Question:

easy craft

BLOSSOM MASKS

To make an inexpensive and colorful blossom mask cut out the center of a paper plate, leaving a hole large enough for the child's face. Help the child cut flower petals from colorful construction or tissue paper. Glue the petals around the rim to make a unique flower. Attach elastic thread to the back of the plate to finish the mask.

EGG SHELL COLLAGE

Save your broken white eggshells by rinsing them and allowing them to dry. Crush the shells and store them in a container. When you have about two dozen eggs crushed, make one or more colors of egg dye (1/2 cup hot water, 1 teaspoon of vinegar, few drops of food coloring). Dye the egg shells different colors and let them dry. Give your child a small container of glue and a q-tip. Have him paint a design on his paper with the glue. Then have him sprinkle the colored eggshells on his picture. Shake off any excess. Vary this activity by using plain white eggshells on a colored background.

FROSTY PICTURES

Have your child draw a winter outdoor scene on a piece of construction paper. Make a solution of half Epsom salts and half water. Let her paint over her picture with this mixture. As it dries, she will notice sparkling crystals begin to form.

60 SECOND HAT

Easiest with 2 people. Ages 8 & up.

You need:

Large piece of paper such as gift wrap or newspaper.
Masking Tape
Ball or Bucket
Instructions

Place paper centered over ball or upside-down bucket. Press paper with hands around bucket or top half of ball to shape. Hold in place while second person wraps large pieces of tape around to make hat band. Remove from ball or bucket. Decorate.
Use a sand bucket and newspaper; paint it black and adorn with a foil buckle for a pilgrim's hat. Bright gift wrap and a paper flower will make a great clown's hat.
Use a 9" playground ball, fancy gift wrap, and silk flowers for tea party attire. Brown kraft mailing paper for a hobo's hat.

STAINED GLASS HEARTS

Make stained glass hearts by placing red, pink and white crayon shavings between two pieces of wax paper. Cover with newspaper and press a warm iron to melt the crayon chips. Allow to cool completely. Cut heart shape from center of construction paper and tape waxed paper behind heart-shaped hole. Or, cut the "stained glass" into a heart shape. Attach string to create mobile.

EGG CARTON BELLS

Make these simple bells from egg cartons. Cut apart the sections of an egg carton. Have the kids paint them, or use the white Styrofoam kind of egg carton. You can make them sparkle by sprinkling glitter on the wet paint or painting with watered down glue and then sprinkling some glitter on. Attach a tiny bell to a pipe cleaner and insert it up through the center of the egg carton section. Bend the top of the pipe cleaner to make a hanger for the ornament.

CUPCAKE FLOWERS

Cupcake papers, (for a holiday such as Valentine's Day, you could use papers with themes on them)
Pipe cleaners,
Green construction paper.
Take a cupcake paper and pinch the bottom of it. Then take a pipe cleaner and
wrap it around the pinched area. Cut some leaves out of green paper and add
them to the pipe cleaner.
Put some play dough in a baby food jar and have the children place
the flowers in the jar like it was a vase. When the play dough dries they should
stand nice. You can also decorate some tissue paper to cover the outside of
the bottle.

CRAFTSTICK SNOWMAN

2 Jumbo craft sticks
1 Toothpick
Snow Paint
Black Felt
Yarn remnant
Cut one of the craft sticks in half on an angle, to make arms. Glue arms to back of the whole craft stick. Paint snowman with white snow paint EXCEPT about ¾ of an inch from the top of whole craft stick. Paint this ¾ inch black (for hat) Dot eyes mouth and buttons black. Cut ½" off end of toothpick and paint orange, glue in place for nose. Cut small piece of felt for hat brim. Glue to edge of black paint on snowman's head. Twist four pieces of yarn together for scarf and tie around snowman's neck. Repeat and tie around hat. Use a length of yarn for loop to hang your snowman.

EGG CARTON BUGS

To make these spiders you will need:
Egg carton bottoms
Pipe cleaners
Scissors and markers
Cut apart the egg carton and give one cup to each child. Have the children draw a silly spider face on their cup and insert pipe cleaners to make eight legs. Use the spiders to act out "Little Miss Muffet" or when you sing "Itsy Bitsy Spider".

Vary this craft by making ladybugs, caterpillars or ants.

COOKIE CUTTER STAMPING

Put a small amount of tempera paint in a pie tin. Show your kids how to dip the cookie cutter in the paint and press onto a piece of paper to create a print. You can make holiday pictures or greeting cards by using holiday cookie cutters, and colored paper. when the outlines are dry have the kids color them in.

STAINED GLASS CIRCLES

Black heavy paper
Colored cellophane wrap
Glue
Hole punch
String
Cut a 6" circle from the black tag board. Then have an adult use an Exact-o knife and cut out a pattern on the circle making sure to leave a grid to attach the cellophane to. Pop out all the shapes that were cut out. Take the shapes that were cut out and use them for a pattern to cut out the colored cellophane. Make sure to cut bit larger than the black shape to leave enough to glue to the circle. After you have all the cellophane pieces cut, glue them to the back of the circle into the corresponding places. You may wish to make this easier for young children and simple cut the cellophane into a 6" circle. Only use one color for their stained glass circle. That way they only have one piece of cellophane to glue on. Punch a hole at the top of the circle and attach string to hang in a sunny window!

