Loop-de-loop Paper Airplane... with free printable template

Sometimes a simple craft is the most fun, and my boys loved this paper airplane that flies in circles.  All you need is a piece of card stock, a pencil, some crayons, a pair of scissors, and a paper clip.

First, you'll need to print the template I have drawn for you.  (You can download it here.)

Then:

1)  Cut out the airplane and color it.
2)  Fold your airplane in half (along the dotted line).
3)  Measure about 1/2" from the centre, and fold down the wing.  Repeat for the other side.
4)  Add a paper clip to the nose.
5)  Fly away!  :-) 

Old-fashioned paper planes are fun too... especially if the kids get out their markers and give them some cool designs.

Do you have little ones that would enjoy an afternoon of flying paper airplanes? Would they enjoy this paper airplane template?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

ECM Kids' Craft Club - #18 {Paper Plate Duck}

Welcome to the 18th edition of the ECM Kids' Craft Club.  This month we are making a paper plate duck!

First, gather your supplies.  You'll need a paper plate, two googly eyes, yellow cardstock, orange cardstock, glue, a yellow crayon, and a pair of scissors.  

Then:

1) Fold a paper plate in half and color it yellow.

2)  Trace your hand onto an orange piece of cardstock, and cut it out.

3)  Cut out a circle (head) from yellow cardstock, a triangle (beak) from orange cardstock, and two duck feet from orange cardstock.

4)  Glue two googly eyes and the beak onto the head.  Then, glue the head and two feet onto the paper plate.

Cute, right?  I hope you had fun making your handprint paper plate duck.
♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Don't forget... Assist young children when using scissors, and be careful of the small parts included with this kit, as they can be a choking hazard for children under three".)

ECM Kids' Craft Club - #17 {Snake Puppet and Bookmark}

Welcome to the 17th edition of the ECM Kids' Craft Club {an easy & inexpensive way for kids to have fun crafting and experience the excitement of getting their very own mail}.  This month we are making two fun crafts -- an accordion snake puppet and a flower bookmark!

To make the snake puppet:

1)  Cut out the head and tail, and fold the body like an accordion.
2)  Glue a googly eye onto the head, and draw the rest of the snake's face.
3)  Glue the head and tail onto the body, and allow to dry completely.
4)  Attach stir sticks to the head and tail of the snake (using glue), and allow to dry completely.

To make the flower bookmark:

1)  Color the flower any color you like.
2)  Cut out the flower.
3)  Glue a button onto the centre of the flower, and allow to dry completely.
4)  Use tape to secure the craft stick onto the back of the flower.

That's it!  Fun, right?  I hope you had fun making this month's cute paper crafts.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Don't forget... Assist young children when using scissors, and be careful of the small parts included with this kit, as they can be a choking hazard for children under three".)

Canada Day Fan {with free printable template}

Who doesn't love a simple craft that is fun AND useful?  This adorable, patriotic fan is easy to make, and it is a perfect Canada Day craft for children of all ages.

Ready to make this Canada Day Fan in three easy steps?

1)  Download the free template I created for you, and print it onto white card stock.  {You can find the free printable here).

2)  Have your little one color it, and cut it out.

3)  Add a craft stick to the back (with tape). 

Fun, right?  Wouldn't your little one enjoying keeping cool with this paper fan this summer?  Happy Canada Day!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

ECM Kids' Craft Club - #16 {Canada Day Crafts}

Welcome to the 16th edition of the ECM Kids' Craft Club {an easy & inexpensive way for kids to have fun crafting and experience the excitement of getting their very own mail}.  If you want to join the club, you can find more info here.  For everyone who is already a member... let's get started on this month's craft.  This month we are making two Canada Day Crafts!

Here's the "how to":

1)  Color your flag and "Canada Day Carl" finger puppet.

2)  Cut out your flag and finger puppet.  Have a grown up help you cut out the two circles at the bottom of the finger puppet.

3)  Add a Canadian flag sticker to "Canada Day Carl's" t-shirt, and tape a popsicle stick to the back of your flag.

That's it!  I hope you enjoyed these crafts, and I hope you have a great Canada Day.  {Don't forget to leave me a comment, or send me an email.  Your comments help me improve the club, and I love hearing from you.} 

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Don't forget... Assist young children when using scissors, and be careful of the small parts included with this kit, as they can be a choking hazard for children under three".)

