Craftivity Corner

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

archives

April 30, 2010
Mother's Day Craft Links
Mother's Day is next Sunday here are a few crafts I love from around the blogosphere : Admit it we are all suckers for pictures of our kids! I love this frame from Ramblings of A Crazy Woman. These mother's day spring bonnets from Crafts by Amanda are adorable ! These hand painted scarves from That Artist Woman are amazing, and easier to make than you think! Can any mom resist their child's little footprint? These cards from Muffin Tin Mom are perfect for tiny ones and dad's to make together!
Blog links
April 29, 2010
5 Craft Supplies From The Supermarket
I get a lot of inspiration for crafts while walking the aisles every week at the grocery store. Here are 5 items anyone can get easily and have fun with their toddler or preschooler with , and skip the overwhelming trip to a craft or hobby superstore. 1.Marshmallows! Anyone who reads my main blog No Time For Flash Cards knows how much I love using marshmallows, and it's not just because I like the taste. They are fun to make 3D art with , the colored ones are perfect for counting and sorting and add in a few toothpicks and you can build structures too! 2.Popsicle Sticks There is no need to...
Kids Crafts
April 28, 2010
Mother's Day Glitter Globe
What mom doesn't want something with her child's picture on it? My son laughed hysterically every time he shook the bottle and it revealed his smiling face! 1. Gather your materials. You will need a clear jar, clear contact paper, picture of your child, sequins, glitter , scissors and some fancy paper. 2. Cut the picture of your child out and place face down on the sticky side of the contact paper. 3. Carefully place it in, trying to seal it as well as you can. Let it sit for a while and come back and press it all down again to get a good seal. 4. Invite your child to come help, put some...
Kids Crafts, Mother's Day Crafts
April 27, 2010
Lift the petal- Mother's Day Craft
This is a craft and card all in one! 1. Gather your materials, you will need some coffee filters ( enough to make 5 petals- for us that was 3), water colors, scissors, markers, and 2-3 colors of construction paper. We used tape because I like how smooth it looks, but glue would work too. 2. Start by having your child paint the coffee filters with the water colors. 3. While they do that cut out a stem, leaves and middle of the flower. 4. Write " I love my mom because" on the stem and "Happy Mother's Day " in the middle. 5.Cut the coffee filters into petals. 6. Tape or glue the stem...
Kids Crafts, Mother's Day, Mother's Day Craft
April 26, 2010
Color Mixing Snail!
I love it when simple activities like this one can bring together multiple lessons. This craft can be done by the very youngest toddler but is still fun for a 5 year old. Exploring the color mixing is the main lesson but learning about bugs, as well as older children can also be challenged by doing the cutting. 1. Gather your materials. You will need a paper plate, some yellow and blue finger paint, scissors , a marker and a pipe cleaner. I didn't include googly eyes and glue for this because it's really intended for toddlers who may still be putting things in their mouths. But if you are...
Early Learning, Kids Crafts, Toddlers
April 23, 2010
Lovely Links!
How cute are these hand print flowers from Mrs. Karen's Preschool Ideas. Love these stamp wheels from Frugal Family Fun! You could do it with so many themes, awesome! Table top sandbox from Muffin Tin Mom is perfect for some sand play without having to have a bath after! I never thought of using their arms for a trunk! Awesome cute cherry blossom project from my newest discovery Too Busy for TV Make a cool and useful Art portfolio with Mom Tried It !
Crafts, Kids Crafts
April 22, 2010
Love the Earth- books to share!
Teaching your child to love the earth doesn't just happen once a year on Earth Day ( which is today!) it comes gradually by appreciating all the beauty, all the amazing things as well as learning about the environment. Here are 4 books to promote the beauty and conservation with your children. Gone Wild by David McLimans is an alphabet book with a twist. Each letter is presented as an endangered animal and each page is visually stunning. Done in black white and red I love the simplicity of this book. The illustrations are simple but intricate, transforming each animal into the letter. There...
