Finger Print Candy Canes

These are so cute and fairly easy. They make great gifts, too!

WHAT YOU NEED:
     - Scrap paper
     - red and white paint
     - baby finger (possibly the baby, as well)

Paint your child's index finger with red paint and have them press their fingerprint in the shape of a cane, leaving space between for the white prints. Wipe off the red paint and redo with white! I would plan on making extras in case your little one accidentally messes a few up, like mine did :)

 How cute are these?

Winter Sky

Another simple, quick, hands off craft.

WHAT YOU NEED:
     - white paint
     - snowflake stamp
     - 1 sheet blue paper
     - silver glitter (optional)

No prep needed, just set your toddler up with some paint in a shallow dish and let your little one stamp, stamp, stamp. If they end up with globs of paint, that's good! Let them shake some glitter on there and it becomes even more magical!

Glitter Christmas Cards for Sandy Hook Elementary

DAY FOURTEEN:

After the devastation in Newtown, CT yesterday, we decided to send the staff and students at Sandy Hook Elementary a little Christmas Cheer. We wanted to do more then just "send prayers and love." We wanted to actually touch their hearts, to TRY to restore their faith in humanity. It isn't much and I'm sure we will be just one of millions, but it is the least we could do.

WHAT YOU NEED:
     - paper for templates (1 sheet, quartered)
     - paper for cards (4 sheets, folded in half)
     - glue
     - brush
     - glitter
     - 4 large cookie cutters

Before you begin, you will need to cut out templates by tracing the cookie cutters and cutting out the INSIDE paper without damaging the outline. Place the template on top of the card. Have your child paint the glue inside the template. Remove the template and let your kiddo go to GLITTER TOWN. Make sure he puts a good amount of glitter, so you can clearly see the shape. If you are making a candy cane, use tape to block off the white areas while you use the red glitter and vice-versa. Tap the cards over the sink to remove any loose glitter. Let dry.

If your child is old enough, allow him or her to decorate the cards further with stickers and markers. Make sure to put a personal touch on the inside of the card including a first name and age or your child (if you feel comfortable with that). This gives a much more personal connection for the recipient.

If you want to reach out and comfort the hurting, and I strongly urge you to do so, please send your cards to:

Sandy Hook Elementary School

12 Dickenson Drive

Sandy Hook, CT 06482

Thumbprint Christmas Lights

DAY THIRTEEN:

Super excited about this craft. This is something you can redo every year and see how your child grows!

What you need:
     - acrylic or finger paint (at least 4 colors)
     - sharpie
     - 1 baby thumb (if the rest of the kid is attached, that works too)
     - paper

Before you start, draw a squiggly line from one end of the paper to the other. This will be the strand for the lights. Put only a few drops of each color of paint in a shallow container. We used baby food lids and introduced only one color at a time to avoid mass chaos making a mess. Depending on how old your child is, they can do the next part on their own or you can help them. Dip your toddler's thumb or index finger in the paint and position the print just above the strand line. Do a few of each color.

Let the paint dry completely. For us, this turned into a perfect opportunity to make a family painting, using the rest of the paint. Roo hijacked all artistic attempts and we turned out with this masterpiece! 

After the paint has dried, ground the floating light bulbs to the strand. I added Roo's name, age, and the date so we can keep this as a memory :)

Grocery Bag Wreath

DAY SEVEN:

This is a free craft, made from left over bits of other crafts we've done this week. There is always a way to reuse things from other projects, so never throw scraps away! I also have, like, 50 paper grocery bags stashed away, just waiting for a purpose. I adapted this craft to use paper bags instead of paper, and I love how it turned out.

WHAT YOU NEED:
     - 1 paper grocery bag
     - green construction paper cut into 1 inch squares (from Christmas Paper Chain)
     - red felt squares cut into 1/4 squares (from Felt Stocking)
     - 1 pipe cleaner (from Pipe Cleaner and Bead Candy Cane Ornaments)
     - tacky glue
     - paint brush

Before you begin, you need to make the bow for the wreath from the pipe cleaner. You also need to cut out the outline of the wreath from the grocery bag. To do this, trace a large dinner plate for the outer ring and a bowl inside for the middle ring. Cut out the area where the bowl was and the area outside where the plate was, so that you end up with an "O" shape. Also, keep one of the handles from the bag to use as the wreath hanger.

Now, set your child up with a bowl of green squares, a bowl of red squares, and a paint brush. I loosely taped the wreath outline to another grocery bag to prevent glue from ending up on the table. Apply the glue to the wreath and let your toddler spread it around with the paint brush. This was Roo's favorite part.

Then have her place the green squares around the wreath however she desires.

When the wreath is covered with green squares, dab a few dots of glue on top. Have your child place the red squares on the dots of glue.

To finish it off, glue on the bow and the handle (on the back side) and your craft is complete!

Christmas Paper Chain

DAY TWO:

Making a paper chain is an easy, cheap activity that is really good for your little one to practice hand-eye coordination. If yours is anything like mine, it will turn into a necklace at finish! Hey, nothing wrong with a little bling, am I right?

WHAT YOU NEED:
     - 2 pieces red construction paper
     - 2 pieces green construction paper
     - glue stick

Before starting, cut the papers into strips. Let your toddler "color" one end of a paper strip with the glue stick. Then, fold into a circle. Repeat until finished.

Since Roo is pretty young, we did this in assembly line fashion. She glued and I chained. If your toddler is older and more capable, let them do it by themselves after you show them how.

VERDICT: It went over well, but would probably be suited for at least 2 or 3 year olds. She loved gluing the paper, but couldn't link them together quite yet. Regardless, it turned out well and she has fun shaking it around and scaring the dog :/