ECM Kids' Craft Club - #15 {Bird Bookmark}

Welcome to the 15th edition of the ECM Kids' Craft Club {an easy & inexpensive way for kids to have fun crafting and experience the excitement of getting their very own mail}.  If you want to join the club, you can find more info here.  For everyone who is already a member... let's get started on this month's craft.  This month we are making an adorable little birdie bookmark!

Here's the "how to":

1)  Cut out the template for the body, and color the blank side.

2)  Use the template to cut a beak out of the yellow cardstock included in the kit.

3)  Glue the body, beak, googly eye, and heart-shaped wing into place.

4)  Draw some feet, and tie ribbon to the top.

That's it!  I hope you enjoyed this craft, and I hope you use it with your favorite books.  {Don't forget to leave me a comment, or send me an email.  Your comments help me improve the club, and I love hearing from you.} 

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Don't forget... Assist young children when using scissors, and be careful of the small parts included with this kit, as they can be a choking hazard for children under three".)

Funny Frog Face {Preschool Craft}

Here is a simple craft for Preschoolers that is sure to delight your little ones -- a funny frog face.  The noisemaker tongue was definitely a hit with my three year old.  :-)

Want to make one?  Just follow the three simple steps below:

1) Using the template I designed (which you can find here), cut out the frog face and two eyes.

2)  Draw a face using a black marker or crayon, and glue the eyes in place.

3)  Cut a hole small hole in the middle of the mouth, and insert the noisemaker/"tongue".

That's it!  Easy peasy... and so much fun! Isn't this frog craft a fantastic project for Spring? It would be fantastic for "Leap Day" too.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

ECM Kids' Craft Club - #14 {Door Hanger}

Welcome to the 14th edition of the ECM Kids' Craft Club {an easy & inexpensive way for kids to have fun crafting and experience the excitement of getting their very own mail}.  If you want to join the club, you can find more info here.
For everyone who is already a member... let's get started on this month's craft.  This month we are making adorable a fun "Spring" door hanger!

Cute, right?  First, gather your supplies.  

Then...

1)  Cut out the door hanger and the black and red parts of the lady bug.

2)  Decorate the door hanger, and then glue the bottom (black) and top (red) parts of the lady bug in place.  {My son wrote "Cameron's Room... Don't Bug Me", but you can write whatever you want.}

3)  Glue on googly eyes and black spots.

That's it!  I hope you enjoyed this craft, and I hope you hang it on your bedroom door!  {Don't forget to leave me a comment, or send me an email.  Your comments help me improve the club, and I love hearing from you.}  

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Don't forget... Assist young children when using scissors, and be careful of the small parts included with this kit, as they can be a choking hazard for children under three".)

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Preschooler Craft {St.Patrick's Day Hat}

With St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, I thought I would share a fun and festive St. Patrick's Day craft with you.  This festive hat is great to make with little ones -- it is simple enough for Preschoolers, but older kids will enjoy it too.

Here’s how you make one:

1)  Gather your supplies (which you probably already have lying around your house)… white and green cardstock, scissors, glue, tape, crayons, googly eyes, and something for the nose (e.g. a penny, a pom pom or a button).

2)  Make a headband by cutting two or three strips of white cardstock about 2 inches thick.  Have the child color a “rainbow” onto the strips.

3)  Fit the strips to the child’s head and use tape or a stapler to secure it into the shape of a headband.

4)  Cut a big shamrock out of green cardstock.  (You can draw it freehand or print one from the internet.)

5)  Make a face on the shamrock using a crayon, googly eyes, and a penny, pom pom or button.

6)  Tape the decorated shamrock onto the front of the headband.

Cute, right?  And, making a fun hat to wear on March 17, 2013 is just one way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with your little leprechauns.  Here are a few more: 

1)  Wear something green. 

2)  Drink green milk.  (Just add a few drops of green food coloring to regular milk.)

3)  Set a leprechaun trap.  (They are hard to catch, but sometimes a good trap will cause a leprechaun to drop some of his treasure.)

4)  Eat green pancakes.  (Just add a few drops of green food coloring to your favorite pancake batter.)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  I hope it is a lucky day for you and your family. 

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Preschool Craft {Heart Person}

Valentine's Day is in a couple of days, and I have the perfect craft to do with your little ones -- it is simple enough for Preschoolers, but it is also great for older kids. All of my boys had fun making these adorable heart people.

