Putting The Pretty In Preschool

Finding Beauty In Everyday Early Childhood Experiences

gifts

Mother’s Day Floral Craft

by Leave a Comment

Themed scrapbook paper and punches are often my “go-to” for an early learner Mother’s Day floral papercraft with a WOW factor. Mint-themed supplies take center stage in this timely crafting project.

Mother's Day keepsake craft featuring mint themed punched paper shapes. An all-ages project bound to make any mother or grandmother feel special.

_______

Mother’s Day is an annual holiday held on the second Sunday in May in Canada and the United States. It is a time to make mothers and grandmothers feel special and appreciate their positive impact on families and society. This minty floral craft can be saved for when it is Mother’s Day where you live or can be given as a keepsake anytime.

_______

Mother’s Day Floral Papercraft Preparation

Gather together:

  • 12-inch x 12-inch mint-themed cardstock paper
  • 10-inch white doily
  • felt pen
  • glue stick or glue tape
  • flower, heart, and butterfly paper punches
  • mint-hued cardstock in complementary colors
  • accent cardstock paper
  • sticker jewels or pearls
  • tiny bag
  • mint candies
Mother's Day Craft supplies.

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more ideas.

_______

Making The Mother’s Day Papercraft

Paper punch flowers, butterflies, and hearts from mint-themed cardstock. Patterned papers and complementary colors add a nice dose of contrast.

Add sticker gems or pearls to the flowers and butterflies.

Write the words: “Mom – You were mint for me.” on the middle of the doily.

Glue the doily on the center of the 12-inch x 12-inch cardstock paper.

_______

Mother's Day craft featuring mint themed punched paper shapes.

_______

Invite your early learner to use a glue stick to add hearts, butterflies, and flowers to the edge of the doily. Offering nine shapes works well, as it allows the doily edge to shine too.

Note: This project can be adjusted for a grandmother by writing the words “Grandma – You were mint for me.” on the doily.

Attach a pouch with mints and the craft is ready to make a mother or grandmother feel special.

Mother's Day keepsake craft featuring mint themed punched paper shapes. An all-ages project bound to make any mother or grandmother feel special.

_______

The minty floral theme also shines in a paper plate wreath.

_______

_______

To introduce a simple version of the craft, download this template for little learners to decorate. Paper shapes could be glued to the rim of the white circle or anywhere on the page. A bow and packet of after-dinner mints work with the printable too.

Mint-themed template to decorate for a Mother's day craft. A perfect printable for little learners to embellish and give to their moms. A packet of after-dinner mints would be the perfect finishing touch.

_______

Mint Mother’s Day TemplateDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

_______

[Read more…] about Mother’s Day Floral Craft

Painting With Chocolate

by Leave a Comment

You read it correctly: this blog post is about painting with chocolate. It’s easy, it’s fun, and your workspace will smell divine. The activities featured have a process art focus. A few embellishments will make the art display worthy or ready to give away.

Fingerpainting, ice cube painting, and brush painting with chocolate. The process art hearts can be turned into valentines to give away. Art and Science activities for all ages.

_______

Supplies To Collect

  • hot chocolate powder
  • cocoa powder
  • chocolate sprinkles
  • bowls and spoons
  • sturdy white paper
  • waterproof felt pen
  • ice cubes
  • tray for ice cubes
  • paintbrush
  • container of water
  • doily heart
  • decorative 12-inch x 12-inch cardstock
  • ribbon
  • plastic (or real) rose
  • small plastic pouch
  • chocolates

_______

Activity One: Painting With Chocolate And Ice Cubes

Freeze different sizes of ice cubes.

Cut a piece of sturdy paper into a large heart shape. Optional: Write the words “You and Me + Chocolate” on the heart with a waterproof felt pen.

Scoop hot chocolate powder and cocoa into bowls. Add spoons.

Set out a tray of slightly melted, very wet ice cubes along with the paper heart and bowls of chocolate ingredients.

Invitation to paint with ice cubes, cocoa, chocolate powder, and chocolate sprinkles. An all-ages art and science activity.

_______

Start the activity off by saying that the powders are “mystery paints.” Ask your child to guess what the paints might be. Smelling the powders will give the answer away pretty quickly.

Invite your child to scatter hot chocolate powder and cocoa on the heart-shaped paper. (Chocolate sprinkles can be added later.)

Painting activity using ice cubes to swish around cocoa, hot chocolate powder, and chocolate sprinkles.

