Colorful Rainbow Popsicle Stick Stars

Posted on March 9, 2022 by Fullbloomcreativity

I am starting a new Dollar Tree Challenge where I will be using 5 items or less from the Dollar Tree to create a project. For today’s project, I made rainbow popsicle stick stars with my son.

I will admit that I have an addiction to the Dollar Tree. Well, I can’t help it. I find so many great things there to use for activities. What is your favorite thing to buy at the dollar store?

Today’s craft can be used for learning about stars and rainbows. They also make great Christmas ornaments. You can use these popsicle stick stars in many different ways.

Use this activity to talk about the colors of the rainbow. You can expand on that by discussing primary and secondary colors.

SUPPLIES FOR POPSICLE STICK STARS

Colored Popsicle Sticks

Hot Glue Gun

Twine

If you do not have colored popsicle sticks, you can paint plain popsicle sticks to use. Personally, I used regular sized popsicle sticks, but you could also use the jumbo size.

All of the supplies came from the Dollar Tree.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Begin by sorting your popsicle sticks by color. You will need 5 popsicle sticks for each star. If you do not have colored popsicle sticks, you can paint plain ones.

2. Create your star out of the popsicle sticks. Then, glue the ends of the popsicle sticks together. Follow along through the step-by-step pictures below.

Just a reminder that an adult should use the hot glue gun.

3. We found a branch that had fallen off a tree in our backyard and hung it with twine from our ceiling. Then, I added twine to the popsicle stick stars and attached them to the branch in order of the colors of the rainbow.

I look forward to sharing more Dollar Tree Challenge activities with you. For another project from this challenge, check out my “Mess-Free Love Painting.”

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All activities here are activities I feel are safe for my own children. As your child’s parents/guardians, you will need to decide what you feel is safe for your family. I always encourage contacting your child’s pediatrician for guidance if you are not sure about the safety/age appropriateness of an activity. All activities on this blog are intended to be performed with adult supervision. Appropriate and reasonable caution should be used when activities call for the use of materials that could potentially be harmful, such as scissors, or items that could present a choking risk (small items), or a drowning risk (water activities), and with introducing a new food/ingredient to a child (allergies). Observe caution and safety at all times. The author and blog disclaim liability for any damage, mishap, or injury that may occur from engaging in any of these activities on this blog.

How to Make Watercolor Ornament Christmas Cards

Posted on December 17, 2020 by Fullbloomcreativity

One of favorite mediums to use for art are watercolor paints. To start with, they involve one of Ben’s most favorite thing in the world… Water. He loves to mix the paints together and watch his water cup change color. I used his artwork to make watercolor ornament Christmas cards.

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SUPPLIES FOR WATERCOLOR ORNAMENT CARDS

Watercolor Paints

Paint Pallet

Paint Brushes

Watercolor Paper

White Cardstock Paper

Marker

Scissors

Glue

Optional: White Crayon and/or Salt

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Draw Designs with White Crayon

First, use a white (or another light color) crayon to draw designs on a white piece of watercolor paper. I drew loops, zigzags, dots, swirls, etc. you do not have to draw anything if you do not want to.

I recommend using watercolor paper versus other paper because it can handle a lot of water. If your child is like mine, more water ends up on the paper than actual paint.

2. Prepare Paint Pallet

Next, I set up a paint pallet with different color liquid watercolor paints and a cup of water. I love this simple plastic pallet, because it is the perfect size for Ben and it is easy to clean. It has held up well through many projects. If you do not have a pallet, you can use a paper plate.

3. Paint

Now on to the fun part, let your kid paint. No other instructions. As they paint, the hidden designs will reveal themselves. Surprise!

4. Add Salt (Optional)

In addition, you can sprinkle salt onto the painting while it is still wet. It will make the paint look splotchy. Once the paint has dried, just brush the salt off the paper. This is an optional step.

