Mommy Crafts A....

Thanksgiving Kitchen Towels

When the kids were making their hand print turkeys earlier this week I had them stamp an extra turkey on each of these kitchen towels I picked up at the Dollar Store.

After they were dry I added fabric paint over top of their hand-y work ;) And added the words. What a great keepsake to pull out fall after fall!

Mommy Crafts...

Thanksgiving Tee Shirts




Looking for another activity to distract your young (not so patient) pilgrims? Whata cool idea I found....let them color their own shirt!!

The easy way? Coloring page + iron on transfer.
The way you do it without a printer? Hand tracing! Whew! But, they loved them.

I let the kids use regular markers, only because I kept forgetting to stop back by Ben Franklin and pick up the fabric crayons.

Now here's a tip: if you use regular markers and let them wear them for the day, you will find that they will spill everything they touch on them and the colors will smear! But on the up side, you can wash them and put them away for next year!

Thanksgiving Table Deorations From My Table

I don't usually do much as far as decorating the table for holidays and such (I've got two kids who know how to break things!)--but when I found this idea from Fiskars for a kids Thanksgiving table-- I HAD to do it for our family table!!

I absolutely love how it came out!

Now, they had a tree centerpiece with leaves, but I had found an idea on another site for a Mayflower centerpiece (made from wood--I used heavy paper and an empty tissue box) that I thought fit the theme better.

If you want to see all the how to's you can click here.

**Click the picture to make it bigger so you can see all the details. I LOVED how it came out!***

Paper Bag Turkey

Mommy Craft

These are the treat bags I made for the kids and added the turkey pops, the Indian corn and some printable thanksgiving activities.

To make this craft you will need:

• Brown paper bags
• Colored construction paper
• Glue Stick
• Stapler
• Googly eyes (optional)

This craft really just uses your imagination. Cut out the turkey's beak, a waddle, and long strips for feathers. You could cut out the eyes, or use googly eyes (we got these huge eyes from a mix bag o' eyes at the Dollar store).

Fold down the top of your bag (like you were packing a lunch) AFTER you put your treats in, or stuff with newspaper for a decoration. Match each end of your strips of paper (feathers) to the top fold and staple.

Viola'!

**I forgot to snap a picture of the treat bags before I let the kids open them Thanksgiving morning--so this is the best I have of them :) **

Candy Indian Corn Treat

Mommy Craft

This was another cute treat idea I found. I used these and the turkey pops and made treat bags (you'll see that idea next) for my kids and another special little boy.

To make this treat you will need:

• Reece's Pieces
  
• Snack sized baggies
• Tissue paper in yellow and green
• Tape (clear)

I fell in love with how cute this was, and how wonderful it turned out! I found the idea here.

First, put Reece's Pieces in a snack sized storage baggie and zip shut. Get ALL of the air out. Cut lengths of your yellow and green tissue paper about an inch longer than your baggie, and half the width of your baggie. I used two cut peices of yellow and two pieces of green for each Indian corn treat.

Roll your baggie up as tight as you can. and make sure that the zipper part of the bag is not showing when you assemble the corn.

Stack your tissue paper up green, green, yellow, yellow. Put your baggie on top and middle of the pile. Gather all the layers at one end of your corn--tape the end together. Do the same at the other end.

Mommy Tip: If you wanted a different look you could roll the candy with just the yellow tissue paper and then add construction paper shucks to the corn as well.

I always say--use your imagination and make it your own way! :)

Turkey Pops

Are these not adorable?!!

To make this craft you will need:

• Felt in a shade(s) of brown
• Scissors
• Rubber Bands
• Googly eyes and whatever scraps you want to finish him off, I used:
• Orange felt
• Orange pipe cleaners (cut in half, one half per leg)
• Red pipe cleaner (cut in thirds--1 per waddle)
• Craft Glue
• Tootsie Roll Pops
  

Cut 8" circles from your felt. Now, fold your circle in half, and in half again. Make a SMALL snip at the bottom, this will provide the hole for your sucker stick to go through.

