Craftivity Corner

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

archives

November 29, 2011
Light Saber Ornaments
A good friend was hit with the flu so I picked up her son with mine after school and embarked on a long happy Friday playdate. They played Star Wars as usual for a long long tine but I knew I had to reign them in. I got a pack of these craft supplies from craftprojectideas.com so when I showed them they immediately strated asking for specific colors to be this guy or that guy's light sabers. Then I decided to turn it into an ornament. It showed them down for what felt like 30 seconds ( it was really about 5 minutes) and let me have some time to set up some puzzles and games for them to...
Christmas Ornaments
November 27, 2011
Holiday Book Tradition
In my next life ( or maybe later in this one) I dream about being a Children's Librarian. I think that for young children nothing is as important as reading as a way to widen their world , create curious kids and lay the foundation for life long learning. Just because it's the holidays doesn't mean that reading needs to get pushed aside or only to bedtime books. You can even turn reading time into something special at this special time of year. This is what we do. After Thanksgiving I jump online and to my local library's catalog and search for holiday themed books. I try to...
Kids, Making reading playtime, Reading
November 26, 2011
Jar Lid Ornaments
For times when time is not something you have a lot of quick easy crafts are a must. These personalized ornaments can be used for trimming the tree , gift tags or even place cards for a holiday meal. They are a cinch to make but still really festive. You will need a jar lid, some letter stickers ( bonus if they are glittery) , some ribbon, scissors and tape or hot glue. Start by writing out your name with the stickers on the lid. Add the ribbon backing. Yeah that's it! But aren't they super cute? Environmentally friendly too!
Easy Ornaments
November 24, 2011
5 Blogs I Am Thankful For
Bloggers don't have a staff room, while we do have conference it's hit or miss if you will see each other there , and trying to get a hold of another blogger by phone is about as hard as hearding cats. However I am so completely thankful for other bloggers who share the same triumphs and frustrations and most of all passion for getting kids to learn. Amy from Teach Mama Janae for I Can Teach My Child Cathy at Nurture Store Marie from Make and Takes and Deborah from Teach Preschool If you have never been to their sites I will chat with you next week because it will take that long for...
Blogs
November 23, 2011
Easy Star Wars Cupcake Toppers
I know I am a crafty blogger but when it comes to cake decoration I am not the best, especially this time fo year when we are all busy I seem to always forget to order what I need for my son's birthday. Well this year his party is covered but treats for preschool were still needing to be made- and he insisted on Star Wars. Off to the party store. Stickers and drinking straws and don't forget scissors. That is all you need! Make sure you get multiple sheets of the same stickers. Cut your straws down to your desired length . Press into one sticker. And sandwich the straw. Add to...
Birthday Parties
November 22, 2011
By Request - Ballet Themed Craft
  When a reader asked if I had any craft ideas for a ballet themed birthday I immediately knew what I wanted to do. What I love about this shilouette craft is that you can make little ones for an activity that also works as  favors ( adults doing the tough parts before the party) , or a big one just for a decoration keepsake. Either way it's easy and if you use the right tools it dries fast enough to send them home with your guests. You will need a canvas, some clear contact paper, paint in your choice of colors. SPONGE roller brushes. I did not have one on hand ... I should...
Ballet, Birthday Party, Gifts
November 20, 2011
5 Kids Table Ideas For Thanksgiving
  Whether you actually have a special table for your children at Thanksgiving or if you all sit mixed together these ideas will help keep fidgety kids at the table a little longer. 1. Skip the table cloth and use craft paper instead. Give each child a sheet of Thanksgiving themed stickers, some washable markers or crayons and let them decorate their or even their neighbors spot. 2. If you are even more ambitious you can turn your table into a coloring book! Use stencils ( or thanksgiving cookie cutters) or your own creativity to draw scenes from the first thanksgiving or some of the...
Kids, Thanksgiving
November 19, 2011
Favorite Pinterest Thanksgiving Crafts