Children's Book Recommendations
April 21, 2010
Scrap Paper Earth!
The sound and feel of ripping paper is satisfying , it's great fine motor skill practice for little ones, and it's fun! 1. Gather your materials. You will need some glue, scrap paper in blue and green, a paper plate - or cut a circle out of some cardboard from your recycle bin. 2. Start by ripping the paper into pieces. 3. Add glue to the plate. 4. Start adding the green paper. 5. Finish it off with the blue. Don't worry if your little one doesn't cover the whole thing,just encourage them to add more pieces to the puzzle !
Crafts, Earth Day, Kids Crafts.
April 20, 2010
3 dress up must haves!
When your 18 month old walks in your shoes, or when your 3 year old turns the kitchen chairs into a bus they aren't just messing with your things. They are practicing rules, social conventions and learning more than one would think at first. In order to support this I urge all families to have a dress up bin! It doesn't have to be huge or cost you much to set up either. Here are my 3 must haves for every dress up bin: 1. Shoes Old rain boots, high heels, either old ones from your own closet, deals you have found at a garage sale or even those little plastic princess ones you can buy. There...
Preschoolers, Pretend Play, Toddlers
April 19, 2010
Peek-A-Boo Butterfly
This is a fun parent and tot craft if you are doing it with a little guy or a great one for older children adept with scissors. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some watercolors, a bowl of water, light colored paper , black paper, scissors and tape. 2. Hand your child the paint and have them paint to their hearts content on the light color paper. 3. While they do that fold the black paper in half and cut out a butterfly, make sure to make the body on the fold and the wings towards the edges. 4. Cut some holes on the wings. 5. When the painting is dry fold it in the butterfly and...
Arts and Crafts, Bugs, Butterflies
April 16, 2010
Mad For Madeline !
Madeline books by Ludwig Bemelmans were childhood favorites of mine and now as a parent I love snuggling up and sharing them with my 3 year old. Here is why we are Mad about Madeline! Madeline This is the original in this series of books. In it we are introduced to the boarding school in Paris, the ever steady Miss Clavel the headmistress, the 12 little girls and of course Madeline. Madeline is brave, spunky and in this book gets very very sick. She ends up in the hospital with appendicitis, and soon as it happens with young kids all the girls wish they could go to the hospital too. This...
Children's Book Recommendations
April 14, 2010
Earth Day Ideas!
Check out this awesome crayon shaving craft at This Little Project ! Use recycled materials for this craft from my blog No Time For Flash Cards. What could be more earth friendly than felt ravioli for your little one to play with? Check out the tutorial at One Crafty Mumma Click here to see an awesome recycled robot from Katherine Marie Photography! Recycle your glass bottles and make fun flower vases with Let's Explore! Makes these recycled flowers from Make and Takes for your vase !
Earth Day Crafts
April 13, 2010
Making Time For Reading
One of the biggest predictors of long term school success is reading ability. Learning to read doesn't start when kids start recognizing words, or blending sounds, it starts when you start talking to them, read them stories and develop their love of books and stories. Lives are busy, even 3 year olds have schedules and commitments and sometimes the only time to fit in reading is bedtime. Here are a few extra times to fit in reading ! Bath Time We love to read in the bath. Not those plastic bath books , real regular story books. My son doesn't need help in the bath but is still years away...
Reading with your children
April 12, 2010
Mark Your Veggies!
We are getting excited about planting a garden. All gardens need signs to remind the gardeners what is planted where so today we made some. 1. Gather your materials. You will need some construction paper ( scrap would do just fine), some packing tape or clear contact paper( not pictured), scissors, dowels or popsicle sticks , some cardboard and a marker. 2. Start by cutting your cardboard into the size signs you want. 3. Next write the vegetables names on the top of the sign. 4. Cut out the vegetables from the construction paper. Older kids can do this themselves, my son liked to "put...
