HOLIDAY CRAFTS ~ EASY AND FUN

GREAT PROJECTS FOR GROUPS AND CLASSES, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUNG KIDS.

SNOWMAN ~

Basic Snowman is made out of cardboard discs (called baking drums and circles) used for baked goods.  Discs can be purchased at a craft store but if you are needing a large quantity, they are much less expensive when purchased from a paper supply company like Paper Mart (online and Amazon shop).  They are sold in packs of 50 and come in different sizes, from 6" to 14".  For this project I used 6" and 9".
Once you have your basic snowmen you can decide if kids will be doing the very basics (sticking on pre-cut pieces) of they will be creating features with paper and or fabric and glue, markers or paint.  If I am working with a large group of kids in limited space I go for the basics and have everything organized and ready for kids to peel and stick. For this group I had snowmen pre-glued together with hot glue gun and also cut and glued on the hats but kids can also do this part themselves and hats can be any type of hat such as snow hats etc.
Instructions and materials listed here will be more for the large group but if you are working with just a few kids or want to give kids more room for creativity, just give them the basic snow man along with a variety of materials such as markers, paint, fabric or colored paper for scarf, hat and mittens.  You can get more creative by adding stars, snow, a little tree, some lights, candy canes, stickers or whatever works.

MATERIALS ~
White bakery circles, 2 sizes, amount you need.
Hot glue gun
Black railroad board or heavy poster board for hats.
Black peel and stick felt sheets for eyes, mouth and buttons. (sticky back foam sheets can also work)
Orange peel and stick felt for nose. (foam sheets also work).
Assorted colors of construction paper for mittens or white if kids are going to be creating their own designs on the mittens with markers. If you want to make it super easy and not use glue at all, cut mittens out of sticky back felt or foam in assorted colors.  For mittens it is less expensive to use colored paper but both work.
Red fabric (fleece) for scarf or any fabric you like.  Mittens can be cut from this fabric if you choose as well.
DIRECTIONS ~
With hot glue gun, glue discs together overlapping just an inch or so.
Cut a piece for hat ( mine is 6.5" high by 6" wide and is for the 6" disc) any size you like, and a strip for the rim.  Glue rim to hat and glue hat to snow man.
Cut out  little squares (appx 1/2") from the black felt for the face and buttons (as many as needed).  It is easiest to cut 1/2" strips first, then squares, as many layers as you can do at a time.
Cut noses out of orange felt, mitten shapes, and scarves (mine are about 30"x2".
If kids will be using glue for their mittens, you can put some in a few paper plates with some sticks as this works a lot easier than bottles and glue sticks don;t always work.

Put everything out for kids and have fun.  If you need to keep it really simple make little packs with all materials for each child.

  

CHRISTMAS TREE CRAFT

Christmas trees are easy to make and fun for kids to decorate.  After basic tree is done, kids can use a variety of materials  to decorate their tree including, pom poms, beads, glitter, stickers or paint.  For tips and How To's see December 17, 2016 post n this blog.

THANKSGIVING CRAFTS

Signs and Turkeys

Thanksgiving signs are easy to make and you can do any number of variations.  Start with a piece of cardboard, any size you like (I used a 10 x 12 square) and paint with a few coats of chalkboard paint.  Kids can then use chalk to write any message they choose on their signs which is always fun for them and if necessary they can erase and start over or change messages.

For leaves and turkey I used watercolor paper and some colored paper for turkey body and head.  Kids can paint the leaves and turkey feathers any way they like or they can even use markers or crayons.  

Copy the turkey and leaf shapes from the picture or make your own, cut and glue to cardboard chalkboard and it's ready to paint.  Kids or helper can then paint a message and it's ready to hang up.

PINE CONE TURKEYS

All kids love making pine cone turkeys because they look so adorable and they are so easy.  

Helper will glue a walnut head on first with a glue gun (to make sure it sticks) and then eyes, beak and red piece.  

Give kids a bunch of colored feathers (from craft store) and a bit of glue to dip end of feather into just to make sure they stay in place.  For more about pine cone turkeys see November  2016 in this blog.

JELLYFISH ~ PAPER MACHE

Paper mache Jellyfish are easy to make and fun for kids to paint as there are so many different ways kids can make their jellyfish their own.  After Jellyfish is painted, you can add a coat of clear acrylic finish and a little glitter for a sparkly, watery effect.

Jellyfish is created from a balloon covered with a few layers of paper mache. I like to use torn newspaper strips and liquid starch but you can use any paper mache recipe you like.  When Jellyfish is dry it's best to paint an undercoat of white (I like Gesso).  For tentacles you can use wire, pipe cleaners, fabric, or ribbon.  Even paper would work.  Attach tentacles by making little holes in Jellyfish or use tacky glue if using ribbon, paper or fabric. For final coat acrylic paints work best and you can use the little inexpensive bottles sold at craft stores.