Put your sucker through the hole, and gather the felt at the top back (like you were giving the lollipop a top pony tail). Secure with a rubber band, and fan out the remaining felt.

Decorate your turkey. The original idea that I found (which you can see here) used foam scraps--but I had extra felt, so I cut out a beak from my orange, added googly eyes, and curled a red pipe cleaner for the waddle.

To make his legs, I cut an orange pipe cleaner in half, then I twisted it around the bottom of the turkey pop making sure to keep it in the middle. I then "curled" each side to resemble legs.

Mommy tips: do not do like I did and "eyeball" the circle. The light brown ones are from where I tried to get to circles from one piece of felt. The fluffier dark brown one was closer to the 8" (nope, I didn't measure, just made sure I did it bigger. :)

Mommy Crafts A....

Pilgrim Outfit For Gracie


She was the "belle" of the Thanksgiving feast today. I made all of the accessories for Gracie's outfit and brought them to her when I came for lunch. The other kids loved to see her all dressed up and just made the biggest fuss over her!

Can you believe I made these pieces out of flour sack cloths from the dollar store, white grosgrain ribbon and hot glue?! I came up with the ideas and the patterns very late, late the night before her "event," but the very late hours were well worth it. Doesn't she look precious?!!

Hand And Footprint Turkey

Toddler, Pre-K, K

I won't insult any ones intelligence with the three hand, foot & thumbprint turkey crafts the kids and I made this week. Use your favorite colors and your imagination. And make sure the paint has dried before you add the extra details with a pen or marker. :)

Hand Print Turkey

Toddler, Pre-K, K

I won't insult any ones intelligence with the three hand, foot & thumbprint turkey crafts the kids and I made this week. Use your favorite colors and your imagination. And make sure the paint has dried before you add the extra details with a pen or marker. :)

Thumbprint Turkey

Toddler, Pre-K, K

I won't insult any ones intelligence with the three hand, foot & thumbprint turkey crafts the kids and I made this week. Use your favorite colors and your imagination. And make sure the paint has dried before you add the extra details with a pen or marker. :)

Pilgrim Hat Cookies

Mommy Craft

I made these cute little pilgrim hats for Gracie's first grade Thanksgiving feast--and they were a hit. It took me so much longer than I thought to make them--but if you aren't making 30--it is well worth the effort.

To make this snack craft you will need:

• Chocolate chips
• Graham Crackers
• Marshmallows
• Tooth picks
• Paint brush (seriously!)
• Wax Paper
• Icing or candy melts
  

I painted the chocolate on my pieces--it really was a lot easier. You want to melt your chocolate--you can use the microwave or a double boiler.

Paint your graham cracker squares and place them on a plate/pan with wax paper.

Next, stick the marshmallow with a tooth pick. This will make this MUCH easier as well. Dip your marshmallow in the melted chocolate and use the paint brush to cover bare areas if you need (you will when the chocolate starts getting low.

Now, put the marshmallow on top of the graham cracker tooth pick UP. You are just using the tooth pick as an added handle. Once the chocolate on the marshmallow and cracker set, remove the tooth pick. You will likely need to paint the top of the marshmallow to make it an even color.

Using icing (or do like I did and melt some left over colored candy melts and put in an icing bag) and make your band and buckle.

Mommy tips: 1. do NOT attempt to melt the entire bag of chocolate chips at one time (lesson learned) 2. I made my "buckles" ahead of time and made square shapes on wax paper. I let it set and then they peeled off and stuck right to the band that I piped around the marshmallow.

Football Bean Bag Toss

Save your Costco boxes, because your kids could also have as much fun as mine have this week!

This is the second hand made bean bag toss I have made so far, and they love them! I was hoping to make some football shaped bean bags, but my sewing machines are dead, so we just used the ones we have.

I decorated my box with a football field look and used a sharp knife to make a hole for the bean bag toss.

You never know what you can use with an old box!

