Bean Mosaic

Source: http://www.theideabox.com/Bean_Mosaic.html

Bean Mosaic


•Assortate dried Beans (A package of soup beans works great)
•white glue
•plastic lid (deli container lids work great)
•soap and water (for clean up)
•yarn


Fill the lid with white glue--don't let it run over the sides or you'll have a big mess to clean-up and thats a whole different project. Place the varity of beans and seeds into the glue in a pattern of your choice to create a mosaic effect. Find a safe place for the project to dry--I find somewhere out of the way and hidden as a good spot. Forget about the project for several days--it takes a long time to dry. Once the glue is completely dry, remove the lid, find a spot to thread a piece of yarn though to hang this work of art.

Terra Cotta Pot Bird Feeders

Source: http://www.inspiremecrafts.com/inspireme_crafts/gotta-make-itwith-the-kids/page/2/

MATERIALS:
large terra cotta pot bottom
medium terra cotta pot
paint
2 medium sized wooden balls with holes
wire
paint brush
strong adhesive, glue gun

OPTIONAL: beads, paper, decoupage

HOW-TO:
1. Start by painting your terra cotta pots and the wooden balls. Allow to dry.
2. If you are a talented painter, or would like your children to do it, you can decorate your pots with designs. If you are like me and can't draw or paint, you may choose to decoupage some paper onto it. If you decide to take this route, I suggest cutting the paper into triangles or squares and overlapping them. Put the decoupage on both sides and keep overlapping until you have your desired look. Allow to dry.
3. Take your wire ( I used about 1 yard and cut off the excess after I was done with the whole process) and stick one end through the wooden ball. String the wooden ball all the way to the middle of the wire. Then take both ends of the wire and insert them into the large opening of the pot and through the little hole on the bottom of the terra cotta pot until the ball is up against the pot. (see picture for clarification). Then take the two wires and insert into the second ball. Bring ball down until it is at the bottom of the terra cotta pot. There should now be one ball in the inside of the pot and one on the other side all connected with the same wire.
4. Take your extra strong adhesive, or glue gun, and apply to the large open rim of the terra cotta pot. Quickly stick it to the center of the large terra cotta pot bottom. Let dry.
5. If you choose, add some beads to the wire and tie a knot at the top.
6. Add some bird seed and hang! Let the birds enjoy and start your bird watching.

Fishies

Mommy put some toothpaste in a Ziploc bag and I squished it all up. While I did that Mommy cut a fishbowl shape out of construction paper. We glued the Ziploc bag to a piece of construction paper then we glued the fish bowl on top of it. I stuck some of my foam fish on it and we were finished.



 
Source: http://www.internettoddler.com/category/arts-crafts

Toilet Paper Tube Poinsettias

Source: http://preschool2prek.blogspot.com/search/label/Arts%20and%20Crafts

Poinsettia ornaments out of toilet paper tubes. We cut five equal slits about 1 inch wide and stopped one inch before the end of the tube. The trimmed each slit on one end to resemble a petal. My youngest painted his with red acrylic paint on both sides (he was eager to paint and did not let me trim the petals on this one).


Before drying, we sprinkled red glitter all over the petals and laid them to dry in a box.

Handprint Turkey

http://busymomsblog.com/category/toddler-art-and-craft/

Plastic Spoon Flowers

Source: http://www.cool-kids-craft-ideas.com/plastic-spoon-flowers.html#lily

Water Lily
This one looks great sitting on your table. Place it on a blue mat or paper to simulate the look of water.



Supplies
14 Plastic Spoons
Decorative Button or Paper
Green Felt
Sturdy Scissors or Diagonal Cutters
Hot Glue
Thin Cardboard

How to Make a Plastic Spoon Water Lily
Cut the stem portion of the spoon off leaving about 1/4" for gluing.
Cut a piece of cardboard into a circle shape 3 inches in diameter.
Using the hot glue, glue 5 spoon bowls on the outer edge of the circle cardboard spacing evenly around the circle.
Take five more spoon bowls and glue these in between the first 5 spoons slightly in closer to the middle of the circle. For this layer, angle the spoons slightly upwards.
Glue the last four spoons onto the cardboard. Again angling the spoons higher and in closer to the middle.
Glue on a decorative button for the middle of the flower.
Tip: You can also use card stock or craft foam and decorate it anyway you want.
Lastly, cut out two leaf shapes with green felt. Glue these to the bottom of the cardboard.
Another flower craft idea for this one is to use colored spoons. You can alternate with white and your choosen color and make your water lily all one color.

