year gift for classmates, party favors for kids birthdays


Warning: may cause squeals : )


Designed these little “ice cream” box to slides open with a pom-pom pull, how fun yes?! Then inside, is hidden chalk + bubbles as a sweet DIY party favor (or last-day-of-school surprise).


What To MAKE one, two or more?!


end of school year gift for classmates, party favors for kids birthdays
Start by finding the center of your box. Then using a piece of card stock paper (or  ruler) draw diagonal lines going up to the left and right to create the shape of your cone.

end of school year gift for classmates, party favors for kids birthdays
Inside those lines, use your paintbrush to create the ice cream scoop. Lightly press down to make three rounded bumps across the top—these will be the drips!

end of school year gift for classmates, party favors for kids birthdays
Next, paint two curved arches at the very top of the scoop and fill in the whole scoop shape with your favorite “flavor” color.

end of school year gift for classmates, party favors for kids birthdays
Using the clean and dirty cup in between colors, paint slightly curved lines across the scoop—these will be your sprinkles!

end of school year gift for classmates, party favors for kids birthdays
Detach the extra pieces from your CHEEKS craft mat (including the paint palette) so you have a clean and bit more open space for glue gunning.

end of school year gift for classmates, party favors for kids birthdays

Using glitter gold glue gun sticks, draw diagonal lines down the cone. You can also use a regular glue gun and add glitter (MAKING TIP: Spray mod podge on top so the glitter doesn’t come off once dry)


end of school year gift for classmates, party favors for kids birthdays
Finish it off by hot-gluing a pom-pom to the top as your cherry. You can even cut a small arched strip for the cherry stem and glue that on too.

end of school year gift for classmates, party favors for kids birthdays
Now you're ready to fill your ice cream cone with fun treats like chalk, bubbles, or mini sunglasses—perfect for summer parties or end-of-school gifts!

Supplies I used to MAKE these?


Paper Mache' box 

Acrylic paint (White, GreenYellowPink, Light Pink, Lilac)

Craft Pom Poms

Card-stock or ruler

Gold glitter (or glue gun glitter)

CHEEKS 2.0 Craft Mat  (use promo code: 15MJSPRING15 for 15% off on Amazon)



If you want to see a "How-To" demo in video form, you can watch it here!


Happy MAKING! Warmly, Steph




 

May 9, 2025

DIY Grad Gift Bags

 

DIY Grad Gift Bag

Fun + simple DIY grad gift bag I actually have time to MAKE this season.  Designed these to take minutes for both you and I —yes please!


A “How-To” video demo can be seen here.


Colored gift bags 

Brown gift bags (same size as colored)

Cardstock 8x10 (match colors to gift bag)

Gold Ribbon + String

Gold Star Ribbon


Happy MAKING! 

Warmly. Steph 


May 4, 2025

Dollies Rainbow Garland

Rainbow Dollies garland diy
Rainbow Dollies garland diy
Rainbow Dollies garland diy
Rainbow Dollies garland diy
Rainbow Dollies garland diy
Rainbow Dollies garland diy
Rainbow Dollies garland diy

From classroom party to birthday bash — 2-for-1 magic

.

It started as a Cinco de Mayo craft... with food coloring and doilies. And let’s just say — it looked more like a paper towel spill than a rainbow 🌈But then I got a email: “Can you help with decorations for the surprise baby shower?” 

And it hit me — skip the mess, buy pre-colored doilies, and turn them into the cutest DIY rainbow garland. So this was one project that start off completely different than how it turned it. And I love it.

.

What I used to MAKE the Rainbow Dollie Garland along with a few other options:

Colored Dollies 4.5 inch 

Acrylic Paints (great set here!)

Paint Brush

Scissors

Glue Gun + Glue Stick


Quick video demo on me MAKING these are here. 

Happy MAKING! 
Warmly, Steph


April 24, 2025

Mothers Day Gift From Kids


Step 1:

Setup your painting supplies on your craft mat (ours is CHEEKS brand/best on the market in my opinion) by adding water to the detachable dirty water cup, brown + white acrylic paint, and a paint brush.


Step 2:

Mix the white and brown acrylic paint to get your desired color of a “wicker basket.” Then paint your entire paper plate on one side. Let dry.


Step 3:

Wipe clean your craft mat and detach all add-on parts for the next set of MAKING. 


Step 4:

Fold the paper plate in half and cut your paper plate in a slight diagonal on each side to create a “basket shape.”


Step 5:

Cut 4-5 Green card-stock pieces as stems for your tulips using scissors or a small paper cutter. Then using the green stems as a guide, measure and cut small white rectangle pieces (wider than flower stem).