Football Math

Mommy Craft for
K, 6 & Up

This idea I have had before, and I even made one for my then Kindergartner, but it was just before the move, and it was a little above her skill level. So, I made a new one now that she is much farther along in the math department.

To make this game you will need:

• Green construction paper
  
• Brown construction paper
• Permanent marker
• White crayon
• Yellow construction paper (optional)
• Contact paper (optional)
  

I simply made a field from my green construction paper. I ended up using a sheet and a half of green and I glued it to some left over poster board I had to make it stiff--but you could just made a one sheet field.

Use your white crayon to make the yard lines on the field, only instead of doing 10, 20, 30 etc do 1, 2, 3 ...to 10.

Add some yellow goal posts if you would like. I free handed mine and folded a small part of the goal post and glued it to the field so it would stick upright.

Now cut out football shapes from your brown construction paper. Use a dark black (thick is better) marker to make addition or subtraction problems on the football. I was unfortunately out of brown construction paper and thus I had to color my white paper brown and it looks super dark. I also wrote problems on both sides of the footballs, and I laminated them to hold up to use.

Have your child choose a football and they have to land the ball on the correct yard line. Gracie likes to toss hers, but the idea is to get the football on the correct answer. For example one football might say "1+1" and the child would put the ball on the "2" yard line.

Even being as girly as she is--Gracie loves this game and I am hoping it will help her to memorize some simpler math tables.

Tissue Paper Pom-Poms

K, 6 & Up

We have to throw in something girly for this week--since I have a daughter, and she likes doing fun crafts with mommy even though she is a big first grader ;)

These pom poms are super cute--and super easy to make! Choose your favorite colors or favorite team and let's go!

To make this craft you will need:

• Tissue Paper (your color choice!)
• You need a "stick" to hold them, the original craft called for a dowel rod--I couldn't find one, but I did have large Popsicle sticks that worked great.
• Scissors
• Stapler

Unfold and smooth your tissue paper lengthwise.

Fold lengthwise, and cut it in half.

Now, fold your half in half (also lengthwise)

Cut strips starting from the bottom up to the fold-- leaving an inch at the top UNCUT. If you want to save some time, before you cut, fold your half in half again this time wideth wise, so you are cutting through 4 layers instead of two. Remember to leave an inch at the top where the fold is UNCUT.

Now wrap the fold edge around the "stick" of your choice and staple in place. The original idea called for tape--this did NOT hold for us, and it doesn't take much effort to add a staple.

You continue to do more and more layers until you get the fullness you are looking for. Since we used a staple I would add the next layer a few centimeters above the last layer so the staples wouldn't get messy.

My daughter was ready to play with them after only 3 layers, and we made ours 2 colors. If you want to do this, simply alternate the colored tissue paper layers (ex: red, then a white layer, then a red layer, etc.)

Go team go!

Paper Plate Football

K, 6 & Up

This is an idea I kind of thought out, and now not only is it a fun "decoration," but I tweaked it and decided it would be a great lacing project, or a great way to help your little boy learn to tie their shoes!

To make this craft you will need:

• 2 paper plates
• brown paint
• scissors
• hole punch
• ribbon, yarn or string (I used brown, but white would work too)
• Old newspaper
  

First let your child paint the BACKS of 2 paper plates (when put together they will look like a 3-D football). Let dry.

I cut my plates in half and then cut an 1.5 inch from one half of the newly cut plate (you will need to do this for the back and front, so cut an inch and half from 2 of your pieces). This will give the plate a more oval shape.

Next tape your half and your 1.5 inch shorter half together, set aside.

Punch holes along the straight edges of your two remaining halves. I put my halves together to be sure that the holes would match, but the paper was too thick and it hurt my hand! So, make holes in one of the halves, line the other plate up and make pencil marks on your un-punched plate, and hole punch it. :) Your holes don't have to be perfect though, it will still work fine, but you do want the same number of holes on each half.

Now, staple the halves to the whole plate you just taped together. Remember that you want it to look like a bowl shape in the middle, and you are going to fill it in.