EASY PLACEMATS

Try making your own placemats.
Cut two identical placemat-size rectangles out of clear self-stick paper. Remove the backing form one of the rectangles. Help your son arrange pictures from magazines or catalogues on the sticky side of the paper. Add sparkle by sprinkling on glitter. Remove the backing from the other rectangle and carefully place it sticky side down over the decorated rectangle. Trim off any overhanging sections.

PIPE CLEANER PEOPLE

Using only 3 pipe cleaners it's fun to make pipe cleaner people! One pipe cleaner is used for the body and the head. (You can use a bead for the head if your child is over 3 years old). One is used for the legs, and one for the arms. It's easy to shape these little people into different positions!

DRIP-DYE FLAGS

Plain paper towels (not colored or printed on)
Muffin tins
Food Coloring
newspaper
Unsharpened Pencils
Tape

Pour watered down food coloring in muffin tins. Fold a white paper towel into a small square or triangle. Dip the corners in the food coloring and watch the paper absorb the liquid. If you like, try to blend colors. You could dye your flag by using an eyedropper, too. Unfold the paper towel carefully and lay it on newspaper to dry. When they are dry attach them to dowel rods or unsharpened pencils with tape.

FLOATING CHALK ART

Fill a dishpan with water. Help your child grate colored chalk into powder and sprinkle a little powder on top of the water in the dishpan. Have your child gently place pieces of paper on top of the sprinkled chalk, one at a time. Carefully lift each paper piece out of the water and place it on a flat surface to dry. There will be a pretty marbled design on their paper.

PHOTO FRAME FRIDGE MAGNET

Cardboard frames (you can make your own from shoe boxes)
Magnet tape
Scraps of fabric, wrapping paper buttons, stickers, pasta shapes etc.
Markers, crayons or paint and brushes
Scissors, glue, tape
Give your child a cardboard frame to decorate as he or she pleases. Place a small piece of magnet tape on the back. Have them use it to frame a photo of themselves or a drawing they have made, using tape to hold it in place.
This makes a great gift for family and friends.
Variation: Instead of magnet tape, use yarn to make it into a hanging ornament.

PAPER FLOWERS

Even the littlest toddler likes flowers. However, they may not have the patience required to grow their own. Make these flowers with paper to enjoy today.
Let the children draw and cut out the flower shapes from different types of paper. Younger children can color the flower shapes you draw or place flower stickers on disks of construction paper. When ready they can glue or tape them (staples are dangerous) to the top of plastic drinking straws (the bendy straws allow the flowers to dip). Fill a paper cup, margarine tub or tin can with sand and let them insert the straws to "plant" the flowers. If you want the containers can be decorated before filling them.

EASY SNOWFLAKES

Remember making paper snowflakes when you were little? Show your child how to fold a coffee filter in half and then in half again. Help him cut small triangles out of the folded edges (be sure to leave a little room between each triangle). Then have him unfold the coffee filter to see a snowflake. Make several to decorate his window.

MAGIC WANDS

You will need:
Newspaper,
Aluminum foil,
Crepe paper,
Tape,
White glue,
Cardboard,
Markers,
Safety scissors.
1. Roll three sheets of newspaper together widthwise for wand, then twist tight and tape together.
2. Wrap wand in foil, and secure with tape.
3. Use scissors to cut out the shape of a star (fairy) or globe (sorcerer) from cardboard.
4. Cut long strips of crepe paper for streamers.
5. Use marker to color both sides of star or globe.
6. Glue shape and streamers to the top of the wand.
Note: if you want your child can paint the wand and cover the star or globe cardboard cutout in the foil instead.

PAPER STRIP ART

Cut long narrow strips of newspaper or construction paper. Use paint or markers to decorate the strips, if desired. Twist and bend the strips into interlocking shapes, spirals, or loops. Glue the sculptures onto a base (box lid, wooden block or Styrofoam tray) Or, glue one end of a strip to the base then twist and bend it, then glue the other end to the base. Use pins to hold it in place until the glue dries.

COLLAGE ART MADE EASY

When you think collage you think glue, right? Think again. Here's a new twist on an old favorite. Start with a square of contact paper (mac-tac). Supply your toddler with plenty of colorful, interesting items to put on their "page". A lot of the fun will be in the process of putting their items (ie: pictures from magazines, fabric squares and cotton balls) on to the sticky surface and pulling them off again. Voila. No mess and a lot of fun !

SPRING BASKETS

Cut 2/3 off the top of a two-liter soda bottle. Discard the top portion of the bottle. Punch holes opposite of each other near the rim of the bottle. Attach a long pipe cleaner from one hole to the other to form a handle. Then glue pastel colored tissue paper pieces on the bottle. When the glue dries use puffy paint , flowers and stickers to personalize the baskets.

