art

Painting Ice And Snow Activity

January 29, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky 1 Comment

Ice cakes are the highlights of this painting ice and snow sensory table activity little learners are bound to love.

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A painting ice and snow center is one of the easiest activities you can set up, and little learners love to participate in it. Stacking the frozen ice into triple-layer cakes will level up the fun factor and visual appeal.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

For this frozen-themed snow and ice sensory table activity, gather the following:

activity tray
round plastic food containers in different sizes
ice cube trays
small metal bowls
large pail
snow
food coloring or liquid watercolors
paint containers
paintbrushes
sturdy tablecloth

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Setting Up The Painting Ice And Snow Activity

How to set up a painting snow and ice sensory table activity for early learners.

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Freeze water in food containers for several days. Empty yogurt, sour cream, ice cream, and margarine containers work well for the molds.

Set up a large activity tray on a round table covered with a tablecloth.

Scoop up snow in a pail and dump it into the tray.

Take out the ice shapes from their molds and drop them on top of the snow. Stack smaller ice chunks on larger ones to make triple-layer cakes.

Set out ice cubes in small metal bowls.

Add liquid food colors to paint containers, or mix a little food coloring into water to make the hues. Featured are paints in primary colors.

Include brushes and invite little learners to paint the ice cakes and snow.

An easy to put together painting ice and snow sensory table activity the whole family can enjoy.

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The watercolors in the containers stay quite pure in this activity, without having to ask anyone to rinse their brushes between hues used. And there will be lots of excitement when new colors such as green and purple pop up in the snow.

Little learners will love to participate in this snow and ice sculpture painting activity.

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If you are short on preparation time, offer snow, ice cubes, and paints with a variety of kitchen accessories. Think muffin tins, bowls, spoons, pans, and frozen dessert sticks. Your little charges will enjoy painting the snow and ice cubes, and will excitedly use the accessories in snow kitchen activities.

Kitchen accessories add to the play experience in this snow painting sensory table activity.

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If snow is not available where you live, the activity will work fine with ice shapes alone. Little learners will be thrilled to focus on painting the ice cakes and can add ice cube embellishments.

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Decorating an ice cake is the highlight of this painting ice and snow sensory table activity for little learners.

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Winter Playdough Recipe

Spray Paint Snowflake Silhouette

Igloo Camping Pretend Play

Winter-themed Treasure Blocks

Winter Wreath Craft

Polar Bear Small World

Winter Sensory Trays

Ice Drum Musical Instruments

Frozen-Inspired Shadow Box

Scissor Skill Snow Cutting Activities

Kid’s Winter Wonderland Play Tablescape

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[Read more…]

CD Case Christmas Craft

December 24, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky 2 Comments

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An empty or used empty CD case can be turned into a beautiful art or craft project. There are many creative ideas to try. For this blog post, I’m choosing to feature a CD case Christmas craft.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more creative ideas.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather the following for this seasonal craft:

clear CD jewel case
thin unpainted wood holiday decoration
festive cardstock
acrylic craft paint
scissors
ruler
glue stick
white glue or glue gun
craft bits: pony beads, holiday confetti, garland strips, sequins, punched paper snowflakes

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Assembling The CD Case Christmas Craft

Steps to making a CD case Christmas craft. An all-ages craft the whole family can do.

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Carefully remove the tray from a clear CD case.

Trim the cardstock pattern of choice to the size of the case.

With the case open, use a glue stick to adhere the cut cardstock to the bottom right section.

Paint a thin holiday-themed wood decoration with acrylic paint and let it dry. The paint and decoration can easily be found at dollar stores.

Note: Acrylic paint dries quickly and comes in a large variety of colors. It’s so fun to use!

Glue the painted wood shape to the cardstock.

Add craft bits of choice.

Close the case snugly.

Make this easy and fun holiday-themed CD craft today!

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Display on a shelf or wall in the classroom or your home.

Tips: The craft bits can be glued down so they are stationary or left movable.

These holiday-themed CD case crafts are a lot of fun to make. Have the whole family create one!

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These charming CD case Christmas crafts are perfect for displaying during the holiday season.

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If desired, add a clear seal to keep the CD case closed.

You may wish to make this CD case Christmas craft in a variety of holiday and winter themes. The craft lends itself to being showcased in groups.