Cut strips of newspaper (what I did), or be inventive with your filling and fill the inside of your ball until it has a good shape.

Now, lace your holes with ribbon or yarn or whatever you have. You can let your child lace it as a lacing craft, or you can lace the football like you would a shoe (as I did) and let your child practice tying his or her shoes.

Paper Plate Football Player

K, 6 & Up

This is such an easy idea--if you are looking for something fun to do with your little boy--this is it!

To make this craft you will need:

• 2 paper plates
• Crayons, markers or paint
• Scissors
• Stapler (or tape)
  

First color or paint the inside of your paper plate skin color, or forget that part and add your face (eyes, nose, mouth, etc).

Now, turn the other paper plate over and draw a half circle INSIDE the circle that is already in the middle of a paper plate.

I cut in two small rectangles underneath the half circle to give it more of a face mask look. If you child is more into football they may have better ideas to make him more realistic.

Now, staple or tape your face mask/helmet to your football player.

I like the way this player came out, but you could paint or color the top part of the face mask/helmet to match your child's favorite team, or let him or her create their own team and design.

Football Handprint

Toddler, Pre-K, K

I love making hand prints with Thomas, and when I decided to do a "football week," I racked my brain trying to figure out the best way to use his hands. While searching for fun football ideas (which there are very few! Most of the ideas you will see this week I made up myself!), I came across a clip art graphic and the light bulb went off.

Now I love the outcome--but the football in the middle would look just as cute (maybe better--who knows) as just a drawn or cut out ball. When you do this craft you can try either way.

To make this craft you will need:

• Paper
• Skin color paint
• Brown paint
• A cute pair of hands

I simply had him make hand prints with both hands and left some space in the middle and top for the ball.

I closed his fingers and didn't paint his thumb when I made the football. But, as I said, I think it would look just as good or better if you just drew or painted or cut out a football shape.

I added the "touchdown" part just to be cute.

Football Treats

Mommy Craft

I saw this idea on the back of a Cocoa Krispies box once and filed it away for later. Glad I did, because these were cute and yummy!

To make this snack you will need:

• Cocoa Rice Krispies
• Butter
• Marshmallows
  
• Chocolate Chips (melted) or brown or white icing
• Wax Paper

Follow the directions to make your rice krispie treats, only use cocoa krispies.

Let your mixture cool--A LOT!

Use wax paper to get a handful of the mixture and shape into a football. Put on your plate or serving dish. Repeat until all of the krispies are used.

Now, melt your chocolate chips and put in a icing bag, or fold a piece of wax paper like I did, and make laces on your footballs. You could also use brown or white icing to do this as well.

Enjoy!

**A few "notes:" mine have a different color to them because I added in some regular rice krispies thinking I wouldn't have enough for the butter & marshmallow mixture I "eye balled." Also, the Rice Krispie website has the recipe for the footballs, but they add in peanut butter, and I thought "nah." So, I used the original recipe to make the krispie mixture, which I have added below. Click on this link if you want to give the peanut butter one a try **

Here are their "pretty" footballs, but I have to say mine came out cute too**

Rice Krispie Recipe

• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows
• - OR 4 cups miniature marshmallows
• 6 cups Rice Krispies®

1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

2. Add KELLOGG'S RICE KRISPIES cereal. Stir until well coated.

MICROWAVE DIRECTIONS:
In microwave-safe bowl heat butter and marshmallows on HIGH for 3 minutes, stirring after 2 minutes. Stir until smooth. Follow steps 2 and 3 above. Microwave cooking times may vary.


Note

For best results, use fresh marshmallows.
1 jar (7 oz.) marshmallow crème can be substituted for marshmallows.
Diet, reduced calorie or tub margarine is not recommended.
Store no more than two days at room temperature in airtight container. To freeze, place in layers separated by wax paper in airtight container. Freeze for up to 6 weeks. Let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.

Stain Glass Leaves

K, 6 & Up

This activity is definitely for older children, I would recommend Kindergarten and up.

