National Doughnut Day!

National Doughnut Day Origins

I have to admit, for quite some time I really did think National Doughnut Day was just another one of those silly holidays someone came up with. After a little research though, I learned quite a bit about the origins of this sugary sweet holiday. According to USA Today:

"National Doughnut Day, the first Friday of June, is more than a celebration of our love for the fried confectioneries. The day actually has its roots in America's war history.

During World War I, about 250 Salvation Army officers went to Europe to comfort U.S. troops. They talked to soldiers and helped them write letters home.

They also made and served doughnuts along the frontline trenches.

"They had lard and flour and sugar, and they figured out a way to make doughnuts," said Ron Busroe, Salvation Army spokesman, in an interview with USA TODAY Network.

"It brought a sense of calm and a bit of home into the chaos of war," Busroe said." - Jolie Lee - USA Today Network

I definitely have a new found appreciation for this remarkable holiday and just wanted to share it's origins for others who may not have been aware of how special this holiday really is.

To read the full USA Today Article Click Here!
To read a fun list of little known facts about National Doughnut Day Click Here!

Doughnut Recipes to make and enjoy:

Old - Time Cake Doughnuts: Click Here for Recipe
Crispy and Creamy Doughnuts: Click Here for Recipe
Easy Doughnut Drop Recipe: Click Here for Recipe
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Doughnut items available in our online shop:

Pink Doughnut Earrings

 

Itty Bitty Pink Doughnut Post Earrings

 Doughnut Charms on Etsy

 

Littlest Doughnut Charm Bracelet

 

Reduce, Re-use, Recycle Ring Tutorial

Looking for a quick and easy craft idea for your next DIY session? Look no further than this fun and easy Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Ring Tutorial! The steps are provided in the video below :-)

These are great as they can be customized for any thing and can be decorated using just about anything. I used ribbon scraps and buttons for this video, but the possibilities are endless. They can be created for a themed party and given out as party favors or you can make one match your favorite outfit! Here are just a few of the ones I have made recently:

This fun and easy craft will be a hit for all! For this specific project, I did use a glue gun so please, do be careful! This project can also be used with regular glue, it just may take longer to dry.

Valentine's Day 2014 Free Printables

It has definitely been quite some time since I have posted a new printable, but here is to a bright new year! Below you will find our brand new Valentine's Day Printables for you and your loved ones to enjoy. Here is to wishing everyone a bright and fun filled 2014!

While you are more than welcome to print these for whatever occasion you prefer, I ask that you do not post these on your own website without consulting me first. I also ask that if I do give you permission, you must refer back to this website. I also ask that you do not edit out the tiny signature I have added to each page. Thank you and Enjoy!

When Google Docs opens, just click on file then print settings and preview and print OR you can download the image to your computer using the same link and print it that way as well.

 Click Here to Download and Print The "Color My World Valentine"

 Click Here to Download and Print the "Shining Star Valentine"

Pinterest Fun!

Printable - Halloween Coloring Sheet

I absolutely love Fall! I love the cooler temperatures, the bold, bright colors, and all of the wonderful holidays! Halloween is by far one of my favorites, so what better way to get ready for it than by creating a brand new coloring sheet!

This adorable little Candy Corn has no idea what to be for Halloween this year, so she mixed up all sorts of costume combinations!

These printables are free for all! While you are more than welcome to print these for whatever occasion you prefer, I ask that you do not post these on your own website with consulting me first. I also ask that if I do give you permission, you must refer back to this website. Thank you and Enjoy!

When Google Docs opens, just click on file then print settings and preview and print OR you can download the image to your computer using the same link and print it that way as well.

 

Click here to download the Happy Little Candy Corn Coloring Sheet! 

Earth Day 2013 - Free Printable Word Search

Earth Day is just around the corner! It is a time to give back to the planet that has provided us with so much.

How do you and your family celebrate this special day? We would also love to hear some of your own personal suggestions as well! Feel free to leave  a message in the comment section :)

Don't know what to do this year? Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Plant something!

Plant a new tree in your community or maybe add some new plants and flowers to either a community center (with permission of course) or to your own personal garden at home! Turn it into a family affair and teach children about the specific plants you are planting and watch them as they plant new life into the soil.

