Silly Faced Container

Supplies:
· Empty Oatmeal Container
· Empty Egg Carton
· Empty Applesauce Container
· Paper (Scrap or Newspaper)
· Tissue Paper
· Google Eyes
· Beads and Wire (optional)
· Feathers, Jewels, Lids from Water Bottles, etc.
· Tape
· Glue
· Scissors
Directions:
1. Glue or Tape paper onto your empty oatmeal container. (or you could also paint the container)
2. Glue part of the egg carton onto the container for eyes. Then glue the google eyes on top of the egg carton.
3. Glue tissue paper onto the container for the hair.
4. Glue an applesauce container on top of the lid for a hat.
5. I strung beads on wire for the mouth. This is optional, use tissue paper or other recycling materials for the mouth.
6. Decorate with feathers, jewels, lids from water bottles, or anything else you can find.
7. Make them as silly as you can! Have fun!

Shaker

Supplies:
· Popsicle Stick
· 2-Applesauce or Fruit Single Serve Containers
· Glue (White Glue)
· Tissue Paper
· Dried Beans, Peas or Noodles
· Jewels or Other Items to Decorate the Shaker
· Tape
· Small Nail and Hammer (Adult Use Only)
· Small Paint Brush
· Aluminum Foil or Wax Paper
· Knife (Adult Use Only)
Directions:
1. With your hammer and nail, make a small hole in the bottom center of one of the fruit/applesauce containers. You can now slide your knife in the bottom of the container to make a slit for the popsicle stick. (Adults only!)
2. Insert the popsicle stick one inch and tape around the stick inside the container. (This will prevent the dried beans, peas or noodles from falling out.)
3. Put 1/8 cup dried bean, peas or noodles in one applesauce/fruit container.
4. Glue the two applesauce/fruit containers together. (top to top) Let dry.
5. Lay the aluminum foil or wax paper on your working surface. Put some glue on a piece of aluminum foil or wax paper and with your paint brush paint the glue all over the outside of the containers.
6. Rip tissue paper into pieces and lay on the glue covered containers. Add more glue where needed.
7. When the containers are completely covered add another coat of glue.
8. Let dry.
9. Glue jewels or other items on your shaker to decorate.
10. After it is dry, have a great time shaking and dancing with your shaker!

Funny Fans

Supplies:
· Popsicle Stick
· Cereal or Granola Empty Box
· Glue (White Glue)
· Markers/Crayons
· Eyes/Yarn/Stickers/Noodles/Etc.
· Scissors
Directions:
1. Open and lay the cereal or granola box flat.
2. Draw a shape on the box. (My daughter drew a heart and a square.)
3. Cut out the shape.
4. Turn the shape over, so that you can see the printing of the box on the shape that you just cut out. Trace the shape on the inside of the box and cut out.
5. Decorate the cut out shapes with markers, crayons, eyes, yarn, and anything else that you can think of.
6. Put glue on the printed, undecorated, side of the box. Put the popsicle stick between the two shapes, making sure that it sticks half way out and glue together.
7. Let dry and you have a great looking fan for the hot weather.

One Eyed Monster

My 7 year old daughter and her friend came up with this quick craft.
Supplies
· Popsicles Sticks
· Scraps of Yarn and ribbon
· Markers
· Google Eyes
· Glue
· Pipe Cleaners
Directions
1. Glue your google eye on your popsicle stick.
2. Glue yarn for the hair.
3. Glue ribbons for the arms.
4. Decorate the popsicle sticks with markers.
5. Have fun decorating! Use the one eye monsters as puppets.

Travel Ideas

I am traveling with three children 1000 miles this week. So I thought travel ideas would be great to post for others who need to entertain children.
Here is a list of items:
1. Crayons and Scissors
2. Foil-They can create all sorts of things with the foil, plus you can reuse or recycle the foil.
3. Sewing Cut Outs-Use cereal boxes to cut out shape and use a paper hole punch to make holes around the shape. Sew with yarn or shoe strings.
4. Activity Books
5. Books
6. Wrap up everyday items they love. The kids have more fun unwrapping the presents, then playing with what is inside the package. Only unwrap one every hour, otherwise you will need a lot of presents. Of course I did reuse Christmas paper.
7. Felt Board and Felt-I covered a mounting board with felt. Have the kids cut out shapes. It will keep them busy for an hour hopefully. Then when they get home they can decorate the felt with fabric paint.
8. Car Bingo- I found a car bingo on line, which a printed on heavy stock paper and laminated. I brought window markers to use on the cards.
9. Playing Cards or Uno
10. Put everything in a back pack so they can carry their items and not you!
11. Many stores also offer magnetic car games to purchase.
12. If everything else fails, video games and movies.

