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      • Jr History Detectives
      • Knights & Dragons
      • Mad About Science
      • Outer Space Page
      • Pirates! Arrr!
      • Superheroes
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      • Princess and Fairies Page
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      • Summer Camps by theme
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      • NJ Spraygrounds & Water Parks
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St. Patrick's Day Handprint Leprechaun 

3/15/2016

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Picture
Materials Needed:
  • Tan and orange paint
  • Paint brush or sponge
  • Piece of white paper
  • Pieces of black, green and yellow paper
  • Hole punch
  • Craft Glue stick
  • Scissors
  • Pencil
  • Black marker

This craft was inspired by one of several St. Patrick's Day crafts posted by Elizabeth Lauren Art.

I was not brave enough to try this craft with my 5-year-old son who is not, shall we say, as creatively minded or patient. So I enlisted by 9-year-old daughter to try this out. It can be done with a younger child, with some patience and guidance.
  1. Apply tan paint to the child's palm with a paint brush or sponge and then quickly apply the orange paint to the fingers and base of the palm. You have to move quickly or the paint will dry!! Even then, you may have trouble. The first time we placed her hand on the paper, almost none of the tan "face" appeared and half the fingers looked sparse. So we had to re-apply the paint to her hand and do it a second time. Even then, she had to take a paint brush and fill in the face with tan paint because it looked weird.
  2. Let the paint dry and work on the hat. Use a pencil to draw a rectangle and then a square on top to make the hat. Doesn't have to look pretty as you can flip that side over. Use the scissors to cut out. 
  3. Draw and cut a rectangle out of the black paper. Glue the black rectangle to the green paper hat.
  4. Draw and cut a small square out of the yellow paper. Glue to the black strip on the hat. Use a marker to draw a square to complete the buckle.
  5. For a younger child or less artsy one, have them draw a circle on the black paper for the bottom of your pot of gold and then a rectangle at the top for the lip. The rectangle can even be separate and glued later. Or draw the pot freehand. 
  6. Glue the pot to the bottom of the paper.
  7. Use the hole punch to punch little gold pieces from the yellow paper. Apply your glue to the pot and background paper and then place your "gold" on the glue.
  8. Your leprechaun should be dry by no so you can apply his hat with glue. 

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Finger Paint Pot of Gold for St. Patrick's Day

3/15/2016

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Picture
Materials Needed:
  • Piece of white paper
  • Piece of black paper
  • Glue
  • Scissors
  • Sparkly paint or glitter glue
  • Paint in various colors or Dot Paints
  • Plate or paint palette
  • Pencil (optional)
  • Paper towels for clean up
This idea was inspired by the North Branch Reformed Church Preschool. ​
This is a craft that all ages can enjoy. You can use Dot Paints or in our case, my 5-year-old used his fingers, to make a great keepsake.
  1. Use a pencil to draw a U-shape on the black paper from one edge of the paper to the other. 
  2. Take the scissors and cut along the line and you have your lucky pot.
  3. Glue the pot to your white piece of paper with the flat part up.
  4. Pour the first color of paint onto your plate or palette. Dip a finger in, lightly dab on a paper towel before applying to the white paper. (Or if you use Dot Paints, then just dab dots on the paper). You can go in an arc like a rainbow, a zig-zag, a straight line or whatever your child's preference is.
  5. Repeat with the next color and so on until you have used all your colors.
  6. Take glittery paint or glitter glue and spread along the top of your pot to make it shiny.
Picture
Cutting out the pot, wearing a Rudolph nose - just because.
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Easter Bunny Handprint Craft

4/2/2015

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Picture
Materials needed:
  • Paper
  • Paint (color up to you)
  • Glue
  • Two Pompoms - one large, one small
  • Googly eyes
  • Pencil
  • Marker (optional)

This is a great craft for kids to celebrate spring or Easter. My daughter chose to cut out her bunny after she finished it, but that's up to you. And, of course, she chose pink. We got this idea from Hand Art (Klutz Chicken Socks) book, which has several neat ideas.

1. Have your child place their hand on the paper in a fist with the index and middle finger up (for bunny ears). 
2. Take a pencil and trace around their hand (you may need to help with this). Your child may have to slightly tilt their hand as you trace.
3. Draw the feet to the shape you have.
4. Fill in with the paint of your choice. Let dry.
5. Go back with a marker or paint to make the mouth and paws.
6. Use glue to add to the googly eyes and pompoms for the nose and tale.

Picture
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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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Mother's Day Handprint Flower

5/7/2014

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Picture
Supplies Needed:
  • Paint of desired color
  • Green marker
  • White paper 
  • Paper plate and sponge (optional)


This is one of the easiest crafts we've ever done and makes a wonderful keepsake. I find using a sponge and paper plate for handprints is easiest but you don't have to do it that way.

1. Pour some paint on a paper plate and then dab the paint with a sponge (I get them at the dollar store).
2. Wipe off globs so you have an even covering on the sponge. Then blot the sponge on your child's hand. Or flip the sponge over on the plate (where there is no paint) and have your child place their hand on the sponge.
3. Have your child place their painted hand on the paper. (For younger children, you will need to guide them).
4. Then use the marker to draw a stem and, if desired, leaves.
5. Let dry. Then you have the perfect gift.

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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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Hand Print Angel

12/10/2011

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Picture
Items Needed:
* Piece of paper or card stock (white is best) - you might need a few pieces
* Craft paint (gold for wings and halo, other colors optional)
* Sponges (get a bunch from a Dollar Store)
* Paper Plates
* Paintbrush
* A few disposable rags or lots of paper towels

Note: I did this craft with my 5-year-old which I think is the ideal minimum age. If you try this with a younger child, I would recommend at least two adults help with this craft.

This craft, based on a project in The Usborne Big Book of Playtime Activities, can be messy and a little time consuming but it is worth the effort and makes a great keepsake.

1. Start with the "body" of the angel and apply your paint color to a paper plate. My daughter chose pink.
2. Rub the sponge on the plate and wipe off some excess and then place your child's hand on the sponge to apply the paint to his or her hand (this is like having a large ink pad).
3. Firmly place your child's painted hand in the center of the paper. If you don't get it right the first time, try again with a new piece.
4. Let the "body" dry for a few minutes; take this time to wipe off the excess paint.
(Note: You could do the wings first to prevent multiple hand cleanings, but you'd have to be pretty certain of your hand placements).
5. Assuming you've done the body hand print first, now apply your gold paint to another plate. Spread a sponge on the gold paint (You could use the other side of the first sponge but you will get very messy. For a cleaner option, rinse the first sponge or just use a new sponge for this color).
6. Press your child's hand onto the gold-painted sponge. Wipe off any excess and firmly apply the hand to the paper, slightly overlapping your "body" hand print.
7. Then apply your child's other hand to the gold-painted sponge (you may need to add some paint to the sponge). Press this hand to the other side of the "body."
8. Allow the paint to dry a little and wipe your child's hands off.
9. Rotate the paper so the fingers are pointed down.
10. Use a pale pink or cream paint (or whatever skin tone you'd prefer) and have your child finger paint a circle for the head and two finger prints for the hands. For younger kids, you can help guide them.
11. Dip your child's finger in whatever paint color you've chosen for the hair color and apply the hair around the head in a dot pattern.
12. Draw a face with your choice of colors for the eyes, nose and mouth. (A paintbrush might be best here and an adult might be needed for this part).
12. Use the gold paint and draw a halo. Small kids can use their finger or a paintbrush.
13. You can embellish the picture with other decorations such as stars which can be drawn with the finger or a paintbrush.

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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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