Here’s how you make “Heart People”:

1) Gather your supplies (which you probably already have lying around your house)… red or pink construction paper, scissors, glue, markers, googly eyes, pom poms and/or buttons.

2) Cut out a big heart. (I drew one and had the kids trace it and cut it out.)

3) Make faces on the heart using markers, googly eyes, pom poms and/or buttons.

4) Make legs and arms by cutting strips of paper and folding them “accordion style”.

5) Glue on arms and legs. (You can also add “heart-shaped” hands and feet if desired.)

Cute, right? I made these when I was a little girl, and I had a great time making them with my boys.

Do you remember making Valentine's Day crafts when you were little? What did you make?

Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you enjoy lots of sweet treats and cuddles with your little ones this year.

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Find more fantastic Valentine's Day ideas here.

And check out some more wonderful Preschool crafts here.

Pumpkin Headband

This Halloween craft is fun for anyone, but it is especially great for toddlers and preschoolers.  I just finished crafting it with 7 little ones, and it was a big hit.  :-)

Want to make one with your child?  Just follow these four easy steps:

1) Cut out a pumpkin shape from orange construction paper and a pumpkin stem from green construction paper.  Glue the stem and googly eyes onto the pumpkin.  Draw a nose and mouth with a crayon or marker.

2) Cut two 1 1/2 inch strips of paper, and decorate them with stickers.

3)  Staple the ends of the strips to the pumpkin.

4)  Size the headband to the child's head, and staple the ends together.

Isn't this pumpkin headband a great/simple craft for Halloween?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)
 
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Paper EASTER Baskets... with free printable templates

If you are looking for a simple craft to do with your kids for Easter, look no further.  It doesn't get any easier than this one  -- paper Easter baskets with pipe cleaner handles.

To make one of these adorable baskets, print the template onto a piece of cardstock, and have the kids cut along the solid lines.  (I have created a free down-loadable template that you can find here.)

Next, fold along the dotted lines and staple the sides of the basket in place (per below).



To finish, have the kids decorate with stickers, and add a pipe cleaner handle.  (We braided three together so that it was extra strong and pretty.)

That's it!  Add some Easter grass, and the DIY Easter baskets are ready to be filled with eggs. Cute, right?

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

 You can find more easy and inexpensive Easter crafts, recipes and ideas here.

Paper Chain Advent Countdown

It's December 1.  Let the countdown begin! 

I have very fond memories of my childhood... especially around the holidays.  In raising my three boys, I try to remind myself that it will probably be the simple things we do together that will make the biggest impact on them.

One of the things I will always remember from my childhood is the excitement of counting down to Christmas with an advent paper chain.  I decided to share this tradition with my boys. 

Here is what we did:

1)  I marked out 1 1/2" strips on construction paper, and my boys cut out the strips.  We are starting our countdown on December 1, so we cut out 24 strips.

2)  The boys used crayons and markers to decorate the strips of papers.

3)  We looped the paper into connected rings and secured each ring with a staple.

That's it -- literally, as easy as 1, 2, 3!  We hung our chain from a ribbon, and on December 1, we will start ripping off one ring each day.  Can't you just feel the excitement building?  :-)

♥ 

Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Gift Tags from Recycled Cardboard

Looking for a use for all the cardboard boxes you have sitting in your recycling bin?  Why not make some cute gift tags?

Here is a tutorial for a charming Christmas tag {and I have also included a template for an adorable Birthday tag}.

You'll need:  a cardboard box (like a cereal box or granola bar box), yarn or ribbon, scraps of paper in different colors/patterns, scissors, and glue.

 Here's what you need to do:

1)  Use the templates found here to cut two gift tag shapes -- one from the decorative paper and one from the cardboard.  Also, cut out the tree shape in a contrasting paper color.

2)  Glue the decorative paper to the colorful side of the cardboard (so that the blank side of the cardboard is on the back of the tag)  Then, glue the tree to the top of the decorative paper.

3)  Punch a hole at the top of the tag, and loop a piece of thread or ribbon through the hole.

 

Easy, cute, and made with stuff you have lying around the house.  Use your imagination to decorate the tags any way you want... and let the kids try too.  The tree and cupcake templates are just to get you started.  :-)

♥

Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)