Good luck traveling!

Wine Cork Keyring

Supplies:
· Wine Bottle Cork
· 2-Eye Hooks
· Buttons or Beads
· Stretchy Cord
· Ribbon for Decorating
· Key Ring

Directions:
1. Screw an eye hook in each end of the cork.
2. Put a key ring on one of the eye hooks.
3. Cut a 7” piece of stretchy cord. (I have used jewelry wire with older children. Crimping beads were used to keep the beads or buttons secure.)
4. Tie a knot on one end of the stretchy cord and start beading. Make sure to leave at least an inch of stretchy cord to tie around the eye hook.
5. Tie the beaded stretchy cord to the eye hook. Repeat as many times as you would like.
6. Tie a piece of ribbon around the eye hook for more decoration.
7. You did it! Great Job!
The beads and ribbon I used were from past craft projects that were broken. I saved the ribbon and beads and found great new projects for them. Reuse!!!

Caterpillar

Supplies:
· Wool Sweater
· 8” piece of yarn
· Embroidery Thread (black)
· Poly-Fil
· Thread to match the color of the wool sweater
· Yarn Needle
· Needle
· Scissors
· Tape Measure

Directions:
1. Felt the wool sweater by washing it in the washing machine. The agitation will felt the wool together. If you want the felting to be tighter, dry it in the dryer.
2. Cut out a piece of felted wool 3” x 8”.
3. Fold the 3” x 8” piece of wool in half so it measures 1 ½” x 8”. Make sure that the right side of the wool is facing inward. With your matching thread and needle, sew along the bottom edge of the wool in straight stitch.
4. Turn the wool right side out. Sew one end closed by straight stitching around the edges and pull tightly. Knot to secure the sewing.
5. Put about a golf ball size of poly-fil inside the tube of wool. Push it to the end with your scissors.
6. Knot the end of the matching thread and pull through the bottom of the caterpillar to secure. Then wrap the thread around the wool where the poly-fil ends. Secure with a knot and repeat five more times.
7. Finish off the end by straight stitching around the edges and pull tightly. Knot to secure the sewing. Push the edges of the wool inside the caterpillar.
8. Use the embroidery thread and needle to make two eyes with a French knot. (For older children I have used black beads for the eyes.)
9. Use the yarn needle and yarn to make the antennas. Pull the yarn through the top of the caterpillars’ head. Knot the yarn on the ends and where it meets the wool. (For older children I have used wire and beads for the antennas.
10. You are done! Have fun playing with your caterpillar.

Wool Coasters

Supplies:
· Wool Sweaters
· Embroidery Floss
· Needle
· Scissors
· Hoop
· Washing Machine
· Paper
· Painters Tape or Masking Tape
Directions:
1. Wash the wool sweaters in hot water with laundry detergent. The agitation of the washing machine will felt the wool together. Lay out to dry or if you would like the felting to be tighter dry the sweaters in the dryer.
2. Cut a sleeve off of each sweater and cut along the seams to open up the arm. Place the hoop onto the sweater that you are going to embroidery on.
3. Cut a piece of tape 3” long and mark the middle (1 ½”) with a black pen. Place the tape onto the sweater in the hoop.
4. Use the tape as a measuring tool and straight edge and embroidery back stitch from end to end of the tape. You will have a straight line that is 3” long. Add a V at the ends of the 3”stitching. http://www.craftown.com/instruction/embroidery.htm
5. Turn the tape 45 degrees (Make sure the black mark is in the middle of the other 3” stitching.) and repeat step 4 three more times. (I added an extra V on every other 3” stitch.)
6. Cut a template out of the paper. (My coasters are 3 ¾” circles.)
7. TOP COASTER: Hold or pin the template on the area that you embroidered on and cut around the template.
8. BOTTOM COASTER: Cut another piece of wool from your template.
9. Blanket stitch around the bottom and top of the coaster. http://primrosedesign.blogspot.com/2006/11/stitch-school-blanket-stitch.html
10. You are finished! Great job! Try other embroidery patterns.

Easter Tree

Supplies:
· Glass Jar
· Sand
· Sticks
· Play Doh
· Cookie Cutters
· Small Decorative Eggs
· 1” Ribbon
· Thread
Directions:
1. Peel the label off of the glass jar and tie a ribbon around the jar to cover any label that didn’t come off.
2. Fill the jar with sand 1” from the top.
3. Poke and arrange the sticks in the sand.
4. Hang small decorative eggs on the sticks.
5. Roll out the play doh and use the cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Add a hole in the shapes and let dry over night. Thread a piece of thread through the hole and tie. Hang on the sticks. (I used play doh that was drying out and becoming stiff.)
6. Have fun!

