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

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For this activity, I am going to do the basic bubble painting activity that I have done with both my kids and my class.

What you need:

• A large container or cake pan
• water
• dish soap
• tempura paint (optional: you can use food coloring instead if you like)
• paper
• paper towel

Directions:

1. Fill the container with dish soap and water. You want to have a lot of suds for the bubble painting. Make sure to use warm water since cold water removes bubbles.
2. Place on the table in front of your child.
3. Have them choose colors to add to the top layer of the bubbles. I like to use squeeze bottles for this and I help my kids, hand over hand in applying the paint.
4. Place a sheet of paper onto the bubbles and press down on the back of the paper very gently.
5. Remove from the bubbles and pat off any excess soap or water.
6. Set to the side to dry and try another design with either the same bubbles and paint or with new bubbles and paint.

Sirena Van Schaik

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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.*

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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

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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

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With Father’s Day only being a few days away, I thought I should post one more craft to give you a few more to choose from. This craft is great for children of any age and you can actually tailor it to suit the Dad.

What you will need:

• A box that can be opened and closed (A shipping box that has a flap would probably work best but you could also purchase small plastic boxes for this)
• items to decorate the box with (things like construction paper, magazine pictures, pencil crayons, markers, etc.)
• Mac-tac or any other type of clear contact paper
• Photograph of your child (with Dad)
• Items to put inside (you can put in handmade crafts or even little odds and ends that your husband may need such as things for the office: paper clips, post-its, etc.)
• Glue
• Scissors
• Lots of creativity

Directions:

1. Have your child decorate the box with pictures he or she has drawn or cut out from a magazine. Try to match a theme but it is not necessary to do so.
2. Attach the photograph to the top outside of the box. (Another alternative is to do a photo collage on the inside with a bunch of photos of the children by themselves or with Dad.)
3. Allow the glue to dry.
4. Mac-tac the box so the pictures will withstand use.
5. Fill it with items for dad
6. Wrap and give on Father’s Day.

This is actually an excellent gift that can be tailored to whatever you want.

If Dad is a golfer, make a “Father’s Golf Survival Kit” and fill it with little odds and ends that Dad may need on the golf course. You can make it sweet, practical or funny with little goggles for retrieving those balls in the water hazards, or large tees for those who can’t see. You could also include things like score cards from when the kid’s and Dad went mini golfing or other memorabilia.

This same thought could work with fishing, barbecuing, sailing, or just about anything.

Lastly, if Dad travels a lot or is overseas, you can fill it with mementos to remind Daddy just how much he is loved and how much his children miss him. Put in items like postcards so dad can write home while he is away, a special letter from your child, fingerprints and I love yous. Special things that will remind Dad just how important he is.

All the best

Sirena Van Schaik

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Since Mother’s Day is only a few days away, I thought that I would post one final craft that you can do with your kids. I actually thought of these when I was at the grocery store and I was passing the flower department.  There were small terracotta pots with paint brushes and paint sold in little paint your own flower pot kits.  This is a great idea and you can either buy the kit or simply grab the items yourself. 

What you will need:

• Terracotta pot (try to go with a lighter terracotta so you won’t need to apply as much paint to cover up the pot)
• Acrylic paint (you can buy it at the dollar store or you may have some handy since you have been doing some of the crafts I have already listed)
• Sandpaper
• Paint Brushes
• spray sealer

What you will need to do:

1. Clean off the terracotta pot and sand the rough spots and bumps.
2. Have your child paint the terracotta pot.  You can do just about anything with them.  One suggestion, however; is to apply a base coat to the pot prior to actually painting on the designs.  Make sure you allow the paint to dry completely between coats
3. Allow the pot to air dry.  This usually takes a few hours but it is better to give it a full day  before you finish it off.
4. Spray the outside and inside of the terracotta pot.  Usually you will need about 2 to 3 layers.
5. Wrap and give to mom.

To add a little bit more to this gift, you can place a plant in the pot and not only will you have a beautiful gift for mom, but you’ll have the flowers to go with it.

Sirena Van Schaik

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What you will need:

• 3  cups of Epsom salt (you can pick this up at any drug store)
• 1 cup baking soda
• a essential oil in a desired scent like jasmine (you can use several and make your own scent but if you aren’t sure how oils blend, I would suggest only using one type.)
• Food Coloring (3 of your desired colors)

Directions:

1. Combine the Epsom salt and the baking powder and stir.
2. Add in the essential oils until you get the desired scent.  Usually 4 or 5 drops.
3. Separate into 3 bowls and add 1 food coloring to each bowl.
4. Mix until the mixture is not clumpy and is a soft powder instead.
5. Take a nice jar (which can be purchased at a craft store or dollar store) and pour the bath salts into the bottle in a design. 
6. Take a knife and slide it down the side of the bottle so the layers of bath salt blends in with the other ones is the occasional spot. 
7. Wrap and give to mom.

On a side note, it is important to pour in enough salt so that it is within a mm of the top of the jar.  If there is too much space in the top of the jar, the bath salts will blend together and the beautiful effect will be ruined. 

Sirena Van Schaik 

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