5. Cut Out Circles

After the paint has dried completely, cut various size circles out of the artwork. I cut out 3 different sizes to make watercolor ornaments for Ben. Set them aside for now.

6. Cut Out and Fold Cards

Next, I cut the white cardstock paper in half to make two rectangles that measured 8 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches. I then trimmed 1/2 inch off the long side to make is 8 inches long. Then I folded the paper in half to make a card that measured 4 inches by 5 1/2 inches. I made mine this size, because I already had envelopes that fitted a 4 x 6 card.

If you do not want to make your own card form, you could purchase plain white cards at your local craft store or online.

7. Glue the Watercolor Ornament Cut-outs on to the Cards

One of the last steps is to glue the circle watercolor ornaments on to the front of the cards. Add as many or as little as you want.

8. Draw Strings and Bows

For a final touch, I drew lines from the top of the card to the top of the ornament to look like they were hanging. Lastly, I drew a bow at the top of my ornament at the bottom of the line.

For more ideas about watercolor resist painting, check out our blog post, “How to Make a Color-Resist Watercolor Spider Web.”

For another homemade Christmas card, check out my blog post: “How to Make Christmas Tree Cards Using Paint Chips.” Happy Holidays!

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How to Make Christmas Tree Cards Using Paint Chips

Posted on December 12, 2020 by Fullbloomcreativity

This year, I decided to make homemade Christmas cards to send out to family and friends. I loved being able to involve my son, Ben, with this activity. For these cards, I used paint chips to make Christmas trees.

SUPPLIES

Paint Chips

White Cardstock Paper

Scissors

Glue

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Start by cutting different size triangles out of various shades of green paint chips. The great thing about using paint chips is that you can get them for FREE at your local hardware store.

2. Next, I cut the white cardstock paper in half to make two rectangles that measured 8 1/2 inches by 5 1/2 inches. Then, I trimmed 1/2 inch off the long side to make is 8 inches long. After that, I folded the paper in half to make a card that measured 4 inches by 5 1/2 inches. I made mine this size, because I already had envelopes that fitted a 4 x 6 card.

If you do not want to make your own card form, you could purchase plain white cards at your local craft store or online.

3. Next, glue the triangles onto the front of the card.

4. Finally, an additional option is to write on the front of the cards. Therefore, I wrote “Merry Christmas!” and “Happy Holidays!” on some of the cards.

For another homemade Christmas card, check out my blog post: “How to Make Watercolor Ornament Christmas Cards.” Happy Holidays!

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Invitation to Play: Decorating Gingerbread Men Craft

Posted on December 10, 2020 by Fullbloomcreativity

Today, we decorated foam cutouts of gingerbread men. I love setting up open-ended activities for Ben. To begin, I assembled a tray of items to decorate the gingerbread men. I set everything out on a table and let Ben take it from there. This is an activity that entertained him for an extended period of time, and one that he kept going back to.

SUPPLIES

Foam Gingerbread Men Cutouts

Glue

Decorations: Googly Eyes, Stickers, Beads, Dried Pasta, Beans, Pipe Cleaners, Pompoms, etc.

I purchased the foam gingerbread men cutouts, along with most of the other supplies, at our local dollar store. You could also cut your own gingerbread me now out of foam paper, brown construction paper, cardboard, or recycled brown paper bags. Above are the decorations that we used, but you could use whatever you have on hand or things that your children would enjoy.

INVITATION TO PLAY

1. Begin by gathering items to decorate the gingerbread men. We used googly eyes, pompoms, beads, gems, dried pasta, beans, stickers, and pipe cleaners. I twisted the pipe cleaners into bows. I assembled everything on to a divided tray. You can also use buttons, ribbon, glitter, markers, etc.

2. Set out the assembled tray of decorations along with the foam gingerbread men cutouts and glue on a table. Next, I invited Ben to come play. He took over from there.