For more detailed instructions go to the Easter Basket craft dated Sunday April 9, 2017 in this blog as the projects are very similar.  Follow instructions up to cutting the edge. Where Easter basket has a jagged edge, Jellyfish will be more of a scalloped edge.  After base coat is painted you will attach tentacles and Jellyfish is ready to paint.  Encourage kids to paint their Jelly any way they like.  Attach a piece of fishing line and hang it up!  Make lots of Jellies, they look beautiful together,  

SCARECROW ~

Easy fun craft for kids of all ages using simple materials ~ cardboard and fabric scraps.  For tips see Fall Scarecrow Craft 10/2/16.

Halloween Paper Crafts

HALLOWEEN PAPER CRAFTS

Simple, fun and easy ways to help kids celebrate Halloween.

Pumpkins, Haunted Houses, Witches and Zombies are easy paper, glitter, and glue projects for kids and kids love Halloween crafts. Haunted House is created out of black tag board and a few other Halloween colors (any sort of colored paper will do).   Witch and Zombie shapes are made out of poster board colors glued together but if you want to use brads to connect arms and legs etc so they can move, this works too.  When you figure out how to create and assemble these basic shapes, you can help kids create lots of Witches and Zombies in a variety of shapes and colors.  Put them in your windows ~ or anywhere!   

MATERIALS

Poster board, assorted colors, extra white.

Poster paint or acrylics, assorted colors, brushes, markers, scissors, glue, yarn or string or pipe cleaners, glitter and other decorations.

HOW TO ~

WITCH ~ Start by cutting simple shapes for witch.  Body is basically a big sort of long triangle (about 18" high but any size will do) with top point cut straight across.  Arms can be incorporated into the triangle as shown in picture or you can skip arms, or add arms with brads.  You can use traditional black or a color works too, like orange, pink or red.  Green works well for face and hands.  Hat is black and if you are not comfortable cutting hat shape, make a pattern using newspaper.  Perfect is not important!  Head is a basic circle shape, extended a bit where hat will be glued, and a neck which will be covered up with the dress.  Witch hair can be just about anything, yarn, straw, string, paper, poster board, or pipe cleaners.

Assemble your witch parts and glue pieces together.  Witch hair is glued to side of head first, hat next on top of hair.  When dry, witch is ready to be decorated.  Provide child with paint, glue and cut shapes like swirls and dots, glitter, and glue.   You can also provide google eyes, foil shapes like swirls, circles, and stars, and pom poms.  Encourage kids to have fun and make Witch fun and funky. 

ZOMBIE ~ Zombies are pretty simple shapes.  See the picture for help and ideas.  The head is a rectangle shape with a neck that will be covered when gluing on the body, which is a larger size rectangle or square.  The no neck look is good for Zombies.  Zombie hair can be cut from colored paper and glued on or kids can paint the hair but you should cut the jagged edge for them and incorporate into the head.   You can incorporate the legs into the body piece or add separately.  You can do the Zombie all white (to be painted) or in colors and along with paint you can provide cut shapes in fun colors.   You can also use brads to attach all body parts.  For clothing, face, etc poster or acrylic paints can be used.  You can cut some shapes for eyeballs and mouth or kids can paint them.  

PUMPKINS ~ Pumpkins are easy.  Cut a variety of sizes and let kids paint the faces or pre cut some black face parts and let them glue how they choose.  Pom poms are great, especially for very young kids as they can glue them all over and it's good for their small motor skills. Some glitter is always a good thing.

HAUNTED HOUSE ~ Kids love creating their own haunted house and they will have lots of creative choices once you help them with the basic house.  You can cut the house for them or do it together.  You probably don't need a pattern as the house is crooked and imperfect which makes it easy to make.  If you want to make a pattern out of newspaper, that is fine too.  It's always helpful to make some sketches on newspaper as well.  Include a fence with your house and cut out a big yellow moon and black crooked tree to add to house.  Once you have the house, moon and tree, you can cut out all of your shapes which would include, windows and doors, pumpkins, cat, owl, ghosts, bats, skeleton and any other shapes you prefer.  Provide a little tacky glue and a black marker and encourage child to place objects where they choose and then draw faces and details with marker. 

To make skeleton pattern, start with basic head shape, 2 squares, one on top of the other, bigger.  A small neck, square center body.  Do 2 long pieces each for arms and legs and add some extra to the ends of each long shape.  Hans and feet can just be rectangles, tapering a bit where connected to limbs.  Then round off all of your edges a bit, cut and use for a pattern.  Just make arms and legs do anything you like.