Step 6:

Glue horizontal across the top of one side of the basket your small white rectangle pieces. This is going to be the “holders” for when your child slides each tulip stem inside.


Step 7:

Next, place a dark brown piece of paper or card stock underneath the basket and trace the top. 2x


Step 8:

Cut out the traced line x2 by leaving a little space underneath the pencil line to create a thick “basket trim.” Next, cut out a rectangle piece from scrapes to create a handle. 


Step 9:

Glue both trim pieces + handle onto basket.



Tulip Cards x4

Step 1 + 2:

Fold a piece of card stock in half. Then draw a tulip shape (or print out one on your computer + create a stencil) on the fold. Repeat this 4x using a separate color for each tulip. Then hand cut the leafs thinking of a “pointed football” shape. 


Step 3:
Glue your tulip to the stem. As well, glue on leafs. 


Step 4:

Next, have children write a short message on why they love “Mom” or “Grandma” inside each tulip. 


Step 5:

Then slide them into the white pockets you glued on earlier. Your tulip flower basket should stay in place as you lift it up to give! Enjoy!



This is sure to be one she'll want to save, A keepsake!


Supplies I Used:

Uncoated Paper Plate

Acrylic Paints (white + brown)

CHEEKS 2.0 craft mat 

Scissors

Card-stock (brown, pink, lilac, purple, yellow)

Glitter Green card-stock (leafs)

Glue stick 



And ss always, I LOVE seeing your final creations over on  Instagram or TikTok (or a private DM) so feel free to share! If you're new here and still don't own a  CHEEKS 2.0 or 1.0 craft mat you're in luck! The CEO (Nicole-a moms of 3 by the way) has given just our community 15% off over on Amazon by using promo code 15MJSPRING15.


And HAPPY MAKING!


Warmly, Steph







This post was sponsored by CHEEKS brand though all thoughts, opinions and craft designs are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the brands which support the Mama Jots brand + website!





April 22, 2025

4-Part Teacher Gift

4-Part Teacher Gift Idea!

MADE this  4-part Teacher gift for my youngest daughter's Kindergarten teacher—and we’re so excited about it! I truly believe teachers are the golden gems of our world, so I wanted to create something heartfelt but doable in 20–30 minutes (drying time included).

It's a fun mix of DIY and store-bought items, and one of the highlights is a handmade apple-shaped stamp I MADE using felt, scissors, and my glue gun. Why felt? So it's easy for kids to use.

Want to see how I made the apple stamp? A quick demo is coming up next—stay tuned!


DIY Apple Stamp Lunch Tote

Acrylic paint (desired colors) 

Thin paint brush

Blank canvas tote 


Tumbler Vase x Flowers

Our Pink Tumbler


Personalized Bow

2 Inch Pink Ribbon

Golden Sticker Letters


Pencil Gift Card Holder

MADE: Pencil gift card holder (Mini Maker Design CO)

or

DIY Kit: Pencil Gift card holder (Mini Maker Design CO)


Happy MAKING! 

Warmly, Steph


Video demo of me putting it all together as shown above? Go here.


April 6, 2025

Kid Friendly Easter Table Scape

Easter Table Decorations
Easter Table Decorations
Easter Table Decorations
Easter Table Decorations
Easter Table Decorations

Over the years we've kept our holiday themed tables cape's fairly simple as we love being able to interact with our guest versus watching the kids every move so they don't anciently knock over the burning candle or break my favorite lilac vase. 

So in hopes you can take-away something we've created to help you make your own holiday low stress if they touch, knock over and or spill it's A-Ok! As ours is created “with” kids in mind and for them to join


DIY Scalloped Table Runner

Brown Paper Roll

Cereal size bow

Pencil + Scissors

Demo here.


Kids Painted Faux Easter Eggs

Paper Mache (opens up!)  Easter Eggs

Acrylic Paint

Chunky Glitter 

Mod Podge

Demo here.


Bunny Treat Box

Brown mini box's

Craft Paper Card Stock (ears)

Pink Vinyl

Pink Paint Pen (nose)

Black Sharpie

Ribbon

Demo here.


Scalloped Easter Basket Treat Bag

Mini Brown Paper Bags

Ribbon

Hole Punch

Glue

Demo here.


DIY Bow + Floral Hanging Decor (above table)

Ribbon (Pink Gingham,  Pink,  Green,  Purple Gingham,  

White Faux Flowers

Demo here.


If you liked all of this ideas or projects, come find me over on Instagram or TikTok for more crafty fun.


HAPPY MAKING

Warmly, Steph💜