AMAZING Construction Birthday Party!

Construction Theme:
http://juicy-bits.typepad.com/juicy_bits/2009/11/126-construction-party-part-1-the-details.html

Fleece Flower Pillows

  SUPPLIES:
Fleece (1/2 yard in the color of your flower, plus some coordinating scraps for the center and leaves) You could also use felt, but I think fleece is softer!
Scissors
Hot Glue Gun

DIRECTIONS:
1. Cut two circles out of your fleece. The size is up to you. I traced a large bowl and my circles were about 14". Sew (or hot glue) around the edges, leaving an opening for stuffing. Next, using a piece of chalk or marking pen, trace a smaller circle for the center of your flower and three additional rings to make a bullseye design.

2. Cut out four leaf shapes. I just eyeballed them. Then sew the leaves together along the outside edges and add stitched leaf veins. (You could also just hot glue the edges and draw the veins on with fabric paint or markers.)

3. Add stuffing to your pillow and stitch (or glue) closed the opening. I then used pinking shears to trim the edges of the pillow and leaves to make it a little more decorative (optional).

4. Using hot glue, attach the leaves to the edge of your pillow. The edges are "pinked" and the leaves are attached.

5. Cut out a bunch of petals. Again, I just eyeballed a petal-like shape. You could make them wider/narrower/more rounded/more pointed, etc. depending on what you want your flower to look like. I made them in two sizes, a larger one for the outer petals, a smaller one for closer to the center. I actually cut out and used a lot more, probably 50-60 or so.

6. Starting on the outer ring of the bullseye you traced, start gluing down your petals. I found it worked best to put a line of glue along the bottom of the petal, pinching the center to give it a little dimension, then attaching it.

7. Once the outer row is complete, start working on the next ring of petals. I added an additional drop of hot glue to each petal to help hold it down and cover the line where the first ring of petals were attached. Use an additional drop of glue on the inner rings of petals.

8. Keep adding petals until your flower is complete. I used the larger petals for the outer two rows, a mix of large and small for the next row, and all small petals for the inner row.

9. Cut out some circles to create the center of your flower. (I used pinking sheers again). For each circle, add a bit of hot glue to the center and squish it to form a little ruffle-y shape and attach them to the center of your flower to fill it in.

Source: http://cometogetherkids.blogspot.com/p/ideas.html

Messy Painted Pig

Print out or draw a picture of a pig.
Mix equal parts of shaving cream and glue.

Add some brown paint to make it look like mud.
Add the mud to the pig.
When finished, the paint will dry puffy.

SOURCE: http://ourcraftsnthings.com/page/4/

Fish Cracker Ocean Preschool Craft

Fish Cracker Ocean Preschool Craft


Fish crackers aren’t just for snack time, they’re for craft time too! Their fun shape are familiar to preschoolers and make a great addition to this Fish Cracker Underwater Scene Preschool Craft. It is very simple to make and even the young ones will have fun. Just make sure you have enough set out to munch on while making this cool craft with your preschooler!





What You Need
Fish Crackers
Blue Paper
Green Paint
Sandpaper
Scissors
Glue
Paint Brush

How To Make It
Step One:
Have your preschooler paint seaweed onto the blue paper with the green paint.
Step Two:
Parent: draw a starfish shape onto the sandpaper. Then let your preschooler cut out the shape. This may be a little tough depending on the type of sandpaper you are using so you may have to helpl.
Step Three:
Glue the starfish onto the blue paper at the bottom of the “sea.”
Step Four:
This is the best part – glue the fish onto the paper so they appear to be “swimming” in the sea. You’re done!

Variations
You can change the shape of the background and cut it into the shape of a gold fish bowl to change the project a little.

Source: http://crafts.preschoolrock.com/index.php/crafts/fish-cracker-ocean-preschool-craft

Rain, Rain, Go Away!

Rainy Day Umbrella Preschool Craft


Stuck inside with your preschooler on a rainy day? Short on craft supplies? Then improvise! Check your pantry, bathroom, closets – you can find something in almost any room to use for a craft. This Rainy Day Umbrella Preschool Craft uses colored sugar and cupcake baking cups from the pantry and cotton balls from the bathroom. Gather up a few things and get creative!

What You Need
Sheet of Paper – any will do
Glue
Scissors
Cotton Balls (or even marshmallows!)
Blue Colored Sugar (or glitter if you have it)
Baking Cups (cupcake papers)
Chenille Stems (or tooth picks, spaghetti noodles, etc. for the handle)

How To Make It
Step One:
Spread glue all over the piece of paper and sprinkle the blue sugar “rain.”
Step Two:
Stretch out some cotton balls and glue onto paper to make “clouds.”
Step Three:
Cut three baking cups in half and glue onto paper for the “umbrellas.”
Step Four:
Add handles to your umbrella with the chenille stems or whatever else you have to use. Now you’re done with your rainy day scene!

Source: http://crafts.preschoolrock.com/index.php/crafts/rainy-day-umbrella-preschool-craft

Homemade Wall Stickers

http://brandyscrafts.blogspot.com/2010/05/contact-paper-cardstock-wall-decals.html

I am lovin' this idea for DIY vinyl wall stickers! Definitely on the to do list for my basement and maybe the girl' rooms, too!

Science Experiments Galore

http://www.kids-science-experiments.com/cat_reaction.html

I recently saw this great idea on how to make a science experiment kit for kids. My nephew will be 6 in April and is a little mad scientist in the making. I know what I'm doing for his b-day present now!  LOVE it!!

Great Resource for Daily Activities

I recently found these calendars that suggest a daily activity to do with your toddlers and preschoolers. Activities range from reading stories on specific themes to cooking to crafts to movement to science. What a great resource . . . especially on those days where you are stuck inside due to weather, etc.

http://www.preschoolexpress.com/calendar_station.shtml

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A step outside of the normal posts . . .

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Paperplate Snowman

Source: http://www.notimeforflashcards.com/2008/12/best-of-2008-count-down-3.html


Gather your materials. You will need a paper plate, some orange and black construction paper, 2 buttons, some sequins, sparkles, contact paper, scissors, double stick tape, a stapler, and some ribbon. I also used some paint because my son wanted to paint and I like how it looks but you can skip this step if you want.


Have your child paint the paper plate, and let dry. If you use a sponge paint brush the paint will go on lightly and dry fast.

While they do that cut out a nose from the orange paper, a hat and some coal for the mouth.

Cut a rectangle of contact paper and fold in half , make sure it’s big enough to cover the hole you will be cutting in the plate.

Peel back the contact paper backing and let your child shake the sparkles on it.

Add some sequins.

Fold the contact paper so it sandwiches the sparkles , seal it. You may have to use some tape to make sure it’s sealed and nothing falls out.

Cut out the middle of the plate.

Add glue to the cutout middle for the coal mouth, nose and hat. Obviously older kids can do this themselves but it gives toddlers a great guide to be independent.

Add the face pieces.

Add the button eyes.

While your child is adding the face pieces , attach the contact paper to the inside of the paper plate ring, I used double stick tape cause it holds contact paper well.

Staple the face to the belly, I use staples with coated paper plates because glue doesn’t always work very well.

Add the ribbon as a scarf to cover the staples.