Tulips

This one is fairly simple and the younger kids can give it a try. You will need an adult to help with the hot glue gun.

Supplies
1 Plastic Spoon per tulip
Permanent Marker or Paint
Green Pipe Cleaners

How to Make Plastic Spoon Tulips
Paint the back bowl side of the spoon the desired color for your tulip. Let this dry completely.
Using a complementing color, paint a triangle starting from the edge of the top of the spoon and come down to a point for the triangle. This will create the look of a tulip.
Paint the handle green to create the stem.
Fold a pipe cleaner into leaf shapes and wrap it around the stem.
Just stick your tulip in a styrofoam ball to display this cute flower. You can make a vase as well and use floral foam or clay to hold in place.

Roses
The directions below are for the roses with a "slumped" petal which requires working with a candle and is intended for older kids with supervision. If your younger child wants to try this craft, you can do this without using a candle.

Supplies
8 Plastic Spoons
Permanent Marker or Paint
Sturdy Scissors or Diagonal Cutters
Hot Glue
Candle
Green Tissue Paper
Ribbon

How to Make Plastic Spoon Roses
To create a petal look (called slumping the spoon), light a candle and hold a spoon about 2" above the flame. The spoon should be bowl side down facing the flame.
Hold the spoon to where the tip of the spoon is receiving the heat. Hold in place until you see the spoon "slump".
Remove the spoon from the flame and press the tip against a hard surface (like the the table) to bend the tip back to create the petal.
Tip: For the first two spoons, bend back only slightly. These will be the center of the rose.
Paint your spoons the color you want (if using white spoons). Color the folded part of the petal (where you bent it back) a slightly darker matching color.
Hot glue your first 2 spoons together keeping the handle on the spoon.
Slump your next two spoons creating a slightly larger fold in the petal. Paint the spoons. Cut off the handle of the spoon leaving about 1/2" for gluing to the first two spoons.
Glue these two spoons to the first two spoons but place these so they are on each edge of the first two spoons (meaning facing each other but in the opposite direction of the first two spoons.
Repeat steps 6 and 7 for the remaining spoons creating a larger slump with each row of petals. Be sure to glue these on the opposite side of the last set of spoons.
Lastly, wrap the tissue paper around the stem and part way up the rose to cover all the edges of the cut spoons. Tie it off with a bow and give this to mom for Mother's Day or Valentine's Day.

If you want to do this rose craft without the candle and slumping of the petals, simply follow all the steps above skipping the slumping. You will still get a beautiful rose but it will be more of a rose bud without the petals opening. We placed a small pine cone in the center of ours to give it a different look.

Lid Wind Chimes

Source: http://www.cool-kids-craft-ideas.com/sensory-crafts-sound.html#wind_chimes
Supplies
3 large canning lids (the flat insert piece)
10 small canning lids (the flat insert piece)
1 large canning lid band (the part the twists on the jar)
Metal Paint (like Rustoleum)
Ribbon or String
Glitter Glue
Scissors
Hot Glue

How to Make Wind Chimes
Paint all the lids with rustoleum paint and let dry.
Using glitter glue, write out your message or decorate the lids as you want. Use the larger lids for the first letter of each word.
We used the words Peace, Love and Hope on one side and Faith, Life and Wish on the other side.
Cut 3 long strips of ribbon (long enough to hold all the lids for each word.
Hot glue the lids to the ribbon leaving enough of the ribbon to tie to the lid band and some to hang from the bottom.
Tie each ribbon to the lid band in different spots. Tie another piece of ribbon to the band for hanging.
Hang your wind chime somewhere outside to catch the wind and make some noise.