• Have fun with crafts using things from nature.

Why not get creative with what you already have in your yard and make some fun and festive crafts with a nature flair! Stones, pine cones, seeds, twigs, etc, can all help become wonderful bases to fun and unique craft ideas.

• Educate!

Use this special time to educate your young ones about the importance of mother nature and how she can get sick just like us. Help show them how to help her feel better by teaching them about recycling, gardening, and how bad littering can be to our environment

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In your downtime, why not enjoy this fun word search/coloring sheet with your kids! These printables are free for all! While you are more than welcome to print these for whatever occasion you prefer, I ask that you do not post these on your own website with consulting me first. I also ask that if I do give you permission, you must refer back to this website. I also ask that you do not edit out the tiny signature I have added to each page. Thank you and Enjoy!

Click Here to Download This Printable

When Google Docs opens, just click on file then print settings and preview and print OR you can download the image to your computer using the same link and print it that way as well.

HAPPY EARTH DAY EVERYONE!

D.I.Y.: Bunny Towel/Napkin Party Favors

 It has definitely been a very busy week in our household. With Easter just around the corner (can't believe it is mere days away!), we have been getting our last minute touches ready for the holiday weekend.

We spent a fun and creative Thursday evening decorating our Easter bonnets as a family for our local Easter parade

Since I was able to find the spare time, I figured I would go ahead and post one more quick, fun, and easy tutorial for the Easter weekend!

A lovely woman from our church showed me how to make these one year and I absolutely love them! These Bunny Towel Party Favors are just so sweet and are really quite versatile! They can be added to a centerpiece, a gift basket, as part of the place setting (just replace the towel with a napkin!) and so much more! I thought I would go ahead and share this one with everyone since it is just too cute!



Step 1: Gather Your Materials

Small Washcloth or Fabric
Rubber band or elastic string
Plastic Egg
Googly Eyes
White PomPom
Glue or Glue Gun
Scissors

Step 2: Clip Your Tag

Using your scissors, cut the tag off of your towel.

Step 3: Arrange Your Towel

Place the towel in front of you in a diamond shape

Step 4: Roll Towel

begin from the bottom and work your way up. Start rolling up  your towel

Step 5: Gather ends

Bring in the two ends of the towel until they meet.

Step 6: Fold Up Ears

Fold the two ends upwards to form your bunny ears.  Leave a small bump at the end to form your bunny face. Keep a firm hold.

Step 7: Tie up the ends

Hold your towel as I do in the following photos Once you are happy with the shape, either tie it into place using elastic string or use a rubber band

Step 8: Add egg

you should notice that your bunny's body forms a loop, this is the perfect
place to store your Easter goodies. For this tutorial, we are using a plastic egg.

Step 9: add your details.

This is where you can glue on your bunny's eyes and tail, but you do not have to stop there! You can add as many details as you would like (whiskers, bow tie, etc.)

Step 10: Enjoy your gift

I hope that everyone has a very Happy Easter with Friends and loved ones!

END!

Thank you for watching our tutorial! For more great D.I.Y. projects, reviews, and recipes, visit:

http://maryscraftynook.blogspot.com/


- Music written by Tom Cusack
- Composer – Tom Cusack
- Music from

www.freemusicforvideos.com

Printables: Easter Themed Coloring Sheets & Word Search

I can't believe Easter is just around the corner! This year is just moving so incredibly fast! Here are a few treats to share with your kiddos this Easter weekend. Who doesn't love to just sit around and play with some crayons every now and then ;).

These printables are free for all! While you are more than welcome to print these for whatever occasion you prefer, I ask that you do not post these on your own website with consulting me first. I also ask that if I do give you permission, you must refer back to this website. I also ask that you do not edit out the tiny signature I have added to each page. Thank you and Enjoy!

Enjoy!

 

Click here to download the Easter Basket Coloring Sheet 

When Google Docs opens, just click on file and then print.  

Click Here to download the Easter Egg Coloring Sheet

When Google Docs opens, just click on file and then print.  

 

Click Here to download the Hip Hop Hooray For Easter Word Search 

When Google Docs opens, just click on file and then print.  

