Of course it isn’t Halloween yet but I thought I would kick off the Halloween crafts early, since I need to slip in a few Thanksgiving crafts over the next month and a half. This is a great activity to do with kids and it gets them using not only their imagination but their own bodies as well. You can do this craft as an individual activity or as a group activity.

What you need:

• Sheet of Poster Paper (You can purchase this at stores like Scholar’s Choice, try to get a roll if possible)
• Drawing Pencil
• Tempura Paint
• Paint Brushes

Directions:

1. Cut out a sheet of poster paint that your child can lay flat on. Have him or her pose on the paper.
2. With the pencil, trace your child.
3. When they get up, square up the head with the pencil and erase the other lines that are not needed. Draw on the neck plugs and add any details you want to the drawing.
4. Mix up your Tempura Paint while your child is finishing up the drawing. Make sure to add a drop or two of dish soap to make cleaning easier.
5. Paint your Frankenstein monster any way you want to.
6. Allow it to dry and then tape it to your door for a Halloween decoration.

You can create all different types of monsters with this. Children love having their outlines drawn and if they are enjoying the outline drawing so much, why not grab a piece of chalk and head out the door to make chalk outlines on the sidewalk. If you do it on Halloween, you can use the outlines for your decorations.

Sirena Van Schaik

Photo Credit

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

What you need:

• Ice Cubes (you can use simple ice cubes or freeze some with Popsicle sticks in them for holders)
• Paper (construction, card stock or mural)
• Powdered Tempura Paint of various colors (you can get this at any craft or art store and stores like Scholars Choice also offer it)
• Small dishes or shakers (if you use dishes, provide some spoons)

Directions:

1. Place a piece of paper out for the child to paint on.  (If you are using the sidewalk, skip this step.)
2. Place all the dry tempura paint in separate containers and the ice in a bowl by itself.
3. Allow the children to sprinkle dry paint onto their paper.
4. Have them pick up the ice cube and use it as a paint brush

The ice will melt and mix with the Tempura Paint making it turn into a liquid paint.  The children can move it around the paper to create designs or even start with a design and carefully melt the ice on the paint to make it into an actual painting.

Children really enjoy the cause and effect of this art experience and I find that it is a fairly clean activity, unless you are like me and always seem to spill the tempura paint yourself.

Enjoy,

Sirena Van Schaik

*The photo is a picture that my son painted with ice cube painting when he was two and a half.  He said it was a “Halloween Picture.”  Take a few moments and capture the idea behind the painting from your child’s words after they make the picture, it truly is amazing when you look back at it years later.*

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I love, I mean LOVE, Paper Mache but unfortunately, my kids do not feel the same. For some reason, they act like paper mache paste is an acid that once it gets on their skin it will begin to burn. I’m not sure why this is but the same kids that hate the feeling of paper mache will stick glue on their hands and pretend to peel it off like skin (okay, I admit to teaching them that one). These are the same kids that will also happily play in mud, sand, and clay (which by the way, coats the hands). It is strange to say the least but it basically means that I when it comes to making paper mache crafts, the kids will help me with everything except putting the paste wet papers onto the frame.

Still, I will whip out the paper mache every once in a while to get my hands dirty and with the hopes of enticing my kids to do so as well.

When it comes to paper mache, there are many different recipes out there but my favorite is the straight flour and water. I know there are some that call for glue but if I’m going to use glue, why not just use all of it. The flour, in my mind at least, is what makes the paper mache harden to the proper consistency so I will share the recipe that I use.

What you need:

• 1and 1/2 cups of flour
• 3 cups of water
• Newspaper

Basically, the recipe is a 1 to 2 parts and it really is a no fuss recipe, which I prefer.

Directions:

1. Combine the water and flour.
2. Mix with a whisk until most (if not all) of the lumps are removed.
3. Tear or cut the newspaper into 1″ strips.
4. Dip the paper into the paper mache.
5. Wipe off the excess paper mache into the bowl before attaching the strip to whatever you are working on.
6. Repeat

And that is about it. For some great ideas on how to use paper mache, I suggest going to this site or to stick around on That Parent Place for future projects.

Sirena Van Schaik

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

No, you are not going to be painting your child’s tongue or having your child paint your tongue.  You aren’t even going to be painting a big construction paper tongue.  You and your child are going to be using your tongues as paintbrushes and you will be surprised how much fun this activity is.

What you need:

• Vanilla Pudding
• Food Coloring
• Paper Pie Plates (or strong paper)
• a camera

Directions:

1. Mix up some instant vanilla pudding.
2. Place the vanilla in 4 seperate bowls.
3. Mix in a few drops of different food coloring in each bowl to make colored pudding (check the back of the box for the formula to making some colors).
4. Have your child put a few spoonfuls of pudding on a paper plate (this works better than paper since it is sturdier but you could probably use a thick card stock as well).
5. Now get your child to make a picture by moving the pudding around the plate with his or her tongue.
6. Take lots of pictures of the event and the finished work since this is one masterpiece that can’t be saved.

This is a great activity that I have done with my kids and my class.  I have found that some children will lick the plate clean while others will make intricate designs with the pudding.  The faces that the children make as they paint is very funny but nothing makes this activity as delightful as the moments when the children erupt in laughter at the silliness of it all.

Enjoy the sillier moments.

Sirena Van Schaik

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Anyway, now that I apologized, let’s get going on a great father’s day craft that is excellent for younger children to create.

What you need:

• a magnetic strip (you can buy these at most craft stores and it usually comes in a roll)
• juice can lid
• Paper
• White glue
• Markers

What you need to do:

1. Cut out a circle from the construction paper that is the same size as the juice can lid.  You can use the juice can lid as a stencil.
2. Have your child decorate it with markers.
3. Cut out a piece of construction paper that looks like a ribbon.
4. Have your child decorate the ribbon.
5. Using white glue, paste the circle into the front of the lid and the ribbon onto the back of the lid so it hangs down like a ribbon. 
6. Glue the magnetic strip to the back and dad can hang it on the fridge or on a filing cabinet in his office.
7. Lastly, write in #1 Dad or have your child write it.
8. Wrap and give to dad.

Since this is such an easy project, I would recommend it for any child age 6 months and up to 3 years.  Of course, the younger your child, the more work you will have to put into it, but it will still be a wonderful gift on Father’s Day.

Sirena Van Schaik

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Cloud Dough is interesting in shape and it has an appearance that is very similar to billowy clouds. 

What you will need:

• 1 cup of Vegetable Oil
• 6 cups of Flour
• 1 cup of water (roughly)
• optional:  Tempura Paint (your choice in color)

What you need to do:

1. Pour the flour into a large mixing bowl.
2. Slowly pour in the oil while stirring.  Mix the flour and oil together.
3. If you are adding tempura paint, pour it in before the water and mix it in.
4. Gradually pour in the water until the dough is soft and can be molded.  You don’t want it so moist that it breaks apart and sticks to everything so you may not need a full cup of water or you may need a bit more than a cup.
5. Store in an airtight container or ziplock bag.

This dough has a lot of elasticity to it and children can use it to make all sorts of shapes.  Mix up the experience by giving them flowers, pebbles or other objects from nature to use when they create their masterpieces.

Sirena Van Schaik

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.