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Paper Chain Snake Craft

January 29, 2025 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This paper chain snake craft is a perfect hands-on creative activity. It helps young children develop fine motor skills, recognize colors, practice measurement, and make patterns. The activity suits a reptile, jungle, or Chinese New Year “Year of the Snake” theme.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following basic supplies you probably already have on hand to make this slithery chain-link friend:

light cardstock paper
ruler and pencil
wiggly eyes
scissors
tape
glue stick
glue gun

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Steps to Make a Paper Chain Snake Craft

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To start making a paper chain snake select a sturdy paper in two or more colors. Construction paper or light cardstock is a good choice because it isn’t too heavy to curve into a loop and holds up well for display.

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Next, cut the paper into strips. To make the strips the same-sized width and length, use a pencil and ruler to draw light lines on the paper first. My strips are about 1 ¼ inch wide and 8 ½ inches long. You can make yours shorter and thinner or longer and wider depending on how big you would like the snake to be.

Afterward, form a loop with one paper strip and tape or glue the ends together.

Then add the next link by threading a paper strip through the first loop. Form it into a loop and tape or glue the ends together.

Keep adding paper strips in the same way to make the chain the desired snake body length.

Then draw and cut out a snake head and tail from cardstock. Fold both pieces in half leaving a little section in the middle.

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Afterward, draw a forked tongue on a contrasting color of cardstock and glue it to the bottom of the snake head.

Then glue two wiggly eyes to the head.

Finally, use a glue gun to affix the head to one end of the paper chain snake body and tail to the other.

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Inspired By Chinese Culture

The paper chain snakes in this blog post are inspired by colors spotted in Chinese festivals and artwork. Turquoise, orange, and yellow are hues seen in lion dance performances.

Blue and white color schemes are popular in Chinese ceramics, with flower motifs being common. So as a finishing touch, this next snake is embellished with paper-punched flowers.

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Red and white decorations are feature colors in Chinese New Year celebrations. Red symbolizes celebration and white provides a nice contrast. White paper flowers enhance the snake below too.

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This Chinese New Year signifies “The Year of the Snake“, and the snake craft fits in well with the theme.

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Benefits of The Paper Chain Snake Craft

This slithery snake craft has many benefits for young children. It helps them

develop fine motor control and finger muscle strength as they tape or glue paper strips into loops.
recognize colors and make patterns.
observe and/or help use a glue gun.

The snakes can be measured with a string or a long ruler. They make great pretend pets for little learners.

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More Activities With Snakes

Chinese New Year Chickpea-based Bin

Black Playdough Snakes

Reptile Theme Activities

Reptile Egg Science

String Painting Snake Art

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You may also like:

Unicorn Playdough Tray

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Teacup and Peony Sensory Tray

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Don’t forget to share this post on Pinterest or your favorite social media channel. Sharing is caring!

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Gnome Christmas Stocking Craft

December 23, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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It’s all about the beard in this cozy gnome Christmas stocking craft. It is so easy to make and super cute to display. Make one (or two or three) to include in your holiday decorating scheme.

Gnomes are lovable, little mythical creatures with large noses and pointed hats. They are super popular in home décor. I love seeing them displayed in stores when I’m out and about around town. Tailored for every holiday season, they come in all sorts of colors and designs. The cheeky, whimsical characters provide endless inspiration for simple crafts to make.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following supplies for this charming gnome craft:

construction or cardstock paper
thick yarn
thin ribbon
large pom pom
craft punches
double-sided tape
scissors and pencil
glue stick and glue gun

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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The Gnome Christmas Stocking Craft

To make this gnome Christmas stocking craft, start by picking out two complementary colors of cardstock or construction paper.

Next, draw on and cut out a Christmas stocking from an 8 ½ inch x 11-inch sheet of construction paper.
Then draw and cut out a cuff from paper in a coordinating color.

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Afterward, line the top of the paper stocking with double-sided tape, adding more small pieces to the center.

Next, select white or cream-colored yarn and loop it on the stocking, pressing the yarn onto the double-sided tape. Thick, fluffy yarn works well for this craft.

Then stick on a large light brown pom pom nose.

Secure the cuff to the top of the stocking with hot glue, and add a small loop to one of the upper edges for hanging.

