Month: February 2012

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Make It – Pine Cone Bird Feeder

Pine Cone Bird Feeder

Pine Cone Bird FeederThese pine cone bird feeders are a great craft to do with kids. And, they’ll be delighted watching the bird partake of their snack.

What You Need

  • A large, open pine cone
  • Vegetable shortening or smooth peanut butter
  • Bird seed
  • A few feet of string or ribbon
  • Paper plate

How to Make It

  1. Tie a few feet of string to a pine cone.
  2. Cover the pine cone with the vegetable shortening or peanut butter.
  3. Roll the pinecone in the bird seed on the paper plate.

You could also add dried fruit (chopped up), chopped nuts, seeds (especially sunflower and millet), and/or suet, which are high-energy bird foods.

Birds will love the treat and your kids will love that they helped create it.

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Make It – Crayon Stained Glass Window Hangings

Crayon stained glass

Crayon stained glassStained glass art is a little complicated for little ones, but this simplified version allows them to use crayon shavings and decorations to create a unique piece of art that looks great hanging in a window. With the help of an adult (to shave the crayons and use the iron), this can be a fun, family activity.

Supplies

  • wax paper
  • crayons
  • crayon sharper (to make crayon shavings)
  • scissors
  • glitter, dried leaves, stickers, paper scraps, and/or pictures from magazines (optional)
  • iron

    • How to Make It

    1. Cut 2 pieces of waxed paper to the same size. You can use fun shapes like leaves for fall or hearts for Valentine’s Day.
    2. Put one piece of the waxed paper on a flat surface. Arrange the glitter, etc. on the paper. To help avoid unsealed parts, try to leave a rim of waxed paper around the edges without any fillings.
    3. Add crayon shavings for color accents (these will melt later on). The easiest way to get crayon shavings is by using a crayon sharpener.
    4. Have an adult put a few layers of newspaper on your ironing board. Put the waxed paper artwork on top of this. Put the second piece of waxed paper on top of the artwork. Carefully put a few layer of newspapers on top of the whole thing.
    5. Iron on medium heat, checking it frequently to make sure it isn’t burning. Stop ironing when the waxed paper layers are stuck together and the crayon shavings are melted.
    6. When the artwork has cooled off, trim the edges carefully.
    7. If there any unsealed parts, patch them with some transparent tape.
    8. Punch a hole near the top for hanging (or just use tape).

    Your little ones will love seeing their dazzling crayon shaving stained glass art hanging in the window.

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    Make It – Simple Boat for Rainy Days

    Simple Sailboat

    Simple SailboatWith all the rain we get around Sandy, activities that embrace the rain are in high demand. These simple sail boats are a great way to use everyday items from around the house and get you outdoors even when the weather isn’t ideal.

    Supplies

    • A wide plastic lid (like the lid from a margarine tub)
    • A drinking straw
    • Construction paper
    • Kids’ scissors
    • A hole punch
    • Crayons, markers, and/or stickers
    • A small wad of play dough

    Make It

    1. Cut a triangle from a piece of construction paper – this will be your sail.
    2. Decorate the sail with crayons, markers, and/or stickers.
    3. Punch three holes along one side of the triangle.
    4. Weave a drinking straw (the boat’s mast) through the holes.
    5. Put a small wad of molding clay on the inside of the lid. Push the end of the drinking straw into the clay.

    Now, go sail your boat in the bounding seas.