Canada Day

We live in Canada, and this weekend it will be Canada day. So, today, we made Canada Flags and talked a bit about Canada. 

Canada's flag is really, really easy. (well if you don't have to draw out the maple leaf!). But, we used handprints! 

First thing we did was trace out our hands on red paper, and then cut them out, along with a bunch of pieces of red paper! We got the glue, and white paper and started working! 

First the kids glued their hand print to the middle of the paper. 

Then, they started gluing on all the little red pieces to the side, collage style. 

And now, we have our Canada Flags for Canada day! 

Easter

It has been a whirlwind of a week, so I have a few Easter crafts here, to finish them up in one post! The kids have been very busy, and are getting very excited for all the easter fun!

First we made easter egg gardens. I drew out a bunch of eggs on the back of some finger paint paper. We also used white wax crayons, glue, paint and a piece of green paper.

First the kids coloured with the white wax crayon on the front of the paper (the eggs were drawn on the back). Then they started painting over the crayon. I put the eggs on the back so the kids wouldn't see what they were doing, they just scribbled with the white crayon. And, they painted the whole page- on the front, so the eggs would have different colours!

After those dried, we cut out the eggs, and were surprised at all the different colours on each egg. After they were cut out, we glued them to the paper, and added some Easter stickers.

We also made handprint bunnies. We used finger paint, markers, and finger paint paper for this.

The kids painted one hand first.

After they dried, we drew the bunny around the hand print, added an Easter basket and then coloured some eggs, chocolate etc on the paper.

(The fingers are the ears, the palm is the face, and the thumb is the tail)

And today, we made toilet paper roll bunnies. We used toilet paper rolls, pink napkins (you can use any napkin), paint (you can use what ever colour, we used pink to match the napkins), glue and green paper, cut in a length of about 1.5 inches- including the "grass" cut at the top.

First we painted the toilet paper roll- to about 3/4 of the way up.

And then added the "grass" to the part that was not painted.

Then, with the napkins, we pushed them into the top of the toilet paper roll to make the ears.

We also glued on googly eyes, and when they are dry, we will use a marker to draw on the nose, mouth, and whiskers!

Day 19 of 25 Days of Christmas Crafts

Today we did another handprint craft, but Santa this time. 

First I collected everything that we needed to do the craft, red and white paper, markers, glue, googly eyes, and cotton balls. I did cut out a hat and coat shape from the red paper. 

Then we traced out the kids hands, and set to work! 

 The kids decorated the hat with the cotton balls.

 Then we glued on the googly eyes. 

 And then glued on the shirt. Then the kids coloured their santa! 

Day 16 of 25 Christmas Crafts

Today, we did a craft that I believe most people have seen before. We do this every year and keep them, to see how the kids have grown. Handprint and footprint reindeer are so much fun to make, and a great keep sake- they also make great gifts- we make them into ornaments! And, you can add so many things to this craft! 

For some reason I do not have many pictures. I guess maybe it was Bryce with his hands painted, and a glue bottle! 

First I collected everything we needed. Paper- you can use brown paper, or white and then colour/paint it- we used brown today. Then some black or brown paint, glue, markers, a red pom pom (you can use red sparkles too)- for the nose, and ribbon to make an ornament (not pictured)

Then we traced the kids foot- you can leave socks on, because you don't need the toes outlined. Then, we painted both hands, and stamped them on the paper.

While the hand prints are drying, you can finish with the foot print. Draw on some eyes, and what ever else the kids want to add, and glue on the nose (pom pom).

Once the handprints are dry, have the kids glue them to the top of the foot print (head). 

Day 4 of 25 Christmas Crafts

Today we made peppermint candies. These are great keepsakes for parents, or gifts for grandparents!

First, I got everything ready. I cut red circles for the candies, and white triangles to make the candies look like peppermints. Then I made the circle for the poem, and got some paint and glue.

 Then, the kids glued the triangle pieces around the red circle, to make the candies. And glued the poem on.

 After that, we painted their hands, and stamped them on the paper!

Once they dried, we cut out the hands and glued them to the sides of the "candy"

Fingerprint snowmen/snowmen at night

Today, we made fingerprint snowmen. To go along with our craft, we read Snowmen at night- so we made our pictures be, snowmen at night!

First I collected the paint, paper, and brushes.

 Then we painted one hand black- for the tree. And then on the other hand, we only painted the fingers (we just did the 4 fingers, not the thumb, just to make it easier!).

After we pressed our hands onto the paper, we made the rest of the snow, and the trunk of the tree. And then stamped our brushes on to make some snow. 

 After they dried, we drew faces, hats etc on the snowmen. I took the picture before the kids coloured them- but they can colour them too!

AND- tomorrow, I am going to be starting 25 days of Christmas Crafts- type of advent calendar. I picked 25 crafts, because that is how many day home days are left until Christmas (like work days!). So check back Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday to see what new Christmas Craft is here!

handprint tree

Every "season" I have 4 picture frames that I change with the kids art work- something that has to do with the season. 

Today, I was trying to clean the house, so, I got a craft ready for the kids to do, so it could go in the frames for the next couple of months. We decided to make a handprint tree, and connect all of the frames. Since Christmas is coming (48 days), we made it a Christmas tree! 

First, I taped 4 papers together, on the back- us painters tape or masking tape, so it will come off easily. I got the brown and green finger paint ready, and the kids! 

 Then, since I have 2 kids and want to use all 4 frames together, I alternated who's hand I was using to do the handprint down the paper. I started with one on the top, and got down to 5. Then I painted their hands brown and did the truck of the tree. 

 After that was dry, I let them colour the star, and other things on the tree.

Once they were done adding their special touches, we put them up in the frames (we had to adjust them a bit so they were closer together. And we have them on a wall with our thermostat, so that is there- we will decorate it when we "deck the halls"!)

Ghosts at night

This craft takes a couple steps. But, the kids love doing all of it! I got the idea from a friend of mine, who saw a picture of it on www.pinterest.com I added a couple things to ours, so the kids would have more to glue on. 

First, you will have to paint the kids feet and hand, this will need time to dry before you do the next step. You will need brown paint, white paint, paper (any colour) and paint brushes. I also have wipes handy so I can just wipe their hands and feet clean after! 

 I started with their hands and arm, paint those brown and press onto the paper. Then do each of their feet, one at a time, white! 

 After those dry, you can cut them out and draw a face on each foot (the heel is the head of the ghost). 

Then gather the rest of the stuff you will need for the craft- black paper, glue, sparkles (or glitter glue). We also cut out a paper moon, and an orange pumpkin out of foam. 

 Have the kids glue the ghosts (feet), tree (hand), pumpkin, and moon onto the black paper. 

 Then add more glue and put the sparkles on (stars).

 Then we have ghosts at night! 

Halloween fun

I finally have a second, so I thought I would add in our two newest Halloween crafts. 

Handprint spiders were first on the agenda. To get everything ready, you need to start by tracing the kids hands. Only do the 4 fingers, and have the palms over lap! We just used markers to colour our spiders, and then attached a piece of string (web) and some tape. 

 Then we coloured our spiders. 

 We tried to draw webs around them, but went the web/string route. 

 After they were done, we decided to cut them out and tape a piece of string on for the web. Some of the kids added a bug at the end- for the spider's lunch! 

Then we did a simple sticker collage. I collected a bunch of Halloween stickers, and cut out a witch hat shape to stick them on. You could also add a band around it to make it actually a hat for the kids, but we just went the simple route! 

 Then I let the kids stick the stickers to the hat! 

 And Done!