Finally, glue on one or more foam or paper-punched holiday shapes to give the stocking extra flair.

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Once you’ve crafted one cozy character, you just might want to make more! This gnome Christmas stocking craft would make a fun family or classroom activity with everyone designing their own. The festive yarn and paper gnomes would display beautifully on a garland.

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More Christmas Arts and Crafts

Click on the pictures below for more Christmas art and crafts ideas.

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[Read more…]

Paper Bag Grinch Craft

December 22, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This cute and colorful paper bag Grinch craft doubles up as an aromatic Christmas present to give to someone special over the holiday season.

It’s tradition for me to visit a nearby greenhouse during the holiday season to view the beautifully decorated Christmas trees. The trees all have gorgeous, coordinated decorations that complement each other in color and theme. The decorations are the inspiration for crafts to make. At the end of my visit, I pick out a lemon cypress plant to take home and often select other items to purchase.
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Lemon cypress plants look like miniature Christmas trees and are often decorated with tiny ornaments as a space-saving holiday sensory activity. They have light green feathery foliage that grows in a cone shape. When the leaves are rubbed or crushed, they smell like lemon. The tip of the lemon grass plant reminds me of the tuft of hair on Dr. Seuss’s storybook character “The Grinch.” That’s why they are paired in this paper bag craft and gift.

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Supplies To Collect

Collect the following supplies for this Grinchy green and yellow craft:

lemon cypress plant
paper lunch bags
green and yellow tempera paint
paint pot and brush
yellow and black construction paper
red and black markers
scissors and pencil
glue stick and tape
yarn and single hole punch
waterproof tablecloth

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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The Paper Bag Grinch Craft

To make this paper bag Grinch craft, start by pouring light green or neon green tempera paint into a paint pot.

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Next, set out the paint, paintbrush, and a paper bag on a table covered with a waterproof tablecloth.
Paint one side of the bag and let it dry. Paint the other three sides, allowing the paint to dry on each side before continuing. The drying process may take a few hours.

Note: An alternative is to stand the bag on the art table and place a few sheets of crumpled scrap paper inside. Paint a thin layer of tempera all over the bag and let it dry. Then remove the inserted paper.

When the painted lunch bag is dry, fold it into its original shape.

Then cut two large almond-shaped eyes from yellow construction paper and line the outside edges with a black marker.

Cut small circles from black sturdy paper and glue them to the yellow eyes.

Afterward, thoroughly add glue to the back of the crafted eyes with a glue stick, and affix the peepers to the bag in a slanted position.

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Next, use the black marker to draw a small nose and a deep curved mouth on the bag.

Then draw eyelashes around the eyes and give the paper bag face slanted eyebrows.

Cut a small rectangle from yellow construction paper and write the words “Merry Grinchmas” on it with a red marker.

Next, punch a hole in the edge of the paper greeting and tie on a section of yarn.

Finally, tape the yarn inside the tip of the bag and carefully set in a small potted lemon cypress plant.

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Variation of the Paper Bag Grinch Craft

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To simplify this festive craft, use a bright green crayon to color the bag instead of painting it. The green hue will not be as bright as the painted version but the craft will be just as delightful.

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This lemon cypress plant-filled paper bag Grinch craft would make a cute gift from a child to a parent or grandparent. Who will you give your Grinch craft to?

Merry Grinchmas!!!

More Christmas Art and Crafts

Click on the pictures below for more Christmas art and craft projects.

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[Read more…]

Remembrance Day Butterfly Art

November 6, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Remembrance Day is celebrated each year on November 11 in many countries. It is a day to remember the end of World War I and the many soldiers who died in battle. In Canada, it is also a day to recognize and appreciate the people who serve in the army today.

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The Red Poppy and Remembrance Day

Wearing a red poppy has become a tradition on Remembrance Day, and the days leading up to it. After noticing the abundance of red poppies that sprouted up among the graves of fallen soldiers when World War I ended, a Canadian doctor wrote the now-famous poem “In Flanders Field”. Not long afterward, a United States teacher named Moina Michael wrote a poem called “We Shall Keep the Faith” in response and decided to wear a red poppy to remember the soldiers who served in the war. Noting that returning disabled soldiers had trouble caring for themselves, she started selling red poppies to raise money for their needs. The poppy flower soon became a symbol of the service of past and present soldiers.

