clouds in a jar you can drink!

This shaving cream cloud project was all over pinterest a couple of years ago. I pinned it immediately and got to bringing jars to the preschool where the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves. As I watched them drip, drop, pour and stir themselves silly I wondered if we could do this as a fun drinkable concoction.

Turns out, you can! Here's what you need to make your drinkable clouds in a jar:

*clear empty drinking glass

*clear sparkling water or lemon lime soda

*canned whipped topping

*powdered drink mix in two primary colors (or juice)

*1/2 cup of sugar (if using powdered drink mix)

*1/2 cup of water

*eye dropper

*milk beverage of choice (optional) 

*happy straw

To set up this project, fill your clear glass about 3/4 full with soda water or lemon lime soda. We used an empty almond butter jar and soda water.*

Empty contents of powdered drink mix into separate containers. Add 1/4 cup sugar to each and 1/4 cup of water. Mix until all powdery bits are dissolved. If you are using a pre-sweetened drink mix, omit the sugar. You can also use sno-cone syrup, unfrozen otter pops, or  juice.  If using juice, use two colors that will mix up fun colors. Gatorade could work as well. This is a fun science play project and not even close to being healthy so have fun with it. Just make sure to use small glasses so your kiddos are not too sugared up.

Top off jar with whipped topping and hand your kiddo an eye-dropper. You can find eye-droppers at your local drug store in the pharmacy section. Ours came from American Science Surplus and are glass. Drugstores usually carry larger droppers made of plastic which are easier for small hands to handle. Your kiddos can use the droppers to transfer the juice to the top of the cream. The weight of the juice will sink through the cream and create nifty spirals of color in the soda.

If your colors are deep enough and different enough, your child can see some fun color mixing in the works. After they have had their fill, have them add a little of their favorite milk beverage and you have created a happy creamy drink!

So there ya go, a little bit of mixing, a little bit of science, a little bit of fun, and a lot of tastiness!

*I would recommend using a lemon lime soda or clear lemonade instead of sparkling water as it took a LOT of juice to flavor the concoction.

father's day diy: wooden key chain/gift tag

So you've arted up some gift wrap for Dad's favorite candy bars now all you need is a nifty gift tag. Why not make the gift tag a part of the gift by turning it into a keychain?

Small packs of wooden discs can be found at your local craft store for very little. You can use a hammer and nail to create the hole or get all power tool happy and use a drill with a small bit. Grab a handful of discs and add a hole to each one.

Attaching the keyring can be tricky if your discs are compromised. One of our discs cracked but the rest were good. You can also use a short length of ball chain instead of a classic key ring.

Your children can paint up the discs are get a bit happy with markers.

Aren't they nifty? Happy Almost-Father's Day!

father's day diy: scrape art candy bar bands

This simple gift idea is another small one that packs punch. Why not repurpose your child's artwork into candy bar sleeves? If Dad loves chocolate but always has to share, why not pick up a trio of his favorite bars, just for him?

These candy bands were created using good old fashioned splatter and scrape art. We used one large sheet (11.5"X17") and painted up both sides. After it all dried, we cut it up into three pieces and wrapped each band around a bar. Our first cut was a bit smaller than we wanted but that was easy to fix with a long piece of tape.

 

The beauty of scrape art is that a few colors go a long way. Drip, drop, drizzle and scrape. That's all you need to do. If the first try comes out too dark or inky, allow the paint to dry a bit and blob on another layer of lighter paint and let your kiddo scrape and push the paint around.

You can use sturdy cardboard to scrape but an expired plastic giftcard has a bit more power behind it, is washable, and reusable. Those fake credit cards that come in the mail will also work. As will a wooden or metal spatula.

So simple. Paint, scrape, dry, cut and gift! You can also top it with a keychain...that post will be up later today. Happy painting!

father's day diy: friendship bracelets

This father's day why not up Dad's coolness factor by knotting up a handful of bracelets for him? Children 7 and up can easily create these small pieces in little time. Change up your cording and create a trio for all the guys in your family...gals too!

The twist on this set of bracelets is to use thicker cord, not yarn or embroidery floss. Parachute cord is nice and sturdy and now comes in all sorts of colors. Hemp cord can be found in the jewelery aisle of most craft stores and shoelaces can be found jsut about anywhere!

Because we are using these thicker cords, you only need two strands (perfect for a pair of shoelaces) or three for the hemp. You can knot your cords at the start though that black starter on the right there really needed a bit more at the top for tying off. If using hemp cord, give it a loop before knotting, this will create a clasp of sorts so Dad can take it off when he needs to. The shoelaces were super thick so I did a loop and ran it through the sewing machine two or three times to anchor them all together.