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It turns out, making the word search is actually quite simple with a little help from the internet. I used the word search maker over at Discovery Education - Word Search maker . You can print your word search straight from the website and make as many as you would like. The word search engine is plain text, so I added my word search to a decorated document using Paint Shop Pro. However, for the less than tech saavy, you can simply print the blank word search and have your children decorate the page themselves with festive drawings or stickers! Have fun making your own to share with your loved ones. 

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D.I.Y.: Flower Bow Tutorial

I am a huge fan of bows! I am 26 years old and will freely admit that even now, I will occasionally rock a fun bow with my outfit. What better way to start the beginning of Spring than with a fun bow tutorial!

I have been making these ribbon flower bows for a while now and I still can't get over how easy they are to make! Not only are they fun to wear, but they also make wonderful gifts or party favors for any little girls dream party :). What I especially loved about this product was that I was able to find about 98% of my supplies at my local Dollar Tree! I was able to purchase the felt, ribbon, pompoms, & glue sticks at my local store :)

So let's get started! I went ahead and made this tutorial into a video rather than a slideshow, but if the text gets hard to read, the instructions are also listed in the video description and at the end of this post as well. Enjoy!

Learn how to create your own boutique bow!
Step 1: Cut your felt circle
This will be the backing to your bow. I cut mine to be around 1 and 3/4 inches around, but you can definitely eyeball it if you would like a larger bow.

Step 2: Cut Your Ribbon into strips
The amount you need depends on the size of your bow. For this bow I cut about 7 strips of the blue grosgrain ribbon which will be my base,and 3 of each of the organza ribbons (navy and white). Make sure they are long enough to fold into loops so do not cut the ribbons to be less than 5 inches. 5-6 inches is just about right.

Step 3: Fold Your Ribbon
You are going to be folding over each strip of ribbon into small loops and gluing the ends together. You do not have to heat seal your ends as they are all going to
be covered in the end anyway.

Step 4: Begin placing your ribbon
You will start placing your ribbon loops on the outer circle of the felt forming a ring with an empty center like the following photos. You will be placing the strips more towards the center with the other two color strips. It is best to practice your placements before you glue them down to know how you would best like them arranged.

Step 5: Repeat steps 3 and 4 with the other ribbon strips
You will now create 2 more layers of ribbon using the next 2 colors. I started by placing down 3 white ribbon loops and then placed three navy loops on top of the white.

Step 6: Decorate your center
I decided to place simple white pompom puff as the center to my bow, but you can use just about anything from bottle caps to charms, to silk flowers. Be Creative! =)

Step 7: Create your backing
You can use any backing, but for this tutorial I am going to use an alligator clip as my backing of choice. Start by cutting out smaller felt circle.

Step 7: Create your backing (cont.)
Apply enough glue to cover your felt circle and then place the circle between the alligator clip prongs. the place the glue side of the felt onto the back of your bow. This should leave one prong glue to the felt and the other free to place in hair.

Step 8: Wear your bow!
Your bow is now complete. Be sure to give enough time to allow your glue to fully dry and set. Have fun wearing your own custom made hair piece!

END!
Thank you for watching our tutorial! For more great D.I.Y. projects, reviews, and recipes, visit:
http://maryscraftynook.blogspot.com/

- Music written by Tom Cusack - Composer -- Tom Cusack - Music from www.freemusicforvideos.com

It is amazing how creative you can be with these bows! Here are two other variations I have completed:

Mermaid Bow: https://www.etsy.com/listing/104868217/mermaid-tail-ribbon-bow-teal-and-green?ref=shop_home_active
Black and Orange Pumpkin Bow:https://www.etsy.com/listing/104920950/black-and-orange-halloween-pumpkin?ref=shop_home_active

St. Patrick's Day Printables!

With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, I thought I would go ahead and post up two new printables to share! Here is a brand new coloring sheet and Word search for you all to enjoy! While you are more than welcome to print these for whatever occasion you prefer, I ask that you do not post these on your own website with consulting me first. I also ask that if I do give you permission, you must refer back to this website. I also ask that you do not edit out the tiny signature I have added to each page. Thank you and Enjoy!