Make this cozy CD case Christmas craft in a variety of festive color schemes. An all-ages family craft.

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Of course, little learners can get in on making this creative craft. The activity could be a cooperative one for a parent/teacher/caregiver and child.

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CD Case Christmas Blocks

Instead of displaying the crafted CD jewel cases, include them on a table with blocks for little learners to use in construction play. This is an idea I look forward to exploring in the future.

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Make this winter-themed snowman CD case craft today! It's easy and fun to do.

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[Read more…]

Christmas Sheep Craft

December 23, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This adorable Christmas sheep craft offers all the fun that dressing in “crazy Christmas clothing” does. It is inspired by a charming cartoon posted on Facebook by Farm Rescue. A free printable is downloadable below to make the craft easy to make.

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Christmas Sheep Craft Supplies

Gather the following craft supplies in holiday colors for this craft:

pom poms
bows
garland
pipe cleaners
foam Christmas shapes
gem stickers
stars
snowflakes
buttons
fade-resistant construction paper

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Making The Sheep Craft

invite little learners to make this colorful Christmas sweater-inspired sheep craft.

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Draw a sheep on white cardstock or download one of the printables below. Cut it out. Then snip off the head.

Downloadable template for a Christmas sheep craft.

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Sheep Printable 1Download

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Sheep Printable 2Download

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Trace and cut out a slightly larger version of the wooly body from colored construction paper.

Use a glue stick to adhere the colored piece over the top of the white body.

Then glue the head back on.

Invite your little learner to add festive decorations to the sheep using white glue or a glue stick.

Make this festive sheep craft to add some fun to the holiday season.

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Make this adorable festive sheep craft with easy to gather supplies.

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Make this crazy Christmas sheep craft with holiday craft supplies. Free printable included.

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Variation Of The Craft

For an easier version of the craft, download and make a copy of the sheep printable. Have your little learner color it and add Christmas sticker accents.

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This craft is fun for the whole family to do. Why not invite everyone to make one. You could have a contest and pick the winner of the “craziest Christmas sheep craft.”

Make this Christmas sweater-inspired sheep craft in a bunch of colors!

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Turtle Christmas Craft

December 18, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Adorable turtle Christmas paper craft inspired by the delightful picture book "Mossy" by author Jan Brett.

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This cheeky turtle Christmas craft is inspired by Jan Brett’s beautiful picture book titled “Mossy.” The colorful papercraft is easy to make, especially if you download the free printables below.

In the story, an eastern box turtle named Mossy is scooped up from a pond area and taken to a museum by biologist Dr. Carolina. Mossy is unique…she has a lush garden of moss and flowers growing on her shell due to the moist home she grew up in. At the museum, Mossy is given an impressive glass-encased place to live, and her carapace garden continues to grow. Many visitors come to view Mossy, and she makes the museum famous. But over time, Mossy grows very sad. She misses her pond home, and especially her new friend Scoot, who she had just met before being captured. Dr. Carolina’s niece Tory notices how sad Mossy gets. Eventually, a portrait of Mossy in her pond environment is made for the museum, and the garden-decorated turtle is released back to the same place where she was found.

Jan Brett’s artwork in the picture book is as exquisite as usual. And the illustrated borders on pages feature creatures and artifacts commonly found in museums, such as flowers, insects, butterflies, fossils, tree parts, algae, geodes, and feathers.

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Craft Supplies To Collect

Supplies to make a festive turtle Christmas paper craft inspired by the delightful picture book "Mossy" by author Jan Brett.

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Gather the following supplies for this festive turtle craft:

green, red, and pink cardstock paper in different shades
cream cardstock
mini self-adhesive gold pearls
glue stick
wiggly eye
felt pen
scissors

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Making The Turtle Christmas Craft

Festive turtle Christmas paper craft inspired by the delightful picture book "Mossy" by author Jan Brett.

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Cut Christmas-themed flowers and leaves from sturdy paper. Fade-resistant cardstock or construction paper is preferable, but any paper will work fine.

Cut a turtle from cream-colored cardstock.

Invite your little learner to paste flowers and leaves to the shell of the turtle using a glue stick. Mini adhesive gold pearls can be added to some of the flowers.

Download these patterns to use for the craft.