There are many tutorials out there using embroidery floss. Here is my diy post for using chunky yarn and here is a link to a video that might help as well. I have also found that younger children around 4 and 5 really like to knot things up so you can also set them up with a starter bracelet and let them get to twisting and knotting. I still use the safety pin trick and anchor it to my pants. Some children will get a kick out of it if you anchor it to a table leg or other stationary object.

To finish off your bracelets, you can simply wait until Dad opens them and tie them to his wrist or you can add a fat knot to the opposite end so that it will fit through the loop you created without slipping out. If Dad is not a bracelet wearer, you can also make a shorter "bracelet" and loop it into a key fob. Have fun and Happy Father's Day!

crepe paper banners!

This is a project I created for scrumdillydilly but I think it can easily be translated into a kid happy craft as well.

Materials:

*index cards or equal sized scrap paper

*5-6 colors of crepe paper streamers

*scissors

*glue

 

To make this kid-happy give them a smaller of piece of paper to work with. If you have a small group of children this will be even more fun as you can see what each child chooses to create. Hand out paper and scissors and set out pre-cut lengths of crepe paper (for kiddos 6 and under) and small bottles filled half-way with glue*.

Scissors-ready children can fold their streamer lengths in half and give them some fringe, older children may be able to scallop if the wish and younger children can leave their streamers as-is. Once they are ready for glueing, hand them their glue bottles (glue sticks will work as well if you prefer) and let them get to work. 

 

If you would like to demonstrate how it is done, begin a discussion using a finished flag and ask the children how they think it was created. You can point out how to work from the bottom up if you really wish for your child to create this specific style but if you leave them alone to create they may surprise you even more. By discussing the project, you are giving your children a dialogue rich in vocabulary and problem solving. You can discuss color theory as well by pointing out a rainbow patter or asking the children to use cool or warm colors. Kick it up a notch and see if the children can create an ABABAB or ABCABCABC pattern in their layering. 

 

Using scissors and squeezing glue bottles promotes both fine and large motor skills as well as self-control. There are all sorts of educational aspects to creating arts and crafts with children. It really is my favorite part of making art with children. All that process makes me very happy. After each child's flag has dried, you can flip them over and trim any excess bits that hang over the edges. Don't trim if your child insists they wish them to remain that way. Hang them along a length of ribbon or string with clothespins and throw an impromptu fiesta complete with cupcakes! 

 

 

 *as a preschool teacher and early childhood art teacher I have found that some children cannot resist squeezing out an entire bottle of glue. If you hand them a small mini bottle such as this or this that is only filled halfway, you can control the gluey-mess a smidge and teach your child a little about control by saying "This is your bottle of glue. When it is empty, it is empty and that will be all the glue for this project." This works most of the time but sometimes there are a few freak outs. When that happens we acknolwedge the child's disappointment and invite them to problem-solve their own solution without giving refilling the glue bottle. After a few rounds they begin to learn more control over the amount of glue they use. Some children however do not seem perplexed over the lack of glue and simply wish to continue squeezing.

crepe paper wind catchers

These wind catchers were an Earth Day project that got left behind. All you need is crepe paper, scissors, washi tape and sticks.

Cut a length of crepe paper no more than 14" and roll it up, leaving an inch or two free at the top. Use your scissors to make two to three cuts across the fold. If your kiddo is a scissors novice, you can draw two lines for them to cut on. Unroll the crepe paper and shake it up. You now have a nifty mini-pom of sorts. Repeat for each color of crepe paper you choose to use. We used five colors.

Gather up your streamers and twist at one end.  Hold streamers against stick and wrap a length of washi or masking tape around and around. We used sticks from a cut grape vine. Take your kiddos out on a walk to search for the perfect stick. They can even paint them up if you like.

Give your wind catcher a shake and take it outside for a spin! Have fun!

monday round up

Make: tin can stilts

I remember walking on tin can stilts in Kindergarten. I loved them! You can involve your kiddo in the making by having them art up some paper to cover the cans. They can also choose the roping and you can discuss the cans themselves. Once they begin to use them, children will learn about balance, cause and effect, and work their large motor skills. Tin can stilts...they're not just toys.

Read: Pigs in the Mud in the Middle of the Road by Lynn Plourde

This is a super fun read aloud book with a refrain that children can quickly pick up on. After you read it, your kiddos can make mud pies (or even dirt cups)!

Listen: Lynn Plourde reads "Pigs in the Mud..."

Discuss: Everyday Story: Inquiry Through Art

Years and years ago I hung out with a frustrated three year old as he struggled to draw a pig. Rather than show him how, I sat down and we talked abotu hwat a pig looked like. We found illustrated versions of pigs to compare and contrast and we made a list of features a pig would have. When he finished with his pig, a pig that HE created, I think I was more excited than he was. Children are brilliant and even more so when given the opportunity to develop their critical thinking and what better way than to inquire through art and creative play?