Are you on Pinterest? It's a crafter's dream. So many ideas, so much inspiration and so many links!  Here are some great Thanksgiving ideas that grabbed my attention. This leaf turkey from Mommyapolis is a simple but beautiful craft to do with your kids. I love this classic pine cone turkey from Amazing Moms , every child must do one of these during their childhood. I also really love this finger print corn from All Kids Network, it's great for families with various aged kids since it depends on finger painting to create. I also adore this Clothes Pin Turkey it combines...
Thanksgiving Crafts
November 18, 2011
Let them win or play to win?
Our house has been taken over by card games. Specifically Go Fish and War. Now as I discovered card game rules are regional. My husband and I are a bi-national couple, he hails from Texas and I am Canadian. Not only do we sing "Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes" to a different tune we also have different rules when it comes to games. After sorting through that we also realized we see playing with a 5 year old in two very different wasy. I go easy. He plays hard. So which is the best way? As it turns out my son is a self proclaimed "Go Fish Master" and he's not lying,...
Early Learning, Games with kids, Parenting
November 16, 2011
Thankful Letters
This activity was actually inspired by my son listing words that start with the letters in his name on the way to school last week. What I like about this is that so often ( at least at my house) when I ask my son what he is thankful for I get " Milkshakes, Mom and Dad and my sister...oh and Star Wars." An activity like this gives kids pause to think up something they are thankful for that begins with a specific letter. You will need some paper and markers. That's it although we used foam letter stickers for the name to make it stand out and two colors of paper glued together...
Early Learning, Thanksgiving
November 13, 2011
Indian Corn Craft
This is not a hard craft but it takes patience and some fine motor skill. One of my favorite things about crafting is sitting together and chatting and this is a great craft for that, put one big bowl of beads in the middle of the table and create! I should say that these beads were provided for me by craftprojectideas.com  but the craft is of my own creation! You will need pipe cleaners , scissors,  and pony beads in yellow, orange, black and purple. Start by cutting your pipe cleaners into 3 even pieces. Twist the ends together securely. Thread the beads on. I found a random...
Beading, Thanksgiving Kids Crafts
November 9, 2011
Thankful Tree
For many years I have done some varriation of a Thankful Tree. This year with two kids at such different levels of ability and interest I cam up with this tree that they could both contribute to in their own ways. You will need some craft paper, crayons, markers, tape to keep it on the wall, and some paper leaves and tape. Start by drawing the outline of a tree. Have your child who is too little to write or verbally contribute things they are thankful for color it to their hearts content . This is why I didn't cut the tree out carefully, so there is room for big scribbles. Now invite...
Early Learning, Thanksgiving
November 7, 2011
Dance and Learn - Musical Letters
You are probably familiar with musical chairs, the game where you scramble for a coveted seat as the music stops knowing there will be one fewer seat available each time. Well games like that are generally torture to play with preschoolers or toddlers like my daughter for good reason, it's no fun. This is in the same genre, but with more learning and less feeling left out. You will need some painter's tape and hula hoops although you could just have the kids touch thr letter to be "safe". Make some letters out of the tape on your floor. Place the hoops around them. Put on...
Early Learning
November 6, 2011
Making Playdough Fun ( even for the grown ups) !
Having worked with preschoolers both in camp settings and as preschool teacher I am often shocked by the things parents hate like playdough! Ok maybe I shouldn't be too shocked because I loathe bubbles but still playdough has been such a fixture in my life that I think all these little tips and tricks are obvious and not worth sharing until I hear a mom at church or a playdate say " Oh wow I never thought of that!"  So here goes... my tips for playdough. 1. If the thought of making your own is overwhelming don't do it. Unless your child has a gluten allergy or...
Early Learning
November 2, 2011
Halloween Candy Stash Math !
Halloween was fun at our house and today we used our candy for learning! You will need some paper, markers, and of course your candy! Write out some answers for your little ones to answer.  Ours included : How much candy do you have? How many suckers? How many candies are square? How many have the letter m in the wraper ? My son loved this and it gave him a chance to play with his candy even though I only let him eat 2 when we were done.
Early Learning, Halloween Candy, Math