Fourth of July Crafts for Kids

4TH OF JULY SIGNS AND ROCKETS

4TH OF JULY SIGNS ~

Kids love making signs that celebrate special holidays and events.  Not only do they love to decorate for special times, they love being a part of making things look festive while being creative.  I often find fun decorations to use in different ways from dollar stores.  I take things apart or cut them up and turn them into craft supplies.  These stores always have lots of stuff around each holiday so it's always worth it to take a look.
I am a big fan of cardboard as a base for many projects as you can buy it by the sheet or use old boxes.  It's pretty strong so can hold a lot of paint and decorations and because of the way it is designed, you can stick things in the top, like little flags.
For the sign base I cut come cardboard pieces about 16" X 9".  I painted some pieces red and some blue and let kids choose.  I also punched some holes here and there around the edge for a hanging wire and for adding stars and other swirly items. Rockets and firework circles are made out of poster board and I gave kids some glitter and glue to create the firework sparkle.  I used some gold shreaded paper (used for packaging) for a firework burst by tying a small bunch together with some wire.  Kids  just stick the firework in one of the punched holes.  You can find lots of packaging stuff at dollar stores.  I also cut some stars out of poster board and attached a wire or some pipe cleaners so they could be added to one of the holes.
Use your imagination to get a project ready for a child and if kids can help, take them along with you and help them figure out some fun things to do with the stuff you find.

ROCKETS ~

Rockets or big fireworks are easy to make and kids love decorating them.  Rockets are created out of cardboard tubes and paper or poster board cones and can be any size you like, from small to gigantic.  For the cone you can create one out of poster board, use birthday hats, or buy them from a craft store.  You can buy heavy paper cones from Oriental Trading Company which are typically used for holding rice and flowers at weddings and showers.
Glue cone piece and tube together and cover with a layer of paper mache to make rocket strong and smooth or just skip the paper mache and paint it white (Gesso works best).  I use liquid starch for paper mache because it is easy and not so sticky like the glue recipes, and it creates a nice crisp painting surface. Before kids start painting, create a hole in the top with a large needle (or anything that will work) for a hanging wire.
Put out some red, white, and blue acrylic paints (poster paints will work as well) and let kids do their thing.  When paint is dry, cut out stars and glitter can be added.  The glittery sticky back foam from craft stores works great.  Add some crepe paper streamers at rocket base with a little glue.  Hang them outside or anywhere you choose.

CRAFTS FOR LITTLE ONES ~ UNDER 3

When I work with kids sometimes siblings like to do art too but may not be quite ready for some of the tasks the older kids can do.  I found some cardboard pre-cut stars at the dollar store, and some 12" sticks.  I taped a stick to each star and gave kids a little glitter, some glue mixed with water and a small size paint brush.  I had them paint dots and other designs with the glue on the star and then sprinkle the glitter.  This is a simple idea but little kids love things on sticks and glitter, of course.  You could also add some crepe paper streamers to the stars.

BIG ROCKETS

Another easy craft for little ones (big ones too) is a large size rocket (firework) to decorate and hang up outside or on the front door.  I used poster board and cut out a white center piece about 10"x22" and the red or blue top to fit, overlapping sides.  Any size you want to make rockets is fine, I just went big because kids like big stuff.  I added some crepe paper tails and a wire loop for hanging.
Kids can paint their rockets and add some glitter or they can use markers.  You can cut out some paper stars or sticky back glitter foam stars and shapes and let kids glue and stick them all over the rocket.  Lots of possibilities. Make some memories, have fun and always get creative with kids at holidays and celebrations,

SUMMER BANNERS

Summer Banners are easy and fun for kids to paint.  You can get the basic banner ready and kids can paint any summer design they choose or you can make a simple outline with a black marker and kids can paint the design.  Kids typically like a place to start and appreciate a design ready for them to paint.  You can create a variety of choices with themes like, fruit, flowers, sharks, crabs, beach huts, ocean and fish designs, and mountain scene with trees, bears, lake, tent and trails  You can write the word "summer" in simple text if that works. I have included some basic line drawings you can use for ideas.  If you are not comfortable drawing right on banner, you can make some basic patterns or templates to trace.  The shapes I used for these banners are all pretty simple.  Banner is cotton canvas, cut 11X14, with a basic 1/2" hem ,

12 "wooden dowel, and jute, ribbon, or string for hanging tie. 