Pine Cone Hyacinth

Source: http://www.cool-kids-craft-ideas.com/flower-crafts.html

Supplies


1 Pine Cone (per flower)
Colored Tissue Paper
Green Construction Paper
Colored Aluminum Foil (or colored paper)
Plastic Tub (like from margarine)
Scissors
Glue
Pencil
Ribbon or Bow





How to Make a Pine Cone Flower

Place the tub on the aluminum foil and wrap the foil around the tub. Fold over the end into the inside of the tub to hold in place and cover the rim.
Tip: If you use paper instead of foil, just use double stick tape to hold it in place. Fold the end of the paper into the tub and tape in place.
Glue the pine cone into the plastic tub.
Tip: If you have a smaller pine cone, just build up the inside of the tub with flower foam and then stick the pine cone in a bit to hold in place.
Cut the tissue paper into 1 1/2 inch squares. Place the eraser end of the pencil in the middle of the square and twist the tissue paper by twirling the pencil.
Dip the pointed end of the tissue paper into glue and stick it between the pine cone petals. Repeat this until the pine cone is completely covered with colored tissue paper.
Cut leaves from the green paper and glue in place.
Wrap a ribbon or place a bow on the outside of the pot.

Odds and Ends . . . Sources Unknown!

Bubble Wrap Prints

http://www.artprojectsforkids.org/search/label/0%20grade

1. I cut panels of bubble wrap that were smaller than the journal pages so that the paint wouldn’t go all the way to the edges. The students were given a brush, acrylic paint and paper plate. After spreading the paint out on the plate, the bubble wrap was pressed into the paint (bubble side down) and then printed in the center of a blank journal page.


2. After a successful print was made, the students pressed a paper towel on top of the page to absorb any extra paint.

3. When the paint felt dry, the students used colored pencils to color in the bubbles. I love how they look like marbles all lined up in a row.

A Couple Cute Animal Ideas . . . . No Instructions Required :p

Source: http://blogs.familyeducation.com/parenting/14452/archive/200906?page=1

Handprint Caterpillar

Source: http://daycaredailies.blogspot.com/2010_01_01_archive.html
Supplies Needed:


Poster board white
Finger paint or tempera paints
Pipe cleaners
Wiggly eyes (or a marker to draw eyes)

Take the poster board and have child do three hand prints from the paints listed above.(see the sample on the left)

Make the head as a painted or finger painted circle attached to hand print. Let dry, cut out shape similar to above photo and attach (staple) pipe cleaners on top of head. Add wiggly eyes or draw them in.

Fun Art Pancakes

Source: http://brassyapple.blogspot.com/2009/06/crafty-thursday-w-kidscooking-art.html

I poured about a cup (maybe a bit more) into a mustard "squirt" bottle I snatched up at the $1 dollar store. Squeezed in some food coloring, gave it a good shake and ART pancakes here we COME!!


1. Stir up your pancake mix.
2. Pour a small-ish amount into a "condiment" bottle. I actually cut the nozzle down so more would flow out.
3. Add some food coloring and shake it up. (here is where the fun starts)
4. Now "draw" any fun shape - keep in mind you have to turn this baby over. Just draw an "outline" and then let that cook for a few seconds.

Snowflake Ornament

Source: http://www.inspiremecrafts.com/inspireme_crafts/gotta-make-itwith-the-kids/

Here's an easy one for you! Just a few supplies and your little ones will create some masterpieces to showcase on your tree. They will be so proud of their button snowflake ornament they'll want to make one for everybody. Hang them on your tree, attach them to the ribbon on gifts, or if you don't think you'll see real snow this year, just hang several from your windows!










MATERIALS:
Popsicle sticks (3 for each ornament)
Buttons (I chose white ones so I wouldn't have to paint them)
White glitter
Glue
Ribbon

HOW TO:

1. Glue the popsicle sticks together one on top of the other, attaching at the middle. Space them out to make the shape of the "snowflake". Let the glue dry.
2. Spread glue over the top of the popsicle sticks. Apply the buttons. Let dry.
3. Spread a light coat of glue over the buttons or use a spray adhesive. Apply glitter. Shake excess glitter off.
4. Glue ribbon in a loop at the top of one of the popsicle sticks.

Prayer Wall Canvas

Source: http://www.inspiremecrafts.com/inspireme_crafts/gifts/page/3/

The saying goes:

"Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Bless the bed that I lie on.
Four corner to my bed,
Four angels 'round my head.
One to watch and one to pray,
And two to guide me through the day."