This activity is great to work on fine motor skills, hand strength, identifying body parts, counting and so much more. Please tag us on social media if you try this craft out. Happy Holidays!

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

I love to pair books with the activities that I do with Ben. Sometimes I am inspired by the books themselves, and sometimes the activities inspire which books we read. Here are a few books that we have enjoyed that also complement decorating gingerbread people:

The Gingerbread Man

Written and Illustrated by Gail Yerrill

The Gingerbread Girl

Written and Illustrated by Lisa Campbell Ernst

Gingerbread Baby

Written and Illustrated by Jan Brett

Catch That Cookie!

Written by Hallie Durand

Illustrated by David Small

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Santa Countdown to Christmas Advent Calendar – FREE Printable

Posted on December 1, 2020 by Fullbloomcreativity

It is hard to believe that today is the first of December. Every year, my family loves to use an Advent Calendar to countdown to Christmas. This year, I decided to mix it up with this FREE printable Santa Advent calendar. My four year old son is obsessed with Santa Claus and decorating for Christmas.

Enjoy this fun and easy way to countdown to Christmas!

SUPPLIES FOR ADVENT CALENDAR

Free Printable Santa Countdown to Christmas Calendar

Glue

Cotton Balls

Optional: Hole Punch and String

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Begin by downloading and printing the Santa Countdown to Christmas Advent Calendar. I recommend printing on cardstock for durability.

2. Starting on December 1st, glue a cotton ball each day on the corresponding number. When the beard is filled in, Santa will come that night, Christmas Eve.

3. If you would like to hang your calendar, you can punch a hole in the top and add string.

Click the picture below to download the FREE Printable Santa Countdown to Christmas Advent Calendar. Merry Christmas!

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3 Fun and Simple Fall Games for Preschoolers

Posted on November 23, 2020 by Fullbloomcreativity

Thanksgiving is looking a little different for many families this year, mine included. We are not having the traditional big family dinners due to the pandemic. To help entertain my son this holiday, I decided to make a few simple and easy fall games to play as a family.

I have included FREE downloads of the documents that I created. I hope that your family enjoys these games as much as we did. Enjoy!

1. Feed the Turkey

SUPPLIES

Plastic Bottle (I used Gatorade bottles)

Construction Paper

Googly Eyes

Pompoms

Dice

INSTRUCTIONS

1. First, you will need to create the turkeys. Personally, I used plastic Gatorade bottles. I found that the opening on most water bottles was too small when trying to remove the pompoms. Start with cutting out a beak and feathers out of construction paper.

2. Time to glue. You will need to glue the feathers onto the backside of the bottle towards the top. On the front of the bottle add googly eyes and the beak.

3. Now that your bottles are ready, it’s time to play. Each player will take turns rolling the dice (you can use either one or two). If you use two dice, you can practice addition with your child. Each player will count and add the corresponding number of pompoms into their bottle. The first person to fill their bottle with pompoms wins!

My son wanted to play this game over and over. He loves to race, so this was right up his alley. This game helps to work on fine motor skills, counting, number recognition, addition and turn taking.

2. Fall Bingo

SUPPLIES

Fall Bingo Game (FREE Download)

Bingo Markers (such as pumpkin seeds, rocks, pompoms, etc.)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Download and print the FREE fall bingo game. I recommend printing on cardstock for durability. You could laminate the bingo cards and pieces. As a side note, this game includes 10 bingo cards and the call sheet.

2. Next, cut the pieces out on the call sheet along the dotted lines.

3. Then, set out a bowl with colorful pumpkin seeds to use as bingo markers and a bowl with the call pieces.

4. Everyone should pick one bingo card to use. Place a pumpkin seed on the FREE space in the middle.

5. Now it’s time to play! Call out squares one by one by picking pieces out of the bowl. As items are called, place a pumpkin seed on the corresponding square on your bingo card. Once you have 5 in a row (vertical, horizontal or on a diagonal), say “BINGO!”

