Easter Eggs

This one's a little late - sorry. Easy craft, but needs adult supervision. These are fun AND if kept in the fridge can be eaten (if you like hard boiled eggs)

What You Need: Eggs, food colouring, crayons.

What To Do: Hard boil your eggs (I boil mine for about 10 - 15 minutes), run the eggs under cool water until they can easily be handled and then completely dry them. Mix up some food colouring and water in small dishes (the more colour, the brighter it'll be on the egg). Have child, carefully, draw on the egg with crayon - older children can draw faces or repetitive designs. Dip the egg in colour (a quick dip will give you lighter colour, than letting it soak). You can do single colour eggs or you can dip multiple times for fun colour combos and colour mixing (this is good for teaching that two colours make a whole new one!).

**Hard boiled eggs can be kept for up to a week, if they are kept in the fridge.

Spring is Springing: Butterfly

Spring may be springing everywhere, except in Central Alberta! That's not stopping us from getting started on our fun spring crafts. It may still be snowing outside, but inside we've got butterflies and flowers and rainbows! 

What You'll Need: Coffee filters, washable markers (permanent ones don't work), clothes pin or pipe cleaner, **optional; googley eyes, magnet**

What to do: Colour in big bold blotches on the filter, spray a bit of water in the center of the filter and watch as it seeps towards the edges and blends the colours. Let it dry completely (about 1/2 hour). Fold filter in half and scrunch together, you can use either a clothes pin (like we did) or use a pipe cleaner cut down to size. Glue on or draw eyes and fluff out the wings! Voila, you have a beautiful butterfly.

Tips: Don't use too much water as it can take a long time to dry.

If you use a pipe cleaner for the body make sure you twist it tightly and cut enough that you have a little extra at the top for antenas!

If using a pin, glue a magnent on the back and you can hang stuff on your butterfly!

Make a bunch of butterflies and hang them in a window to let the light shine through!

Magic Paint

What you'll need: Paint, water, paint brush/sponge, white crayon, white paper
Have child draw on the paper with white crayon. Then paint over it with watered down tempura paint or water colours. Watch as the childs drawing or scribbles or name or whatever 'magically' appear!

Lovey Hearts

Sorry, it's been awhile! Although late, here is a sweet little (easy) Valentines day craft. This can also be used for Mother's Day or Grandparent Day or any other day you want to show a little love!

 What you need: Construction paper, scissors, markers/crayons, glue stick, sparkles (if you're daring enough!).
Have Mommy cut out some hearts in different sizes and colours. Either glue to the paper and decorate or decorate each heart before you stick it on. You can even use the scraps from cutting out your hearts, to make something extra special! Toddlers love to be independant - this is a great one to just let them go with the glue stick, hearts and crayons!

Halloweeny Fun

I don't know about you, but it's not very often I can find ANY activity that holds my two year olds attention for more than a couple of minutes. These easy Halloween activities are quick and only a little preparation, they are great for pulling out when you need a quiet minute!

What You'll Need:

1. Construction paper in halloweeny colours
2. scissors and glue stick
3. **optional: stickers, glitter, markers/crayons

Handprint Ghosts:

• pre-cut construction paper into small circles, smiles, pumpkins, triangles (anything really) for eyes, jackolanterns, ect
• Trace childs hand on white construction paper - cut out
• Help child glue hand (fingers down) onto paper for the ghosty - glue on eyes, mouths, or anything else to complete the scene - glow in the dark star stickers might be a nice touch!

Easy-Peasy Jack-o-Lanterns

• Pre-cut orange construction paper into pumpkin shapes, green paper into handles/leaves, and black paper into an assortment of shapes to decorate your pumpkin (triangles, smiles, circles, squares, swirls, anything!)
• help child glue shapes onto pumpkins to create their very own Jack-o-lantern
• ** this one is great for a more independant toddler craft as long as they are good with a glue stick**