Basic shape ideas ~

Acrylic paints work best but even then, the black marker lines will show through so it's okay to go over them.  The important thing is to remember that t is not important to make a perfect drawing as once it is all together and painted, it just works and kids will be happy.  Banner can be hung in kid's room or even better, on the front door.  A Fourth of July theme works well too. Just write "Happy 4th" and draw some firework bursts, a few rockets and some stars.

Materials ~
Canvas yardage cut in pieces 11"x14", from art store or fabric store.  You will need to sew a simple hem along top edge.  Fold top edge over about 1/2" and stitch, close to edge, leaving enough space to fit your dowel.
Gesso , assorted acrylic paints, brushes, black marker, 12" dowel (typically sold in packs at craft stores).  Twelve inches is a very common size so good to stick with that.


How To ~

Mark (11"x14") and cut banners and sew the top hem by folding edge over about 1/2".  No need to hem side and bottom edges, just trim loose threads.  Paint banners with a coat of Gesso so paint will flow easily. Gesso makes a good seal and base on canvas. 

After Gesso is dry, draw the designs.  You can make templates to trace or just draw, freehand, or have kids do their own designs.  If kids are doing their own designs, it's a good idea to have them do some sketches for ideas first.  Once the marker lines are on the canvas, they are there to stay!

Put some bright summer colors (acrylics) on paper plates and paint!  When dry, insert dowel, tie string and hang up to enjoy and announce summer.

 


 

FISH TRAY SUMMER CRAFT ~ PAPER MACHE

Paper mache fish trays are easy to create and make a fun summer craft for kids.  After fish is painted and a clear acrylic top coat is added (making tray shiny and strong), tray can be used for snacks, lunch, and treats.  They also add color and style to summer tables.  Kids can paint their fish any way they choose and, time permitting, can do the paper mache part as well. If time and space are an issue, trays can be made ahead and all that is needed is paint.

 

 

MATERIALS ~

Newspaper or scrap paper for creating fish shape pattern.  I use newspaper for patterns all the time as the lines make it so easy and the weight is just right for a pattern.  You will also need torn newspaper strips for paper mache.
Cardboard for fish tray.  You can purchase sheets of cardboard from craft stores or janitorial supply stores or you can use a cardboard box. The tray we made is about 14"x8" but you can make tray any size you like. We stuck with one fish shape but you can make different fish shapes and sizes if you prefer.  Or if you are working with a group of kids, they can each design their own fish shape.  You can look at some different fish online or in books for ideas.
Liquid starch for paper mache, or any recipe you prefer.  I prefer starch as it is easy to use and dries nice and crisp.  Liquid starch can be found at large markets and Smart and Final.  An old pie tin or plastic plate or container for starch.
Masking tape, scissors, a sharp knife (not necessary but can be easier to cut cardboard with than scissors).
Wax paper. which is best for drying paper mache objects on as when object is dry, it will peel right off easily.
Acrylic paints, assortment of colors, preferably summer colors.  You can use the little inexpensive 2 ounce bottles sold at craft stores or tubes or any brand you like.  A paper plate works well for a palette.  Be sure to let kids choose their own colors. 
Paint brushes in assorted sizes.
Clear gloss acrylic top coat, any kind available. You will only need a small amount as one coat will do.

HOW TO ~

Make a fish pattern out of newspaper (or any paper handy).  Easiest way is to fold a rectangle in half and draw half of a fish, cut, open, ready to go.  Make a few different ones.

Trace fish on cardboard and cut out with scissors or a knife if you are extra careful....adults only.

For tray rim, cut a long strip about 1" high.  You may have to cut a few if you don;t have any long pieces of cardboard and piece together around fish.

Before taping the rim to the fish, bend the strip so it is flexible.  Use masking tape and tape rim to fish.

Paper mache fish with starch and torn strips of newspaper.  Dip newspaper strips in starch and squeegee with your fingers, apply to tray, making it as smooth as possible.  One coat of paper mache will do for this project.  Be sure to do the under side as well.  Put fish on wax paper to dry and add a few weights (rocks, cans, bottles etc) at either end so fish will dry really flat and won't curl. While fish is drying, move the weights around a bit so they don;t leave a mark.  When fish is dry, it will lift off wax paper easily.

When fish are dry, paint with a coat of Gesso or white acrylic paint so you will have a nice white background which makes colors brighter.  I prefer Gesso for the way it covers.  When dry, fish are ready to paint.

Make a palette for each child and let them choose their colors.  It's always a good idea to give kids a few suggestions or even make a few sketches, just to get their imaginations going.  Let them know that fish can be anything and that some good designs to use are dots, stripes, or wavy lines and they can paint their fish a color or a few to start and add designs when dry.  When paint is dry, add top coat.  Have fun!