Under the Sea Crafts

I teach a weekly craft class to Preschoolers, and we always make cute crafts related to a fun theme. Today, I am sharing some simple "Under the Sea" crafts that are totally adorable!

Cute, right?

To make a paper bag fish:
1) Have the children decorate a paper bag.
2) Stuff the bag with tissue paper.
3) Use a piece of twine to close the bag and create a tail.
4) Use glue to add googly eyes.

To make a paper plate fish:
1) Cut a mouth from the plate and attach it as a tail.
2) Use glue and 1-inch squares of tissue paper to cover the fish.
3) Use tape to attach a popsicle stick to the back of the fish.
4) Use glue to attach a googly eye.

To make a sticker octopus:
1) Cut a circle from a piece of yellow construction paper, and glue it onto a blue sheet of construction paper.
2) Use stickers to create legs.
3) Draw a face.
4) Attach googly eyes with glue.

I also love this paper bag jellyfish craft. It's perfect for practicing scissor skills. Color the bag, Cut strips, add googly eyes, and tape a popsicle stick to the back.

And how cute is this "scuba diver" craft? Kids colour the picture, and then they glue on: their face, flippers, and a pipe cleaner snorkel.

There are many ideas for an "under the sea" theme, but I think these three crafts are fantastic. They are really cute, and they are wonderful crafts for practicing fine motor skills. Do you have a little one that would enjoy these "under the sea" crafts?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Camping Crafts and Activities

Summer is a wonderful time to get out and explore nature, but sometimes a major outdoor camping trip isn't possible. So today, I am sharing some "indoor" camping crafts and activities that are simple and fun... and you won't even need to put up a tent. 

To make a paper tent:

1) Cut a tent from a piece of colored paper, cut out doors, and glue the tent to a piece of white card stock.
2) Glue a picture of a child inside the tent.
3) Draw a tree, and create leaves by gluing on crumpled 1-inch tissue paper squares.
4) Embellish with crayons and a yellow, circle sun.

To make paper towel roll binoculars:

1) Cut a paper towel roll to create two equal parts.
2) Use duct tape to attach the two pieces together.
3) Embellish with crayons and stickers.

To make a handprint fire:

1) Trace a child's hands to create the flames.
2) Glue strips to create "logs".
3) Add a paper stick and a cotton ball "marshmallow".

To make an indoor camp fire:

1) Put a flashlight in a bowl.
2) Crumple tissue paper to create flames.

Indoor camping is always a lot of fun, and it is a wonderful way to spend a rainy day. Happy camping!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Preschool Theme: Colors

Whether you are a mom with a Preschooler at home or you teach in a preschool environment, "preschool themes" can be a lot of fun and a fantastic way for kids to learn. Today I am sharing some wonderful ways to explore COLOR.

The crafts and activities that I am sharing today are perfect for 3-5 year olds. Tearing paper, coloring and gluing are all simple tasks and good ways to work on fine motor skills. Also, while the kids are having fun, they will be working on name and color recognition.

Books for Color Theme:

Mabel Murple by Sheree Fitch

Red is Best by Kathy Stinson

Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle

Mix it Up by Herve Tullet

Song for Color Theme (to the theme of Mary Had a Little Lamb):

If you’re wearing {blue} today, {blue} today, {blue} today,

If you’re wearing {blue} today, stand up and shout “hurray!”

Activities for Color Theme:

Sort pom poms with clothespins

Bean bag toss onto colored pieces of paper

Sort cars into parking spots… by color

Sort foam bits into containers… by color

Sort colored goldfish or froot loops… by color

Sort colored paper clips

Each child gets a card with a color, they name things with that color, and the other children try to guess the color.

Crafts for Color Theme:

Make a rainbow by ripping paper in different colors and gluing it onto a piece of cardstock. (Or make a beach ball using the same technique.)

Craft a caterpillar made from colored circles.

Make a name puzzle using colored letters.

Make a color book by coloring each page a different color.

There are many possible ways to play with color, and it is a fun theme for little ones. Do you know a Preschooler that would enjoy some of these "color" crafts and activities?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Preschool Theme: Princess Tea Party

This week, I taught a "princess tea party" themed craft class to a group of preschoolers, and it was simple and fun! Today, I am sharing everything you need to know to host your own delightful Princess Tea Party.

I asked all the kids come to class dressed for a party, and they all came in their favorite dresses. They really enjoyed arriving at my house in their fancy clothes.

We read, "The Paper Bag Princess" by Robert Munsch (which all the kids enjoyed), and then we started crafting.

