Music Themed Tip Jar

Here's an idea for musicians needing a tip jar:

It was made with 2 sheets of 12x12 scrapbook paper mod podged onto the glass jar/vase and various accents I had laying around in my craft room. 

Kid's Halloween Bat Craft (and Dancing Prop)

These little bats with streamers make the perfect prop to dance with at Halloween

What you need:

black cardstock

crepe paper streamers

tape

Trace the bat pattern below onto the cardstock and cut out the shape. 

Cut about 5 or 6 streamers that are about 2-3 feet in length, and attach them to the back of the cardstock with tape. 

I made this with my preschool music class.  We danced to this song:  http://youtu.be/r9y4r-VI_qY?list=PLFA9C3648CDCA747C

This is also a catchy tune if you want to discus echolocation and how bats get around: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bAvoz_ofoeo

The streamers even make a "wing flapping" sound which the kids thought was pretty cool!


View the bat template here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3mVQkOWNM4ocmtEOXRPNEE1Qkk/view?usp=sharing

Add Tulle to a Chandelier or Mirror for Halloween

Add a few yards of black tulle to a chandelier or light for Halloween! It should be pretty inexpensive at your local fabric or craft store! 

Also works great on mirrors!

Kids Ghost on a String Craft

Kids Ghost on a String Craft

These make great Halloween props for dancing or "floating" with! 

Supplies needed:

Coffee Filter

Tissue

String

Marker

Glue

1. Smooth out the coffee filter and make a small hole in the center. I just happened to have a puncher that makes a very small hole, but you could also poke a pencil through the center or a toothpick to make the hole. 

2. Fold the coffee filter in half and draw a face with marker. 

3. Take a tissue and crumple it up into a ball. Take a string about 3 feet long and knot one end around the tissue ball. 

4. Pull the other end of the string through the small hole in the center of the coffee filter until the tissue is inside.  Put a little glue (I used regular Elmer's school glue) on the coffee filter center then press the tissue against it to dry. 

5. If you wish you could make a large loop on the other side of the string for a handle or to go around the wrist, or a small loop to go over a finger.  

DIY Halloween Silhouette Window Clings

These are made from saran wrap and permanent marker.

Step 1. If you are using a pattern, lay the piece of paper down on a table, then spread the saran wrap over top.  You might want to secure edges so that the saran wrap doesn't move, but I didn't and just adjusted it as I went.
I did a Google search for "Halloween Silhouette" to find a pattern to print.
Here was the witch I used.
Here are some owls that would make good window clings.

Step 2. Trace the outline of the pattern with permanent marker, then remove the pattern from underneath.

Step 3. Color in the insides, then let dry completely.

Step 4. Remove all child, cat, and dog nose prints, mouth prints, and hand/paw prints from the window. Carefully press the saran wrap onto window!

And at night from the outside...

**Update: You can also put the saran wrap on the window first and do the drawing while it's on the window so you don't have to worry about transferring it afterward and edges getting stuck together! 

Here is a large one I drew free-hand while the saran wrap was already on the window:

DIY Halloween Decorations- Simple & Black

I love the simplicity of all-black silhouette decorations for Halloween. I simply got random cheap items from a thrift store (all about $1 or less) and a spray painted everything black. 

Here are some close up examples:

   

And an entire wreath spray painted black: 

This one was an old painting (also a thrift store find) in a beautiful, but beat up frame. The frame was exquisite once spray painted black, then I covered up the painting in aluminum foil that I just slightly crinkled before applying it. The tree silhouette was a clear plastic transparency print that I just happened to find at a craft store on clearance. 

And one of my favorites, a fruit bowl with fake grapes spray painted black:

 Using black craft foam, I cut out this witch silhouette and used white sewing thread to string through the top and hang it from the ceiling hook for the light. 

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These old wooden candle sticks from a thrift store were painted with a layer of silver acrylic paint first, then a layer of crackle paint primer (like found here or at your local craft store for a few dollars), then black acrylic paint on top!

Add bloody candles to the candlesticks by dripping wax from a red candle over a white candle. Here's a video tutorial.

Easy Chewy Marshmallow Crunch Dessert

Warning: This stuff is extremely addicting! Seriously delicious!

It's almost like a variation on a rice krispie treat, only chewier and with chocolate! 

Ingredients:

1 stick of butter

1 lb. marshmallows (about a bag and a half)-- finely crushed

1 lb. Ritz crackers (other kinds will work too)

chocolate chips-- as many or little as you'd like

powdered sugar

1. Prepare a glass baking dish by lightly dusting the bottom with powdered sugar to prevent sticking.

2. Melt the butter on medium heat in a large pot.

3. Add marshmallows and stir until melted.

4. Add chocolate chips and stir until melted. 

5. Remove from heat and mix in the crushed crackers.

6. Pour mixture into the glass baking dish and press it down until flat.

7. Lightly dust the top with powdered sugar then cut into squares to serve. 

 

I'd like to experiment with using cinnamon graham crackers instead of Ritz crackers-- I think that would also be delicious and sort of like a s'more!

Patriotic Flag Craft

Supplies needed: 

Popsicle stick or larger tongue depressor stick

White cardstock

Blue paper (construction paper/scrapbook paper/etc.)

Red ribbon

Silver star stickers (or paper stars if you have a star punch)

Elmer's glue

I did this as an alternative to the very cute flag craft found here:  http://www.vanessasvalues.blogspot.com/2013/07/create-with-kids-popsicle-stick-flag.html 

Although I love the popsicle sticks, I needed something a little faster, easier, and less messy to put together that did not require hot glue and paint since I was doing this craft with a group of 4-6 year olds.  I also prepped everything ahead of time-- I had the white and blue papers cut to size as well as the ribbons cut to size, so all they needed to do with glue the pieces together and stick their star stickers on! 

"April Showers Bring May Flowers" Kid's Craft

This cool paper craft turns a raindrop magically into a flower!

1. Fold a piece of paper or cardstock in half. 

 2. Find the middle of that. Either make a very light fold or a light pencil mark that can later be erased.

3. Fold one side inward to that center mark.

4. Fold the other side inward to the center forming a point.

5. Keeping the paper folded, use the template below to trace and cut out the raindrop shape. You only need to cut a "U" shape-- leave the point and top folds intact.

6. The kids are now ready to do their "magic trick" by unfolding the raindrop to transform it into a flower.  Kids can decorate them by watercolors, crayons, markers, etc. as they learn the phrase "April showers bring May flowers!" 

Here is the template you can cut out to use for tracing. The dotted line is simply where the edges line up where you folded the paper. DO NOT CUT THE FOLDED EDGE. 

 Here are some examples of ones that were made in my class:

Shot Glass Vase Life Hack

Flowers too small for a vase? Use a Shot Glass! 

These tiny violets work perfectly in a tall shot glass.

Tea in the Keurig

Did you know that you can use regular old teabags in your Keurig?!  No need to spend lots of money on the special Keurig K-cup packs, just lay a teabag right in the K-cup spot.  If it's not strong enough, just steep the teabag in your cup of hot tea for about 1 minute longer after the Keurig is done brewing!