We are all strapped for cash right now. I don't know a single person that hasn't had to drastically cut back their spending. If there was ever a time for creative thinking, it's now. We, as moms, have to come up with creative ways to keep our homes and families functioning with less money. Rather than letting all the fun activities come to a screeching halt, keep the fun times going with crafts in your own home. Show your kids that tough economic times don't have to be dull and boring.

Give your kids their own crafts class. Schedule one 30-40 minute class a week for your child at your kitchen table. Instead of shelling out hundreds of dollars on an afterschool activity, do it yourself. Better yet, get together with another Artsy Mommy and alternate classes between your homes. Set the scene with special smocks or aprons. Lay out the materials ahead of time so it looks like a real class. Your kids will absolutely love it!

Create professional-looking artwork at home for less. This is one of the main ideas behind Artsy Mommy. With some free mat board from your local frame shop and a heavy-duty paper cutter you'll be able to mount and frame your child's artwork to display in your home. You'll be able to trim artwork so it fits in a standard-sized frame so there will be no extra costs for custom framing. With a paper cutter, you'll be able to customize raw materials to your exact specifications eliminating the need to purchase expensive pre-cut materials. Make everyone happy and decorate your home with fantastic art projects made right in your own home.

Stick to the basics. When shopping for craft supplies, stay AWAY from the scrapbooking embellishments aisle. I know, I know… that stuff is so cute and irresistible, but you must be strong and resist temptation. Remember, stick to the basics. If you must enter the scrapbooking section, be sure to stick to general supplies. For example, when looking at paper-punches, choose basic shapes like circles, squares, and hearts. Limit yourself to 2 pairs of fancy scissors, not 20! Rubber stamps are expensive, so just pick out a few then just walk away. You can do it. Find one pack of un-themed scrapbooking papers, that's all you need. Everything else is a waste of money. Instead, look for materials that can be purchased in bulk and can be used in lots of different ways: extra-large shipping tags, plain paper-mache boxes, colored tissue paper, Mod Podge, polymer clay, blank cards, and packages of solid colored card stock. These supplies will give you many more options for craft projects.

Don't waste your money on project kits. I'm guilty of this. I have at least two project kits waiting for me to sit down with my girls and complete. If you think you can hand your child a kit and he/she will spend the next hour doing it by themselves, you're sadly mistaken. It just doesn't happen that way. If you want to give your child a project kit, that's fine, but be prepared to roll up your sleeves.

Use what you have. Creativity that comes from thriftiness is my favorite kind of creativity. Dig through your closets and cupboards. I bet you have stuff just waiting to be used up. Get your kids to help. Now is the time to get organized and creative. See what kind of no-cost projects you and your kids can come up with.