Pot O Gold

St. Patricks Day is this weekend. So, of course, we started the crafts that we want to do to celebrate. While I was getting things together, I went to explain what St. Patricks day is to the kids. Then, Danika and Landon spoke up and told me that their teacher at preschool told them already. They told me that she said, "The leprechaun comes in your house, makes a mess and leaves the kids coins"- UM WHAT! Now, we have to leave them coins- when did this start! So, I am not sure what I am going to do- maybe chocolate coins if I can find some. But we will see!

Today, we were making pot of gold! Complete with rainbow. I got everything ready to begin. I cut the pot of gold, colours for the rainbow, and the coins. I also made a shamrock for each of the kids to put on too. This was an easy craft, but the kids love it!

First they had to glue the rainbow together. This was good for the older kids, because we talked about going from biggest to smallest, colours, and other colours in the rainbow.

Then we glued on the pot!

And then to complete the pot o gold, we added the gold pieces and the shamrock!

Ta Da! 

Paper bag Penguins

So, continuing with our Penguin theme this week, we made Paper bag Penguins the other day. The kids LOVED making this easy craft, and had an even better time playing with them!

First I cut the strips of paper that we needed to cover the bag, and cut out a big white circle for the belly, and two smaller ones for eyes. I also cut a triangle for the beak, and some feet!

The kids started by gluing the head and body on- the black strips. Then glued on the white circle for the belly. 

After that they glued on the beak, and the eyes- which they coloured before. And finally the feet! 

After they dried the kids put on a wonderful puppet show! 

Penguins

This week, we are talking about penguins. We were going to conclude with a trip to the zoo to see the penguins, but they just arrived a month ago, and there is still a large line to visit them! So, that is still up in the air! But, we are still talking about penguins and doing crafts with them!

So today, we were going to make water bottle penguins, but a little someone got into my cotton balls, and we didn't have enough for all the kids to fill their water bottles, so we switched the idea and used baby food jars!

This craft has the kids doing many different things, and takes a bit of time to get everything ready, but it is all worth it! First I cut out the wings, feet, beaks and a strip of paper for the head. Then I found out cotton balls, googly eyes, feathers, glue, tape, and the baby food jars!



The kids started their penguins by putting the cotton balls in the baby food jar.





Then we glued on the feet, and the wings.

To do the head, we took the strip of paper, and made it into a ring. Then we put it over the lid of the baby food jar. Once that was on, we taped down the back of the head, and the jar- so it would stay! And then we decorated the head by gluing on the googly eyes, beak and some feathers out of the top!





And here are our cast of characters!

Valentine's Day fun!

Happy Valentines day to everyone! 

I believe that Valentines day is one of those made up holidays, so, I celebrate it for the kids only! And boy are we having fun! 

First, the kids woke up to this...

And then we had breakfast...

And for Craft today, we made heart shaped cats. First I cut 2 larger heart shapes, for the head and body, then I did a tiny heart for the nose, and 4 small hearts- 2 for ears and 2 for feet, I also did one skinnier heart for the tail! 

The kids coloured them, and then cut them. 

Then we glued them together to form the cat. We also added some googly eyes too! 

After craft time we had lunch...

And for snack today we are having cherry jello, with a marshmallow layer (so it is a lighter colour)! (picture to come when they are done setting!). 

We also made these for preschool snack day tomorrow. They are cherry chip cupcakes, but they are 2 colours- pink and purple, and in the shape of hearts! The school doesn't allow cupcakes with icing, that is why we used the colour in the actual cupcake! 

3-D heart pictures

This was a fun, and messy craft! The kids had a great time, but it does take some time to get ready! If you have older kids that can help, that would be great, they would really enjoy making the 3-D hearts.

It took me awhile to get the stuff ready to make this craft. I had to cut strips of paper, then staple the top, flip and staple the bottom- forming hearts. I originally was going to do a few hearts in one, but it was taking awhile! Then, I added some powdered paint to some white glue, and cut the cardboard backing for the pictures! That is pretty much all you need!

Then, I let the kids go crazy with the glue! You will need lots of it, and this craft will take a while to dry! We poured a pile of glue onto each backing (used cardboard! The stronger the better!). Then, they used the glue sticks to spread it around. By the time we were done, there was glue all over the place- but it was fun! (and it all washes off!)

Then, they placed their hearts onto their lake of glue!

These have been sitting in the sun on the table for about 3 hours and they are not dry yet, so plan on leaving them in the same spot for as long as possible! Remember- it is a glue lake, so it could take some time! Don't try to hang it before the glue is dry, or the hearts will just slide off!

Mess free, Valentine's Day finger painting

Yep, that is what I said- Mess FREE! This is a pretty easy project, and you could just do it so the kids play with it when it is done. But, I had them help create their mess free "paper".

First, I got everything ready, I cut the framework out- 2 hearts for each. Then got a plastic ziploc bag- you could use freezer bags- those would hold up better, but I only had regular- and you can use any size, but if you are framing it, make sure your frame is big enough! Then I got the packing tape, paint, and crayons. Our hearts were a bit bigger than the bag, so we also made "I love you" signs.

The kids coloured the frames, and the sign first.

Then we filled the bags with finger paint. I used finger paint just incase a hole appears in the bag- then it is totally washable! We put a couple squeezes of paint in each bag (they could probably use a little less, but it will work when they are hanging up! We zipped the bag up, and also put a layer of packing tape over the zipper part- to make sure it stays closed!

Then we taped the bag to the back of one of the hearts, and glued the other one on- sandwiching the paint bag!

After that was done, we glued on the I love you sign, and we are letting them dry!

Once those are dry, we will hang them on the window (I recommend using something like a patio window or a window they can reach that is above something washable- just incase!). You can also just leave them on the table! Then the kids can "paint" with them whenever they want!

Heart collage

Today, we took our craft from an inspiration on pinterest. (yeah, I love that site). We made stamped heart collages. It was very simple, took little time to get ready, and the kids loved it!

First, I took 2 toilet paper rolls and cut them in half. (make sure you know which was the "good" end and which you cut- because if you didn't cut straight they won't stamp properly). Then I squished them down- so they were flat. Then took the one edge and folded it in, and put some tape around it so it would stay like that. I did that for all 4. Then put some paint on some lids so we could stamp.

Then, we went to it! The kids shared the colours, and stamped all over their pages. Sometimes the paint was like a bubble in a wand, so when they stamped it was filled in on the paper! They also thought it was pretty neat to pop that paint bubble first!