Easter Bunny Container

Supplies:
· Google Eyes ¾”
· Gray Construction Paper
· Empty Oatmeal Container
· Pink Construction Paper
· Cotton Balls
· Glue
· Craft Foam (White and Green)
· Black and White Crayons
· Tape
· Empty Cracker Box
· 2 Round-Head Brass Fasteners
Tools:
· Scissors
· Knife (adult only)
· Hole Punch
· Stapler
Directions:
1. Cut two rabbit ears out of the pink construction paper, about 6” long and 2” wide. With the white crayon color the middle of the ears. Staple the ears onto the top of the container about 2 ½” apart.
2. Cut gray construction paper to cover the oatmeal container. Tape the gray paper onto the container.
3. To make the handle: Adults only, with a knife make a slit about 1” below the top of the oatmeal container on each side. Cut a 12” by 1” green piece of craft foam. Punch a hole on each end of the craft foam with your hole punch. Insert your round-head brass fastener into the slit you made with a knife on the outside of the container. Then insert it into the hole you punched into the craft foam. Open the ends of the round-head brass fastener to keep the handle in place. Repeat on the other side.
4. Feet: Cut a 5” heart out of the empty cracker box. Cover and glue with gray construction paper. Trim the excess paper. Glue and tape the feet to the bottom of the container.
5. Face: Glue two goggle eyes below the ears. Cut a 1” triangle out of the pink construction paper and glue under the eyes for the nose. Cut out six 3-3 ½” x 1/8” pieces of white foam craft for the whiskers. Glue three on each side beside the nose. Glue cotton balls on both sides of the nose. With a black crayon draw a mouth.
6. Tail: Glue a cotton ball onto the back of the container for a tail.
7. You did it!! Great job!!!
Tips** It works best to lay the container down when gluing on items for the face.
I made it for my daughter’s first grade class and had everything cut out, so all they had to do was to tape and glue.

May Day Flower

Supplies:

Tissue Paper
· Green Construction Paper
· Egg Carton
· Popsicle Sticks
· Green Paint, Paint Brush and Water
· Glue
· Paint Brush
· Scissors
· Knife (adult use only)

Directions:

1. Cut the egg carton into twelve cup shapes containers with the scissors.
2. Cut a slit in the bottom of the egg carton cup shapes, with the knife. (adults only)
3. Paint the popsicle sticks green. Let them dry and insert about ½” of the popsicle stick into the egg carton cup shapes.
4. Cut tissue paper into 4” x 4” squares. (4 per flower)
5. Put some glue in the base of the egg carton cup shape. Find the center of the 4” x 4” tissue paper square and pinch it with your fingers. The corners of the tissue paper should stand up to look like a flower. Repeat and glue the tissue paper in the base of the egg carton cup shape.
6. Fold the other two 4” x 4” pieces of tissue paper so that the corners meet to make a triangle. Glue both on the outside of the egg carton across from each other.
7. Cut out two leaves from the green constructions paper and glue to the popsicle stick.
8. You did a great job!! You have made a beautiful flower!

Valentine's Day Fairy

Supplies

· Plastic Water Bottle
· Apple Sauce Individual Container
· Toilet Paper Tube
· Pink Paper
· Pink Tissue Paper
· Yarn
· Glitter or Plastic Bags
· Water
· Hot Glue Gun
· Glue
· Markers
· Scissors
· Ruler
· Stamps and Ink Pad

