Make and Takes » Kids Crafts

Weekend Make and Takes: Leaves

Marie — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:46:30 +0000

When it’s time to get out the rake, it’s time to start crafting with fallen leaves. Here’s a few projects that will keep you busy this weekend as you work in the yard!

Crunchy Leaf Pictures by Make and Takes (pictured above)
Autumn Leafy Wreath by Sweet Life in the Valley
Leafy Turkeys by Impress Your Kids
Leaf Printings by Martha Stewart
ABC’s with Leaves by Maya Made
Why Do Leaves Change Color? by Playful Learning

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Fun with Chalk Pastels

Heather — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:46:43 +0000

When I was a kid, one of my favorite activities at Grandma’s house was playing with her chalk pastels. They were like chalk, but more intense in color, a more serious art supply than we were accustomed to. She taught us a technique that amused us for hours every time we visited. Kids of any age can play with chalk pastels, but mid-grade school-aged kids will probably have the most fun with this technique.

Chalk pastels come in sticks and are commonly sold in the art supply section of big-box stores or craft stores. They range in price, but if you visit your local big-box store, you should be able to pick up a box of 12 for about $5. Be careful at the art or craft store, though, because they have boxes of chalk pastels that cost $50 or more! Also, don’t mistake oil pastels for chalk pastels. They won’t work for this particular project. You can probably substitute regular colored chalkboard or sidewalk chalk for this project in a pinch, but the colors won’t be nearly as dark because those types of chalks don’t have as much pigment in them.

Also worth noting: chalk pastels are pretty messy (but tons of fun)! Cover your work surface with newspaper if you value your table, and wash hands promptly after this activity!

Supplies:

Paper
Chalk pastels
Tissue paper or paper towel

Technique:

You can use any type or size of paper. Older kids might get a kick out of using larger newsprint-type paper to make an oversized piece of artwork.

1. Tear first piece of paper across long side, varying the rip (so it’s not straight across).

2. Place torn piece of paper over a full sheet of paper, and draw a chalk line near the ripped edge.

3. Gently sweep your tissue paper over the chalk, across the rip, and onto the full sheet of paper.

When you pull the torn piece of paper away, you’ll have a delicate line of color, kind of an airbrushed effect.

Repeat the process with different colors, and using the opposite side of the paper, until you have a “landscape.” My sister and I spent endless hours creating art this way when we were kids, and we LOVED it.

To fix the chalk on these pictures, spray lightly with aerosol hairspray or clear spray paint.

When your child’s masterpieces are done, frame them in dollar store frames and hang them in her room, or cut them up into pieces and glue to cardstock to make cards (a set of four or six would be a great handmade gift for Grandma).

Heather Mann is a regular contributor at Make and Takes. She’s is the mother of two boys under age 3, and another boy on the way. She publishes Dollar Store Crafts, a daily blog devoted to hip crafting at dollar store prices, CROQ Zine, a print magazine devoted to hip crafting, and also CraftFail, a community blog that encourages crafters to share their not-so-successful craft attempts.

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Thanksgiving Crafts from the Past

Marie — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 10:00:49 +0000

Here’s a few fun Thanksgiving crafts we’ve done in the past. What fun turkey decorations are gobbling up your house this Thanksgiving holiday?

Turkey Feather Countdown

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Rice Crispie Turkey Treats

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Tasty Turkey Table Favors

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Thankful Feather Centerpiece

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Singing Turkey Dinner (click for words)

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Crafty Grover Hand Puppet

Marie — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:00:39 +0000

With the Sesame Street celebrating it’s 40th Anniversary, I’ve crafted this fun hand puppet into my favorite Sesame Street Monster: Grover. He’s just so silly and crazy, and isn’t afraid to be himself. He’s a waiter by day and “Super Grover” by night! And one of my favorite children’s books is The Monster at the End of This Book starring the lovable furry old Grover!

Supplies for Monster Hand Puppet:

bright blue felt or fleece (these are good fabrics to use as the edges don’t fray)
pink pom pom
2 googley eyes
red felt or fleece
glue – hot glue is what I used, but you could use a craft glue or even use a sewing machine
scissors
white pencil or black marker

With your white pencil, trace out the shape of your puppet. I just drew mine by hand, but here’s a pattern I found that’s similar you can print and copy: Hand Puppet Pattern. I folded my blue fleece in half when I cut it out, so both halves look the same. Then I placed the first cut piece on top of the second piece and cut it out.

