Paper Mache - I felt ambitious!

So over spring break Julia got OBSESSED with wanting a piniata.  I thought it could be fun to make one ourselves using paper mache.  Having not done this since middle school art class, I wasn't real sure what to do.  I found a recipe for paper mache paste in a book, so I collected the necessary supplies and we started. Now I wasn't overly impressed with the paste recipe, it was pretty watery and VERY drippy. I will post the directions at the bottom, but will keep looking for better paste ideas and post if I find something.

For the actual piniata, Julia wanted a dog though this could be modified easily to be a horse, cat, donkey, really any 4 legged animal.  This project takes multiple days and adding the paper mache in stages which seemed to be too much for a 4-year old's patience to take at time, she thought we'd make it and be done the same day.

Supplies:
Paste
Paper (newspaper, scrap paper, I used brown packing paper I get from shipments)
Drop cloth (very important since the paste gets EVERYWHERE!)
Thin Cardboard, paper towel or toilet paper tubes, heavy cardstock (think junk mail ads or cut up cereal boxes), small paper/plastic cup
Masking Tape
Paint and/or Markers to decorate

First you will need to build your form out of the balloons and cardboard.  For the 4 legged animal design, you will need 1 big balloon (body) and one smaller (head), 4 toilet paper tubes for legs and one for the neck (or cut paper towel tubes to size).  Use the Cardstock or paper cup to make a nose/muzzle and ears - this shape will depend on your animal.

The next step is covering the form.  Tear up your paper into strips, about an inch or two wide and 3-6 inches long.  Different size strips come in handy, long for the body, neck and head, smaller ones for the face, and legs.  Cover in stages, adding more detail like ears as you go.

Depending on what kind of paper you are using, you will need to do multiple layers.  You will know you are done when, after allowing it to dry, it is pretty hard.

If you are attempting to make this a piniata, once it is pretty firm you will need to cut a flap to add the candy.  The candy will go where the big balloon is (when you cut into it, you will also need to pop the balloon).  Once the candy is added, tape back up the flap and you can add one more small layer of paper mache to seal it up.

Then you will need to paint it.  If the kids aren't too into the paper mache part (like mine) they usually have fun with the decorating.  My daughter requested it look like our german shepherd so she painted "her" and I used markers to add a face.

Once the paint is dry add a string to the back (I just used yarn since it's pretty light.  And let her at it.

We did run into some issues of it not breaking real easily, so after she beat on it a while I just cut it open to get the candy out.  Then she was sad, wanted it to be "fixed" so I had to re-paper mache the dog.  She now has it in a place of honor in her room and spring break was 2 months ago.

I had some leftover paste after making the dog so we decided to make a mask.  Basically the same technique used above, but a smaller form.  I just used 1 balloon blown up to  about the size of a kid's head.  I covered it 3/4 of the way in paper mache the top 1/2 (like a hat) and the front so that she could slip it on her head and have it stay without having to tie it (though that's another option).

Once the paper is built up thick enough to hold it's shape, pop the balloon and figure out where the eye holes belong (this took a little guessing).  Cut out about 1 inch diameter holes and use small (about 1/2 to 1/4 inch wide) strips of paper to wrap around the edges so the paper doesn't fray.  Use cardstock or other objects to build up a face if you want.   She wanted to make it look like a clown and we had fun drawing and coming up with different face paint ideas on paper before we drew on it.

Use paint, markers, crayons, yarn, pip cleaners or anything else you want to decorate.

Paper Mache recipie I used (though not impressed and will keep looking for a new one)

In large pot, mix 1 cup of water and 1/4 cup flour until mixture is thin and runny
Stir mix into 5 cups gently boiling water
Boil gently and stir for 2-3 minutes
Cool completely
Pour into a shallow tray, dip paper strips and apply to form

Since this was a multi day project, I just put a sheet of aluminum foil over the top and it seemed to last about a week with no problems.  Though I wouldn't keep it much longer than that as it started to get a little smelly, though the mask and piniata are both fine.

Food fun

Both of my kiddos LOVE to be in the kitchen, whether I want them there or not!  We try to do some fun food projects on occasion so that when I'm cooking dinner or something where I don't need little helpers they are more willing to wait knowing they'll have their turn later.  Sometimes it works, sometimes not so much.  


Lunch Meat Stackers
One of my daughter's favorite "crafts" is to make her own "lunchable."  She likes the little, silver dollar sized lunch meat that comes in the pre-packaged lunch kits, but they tend to add up.  I don't let her have them at home, and they are just a rare treat for preschool.  I found if I let her have mini cookie cutters (about the size of a cracker) and some lunch meat, she cuts out her own shapes and stacks them on crackers.  BIG HIT!  Plus, depending on the cookie cutter shapes you can find, and easy way to add lunch to a theme day (heart for valentines, fish for under the sea theme...)  


FYI - I'm planning on some theme day ideas to do with the kids over summer so check back!

Marshmallow Lollipops:
Basically this is just fondue.  You can do this for a kid's party or just for an afternoon snack.  Just beware  that the chocolate can get pretty hot, and if you have a kid that tends to be a little more accident prone, having a bowl of cold water near by might not be a bad idea.  