This game was such a big hit with my son. We played it multiple times for several days. This game helps to work on fine motor skills, matching, fall vocabulary, and math.

Check out my previous blog post to learn “How to Dye Pumpkin Seeds.”

3. Fall Matching Game

SUPPLIES

Fall Match Game (FREE Download)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Download and print the FREE fall matching game. I recommend printing on cardstock for durability. You could also laminate the pieces.

2. Next, cut the game pieces out along the dotted lines.

3. Time to play. Place the pieces face down on the table in a grid pattern. Then, take turns turning over two cards to find a match. The person with the most matches wins!

My son has always loved matching games. I created this game to help with his vocabulary of fall words. This game helps to work on literacy, vocabulary, matching, memory skills and turn taking.

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How to Make a Recycled Cardboard Monster

Posted on October 30, 2020 by Fullbloomcreativity

This week’s homework assignment was to make monsters out of recycled cardboard. Challenge accepted. I love crafts, and I especially love reusing or repurposing items. Therefore, making a cardboard monster was right up my alley.

This is a fun activity that allows your child to use their imagination. What do you want your monster to look like? Is it going to be big or small? How many eyes will it have? Does it have antennas?

SUPPLIES

Cardboard Boxes (tissue boxes, cereal boxes, etc.)

Toilet Paper or Paper Towel Rolls

Googly Eyes

Glue and/or Tape

Construction Paper

Scissors

Art Supplies (such as feathers, pompoms, dabbers, markers, and pipe cleaners)

Divided Tray

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Set Up Supplies

I assembled a bin of random cardboard boxes and toilet paper rolls. You could also add paper towel rolls, tin cans (be careful of sharp edges), plastic bottles, and bottle caps. In addition to these, I set out a tray with colorful feathers, bright popsicle sticks, pompoms, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, and construction paper cut into shapes. You can have your child cut out the shapes that they want. I leave this to your discretion as you know your child’s skills best. Finally, I laid out construction paper, markers, glue, tape, bingo dabbers, and scissors.

2. Pick Out Your Cardboard Materials

First, I had Ben pick out a box. He wanted to make a tall cardboard monster, so he picked out one of the bigger boxes. You can either add legs and arms now or after you decorate the main box. We chose to add them at the end, which made it easier to to decorate. Plus, it takes awhile for the glue to dry when attaching the legs, arms, etc.

3. Color Your Monster

Next, we used construction paper to color our cardboard monster, but you could also use crayons, markers, paint, or even wrapping paper.

When asked what color did he want to make his monster, Ben exclaimed, “Rainbow!” We cut out colorful panels of construction paper that Ben attached with glue to each side.

4. Decorate Your Monster

Let your child’s imagination run wild. It’s time to decorate your monster. Be creative.

5. Assemble Cardboard Monster

Time to put your monster together. Add its legs, arms, tails, and antennas with either glue or tape. Allow time for everything to dry before playing with your recycled cardboard monster.

TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES

This activity teaches so much to your child. Not only are they working on their engineering and fine motor skills, your child can works on shapes, numbers, math, counting, colors and more.

Here are some ideas:

– Name colors of the the items that you are using.

– How many eyes, arms, antenna, etc.? Add or subtract items.

– Name shapes that you are using. I cut out different shapes to be used and asked him to name which shapes he wanted to use.

– Name body parts as you are adding them to the monster.

These are just a few ideas of lessons that you can work on while creating your cardboard monster. I would love to hear what lessons you worked on with your little one while making cardboard monsters.

Alternative Cardboard Monster

If you do not want to make a big cardboard monster with lots of parts, I suggest making some with just a single toilet paper roll. We covered ours with construction paper, but you could use markers or paint to color it. Then add your decorative items like above. Aren’t they cute?!

For more monster fun, check out our DIY Colorful Monster Play Dough Kit.

