Winter Crafts for Kids

Craft Time! There are still a few inches of slush outside, and I don't feel like taking the boys out to play in muddy snow. So, originally I had set out to make snowflake crafts with my boys today. They went in a different direction, but that's okay.

I covered the table with an old plastic tablecloth, and then set up three stations: Snow Painting, Watercolor Snowflakes, and Popsicle Snowflakes.

SNOW PAINTING
Materials needed:

• dark construction paper
• used packing peanuts
• a small bowl or tub from the recycling bin, cleaned and dried (margarine tubs work well)
• shaving cream (not gel)
• white craft glue
• plastic spoon
• paint brush or foam brush

Directions:
Be sure your work space is covered.

First have your kids mix shaving cream with glue - about half and half - in the empty tub. Stir with the spoon until it's combined, and then paint away. The paint stays puffy when it's dry!

We added packing peanuts to our Snow Paintings to add more texture and dimension.

WATERCOLOR SNOWFLAKES
Materials needed:

• heavy-weight paper 
• watercolor paints
• paintbrush
• small cup of water
• masking tape or painter's tape

Directions:
First, cover your work space. Next adhere masking tape to your paper in any design. I was thinking we would do snowflake designs, but one wanted his name and the other wanted a crayon shape.

Let your kids go crazy covering the whole paper with watercolors.

After the painting is completely dry, help your kids carefully remove the tape. The tape "resists" the paint so any shape created by the tape is now white, contrasting with the colorful background.

POPSICLE SNOWFLAKES
Materials needed:

• 4 wooden craft sticks (popsicle sticks) per snowflake
• glue dots
• assorted glitter paints, regular paints, sequins, etc.
• ribbon for hanging

Directions:

First, be sure the work space is covered.

Next, use glue dots to adhere popsicle sticks together. First create a "+" shape with two sticks (glue dot in the center, where they cross), then add the other two one at a time to create diagonal lines through the cross. Voila! Snowflake. NOTE: You may have to help young kids with this part, or just complete it for them.

Now for the fun part. Let your kids go crazy with glitter paint pens, regular paint, and anything else you have on hand. Sequins, craft feathers, small pom poms, buttons, and pipe cleaners are all fair game.

Once the snowflakes are dry, secure a ribbon loop to the back using another glue dot. Hang the snowflakes and enjoy your winter wonderland.

I hope you and your kids enjoy making these winter crafts. Post a Comment and share your winter craft ideas, too! As always, thanks for reading.