MATERIALS:

Canvas
Paint
Foam paint brush
Cricut cut letters or stickers
Ribbon
Embellishments
Glue
Scissors

HOW-TO:

1. Start by painting your canvas. I started with a light blue, then added some depth with a little green and darker blue. I just blended them here and there until I found a combo that worked for me.
2. Cut out letters with Cricut machine or use stickers. I measured the canvas and counted out the letters in each line to make sure I chose the right size letters to use.
3. Lay out the letters on the canvas. Start gluing once they are in place. I used the Martha Stewart Extra Fine glue pen. It worked great.
4. Add any embellishments you would like. I cut out a cross and glued a brown bead to the center and then glued to the corner
5. Glue (I used glue gun) the ribbon around the canvas.
6. Cut two strips of ribbon to your desired length to use to hang. Its always better to go long and then cut them. Glue to the back of the canvas. Then bring the two pieces of ribbon together to tie a bow. Cut any excess ribbon off.

Photo Cube Puzzle

Source: http://www.inspiremecrafts.com/inspireme_crafts/fathers_day/

Its an easy project, however, be prepared to give it some time. I'm going to give you the detailed how-to for the actual puzzle, not the box. However, don't forget to give those puzzle solvers a little help by providing pictures of the different puzzles on the front. :)


This puzzle measures 6 x 6 inches. Each block I chose was 1.5 inches on each side. The blocks come in various sizes and you, of course, can essentially choose your own size and number of blocks for your puzzle. I'll give you the materials for the size of puzzle I chose to do.

MATERIALS:
16 - 1.5 inch wooden blocks
Black craft paint
Mod Podge
Sponge brush
Spray Adhesive
Ruler
Scissors
Up to 6 pictures printed on your computer


HOW-TO:
1. Paint all 16 blocks black, on all 6 sides. Let dry.
2. Choose your pictures that you will use for your project. Re-size them to 6 X 6 in. Print your pictures and let them completely dry. Cut the pictures out along the edges. TIPS: When choosing your pictures, try to choose close-ups or ones that won't be too hard to solve. Once you print it out, imagine where it would be cut into squares and make sure their are distinguishing marks that will allow your solver to put the clues together.
3. Turn your picture over. On the back, using your ruler, start to mark the measurements of where you are going to cut. Put a mark every 1.5 inches along the top and bottom, and then every 1.5 inches along each side. Connect the dots using a straight edge to give you your grid. Use a scrapbook paper cutter or scissors to cut along the lines. TIP: I wanted to see the finished puzzle and wanted to apply them in order so I put a number from 1-16 in each box on the grid on the back of the paper to help me keep them in order when applying in case they got mixed up. Repeat with all other pictures. I chose to only do 4 pictures and one note with stickers that read "I luv nana and papa" and then left the last side black.
4. Using your spray adhesive start to apply each picture square to the wooden block. Do all 16 squares of the picture. After you finish one picture move on to the next. Complete all 6 sides. Then allow to completely dry and adhere so no bubbles will pop up when you mod podge. Read your spray adhesives directions to find the time.
5. Next, using your sponge brush, mod podge over each photo square. Be careful to not have the blocks touching when you are having them dry so that they don't stick. Again, do all 16 of one side, let dry, and do another side. You most likely will have to do at least 2-3 coats of mod podge. This is the time consuming part!
6. You're done! While your blocks are drying you can work on your box.

I *HEART* You Blocks

Source: http://www.inspiremecrafts.com/inspireme_crafts/fathers_day/

MATERIALS:

1 wood block ( I chose a 4x4 inch)
4 photos (need the letters you want to take the photos). I had photos printed at store for top quality.
Mod Podge or your favorite decoupage
Black paint
2-4 Foam brushes
Scissors

HOW-TO:
1. Paint your wood block black (or your chosen accent color) on all sides. Let dry
2. Cut your pictures to size.
3. Apply thin coat of Mod Podge to back of picture. Adhere to wood block. Smooth out bubbles by using a cloth over the picture. Repeat on each side. Let dry according to directions on decoupage. Usually 20 minutes.
4. Apply coat of Mod Podge over the top of picture and block. You may have to do a couple of pictures at a time, let dry and then do the others. Make sure to get the corners and sides of the pictures as well.
Note: It helps to rest the block on a cup upside down or something similar so the Mod Podge doesn't adhere to the newspaper you may have underneath for dripping.
5. Let dry overnight.
6. Give to a loved one. J