 Download Word Search Here
When Google Docs opens, just click on file and then print.

Download Coloring Sheet here

When Google Docs opens, just click on file and then print.

_______________________________

It turns out, making the word search is actually quite simple with a little help from the internet. I used the word search maker over at Discovery Education - Word Search maker . You can print your word search straight from the website and make as many as you would like. The word search engine is plain text, so I added my word search to a decorated document using Paint Shop Pro. However, for the less than tech saavy, you can simply print the blank word search and have your children decorate the page themselves with festive drawings or stickers! Have fun making your own to share with your loved ones.
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DIY: St. Patricks Day Nail Design

I love painting my nails, but let's be honest ... judging from the pictures below, I should leave it to a professional lol. However, I still find it calming and fun to paint them myself even if my technique is no where near nice and neat. Since Saint Patricks Day falls on the 17th of March, I figured I would go ahead and practice a quick design that HOPEFULLY I can perfect closer to the date. Here it is!

I started off with my base coat. I used an all in one base from Essie

From there I went ahead and chose a lovely lime green that absolutely looks horrible on me, but I loved the shade anyway :P

I decided to use my white striping brush to paint a quick white tip across the top of my nails. I striped the tips when the lime green was still a little wet so that it would blend a bit and turn into a tasty light lime green rather than stark white.

The hardest part for me was getting the clover. I decided to only paint it on my middle nail and was really pleased with how it turned out. Trust me when I say this is a VERY abstract clover! :P

I finished off my nails with a quick top coat and admired my work :P. I actually like the results! The little imperfections make me smile and stay as a reminder that I did the design all by myself.

What are some of your favorite nail designs? I would love to see them!

"May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand."

Happy Saint Patrick's day everyone!

Bzzagent Campaign Review: Quaker Up Snacks!

This week was spent putting my craft room back together. Trust me when I say it is a hefty job! What better way to enjoy my quick breaks than to enjoy a tasty snack. I am definitely a choco-holic, so when bzzagent gave me the opportunity to try Quaker brand's Quaker Up Snack line, I was definitely all in!

The bzzkit was absolutely amazing! Our kit was loaded with great snacks and fabulous coupons:

Our bzzkit included several fabulous coupons, our Quaker Up Bzzcampaign Guide full of interesting info, 1 box of Quaker Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies, 1 box of Quaker Big Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars, and 1 Bag of Quaker Perfect Portions Oatmeal in yumtastic maple!

Who better to be my first taste tester than my wonderful assistant (and younger sister)! After all of her hard work helping me put the craft room back together, I figured she definitely deserved a treat.

She picked the Big Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bar as her reward and thoroughly enjoyed it! She loved the fact that the bars are definitely much larger than your average granola bar and are just really tasty! The bars have just the right balance of chocolate and oats and really do provide a quick boost of energy without hurting your tummy. This is definitely going to become a staple in our snack pantry!

I had my go at the chocolate chip cookies. I loved that they are made with whole grain oat flour which really adds a great taste to the cookies. I am also a huge sucker for bittersweet chocolate chips so that was another huge bonus.

So if you are looking for a new tasty treat to help wind down the day or just something to nibble on, I highly suggest trying out Quaker's line of snacks! You won't be disappointed!

To learn more about Quaker's snack line visit their facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/Quaker

Want to learn more about fantastic products AND try them free? Learn more about becoming a bzzagent such as myself at: www.bzzagent.com 

Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 10 & ends on Sunday, November 3, 2013

Just a quick reminder to our followers! It's that time of year again, time to set our clocks ahead one hour!

Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 10 & ends on Sunday, November 3, 2013

Pinterest Test + Bzzagent Review = Awesome!

Alrighty, we are shaking things up a bit! We are not only reviewing Neutrogena's fabulous Norwegian Formula Hand Cream again, but we are also including a new Pinterest Test along with it! Let's begin!

Pinterest Test: Pink and Glitter Nail Design

Pinterest Link: http://pinterest.com/pin/26599454019396798/


Alrighty, so this one was an easy one lol. The design is simple and sophisticated and perfect for a romantic Valentine's Day getaway (hopefully the fiance will get the hint!)

