Falling Behind

I knew I wouldn't be able to keep up! Trying to fit in a craft once a week is difficult enough, I knew this would be a great challenge. Well, I already missed a few days. Hopefully I will be able to pick it up again soon. Until then....

Tin Can Flower Pot

Get your kids involved in growing some greenery!

MATERIALS:
aluminum can
screwdriver
hammer
rocks
potting soil
plant seeds
decorative paper
glue
popsicle stick or wooden stick
tape
plate for the can

DIRECTIONS:
1. Remove paper label from can, and make sure there are no sharp edges.

2. Turn over, and using hammer and screwdriver, punch two holes in the bottom of the can.

3. Place rocks inside the can to create an even layer. Add potting soil and follow directions on the seed packet.

4. Trim decorative paper and glue to the can.

5. Create marker by cutting out the name of the plant and picture from the seed packet and taping it to the wooden stick. Place in soil. Keep can on a plate in case there is any excess water.

TIP: Your child can chart to keep track of his/her plant! Take weekly photos and write down date and time to create a routine project.

Easy As 1, 2, 3 Flash Cards

You can make these cards in a flash — pun intended :)

MATERIALS:
three sheets of 8.5" x 11" white cardstock
scissors
marker

DIRECTIONS:
1. Cut each sheet into fours to create 12 cards.



2. Each card will be one number. Begin with zero and end with ten. On the front of the card, write the number. Below the number, write out the word (there will be a total of eleven cards, with one extra card).



3. For the backside, draw the number of circles to match the number on the front of the card.





TIP: If preferred, you can type out each number and word on your computer and print directly on the cardstock.

Cereal Box to Mail Box

Give your kids their own mailbox! They will love to have their own space to store all of their favorite pieces of mail, and it's easy to make.

MATERIALS:
cereal box
construction paper
crayons or markers
tape
glue
scissors
pipe cleaner, about two inches long

DIRECTIONS:
1. Tape cereal box shut so it does not flap open.

2. Cut the front of the box a few inches down to create a flap.



3. Decorate construction paper with drawing of envelope and the word "mail."



4. Glue to front of cereal box and trim edges. Cover back, sides, and top of box with construction paper.



5. Punch two holes on the flap. Push pipe cleaner through both holes to create a handle.



6. Stuff with mail!



TIP: Glue magnets to the inside of the box so the box can be hung on the refrigerator.

Coffee Filter Flutters

Making these colorful butterflies will brighten any child's day! Experiment with various colors or keep it simple, it will surely bring smiles.

MATERIALS:
coffee filters
water soluble markers (washables work great)
cotton swabs
cup of water
plate, to keep ink from soaking through
colored pipe cleaners
scissors

DIRECTIONS:
1. Place a coffee filter on a plate so the ink does not soak through.

2. Using markers, color the coffee filter. The more ink put down on the filter, the more vibrant it will be.



3. Once all coloring is complete, dip cotton swab in water and dab on the coffee filter. Repeat until colors have blended, as desired.



4. Allow to dry. TIP: Dries best when hung from clothespins.

5. Once dry, gather the center of the filter. Twist a pipe cleaner around the center and trim to desired size. Create the butterfly's antennae.

6. Fan out the butterfly's wings.



You can display them on windowsills or hang them from the ceiling with string. Their beauty will definitely be admired!

No-Mess Fingerpainting

Ever have those days when you just don't feel like cleaning up a big mess of paint? Try this for your young budding artist. This project can be pulled together very quickly.

MATERIALS:

construction paper

fingerpaints

Glad Press n' Seal

DIRECTIONS:

1. Let your child choose what color paper he/she would like to work on.

2. Generously squeeze out various colors of fingerpaints on the paper.

3. Seal the paper with two sheets of Glad Press n' Seal so paint cannot come through.

4. Let your child have fun!

5. Remove Glad Press n' Seal sheets, and allow paint to dry.

Paper Flowers and Vase

Make some cute springtime flowers out of pages from old magazines, and display them in a vase made from an empty plastic bottle.

MATERIALS:

Flowers:

scraps of paper (magazines, catalogs, mail, construction paper, etc)

CD for tracing

pencil

scissors

adhesive tape

glue

straws

Vase:

clean, plastic bottle

decorative paper to wrap around plastic bottle

scissors

adhesive tape

DIRECTIONS:

Flowers:

1. Place the CD on a piece of paper and trace with pencil. Cut out circle.

2. Fold circle in half several times as you would a paper snowflake, and cut out a petal shape.

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to make a few flower shapes.

4. Layer each flower shape, fastening with tape on the backside of each.

5. Adhere a straw on the back of the assembled flower to make a stem.

Vase:

1. Cut the decorative paper to be a little bit taller than the height of the bottle, so when the paper is wrapped around, the entire bottle will be covered.

2. Wrap the paper around the bottle, fastening with adhesive tape.



3. Place paper flowers inside!