We made three crafts: a princess crown, a princess necklace (which was just a paper pendant that the kids decorated and hung from a ribbon), and a princess wand (made from a paper star and a popsicle stick). 

Then, we finished our party with some cookies and juice. Of course, we drank juice from tea cups that we poured from a tea pot.

A princess tea party is a really fun theme for a party, a preschool class, or a special afternoon with a little one. Do you have a little one who would enjoy these simple princess paper crafts?

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Simple Spring Crafts for Kids

Celebrating a change in seasons can be a lot of fun, and Spring provides the perfect inspiration for some fantastic crafts. I love the cheerful colors associated with Spring, don't you? Today, I am sharing two wonderful crafts that are inspired by Spring.

To make a delightful Spring wreath, you'll need: a paper plate, tissue paper in lovely Spring colors, glue, ribbon, and a dollar store flower.

Then:

1) Cut the centre from a paper plate.
2) Punch a couple holes in the top of the plate, and insert a ribbon for hanging.
3) Scrunch up 1-inch squares of tissue paper, and use glue to cover the entire surface of the paper plate.
4) Allow the glue to dry, and add a dollar store flower.

To make a sweet umbrella craft: draw an umbrella shape, color it, and cut it out. Glue the umbrella to a brightly colored piece of card stock, and then use glue to attach heart-shaped "raindrops". (I used a heart-shaped punch, but you could do it freehand too.)

Aren't these adorable Spring crafts? They work well for toddlers and pre-schoolers, but older children will like them too. 

Happy Spring!

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Halloween Paper Crafts

I love paper crafts because they are easy to make, and you always have all the supplies you need. Today I am sharing three adorable and simple Halloween paper crafts that are perfect for preschoolers (and fun for older kids too)!

To make a torn paper pumpkin:

1) Draw a circle on a piece of card stock.
2) Rip orange construction paper into pieces.
3) Glue the torn pieces of paper onto the paper until the circle is filled. (I used a glue stick, but white glue would work too.)
4) Cut out a stem and face (from construction paper), and glue the pieces onto the pumpkin.

To make the spider headband:

1) Download the spider template here. 
2) Color and cut out the spider, and glue on googly eyes.
3) Make a headband by taping 1 inch strips of paper together.
4) Attach spider to the headband with tape.

To make a spooky name plate:

1) Write and color the child's name.
2) Decorate with Halloween stickers.

And how cute are these simple paper puppets? Simply draw some Halloween shapes (pumpkins, ghosts, and bats) on cardstock, decorate, and tape popsicle sticks to the back.

All of these Halloween paper crafts are delightful, fun, and easy to make. They are fantastic for working on fine motor skills, and a great way to celebrate Halloween. Enjoy!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS - If you like simple paper Halloween crafts, you might want to check out these older posts too!

Ghost Mask - Get the FREE template here.

Pumpkin Headband - See the step-by-step tutorial here.

Preschool Theme: Farm Animals

I teach a weekly class of 3 and 4 year olds, and each week we have a fun Preschool theme. Today, I am sharing three easy and inexpensive FARM ANIMAL crafts and activities that Preschoolers are guaranteed to love!

We had some farm animal fun by: making a free standing pig, crafting a fluffy sheep mask, and practicing cutting.

To make the pig:

1) Download the pig template that you can find here, and print it onto a piece of cardstock.
2) Color the pig, cut it out, and glue on two googly eyes.
3) Use a hole punch to attach a piece of curling ribbon, and use scissors to curl it.
4) Color clothespins pink, and attach to pig.

To practice cutting (with some help from some adorable farm animals):

1) Right-click on the picture below.
2) Save the picture to your computer.
3) Print the page (like a regular 8X10 photo).
4) Cut along the lines until the child reaches the farm animal. 

To craft the soft and fluffy sheep mask:

1) Cut the centre out of a thick paper plate.
2) Dip cotton balls in glue, and attach them onto the paper plate until it is covered.
3) Use tape to attach a popsicle stick and ears (if desired).

You can also draw a simple "headless" farmer for the kids to colour. Then, have the kids glue on their head to create a farmer that looks just like them!

Aren't these farm animal crafts and activities totally adorable? I think they are perfect for Preschoolers (and older kids too). 

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Preschool Theme: Fall

I teach a weekly class of 3 and 4 year olds, and each week we have a fun Preschool theme. Today I am sharing three easy and inexpensive Fall crafts that Preschoolers are guaranteed to love!

To make a beautiful fall tissue paper wreath:

1) Cut the centre out of a paper plate.
2) Cut several one-inch tissue paper squares in lovely fall colors.
3) Have the Preschooler crumple the squares of tissue paper, dip them in white glue, and attach them to the paper plate. Continue until the entire plate is covered.
4) Punch a hole in the top of the wreath, and insert a ribbon for hanging.

