Monster Mash

What you will need:
markers or crayons or colored pencils
scissors
hole punch
Chenille stems (pipe cleaners)
Monster Template such as http://www.squidoo.com/monster-coloring-pages


Color your template, cut it out, punch holes on both sides, and then slip the Chenille stem (pipe cleaner) through the holes.

Then you have a cute monster!

Tweet it Up!

Bird Book Mark

So easy and doesn't take a lot of stuff to make, I incorporated this craft with a picture book about books but you could do something about birds. If you are a Cardinals fan like me it could be a St. Louis style craft.

What you need:

craft sticks

markers or paint

glue 

wiggle eyes

feathers

Color your craft sticks and I drew on the beak but you could glue on a piece of construction paper or felt. Then I glued on wiggle eyes and the feather on the back.

You may notice that most of my crafts are pretty simple and that is because I have children attend my programs that are between 4 and 10. I like for the kids to be able to do most of it themselves

If you have any questions or suggestions feel free to comment!

Fall Leaf Craft

Here is what you'll need:

Template http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/coloring-pages/images/Fall/small/leaf-template.jpg
card stock
Tissue Paper
Glue
Scissors
hole punch
string

I glued the tissue paper in layers on the template and then cut it out. I plan to punch a hole so it could be hung. Hopefully some of the kids ones look better I thought

Frog Puppet

For the beginning of the school year we read, Froggy Goes to School by Jonathan London.

The craft that I chose was a simple one that allows the kids room for a lot of creativity. A Frog paper bag hand puppet, this is what you will need:
 
Frog template http://www.abcteach.com/free/b/bagpuppet_frog.pdf
Paper bags
Markers or crayons
Glue
Scissors

Shell Fan

I noticed that I posted a fan craft before, but this is what I did last week.

It went well when paired with the picture book:  Looking closely along the shore / Frank Serafini.

Materials used: card stock, crayons, markers, craft sticks, scissors, and tape.

I printed the seashell pattern (found here: http://sweetclipart.com/seashell-lineart-731) on card stock, had the kids color and cut out the shells, then taped those shells onto the craft sticks.

The kids loved it and the book with craft took 30 minutes.

Seasons of the year

What you will need:

Bare tree graphic such as this: http://chipmanscornerpreschool.blogspot.com/2010/10/f-is-for.html

Tissue paper squares

Glue

Card stock

Crayons or colored pencils

Directions: Take a bare tree graphic and cut and paste it 4 times into a Microsoft Word or Publisher document and type Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall beside each. Print the number of copies you need on card stock. Ball up tissue squares and glue on (or in the case of Fall around) the tree. Color trees. Voilà!

Dreamcatcher

What you will need:

Paper plates

Yarn

Feathers

Pony beads

Markers or Crayons or Color Pencils or Pens

Hole Puncher

Scissors

How to put it together:

 1. Cut out the inner circle from the paper plate, I started the circle by punching a few holes with the hole puncher where I wanted to start.

2. Punch holes where you want your yarn to go: around the edge of the inner circle, three at the bottom, and one at the top to string yarn through to hang it up.

3. String yarn through inner circle holes, when you find a spot where you want a pony bead loop the yarn around one side so it doesn't slide around.

4. Run one long string through two of your holes at the bottom and one medium length string through the third hole at the bottom (tying it onto the plate to secure it).

5. Slide a pony bead (or a few) through each strand of yarn at the bottom then tie each strand to a feather.

6. Tie a loop of yarn through your top hole.

7. Decorate with markers or whatever you prefer {also if you have it lying around you could always fancy it up some with sequins, glitter, sand, or pom poms)

Star Fan Craft

What you will need:
Star template printed on card stock
Craft Stick or tongue depressor
ribbon (not necessary but nice)
glue
glitter

One of the many templates out there is here: http://familyfun.go.com/assets/cms/pdf/printables/0406_star_template.pdf

Cut out star, color, put on glue and glitter, and then punch holes in the points on the star and tie a small piece of ribbon on each. I think the picture show you one way of doing it, but you can be creative and do it differently.

Monster Craft

What you'll need:
Play Doh
Pipe cleaners
Googley Eyes
Tooth Picks

I divided up the Play doh so that everyone had some for their monster. Then the kids had the option of how many eyes, tooth picks, and pipe cleaners they used for their monster. The top one is mine and the rest at the bottom are ones done by the kids. Once I started taking pictures of the monsters they all wanted a picture taken of their monster.



Here are some that I liked best:

Clothes Pin Giraffe

What you will need:
3 clothes pins (for each giraffe)
card stock
markers
scissors

Cut an oval with wavy edges and a small rectangle. Put two clothes pins on the bottom and one on the top. You will roll the rectangle into a small scroll of paper and fit it on your top clothes pin. Color an eye and mouth on the head and on the other clothes pin and body color spots like you would see on a giraffe or you could be creative and different.

Not too hard, not too many pieces. I was able to cut out the pieces for a few 6 year old children and they did the rest.

Alphabet Craft

 http://www.supercoloring.com/wp-content/original/2008_12/alphabet-1-coloring-page.jpg

A simple craft is sometimes what is called for.
I needed something for ABC's.
I looked for a great alphabet coloring sheet that I printed on card stalk and then because I have some older kids in my After School Art I had them do it with watercolors. You are looking at the one I did.

Isn't it beautiful?

Monkey Mask

http://www.firstpalette.com/tool_box/printables/monkeymask.pdf

This week I decided to go with an easy craft. A link to the template is above.

The monkey mask needs only card stock, markers, and string.

For younger children you may want to cut out it out for them, punch the holes, and cut the string.

The one shown is one I did, it took me about 28 minutes.

Paper Plate Peguin

What You'll Need:

2 Paper plates (the normal cheap kind)

black marker

orange or yellow (or both)  markers

tape or glue

From one paper plate you will cut the center out for the head

The two sides will be the wings

Top (or bottom) will be the beak

Bottom (or top) will be the feet



You will get better at cutting out the parts as you make them after 15 of them I felt like a  pro. I noticed that you could be lazy and keep them feet square or do a little extra cutting to make them triangular and look good. I taped every thing so you didn't see the tape. Using clear packing tape, the wings are taped at the top covered by the head, taped on the back, and finally the feet taped on the back also.


Pretty simple, pretty quick - I even had some 4 year old kids that I had them do the coloring and I taped it together for them.  Any questions or comments let me know!