Arts and Crafts, Gardening, Kids
April 10, 2010
D is For Diggers !
My son loves books, he also loves diggers! If memory serves me correctly "Didder" was one of his first words that wasn't a family member or request for food. In the 2 years since his love of construction vehicles hasn't waned . Here are 3 books about them that you can share with your kids. Barney Backhoe and the big city dig. by Susan Knopf has been a favorite in our house for over a year. Barney Backhoe isn't the only construction vehicle in this book, all his buddies ( an excavator, front loader, grader and bulldozer) are here too. They are all working together but on his way Barney runs...
Children's Book Recommendations
April 8, 2010
Shiny Collage!
My son goes to preschool twice a week and I never expect or even ask him to join me making crafts on those days. I figure he's had enough structure for the day and just let him chill. Well today after he saw me make a shiny collage he begged to make one too. I was tickled and grabbed up more materials. It's not a complicated craft , but simple is usually the best! 1. Gather your materials. You will need a piece of construction paper, some glitter glue ( I had white glue as well but the glitter glue did the trick), some foil ribbon, metallic pipe cleaners and scissors. 2.Start by spreading...
Arts and Crafts, Preschool, Toddlers
April 7, 2010
Bug Craft Links
Weather is warming up and the creepy crawlies are coming out all over, including craft blogs . Here are wonderful fun ideas from around the internet! These crickets from Ramblings Of A Crazy Woman are scrumptious! Check out these egg shell mosaics at Paint Cut Paste! Look at these lovely folder games at Let's Explore! How simple and adorable are these butterfly snack favors from teachmama?
Arts and Crafts, Preschool
April 6, 2010
Sort, Stick and Count!
Even if you aren't homeschooling your child, fitting in bits of learning into your day is valuable and fun . I love discovering how my son's mind is developing and activities like these mix fine motor ( peeling the stickers), sorting, color recognition and counting. 1. Gather your materials. You will need a piece of paper, a sheet of different colored stickers ( we are using reinforcements) , and markers in the same colors as the stickers. 2. Start by making circles on your sheet of paper with the markers, one in each color. 3. Have your child add the stickers by sorting them by color....
Early Learning, Easy, Math, Stickers
April 5, 2010
5 places to have fun without spending a penny.
Last year at this time my son who was 2.5 decided that 5am was a great time to wake up, every day. That made our normally long day without dad even longer so we started filling our days with inexpensive outings. Here are the 5 that were all fun, frugal and educational. 1. The Nursery or Garden Center They are open early, have space to run, lots of plants to learn about, many have ponds of fish, and heavy lifting equipment like forklifts. All these things combined are fun to explore and learn about for zero admission fee! 2.Pet Store The fish, the reptiles, the gerbils oh my! If a whole day...
Activities for kids, Preschoolers, Toddlers
April 2, 2010
Baa Baa ! Books About Sheep!
While looking for cute spring books at the library I found these three and had to share. One Little Lamb by Elaine Greenstein is a sweet simple book about sheep and how we get wool from them, make it into yarn, and knit it into mittens. I really love this book because each page is dedicated to a simple step in the process which gives parents or teachers ample time to talk and teach about each step. The adorable illustrations are a bonus as well. Sheep Out to Eat by Margot Apple is a wonderful book for children learning to rhyme. The text is silly and fun and filled to the gills with...
Children's Book Recommendations
April 1, 2010
Easter Egg Craft
Kids love using tools that are usually reserved for adults, like hole punches. This super easy craft uses a hole punch to make the patterns on the Easter egg and then strips of tissue paper to color the dots from the underside! 1. Gather your materials you will need some construction paper, some tissue paper ( 2 or more colors) a hole punch, marker, scissors and clear tape. 2. Draw an egg on your paper with your marker. 3. Fold your egg and punch holes in a line to make the pattern. We folded ours 3 times . 4. Cut strips of tissue paper and tape to the back. 5. Cut the egg out and hang...
Arts and Crafts, Easter