Egg carton duck

March 28th, 2013

Kids can make a chick or a duck (I think my example is a hybrid) using a section of an egg carton and other random craft supplies. It’s great for Easter, and you can recycle those old cartons!
egg_carton_duck
What You Need: Cardboard egg carton, scissors (strong ones for adult to cut apart carton), safety scissors, craft foam, googly eyes, feathers, paint, paint brush, glue, tape.

How to Make It: Paint egg carton and let dry. Then let kids go wild cutting out and attaching features. They could make a bunny, too!

Easter toy capsule craft

March 28th, 2013

Save the plastic capsules from those gumball machine toys. They’re great for crafts such as these cute toy capsules. You can fill them with candy or just stuff them with cotton or crumpled tissue paper.
Easter_Toy_Capsule
What You Need: Toy capsule, cotton balls or batting, candy, felt or construction paper or craft foam, pom poms, googly eyes, scissors, glue or adhesive “glue dots.”

How to Make It: Stick cotton or candy (but not cotton candy) inside capsule and secure lid. Kids can then creatively decorate them using supplies you set out. Glue takes awhile to set on slick plastic; I used sticky glue dots instead.

Bunny handprint

March 28th, 2013

These little bunnies are so cute, and a great way to preserve the memory of a child’s little hand. My son was only 2 years old when I launched FreePreschoolCrafts.com and used him as my model. Now he’s 8 years old, and here’s his hand as a bunny!
bunny_handprint
What You Need: Pink construction paper, white acrylic or other non-toxic paint, paintbrush, googly eyes, pom pom, glue, scissors, marker.

How to Make It: Paint child’s hand and have him or her press it against the paper with fingers spread apart as shown. Let dry. Cut out around hand and fingers so that fingers look like bunny years. Glue on eyes and nose and draw whiskers and mouth.

Toilet paper roll Easter bunny and chick

March 28th, 2013

Save up those TP rolls and let kids use random craft supplies and their imagination to make bunny and chick decorations for Easter. For a fun variation, paper over the bottom and the roll can hold candy or other treats.
Easter_TP_Rolls
What You Need: Toilet paper rolls, feathers, construction paper, felt, markers, pom poms, glue, scissors, tape, and anything else fun that you have on hand. Kids could also paint their rolls rather than cover them in construction paper.

How to Make It: Pre-cut strips of construction paper to the length of toilet paper rolls. Secure one end of paper to cardboard, roll around and secure the other end with tape. Glue or tape on feathers, felt or paper ears, pom pom noses, construction paper beaks, and other cute features. Use googly eyes or draw on eyes and whiskers.

Leprechaun trap

March 8th, 2013

Little kids love trying to “trap” a leprechaun on St. Patrick’s Day. Let them embrace their imagination by setting out supplies for a creative trap-building project.
Leprechaun_Trap_2
What You Need: Shoebox, foil, construction paper, scissors, tape, and any other supplies you have on hand. Green glitter and shamrock stickers would be especially fun. You’ll also need a stick of some sort to prop the trap open to catch the leprechaun, if the child wants that style of trap.

How to Make It: Help child cut a hole in the shoe box. Then, let him or her go wild decorating the box with foil, paper, and other stuff. Let the child imagine what would entice a leprechaun and set it inside the trap. Maybe some Lucky Charms cereal? Then, set the trap and wait! (An adult may wish to make sure a leprechaun happens by to spring the trap and leave a little treat.)