From the Archives: art through a straw

Kiddos love straws, LOVE them. They also love paint and making art. This is such a great combo and if you use a kid friendly non-toxic form (or make your own using food color and/or kool-aid) it won't be such a bad thing if they suck on their straw instead of blowing. This activity is also good practice for teaching children the difference.

mother's day make: pom-pom magnets

 

This super fun and quirky-cute project packs a whole lot of color into a little box. Your grade-school kiddos can whip these up in a day and may even wish to make some for themselves. No fancy gadgets needed! All you need is a handful of colorful yarn, scissors, strong glue, and button magnets.  Check out the diy over at scrumdillydilly.

mother's day make: arted up catch-all

This simple catch-all can be created by even a wee toddler type. As long as she or he can wield a marker, they're good to go. Just make sure to sit with them as they get all artsy on ya. 

Materials:

*one plain or white ceramic dish

*permanent markers 1-3 colors

Place your dish onto a marker friendly surface. This dish here was picked up at Target for $1.99 but you can find similar pieces at your local thrifts, box stores, or maybe even the dollar store. 

 

 

Hand your kiddo a marker and let them scribble or draw away. It's so simple that even the sribblyist marks will pack a punch. If my metallic markers could have been located, I totally would have used those!

 

Add a simple heart and/or the date along the side or bottom and wrap it up in a bit of kiddo arted paper and gift away. This catch-all can hold Mom's or Grandma's favorite bangles or placed on a desk it makes for a great catch-all of paperclips and such. Happy almost Mother's Day! 

from the archives: mother's day

Here are seven fun and easy projects for your kiddos to make for Mother's Day!

*wallet-sized watercolors

*woven pendants

*thumbprint brooch

*beaded garden bling

*yarn wrapped planter

*gluten-free clay pendant

*washi taped vases

monday round up

*For the grown-ups: Importance of Old Fashioned Play

*A favorite post: Atelierista: language of string..

*Read: The Dark (not as spooky as you might think)

*Make: gorgeous circle art for kids

*Create: love stones for Mother's Day

from the archives and Earth Day friendly: nature bracelets

Here are some new updated photos from a project first posted back in 2007! Nature walk bracelets are great for Earth Day. Just make sure you and your children use only natural bits found on the ground unless you are picking from your own garden. We used an empty berry container to house our discoveries. Have a good time!

Earth Day: paint chip and found stick plant markers

I have to admit, I love paint chips, LOVE them. I however have stopped hitting up the paint store to stockpile said chips. It makes me feel guilty for the energy used in making the chips and for the gas consumed to drive to the store for something I really do not need (oh but all those colors are so lovely). So when I found this old stockpile of paint chips just in time to mark my seeds I thought it would be a fun idea to share for kiddos to use in creating their own plant markers.

The nifty thing about this project is that you can a little developmental goodness to the mix. There is color naming and recognition along with understanding tints, shades, and hues (hey look, new vocabulary words)! You have a smidge of literacy with the reading of the colors used and the writing of the seeds planted. There are fine motor skills involved with the punching of the paint chips and the ripping of the tape, and last but not least, you can add an environmental element by using sticks found on the ground and not picking or pulling from any plants or shrubs.

My sticks came from my front lawn. There is a very sad and sick carob tree in front of the tiny casa that is continuously losing it's branches and bits. The small lawn in from of our apartment is often covered in them. I picked up one longish branch and snapped into five pieces for my planting. 

The larger the punch the easier it is for your kiddos to punch, write, and affix to sticks. I use an extra large butterfly punch that I score with a 40% coupon at Michael's Crafts. Your kiddo can also cut out squares using a kid friendly pair of scissors. 

To affix to the sticks you can use masking tape or washi tape. Before you use washi tape, make sure your tape has stick-to-it-tiveness. Many washi tapes are not very tacky and come unstuck quite easily. If you are without tape, a dollop of glue will do ya just dandy.

twelve upcycled projects in observation of earth day!

yarn wrapped bottles

yarn wrapped nature

cookie box camera 

painted newspaper 

gardens to go

newspaper pom-poms

paper tube kazoos 

junk mail garland

recycled wall hanging

plant pumpkins

strawberry basket pin

juice box jukebox

Earth Day: painted newspaper can planters

 Painting on newspaper is a fantastic activity for your children as long as you receive the newspaper, that is. Though I have been known to paint up our free weekly now and then. I paint newspaper whenever I feel a need to be crafty and then I store the painted newspaper in a pile in the closet until I need a bit of whimsy to add that extra punch to a project. Acrylic paints add the best coverage but poster and tempera will work as well. If your can is going to be outdoors, you will want to cover the newspaper with a coat or two of water-resistant mod-podge or something similar. Decorated cans can also house art supplies or be used as a container for gift wrapping. A stack of cookies wrapped in wax paper would fit nicely in your average can just to give you an idea.

