Craftivity Corner

Allison McDonald
Creative crafts, book suggestions, and tips to make time for learning in your busy day.

archives

September 30, 2009
Toothbrush Painting
Painting week! This week we are devoting every post to painting with novel things instead of paintbrushes to foster creativity and keep things simple and fun! Painting with a toothbrush is fun and very goofy for kids, because they know painting is not what they are usually used for. What I like about a toothbrush is that you can use it conventionally for little ones, and older children can dust the paint on for a really cool effect. 1. Gather your materials. You will need a toothbrush, some water colors, water and paper. 2.Dip the brush in the water and swirl in the water color, I always...
Arts and Crafts, Toddlers and Preschoolers
September 29, 2009
Balloon Painting
I love this activity and how it blends the paint, but I have yet to do it with my son because I am very very anxious about balloons and toddlers. Please be careful with any kids who still mouth things with latex balloons. 1. Gather your materials. You will need a balloon, a dish , paint and some paper. 2. Pour a little paint into the dish, I like to mix it in the dish for cool results. 3. Blow up your balloon and dip it in! 4. Gently press the balloon onto the paper , move and press again. I loved the results of this one, you can leave it as is or cut it into a fun fall shape, fold it...
Arts and Crafts, Preschoolers
September 28, 2009
Painting Week Kick Off!
Kids' creativity is amazing, and what better way to foster that than to use unusual and fun tools to paint with? We have done similar projects before, but the reason I keep coming back to it, and am devoting a whole week to it, is that: 1. Kids love it 2. They don't get bored of similar projects the way we adults may, and 3. They are fun and easy. Glass Sponge Painting 1. Gather your materials. You will need a glass sponge ( you can find them at the supermarket next to the dish detergent), a dish, a few colors of paint, and a piece of paper. 2. Pour the paint in your dish and dip it in. 3...
Arts and Crafts, Toddlers and Preschoolers
September 25, 2009
Ballet Books
Having a son we read our fair share of truck, train and dinosaur books, but just because he naturally goes towards those types of books doesn't mean it's all we read. He greatly enjoyed all these books as well, especially the last. Lili on Stage by Rachel Isadora is a cute story about Lili a little dancer who is in a production of The Nutcracker. The book offers a behind the scenes look at being a child performer in a professional ballet. From waiting backstage, getting nervous in the wings and the rush of being on stage are all part of this lovely book. Ballerina Dreams by Lauren Thompson...
Children's Book Recommendations
September 24, 2009
Around the Blogosphere!
I love this leaf matching activity from The Write Start! These flower pot wind chimes from Let's Explore are easy and beautiful. Practice your shapes with candy with this fun activity from teach Mama. I love these little apples from Make and Takes! This Spider web project from Art Projects For Kids is prefect for older kids.
Arts and Crafts
September 23, 2009
Easy Shape Collage
Easy activities like this are perfect for beginners. The sticky back foam limits mess (and parents' frustration levels) and offers immediate results for impatient toddlers. Using sparkly foam is a great way to dress it up easily. You can focus on one shape like we did or do a variety. I know it doesn't look fancy but trust me my son loved it, and has been pointing diamonds out all morning since we made it last night! Kids don't need super fancy crafts to have fun. 1. Gather your materials. You will need a piece of construction paper, some sticky back foam , a marker and scissors. 2. On the...
Arts and Crafts, Toddlers and Preschoolers
September 22, 2009
Button Up For Fall
Wherever I am I am always looking for craft ideas, new materials and inspiration. When I saw a bag of random buttons at a store I immediately knew I needed to do something autumnal with them. This is what we made. 1. Gather your materials. You will need a brown grocery bag,scissors, a marker, a mix of red, orange , yellow and green buttons, and lots of glue! 2. Start by drawing an outline of a leaf, I swore I had a cookie cutter I used to use as a stencil but I couldn't find it. So I went free hand. 3. Add glue... lots of glue. 4. Start adding your buttons,it's fun to try to fine the...