Mother's Day Puzzle

Source: http://www.inspiremecrafts.com/inspireme_crafts/dollar_diva/page/2/









MATERIALS

Scrapbook puzzle or regular puzzle
Paper
Pictures
Glue
Scissors
Ribbon
Hole Punch
Brad

HOW-TO

1. Print out photos to size.
2. Trace puzzle pieces onto various photos.
3. Cut out photos.
4. Adhere photo to puzzle piece.
5. Decorate front 'page'.
6. Punch hole in approximately the same spot on every puzzle piece.
7. Stick brad through all the pieces. Close brad on back.
8. Voila! An adorable photo puzzle collage for mother's day.

I Love You THIS Much Sign

Source: http://www.inspiremecrafts.com/inspireme_crafts/dollar_diva/page/2/







MATERIALS:

Wood base (mine was 5 x7 and found at Michaels for $1) - or you could use a canvas
Favorite paper
Construction Paper
Paint
Ribbon
Scissors
Glue
Stickers, or cricut cut letters, or print the saying on your computer.

TO DO:

1. Paint your wood a matching color to your paper. Let dry
2. Have your child make his/her own hand prints on the construction paper. Let dry. We did several so we could pick out the best ones. Have soapy water and paper towels right there to clean hands before he/she decorates your house :).
3. Cut paper to size to fit on front of wood. If paint has dried, adhere the paper to the front of the wood. I used a spray adhesive.
4. Use stickers, cricut letters, or print out the saying on your computer. Use "I love you this much". Adhere to front of wood.
5. Once the hand prints have dried, cut out around the hand prints and leave a little 'wrist and arm' when you cut so they can attach to the wood.
6. Add your child's name and date with a pen on the outer edge of the hand print.
7. Tape or glue the hand print 'wrist/arm' to the back of the wood so the hand print is facing the front. One on each side.
8. Glue some ribbon on the back so your child's dad can hang it up.
9. Add some photos, or if you child is old enough have them write the "I love you this much" message themselves.

Goldfish Mobile

Source: http://www.inspiremecrafts.com/inspireme_crafts/dollar_diva/

MATERIALS:


2-4 sheets of orange/red foam rectangles (purchased mine at DollarTree in pack)
Wiggly eyes
Beading wire
Glue Gun
Cotton balls or tissue
Glitter glue, markers, anything to decorate fish
Black Marker
Assorted Beads
Ribbon

HOW-TO:

1. Start by free-handing the shape of a fish on the orange foam. Or you could print out a fish to trace. Cut the shape of the fish out on two pieces of foam.

2. Have your children decorate the large fish by adding wiggly eyes, a mouth using the marker, glitter glue, etc. Let dry.

3. Cut out several smaller size fish. Cut out. Add wiggly eyes and mouth.

4. Take beading wire. Poke it through the top of a small fish and then twist the wire together. Start adding beads. Leave about an inch of wire at the top to attach to the larger fish later. Repeat for all your small fish.

5. Once your large fish is dry, connect the front piece and the back piece using the glue gun around the inner edges. Be sure to leave a portion unglued so you can stuff it with tissue or cotton balls. Stuff it with the cotton to make it 3-dimensional. Once stuffed, close the opening by gluing it shut.

6. Take the first beaded fish. With the top part of the wire left, punch it through the bottom of the large fish and twist the wire together to secure it. You now have a small fish hanging from the large fish. Repeat with all your small fish and beaded wire.

7. Cut ribbon to your desired length (I did about 1 foot). Glue each end of the ribbon to the back of the fish to allow it to hang.

8. Voila! You are done. Go proudly hang your hanging-fish-thing a.k.a. School of Fish.

If your child is currently infatuated with fish and under the sea creatures then this is one definitely worth trying. You could even do an octopus! On a side note, all the materials could be purchased at a craft store, but they are also ALL available at the DollarTree! Yay!