For this test, I used what I had on hand which was similar to the photo provided in the pinterest test above. Here are my results:

I decided to go with a chunky lite glitter rather than full on metallic polish and love the results! I used Neutrogena's Norwegian Formula Hand Cream before and after my manicure. My hands feel soft and my nails look vibrant! This is a product I am definitely pleased with ;)

This wonderful creams story started off the coast of Norway, where fishermen were suffering the effects of life on the open ocean. Wind, cold and water were wreaking havoc on their skin.
Those fishermen developed a glycerin-rich cream to weather any storm. When applied to their skin, they found it relieved years' worth of chapping, cracking and drying caused by the harshest conditions on the planet. 

My hands have benefited greatly from this cream and so can yours! It is definitely worth purchasing. 

To go along with today's review, I have created new video of my nail transformation for you to enjoy :) The fabulous music being played in the back was actually written and recorded by my sister's fiance, Abraham Martinez. He is definitely a talented individual. Enjoy!



To learn more about Neutrogena’s Norwegian Formula® Hand Cream visit and like their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Neutrogena

Want to learn more about becoming a bzzagent such as myself? Visit: www.bzzagent.com and learn more!

Busy Hands!

Such a busy month and we are only in the 3rd day of it! Better yet, such a busy YEAR and we are only in the 3rd day! Our online shop did incredibly well over the holidays thanks to our wonderful followers and supporters. Enjoy this cuddly virtual hug from me to you :D *hug!*

I noticed that I had shifted my focus from our bows, which was what started this project to begin with, to our polymer clay charms and jewelry. With the new year, I decided to stock up on new fabric and get back to work on our bow selection.

That is just a tiny amount of our newest fabric bow choices :D. So after a few hours of cutting, folding, and sewing, I noticed I had a new stockpile of bows ready to wear!

Of course, I ended up keeping one or two for myself :P, but I made plenty for our shop! Right now, I have only listed the cheetah print bow set, but the others are coming soon!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/119338007/cheetah-print-hair-bow-animal-print

So, what new projects have you started over the new year? We would love to hear from you!

Bzzagent Campaign Review: Redbox Instant by Verizon

A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to try Redbox Instant by Verizon. I had heard so much about it and how it was going to topple streaming giant Netflix that I was off the walls excited. I have to admit, I had been disappointed with the quality, site bugs, and selection at first and gave it a negative review. 

I might have been a little hasty with my previous review of this service. After waiting about a week, I decided to give it another go. We used Redbox instant over the new year as I really wanted to give others a view of the site rather than just relying on my poor opinion. Here are some of our pus ratings we found. First, we liked the fact that we could rent movies from home without having to brave the cold air, rain and heavy traffic that comes with new year's eve. The selection has really gotten much better since the site first opened. We also like that we can purchase movies directly from the website. Things that need to improve: While the selection is getting MUCH better, at almost the same price as Netflix, it isn't quite there yet, but as it is still new the site can only get better! There are still some issues with video lag that we encountered, but nothing too horrible. All in all, I really have to retract my previous negative review and give this site a thumbs up. It is going to take some time along with patience from their subscribers, but this could definitely turn into a very promising site. 

To learn more about Redbox Instant by Verizon, visit: http://www.redboxinstant.com

Want to learn more about becoming a bzzagent such as myself? Visit: www.bzzagent.com and learn more!

 

Nail Polish Design Using Neutrogen s Hand Cream

Here it is! My very first youtube video. lol this may not be the very best video, but it is all mine. It is 2013 and it is time for some fun and flirty nails. After painting my nails a fabulous Big Apple Red, I topped my hands of with Neutrogena's Norwegian Formula hand cream and they have never felt better!
This wonderful creams story started off the coast of Norway, where fishermen were suffering the effects of life on the open ocean. Wind, cold and water were wreaking havoc on their skin.
Those fishermen developed a glycerin-rich cream to weather any storm. When applied to their skin, they found it relieved years' worth of chapping, cracking and drying caused by the harshest conditions on the planet.

Happy New Year!