I take jumbo marshmallows, using a small knife cut a little X in the bottom and stick a pretzel stick in to make "lollipops."  In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate chips (heat about 20-30 seconds, stir and repeat as needed) or melt using a double boiler or fondue pot if you have one.


I then take one of those cafeteria style lunch plates that are divided up or you can just use little bowls to set up the "stations."  In one section, I put the lollipops, in the other sections add toppers such as sprinkles, sanding sugar, nuts, crushed up graham crackers or oreo cookies.  I them let them get going - dip in chocolate and then toppers.  For a little healthier, you can sub out 1 inch thick banana slices, strawberries,  for the marshmallows. 

Mother's Day Crafts - Painted pots

Ok, so I was even surprised at how much fun my kids had with this one. I do admit, we made one for my mother for mother's day, but the kids and I made a second one for me to keep.

Painted flower pots (2 ways)

1) Hand and Footprint designs

This one is great for little kids, birth to 4, or whenever their feet or hands are too big to fit well onto a pot.

Supplies:

Terracotta flower pot (

about $0.50 - $5 depending on size)

Acrylic paint

Paint brush

Paint pens

(optional)

Soil

Flower Seeds or plants

This one may take a little more work on your part. There are a few options, the easiest, but still super cute way is to paint a large heart on the pot. When dry paint your child's feet and "stamp" one on each side of the heart. Feel free to touch it up if they smeared a little (I've ended up with 6 toes before because my son wiggled).

If you are feeling a little more creative, you can transform the foot or hand prints into garden objects:

Foot - ladybug (stamp red foot, paint heel black, add dots and feet), pond, clouds.

Hand - flower, tree, bush

Just change the color paint to match whatever you are trying to make. You may want to sketch your ideas out first to see if you like it. The options are endless here. Plus if you do mess up or don't like how it turned out, just paint over it and re-stamp the kids hand or foot and start again.

Use the paint pen or small paint brush to add details, outline and add words. Around the top of the pot you can put little sayings such as "Planted with Love," "Mom's Garden" a line from a poem or a bible verse. I also suggest adding the child's name and age somewhere near the hand/foot print.

Depending on the age of your child, they can help you add the dirt and plants or seeds once the paint is dry.

2) Let the kids decorate.

This one is better suited for kids age 2 and up

Supplies:

Terracotta pot

Paint

Paint brushes and/or sponge stamps

Soil

Plants/seeds

Basically I just give the kids a small pot, a paper plate with paint and brushes and let them decorate it however they want. If you have young kids that aren't good painters yet, you can use sponge stamps or let them finger paint on it.

Again, once it's dry, let them add the dirt, plants/seeds and water. I did this craft with my 4 year old and one of her friends and they had a blast. We talked about how to mix the colors to make new colors (blue + red = purple, red + white = pink...), what plants need to help them grow (soil, water, sun). My daughter's friend said while we were planting that we were being farmers. They talked for days about how fun it is and love watching the seedlings grow.

Happy Mother's Day!

Getting started

Ever since I was little I LOVED doing crafts, getting messy, creating something, having fun with my imagination... So now that I have 2 kids I want to offer them this same opportunity. My daughter, Julia, is 4 now and begs me daily to make a craft. Sometimes we get elaborate, breaking out the paint, glitter, glue, pipe cleaners. Other days she just draws smilie faces on any piece of scrap paper she can find, folds it in 1/2 and gives out her "cards."

We have started getting in the habit of making gifts for people. Birthdays, Mothers Day, Christmas - I am trying, sometimes in vain, to teach my kids that it doesn't matter how much you spend on gifts as much as the love you put into it. I love watching how proud Julia is when she gives someone a gift she made all on her own.

Many times we do "crafts on the fly" depending on our day, what mood we're in and how much time we have. That being said, I have discovered it is good to keep certain things on hand - see the list below. I've also created a little craft box consisting of a medium pencil box full of crayons, scissors, markers, glue sticks, and stickers. This way, if we just have 15 minutes to play, I just grab the little box and some paper and don't waste time trying to track stuff down.

Other items to keep on hand:

Construction paper

Glue (liquid and glue sticks)

Safety Scissors

Drop Cloth (I use a thick plastic sheet/mat that is supposed to go under highchairs, it's not too big, easy to clean up and doesn't tear. We've used ours regularly for over 2 years and it's holding up great)

Paint (water colors and tempra/acrylic)

Paint brushes

Smock (old adult sized t-shirts work great)

Yarn

Stickers

I also like to keep empty egg cartons, toilet paper tubes, paper towel tubes, a few old magazines, newspaper, disposable pie tins (great for painting, holding beads/small objects), paper bags. These things are basically free since they are just "trash" but can come in handy in different projects. Plus you can teach your kids some easy ways to reuse objects and help the environment.

The main thing I suggest is to have fun and get as messy as you are comfortable with. If a mess stresses you out, neither the kids nor you will have fun. Messes will happen, projects will generally take longer than you expect - especially if you have a time limit, also know your kids attention span and don't be disappointed if 3 minutes into a project they decide they are done and walk off.

I hope people find my ramblings and crazy ideas useful.