Archive for the ‘spring crafts’ Category

Paper plate bird

Saturday, February 28th, 2009
Paper plate bird

Paper plate bird

Let kids explore their creativity and create an entire flock of birds using paper plates, pipe cleaners, cardstock scraps and paper punches. I saw this idea in Woman’s World magazine.

What You Need: 1 sturdy, colored paper plate (we used dessert size);  1 or 2 pipe cleaners; cardstock scraps; paper punches; googly eye; glue and/or tape.

How to Make It: Cut paper plate in half and then cut one of the halves into three triangles. Use scissors to make “fringe” for tailfeathers and wing. Tape pipe cleaners (however long you’d like your bird’s legs and neck to be) as shown. Bend them if you want, for crooked neck or legs. Tape paper plate triangle to top of neck and add beak cut from cardstock. Glue on plastic eye. Cut feet and tape to legs. Punch out shapes and glue to body.

Apple tree popcorn art

Tuesday, January 20th, 2009
Apple tree

Apple tree

Great for a Johnny Appleseed unit, or just to celebrate nature, this apple tree project combines food with fun! (Remember, though, popcorn can be a choking hazard to the littlest kids.)

What You Need:  1 sheet blue construction paper; brown and green poster paint; paintbrush; popped popcorn; glue.

How to Make It: Children paint tree trunk and leaves and then glue on popcorn for blossoms!

Flower pot decorated with foam pieces

Wednesday, December 26th, 2007

Here’s an easy craft that uses ready-made foam pieces and a small terra cotta pot. This is a great way to fill a short stretch of crafting time without needing to get out the glue and other messy supplies. (Although at FreePreschoolCrafts.com, we’re big fans of getting messy!)
Flower pot and foam craft
What You Need: Terra cotta flower pot; adhesive-backed foam animals, bugs, flowers, etc.
How to Make It: Give each child a flower pot and offer a nice variety of foam pieces to choose from in decorating his or her special flower pot. These make a great gift.

Pink bunny clothespin craft

Thursday, August 9th, 2007

What You Need: Flat (“no-roll”) style clothespin, pink acrylic paint, white felt, small white pom pom, two small googly eyes, black marker, scissors, glue.
clothespin bunny rabbit craft supplies

How You Make It: Paint clothespin pink and let dry. Cut thin strips from felt for inside “ears” and glue to long ends of clothespin. Glue on eyes and pom pom nose. Draw on mouth with black marker. You could also glue another pom pom on the back for a rabbit cotton tail!

clothespin bunny craft

Plastic bag butterfly craft

Monday, July 23rd, 2007

This project is quick, simple and fun, along with being a great way to use up scraps!

What You Need: zip-close plastic sandwich bag (or larger, depending on the size of your butterfly), half a pipe cleaner, scissors and (here’s the fun part) all kinds of scraps from your “craft pantry”: dyed pasta, bits of yarn, tissue paper squares and paper “confetti” kids cut by themselves, bits of craft foam, sequins, glitter and so on!
supplies for plastic bag butterfly

How You Make It: Set out a variety of supplies in small containers for preschoolers to choose what to add to their butterfly bag. This is so fun! Then, make sure most of the air is out of the bag, seal the bag and distribute the scraps somewhat evenly on either side of the bag as you “pinch” it together in the middle. Wrap pipe cleaner around middle of bag, twist to secure and bend ends for antennae.

plastic bag butterfly