posted by cindylouh on October 29th, 2009 | Halloween, kids crafts |
Papel picado ("perforated paper") is the beautiful Mexican art of cutting paper into elaborate designs. One of the best sites on the web, The Toymaker, has some simple templates to make your own papel picado Halloween banner.
Traditionally tissue paper is used to make these banners. We had good luck using crepe paper. I printed out the designs, foldel the template in half along with a piece of crepe paper inside and fastened with paper clips. My daughter then was able to cut around the outside edges eaisly. I helped with the inside bits.
Cut out as many as you like.
To make ready for hanging we folded the top edge over a piece of string and glued, being careful not to stretch the crepe paper.
What a simple way to make your home festive!
Be sure to visit the Toymaker for all her lovely paper toys. I love her darling cat favor boxes.
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posted by cindylouh on September 28th, 2009 | children's activities, kids crafts, sewing |
How to make a silly or sneaky stuffed snake.
Take an old sheet and rip it into a 9" wide strip (as long as you like), fold in half, slip a long rectangle for the tongue (you can trim it later) inside the middle at the top, stitch an arc across the top and then stitch straight down the open side. Trim and turn right side out.
Using Fabric Markers 
color and color!
The folded 9" of fabric makes it the perfect width for little arms to stuff. Sew the end closed and you have a silly snake.
This made a fun little craft for Sunday School. It is something simple and works for a variety of ages. I made up the snakes ahead of time and during Sunday School the children colored and stuffed. For ease we tied the end shut with a piece of yarn. We have been learning about creation, Adam and Eve and this worked perfect when we talked about the snake. So as my daughter said, "It is a sneaky snake. that tricked Eve."
posted by cindylouh on September 14th, 2009 | crafts, kids crafts |
Kate and Bella have been crafty! Their craft is perfect way to use up those egg cartons and also a great activity to go along with the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar
(and some others at the end of this post).
We gathered our supplies.
After I cut the egg carton in half lengthwise, they painted and painted.
With a sharp object I punched two holes in the top end.
The girls then threaded a pipe cleaner through the holes. We added a dab of glue to the underside to keep the "antennae" in place.
The girls then added some wiggly eyes and I hot glued some pom poms to the tops of the antennae.
Now were off the read The Very Hungry Caterpillar and give our caterpillars some embellishments! You might also enjoy reading Clara Caterpillar
,Gotta Go! Gotta Go!
and Charlie the Caterpillar
.
posted by cindylouh on September 11th, 2009 | children's activities, crafts, kids, kids crafts |
...so we are celebrating with custom pillowcases and made beds (well some of us are -- remember I also have teen boys)!
To make our custom pillowcase we used Crayola Fabric Markers
(I found them at Michael's Arts & Crafts and used a coupon) and a plain white pillowcase.
These markers are great! Bella literally spent hours working on her pillowcase. She is really into hearts as you can see! She asked me to draw a heart shape. The pillowcase was thin enough that I slipped a paper with a heart drawn on it in the middle and she could see it well enough to trace. It would be fun to use coloring book pictures as templates also. A child could easily decorate anyway they like, but if they seem intimidated have them make a drawing first on paper and then they can trace it.
** Make sure you place a piece of cardboard inside the pillowcase to keep the markers from bleeding through to the other side. Read package directions for setting the fabric.**
Really the possibilities are endless for this craft---- slumber party or birthday crafts, gifts, etc.. They could even be further embellished with bits of fabric, trims and embroidery.
Bella loves her new pillowcase!
If you would like to try out these awesome fabric markers please leave a comment on this post before Tuesday at midnight CST. Crayola is giving FIVE lucky readers a set of fabric markers!
posted by cindylouh on August 26th, 2009 | children's activities, craft recipes, kids, kids crafts |
Yes, you can make homemade lick and stick stickers. If you want to make some too you will need gelatin, light corn syrup and flavoring extract. We used LorAnn's flavoring
(in apple) but you can also use the extract
from the spice isle at the grocery store. You might try lemon.
Homemade Sticker Gum
1 envelope (1/4 oz) unflavored gelatin
4 tablespoons boiling water
1 teaspoon light corn syrup
1/2 tsp flavoring extract
Add gelatin to the boiling water and stir until dissolved. Stir in corn syrup and flavoring.
Paint sticker gum on backs of pictures cut from magazines or pieces of wrapping paper.
After the backs of papers are coated allow to dry completely.
Once paper is dry use punches to cut out fun shapes from the wrapping paper. Once you have all of the shapes cut out ---- lick lick away!
Then stick!
These stickers really work and the possibilities are endless. They could decorate note cards, lunch sacks, favor bags or make adorable stickers for gift wrapping with matching gift tags. Around here one special four year old has requested an alphabet book. Finding all of the letters and items that begin with the letters in our magazines will keep us busy!
Note: If you have left over sticker gum it will harden into a gel. To re-use, heat until it becomes liquid again.