PARTY STRAWS

Turn drinking straws into party straws by sliding on small shapes. Use purchased stickers, or make your own out of construction paper. Select the shape according to the theme of the party, such as dinosaurs, hearts etc.. Fold the shape in half vertically and make a horizontal 1/2 inch slit near the top and another one near the bottom. Then slide a straw in one slit and out the other.

STENCIL ART

Provide the children with stencils to trace. They may use markers, glitter, paint, and crayons to decorate the shapes. Older children can try to make their own stencils.

PAPER LANTERN

Fold a piece of construction paper in half lengthwise. At one inch intervals, cut into the fold to within 1" of the opposite side. Open the paper and tape the ends together. Attach a strip of paper to the top of the "lantern" to form a handle. Note: these lanterns are not meant to be used with heat sources.

MASKING TAPE TREASURE BOX

A shoebox makes a great treasure box. Using bits and pieces of masking tape, have your child tape up the entire bpx, covering all sides (the more tape the better). Use crayons to color the masking tape box, or shoe polish rubbed into the masking tape makes a great finish! The tape makes the box sturdier and will make a treasure box for their desk or dresser. You can even line the inside with a scrap of material to make it extra special!

HELPING HAND CLOTHESPIN MAGNETS.

For these "handy" helping hand magnets you will need
Garden Glove
Pinch type Clothespin
Magnet strip
Stuffing (you could use newspaper)
First stuff the garden glove loosely and close up with an elastic band at the wrist. Then use glue to attach the tip of the thumb to the tip of the pointer finger. (makes an ok sign) after gluing the pinch clothespin to the back (pinched end up). After attaching a magnet strip to the back of the clothespin, have the children decorate their "Helping Hand". I have seen nail polish, shirt cuffs, flowers, and paint used to make these handy little note keepers. Great for a Father's Day gift.

CREPE PAPER STREAMERS

Help your child tape three or four crepe paper streamers, or ribbons (2'or 3' long) together at one end. Let the children run with their streamers blowing in the breeze behind them. To make handles for the streamers, cut out the centers of plastic lids and tape streamers on one side of each ring.

PAPER PLATE FISH

Paper plates
Scissors, glue, crayons
Butcher paper (large sheet)
Blue tempera paint, brushes

Give your child a paper plate with a triangular mouth shape drawn on one side. Have your child cut out the triangles to make scales. Then have her glue the triangular shapes on the opposite side of the plate to make tails. Let the children draw eyes and color her fish. Then have them paint the large sheet of butcher paper with diluted blue paint. When the paint is dry, have her glue her fish on the paper "ocean", and hang the ocean mural on the wall.

BEET JUICE PAINTING

For this activity you will need white paper, can of beets, small containers and paint brushes.

It's a good idea to use smocks for this art project.

Open the can of bets and drain the liquid into small containers. if desired, cut the paper into a heart shape. Let the child paint a picture witht he vibrant red beet juice. Enjoy the beets in a salad or another dish.

from Totline Newsletter

INCREDIBLY EASY OCTOPUS

To make this craft project you will need a Styrofoam cup, four colorful pipe cleaners,
scissors, colored construction paper, tape, colored cotton balls, and glue.
To begin take your Styrofoam cup and flip it upside down. Thread the four pipe cleaners through the cup just above the rim to create 8 great octopus legs. Bend and curve them to give your octopus some great sea legs!
Now you are ready to decorate your octopus. Cover him with color! Add colored cotton ball eyes, colorful shapes and designs to the rest of the octopus's body. Let your incredibly easy to make octopus dry and place him someplace special.

EGG CUP BLUEBELLS

Egg cartons, Green pipe cleaners
Green construction paper
Blue paint, Scissors
Cut the cups out of a cardboard egg carton. Then cut the cups into bluebell shapes. Let your child paint the bluebell shapes blue. When the paint has dried, make stems by inserting the ends of green pipe cleaners into cane shapes. Cut leaf shapes from construction paper and let your child poke holes in leaf shapes and thread them on their bluebell stems. Tie them together with ribbon or put them in a jar or tin can "vase".

*From Totline's activity newsletter or theme-a-saurus

POPSICLE STICK REFRIGERATOR PICTURE FRAME

Glue wide tongue depressors in a rectangle shape. Kids can decorate them any way they choose. Paint, stickers, buttons, or old puzzle pieces work well and are popular. Attach a photo to the back so you can see the picture up front and attach a magnet to the back so it will stick to the refrigerator.

PINE CONE ORNAMENT

Cover a pine cone with glue & glitter. Hang with a pretty red ribbon.

STICK PUPPETS

Looking for a quick entertaining idea for a rainy afternoon? Make these simple stick puppets.
You will need:
Popsicle sticks
Stickers of animals (you can use others as well)
Glue stick
Simply glue the stickers on the tops of the popsicle sticks and make your own puppet show up. Fast, easy and not messy.
For a little more involved activity you can use pompom critters, craft foam shapes glued together to create your puppet or coloring book cutouts.