You know that reading with your children has a multitude of benefits. It not only helps them in school, but also helps them develop traits such as empathy and self-confidence. (Read more about the benefits of reading here.) Find out how to get your child engaged in reading with these free printable Charlie Tractor bookmarks.

This is a sponsored post from Charlie Tractor™. All ideas, projects, and opinions are my own. Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”Did you ever think that something like these free printable Charlie Tractor bookmarks could help you encourage reading with your little ones? Find out how! #ad” username=”diyadulation”]

I have always loved reading. I don’t know if it’s because of nature or nurture but it has always been there. Thankfully, my kids also enjoy reading. However, my youngest doesn’t love it the way my older two do.

He loves the idea of reading but when I start, unless it’s at bedtime, he loses interest. That why I decided to come up with this idea for the bookmark.

That sounds silly, right? How can a bookmark get kids engaged in reading. It starts because they put in the effort to decorate the bookmark. While they are coloring their bookmarks, read a book to them like Charlie Tractor and the Big Fish. This creates fun and enjoyable connections with them and books.

Materials

Free Printable Bookmarks (Click the Pictures Above to Print)
Scissors
Hole Punch
Crayons
Yarn

Step 1

First, print out your bookmarks. I recommend doing this on cardstock so that they hold up when keeping place in your books.

Step 2

Next, cut out the individual bookmarks using the the lines as guides.

Step 3

After your bookmarks are cut out, use your hole punch to punch a hole over the dot centered at the top.

Step 4

Now, let your kids color their bookmarks however they like.

Step 5

While your kids color, cut 3-4 lengths of yarn roughly 6 inches long for each bookmark.

Step 6

After your kids have finished coloring their bookmarks, attach the yarn to the bookmarks by folding them in half and crating a slip knot at the punched hole.

Incentive to Read

While coloring the bookmarks and simultaneously being read to is great for creating positive connections with reading, I wanted to take it a step further. So, taking inspiration from the multiple kids summer reading programs out there, I came up with my own version. All you need is a pack of stickers and some rewards.

Stickers

Use your stickers to track books that are read. Every time you read a book together, let your child add a sticker to the back of the bookmark. When the predetermined number of stickers are collected, your kid gets a reward.

Rewards

You can absolutely buy a small toy set like this to use as rewards. Then, when a bookmark gets filled, your kid gets to choose one reward from the set.

Another, free option, is to write down specific rewards on paper or tags and let your child pick one of those instead. I like this option because you can tailor it for what motivates your child specifically.

If you’re having trouble thinking of rewards ideas, here are a few to get you started :

20 Extra Minutes of Tablet Time
Can Have Dessert Without Finishing Dinner
Stay Up 10 Minutes Past Bedtime
2 Books Read at Bedtime Instead of 1
Trip to the Park
Get to Pick What We Have for Dinner

Did you ever think that something as simple as these free printable Charlie Tractor bookmarks could help you encourage reading with your little ones? Don’t forget to write out some reward incentives to go along with it. When in doubt, ask your kid. He will certainly have some reward ideas and you can fine-tune them from there.

If you haven’t already checked out Charlie Tractor and the Big Fish, order your copy on Amazon now.

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In the DIY Turquoise Bird Earrings tutorial you learned how to make some gorgeous rustic bird earrings. Hopefully the ease with which they came together bolstered your jewelry-making confidence. In addition to building your skills you got a unique new piece of jewelry to add to your collection. Today, find out how to make this matching infinity bracelet to complete your handmade turquoise jewelry set!

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”You’ll have to be careful when wearing this gorgeous easy handmade turquoise jewelry set because your friends will ask you to make them a set too!” username=”diyadulation”]

Bracelets always take me back to my childhood when we wore, like, 50 colorful bangles on our arms. We kind of looked like Trish from Space Camp only without the big hair. Even the tinkling sound of the bracelets appealed to me.

No matter what bracelet I out on, I’m transported back to that simpler time. When your style was determined by your audacity instead of runways. That’s why no jewelry set is complete without a bracelet and this one is the perfect mate to those turquoise bird earrings.

Materials

Brown Cording (I got the cording pictured at Michaels)
2 Clear Spacer Beads
Two Turquoise Bird Beads
2 Medium Brown Glass Beads (Mine came from a mixed set like this)
1 Silver Infinity Charm
1 Large Brown Glass Bead (Mine came from this same mixed set )

Step 1

Remove all packaging from your beads/charms.

Step 2

Cut 8 lengths of cording that are double the measurement of your wrist.

Tip:

If you like your bracelets to hang more loosely, add an extra half an inch to your wrist measurement before doubling.

Step 3

Next, take 4 of the cords and fold them in half. Find the new center of the folded cords and push through the eye on the right of your infinity charm. Pull the loose ends of the cords through to form a knot.