2013 is just around the corner! This has been such a wonderful year of risks, firsts, and special moments. I hope that all of our readers take a moment to count their blessings and look toward the future with hope, love, and joy.

Thank you so much to all of you who have stood by our blog, facebook page, and Etsy shop (which turns 1 year this coming February! *squeel*)

For all of those plannings New Year's Eve and Day parties, we have put together two fun printables for you! Enjoy this free word search and coloring sheet! Feel free to print these for your own use or share it with friends and family! {Click on the Photos Below to enlage}

Just click on the above photos, right click and save the photos to your computer :) from there you can open then with your own paint program adjust to the size you want and print!

I used the word search maker over at Discovery Education - Word Search maker . You can print your word search straight from the website and make as many as you would like. The word search engine is plain text, so I added my word search to a decorated document using Paint Shop Pro. However, for the less than tech saavy, you can simply print the blank word search and have your children decorate the page themselves with festive drawings or stickers! Have fun making your own to share with your loved ones.

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May your new year be filled with lots of love, happiness, and joy! From all of us here at 9FM - Jewelry & Gifts, Happy New Year! 

 

Bzzcampaign Review: Neutrogena’s Norwegian Formula® Hand Cream

Don't you just love how the cold and dry winter air loves to wreak havoc on your skin? No? I don't blame you! My skin is so dry and scaley during the winter I feel as If I should go outside and sunbathe on a rock like our local lizards do!

Luckily for me, Bzzagent has once again saved the day! I was fortunate enough to participate in Neutrogena’s Norwegian Formula® Hand Cream bzzcampaign. I have tried every lotion and miracle fix you can think and nothing ever works. If it doesn't completely avoid moisterizing my skin, it leaves a yucky oily residue instead. However, Neutrogena's hand cream has saved the day!

This wonderful creams story started off the coast of Norway, where fishermen were suffering the effects of life on the open ocean. Wind, cold and water were wreaking havoc on their skin.

Those fishermen developed a glycerin-rich cream to weather any storm. When applied to their skin, they found it relieved years' worth of chapping, cracking and drying caused by the harshest conditions on the planet.

Seriously, a round of applause goes out to the creators because this stuff is amazing! My dry skin is now lovingly moisturized and feels so incredibly soft! I love that they provided both samples of the original scent and the unscented. I prefer the fragrance free, but they are both fantastic!

Why should you consider switching lotions? Here is the "Just the Facts" portion from my incredibly helpful Bzzcampaign guide:

Just the Facts

When it comes to protecting hands from the rigors of daily use, Norwegian Formula^® Hand Cream is the first choice of fishermen and manicurists alike. What makes this Neutrogena classic better than the rest?

• Just one dab repairs 7 signs of damage: dryness, chapping, splitting nails, dry cuticles, scaliness and roughness
• 2012 Good Housekeeping Seal award winner
• First hand cream to heal with concentrated glycerin
• Keeps Manicured hands looking beautiful
• Long-lasting
• Glycerin-rich
• Concentrated
• 2oz product good for 200 uses
• Available in Original and Fragrance-Free
• Suggested retail price of $4.99 per 2oz product

The product is definitely worth every penny and worth the time to try it!



To learn more about Neutrogena’s Norwegian Formula® Hand Cream visit and like their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/Neutrogena

Want to learn more about becoming a bzzagent such as myself? Visit: www.bzzagent.com and learn more!

Christmas Themed Word Search!

With Christmas just around the corner, we have been busy little worker bees around here! We have been working on new orders, setting up the tree, wrapping gifts, baking cookies .... tasting cookies, lol well you get the idea. In my down time though, I really enjoy working on word search puzzles. I have always really enjoyed them and really have fun working on them. This year I decided to create my own! Feel free to print this one for your own use or share it with friends and family! {Click on the Photo Below to enlage}

It turns out, making these is actually quite simple with a little help from the internet. I used the word search maker over at Discovery Education - Word Search maker . You can print your word search straight from the website and make as many as you would like. The word search engine is plain text, so I added my word search to a decorated document using Paint Shop Pro. However, for the less than tech saavy, you can simply print the blank word search and have your children decorate the page themselves with festive drawings or stickers! Have fun making your own to share with your loved ones.
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