Arts and Crafts, Preschoolers, School Age Kids
September 20, 2009
Lunch Bag Masterpieces
Now that my son is in preschool the days of the week are stating to matter more to him. He knows which day he goes to school and which he does something else. A fun way to reinforce the days of the week is to make lunch or in our case snack bags with the day on it, that you child can decorate. 1.Gather your materials. You will need paper lunch bags, crayons and a permanent marker. 2. Using the marker write the days of the week on the bags. If your child is able have them write the day. 3. Let your little artists go wild. 4. Place the bags in your pantry and when it's time to pack a...
Arts and Crafts, Toddlers and Preschoolers
September 18, 2009
Author We Love : Lucy Cousins
Lucy Cousins Maisy books are delightful. The text is super simple, the illustrations are bright and have a childlike quality to them and kids love these books. I began reading Maisy books to my son when he was a tiny infant and he immediately reacted to the bold large blocks of colors. Even though we read much more complex books now, at almost three my son still often chooses these to read before bed. Here are a few of our favorite Maisy books: Maisy Cleans Up seems like a simple story about cleaning and helping a friend clean but really it's a cute tale about delayed gratification. Maisy...
Children's Book Recommendations
September 17, 2009
Reading Takes Character
Getting kids to read can sometimes take some cajoling, that's ok. Sometimes kids need to make things cool and sometimes cool means their favorite character. This bookmark is so easy to do, and would make a fun craft for a themed birthday party. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some card stock, some themed confetti ( find it in the party section of Target or Wal-Mart) or character stickers, glue, scissors, ribbon and a hole punch. 2. Cut your card stock into the shape you want. If you want you could have your child color it at this stage too. 3.Punch a hole at the top, not too close...
Arts and Crafts
September 16, 2009
I Spy Binoculars
Using props for games like I Spy is almost as much fun as making the props. We had fun using these for finding colors, letters and spiders outside! 1. Gather your materials. You will need a paper towel roll or 2 toilet paper rolls, some crayons, a hole punch , scissors and ribbon. I also used painters tape which was not pictured. 2. Have your child decorate the roll(s) with crayons. By using crayons you have no drying time and you can play as soon as you are doing making them. 3. Cut the roll in two. 4. Punch holes on the outside of each roll. 5. Wrap tape around both, I used painters...
Arts and Crafts, Toddlers and Preschoolers
September 15, 2009
Button Biting
Fine motor skills, patience , sorting and color recognition are all practiced with this fun and really simple activity. We love finding new things at kitchen stores and after we bought these bamboo tongs we were dying to use them for learning.When you see the pride on your child's face when they can do it you will see how the benefits aren't only intellectual or physical, they are emotional as well. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some tongs ( large tweezers can work as well) four colors of buttons, a divided tray with 5 sections, matching construction paper and scissors. 2. Cut...
Early Learning, Fine Motor Skills
September 14, 2009
Block Painting
This fun and easy project is a great way to have fun with paint and shapes, and show your children how to think creatively to use things for purposes other than their intended one. Also, plastic blocks wash so easily! My son was reluctant to start because he didn't want to get his blocks dirty, but once he started I couldn't get him to stop. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some paper, some plates, paint and plastic blocks. 2. Pour your paint into some plates. I do them individually for this project since you want the individual shapes to show up. 3. Dip in your blocks. 4. Start...
Arts and Crafts, Toddlers and Preschoolers
September 10, 2009
Books About Feelings
Days like today that bring back such horror, sadness and strong emotions are the perfect time to talk to our kids about how we are feeling, and to open a dialogue about their feelings. These books are a great place to start. "When Sophie Gets Angry, Really, Really Angry" by Molly Bang has been a great tool to use when dealing with children and feelings for years. The book takes the readers through a tantrum and upset from an insiders perspective and has no judgment, just expression. Sophie does have a temper but she also has some pretty good coping skills. Don't miss this book . "Silly...