To make this craft you will need:

• Contact paper (clear)
• Tissue paper in fall colors
• Leaf pattern print out (or hand drawn)

Cut out a square of clear contact paper and lay it over top of a leaf pattern print out--sticky side UP (you are using the pattern under the clear contact paper as a guide for your kids). Have your child tear off small pieces of tissue paper and stick it (as flat as they can get it) to the sticky contact paper, staying inside the pattern (the best they can).

Once they have finished their colors you will need to place another square of contact paper over top of the finished tissue paper. Carefully stick and smooth the contact paper on top of the other piece.

Then, using the same pattern they used, trace with a pencil the shape on to the contact paper.

Your or your child can cut out the shape.

You can add a hole punch and hang with string, or do like I did and just tape them to the window. These look so pretty in the afternoon sun!

Mommy note:
Another variation I have seen on this craft is to cut out the leaf shape with black construction paper and cut the middle out so it looks like a frame (you would need two of these). Stick the pattern you just made to the contact paper and the kids fill in the middle with tissue paper like above. This makes it easier for the kids to stay inside the pattern I am sure. Then, you lay the other leaf pattern on top of the bottom one hiding any scraps that weren't "inside the lines" and top with another square of contact paper. The kids and I may try this version in the weeks to come, and I will be sure to post the outcome and let you know if it was indeed easier!

Below are some leaf patterns to get you started:

Five Little Squirrels Activity

For your ToddlerI had two different ideas about how to use this adorable little rhyme:

Five Little Squirrels

Five little squirrels sitting in a tree. (Hold up five fingers.)
The first one said, “It's getting cold for me.” (Hold up one finger.)
The second one said, “The leaves are falling to the ground.” (Hold up two fingers.)
The third one said, “Let's get busy; there are nuts to be found.” (Hold up three fingers.)
The fourth one said, “We better not wait.” (Hold up four fingers.)
The fifth one said, “Fall is really great!” (Hold up five fingers.)

I thought I could color and cut the squirrels and put them on Popscicle sticks to do the rhyme with my toddler, and then I got the great idea to use flaps since those are his new favorite kind of books.

I will tell you how I did my craft, but you could use the rhyme in anyway you like. This craft is a little more time consuming, but Thomas is enjoying it, and to me that is all that matters.

To make this craft you will need:

• Green construction paper
• Brown construction paper
• Scissors
• Glue Stick
• Tape
• Squirrel pattern

There are tons of squirrel patterns on the web for you to use, and I will share one below. The one I used was extremely small and I actually traced all five squirrels by hand after blowing it up in Microsoft Word (which made it even more grainy, thus my tracing).

I simply colored my squirrels with coloring pencils (you could color with whatever, or find a colored squirrel pattern and print it out saving you a ton of time, or you can let your child color the squirrels!.

I used two peices of green construction paper and taped them together and then cut out a tree shape free-hand. I free handed a trunk with one sheet of brown as well.

Before I added my trunk to the bottom, I cut each squirrel out placed him face down to the BACK of my tree top, taping it around the edges. I used a sheet of carbon paper from Gracie's pretend waitress pad and placed the carbon paper under the tree top, and drew a door opening around the edge of the squirrel from the back. (Basically you need to make sure you have a door/window to open to see the squirrel. I made my flaps open in several different directions so they didn't all go the same way, and I cut them out.

If you don't have carbon paper, cut your doors (flaps) out of your tree top FIRST and then tape your squirrel to the underside (which in hindsight was probably a much easier way to do it!!).

Add your trunk to your tree top.

I used the left over brown paper to make my little handles for the flaps. I cut thin strips and rolled them into a tight curl. I taped them closed and then used good glue to add them to the flap door.

I made a copy of the rhyme to add to the bottom so that we can open the doors one by one as we read about each squirrel.

Now whether you have the time and energy to do this craft or not, you will want to share the rhyme with your preschooler. You could use stickers, or make felt squirrels and add to a winter glove. There are tons of ideas out there--use your imagination!

Squirrel pattern: