Popcorn Trees

 

To celebrate popcorn appreciation day, first paint it.  Then, after painting the popcorn, if it's not all eaten, popcorn can double as leaves for trees.

Paint on the ceiling creates a tree template and lets the kids glue the popcorn on the branches.

Good for ages 5 and up.

Get the instructions here:

http://paintontheceiling.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/popcorn-tree.html

Serving pink lemonade uses plain popcorn and a paper cut out for the tree trunk.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.serving-pink-lemonade.com/2009/04/popcorn-popping-on-apricot-tree.html

Squish ideas for preschool paints her tree trunk.

Get the instructions here:
http://squishideasforpreschool.blogspot.com/2012/02/march-ideas-color-green-trees-grass.html

 

Craft penguin paints her tree trunk as well.

Get the instructions here:

http://craftpenguin.com/crafts/spring-blossoms-popcorn-tree

Craft ideas for kids uses pasta for the tree trunk and branches.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftsideasforkids.com/easy-crafts-for-spring-make-3d-spring-tree.html

Mama musings sketches her trunk with colored pencils.

Get the instructions here:
http://momamusings.com/index.php/2012/05/spring-blossom-tree-art/

Happy hooligans makes a fall tree by coloring the popcorn with paint powder the kids create by shaking it up in plastic zipper bags.

Get the instructions here:
http://happyhooligans.ca/popcorn-trees/

Winnie the Pooh Play Date

Happy Winnie the Pooh Day -- author A.A. Milne's Birthday.  Celebrate his Birthday and Winnie with this fun play date, include kid's crafts, snack ideas, books and movies. 

Begin the day with paint, a paper plate, pom poms and pipe cleaners to make a cuddly looking pooh bear. 

Next, have a yummy snack of honeycomb cereal.  Mmm.  Honey.  Find the details on amy's party ideas.

Get the instructions here:
http://amyspartyideas.com/2011/08/winnie-the-pooh-the-100-acre-woods-real-parties/

Next, cut and fold this paper Winnie the Pooh cube.  Found on pinterest.

Next read one of the many Winnie the Pooh board or abridged books.  Your librarian can help you find some good ones.  Amazon also has a bunch to choose from.

Finally, end the day by viewing some of the Winnie the Pooh classic cartoons available on YouTube.

Glue Snowflake Window Clings

Wax paper and glue are all that's needed to make simple snowflake window clings.

All you need to do is just simply squish glue onto the wax paper in any pattern you like.  Make the pattern thick and big because as the glue dries it will be easier to remove from the wax paper.

After the glue dries simply remove the shapes from the wax paper and wet slightly with a damp cloth to make it stick in the window. The glue will not remove from the window easily.  You'll need to use cleaner to get it off.

Good for ages 3 and up.

Dragon Appreciation Play Date

Celebrate dragon appreciation day with this fun-filled day of crafts, snacks, books, games and movies.

An egg carton cut in half is painted and folded and turned into a dragon with paper forked tongues and googly eyes.  Happiness is homemade shares the details.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.happinessishomemade.net/2013/02/10/kids-craft-chinese-new-year-dragons/

Next, read this fun and silly book about a not so fierce dragon.  Check it out from the library or it's also available at Amazon.

Next, take a break and make a dragon from a paper cup and construction paper by giving it eyes, wings and a tail.  Than fill the cup with yummy snacks.  Kix cereal shares the detail.

Get the instructions here:
http://kixcereal.com/kix-cereal-4-exciting-and-fun-viking-and-dragon-party-kids-crafts/

Next, have fun with this math game from arithmetic for kids.

Get the template here:
http://arithmeticforkids.com/Kids_Resources.html

Next, get the kids outside by hiding toy plastic dragons in box eggs for a fun hide and seek game.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.oneartsymama.com/2015/06/knights-and-dragons-party-dragon-mountain-party-game.html

End the day with a viewing of the How to Train your Dragon movie.  Check it out from the library or it's also available for immediate download at Amazon.