Glue your two pieces of blue cut fabric together, leaving the bottom open for the hand to slip through. I used hot glue, but you could use a craft glue, you would just need to give it time to dry. Or you could even get out the needle and thread and sew Grover up.

Once the body is glued together and dry, you need to glue on Grover’s face. I used 2 googley eyes, a large pink pom pom nose, and a piece of red scrap felt for his mouth.

He’s ready for a hand to hold him up and wave him around. We’re shouting, “Super Grover” in his whiny up and down voice! Maybe I need to make him a little red cape and a helmet too! (This puppet could easily be crafted in Elmo too, red fabric with an orange pom pom nose!)

Happy Anniversary Sesame Street! We love you, Grover!

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Light Up the Halloween Night

Marie — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 18:18:12 +0000

I’m contributing over at Craftzine today with a fun crafty project for lighting up Halloween night. These Paper Bag Luminaries lead the path to some scary tricks and yummy treats!

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Monsters, Monsters, Everywhere

Marie — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:12:03 +0000

We’re excited to go see the new movie, Where the Wild Things Are, so we’ve got monsters on the brain. Along with my eBook, Monster Mania – Crafts for Little Monsters, we’re horn deep in crafts, but we can’t get enough! I’ve found a few other great monsterific links to help set the Halloween mood at your house!

Elmo Cupcakes by Hostess with the Mostess (pictured above)
Where the Wild Things Are craft round up from The Crafty Crow
Recycled Monster Mouth craft by Kaboose
Laundry Hamper Monster by Dollar Store Crafts
Elmo Monster Storytime by Make and Takes over at Simple Mom
Cute Monster Tote by Bloesem Kids

Monstrous SPECIAL: Get a 50% discount on my Monster Mania eBook until October 31st with the code: MonsterMania

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Past Halloween Crafts

Marie — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 09:51:37 +0000

Here’s a few of the Halloween crafts we’ve made in the past. What fun decorations are haunting your house this Halloween holiday?

Halloween Fabric Wrapped Letters

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Pumpkin Stitched Card

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Mini Witches Brooms

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Crafty Witch Hat

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Creeeeepy Candy Houses

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Spooky Spider Stitched Card

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Mod Podge “boo” Board

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Five Halloween Craft Ideas on Local TV

Marie — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 20:34:39 +0000

Today I had the chance to showcase five Spooktacular crafts from the Make and Takes files for Halloween on a local Utah morning show, KSL Studio 5. Check out these fun crafts you can do with your kids at home or at school.

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Painted Gift Wrap for the Holidays

Marie — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:21:52 +0000

Halloween is a fun time to give a ghostly gift with terrorific treats. We’re wrapping up this painted cellophane to give to some of our neighbors and friends, sharing some holiday fun.

Supplies for Painted Gift Wrap:

cellophane wrapping – cut into 24 inch square sheets
craft paint – halloween colors
paper plate
sponges, paint brushes
ribbon
treats

Lay out your cellophane sheet on the table. Apply a tablespoon or so of paint onto the paper plate. Using your sponge or paint brush, paint onto the cellophane. You can simply make fun circles with Halloween colors or do some Halloween designs. My daughter had fun just painting all over.

Here I made some fun Halloween shapes. I painted white ghosts with a black face and orange pumpkins with green stems and a few jack-o-lantern faces.

Allow these to dry, it shouldn’t take more than an hour if your paint isn’t too thick. Once the paint is dry, place some treats in the center of the cellophane (with the painted side out) and wrap it all up, attaching a ribbon to close up the top. Have fun painting and gift giving these for Halloween.

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15 Minute Distraction Technique!

Heather — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:08:43 +0000

Need a way to distract your child for 15 minutes? Let them color on your table with marker! Yes, you heard me right! If you have a glass or tile-topped table, that is! And if the markers are dry erase.

I gave my three year-old a couple of dry erase markers and an eraser (naturally! erasing is his favorite part) and he happily scribbled on our patio table for quite awhile. Naturally, I accompanied this activity with an explanation of “only with these markers, and only on this table.” You will use your best judgment of whether or not your child is ready for this activity or not! I know you don’t want permanent marker all over your furniture.

Dry erase marker wipes easily off glass and tile (not sure about grout, though, so if you have a tile table, test it out before you give your child free reign).

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