Repurpose Your Child's Art

If you are like me, I have a hard time throwing away my child's artwork.  So before you "recycle" it, try using it for a card to grandma or to wrap up a present.  Here are two we just made for papa and 4th of July.

HANDS and FEET Fine Art

Looking for some color, something unique, and something you can treasure over the years for your kids?  Pick up a large, square canvas at Aaron Brothers and colors of washable paint to match their room.  It is risky to do multiple hand prints of infants and toddlers, so try painting their foot and press on the canvas in random spots.  Then, paint an older child's left hand one color and right hand another color and press around the foot prints.  Rotate the canvas so the prints are going in different directions.  Write their names, ages and date on the back.  After it is dried, add this masterpiece to their room.  It will just what the room needed to make it complete.  I hope this inspires you to create some of your own unique pieces of art.  They would make great gifts for grandparents too!

Father's Day Gift Idea

 

Mother's Day and Teacher Appreciation are behind us and yet another holiday will be here before we know it.  As I write this, I initially thought this would be a Father's Day gift idea....however you could do this for an end of year gift for your teacher or save for another loved one.

I asked my son these 5 questions, but you can ask any question you like:
What is your daddy's name?
What color are his eyes and hair?
What does daddy like to do?
What do you like to do with daddy?
Why do you love daddy?

I found a photo of my boys and imported it to Printshop.  I made the opacity of the photo 80% so you can see the text.  Then I typed over the photo the answers to the questions.  Be sure to include the date! I printed it out and inserted it in a frame my son painted.  (I found the wood frame at Michael's Craft Store for $1.)  On the back my son wrote his name and put the date.  This is the one we made last year, but I think I might make it again.  It will be fun to hear how he answers the questions this year.

  

Favorite Recipe for Hand/Paw Print Christmas Ornament

Another rainy day, another craft!!!  This one by far is the easiest.  Two 4 year old boys measured and mixed the dough to create their own ornaments.  Great gifts for grandma and keepsakes.

Recipe: per child, about 4 hand prints but depends on size of hands
Mix together
1 C flour
1/2 C salt
1/2 C water

Knead 10 min. to form firm ball.  If sticky, add small amounts of flour.  Great way to strengthen hand muscles!  Should be like play dough.

Roll dough on a lightly floured surface to about 1/4" thickness.

Press hands or feet into the dough.  Use a cup or bowl to make into a circle shape and use a straw to poke a hole for ribbon.

Leave out to dry or bake in oven at 250 degrees.  Keep an eye on it!

Options:  add food coloring to the dough
Use cookie cutters or stamps
Paint  

 

Kneading the dough

Making a ball

Rolling the dough

Press hand - don't forget to poke hole for ribbon

I pressed baby's hand while he was asleep!  

Works great for paw prints too!

Photo Placemat

Class Photo Placemat

As a good-bye gift for the kids in the preschool class, we make a photo collage placemat.  I made an 11x14 (legal size) collage of photos using Print Shop.  Any photo program will work.  I made color copies at the local UPS store and glued it on a full size piece of construction paper.  On the reverse, each child made their hand prints out of white paint.  I then printed out the prayer that the kids said each day at snack.  You can write special memories or poem.  Once complete, I went to Lakeshore Learning and laminated them.  I found this to be the best price for laminating.
Each child will have a special mat of all their class friends to use for eating or playdough/crafts.

Our Teacher has Heart and Soul - Class Gift

As the year comes to an end, our class generously gave money toward a gift card for our teacher's favorite places.  We also wanted to make sure they had something to "remember" this class.  We decided on an apron, which any primary/preschool teacher can use.
I planned a class park date and we were able to complete this project  at that time.

All materials were purchased at Michaels Arts and Crafts.  Red apron, white fabric paint, Sharpie paint pen and sponge paint brush.  Additional items: WET WIPES

I wrote: "Miss Luci has HEART and SOUL" near the top of apron.  Then I had the kids take turns painting their foot or hands.  *Make sure the apron is turned upside down when painting the hands to make it look like a heart.  This paint dries relatively quick.  I wrote the child's name below their prints and the name of the school and year at the bottom of the apron.

My son pressed his hands in a giant red ink pad to make the bag for the aprons and filled it with red tissue paper.  You can also use red paint.

This project cost approx. $15 for 2 aprons, one bottle of paint and one paint pen.

The teacher's loved it!

* This would be a great gift for Fathers, Mothers or Grandparents! *

Do you have any fun ideas to share???  :)