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.

FUN PLACEMATS

Children can make placemats out of construction paper, stickers, magazine cut-outs, and crayons, then cover with clear self-stick shelf paper.

SPONGE GARDEN

You will need:
Sponge
Bird Seed
Water
Shallow pan

Place the sponge in a shallow pan.
Sprinkle bird seed on the sponge.
Put a little bit of water in the pan.
Keep watered and watch carefully. Tiny plants will soon grow.

LITTERBUG COLLAGE

If you ever wanted to a project that would also teach your children an important ecology message than this is it!

Materials needed:
Trash
Paper
Glue
Small paper sack
If the weather is nice outside and not too windy take the kids outside and give each one a paper sack. Talk to your children about how harmful litter is and how you are going to not only make the world look better with your project, but you are going to have fun. Be sure to explain to them not to pick up anything that is sharp or that will hurt (broken glass, wires, etc.).
Take them on a litterbug walk and have them pick up the trash that they see.
When you are all done have each child glue their trash on a piece of paper...be sure to do a lot of talking about the trash they found as they do their gluing, and explain to them the importance of throwing trash away in the proper containers.

SOAP CARVING SAFETY TIPS

Only children who can use a butter knife confidently should do this activity, and always with adult supervision. Using cakes of soap (Ivory works well) and butter knives, carve and whittle different masterpieces. Make a display case from a shoebox turned on its´ side.

POTATO PRINT ART

Cut a potato in half and cut a shape on one of the cut ends, creating a stamp. The shape can be carved simply, or more intricately by placing gouges within the shape for more detail. Paint the shape a bright color and press it on paper as a stamp, to make a print. Several similar prints can be made with the same shape cut on the potato.

EASY RAINBOWS

Tape three or four different colored crayons in a straight line. Show your child how to draw a rainbow with one stroke.

BACKPACK I.D. TAGS

To make these Backpack ID tags you will need:

Plastic Mesh Canvas cut into aprox. 2 1/2 inches by 4 1/2 inch pieces
Plastic Lacing cut into 2 yard lengths
Clear Shrink Plastic 2 x 3 1/2 inch pieces


Ruler
Pencil
Scissors

When cutting the plastic canvas, cut to the lines leaving a smooth edge. You will need 2 pieces the same size, one being cut out in the center about 4 rows in to provide a "window" for viewing your information. Lace around the parimeter of 2 pieces of plastic canvas. Insert your information on a business card or bond paper and cover with the clear plastic pieces.

Use bright colors of canvas and lacing to make these individualized.

CORN COLLAGE

Items needed:

Yellow and green construction paper
Glue
Un-popped popcorn

Cut a "corn cob" and "husks" out of paper. Glue the "husks" around the "cob". Spread the glue on the "cob" and cover it with un-popped popcorn

GIFTWRAP YOU MAKE YOURSELF

Using a solid color shelf paper or plain brown kraft paper you can make your own gift wrap. First cut a piece of paper the proper proportions to cover your gift. The easiest way to decorate your gift wrap is to use stickers in a random pattern all over the paper. Another way to decorate your paper is to paint the paper or "stamp" it with sponge stamps. Even the youngest child can draw pictures with markers. How about using a masterpiece painting from your child?

POTATO HEAD PLANT

Cut off both ends of a potato. Stand the potato upright on one of the flat cut surfaces and scoop out a hole in the other end. Carve out a face on one side of the potato. Have the children help place two cotton balls in the potato´s scooped-out top. Let them water the cotton balls and sprinkle them with grass or alfalfa seeds. Place in a sunny spot and watch his hair grow.

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.

MAKE YOUR OWN FAN

Using 7 Popsicle sticks
A hammer
A small sharp nail
A twist tie
Newspaper
Scissors
Heavy construction paper
Markers
White glue
1. Using the hammer and nail, make a small hole in the end of each stick.
2. Pull the twist tie through the holes of all 7 sticks. Make a neat loop with the twist tie and twist it to secure the sticks together
3. Spread the sticks out into a fan shape. Lay them flat on top of a piece of newspaper.
4. Cut a curved strip of construction paper t form the top of the fan, it should be about 4 inches high, the top about 8 inches wide and the bottom about 6 inches wide.
5. Decorate the paper with your markers.
6. Glue the construction paper to the top of the fan. Allow it to dry. Now you have a fan-tastic way to keep cool.
7. By creasing between the Popsicle sticks very carefully this fan can be folded.

JUICE LID CRAFTS

Lids from a frozen juice can
Any available craft supplies
( wiggle eyes yarn, magnet strips etc.)

When you open up those frozen juice cans, save the lids. They make great quick and easy crafts your little ones can easily do. Here are a few ideas you can use or let them create their own:

FOR HALLOWEEN: use orange felt. Cut It In the shape of a circle to fit inside the juice lid. Add wiggle eyes, cut out shapes for nose and mouth. Add a strip of magnet to the back, and date the back with a permanent marker to make a jack-o-lantern.

FOR NECKLACES OR MEDALS: Add glue and glitter, construction paper, ribbon, or anything else you have on hand. Place the lid on a safe surface and make a hole at the top by gently pounding a nail In the top center add ribbon or string to make the necklace. This is a great idea to make medals for special events/accomplishments in your child´s life. (I can tie my shoe, Big Sister, It´s my Birthday, I lost a tooth, etc.)

FOR CHRISTMAS: Use a permanent marker and draw a design like a Christmas tree, or candle, etc. Again using a safe surface, pound nail holes around the design, and one In the top center to hang. Hang on Christmas tree In front of a Christmas bulb and the light shines through .are just a few Ideas, but with a little imagination you will find these a great source of fun.

CRAFT CREATION: SIMPLE BIRD FEEDER

How many different types of birds do your children know? Create this simple bird feeder. Then watch the birds come and go from your bird feeder. Teach your kids about the bird´s habits.

To create this bird feeder you will need:
1 - Milk or juice carton
A straight twig, dowel, or strong straw
String
Birdseed
Pair of scissors

1. Take the milk or juice carton and cut two large rectangles out of opposite sides. It will look like the carton has two "windows".
2. Next make a hole under each rectangle and poke a twig or dowel straight through the carton to create two bird perches for your simple bird feeder.
3. Now make a small hole in the top of the milk or juice carton and attach a string so that your feeder will hang from a branch or wherever you want to hang it.
4. Now you are ready to decorate your bird feeder! When you are finished decorating, let the Birdfeeder dry, fill it full with birdseed and hang it outside near a window.

WAX PAPER

Consider using a sheet of wax paper as a placemat when working with clay or paint. Quick and easy clean up!

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.

SNOW GLOBE FROM BABY FOOD JARS

After cleaning the baby food jar and removing the paper from the outside, glue a small ornament, or toy on the inside of the cap with epoxy. (Hot glue works but may not hold more than a few days in the water.) Then fill the jar with a light colored oil, like mineral oil. Add a few pinches of glitter and put the lid on. Secure the lid tightly with plumbing tape or electrical tape so it will not leak. Turn it upside down with the lid on the bottom and you have a snow globe to enjoy!

PAPERWEIGHT GIFT

Find a rock with a flat side.
Glue a clothespin to the rock, letting dry overnight.
Decorate the clothespin and rock with small shells or pebbles.