Children's Book Recommendations
September 10, 2009
Find and Stick Letter Hunt
When children are learning their letters it's not only fun it's effective to make it a game. This activity was made up on the spot, when I noticed I had some left over alphabet stickers. My son loved it, The best part is that it can be used again and again , just keep adding ! 1.Gather your materials, you will need some markers, a large piece of paper and some alphabet stickers ( we used both upper and lower case). 2. Write out the alphabet on the piece of paper. 3. Randomly choose a letter, and hand your child the sticker sheet. Tell them to find the sticker, then put it on the matching...
Early Learning, Toddlers and Preschoolers
September 9, 2009
Recycled Box Name Puzzle
Kids love to write their names on things. Just ask my mom! I am sure she regrets the roll of Allison stickers Santa gave me in 1983. Many things got tagged. Well, this craft is something your kids can write their names on. 1. Gather your materials. You will need an empty cereal type box, some markers ( one dark permanent) and scissors. 2. Cut the box open and trim any side pieces. 3. Write or have your child write their name in permanent marker on the cardboard. 4.Color over it. I did big blocks of color so my 2 year old can help me piece it together, but you can make it harder by using...
Arts and Crafts, Preschoolers, School Age Kids
September 8, 2009
Easy Eraser Stamps
Stamps are expensive. I love stamping with my son and this craft uses dollar store mini erasers and milk jug lids to make super fast and usable stamps. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some plastic lids, mini erasers, paper and a stamp pad. I used glue but my so woke from nap wanting to try right away so I also used double stick tape, both worked. 2. Glue or tape your mini eraser to your jar lid. Let dry if you used glue. 3. Press into your stamp pad. 4. Press onto your paper. I was amazed at how easily my 2.5 year old picked hit up. he went to town stamping, big hit!
Arts and Crafts, Toddlers and Preschoolers
September 4, 2009
Please and Thank You : Books About Manners
Manners in Public by Carrie Finn is a great to the point book about things you should and shouldn't do in public. It covers using polite words, being kind , waiting your turn and more. What made this book stand out from many others was how simple it was without talking down to the reader. The illustrations by Chris Lensch are funky ,and I think they really add to making manners cool in this book. Whoopi's Big Book Of Manners by Whoopi Goldberg is as hilarious as I was hoping it would be. This is a great book because it's funny and gross and talks about the things that kids think are funny...
Children's Book Recommendations
September 3, 2009
Paper Plates Rock!
Paper Plates are amazing when it comes to crafts, you can make so many things so for today's crafty blog links I am showcasing fun crafts make with these versatile dinnerware! A great apple from Ramblings of A Crazy Woman Paper Plate Decorations from Creative Jewish Mom Frog Mask from Ramblings of A Crazy Woman I fell in love with this earth craft at Just For Fun Here's a Tiger from my other blog No Time For Flash Cards Look at this! Sunset Pirates from BusyBee Kids Crafts
Arts and Crafts, Toddlers and Preschoolers
September 2, 2009
Natural Music Makers
This activity combines music, nature and science. Create the shakers then compare and discover what in your backyard makes the loudest, lowest or softest sound when you shake it. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some plastic eggs, or small plastic containers with lids. A bowl and a backyard to gather your bits of nature. 2. Go outside and find your fillings, we grabbed rocks, mulch, grass, flowers and an old leaf. 3. Fill your eggs. 4. Close, shake and explore the sounds they make. My son loved this activity, I wish I'd thought of it ages ago. He played and played!
Arts and Crafts, Music, Toddlers and Preschoolers
September 1, 2009
Fall Ribbon Ring
Get moving this fall with these fall ribbon rings. I was inspired by these ribbon rings over at Make and Takes last spring and filed it away. Now that the leaves are starting to fall in our yard I decided to make one for my son to play with. We pretended the ribbons were falling leaves and when we shook them they even sounded like leaves rustling. 1.Gather your materials. You will need a ring clip, yellow, red and orange ribbons and scissors ( ideally pinking sheers). 2. Start by cutting the ribbon. I did them all at an arms length. 3. Fold and make a loop, thread the loop through your...
Arts and Crafts