Earth Day: yarn wrapped can planters

Using a variegated yarn makes it easier for your kiddo to continue wrapping. Switching it up to a chunkier yarn will make it even easier for your younger kiddos. A wooden clothespin makes a great anchor to hold your yarn in place and if you plan on planting something that is not already in a tiny pot with holes, make sure to punch holes in the bottom of your can using a hammer and nail or cover the bottom of your can with small pebbles to keep the roots from drowning. Succulents and cacti are perfect for cans as they need very little watering.

Earth Day: ivy crown

I always have a difficult time remembering Earth Day as I like to think every day is Earth Day. When it comes to Earth Day crafts and activities for children, I truly hope you make a point of going outside to enjoy our planet. While crafting it up with recycled materials is fine and dandy, why not step out to see what nature has to offer? I have a handful of projects that you and your children can do most any time of year. In fact, each season you try them the results will be different! 

 

 First up, this easy ivy crown can be whipped up in a jiffy. All you need is ivy (or other abundant vine) and masking or washi tape. I make these crowns for the kiddos at the preschool using morning glory vines. For those we twist and gently tie the loops up but using tape will make your kiddo's crown last a smidge longer. You can even add more leaves and found flowers if you feel so inclined. Make sure to use your own plants or ask permission before your kiddos begin pulling up all sorts of leafy goodness and as always, have fun!

bring out the egg cartons!

An egg carton is simply not an egg carton to a child. It can be a boat, a spaceship,  a dragon, a habitat, and a treasure box. Cut it up and you can create caterpillars, owls, dragons, flowers, and seed pots. No, an egg carton is not simply an egg carton to a child.

I wear a lot of hats and some of them I think I wear better than others. One of them is as an observer of people, an observer of children. Lately I have observed a lot of something that prickles at my brain. Admittedly this is a bit of a peeve of mine so maybe it stands out more than other bits but I have seen far too many young children with their heads stopped over mom's cell phone or dad's tablet. I'm talking young children...toddlers even and I have to say please stop. Sure there are apps all over the place declaring their creativity but nothing is more creative than your child's very own noggin. Don't you remember digging in the dirt to create cities for ladybugs or moats for castles? Do you remember getting your hands on a stapler and creating your own books full of scribbles and scratches? Or how about using a flashlight as a microphone or an empty oatmeal container as a drum?

I know that our new days are filled with technology and I know it is important for our children to learn how to use it. I know we are busy and need tricks up our sleeves for distracting our children so we can run our errands and such but remember, our parents did it without. There are cultures all over the world that do it without. The best way for a a little brain to develop is to let it develop. On its own. In its own time. Children need to problem solve on their own. Thy need boredom. Absolutely need it so that they can get those neurons in the brain jumpin'.

At work, when I set up our outside play area for the children, I toss a lot of wildcards into the mix. I wonder what will they do with these pipe cleaners or these beads. What will these little pillows become? How will the children engage and will this be enough for their play time and learning this week. Every single day I am floored by their creativity. By the games they create around the oddest of objects. Dinosaur aren't just dinosaurs, they are a dinosaur family. Traffic cones become party hats, shredded paper becomes pom-poms, and pipe cleaners become airline tickets. A beaded necklace isn't just a necklace it is pirate's treasure or fairy coins, and a blanket becomes a shield or a fortress or a cape.

Before you pop a dvd into the television, or hand your kiddo your ipad, or set up a video game on the computer, why not hand them an egg carton, a roll of masking tape, and a handful of markers? Even the youngest tots can art up an egg carton with paint or washable markers. If there is one thing I have learned from working with children is that an egg carton is not simply an egg carton...it is a world of wonder.

monday's round up

 More fun from around the web! Here's what has caught my eye last week:

*fantastic play-based ebook sale via Nurture Store

*paint a watercolor terrarium via Art Projects for Kids

*National Screen-Free Week is coming up this month (video w my favorite authors)

*this sweet little story told with few words

*this nifty Montessori classroom

monday's round up

Happy April! Did you know that April is often celebrated as Poetry Month? In honor of it being April and all, this week's round-up is all things poetry. 

*fun poetry for children pinterest board

*games, printables, and downloads from the books of Shel Silverstein

*scrumdilly poetry from the archives

*a sweet video for I Haiku You

*a sweet little book to go with the video