Colorful Halloween Potions

What a better way to explore colors around Halloween time then with Potions!

There's not really a how-to for this activity, just some ideas...and free printables!

*You can use water and food coloring- be sure to mix some colors (ie: instead of using the green food coloring, mix blue and yellow and watch it turn green, etc). Have your kids drink one of the potions with their dinner. Bwah ha ha!!

*Instead of just using water, you could use Invisible Kool-Aid to give your potions more of a punch!

*You could also make little Jello's for snack time and use these fun printables to make the jello look like potion!

*If your kids are in the color-learning stage have them match the potion label to the correct color of potion. 

*If your kids can read, have them read the labels then match to the correct color.

*If you really want some potion-making fun- mix your food coloring into vinegar instead of water. Then pour in some baking soda and watch it fizzle away!

POTION LABELS: Right click and save or copy. (Then paste or insert into Word and print away!)

Styrofoam Spider

Here's a quick and easy (and fun!) craft to do with the kids before Halloween!

Supplies: Styrofoam balls, paint, paint brushes, hot glue gun, google eyes, pipe cleaners, black paper plate (optional), white out pen (optional)                                                                                 1. Paint your styrofoam balls (I added some polka dots to the bigger styrofoam ball)

2. Let dry

3. Glue the two balls together.

4. Glue on google eyes.

5. Stick four pipe cleaners on each side of the bigger ball to make eight spider legs!

6. Optional step: Paint a spider web on a black plate using a white out pen then glue your spider to the plate. (You could also use a black marker on a white plate). 

*You can teach your kids some of the differences about insects and spiders. This link from Scholastic goes over some of the key differences (6 legs vs 8 legs, 3 body sections vs 2, etc.)

*And of course, you can top it all off with a good book! Any of the "Little Miss Spider" books would be a great option!

               

*Click on the images for more details 

Mason Jar Jack-O-Lanterns

One of my favorite easy Halloween crafts in making Jack-O-Lanterns from mason jars. It's easy enough that your kids can help you out as well.

Supplies: Mason Jars, tissue paper, modge podge, brush, glue, faces printable (see below), ribbon (optional), artificial tea lights (optional)

1. Cut your tissue paper into 1-2 inch thick strips



2. Brush a layer of modge podge on your jar.


3. Place the strips of tissue paper on your jar (slightly overlapping so you don't get gaps)

4. Brush a layer of modge podge on top of your tissue paper


5. Let dry.


6. Print the faces printable (see below) and cut out


7. Once your jars are dry, glue on faces


8. Tie ribbon around the top of the jars.


9. Place the artificial tea lights inside.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Right click on the following images and save or copy. (Then you can paste them into Word and make them any size you want to fit your Jack-O-Lanterns!)

Then you can read a fun pumpkin book!

Fabulous Fall Wreath

Fabulous Fall Wreath (or any season for that matter)

What you need: 1 Styrofoam wreath from your local craft store, Yarn, Thick ribbon, Pins or hot glue, felt (or flowers).

1.     

              1.       To wrap your wreath start by looping your yarn once around the wreath then tying it in a knot. Next, wrap the loop where your knot is several times so the loop does not slip (unravel) as you continue wrapping Then simply continue wrapping your yarn around and around. You want to keep your yarn taut (but not too tight). Wrapping your wreath with different tensions will effect how it looks, I personally like it taut. This part of your project usually takes about an hour. Hint: place the wreath between your knees and wrap. This will enable both hands to be working instead of just one. When you make it all the way around tie another knot. Once the knot is tied either pin it to the wreath or glue it in place so that it does not loosen.

2.      2.      Place your decoration of choice just to the right of the bottom of the wreath by using pins or hot glue. I went to Hobby Lobby and found this fall flower/leaf bunch and simply pinned it on. However, felt flowers, crows, or pumpkins would also be cute!

3.     3.       Using a thick ribbon loop it around the top of the wreath and tie it in a knot. Then take a separate piece of ribbon and tie a bow. Hot glue the bow over the knot at the top of the wreath and WALLA! You have a fabulous fall wreath!

Make it Seasonal!: You could also make a 4^th of July wreath using red, white and blue yarn or a Christmas one use a deep red yarn and a few Christmas ball ornaments!

-Stacie

You deserve a hand!

We all have people in our life that deserve a little more recognition for all that they do... like your mom, dad, husband, grandma, first grade teacher, the crossing gaurd in the middle of winter, the person on the midnight shift at walmart, and of course, YOU! No matter who it is you think deserves more affirmation, here's a way to show them that they 'deserve a hand'!

1. Supplies: your child's handprint cut out of paper
        (or a generic hand shape or YOUR handprint), ribbon,
        paper with the words "you deserve a hand" mirrored,
        hole punch.


2. Fold your paper in half with the crease at the top.


3. Hole punch one hole in the top and three in the bottom.


4. Attatched a looped ribbon to the top hole.


5. Attatch three ribbons to the bottom three
holes with a knot.


                   6. Punch a hole in the palm of each of the
                   handprints and slide them up the ribbon
                   at different levels.


                   7. Surprise the chosen one by leaving
                   this in their car or on the doorknob of
                   their house, room, office, etc!

*Right click and save or copy the image. Paste or insert into Word and print on any color you wish!

While you are working with your little one's hands, why not read a book about hands: