Frosty the Snowman Playdate

Have a fun winter day with this Frosty the Snowman play date.  

Begin the day by making this cute snowman photo frame.  Start by painting a wooden frame blue and then use a smaller brush to paint on some white snow.  Next make a felt snowman using white circles for the snowman.  Adding buttons, a glitter paper scarf, googly eyes, and felt nose, hat and mouth to finish.  One artsy mama shares the details.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.oneartsymama.com/2014/12/snowman-photo-frame.html

Next make banana snowmen adding mini pretzel stick arms, blueberry buttons, and mini chocolate chip eyes from the picky apple.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.thepickyapple.com/blog/2011/12/13/north-pole-breakfast/

 

Next it's time to read the classic book Frosty the Snowman by available at Amazon.

Or get the lyrics for free from http://www.kidsongs.com/lyrics/frosty-the-snowman.html.

 

End the play date with a viewing  of the Frosty the Snowman movie also available at Amazon.

Or watch it for free on YouTube (in two parts):

A Wintery Tree Playdate

Kids can start the play date and create their own pretty colored winter trees with mary making using white circles for snow and wintry color tissue papers. 

Good for ages 3 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://marymaking.blogspot.com/2009/11/colorful-abstract-winter-trees.html 

 

Next, check out Carole Gerber's Book Winter Trees full of the subtle charms of trees in winter. On a walk through a forest, a boy observes the branches, shapes, and various barks. He and his dog make snow angels, watch animals quietly eating, and tap a maple tree for syrup.  In a simple poetic form, seven trees are described: sugar maple, American beech, paper birch, yellow poplar, bur oak, Eastern hemlock, and white spruce. Readers get a sense of what they look like from a distance ("the egg shape of the maple tree/the taller oval of the beech…" and up close ("the peeling bark of paper birch/feeds hungry hares that eat their fill").  The illustrations mix prints, watercolor, and collage, and are tweaked with digital enhancement. 

The book is also available on Amazon.

Next have the kids create their own tree snacks using chunks of cheese and grapes and a celery stick for the trunk.

If the weather is not too cold complete this cute winter scavenger hunt.

Get the template here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_QY0YTOrC2-vwC712v_T8wHHLHCMTydJ8n3w-yEk-Rk/pub

Free January Craft Activities

Find a free or low cost kids craft activity for kids this January.

Saturday, January 3rd9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Home Depot

Come learn how to build a mini sled with Home Depot's free hands-on workshops; designed for children ages 5 - 12.  All kid get to keep their craft, receive a free certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin.

Register here:
http://workshops.homedepot.com/workshops/kids-workshops 

Tuesday, January 6th
5:00 p.m.

 
Lego Stores

Build an alien and space dog.  For kids ages 6-14.

Get more information here:
http://cache.lego.com/r/stores/-/media/brand%20retail/stores/calendar/january/4913-jan2015-cal-us.pdf?l.r=-668400344

Saturday, January 10th
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Michaels

For ages 3 and up.  $2.  Make a monogrammed, stitched felt pouch.

Get more information here:
http://www.michaels.com/kids-club/ca-kids-club.html

Saturday, January 17th
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Michaels

For ages 3 and up.  $2.  Make a frozen inspired picture frame complete with pompoms and glitter.

Get more instructions here:
http://www.michaels.com/kids-club/ca-kids-club.html

How to Make Snow Ice Cream

Snow, milk, sugar and vanilla are mixed together to make homemade snow ice cream.  Make monthly shares the details.

Good for ages 2 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://makemonthly.blogspot.com/2009/12/stay-at-home-make.html

Watercolor Resist Snowflakes

Snowflakes are designed using glue on paper with fun at home with kids. After the glue dries they're painted with watercolor paint to make pretty snowflakes.

Good for ages 4 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://www.funathomewithkids.com/2014/11/winter-watercolor-resist-art-with-free.html

Winter Cardboard Castle

 

Cardboard is cut into a castle shape, glittered for decoration and painted with a snow topped mountain background.  Hello wonderful also adds some snowy white trees and peg dolls.

Good for ages 9 and up.

 Get the instructions here:

http://www.hellowonderful.co/post/MAKE-AN-EASY-WINTER-CARDBOARD-CASTLE

The imagination tree makes a three dimensional version.

Get the instructions here:

http://theimaginationtree.com/2011/05/diy-castle-story-box.html

Winter Gnomes

Toilet paper tubes are painted and topped with paper cones with crafts by amanda.  Next she glues on white yarn in a beard shape and adds a yellow pompom nose and voila she has a winter gnome.

Good for ages 8 and up.

Get the instructions here:
http://craftsbyamanda.com/2014/11/cardboard-tube-gnomes-christmas.html