To make a simple Cheerios bird feeder:

1) Attach a button to the bottom of a pipe cleaner (to prevent the Cheerios from falling off).
2) Have the Preschooler thread Cheerios onto the pipe cleaner.
3) Make a loop at the top of the pipe cleaner, and hang in a tree for the birds to enjoy.

To make an adorable scarecrow puppet:

1) Print the template that you can find here for only $0.99US.* (You can use a photocopier to enlarge it to the desired size.) 
2) Have the Preschooler color the puppet, and use glue to attach two googly eyes.
3) Cut out the puppet.
4) Use tape to attach a dowel or craft stick to the back of the puppet.

And check out this simple video...

Aren't these three Fall crafts totally adorable? I think they are perfect for Preschoolers (and older kids too). What's your favorite thing about Fall?

♥
Gina (aka East Coast Mommy)

Circus Crafts... with printable templates

I love a good "theme", and a circus theme is one of my favorites. Recently, I had a fantastic time making some circus crafts and playing dress up with a group of children. Today I am sharing the tutorials and printable templates.

One of my favorite circus crafts is this clown puppet that I designed. Just print the template (you can find here) onto cardstock, color the clown, cut it out, add some googly eyes and a button nose (with glue), and tape a craft stick to the back. Isn't it adorable?

I also designed an adorable elephant puppet. Just print the template (that you can find here) onto cardstock, cut it out (including a hole for the nose), glue on some googly eyes, and tape a craft stick to the backs. The ability for the child to use his or her finger as a trunk makes this circus craft extra special!

It's also easy to transform little ones into clowns with simple paper plate clown collars. All you need to do is: cut the centre out of a paper plate, color it, and cut a slit in the back. I love how easy and inexpensive this craft is, and I guarantee your little ones will love it too!

These circus crafts are perfect for an afternoon of crafting, but they would be wonderful activities for a circus party too! I hope you and your little ones enjoy making these fun circus crafts as much as we did.

♥ 
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

Number Crafts and Activities (1-10)... including free worksheets and craft templates

I teach a weekly class for Preschoolers called "123 Learn with Me".  It's a 10 week class, and each week we learn about a new number through fun activities and crafts.  Today, I am sharing links to all TEN awesome lesson plans and NUMBER CRAFTS.

Click on the links to download the worksheets and craft templates for FREE.

NUMBER ONE crafts and activities - The highlight of our "number one" crafting session was an adorable (and colorful) paper plate bird.  Free worksheets can be downloaded by clinking the link.

NUMBER TWO crafts and activities - The "One Fish Two Fish" handprint craft is seriously cute, and a fun way to learn about the number two.  Free templates can be downloaded by clicking the link.

NUMBER THREE crafts and activities - We learned about the number three through "The Three Little Pigs". The puppets and houses were a hit with the kids, and you can download the templates for free by clicking the link.

NUMBER FOUR crafts and activities - We learned about the number four via some great worksheets and by crafting these adorable (personalized) cupcake liner flowers. Cute, right?  All the worksheets and templates can be downloaded by clicking the link.

NUMBER FIVE crafts and activities - We had a lot of fun learning about the number five during our teddy bear picnic.  You can find everything you need to host your own picnic by clicking the link.

NUMBER SIX crafts and activities - We went on a Pirate adventure and learned all about the number six.  The highlight was the pirate treasure chest craft containing six jewels.  You can download all the worksheets and templates by clicking the link.

NUMBER SEVEN crafts and activities - We learned all about the number seven via a "too cute for words" love bug with seven spots.  Crafting a number seven headband was also a lot of fun for the kids.  You can download the entire number seven lesson plan by clicking the link.

NUMBER EIGHT crafts and activities - What has eight legs? Well, the answer is... the adorable octopus and spider crafts we made to learn about the number eight.  Free templates can be found by clicking the link.

NUMBER NINE crafts and activities - We had a lot of fun learning about the number nine, and the highlight was definitely our monster with nine eyes.  You can download all the number nine templates and worksheets by clicking the link.

NUMBER TEN crafts and activities - The kids had a great time using their ten fingers to make an adorable owl craft.  You can download this craft, and additional craft templates and worksheets, by clicking the link.

Isn't crafting a fun way to teach little ones about their numbers? I hope you enjoy all the free worksheets and templates. Happy crafting!

♥
Gina Bell (aka East Coast Mommy)

PS - You can grab a copy of my 40+ page "Numbers" WORKBOOK here.