Mommy D's Family Fun Blog

Educational Clock Craft

Posted by Mommy D at 8:00 am

Sep 042010

With this craft your kiddo’s can learn to tell time and have fun at the same time. The numbers come off so they can place them in the correct position.

Educational Clock Craft

What you need:

Various colors of felt

Scissors

Brad

Cardboard

Glue

Directions:

Draw a circle the desired size you want to make your clock on a piece of cardboard. I can’t draw a circle to save my life so I used a mixing bowl to trace one. Once you have it drawn cut it out of the cardboard.

Cover the circle with glue. Make it as thin of a layer as possible so it doesn’t bleed through the felt. I used my fingers to spread it out into a very thin layer.

Place your desired color of felt on the glue. Smooth it down so there are no wrinkles. Once you have it firmly attached trim the edges of the felt to match the cardboard.

Next you will need to cut out the hands of your clock from any left over card board. You could also use card stock or something similar. Anything that has a stiffness to it. When you have your hands cut out use your scissors to punch a hole through the center of your clock and through the inside ends of the hands. Put your brad through all the holes and fastened onto the backside of the clock.

Next you will need to cut out four shapes of various colors. These shapes need to be roughly the same size as the numbers on your clock should be. These you will glue into place at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 positions. This will help little hands to place the numbers in the correct places. Again, when you glue these down make sure you use a very thin layer so it doesn’t bleed through the felt.

Now you can cut out your numbers. Make sure to make them all about the same size so they fit properly. These you will NOT glue down. These will act as a sort of puzzle for your kids to learn with.

Laugh, Learn, Live, and Love!

Mommy D

Toy Story Felt Story Board Craft

Posted by Mommy D at 8:00 am

Aug 282010

Toy Story Felt Story Board Craft

What you need:

Large piece of cardboard (I found this in the grocery store with the poster board. It’s just a large piece of card board that folds. You could cut the side out of a large box too.)

Felt (enough to cover your cardboard and some extra for making pockets and covering the backs of your characters.)

Characters (I used some paper dolls I found. But it might be fun to use some coloring book pictures. Let the kids color them and then cut them out.)

Glue

Scissors

Directions:

Lay your cardboard on the table or ground for a stable work surface. Glue your felt down onto the board, covering the entire board. (I could only find these small squares, but if you can find large pieces of felt it would be easier.) Use thin layers of glue so the glue doesn’t bleed thru the felt.

I am making a Toy Story board so I used blue for the background. You could obviously make any color or theme you like. My son is obsessed with toy story at the moment so that’s what I chose.

Next cut some pockets from a different color felt. I did squares, but you could do pretty much any shapes you like. Glue them onto your board in the desired area you want your pocket. Only glue the sides and bottom so the top is open for the characters to go inside.

Next you want to cut out your characters. I used paper dolls that are already colored. You could use any books you like as long as you don’t mind taking the scissors to it. It might be fun to let the kids color some pictures in a coloring book and cut those out to use too.

Place a thin layer of glue on the back of your character and place onto a piece of felt. Cut them out with some sharp scissors. Do the same for all your characters.

Your basically done! Place them on your felt board and make up some grand adventures!

Mommy D

Butterfly Snack Bags Craft

Posted by Mommy D at 8:00 am

Aug 212010

Butterfly Snack Bags

What You Need:

Snack Size Ziploc Bags (about half the size of the regular sandwich Ziplocs)

Snacks (the more colorful the better)

Close Pins

Pom Poms or Paint

Glue

Google Eyes

Directions:

If you are using Pom Poms put a line of glue down the center. Place Pom Poms on top in the pattern desired. Let the glue dry before you do anything else.

If using paint, then paint LOL. Let dry before doing anything else.

Once the paint or glue is dry glue on the google eyes. If using paint then you could also just paint them on. Make sure you glue the eyes on the head. (The end with the clamp.)

Fill your Ziploc bag about 3/4th full with your snacks. As you close try to get as much extra air out as you can.

Lay the baggie flat and using your fingers separate the snacks in the bag so there is an empty line down the middle. See pic below.

Gather the empty center by pinching it from top to bottom and clip into the close pin.

SO Easy and so much fun to do with the kiddo’s!

Mommy D

Jumping Paper Frog Craft

Posted by Mommy D at 1:55 pm

Aug 152010

Remember this?

I do. I remember making these during class when I was supposed to be paying attention. Well, these and those little paper footballs LOL

What you need:

Paper (I used colored card stock, but you can use regular paper. The thicker the paper, the harder it is to fold, but the better the frog jumps.)

Scissors

Google Eyes (optional) (I have a thing for google eyes. If I can find a way to add them to something I will LOL)

Glue (optional) (for gluing on the eyes)

Directions:

I was brain dead about how to explain the folds you need to make, so this time I did something a little different. Instead of written directions I made a little video. Hopefully I made it clear enough for you to see how the folds are made.