Directions

1. Put 1 tablespoon of glitter or any other material that will keep its shape in water into the water bottle. Ex. Cut up a plastic bag that is red and white.
2. Fill the container ½” from the top with cold water. (warm/hot water my make the water look cloudy)
3. Glue the lid on with the hot glue gun. (Adults only)
4. Cut the toilet paper roll at an angle with your scissors. Mark one side 1 ½” and the other side 2 ½”. Draw a line to connect the two sides and cut along the line. Glue onto the top of the bottle with hot glue. (Adult Only)
5. Cut a piece of tissue paper 6” x 6”, crumble, open and glue onto the outside of the apple sauce container. Glue the apple sauce container onto the top of the toilet paper roll with the hot glue gun. (adults only)
6. Cut a pink piece of paper 8 ½” x 1 ¼”. Fold like an accordion every inch. Cut out a heart shape with your scissors, not cutting the folds on the sides. Unfold and glue to the middle of the water bottle.
7. Cut a pink piece of paper 8 ½”x ¾”. Glue onto the hearts, one will be on the left side and the other on the right side of the water bottle. Glue in the middle. These will be the arms.
8. From the pink paper cut out a 2” heart. With your markers write, “I Love You!” or “Happy Valentines Day,” on it. Cut a 2 ½” heart out of the pink tissue paper and glue on the back of the 2” heart. Glue where the arms meet in the middle front of the water bottle.
9. Cut the yarn into 3- 24” pieces and tie in the middle and on each side. Tie the yarn around the water bottle where the toilet paper roll and water bottle meet.
10. Cut a 6” heart out of pink paper and stamp with the stamps and ink pad. Glue onto the back of the water bottle.
11. Add a face on the toilet paper roll with your markers.
12. You are done! Shake it up and watch the glitter! Great Job!!!

Valentine's Day Mail Box

Supplies

· Empty Cereal Box
· Construction Paper
· Scissors
· Hot Glue Gun
· Tape
· White School Glue or Glue Stick
· Marker

Directions

1. Mark 4” down from the top of the box on the two sides of the box. This is where the smile will end on each side. Draw a smile from the sides of the box onto the front, with your marker. Make sure that it is 4” on both sides so that the mouth will be able to open properly.
2. Gently open up the box and lay it flat. Cut the mouth opening with your scissors.
3. Fold the back piece of the box, 4” from the top, to match up with both sides of the smile. This will enable the mouth to open, to take out Valentine Day cards.
4. Reassemble the box inside out. The writing will be in the inside of the box and the cardboard will be on the outside of the box. Use the hot glue gun to glue the side seam. Next glue and tape the top and bottom seams. (adults only)
5. Decorate your box with constructions paper. Be creative. Use only hearts, or make an animal. The sky is the limit.
6. Have fun!!!

Valentine's Day Box

Supplies
· Empty Cracker or Granola Bar Box
· Ribbon (about 2 feet)
· Tissue Paper
· Scraps of Construction Paper
· Stapler
· White Glue or Glue Stick
· Pen or Pencil
· Scissors
· Hole Punch

Directions
1. Cut the front of the box along three sides with your scissors.
2. Staple the sides of the box, in order to hold the box together.
3. Cover the box by using the glue and construction paper. This is where the fun comes in. You can tear the paper or use large pieces of paper, be creative. Decorate the box with hearts, buttons, or ribbon.
4. Draw a heart with your pen or pencil on the inside of the box.
5. Cut the tissue paper into 2”x2” squares.
6. Wrap the tissue paper around the flat end of a pen or pencil and dip into your glue. Gently place the pen/pencil with the tissue paper onto the heart, which you drew in your box. Remove the pen/pencil. Repeat this process until your heart is complete. (It was easier using a glue stick for this process.)
7. Add any hearts, notes, pictures or decorations inside the box.
8. With your hole punch, punch two holes in the middle front of the lid, about ½” apart and two holes on the front of the box ½” apart. Make sure the holes lines up with each other.
9. Cut two 12” pieces of ribbon. Lace one piece of ribbon into the two holes on the lid and tie in a knot in the middle of the ribbon. Lace the other piece of ribbon into the two holes on the front of the box and knot in the middle of the ribbon.
10. To keep the box closed, tie the ribbons together.
11. Great Job! You did it!!

Supplies

Empty Oatmeal Container (42 ounces)
4 Pieces Pink Paper (50 lb weight)
Pink Tissue Paper
Markers
Valentines Day/Heart Stamp and Ink
Scissors
Glue
Stapler
Tape

Directions

1. On two pieces of pink paper, stamp hearts/Valentine’s Day stamps or decorate with markers.
2. Tape onto the oatmeal container to cover it. Trim off the extra paper.
3. Bend the lid and cut out half of the middle of the lid for an opening to insert Valentine’s Day cards. (adults only)
4. Trace or print the heart cut-out onto pink paper and cut out with scissors.
5. Glue the heart onto pink piece of tissue paper one inch larger than the heart. Cut out around the heart, so that you can see the pink tissue paper on the back of the heart. Write “Happy Valentine’s Day” on the heart. (Set aside)
6. Trace or print on pink paper the two pieces for the mouth and head. Cut out the shapes.
7. Staple the mouth onto the lid on each side and the back. (The opening in the lid should be in the front.)
8. Staple the face onto the sides and back of the lid.
9. Cut out two 6” x 1” strips of pink paper. Fold in an accordion manner every inch. Glue one on each eye.
10. Cut two 2” tissue paper hearts and glue to the paper accordion on the eyes.
11. Cut two 8” x 1” strips of pink paper. Fold one side under 1” and glue to the side of the container for arms. Do the same to the other side and glue to the center of the container where the two meet.
12. Glue the heart that you set aside in Step #5 in the middle of the container where the arms meet.
13. Cut out a 3” x 8” piece of tissue paper and round one end off to make a tongue. Roll the tongue around a pencil so it will curl up. Tape the tongue to the inside of the opening of the lid.
14. Great Job!! Your Valentine’s Day container is ready to eat up lots of Valentine’s Day cards.

