snowflakes

Spray Paint Snowflake Silhouette

February 18, 2023 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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If you are looking for an exciting and easy outdoor winter art activity, this spray paint snowflake silhouette project is a great choice.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies to Collect

An invitation to create a spray paint snowflake silhouette outdoors. A quick and easy transient art activity with stunning results.

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On a day when there is fresh snow on the ground outdoors, gather the following supplies:

spray bottles
red, blue, green, and yellow food colors
large snowflake decoration
small towel
tray

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The Spray Paint Snowflake Silhouette Activity

A beautiful blue background snowflake silhouette created with a spray paint technique. A quick and easy ourdoor transient art activity.

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This painting activity works best when there is a fresh layer of snow on the ground.

To do the art activity, fill spray bottles used only for craft activities at least half full of water. Then add a few drops of food color in each one, and mix it in. I use red, blue, green, and yellow food coloring.

Next, select a large snowflake decoration. I feature an economical 12-inch plastic one purchased at a dollar store.

Afterward, place the colored water-filled spray bottles, the snowflake decoration, and a small towel on a tray.

Then invite participants outside and take the tray of supplies with you.

Gather around a smooth patch of snow that no one has stepped over and gently place the snowflake decoration down.

Have everyone take turns spraying food color paint around the edges of the snowflake.

Afterward, gently lift the decoration off of the snow and admire the beautiful white snowflake silhouette.

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Wipe the decoration down with a towel and lay it down on another spot. Spray-paint the snow around it again. Drying the snowflake template is a tip I learned after trying this red background silhouette. There are a few drops of other colors on the red-framed flake as the decoration was used in the previous snowflake design.

A beautiful red background snowflake silhouette created with a spray paint technique. A quick and easy ourdoor transient art activity.

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If you have enough snowflake decorations and spray paint bottles, invite participants to spray paint their own snowflake silhouette.

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Spray Paint Snowflake Silhouette Benefits

In this snowflake painting activity, squirting a spray bottle develops finger muscles. And participants get the opportunity to create beautiful transient art outdoors during the winter season working cooperatively or on their own.

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Spray Painting Snow Indoors

An invitation to spray paint snow indoors. This is a super fun winter transient art invitation.

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Originally, I hoped to offer this spray paint snowflake silhouette activity indoors. I filled a round tub with snow and got the colored water spray paints ready. But the snow was too sticky and hard, and I couldn’t achieve a smooth snow surface to lay the snowflake decoration down on. But even without a snowflake decoration, the snow is enjoyable to spray paint indoors.

Take snow indoors and invite early learners to spray paint it with food coloring paint. A quick and easy sensory activity.

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Fun Facts About Snow

Snow is composed of many snowflakes. Tiny ice crystals clump together to make each snowflake.

The light reflecting off snow makes it appear white.

In cold weather, snow is powdery, while in warm weather it is sticky.

New snow absorbs sound waves, resulting in a quiet atmosphere.

Snow creates a wonderful playground for activities such as making snowballs, snow angels, snow forts, and snowmen.

Snow contains 95 % trapped air, and is a great insulator for animals who burrow under it.

When snow melts, it makes 1/10^th the amount of water.

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A spray paint snowflake silhouette created outdoors. A quick and easy transient art activity with stunning results.

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Related: Painting Ice And Snow

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Kids’ Winter Wonderland Tablescape

January 25, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Catching fluttery snowflakes on mittens, building a humungous snowman, and having a splattering snowball fight are all activities little learners gleefully participate in outside. This inviting kids’ winter wonderland tablescape takes snowflake, snowmen, and snowball activities indoors for further snow-themed exploration.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Kids’ Winter Wonderland Tablescape Supplies

Let your little learners explore a sparkly Winter Wonderland tablescape with snowmen, snowflake, and snowball accessories.

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For this cozy pretend play setup, I feature snowmen, snowball, and snowflake accessories from the supplies I have available. Craft bits and other loose parts feature prominently in the resulting collection.

Items in the winter tablescape:

snowman-themed tablecloth, dinner plates, cups, baking dish, oven mitts, cookie tin, and bottle
snowflake erasers
foam snowflakes
snowflakes cut from garland
blue and clear gem snowflakes
snowflake serving utensils, cupcake liners, and tin
large and small styrofoam balls
round winter-themed gems
cookie sheet
muffin tin
plastic forks and spoons
play food buns
Winter Wonderland sign

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Setting Up The Tablescape

Changing up the decor in our play kitchen is one of my favorite things to do. And little learners always eagerly dive into each new setup.