So here goes: (no sound) (For the video I used regular printer paper. If you use card stock it will be a bit harder to fold.)

Make different size frogs by using different size paper. You could also let the kids color these or add some stickers and such!

Have a hoppin good time!

Mommy D

Milk Jug Snoopy Craft

Posted by Mommy D at 8:00 am

Aug 072010

Okay, so it’s supposed to look like snoopy. Hubby says it’s doesn’t, but it’s cute anyway LOL. What is it for? Hmmm, I don’t know. You could make a bank out of it. Cut a slit in the back of the bottom jug and use it for coins, put paper money in the top one through the cap (nose)

Milk Jug Snoopy Craft

What you need:

2 clean, dry milk jugs

2 large bags cotton balls

black felt

red ribbon

spray adhesive

google eyes

craft glue

newspaper

utility knife,

sharp scissors,

and band aids.

(I have VERY sharp scissors! LOL Obviously you will want to do the cutting so the kids don’t get cut.)

Directions:

Spread out the newspaper on the table or floor. This will keep the spray adhesive from getting all over.

Using your sharp scissors or utility knife cut a X into the side of the milk jug opposite the handle. This is where the top milk jug fits over the bottom. See picture if you need more detail.

I sprayed the top of the bottom jug and the underside (by the hole) of the top jug with spray adhesive before I put it on. It still should be handled carefully for a while though.

At this point you can begin adding the cotton balls. Spray both jugs all over (Don’t spray the bottom of the bottom jug or you will permanently stick it to the newspaper!)

Once you get the jugs covered with the cotton balls it’s time for the personality! Cut his spots out of some black felt and affix them to the body randomly. I used the spray adhesive for this too.

Cut his ears out of some more felt. Make them as long as you like. Put some craft glue on the top edge of the ear. Glue it down so that the edge is hidden between the cotton balls.

Cut a small circle out of the scrap black felt. Glue this, (with spray adhesive) to the cap.

Cut a piece of red ribbon long enough to go around his neck. This is his collar. The spray adhesive works best for this job.

Last but not least, affix his eyes on either side of the handle.

Mommy D

Pet Rock Craft

Posted by Mommy D at 8:35 am

Aug 012010

Okay, so it’s a boring pet rock. LOL EVERY kid should make and have a pet rock at least once! Besides, this a chance for them to use their imagination. Maybe make up a new animals or creature. Name it and make up a story to go along with it!

What exactly mine is…I don’t know…BUT IT’S CUTE!

Pet Rock Craft

What you need: (So all of this with the exception of the rock is optional! You can decorate your rock with anything you like! This is just what I had on hand)

Rock/s

craft glue

google eyes

pom poms

paint

anything you want to decorate with!

Directions:

Wash and dry your rock. If the rock is dirty and paint or glue won’t stick to it well.

Once your rock is completely dry you can paint it. Or use what ever else you might want, like markers or maybe crayons. I used two coats of paint, mainly just because i was having fun

Let the paint dry completely. Once dry you can attach anything else you are going to glue on. Eyes, ears, nose, tail. This craft is so easy and you can really just turn it over to the kiddo’s and let them do anything they like!

Mommy D

Milk Jug Ball Toss Game Craft

Posted by Mommy D at 6:51 pm

Jul 252010

This is a very easy craft. The game itself is easy for little ones to play and really helps with their hand eye coordination. It’s a ball toss game you make out of old Milk Jugs.

Milk Jug Ball Toss Game Craft

What You Need:

Two or more empty/clean milk jugs

Duct Tape (I used green and pink)

Scissors or Utility Knife

Stickers/markers etc. (for decoration)

Directions:

If you look close at the side of the jug near the bottom you will see a faint line about 2 inches from the bottom. Use this line as a guide. Cut on the line all the way around. Be careful as the cut edges may be sharp.

Using your duct tape line the edges with it. This will make it safe for little hands. It’s easiest if you do it in strips about the length of one side of the jug.

Give the jugs to the kids for decorating. I gave my kiddo’s some foam stickers and let them do it themselves. I was going to do markers but I had already given them their baths.

At this point your finished! See? Simple huh? Now you can show your kiddo’s how to play and let them have fun!

Mommy D

Paper Bowl Ladybug Shaker Craft

Posted by Mommy D at 8:02 am

Jul 172010

This weeks craft is SO easy. Even the littlest hands can help. Not to mention SHAKE it.

What You Need:

Red Paint

Black Paint or marker

Paper Bowl

Paper Plate

Pipe cleaners

Scissors

Google eyes

Glue

Hole punch

Sticky back felt (Optional: I used this instead of black paint for the head and spots)

Dry beans, macaroni, jingle bells, beads..(whatever you have on hand that will make noise) for the inside of the bowl.

Directions

1. Place the paper bowl upside down on the paper plate. With a pen or marker trace around the bowl. Cut out the circle you just traced from the plate. This will be the bottom of your shaker.