Turtle template for art and craft activities. — Turtle Template

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Turtle Craft PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Use this Christmas flower template for paper crafting. — Christmas Flower Template

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Christmas Flower PrintableDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Make this festive turtle Christmas paper craft inspired by the delightful picture book "Mossy" by author Jan Brett.

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Turtle Craft Extensions

Jenn Brett’s website is filled with activities and coloring sheets to go along with her picture books. A turtle pond coloring page goes with the book “Mossy,” and can be downloaded at janbrett.com.

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Related: Painted Turtle Art Activity

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[Read more…]

Coffee Filter Poppy Art

November 10, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Red poppies are available everywhere at the moment. That is because on November 11 our country (and many others), observe Remembrance Day. Ceremonies are held on this day at 11:00 a.m. in order to remember the soldiers who died in war or while performing military tasks. And the poppy is a symbol of Remembrance Day.

Art activities with poppies also help us remember. In this post, I feature a stunning coffee filter poppy art project in recognition of this day. But first, some poppy facts.

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Remembrance Day Poppy Facts

Since 1921, after World War I, the poppy flower is a reminder of the soldiers who died and those who serve courageously today.
People began wearing poppies inspired by the poem “In Flanders Field,” written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae. McCrae wrote the poem after seeing red poppies grow around the grave of a soldier friend.
This poppy is native to the eastern Mediterranean and grows easily in western Europe. The poppy’s seeds germinate in spring and only grow in recently disturbed land, such as places devastated by war.
In recognition of the soldiers, people wore real poppies at first. But eventually, they began to wear crafted ones.
Craft poppies have been sold for many years in order to raise money to support army veterans and their families.
Today, millions of poppies are sold throughout the world.
In Canada, poppies are worn from the last Friday in October up until Remembrance Day.
This year (2021) is the 100^th anniversary of the poppy.

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Coffee Filter Poppy Supplies To Collect

Like most of my craft ideas, supplies to collect for this project are simple. Gather together:

coffee filters
red, green, black, and orange non-permanent felt pens
water spray bottle
green and black fade-resistant cardstock or construction paper
12-inch x 16-inch white art or construction paper
glue stick
plastic tub

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Easy to create, stunning coffee filter poppy art.

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Creating The Coffee Filter Poppy Art

Cut coffee filters into poppy shapes. If helpful, download the pattern further in the post.

Have early learners color a coffee filter with felt pens, starting with a black or green round shape in the middle. The rest can be decorated in red and orange, or only red.

Supplies to make coffee filter poppy art.

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Add water to the spray bottle. Have children take turns squirting water on their paper filters in a plastic tub. Just a few squirts of water will blend colors nicely…easy does it for this project!

Dry the vibrant designs on a flat surface.

Note: The blended colors look quite dark at first, but will lighten as they dry.

Cut black or green stems and leaves from construction paper. Help little ones glue a stem, leaf, and poppy flower to a white art paper background. Add a favorite Remembrance Day saying if desired.

Easy and fun coffee filter Remembrance Day art activity.

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To insert a bud into the craft, little learners can decorate and spray an additional untrimmed coffee filter. After it dries, it can be folded twice, and glued on the picture as a poppy bud.

This showy poppy and bud art activity is easy and fun to create.

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Free, downloadable coffee filter poppy pattern for flower art and crafts.

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Download this free printable for the coffee filter poppy art:

Coffee Filter Poppy PatternDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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Variation Of This Remembrance Day Craft

Instead of using coffee filters, have your little charges color a paper plate with felt pens. The plates can be precut in a poppy shape. The downloadable pattern below may be helpful.

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Free, downloadable paper plate poppy pattern for flower art and crafts.

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Paper Plate Poppy PatternDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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When coloring, the poppy centers can be drawn with a felt pen or filled in with a grey, black or green crayon.

Have little learners spray their design with water afterward. Or invite them to paint over the felt pen colors with water. This will create a watercolor effect without needing to use paints!

This paper plate version dries fast. The curved edges of the decorated plates add a 3D element to the project.

For a finishing touch, early learners can glue a large button to the middle. Or they can add a paper circle.

A paint-over-felt pen technique adds a watercolor effect to this paper plate poppy.

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Use this pattern for leaves and flower centers: