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      • Winter Holiday Books >
        • Oscar the Kitten Review
    • Kid-Friendly Fun >
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      • Jr History Detectives
      • Knights & Dragons
      • Mad About Science
      • Outer Space Page
      • Pirates! Arrr!
      • Superheroes
      • Planes, Trains, Automobiles, Ships
      • Princess and Fairies Page
    • Kids Camps >
      • Camp Tour Dates & Open Houses
      • Summer Camps by theme
    • Other sites for events & activities >
      • Koddler Events New Feed
    • The Great Outdoors >
      • Amusement Parks
      • NJ Spraygrounds & Water Parks
      • NJ Ski areas
      • NJ Farms
      • County Parks in NJ
      • Rec Departments in NJ
      • Beach Towns
    • Zoos, Horseback Riding >
      • Zoos by county
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Father's Day "Fishing" Handprint Picture

6/15/2014

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Picture
Supplies Needed:
  • Piece of paper
  • Blue paint
  • Desired paint color for fish
  • Googly eye, eye sticker or black marker
  • Glue (if using googly eye)
  • Other color paint or crayons
  • Paper plate and sponge (optional)


A wonderful Father's Day craft for all ages. My son's preschool did this craft. I couldn't find the exact template so I made one with a different font for the words. You can download it here.
  1. Print the template on white paper.
  2. Let your child color the fishing pole in crayon, if desired.
  3. I like to use a paper plate and cheap sponge (can get a pack at the dollar store) for making handprints. I find it makes it a lot easier. So if you use my method, pour some paint on a paper plate. Take the sponge and blot it on the paint. Wipe off any globs. Then dab your child's hand with the sponge.
  4. Have your child place their painted hand on the paper. You might need to help them.
  5. I would let the handprint dry and then let your child finger paint the blue along the bottom for the ocean.
  6. When the fish is dry you can glue on a googly eye, draw one or use an "eye" sticker.


Here are alternatives for this craft that you can do as well:
  • I'm Hooked on Daddy - You can easily use a black marker to draw the line and fish hook and write (or have your child write) "I'm hooked on Daddy.
  • I'm Hooked on Daddy (no paint) - very similar to the other one except you use construction paper for the handprint
  • Hooked on Papa - This one uses a footprint for the fishing pole and the handprint for the fish

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Father's Day Rocket Ship Craft

6/12/2014

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Picture
Supplies Needed:
  • Black construction paper
  • Colored paper - orange, red and whatever color preferred
  • Piece of white paper
  • Colored star stickers
  • Self-Adhesive gems or other stickers
  • Small photo of child's face
  • Pencil
  • Glue stick
  • Tape
  • Scissors
  • White crayon

This is a great Father's Day craft that kids of all ages will enjoy. Younger kids will need more assistance but they can do it. This craft was inspired by the rocket craft from All Kids Network. 

1. Print out the template from All Kids Network and cut out (or have your child cut) the rocket ship and moon. I would have an adult cut the circle in the rocket to accommodate the photo.
2. Trace your child's hand (older kids can do this themselves) - one hand on orange paper and one hand on red paper. Then cut them out.
3. If you don't already have a photo on hand, then print one out.
4. Cut the photo to the proper size and tape it in position to the back of the rocket. 
5. Have your child position the hands the way they want to look like flames. You may want to cut off the thumb at least, if not the thumb and pinky, to make it look right. 
You can tape the flames to the back of the rocket and then glue the whole thing to the paper but it seemed unwieldy for my younger child. We found it easiest to position the rocket and flames where you want and then glue the flames in place on the paper and then glue the rocket. 
6. Have your child write a message. In my 3 1/2-year old son's case, we shortened the message from "I Love you to the moon and back" to "I (heart) you" with a heart sticker because he can't write very well - see picture below.
7. Glue the moon. Place the star stickers where desired.
8. Decorate the rocket. My kids both chose self-adhesive gems but you can use any kind of foam or regular stickers or even draw a design. With my preschool-age son, we used the larger gems because they were easier for him to handle and place on the rocket all by himself. My elementary-school daughter had the dexterity to use the tiny gems.

Picture
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Father's Day - Daddy & I Book

6/9/2014

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Picture
Supplies Needed:
  • Paper
  • Printer
  • Stapler or hole punch and string
  • Crayons
  • Pencil or pen
  • Scissors

This is probably best for school-age kids to do for Father's Day or even for Daddy's birthday. My daughter did this in school but you can find the template to make your own from All Kids Network here. They had instructions for using string to hold the book together but you can also staple it. 
Note: If you're more experienced with computers and printers you can double-side print pages 3-4 and 5-6. And swap pages 1-2 (using a photo editing program is easiest) and then you're down to two pages for the book and no cutting and string necessary. However, if your child uses markers then the images will bleed through.

Print the three template pages from All Kids Network and let your child draw and write what they're thinking. You might end up with some funny ones. Depending on your child's attention span, you might want to break this project up into mini sessions.


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Handprint Fish

1/2/2014

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Picture
Materials Needed:
  • Various colors of paint
  • Paper plates
  • A sponge or paint brush (you can get cheap ones at the dollar store)
  • Colored paper
  • Lots of soap & water for clean up!

This is a great keepsake craft to give as a gift for Father's Day or a birthday or just because. There are other ways to apply handprints with paint but this is the way I prefer for slightly less mess.

1.
Take first color of paint and put it on a paper plate. Use a paint brush or a sponge to apply the paint to your child's hand. Don't put too much on - just enough to cover the hand.
2. Help your child place their hand on the paper sideways.
3. Repeat with another color. (If you have more than one child, have each one do a handprint)

4. When all your fish are applied. Use your child's finger to make the bubbles, seaweed and eyes and mouths.

I almost always have left over paint after a craft like this. Instead of just tossing it, I let my kids mash their hands in the remaining paint to make their own crazy paintings (they often mix the colors together).  Their work is not usually frame-worthy but
they have fun and I feel less guilty about tossing the paint.


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Crafty Coaster for Mother's Day or Father's Day

6/18/2010

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Picture
Items Needed:
* Ceramic tile
* Felt (or felt circles)
* Glue
* Permanent Markers or acrylic paints & paint brush
* Spray sealer (optional item; parents should do this part)

This idea was inspired by a gift my 4-year-old daughter made for Mother's Day at the Middlesex Presbyterian Preschool, but it can make a crafty Father's Day gift as well.

The artwork on the ceramic tile will depend a lot on your child's age, ability and imagination.

For a baby or toddler (or older child with a hand small enough), you can apply paint to his or her hand and then stick the hand on the tile. Not only is this a cute gift, but it will be a nice memento of your child's handprint.

For a crafty toddler or preschooler, you can help them make a simple design using their fingers and paint. One example is the one my daughter made, using her fingerprints to make a flower with a stem and leaves.  If needed, you can help guide your child's hand. Or let your child use different colors and his fingers to make a more abstract piece. (Note: you can use a paintbrush to apply the paint to your child's finger or have them dip it into paint and wipe a little off before touching the coaster).

Older children can use permanent markers or a brush to paint a picture on the tile.

Mom or the child can put their name and date (if there's room) on the front or Happy Father's Day to finish off the design.

Once the piece is finished, let it dry completely.

Mom or another adult should take the tile to a well-ventilated area or outside and use the spray sealer on the front of the tile to seal the artwork. Make sure to use a clear sealer (matte or gloss, depending on your preference) that is designed for ceramic.

Once the sealant is dry, then cut four felt circles or squares and glue them on the back of the tile on each corner. This way, the tile can be used as a coaster without scratching a tabletop.

The felt step is good if you want this craft to be a coaster that can be used. If you just want the tile to be a piece of art, you can skip this step.

Supply note: You can find ceramic tile kits (usually a tile with some markers or paint and about $1 or $2) at the major craft stores. You also could pick up plain or colored ceramic tiles at a home-improvement store.

If you're not all "crafted out" you and your child can make a crafty card to go with it.

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    Author

    Sandra K. Lee is a freelance writer and stay-at-home mom with a 8-year-old princess & a 4-year-old superhero in Middlesex County, New Jersey.

    She also writes Momoirs and other blogs at NJ.com and the NJ Moms Blog.

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