Kid Crafts // Make a Pencil Flower Bouquet

The end of the school year always catches me so off-guard. We're busy wrapping up our homeschool, getting ready for evaluations, and prepping to file our paperwork for the next school year. So of course that means that a few days before the end of our co-op I realized that my kids didn't have anything to give their teachers as a thank-you. I wanted to give something practical, and something that the kids could help make.

SUPPLIES.

scrapbook paper
wired floral leaves
unsharpened pencils
scissors
standard hole punch
hot glue gun 

For the leaf, wind the stem of the leaf around the top of the pencil near the eraser. Apply some hot glue to keep the leaf from slipping.

We kept it very simple when it came to flower shapes. I drew outlines on the back of the scrapbook paper, and the kids worked on cutting them out. For each flower we used three layers of paper to give the flower just a little bit of dimension.

 

Use the hole punch to put a hole in the middle of your flower shape (I found that a standard hole punch was just about the right size). Carefully work the layers of petals over the pencil eraser. I put a spot of glue between the bottom and middle layer of the flower to keep it in place and looking nice. 

And there you have it! Make as many as you like (or as many as your kids are willing to cut out). You may want to bend the paper for dimension depending on what shape(s) you choose to make the flowers.

Some fun ways to jazz up your bouquet:

* put them in a pencil holder 
* put them in a mason jar
* add mini erasers (if using a clear jar) to the bottom in fun shapes and sizes
* tie with pretty ribbon

Quick (and easy!) Paper Art Project for Toddlers.

My kids often ask to do craft or art projects, and while some things are pretty manageable I do get rather overwhelmed with large messy projects in our tiny space. One solution I came up with was to cut out a variety of shapes freehand from those pesky bits and pieces of construction paper that sit around the craft bin with little purpose, and let my younger ones paste them onto a sheet of paper. 

 This is a great craft for toddlers who can handle a glue stick, but even my 6-year-old daughter wants in on the action when I bust out the baggie of paper shapes. All you need for your own paper shape art is a sheet of any type of paper, colored construction paper, scissors (to cut out shapes), and a glue stick! I put any unused shapes into a zip-top bag for next time.

I encourage my older daughter to try and make pictures using the shapes. While my younger daughter sometimes makes pictures, mostly she just has a ball using the glue stick and covering her page with pretty shapes to her heart's content. 

This project can easily be used as a learning exercise for children to learn about different shapes and their names; or if your child needs practice with cutting along lines, go ahead and trace the shapes for them to cut out themselves.

Ladybug Card Tutorial 2 Ways // Valentine's Day Kid Craft

Truth be told, I've never really celebrated Valentine's Day. (Before we became parents we used it purely as an excuse to eat good food.) Some of our close friends enjoy celebrating the holiday though, so we're finally getting into the habit of making Valentine's Day cards with the kids! This year the girls and I made ladybug cards.

SUPPLIES:

- construction paper in pink, red, and black
- coffee can or something to trace circles with (we used a toy drum)
- pencil and black pen or marker
- scissors
- small hole punch
- brads
- glue stick

1. Use the coffee can or circle template to cut out one pink and one red circle. 

2. Also trace and cut 1/4 of a circle out of red paper for the ladybug's face. Paste it onto one side of the pink circle to make the face. Draw eyes, and maybe even a smile, on it!

3. Cut the red circle in half to make the wings.

4. Cut out a variety of small black circles for the ladybug's wings, and glue them onto each wing.

5. Line the wings up on top of the ladybug with them slightly overlapping on the side opposite the face. Use the hole punch to punch a hole through the two layers of wings and the body at the point where the wings overlap. 

6. Put a brad through the hole.

7. Open the wings and write a message to your valentine on the pink ladybug.

VARIATION

1. Use your circle template to cut out one pink circle and one red circle.

2. Cut about 1/4 off one end of the red circle, and glue it to one end of the pink circle to make the face. Draw eyes!

3. Cut the remainder of the red circle in half to make the wings. 

4. Cut out a variety of small black circles, and paste them to the wings. 

5. Position the wings on the ladybug, slightly overlapping at the point right behind the face. Use the hole punch to punch a hole through both layers of the wings where they overlap and also through the body. 

6. Put a brad through the hole. 

7. Open the wings and write a note to your valentine on the pink ladybug!    

Hand Stitched Card Tutorial

My husband and I share a birthday. Most years that means he comes home to no home-cooked meal and no cake. You'd think that after 10 years of marriage I'd forget just a little that it's my birthday too, and remember just a little bit more that it's his. I did a better this year, and when he came home from work at bedtime (his work schedule is odd) there was actually dinner, a cake, and a handmade card. Considering that I'm on the mend from a viral cold I was pretty darn proud of myself! Sad, I know. We've just never made much of our birthday (partially I think it's because February is so close to Christmas), but we need to work on that for next year. 

When I decided last minute to make him a card I of course dove right into my felt stash! This project is great for using some of those scraps. Because I had a limited time to complete the card the lettering is a bit crooked. I'll definitely remember to use a ruler the next time before it's too late!

SUPPLIES

cardstock
felt scraps
scissors
embroidery floss
embroidery needle
ruler
pen or pencil
wax paper or parchmet paper
cutting mat (optional)
rotary cutter (optional) 

     

1. Begin by cutting down the card stock to 5 x 7 inches or the desired size.

2. Cut heart shapes out of the felt scraps and arrange on the card in a pleasing pattern. 

3. Remove all but the center heart from the card, carefully keeping them in the same pattern you want on the card (for reference). 

4. Stitch the hearts one by one onto the card. Play around with your stitching style for some variety! NOTE: be careful not to bend or crease the card while you work.

5. Place a piece of wax paper over top of the card in the area where you want the lettering. Apply gentle pressure as you write the phrase you would like on the card. This will give you a guideline to follow. NOTE: now is a great time to grab the ruler. I noticed my lettering was crooked right away, but I was already committed. 

6. Use the needle to gently punch evenly-spaced holes along the lines of your letters. You'll want to do this since half of the time you'll be coming up through the back of the card, and once you punch that hole through the paper you can't un-punch it.

7. Follow the holes to stitch your message using 2 strands of embroidery floss.

8. Feel free to stitch a border around your card or just add a little something to the corners!

Handmade cards are a great way to remind someone that you love them, encourage them to get well soon, or just because! To make this card more sturdy try gluing a piece of cardboard to the back or placing it in a display frame.