Tip:

This sounds a lot more difficult than it is. To help, see the picture above for reference on what it should look like.

Step 4

Repeat the step above (step 3) for the left side of the charm. Use the remaining 4 cords to do this.

Step 5

Stretch your cords out as pictured above.

Step 6

Choose one cord on the right side of your charm to thread your beads onto. Slide them on starting with your clear spacer bead followed by the turquoise bird and then the brown glass bead.

Step 7

Next, knot the cord at the outside end of your brown glass bead. (See the picture in step 6 above.)

Step 8

Repeat steps 5 through 7 for the left side of your bracelet.

Step 9

The next step is to create a forward knot on the right using the cord your beads are strung on and wrapping it around all of the remaining cords. Repeat the knot 5 to 6 times and pull tight to secure.

Notes:

This knot is sometimes referred to as a “Chinese staircase” and is the most common knot used for friendship bracelets.

The purpose of the knot on this bracelet is to hold your beads in place so that they don’t twist when you’re wearing it.

Step 10

Repeat step 9 on the left side of your bracelet.

Step 11

The last steps you need to complete create the closure for your bracelet. First, secure the large brown glass bead at the right end of your bracelet.

Step 12

Second, create a loop on the left end of your bracelet and secure with a knot.

Note:

I used the forward knot again to do this because I feel it makes the end more secure. You can use whichever knot you are most comfortable with or adept at.

Step 13

Lastly, trim any excess strings from your knots.

I love how this turquoise jewelry set came out! It is beautiful! Be careful when wearing it though, or your friends will constantly ask you to make them a set too! If you you didn’t catch the tutorial for the matching earrings, check out the DIY Turquoise Bird Earrings tutorial now. Don’t forget that if you chose to use brighter, more colorful beads in your earrings you will want to do the same for your bracelet.

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Pumpkins are a staple of the fall season and you can’t celebrate this Halloween without at least one. Well, you could, but why would you? These easy painted pumpkin coasters are the perfect way to add festive fun to your table while protecting it at the same time.

Affiliate links may be used in this post. Ordering a product through these links may result in a commission. Read the full disclosure here.

[bctt tweet=”These easy painted pumpkin coasters are an inexpensive way to rock your Halloween decor.” username=”diyadulation”]

I don’t know what it is about pumpkins that is so dang appealing but they are beautiful. You can customize them in so many ways to fit any Autumn decor style.

These easy painted pumpkin coasters keep it traditional with an orange base and adorable black jack-o-lantern faces.

According to my kids they also make a great game, too. They promptly picked them up and started tossing them like Frisbees across the living room. There you go: fun Halloween décor and a boredom buster all in one!

Pumpkin Coasters Materials

4-Pack of Orange Woven Coasters (I found mine at the Dollar Tree)
Black Fabric Paint
Green Fabric Paint
Paint Brush

Step 1

First, remove the coasters from their packaging. If you keep the cellophane in tact you can use it to protect your work surface from stray paint drops.

Note:

Paint each coaster individually. Don’t move on to the next one until you have finished the face on the previous coaster. This allows the paint to dry before adding the leaves.

Step 2

Next, paint a nose on each coaster.

Step 3

Then, paint 2 eyes on the coaster. Be careful not to bump the painted nose with your hand. You don’t want to smear the paint.

Step 4

Next, paint a fun mouth on your coaster.

Step 5

Lastly, paint any eyebrows or lashes you want to include.

Step 6

Repeat steps 2 through 5 for your remaining 3 coasters. Set the coasters aside to finish drying.

Tip:

Vary the face designs for aesthetics but also to help family members and guests easily recognize which coaster is theirs during use.

Step 7

Once the paint on your coasters is dry, use green paint to add leaves and vines to each of your pumpkins.

Step 8

Again, allow your paint to dry completely.

Step 9 (Optional)

If you want the coasters to stay put on the coffee table, add four dots of paint on the opposite side of each one. This will make the coasters grip the table during use and prevent spills.

Make It a Game

If you want to up the fun, you can turn this into a formal game of coaster throwing. These coasters are super light and work great for tossing. Make this awesome Jack-o-Lantern Treat Jar and set it up somewhere in the room or outside. Divide into teams and take turns trying to toss the coasters into the treat jar (sans the lid).

Variation Idea

Make the game harder by starting the first round a few feet away from the treat jar. Each round move the teams a few feet further back from the jar. The team who gets the most coasters in the treat jar after all of the rounds wins the game.

Who would have thought that such an inexpensive DIY could be your all-encompassing party go-to? These easy painted pumpkin coasters are the perfect way to dress up your table for the season. Next time, I’m going to make some adorable Frankies to go with them. Don’t worry. I’ll totally share the tutorial with you too.

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