Autumn Leaves - Handprints

I LOVE Autumn!  There is a definite lack of the typical signs of fall in Vegas.  We happily drive to Mt. Charleston to see the leaves change color but I wanted to do as many crafts at home to help the kids realize the season actually did change.  As of yesterday it actually began to feel like fall, the Vegas skies weren't the usual gorgeous blue and I didn't constantly check the doors to make sure we weren't wasting our a/c.

I had my 18 month old do this handprint, it took a couple tries but she finally lost interest in squishing her fingers on the tiles slick surface.  Thankfully I have a box of baby wipes next to me to quickly wipe off the "mistakes" and re-apply the paint to her hands.  Yes, we did take a shower afterwards since she puts her hands in her hair immediately.

We used the washable Crayola tempura paint; Green, Yellow, Orange, and Red.  I painted her hand with the lighter colors first then dabbed on the darker colors.  I wanted the leaf to look as if it was laying down or falling so I had the tile diagonal when I placed her hand down.  As usual I painted my fingers a bit so when I took her hand I didn't take any of her paint off - oddly enough, if my hand isn't painted a little as well I seem to be concerned with getting some on me.  This is weird since I'm covered in paint or glue most of my day anyway but if you ever find yourself hesitating due to not wanting to get paint on yourself - PUT it on yourself and you'll be able to grasp your child's hand and move her fingers however you wish!

After her handprint dried I used the back end of the paint brush to paint on some leave veins.  I let that dry then outlined the hand print in a leaf shape with gold glitter glue.  This is at our Dollar Store almost year round so I use it often!

After its all finished I sprayed it with an enamel to seal it.

Fathers Day Hand Print Craft on Tiles!

This one we'll be doing yearly so dad can see how they've grown over the years!

We bought our white tiles at Lowes, we love Lowes!  It's amazing how many craft projects for our playgroup start at Lowes.

Supplies:

White Tile

Washable Tempura Paint

Permanent Glass Marker

This is super easy to do:

Wipe your tile clean before starting

Paint your kiddo's hands and make a print on each tile per child

Place the tile with fingers pointing down and write: Hands Down Best Dad

Write your childs name and the year on it as well, if you'd prefer you can write it on the back - just try to stay consistant each year.

Done!

Painting with Ice Popsicles to learn about colors

I've tried to make the kids homemade ice pops with the inexpensive holders to give them something healthier then imitation flavor and chemical dyes.  So far I haven't gotten the best results.  I'm hoping when it warms up this year I can try again and actually be successful!  But what to do with them now?

The girls are really enjoying learning the Spanish words for colors and are asking me how colors are made.  I took our food coloring and put 3 drops each in the Popsicle tray.  I filled them with water and froze them for about 2 hours. 

I cut our butcher paper down to fit into a brownie pan to keep the food dye off my table.  Both girls were given red, blue, yellow, and green Popsicles.  BeBe tried to eat hers immediately while GG watched and laughed at her.  After I cleaned up BeBe we began to make our art!

The next day they were asking to do it again!  So feeling brave I just put the paper down onto our table and let them go for it. 

Just as I thought, it went straight through to the table!  Simple Green got most of it up really well so it wasn't such a tragedy after all. 

Cothespin Butterfly Crafts

Clothespin Butterfly Craft

This is a fun, easy, and educational craft for your little one! We did this craft as we learned about the Letter B. As we put it all together we talked about how pretty butterflies are, the stages they go threw to become butterflies, and of course the sound B makes! Somehow both girls already knew the Spanish word for butterfly, mariposa! We also learned how to sign butterfly in ASL.

Supplies:

• Wooden Clothespins - I used regular non-painted clothespins then painted them with regular Washable Tempura Paint the night before. I bought mine from Amazon: Clothes Pins Old-Fashioned Wood w/ Spring Action Pack of 50 Wooden Clothespins by Whitney Design
• Tissue paper 12 x 18 Art Tissue Paper (50 sheets) $1.98
• Pipe Cleaners Chenille Stems, 12"L, 6mm x 12", 100 CT, Assorted Colors (LEO65600) Category: Paints and Brushes 100cnt for $1.98
• Children's Safety Scissors Sargent Art 22-0903 5-Inch Childs Safety Scissors, Blunt Tip Stainless Steel Blades, Yellow Handle $1.99
• Googly eyes

*You can also decorate with glitter glue, crayons, markers, etc...

Pre-cut the wing squares - Cut a strip 6 inches long and 4 inches tall then fold in half. Draw a B on one side for your child to cut out. *Always supervise your child around scissors.

Cut the pipe cleaner to 6 inches.

After your clothespin is dry from decorating, take the B that has been cut out and place into the clothespins mouth as seen in the picture.

Take the pipe cleaner and bend in half then place where the wings are, curl the ends to become antenna.