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How to Make a Color-Resist Watercolor Spider Web

Posted on October 28, 2020 by Fullbloomcreativity

Eek! I just saw a spider. Oh wait…. it’s just today’s art project. Today’s project is a color-resist watercolor spider web. Color-resist is so much fun, because there’s a hidden surprise that your child finds once they start painting. And who doesn’t love a surprise?!

Before beginning to paint, we read the story “The Very Busy Spider” by Eric Carle. I love when I can pair a book with an activity! Ben really enjoyed this story. He loved all of the animals and the spider web. He said that the spider web looks like a maze (one of his current obsessions).

SUPPLIES

White Watercolor Paper

White Crayon

Liquid Watercolor Paints (or whatever watercolor paint that you have)

Paintbrushes

Paint Pallet (or a paper plate)

Water Cup (I use one of Ben’s old snack cups, because I like the rubber bottom and handles)

Salt (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Draw Spider Web

First, use a white (or another light color) crayon to draw a spider web on a white piece of watercolor paper. I recommend using watercolor paper versus other paper because it can handle a lot of water. If your child is like mine, more water ends up on the paper than actual paint.

2. Prepare Paint Pallet

Next, I set up a paint pallet with different color liquid watercolor paints and a cup of water. I gave him many primary colors for this project, because he has enjoy mixing colors to make secondary colors. You can use whatever colors that you want. I love this simple plastic pallet, because it is the perfect size for Ben and it is easy to clean. It has held up well through many projects. If you do not have a pallet, you can use a paper plate.

3. Paint

Lastly, let your kid paint. No other instructions. As they paint, the hidden spiderweb will reveal itself. Surprise!

4. Add Salt (Optional)

In addition, you can sprinkle salt onto the painting while it is still wet. It will make the paint look splotchy. This is an optional step.

Ben loves mixing the colors together to see what they will turn. We have been practicing which primary colors make secondary colors. He definitely knows that red and yellow make his favorite color orange.

Revealing the spider web. So exciting!

Somehow Ben always finds a way to incorporate cars into whatever activity that we are doing. LOL Can we say car obsessed?! He had fun chasing the car around his painting with the paintbrush while saying, “Catch me.”

Since Ben loves to mix all of his colors together, most of his projects turn out some shade of brown. Today’s project turned out to be shades of dark green. I guess he used mainly blue and yellow paints. I will say that the darker paint colors made the web more visible.

Ben had so much fun that he asked to paint more spiderwebs. Of course, he added his cars from the start this time. On one of his paintings, we added salt. He loved sprinkling it on. However, he eventually just started to dump it on. Haha!

What do you think? I would love to hear from you when you try this with your children. Happy Halloween!

For more Halloween fun, check out these blog posts:

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SUPPLIES FOR POPSICLE STICK STARS

INSTRUCTIONS

SUPPLIES FOR WATERCOLOR ORNAMENT CARDS

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Draw Designs with White Crayon

2. Prepare Paint Pallet

3. Paint

4. Add Salt (Optional)

5. Cut Out Circles

6. Cut Out and Fold Cards

7. Glue the Watercolor Ornament Cut-outs on to the Cards

8. Draw Strings and Bows

SUPPLIES

INSTRUCTIONS

SUPPLIES

INVITATION TO PLAY

BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS

SUPPLIES FOR ADVENT CALENDAR

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Feed the Turkey

SUPPLIES

INSTRUCTIONS

2. Fall Bingo

SUPPLIES

INSTRUCTIONS

3. Fall Matching Game

SUPPLIES

INSTRUCTIONS

SUPPLIES

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Set Up Supplies

2. Pick Out Your Cardboard Materials

3. Color Your Monster

4. Decorate Your Monster

5. Assemble Cardboard Monster

TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES

Alternative Cardboard Monster

SUPPLIES

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Draw Spider Web

2. Prepare Paint Pallet

3. Paint

4. Add Salt (Optional)

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