Kids Hat Making Crafts

Celebrate National Hat Day by making one or more of these fun hats. 

Red paper strips are glued to a legal size piece of white paper and then stapled on to paper plates to make the brims for these cute Cat in the Hat hats from mamas like me.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.mamaslikeme.com/2012/03/easy-dr-seuss-hats.html

Black poster board is cut into a cone shape and then glued to a black poster board circle to make the base of this wizard's hat.  Next free kids crafts glues cut out stars and moons from aluminum foil and glues them onto the hat. 

Get the instructions here:
http://www.freekidscrafts.com/witches-hat/

A knit winter hat is embellished with felt and pompoms to make it into a fun monster with brooklyn craft farm.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.brooklyncraftfarm.com/2013/11/its-chilly-outside/

Make a chef hat out of tissue paper and construction paper with my kids make.

Get the instructions here:
http://mykidsmake.com/2010/10/create/chef-hats/

Cut pieces of foam are glued together and given jingle bells to make it more authentic with about.

Get the instructions here:
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/royalcrafts/ss/Craft-Foam-Jester-Hat-Pattern.htm

Make your own cowboy hat with this free printable from kimboomu kid songs.

Get the template here:
http://kiboomukidssongs.com/cowboy-hat-craft/

Make a folded pirate hat with this free printable 123peppy.

Get the template here:
http://crafts.123peppy.com/pirate-hat/343

A paper plate, paper cup and lots of fuzzy pompoms turn into a sombrero with mommyapolis.

Get the instructions here:
http://mommyapolis.com/2012/05/04/cinco-de-mayo-craft-or-centerpiece/

Make a princess hat from a paper cone, adding sticker gems and colorful fabric strips.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.bfranklincrafts.com/CraftIdeas/CraftIdea-princess_cone_hat.pdf

Construction paper is wrapped into a cone shape and decorated with curling ribbon, pompoms and circles. Find the details at first palatte.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.firstpalette.com/Craft_themes/Wearables/Clown_Hat/Clown_Hat.html

 

 

Maya made makes a newspaper and flower tea party hat.

 

Get the instructions here:

http://mayamade.blogspot.com/2008/07/party-hats_22.html



One Chilly Playdate

Bring the chilly weather indoors with these icicle inspired activities, crafts, snacks, books and movies.

Begin the day with this fun glue and paper craft.  Glue is squished to the top of a piece of paper and tilted to let the glue run down to make icicles with inner child fun.

Get the instructions here:
http://innerchildfun.com/2011/02/easy-icicle-craft.html

Next, read the classic tale Ivy's Icicle by Gary Bower, a wonderful story about forgiving others.  Check it out of your local library.  It's also available on Amazon.

Next, take a break and have an ice cube tray filled with yummy fruit and veggie snacks.  Spring free trampoline shares the details.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.springfreetrampoline.com/blog/2013/06/03/post-jump-snack-ice-cube-tray-buffet

Next, practice scissors and cutting skills with the fabulous sugar aunts.  After the kids cut them out they hang them up in the windows around the house.

Get the template here:
http://www.sugaraunts.com/2014/01/icicle-winter-scissor-skills-activity.html

Wrap up the day by watching the kooky ice age movie.  Check it out from the library. It's also available at Amazon.

Make Your Dreams Come True

It's Make Your Dream Come True Day.  One way to start is by making a dream catcher to help guide you in the right direction.

Dreams are written upon leaves with this leaf dream catcher. 

Beautiful lace catches dreams in this lace dream catcher.

Colorful gems embellish this pretty beaded dream catcher.

Nature inspires these tree branch dream catchers.

Needle point thread is the star for this colorful dream catcher.

Jewelry wire spins the web for this dream catcher necklace.

A good preschool version is made with feathers and colorful beads for this paper plate dream catcher.

Yarn is wrapped and intertwined to make the web in these heart dream catchers.