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Since butterflies are seen as a symbol for inspiring good deeds, they go together well with poppies in a Remembrance Day butterfly art project.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more activities.

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Remembrance Day Butterfly Art Supplies

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Gather the following supplies for this meaningful art activity:

8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock paper
dot markers
pencil and scissors
pipe cleaners
pony beads
pom poms
artificial red poppies
white glue or glue gun

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Remembrance Day Butterfly Art Project

This creative project is a simpler version of squish-painted poppy-enhanced Remembrance Day butterflies featured a few years ago.

For the remembrance art project, start by tracing and cutting out large butterflies from 8 ½ x 11-inch white or cream-colored cardstock paper. Manila tag cardstock works well for this activity and is economical to buy.

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Set the paper butterflies on a table with red, orange, and black dot markers and invite participants to decorate their winged creatures. Using a black dot marker for finishing touches is recommended so that the red and orange colors remain dominant in the designs.

Tip: Dot marker designs dry quickly, which is one thing I love about them. If the decorated butterflies curl a little after drying, allow time to flatten them under a stack of books or a heavy object.

Afterward, invite everyone to string black pony beads onto same-colored pipe cleaners. When the pipe cleaners are folded in half, there should be enough strung beads to cover the abdomen and head of the dot-marked butterflies.

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After participants finish beading their pipe cleaner, have them fold it in half and twist the unbeaded ends together to create two antennae.

Glue a pom pom to each pipe cleaner antenna with white glue or a glue gun, and then affix the beaded pieces to the middles of the butterflies.

Finally, glue an artificial red poppy with the pin removed onto each dotted insect.

Note: Older participants can independently glue on the beaded pipe cleaners, pom poms, and poppies.

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This Remembrance Day butterfly art project is simple but striking and is bound to be appreciated. Having the opportunity to include beads is a highlight of the activity.

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[Read more…]

Eye Dropper Bat Art

October 26, 2024 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Eye dropper art is a super satisfying painting technique, and it’s so quick and easy to do. This eye dropper bat art project is a good choice for October, as the winged creatures are commonly spotted in fall creative activities and décor.

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Supplies to Collect

Gather the following supplies for this flying mammal art activity:

paper towel sheets
liquid watercolors
paint pots or jars
eye droppers or pipettes
pencil and scissors
bat template
wiggly eyes
white glue or a glue gun
waterproof tablecover

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning activities.

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Eye Dropper Bat Art

To begin this vibrant bat art activity, cover a table with a waterproof tablecover.

Next, trace and cut out large bats from paper towel sheets. Thick paper towels work best. You are welcome to use the free template available to download below.

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Bat Art PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Afterward, pour liquid watercolors in a variety of colors into small jars or paint pots. Liquid food coloring hues with water stirred in are a suitable substitute for liquid watercolor paints.

Then place the paint jars on the table and add eye droppers or pipettes.

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Set out a paper towel bat for each participant and invite them to drop paint all over their fruit-pollinating winged animal.

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Then let the paint-soaked bats dry. Leaving them in place to dry is recommended if there is room. Otherwise, carefully remove each color-infused bat to another spot.

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When dry, use white glue or a glue gun to add two wiggly eyes to each bat for a cute finishing touch.

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Bat Necklace Craft

Fall Pom Pom Tree Craft

Felt Marker Chromatography Experiment

Try this easy-to-do felt marker chromatography "scary house" experiment. It has possibilities for art and imaginative play.

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[Read more…]

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Supplies To Collect

Steps to Make a Paper Chain Snake Craft

Inspired By Chinese Culture

Benefits of The Paper Chain Snake Craft

More Activities With Snakes

Supplies To Collect

The Gnome Christmas Stocking Craft

More Christmas Arts and Crafts

Supplies To Collect

The Paper Bag Grinch Craft

Variation of the Paper Bag Grinch Craft

More Christmas Art and Crafts

The Red Poppy and Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day Butterfly Art Supplies

Remembrance Day Butterfly Art Project

Supplies to Collect

Eye Dropper Bat Art

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