Paper plate Fishy!

There are so many uses for paper plates!
Here is another one...............

Cut a fish shape out of the paper plate, usually only needs two cuts on either side to create shape.
And then collage with any colourful collage materials you can find, draw or stick on an eye and pop a hole in the top and tie a piece of string on it to hang!
Patty cake papers look good on the fish to decorate as they tend to look like scales.
V

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree!

This fantastic creation was made by my best friend,(A).
It is a Christmas pinata.


(A) created it by making a frame out of card board and then covering with paper mache; a glue newspaper mix .

Then once dry she decorated with crepe paper that she fringed, cardboard glitter baubles and tinsel.

(A) suggests that you make sure before decorating that you make a flap to fill your pinata with goodies and also remember to pop holes in the top so that you can add string to hang.

If you dont have time to create this tree, a balloon covered with paper mache can easily become a beautiful bauble pinata, paint and cover in sparkles!

V

Making Tracks with little ones

Here is an activity for any age, I think including 9month olds.

All you do is get some little cars and a tray of paint.
Dip the wheels of the vehicle into the paint and let the children drive the vehicles onto any type of paper.

The picture I have, was done in green and red paint for Christmas.
I thought it could be then used as wrapping paper or done on gift bags or even material!

This activity encourages hand eye co ordination, social skills, fine motor and even gross motor development.

Have a go, its really simple!
V

Christmas is nearly upon us!

Well I don't know about anyone else but I am a little panicked by the thought that christmas is getting closer and closer!!!

And my list of ' to do before Christmas' does not seem to be getting any shorter.
Thus I have to send Christmas cards, Create a few presents, pack , post many more Christmas craft ideas that are backing up, and many other miscellaneous jobs, including helping my husband on his merry way to demolishing our front and back yards!!!!!!
And tending to two little people under 5.

But never the less I do love this time of year!!!!
And hopefully within the next few days all will be on track and I will be able to sit back and enjoy that Festive feeling!!!!
V

Bells are a ringing!!!!!

A simple bell shaped collage

'Cut the shape of a bell or a tree or anything festive out of cardboard.

Use PVA glue (can add acrylic paint to pva to add colour) to stick collage materials to bell.

I used glitter, sparkles, and gold bow pasta ( pasta spray painted with aerosol can) (dries immediatly)

Pop a hole in the top of the bell to thread ribbon through to hang. Remember you can never have too much glitter!!!!!

This activity encourages; fine motor, social skills, emotional development and creative development.
V

Bag it!!!!!

Paper Bag stamping and Collage

We stamped paper bags today with foam Christmas stamps and acrylic paint. After the paint had dried we added sequins and stars and other pretties with PVA Glue.

These are great artworks but also have another purpose as a gift bag.
If you don't have access to foam stamps you can use kitchen sponge cut into Christmas shapes, star, tree etc!
You don't have to be a great artist, just draw your stencil up on a piece of cardboard, but only draw half a tree and fold cardboard in half, then cut it out, this way your tree or star .etc is even!!!
Or you could cut potatoes/apples into shapes to stamp with.
Children could paint pictures on the bags or use felt pens, or do hand prints!
The ideas are endless!!
The main objective being that the children have fun creating!!!!
V

Christmas Baubles!!!!!

This is such an easy activity to do!!!!
Buy some cheap Christmas baubles and set up a table with glue and pretties and stick them over the Bauble!!!!! As simple as that !!!

Some tips!!!! I used two tone baubles ( bought from a cheap shop, nothing expensive)
To decorate I used sequins, sequin stars & glitter, I placed all the materials into bowls, so the children could just dip their gluey bauble straight into the pretties!! (little kid friendly activity)

For little fingers I used mini shaving brushes, this made it easier for the children to apply the glue.
You could also sit the bauble into an egg carton to hold it, while decorating it.

Extra Ideas
You could use masking tape to keep an area free of glue so that when it dries you could peel off tape and puffy paint an initial or name on the bauble.
Even initials in metallic marker would work!
Or thread satin ribbon through the bauble hole to hang from the tree etc. rather than the little piece of thread they come with.

Or thread them all onto a long piece of ribbon and string in a doorway!
This activity encourages, fine motor, gross motor, creative and social development.
This experience is for all ages, changing the materials offered, depending on age of the little people!!
I am feeling Festive, are you????????????
V