Monday, December 30, 2013

That's a LOT of Fish!




We're making an undersea scene
 that you
can tweak to use what 
materials are easier for your child. 

For older preschoolers, you can use foam fish that you
put IN the bag of water.
For younger hands, you can substitute 
fish stickers and stick them to the outside of the bag.

You will need a sandwich-size ziplock baggie,
some blue food coloring, 
and some foam fish.


You only need a little water in the bag.



AND, you only need 1 drop of blue food coloring
since there isn't much water.


Then, let your child add in the fish.  
And there should be a lot, 
because Peter caught a lot of fish
when Jesus told him to go fishing!


Once the fish are in, carefully press out 
all the excess air so the bag lies flat.
If your child is younger, you can 
put tape over the seam to prevent
accidents.  

When the bag is flat on a table, you can
let the fish "swim" around, while you
talk about how many fish 
Peter caught when Jesus helped him.
Jesus can do anything!

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

The Brightest Star!








The Wise Men followed a bright star to find the child King. 
 Your child can make his own 
bright star to remind him of those early travelers. 




This is a super, NOT-messy craft!
Though you can adapt it to be messy, 
if you like.

As is, you need a sheet of laminating paper,
colored tissues paper, scissors, hole punch
and some yarn to hang your star.

For a messy version, you can 
glue the tissue paper to
card stock.  Your choice.  


Help your child mark off a
Star shape on the laminating sheet
and cut it out for them.


Tear pieces of tissue paper to 
brighten your star.


Peel the protective cover off the laminating 
sheet and lie it sticky side up on the table.
Let your child arrange the tissue scraps
in whatever arrangement they like
to cover the sticky surface.


Use a hole punch to make a
hole to thread a piece of 
yarn to hang your star.




Hang your star where you and your 
child can see it and talk
about what it would be like
to follow a star to find the One 
who was born to be King!



Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Cupcake Angels!








The angel brought great news to some shepherds;               Jesus is Born!
You can make your own angels
to share the Good News, too!
 


You need a cupcake liner, regular or jumbo size will work.
And a paper doily for wings,
card stock for the face
and a halo; a pipe cleaner, or glitter, if you're brave! 
This craft is posted by several sites online,
and there are endless variations! 
Use what you have and experiment!


Flatten the cupcake liner then fold it in half.


Fold it in half again, using a dot of glue  
near the top of the middle to help hold it


Cut a circle for the head
and two wings from the doily.


Let your child draw a happy face
(this angel is very happy!)
And wrap a small piece of the 
pipe cleaner for a halo.
You can glue anything shiny or even
glitter, if you dare, for the halo.


Glue the wings to the back
and the head to the front! 
Now your angel is ready to share
the good news:
Jesus is Born!


Tuesday, December 3, 2013

A Manger Scene











When Baby Jesus was born there was no room for Him,
 in an inn, so Mary's baby boy had to sleep in a manger.  
This is an easy craft for your child to make 
his own manger scene.














You'll need a piece of cardstock for a background,
craft sticks, popsicle sticks or coffee stirrers,
a pompom, wiggly eyes, a felt blanket
and some tacky glue.

This is a great craft for kids that love glue.
You have to use lots and that's just fun!

 

Make a nice blob of glue and cross your
craft stick to make a manger.


Cut strips of the brown paper for 
hay. 


Show you child how to fold the strips
like this:


Time for more glue!
It takes a decent amount to catch
all the "hay" to stick.


Glue the wiggly eyes to the pompom
and glue a felt square, or paper, 
for a blanket.


Then let it dry!!! 
Enjoy the Christmas story with your child!