April 15, 2009

Kids Butterfly Craft - Butterfly Mobiles

This kids butterfly craft is the first of several butterfly craft
projects I am hoping to get put up over the next few weeks! Spring is
full of fresh new life, and is a great time to try something new.
Making some of these playful butterfly craft projects is a great way to
brighten up your day. Children can make these playful butterfly mobiles
to hang in their room, or give away.


Spring is a great time for butterfly craft projects. This butterfly
mobile is a fun craft for children, and is the perfect decoration to
bring new life and spring growth to anywhere!


Here are some simple directions to get you started making butterfly
mobiles.

     Materials Needed

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  • Black chenille stems in both black and various bright colors
  • Pom poms in various colors
  • Paper plate
  • Markers or paint
  • Tape
  • Fishing line

     Tools Needed

  • Wire cutters 
  • Needle-nose pliers 
  • Scissors
  • Hole punch





     Instructions

  1. Cut one black chenille stem in half, and set aside.
  2. Bend a colorful chenille stem in half, creasing at the base
    to create a V-shape.
  3. Bend one end of the stem down toward the base, creating a
    sort of half circle. Bend the tip around the V.
  4. Do the same with the other half of the chenille stem.
  5. Use the needle-nose pliers to bend in any exposed sharp
    ends.
  6. Push the middle of each half circle in toward the middle,
    making a hard crease. It should be shaped like a capital B on the right
    and a backward capital B on the left. You've now formed the wings of
    the butterfly.
  7. Fold the black chenille stem you cut earlier in half. Twist
    the bend end about half an inch from the bend.
  8. Slide the butterfly wings between the ends of the black
    chenille stem. Twist the ends above the butterfly to hold it in place.
  9. Separate the ends of the black chenille stem. Bend them to
    create antennae for the butterfly.
  10. Put coordinating pom poms in the openings of the wings and
    glue them in place. Let dry.
  11. Make as many more butterflies as you would like
    for your mobile.
  12. Decorate the paper plate. A flower garden, a sky scene, or
    a pattern in colors to contrast your butterflies will help them to
    stand out.
Reading has never been this fun or easy!



     Assembling Your Butterfly Mobiles

  1. Use the hole punch to create holes to hang each butterfly
    from on the paper plate.
  2. Next punch four evenly spaced holes around the sides of the
    paper plate.
  3. Cut four pieces of fishing line of the same length.
  4. Thread one piece of fishing line through each of the holes
    around the edge of the paper plate and tie into place.
  5. Tie the loose ends of the fishing line together to form a
    place to hang your mobile from.
  6. Cut additional pieces of fishing line in various lengths to
    hang your butterflies from the paper plate
  7. Tie one end of the fishing line to the middle of
    the butterfly, and thread the other end through one of the holes you
    punched into the plate. Secure the loose fihing line with a piece of
    tape.
  8. Hang your butterfly mobiles from the ceiling and enjoy!


Zootles Magazine for Kids 2-6





     Alternate Hanging Idea

Another idea for hanging your butterflies, is to put them up
individually. Create you butterflies, but you will not need the paper
plate to hang them from. Use fishing line or some colorful yarn to hang
them from  items you already have hanging! Tie some to hang
from your haning plants, or from the curtain rod or shades. Dangle a
few from a lamp shade, or a ceiling fixture. Be creative and playful!

April 3, 2009

Paper Chain - How to Make a Paper Chain

Paper chains are fun and easy paper ornaments for children of all ages to make. This classic craft activity is often forgotten or overlooked. An easy to make paper chain is a great way decorate for special events or holidays. By tailoring your color choices to the event or holiday, you can have a perfectly themed decoration. This is a great craft activity to do as a family, and even young children can easily participate. Involving children in this project can help them develop their hand-eye coordination as they measure, draw lines and cut. It is also a great activity for pattern recognition. For many small children, making easy paper ornaments is the perfect way to introduce a ruler and scissors to them.

Supplies Needed to Make Paper Chain Decorations
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  • 9" X 12" Construction Paper
  • 12 inch Ruler
  • Scissors
  • Pencil or pen
  • Glue stick, craft glue or stapler and staples
  • Markers or crayons(optional)
  • Glue (optional)
  • Sequins, Buttons, Beads, Confetti, Glitter glue (optional)







Paper Chain - How To Make Paper Chain - The Instructions!

Paper Chain - How To Prepare Your Strips
  1. First, decide how wide you want your paper chain links to be. You will want to measure out your paper strips to this width. One inch is a good width. It is large enough for small hands to handle, and small enough to easily link the loops. Adjust the size to fit your tastes and project.
  2. Measure your strips along the long side of the construction paper, so that the strips are each 12 inches long. Mark the bottom and top of your paper at your measured width, and then use the ruler to draw a straight line the length of the paper.
  3. Repeat this measuring process for the entire width of the paper, using the line you just drew as your new edge. Continue until you have enough strips or have reached the end of your paper.
  4. Cut along the lines you have drawn to create your strips. Even small children can be a part of this cutting activity. Be sure to provide them with blunt tip scissors, and supervise them as they cut.
  5. Repeat this process to create more strips, or to make strips of a different color.


Paper Chain - How To Tips For Decorating Your Strips
  • Decorate your strips however you would like.
  • Remember that you will be covering about 1/2 inch of the end of each strip when assembling the links.
  • If you decide to use glue to add decorations, or glitter glue, you will need to allow time for the strips to dry before assembling your chain.


Paper Chain - How To Assemble Your Paper Chain
  1. Create your first link by overlapping the ends of a paper strip so that it forms a circle. Make sure the decorated side is facing out. Use glue, tape, or staples to affix it in this position.
  2. To link the chain together, assemble the next link by running the next paper strip through the first link. Form this strip into a circle with thte decorated side facing out. Secure in the same manner as the first.
  3. Repeat this procedure until your paper chain is the desired length.


Paper Chain - How To Tips & Suggestions
  • When using two colors, alternate them to create the most appealing chain.
  • Use several different colors and create a pattern for your child to reproduce.
  • To calculate how many links your chain will need, assemble five or six links and measure the length they create. Calculate how many times this length will need to be used to cover your desired space, and mulitply by how many links are in your original lenngth.
  • A finished paper chain is perfect to wrap around a banister or over a door frame. It can also be wrapped around a tree (such as a Christmas tree).
  • Another creative use for your paper chain is as a replacement for streamers.

Paper Chain - How To Tailor Your Colors
  • Try Red and White for a Valentine's Day chain.
  • Green, Orange, and Yellow are a great combination to make a spring chain!
  • Pastel colors are perfect for Easter.
  • Use Mom's favorite color(s) for Mother's Day.
  • Use your school's colors for end of year celebrations, or school sporting events.
  • Use Dad's favorite color(s) for Father's Day.
  • Red, White and Blue make a great 4th of July or Memorial Day chain!
  • Red, Orange, and Yellow are a great Fall theme.
  • Orange and Black are classic for Halloween.
  • Brown, Orange, and Yellow are perfect for Thanksgiving.
  • Red and Green are the classic combination for Christmas.
  • Try a Blue and White (Silver) chain for an alternate Christmas or winter idea.
  • A Rainbow theme is great for birthdays.
  • Pastel Pink and Blue are perfect for baby showers.
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