Snow Family

Mommy Craft

This is a simple and fun craft to display in your home! I found the idea from a Dollar Store blog--so it is super inexpensive too!

To make this craft you will need:

• 5x7 frame ($1 at Dollar Store)
• White construction paper (or you can get fancy and find a snow scrapbook paper)
• 1 white glove (they have these at the dollar store, but I couldn't find white. I paid $1.50 for two pairs of white gloves at Walmart) **NOTE: you need one finger for each family member, so you may need 2 gloves, or even 3..whew!
• Glue
• Felt, fabric of ribbon scraps
• Permanent marker
• White felt
  

Take the back off your frame--use this as your guide and trace the outline on the white construction paper. Cut out and glue to the back. Here's your snowy back drop. Now, cut out the fingers on your white glove. Arrange your family the way you want. The shortest finger would clearly be the smallest member, the longest finger the tallest...etc.

I glued my felt on first, but didn't like how the bottom of my snow family looked where I had cut the glove, so I ended up peeling it back and tucking them inside. So you may want to glue your family on first, and then add your felt snow, or just don't glue the top of the snow until you have them tucked inside.

Now, glue on your snow. I just free handed some felt "hills" of snow to give it dimension, but you could cut straight across.

Use felt or ribbon or even paper scraps and add noses, scarves, etc to your family. I used ribbon for my scarves, felt for the carrot noses, and I used a thin permanent marker to make the eyes, and coal mouths. The idea of cutting out all of those tiny pieces didn't appeal to me, and I think it looks pretty good this way.

Add your family's name to the top and "ta-da," a super cute snow family to match yours!!

Paper Snowflakes

6 & Up

I found the neatest web page that gives you actual designs for cutting the prettiest snowflakes. Gracie and I are having fun making them, and you and your older child will too. Finally something just for the 6 and up group!

To make this craft you will need:

• White paper
• Scissors

Use this web page to find great patterns for cutting out the prettiest snowflakes. They look so nice in front of, or even on, your windows!

Mommy Tip: We used coffee filters, and they look so neat. They are much thinner and more delicate looking. Give it a try!

Handprint Mittens

Toddler, Pre-K, K

I have so much for my "snow theme" this week!!!

To make this craft you will need:

• Construction paper
• Paint (any color)
• Two cute hands
• Permanent marker (to draw mitten outline)

This is such a cute little idea. Paint your child's hands and then press down on the paper. Draw a mitten outline around the outside of the hand prints. Or you can pre-cut out mittens from construction paper and then have your child make their hand prints on the mitten cutouts.



Need a pattern? Try this one:

Popsicle Stick Sled

K, 6 & Up

This craft is a bit more tricky, and definitely for patient kids. I wouldn't recommend with preschoolers and under.


To make this craft you will need:

• 5-6 Popsicle sticks (I used 6, because I have those huge ones and it looked off only having 3 "boards" for the sled. If you have regular sized sticks, use 5 total)
• White glue (do NOT try glue stick!)
• Yarn/ribbon/string
• Paint (optional)

If you have the normal sized sticks, glue three of them together side by side. Run a line of glue in between the "seams" of the sled top you just made and stick 2 more sticks perpendicular to the sled top (see picture, it makes more sense that way ;) If you have the jumbo kind of sticks I have, you will want to use 4 sticks and glue them side by side. Run a line of glue on the outside "seams" (one on each side) to add your remaining two sticks that act as the "runners."


Let this part dry very well! It will take some patience and time to get your sticks to stay like the above picture.

Now, the fun part. Let you child paint or color or sticker his or her sled.

Add a ribbon or yard or string at the front of your sled when the paint has completely dried and add it to your Christmas tree!!
Mommy tip: Don't forget to add your child's name and the year on the underside of the sled. You will want to cherish this ornament after years of use when they are 20 and you miss them like crazy.

Thumbprint Snowman

Toddler, Pre-K, K

While you have the white paint out and your child is already messy, let them make a thumbprint snowman.

To make this craft you will need:

• Construciton paper
• White paint
• A cute thumb
• Markers, pens, etc for the details.

Mommy tip: Your child will likely enjoy dipping their fingers in the paint, so let them make some snowflakes falling down on their snowman.

Footprint Snowman

Toddler, Pre-K, K

Is this not too cute?!!

I found the idea as I was surfing the net for fun crafts to make this week for snow week, and I came across the footprint snowman. Well, I wrote it down in my planner, but forgot to book mark the page where I found the idea. So, I did a search for "footprint snowman" and found a woman who did hers sooo awesome! I just had to make Thomas' just as cute!

To make this craft you will need:

• Construction paper
• White Paint
• An adorable foot
• Markers or pens or whatever for the details.

Paint your child's food white and stamp it on a piece of construction paper. I love the way blue looks like the winter sky--but you could use any color (but white ;).

