Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Discover Bottles



Materials
Clear plastic bottle (we used Aquapods by Poland Spring)
Sequins, buttons, ribbon, yarn, and other shakable objects
Water
Hot glue
Instructions
To start, insert a handful of objects into a clear plastic bottle. In one bottle, we put sequins, buttons, and baubles of varying sizes, and in the others, we put ribbon and yarn cut into half-inch, 2-inch, and 5-inch lengths.
Fill the bottle with water, leaving about an inch of space at the top. Firmly secure the lid with hot glue and let it dry completely (about 5 minutes) before giving it to your child.


Toddler Painting

Materials Chalkboard Paintbrush Dark and colored construction paper Ice or ice in ice pop mold Instructions Blackboard Masterpiece You can skip the chalk and eraser for this instant chalkboard activity. All your child needs is a paintbrush and a cup of water to create dark swirls in the residual chalk dust. More Water Painting Give her that same paintbrush and water, then let her create a temporary work of art on dark construction paper. Or head outside and have her paint on the sidewalk. Ephemeral Ice Drawing Here's a very cool project for a hot day. Supply your child with several sheets of colored paper and an ice cube to draw with. As the ice cube melts, it will create a trail of dark marks that fade as they dry and then -- poof! -- disappear completely. For an easy-to-hold twist, you can make the ice in a plastic ice pop mold with a handle.

Tree Craft



Materials
Brown and red tempera paint
Paper
White glue
Torn-up leaves and blades of grass

Instructions
To make one, have your child paint his palm and wrist with brown tempera, then press them on a piece of paper to make a print. (Tip: For easier cleanup, add one tablespoon of dish soap for each L cup of paint.) While the tree is drying, he can add red fingerprint apples.
Have him squeeze white glue over the branches and under the tree, then sprinkle on torn-up leaves and blades of grass gathered from a woodsy walk or backyard ramble. Allow the collage to dry completely before hanging.



Winter sun catcher




Add color to the grays of a winter landscape with an ephemeral sun catcher made of ice.
Materials
Ice cube tray
Food coloring
Round cake pan
Ribbon
Plastic cup
Instructions
First, create colorful ice cubes by adding one to three drops of food coloring to the water in each section of the tray. Use only a few matching colors, as they will run together in the pan later. Freeze the cubes completely.
Fill a round cake pan about two-thirds full of water. To make the hole for the ribbon, set a plastic cup full of water in the pan. Place the pan in the freezer for an hour or so. Put the colored ice cubes in the pan, then let all the liquid freeze solid. Remove the plastic cup, flip the sun catcher out of the pan, then hang it outside with ribbon.




Cling snowflakes for the windows.





Materials
Paper and pencil
Cookie sheet
Waxed paper
Dimensional fabric paint (we used Scribbles brand in Glittering Crystal)
Instructions
Draw a snowflake template (small, compact designs work best) Lay the template faceup on the cookie sheet and cover it with the waxed paper.
Using a thin line of the fabric paint (approximately 1/8-inch wide), trace the snowflake design on the waxed paper as shown, making sure all of the paint lines connect. Let the window cling dry overnight, then carefully peel it from the waxed paper.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Matthew is here!

Matthew arrived in December so I have not had much time on my blog but I am making personalized craft books called busy hands which I will add your child's name to and it will contain crafts, learning, healthy snacks and outdoor fun based on what your child likes if you would like to order one let me know!!