_______

Cocoa and hot chocolate added to a heart shape. Ice cubes can be used to swish the powders around.

_______

Ask your child to swish the powders around the heart with ice cubes, which will make spreadable chocolaty paint.

Offer a paper towel to dab on wet spots if desired. The pattern on the paper towel will add texture to the heart painting.

_______

Heart painting made by swishing ice cubes through cocoa and hot chocolate powder.

_______

Optional: Near the end, your child can add chocolate sprinkles to the heart. This will lead to a discovery that they make it harder to move the ice cubes around.

_______

Activity Two: Brush Painting With Chocolate

Painting with cocoa and hot chocolate powder. The powders are moved around with a paintbrush dipped in water.

_______

Brush painting is a less messy option if there isn’t much time for cleanup.

Invite your child to scatter hot chocolate and cocoa on a paper heart.

Offer a container of water and a paintbrush. Encourage your child to add water to the dry ingredients and paint the heart.

A paper towel can be used to soak up excess liquid.

Gorgeous chocolate heart paintings made with water and hot chocolate and cocoa.
Swoon-worthy hearts painted by preschoolers.

_______

Activity Three: Fingerpainting With Chocolate

The ice cube painting project and brush painting activity can both be turned into fingerpainting experiences. Mixing a higher concentration of cocoa and a little less water results in a fingerpaint-friendly paste that is luscious to spread around. Chocolate sprinkles can be added to enhance the sensory experience.

Fingerpainting with water added to hot chocolate powder and cocoa. Chocolate sprinkles can be included in the mix.

_______

Painted Heart Valentine

Adding a few embellishments will turn a chocolaty heart into a valentine to give away or art piece for display.

The brush-painted version is my favorite for turning into a keepsake. Any extra dry powder can be scraped off with a kitchen scrubber before the heart is added to a craft valentine.

Write the words: You And Me + Chocolate on a doily heart.

Use a glue gun to attach the doily to the painted heart.

Mount the heart on a 12-inch x 12-inch piece of decorative paper.

Add a bow and a real or crafted rose.

Chocolate heart painting added to a valentine to give away.

_______

Or add a bow and small pouch with chocolates.

Chocolate heart painting added to a valentine to give away.

_______

Art, Science, and sensory learning come together in these easy-to-do painting with chocolate activities. Your early learner will certainly be excited to try them.

_______

[Read more…] about Painting With Chocolate

Handprint Angel Christmas Keepsake

by Leave a Comment

Handprint Angel Christmas craft with silver metallic leaf wings. An easy to make keepsake craft that all children can do.

_______

There are so many adorable handprint crafts, and the choices for Christmas are incredible. One of my favorites is a handprint angel. It is a cute craft that doubles as an adorable keepsake. It is also a piece of cake to make and can be whipped up at the last minute.

_______

Supplies To Collect

  • white tempera paint
  • pie plate or small tray
  • grey fade-resistant cardstock
  • cream colored fade-resistant cardstock
  • grey-based patterned 8 ½ x 11-inch cardstock
  • stem with silver metallic leaves
  • circle tracer (juice lid size)
  • pencil
  • children’s scissors
  • craft scissors
  • glue stick
  • glue gun
  • silver glitter

_______

Making The Handprint Angel

This craft can be done independently by older children, or as an adult-child collaborative project with preschoolers.

Cut individual metallic leaves from the leaf stem with a pair of craft scissors.

A metallic silver leaf stem.

_______

Silver metallic leaves cut from a stem.

_______

Have your child make a handprint with white paint on grey cardstock.

Invitation to make a handprint with white paint on grey paper.

_______

When dry, cut out the handprint or have your child do so.

Invite your child to trace a circle onto cream-colored cardstock and cut it out.

Invitation to trace and cut a circle for the face of a handprint angel.

_______

Ask your child to draw a face on the circle with a pencil.

Help your child glue the handprint, face, and metallic leaf wings onto grey-based patterned cardstock to create an angel. Use a glue gun to help secure the wings.

_______

Have your child make an oval swirl on top of the angel’s head for a halo.

Invitation to swirl an oval shape above the angel's head with a glue stick for a halo.

_______

Invite your child to shake silver glitter over the glue swirl.

Invitation to add a silver glitter halo to a handprint angel.

_______

Handprint Angel Holiday Greeting

If you like, a favorite holiday greeting can be added to the craft for a finishing touch.