When it's cold and chilly outside little learners can explore snowmen, snowflakes, and snowballs indoors in a Winter Wonderland play tablescape.

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For this kids’ winter wonderland tablescape, a fabric snowman-themed tablecloth is a base.

The buns are the only real play food on the table.

A variety of loose parts add a dose of glam, and little learners can imagine them to be any number of foods. For instance, the foam snowflakes make good cookies to bake in the play oven. The large foam craft balls can be reimagined as snowball cookies.

A sparkly, kids' Winter Wonderland play tablescape with snowman, snowflake, and snowball decor for little learners to explore.

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And the smaller loose parts displayed in the snowman baking tin and scattered around the table could be candy.

A sparkly, kids' Winter Wonderland pretend play setup with snowman, snowflake, and snowball play kitchen decor for little learners to explore.

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A polar animal theme would work fabulously for winter pretend play too. Here’s a super fun penguin-themed tablescape by birdsparty.com.

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Winter Playdough Recipe

January 10, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

A soft, easy-to-make winter-themed playdough recipe perfect for little hands to explore.

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We’ve been enveloped in a deep freeze the last few weeks, so playing “winter” indoors makes much more sense. We’re leaving the real snow outside for now, and engaging with fake snow alternatives. And making and playing with this winter playdough recipe is on our agenda. The recipe is easy to make and is super moldable.

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Winter Playdough Recipe

A winter-themed playdough recipe early learners will love.

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2 cups flour
1 cup salt
4 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 cups water
1 1/2 tablespoons oil
mixed set of edible candy sprinkles

Add the first three ingredients to a sturdy pot and mix them together.

Stir one tablespoon oil into two cups of water.

Add the water and oil to the dry ingredients and combine.

Heat on the stove on medium heat.

Stirring frequently, cook until the mixture is no longer glossy and the dough forms a ball.

Scoop the dough onto a cutting board.

Knead when cool, adding in 1/2 tablespoon more oil.

The edible candy sprinkles can be kneaded in before the playdough is set out for little learners to use. Or children can knead in the sprinkles themselves. They add texture and instant color to the dough.

These sweet decorations come in a variety of shapes. A blog post titled: Sprinkles 101: Know Your Sprinkles by Sarah’s Bake Studio provides helpful information about different types.

A fun winter playdough recipe little learners will love to play with.

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Playdough Activities

Little learners can mold shapes from the dough, and use additional candy sprinkles for ornamentation. For instance, candy pearls make great snowman eyes, noses, and buttons.

Of course, rolling pins, snowflake and snowmen cookie cutters, and loose parts in cool winter hues can be offered with the playdough.

Tips:

Keep a broom and dustpan handy to sweep up escapee sprinkles.
Make sure the candy decorations you choose to use are safe to eat.
Use an edible playdough recipe if your little charges insist on tasting the candy sprinkle playdough.

A soft, easy-to-make winter-themed playdough.

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Next week the weather in our area will be much warmer. My preschoolers will be excited to play in real snow outdoors and explore snow and ice in our active world tray. Stay tuned for activity ideas with snow.

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CD Case Christmas Craft

December 24, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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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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Winter Sensory Trays

January 10, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Snowflake confetti makes an eye-catching base for three simple winter sensory trays. Combined with a few accessories, it sets the stage for sparkly sensory play experiences your little learners will delight in.

The find: shiny snowflake and dot confetti in a blue, silver, and white color scheme.

Basic Winter Sensory Tray

Supplies to collect:

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snowflake confetti
turquoise gems
silver and white bead garland strips
large silver snowflakes
star cups
clear spoons

Set in a tray, these pieces make the perfect hands-on sensory activity for your little ones to celebrate winter with.

Snowflake studded winter sensory tray filled with shiny pieces.

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Shiny pieces rule in this snowflake confetti based winter sensory tray.

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Polar Sensory Tray

In this tray, the star cups and spoons are replaced with cube-shaped “ice cube” acrylic gems and an ice floe cut from styrofoam. Polar bear figurines are set on and around the ice floe.

Polar bear winter sensory tray with a snowflake confetti base and shiny loose parts.

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Polar sensory tray with a snowflake confetti base and shiny loose parts.

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Polar animal-themed loose parts tray. — **Polar Sensory Tray Loose Parts**

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Penguin Sensory Tray

The bears are out and penguins are in! Styrofoam packing chips are added to the mix. The penguins are propped on the ice floe and ice chunks, or swimming in the water. Cotton balls would also be a good fit for this tray.

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Penguin sensory tray with a winter-themed loose parts in a snowflake confetti base.

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