2. Paint the bottom of the plate and the top of the bowl (still upside down) red and set aside to dry.

3. On the outer rim of the plate make three holes in each side. This will be for the pipe cleaners (legs). You will need 6 pieces of pipe cleaner the same length. The length is up to you. Mine are about 4 inches each. Dip the end of the pipe cleaner into the craft glue and put it inside the hole. See picture for example. Set aside to let glue dry a bit.

4. While the legs are drying you can decorate the top of the lady bug. I used sticky felt for the black, but you could use paint or black markers. Once you are done adding the black you can add the google eyes. (If using paint for the black make sure its dry before you glue the eyes to it.)

5. Put some glue around the edges of your paper plate. Place a handful of beans, (or whatever you are using for the shaker) onto the center of the plate making sure not to get it in the glue. Place the bowl down on top of the plate and press the edges to make sure the glue is adhered. Let dry before playing!

6. Shake it! Have Fun!

Mommy D

A Better Paper Bag Puppet!

Posted by Mommy D at 9:16 am

Jul 112010

This isn’t your regular old paper bag puppet! This puppet is so much fun and SO easy for little ones. We made a cat and dog, but you could turn these into ANYTHING!

What you need:

paper bags, small

paper towel tubes

newspaper, paper towels, tissue paper (to stuff the bag)

markers

google eyes (optional)

pompoms (optional)

sticky back felt (optional)

craft glue

String or ribbon

Directions:

1. Stuff your bags with newspaper, paper towels, or whatever you might have on hand. You will want to stuff them pretty well so it makes it easier to decorate.

puppet1 (1 of 1)

2. Put the paper towel tube into the bag. Place glue around the inner rim of the bag. Gather it around the tube and hold for a bit to make sure it holds. Tie your string or ribbon around the bag. This will look good and hold it while it dries.

puppet2 (1 of 1)

3. You want to attach the eyes and felt now. Or anything that will be glued onto the bag. Use your imagination. Make a family and have a puppet show!

puppet3 (1 of 1)

4. Using your markers decorate and draw in any features you still need on your puppet. If you want to make arms and legs you can cut them out of another paper bag or construction paper and glue them on.

puppet4 (1 of 1)

5. (optional) You can decorate the tube too. Just make sure that if you glue anything to it, you let it dry before play time

HAVE FUN!

Mommy D

Picnic Basket From a Paper Bag Craft

Posted by Mommy D at 10:17 pm

Jul 022010

July 10th is Teddy Bear Picnic Day! This weeks craft is perfect for gathering up the teddy bears, making some PB&J sandwiches, go outside and have a Teddy Bear Picnic with your kiddo’s!

Teddy Bear Picnic

If you go out in the woods today

You’re sure of a big surprise.

If you go out in the woods today

You’d better go in disguise.

For every bear that ever there was

Will gather there for certain, because

Today’s the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

If you go out in the woods today,

You’d better not go alone.

It’s lovely out in the woods today,

But safer to stay at home.

For every bear that ever there was

Will gather there for certain, because

Today’s the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

Every teddy bear, that’s been good

Is sure of a treat today.

There’s lots of wonderful things to eat

And wonderful games to play.

Beneath the trees, where nobody sees.

They’ll hide and seek as long as they please.

Today’s the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

Picnic Basket From a Paper Bag

Click the pics for a larger view!

What you’ll need:

1 Large paper bag

Glue or Scotch Tape

2 Brads

Scissors

Hole Punch

Decorations:

Example: Glitter paint, foam stickers, ribbon, colored string, stickers, crayons, markers, pasta/beans (to glue onto, not to eat! LOL), etc….

Directions:

1. While the bag is in it’s folded up flat position you will cut off the top portion of the bag making your cut from one side to the other (see pic above). The cut will determine the depth of your basket. Since you will be folding down the sides about 2 inches figure out how deep you want your basket then add about two inches. Make your cut. You will use this small piece for your basket handle so don’t throw it away.

2. Open up the bag and using your scissors cut each corner on the fold line about 2 inches deep. This will create flaps on each side. Fold down each flap and tape or glue down. This strengthens the bag a bit.

3. Take the scrap paper from Step 1 and cut it so it’s one long piece of paper. You will want it to be abt 3 inches wide so you may need to cut some off. Once you cut it to width you will want to determine how long you want your handle to be. You will want about 2 inches of extra handle on each end to secure it to the basket.

Fold over the sides of the handle (long ways) one inch on both sides. This makes the handle stronger. Tape or glue closed. (tape is easier for this part)

4. Using your hole punch, punch a hole on each side of your bag (middle of the short sides). This is where you will secure the handle. Make the hole about one inch deep. Punch a hole in the ends of the handles abt one inch deep.

Using your brads secure the handles to the basket (click on the picture above to see the brads).