Handprint angel craft with the caption "Merry Christmas." An easy to make keepsake all children can create.

_______

Feel free to download this printable and use one of the holiday greetings for your craft.

Printable with the seasonal greetings "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays." This printable coordinates with the Handprint Angel Christmas keepsake.

______

Holiday Greeting PrintableDownload

_______

A handprint angel craft with the caption "Merry Christmas." An easy to make keepsake all children can create.

_______

This handprint angel picture is made in white, cream, silver, and grey tones. The inspiration was a stem of metallic silver leaves found at a local dollar store. Traditional Christmas colors or your favorite color scheme would work wonderfully for this keepsake.

Handprint angel craft with the caption "Merry Christmas." An easy to make keepsake all children can create.

_______

For an exquisite Seashell Angel Christmas Ornament craft, view the tutorial at hellowonderful.co.

_______

[Read more…] about Handprint Angel Christmas Keepsake

Mother’s Day Crafts And Gifts

by Leave a Comment

Mother's Day paper crafts with jewelry and decorative key chain accents. Art ideas all children can do.

_______

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and every mom deserves to be treated special.  Here is an easy Mother’s Day craft that is bound to hit the mark. A key chain or brooch makes a lovely addition as a gift.

_______

Supplies used:

  • flower and butterfly paper punches
  • craft paper with cream, gold, and silver tones
  • gold and silver metallic bead stickers
  • white pearl and silver jewel stickers
  • butterfly adhesive shapes
  • template with the word MOM
  • decorative silver key chains
  • glue stick

_______

Follow me on Pinterest for more ideas.

_______

Making The Mother’s Day Craft

Create a template with the word MOM on it or download one of my templates. 

Decorate the word "mom" with gorgeous paper butterflies and flowers. This craft is suitable for all ages and works great for Mother's Day or word review.

_______

Mothers-Day-TemplateDownload

This template is for personal or one classroom use only.

_______

Paper punch small flowers and butterflies from patterned paper with complementary tones.

Add on sticker beads.

_______

Have children use a glue stick to attach butterflies and flowers, or just butterflies to the lines of the letters that spell the word “mom.”

Add a brooch or key chain gift to the finished picture.

Mother's Day collage craft with flowers and butterflies glued on to the word 'Mom.' A starfish keychain is fastened on as a gift. This craft is suitable for all ages.

_______

Metallic sticker beads are the inspiration for this color scheme.  I was thrilled to find a scrapbook pad called “Bless Our Home” with paper sheets in patterns of gold, silver, grey, and cream.  The paper theme is perfect for a Mother’s Day craft, and the colors and patterns complement the shiny gold and silver beads.

Mother's Day paper collage craft with butterflies glued on to the word "mom." A silver flower brooch is added on as a gift. This craft is suitable for all ages.

_______

Leftover paper flowers and butterflies can be used as table scatter for a Mother’s Day Tea.

Tan denim cloth flowers and butterfly and flower table scatter.
Table Scatter And Tan Denim Cloth Flowers

_______

Other Decorating Ideas

Invite children to decorate the word “mom” with sticker pearls and jewels.  This craft is simpler but just as beautiful.  A sea turtle key chain is added to the picture below.

Mother's Day craft with sticker pearls and silver jewels added on the word 'mom.' A sea turtle key chain is added on as a gift. This craft is suitable for all ages.

_______

Or have children decorate the word “mom” with jewel and butterfly stickers.  A fish key chain is a finishing touch.

_______

A sparkly flower brooch compliments the picture below.

_______

A glitzy shoe key chain enhances this craft.

A pretty key chain gift fastened to the word "mom" in a Mother's Day paper collage craft. This art activity is suitable for all ages.

_______

Download a template that is easy for little learners to read and decorate here.

"Beautiful mom" printable for little learners to decorate with sticker beads and gems. The easy-to-read letters promote word recognition skills. A craft perfect for Mother's Day.
Beautiful Mom TemplateDownload

This template is for personal or one classroom use only.

_______

A Handmade Key Chain Option

Michelle (craftymorning.com) features Handprint Shrinky Dink Keychains that would go along well with a rainbow-colored version of this craft.

_______

Which of the above designs is your favorite?

What color schemes are inspiring you right now? Leave a comment below.

_______

Try this beautiful Mother's Day papercraft with a choice of jewelry or decorative key chain accents. A keepsake that all children can make.

_______

[Read more…] about Mother’s Day Crafts And Gifts