The toes are the bottom of the snowman, so let it dry and add on all the embellishments you can think of: eyes, nose, mouth, scarf, hat, arms, broomstick...etc.

Mitten Game

Mommy Craft

Toddler, Pre-K

This is a simple matching game for you and your toddler or preschool aged child that I think you will both enjoy. I hung mine on a rope to make it look like a clothesline and add a little more fun to the game, but you could place them on a table and you child can still match them.

To make this game you will need:

• Different color construction paper
• Mitten pattern (I included one below)
• Rope or string (optional)
• Clothespins (optional)
• Contact Paper (optional)

I simply cut out several different color mitten (2 of each color) and hung one mitten up and had my son match the mitten I held up. It took him a while to get the idea, but once he did he amazed me at his ability to recognize the similar color and patterns. (I added some patterns on the mittens to give it an extra touch)

I laminated mine with contact paper for durability, but that is optional.

Winter Tree

Toddler, Pre-K, K

If you had fun making the fall tree with your child, then you will love this one too.

To make this craft you will need:

• Construction paper (I would use any color but white, light blue looks a lot like a snowy wintry sky)
• Brown paint
• White paint
• 1 cute little hand

Paint your child's hand and forearm brown. Have them press down to make a tree trunk and branches.

I let mine dry really well before adding the "snow," but use your judgment.

Let them dip their pointer finger or thumb in white paint and add snowflakes in the sky and on the bare tree branches.

When my toddler was done, I painted some snow on the ground and used my thumb and pointer finger to make a red mommy bird in the tree.

Don't forget to add your child's name and the date (at least the year) at the bottom!

Zipper Thermometer

Mommy Craft

I found this neat idea in an old preschool book, and just had to make it for my kids. Of course I dressed it up quite a bit. The idea is for a zipper to be a movable thermometer for your kids to learn about temperature. I did that--but just added a cute picture to go with it.

To make this craft you will need:

• A zipper
  
• Construction paper
• Packing tape
  
• Heavy paper
  

To make the thermometer you will want to use packing tape or another very heavy tape to adhere the sides of your zipper to paper. I used heavy paper as well for this project. Remember to only tape the sides of the zipper (the cloth) to the paper you do NOT want to tape over the actual teeth of the zipper. Now, make yourself a thermometer. I have added a pattern at the bottom of this post if you need help. I made marks for temperatures in increments of "10." If you live some place warmer you may want to start at 20 and move your way up, if you live some place very cold maybe include negative temps in your thermometer.

Cut the inside of your pattern out (the red part of the thermometer). This is where your zipper will show through.

Tape or glue your thermometer over your zipper paper. I laminated my "picture" to give it extra support and to cut down on wear and tear.

Now each morning your child (children) can take turns finding out the temperature and they can move the zipper to the proper place.

The National Weather Service is a great website to use. Type in your zip code and it will give you the current temperature if you scroll down to where it says "current conditions" on the right hand side of the page.

Toddler, Pre-K

Share this fun little rhyme and finger play with your toddler and you are sure to get a smile.

Five Little Snowflakes

One little snowflake with nothing to do.
Along came another and
Then there were two.

Two little snowflakes laughing with me.
Along came another, and
Then there were three.

Three little snowflakes looking for some more.
Along came another, and
Then there were four.

Four little snowflakes dancing a jive.
Along came another, and
Then there were five.

Five little snowflakes having so much fun.
Out came the sun, and
Then there were none!

I made a fun paper with the rhyme on it to play with my toddler, and then I got this creative idea. Not everyone has the time to sit down and write out a finger play for their young child, so I thought I would make a video of it for you. You will have to let me know what you think. I won't promise a video for each of the rhymes I post--but I was inspired.

Popsicle Stick Snowflakes

Toddler, Pre-K, K

Kids of any age can have fun with this simple cold weather craft.

To make this craft you will need:

• 4 Popsicle sticks
• Glue
• White Paint (optional)
• Glitter (or you can use Kosher Salt like I did--optional)
• String/yarn/ribbon
• Stapler or tape

Simply give your child four sticks and let them cross them over until they have the snowflake pattern they want. You can use as a little as 3 sticks, or even as many as 5. Since I only had the jumbo sized sticks, I settled with 4.

Glue your sticks in place and let dry. Your kids will have to find other ways to occupy themselves until the glue is completely set.

Now, I combine painting and "accessorizing" in one step. I let the kids paint their snowflakes white and while the paint was still wet we shook Kosher salt all over them. I am not a huge fan of glitter since it makes such a mess--but the truth is--I just didn't have any at the time. And, now that they are dry I love the "crystallized" look the salt gave them!

Shake off the excess glitter or salt and let try again. I stapled a ribbon to the back of my kids snowflakes and hung them in the window. You can tape the ribbon or string as well.