Apply googly eyes and draw on a smile - Done!

Toilet Paper Roll Binoculars

This is a super easy craft and the kids go buggy over it! I've been collecting toilet paper rolls since December - needless to say, we have a ton. So its time to start working with them. BB and Gigi had finished putting on and taking off most of their princess dresses so it was time to sit down to a craft.

Today we are working on The Letter B so I thought it'd be fun to go on a Bug Safari!

Supplies:
*2 toilet paper rolls (or one paper towel roll cut in half)
*Crayons, markers, glitter, stickers, jewels - whatever your little one likes to decorate with*Colored paper to cover the rolls with, if you'd like*Hole Punch*Yarn *Tape or school glue

Set up your little one with the 2 rolls and let them decorate! *If using glitter I suggest placing a baking sheet underneath to help the containment of glitter. I'm positive I'll have glitter in my carpet for many, many years regardless!

Once they are satisfied with their artwork, tape or glue the rolls together. Punch a hole into the outside of the tubes and tie your yarn to make a necklace.

Now the fun starts, hide several plastic bugs in your home or backyard and have them find them! Definitely count how many your hiding - I've found lizards in my playroom in odd places weeks after this game.



I bought some butterfly nets at the Dollar Store to help with the collection of bugs. They collect just about anything they can fit into those nets at least once a day!

Lil' Chef's Pizza Playdate

Calling all Little Chefs! Its time to make it the way YOU want it...and eat some toppings along the way.
These are easy to prepair for your kids and fun for them to make. We used english muffins for this playdate but you can also buy biscuits in the frigeration section of the grocery store (Pilsbury Dough in the container kind) and let the kids roll them out. I washed our Playdough rolling pins and let the kids use those to roll out the dough!

Have enough containers for each kiddo and come to the realization that double dipping is not only allowed but accepted between toddlers.

I have to admit, I go a bit crazy for Spring. The weather here in Vegas is Perfect! We bought these plain white lanterns at Michael's, they have little battery operated lights inside with an extra light bulb. Target sells them as well.

I was able to get all 3 girls hand prints onto this but was unable to get a photo showing it. I really can't do every one's hand prints on regular paper anymore so I find other things to put them on!

I used regular washable tempura paint by Crayola and painted on the stem and leave myself. Since I'm hanging this in the playhouse outside I also dabbed glow in the dark paint all around so it looks like stars once turned off. The girls LOVE it on and off!

None of this is water proof so I do take it in every night for fear rain will ruin this keepsake.

Chinese New Year Paper Lanterns

Celebrate the Chinese New Year with an easy craft with your kids!

Use regular construction paper. Let your child decorate the lantern with stickers, glitter glue, crayons, and pens. When using loose glitter, I put a cookie sheet under the sheet then let them spread washable glue over the paper with popsicle sticks. I let them pour their own glitter then we shake it out while still on the cookie sheet after its dried. I still have a never ending supply of rainbow glitter in my carpet, but I'm sure this helps!

Since my girls LOVE glitter and glitter glue we had to let our paper dry for 24 hours. Fold the paper length wise in half. If your kids are ready to use safety scissors then let them cut slits in the paper. I sit with them, never leave a child unattended with scissors, to make sure they're keeping on track. I like their projects to look like a kid made them so there are several diagonal cuts here and there.

The girls had a blast and we have them on our fireplace mantel. Enjoy!

Handprint Flowers

I'm not including instructions since its mainly just look at the pict and copy or improve on it!














Handprint Flowers

These are super easy and fun to do! All 3 of my daughters were able to fit their hands on the paper - doubt that will happen next year!

Crepe Paper Windsock

Supplies Needed:

• Construction paper - size depends on what size you want your wind sock
  
• *You can use foam sheets or printer paper depending on how durable you'd like your wind sock to be.


• Crepe paper cut into 12" or longer lengths - as many colors as you'd like


• Scissors


• Stapler or tape


• Hole Punch


• Yarn


• Materials for decorating (foam stickers, glitter glue, gems, markers, etc...)

Instructions:

Have your child(ren) decorate the paper with the materials you collected for decorating. When your little one is finished decorating have them choose their crepe paper colors or sequence as you roll the sheet lengthwise into a cylinder. Using the tape or stapler, secure it to hold the cylendar shape.

Punch 4 holes of equal distance apart from the top, near the edge. Tie a piece of yarn to each hole. Join the pieces of yarn in the middle and tie a knot. This will be a great handle as your little one runs about to see the crepe flowing behind them. Once thier finished they can help you find a great place to hang it.

On the opposit end, staple or tape the crepe paper to the bottom. When using tape, I let my 3 year olds put the crepe paper on then I tape it down.

This can also be done with toilet paper rolls!

Once your windsock is blowing in the wind, this is a great time discuss weather and wind with your little explorer.