Arts and crafts recipes for preschoolers

NeedChildcare - A source for licensed daycare providers in Massachusetts

Bubbles
1 cup Joy or Dawn 2 cups warm water 3 tablespoons glycerin 1/2 Teaspoon sugar	Mix together and store in an air tight container. Item to use to "blow" bubbles: plastic strawberry basket, colander, funnel, plastic straw cut on a slant, tape several straws together, paper cup with a hole punched in the bottom will make giant bubbles.
Face Paint
1 tsp corn starch 1/2 tsp water 1/2 tsp cold cream 2 drops food coloring	Mix ingredients together thoroughly. Great to use for birthday parties, or Halloween party
Homemade Baby Wipes
1/2 roll of paper towels (cut in half to make short rolls) 1/8-1/4 c. baby shampoo 1/8-1/4 c. baby oil 2 cups lukewarm water 1 plastic container that the rolls fit in.	Cut roll in half and remove center card board. In Baby Wipe Container, mix liquid ingredients and place half of roll in container. Place on lid and tip upside down. To use, pull out from center.
Kool-Aid Play Dough
2 packages non-sweetened Kool-Aid 2 cups hot water 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 2 1/2 cups flour 1 cup salt 1 tablespoon cream of tartar (found in spice's section at grocery store)	Mix the Kool-Aid with water until dissolved then add vegetable oil. In a large bowl combine flour, salt and cream of tartar together. Add the kool-aid mixture to the dry ingredients and mix well. Add 2-3 additional cups of water as needed. Store in a tight container.
Papeir-mache Paste
1/2 cup all purpose flour 2 cups cold water 2 cups boiling water 3 tablespoons sugar	Boil water in a saucepan. In a bowl combine flour and cold water. Add this mixture to boiling water. Remove from heat and stir in sugar.

Recycle Christmas Cards:

CHRISTMAS PLACE MATS

Cut out the picture or card front.
Make a collage with the pictures.
Glue the cards/pictures onto an 11x17 sheet of paper. You may cut down the paper ahead of time to make a smaller place mat, if desired.
Laminate placemats.

bodyOffer(30895) MAKE CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENTS

Select a picture you can cut out, such as a reindeer, angel or Santa. Glue the card closed and let dry. Cut out the picture, punch a hole near the top and thread with ribbon. Or, cut the card into an interesting shape around the picture, such as a diamond or teardrop or star.
Cut out pictures from the cards. Glue them onto ornament shapes cut from construction paper, lace paper doilies, felt, painted cardboard, craft foam, etc. Punch a hole near the top and thread with ribbon or yarn.
Ignoring the picture on the front of the card, cut a spiral, starting large and spiraling inward to the center of the card front. When finished, pull the spiral slightly so that it will hang three-dimensionally like a Christmas tree. Use a pin to poke a hole in the top center of the spiral and loop some thread to it for hanging.

CHRISTMAS CRACKERS

Make a tube from your Christmas card, either using just the front part for a small cracker, or the whole card for a longer one.
Tape the tube together.
Fill the tube with tiny gifts and candy.
Wrap the tube in brightly-colored tissue or wrapping paper, or with aluminum foil.
Tie the ends with bright ribbon, leaving extra wrapping sticking out from each end.
Present them as little gifts, use as stocking stuffers or party favors.
To open, simply pull the two ends simultaneously until it pops open and the goodies spill out.

PHOTO FRAMES

Make simple photo frames to hang on the tree or place around the house.
Measure the photo you want to frame, then cut out an oval, rectangle or other shape from the front of the card to go over the photo.
Tape the photo to the inside of the card front. Open the card slightly to stand it up. Or, glue the card closed and punch a hole near the top, thread with ribbon and hang it on the tree.