Valentine's Day Container

Supplies


Empty Oatmeal Container (42 ounces)
4 Pieces Pink Paper (50 lb weight)
Pink Tissue Paper
Markers
Valentines Day/Heart Stamp and Ink
Scissors
Glue
Stapler
Tape



Directions


1. On two pieces of pink paper, stamp hearts/Valentine’s Day stamps or decorate with markers.
2. Tape onto the oatmeal container to cover it. Trim off the extra paper.
3. Bend the lid and cut out half of the middle of the lid for an opening to insert Valentine’s Day cards. (adults only)
4. Trace or print the heart cut-out onto pink paper and cut out with scissors.
5. Glue the heart onto pink piece of tissue paper one inch larger than the heart. Cut out around the heart, so that you can see the pink tissue paper on the back of the heart. Write “Happy Valentine’s Day” on the heart. (Set aside)
6. Trace or print on pink paper the two pieces for the mouth and head. Cut out the shapes.
7. Staple the mouth onto the lid on each side and the back. (The opening in the lid should be in the front.)
8. Staple the face onto the sides and back of the lid.
9. Cut out two 6” x 1” strips of pink paper. Fold in an accordion manner every inch. Glue one on each eye.
10. Cut two 2” tissue paper hearts and glue to the paper accordion on the eyes.
11. Cut two 8” x 1” strips of pink paper. Fold one side under 1” and glue to the side of the container for arms. Do the same to the other side and glue to the center of the container where the two meet.
12. Glue the heart that you set aside in Step #5 in the middle of the container where the arms meet.
13. Cut out a 3” x 8” piece of tissue paper and round one end off to make a tongue. Roll the tongue around a pencil so it will curl up. Tape the tongue to the inside of the opening of the lid.
14. Great Job!! Your Valentine’s Day container is ready to eat up lots of Valentine’s Day cards.

Supplies Needed:

• Empty Oatmeal Container (42 ounces)




• Empty Plastic Fruit or Applesauce Container (3.9 ounces)




• Print-Out of Snowman Parts or 1 pc Orange Construction Paper, 1 pc Black Construction




• Paper, 1 pc Brown Construction Paper




• 2 pc of White Paper, 8 ½” x 11”




• Ribbon or Yarn




• Tissue Paper, 12” x 12”




• Hot Glue Gun




• Glue Stick




• Scissors




• Tape




• Hole Punch

Directions:

1. Glue the empty applesauce container in the center of the lid of the empty oatmeal container with hot glue (adults only).
2. Tape the white paper onto the oatmeal container to cover the container. Trim off the extra.
3. Cut out the black heart shape or cut out a 6 ½” heart from the black construction paper and glue onto the bottom of the container. Leave the top of the heart shape sticking out for the snowman’s shoes.
4. For the eyes, cut out and glue the small black circles or cut ¾“-diameter circles from the black construction paper. With the hole punch, punch out two white circles and glue them on for the center of the eyes.
5. Cut out the orange triangle from the print-out or cut out a 2 ½“-tall triangle from the orange construction paper and fold along the dotted line (or about ½“ from the bottom of the triangle) for the snowman’s nose. Glue it onto the oatmeal container below the eyes.
6. Punch seven black circles with the hole punch and glue on for the mouth.
7. Cut out the three black 1” circles from the print-out or black construction paper and glue down the center for the buttons.
8. Tie the ribbon or yarn (three pieces about 34” long tied together on each end) around the container, under the mouth and above the buttons.
9. Cut out the two brown arms or cut two 6” x 1” strips out of brown construction paper and cut a “V” on one end to make hands. Fold along the dotted line or fold the construction paper arms about an inch from the straight end. Glue one to each side of the snowman.
10. Scrunch up the tissue paper and flatten out again. Glue to the top of the container for its hat.
11. You are done!! Great Job!!