Free Preschool Crafts » spring crafts

Paper plate bird

admin — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 02:03:35 +0000

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);Â 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

admin — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:25:52 +0000

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:Â 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

admin — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 05:44:58 +0000

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!)

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

admin — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 15:07:15 +0000

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.

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!

Plastic bag butterfly craft

admin — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 12:00:40 +0000

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!

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.

Egg carton bugs

admin — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 23:05:50 +0000

What You Need: egg carton, scissors, tempera paint, paintbrush, glue, 1/8-inch hole punch, black pipe cleaner, googly eyes.

How You Make It: Cut apart egg carton into individual “cups.” Paint bugs however you’d like. Glue on googly eyes. Punch or poke three holes on each side of bug. Cut pipe cleaner into three equal sections and insert one in each set of holes.

“We tried it” tip: If you don’t have a small hole punch, a pointy object should work. Pre-punch leg holes for small children.

Clothespin dragonfly craft

admin — Thu, 05 Jul 2007 12:00:07 +0000

What You Need: wooden clothespin (either style), 2 small googly eyes, pipecleaner, paint, paintbrush, glue.

How You Make It: Paint clothespin and let dry. Wrap pipecleaner around clothespin to make “wings.” Glue on googly eyes.

Sunflower Paper Plate Craft for Spring

admin — Thu, 31 May 2007 23:12:43 +0000

What You Need: Paper plate, glue, pencil, brown and yellow tempera paints, paintbrush, scissors, sunflower seeds in shell.

How You Make It: Use pencil to draw “scallops” all around edge of paper plate and cut along the lines. Paint entire front of plate yellow. Paint brown circle around middle of plate. Once dry, use glue to adhere sunflower seeds in center.

Suggested storybook:Sunflower House by Eve Bunting

Egg Carton Caterpillar

admin — Thu, 24 May 2007 17:54:32 +0000

What You Need: Cardboard egg carton, poster (tempera) paints, pipe cleaner, 2 googly eyes, scissors, paintbrush, glue.

How You Make It: >Cuts egg carton into strips of 6 (grownup job). Paint caterpillar body. After paint is dry, insert pipe cleaner into “head” of egg carton to form antennae. Glue googly eyes onto face.

Suggested storybook: The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

Memorial Day Flower Basket

admin — Mon, 21 May 2007 02:18:52 +0000

What You Need: Strawberry basket, construction paper, scissors, 2 pipe cleaners, real or fake flowers.

How You Make It: Cut strips of construction paper slightly narrower than the spaces in the strawberry basket. Weave paper strips in and out, overlapping at ends to secure. Twist ends of pipe cleaner at top of one side of berry basket. Repeat on opposite side. Fill with real or fake flowers.

Suggested book: Memorial Day Surprise