Fun "Stained-Glass" Window Hangings

Do you like those wonderful stained-glass windows that you see in really old houses? Aren't they so beautiful? Well, here is an easy craft for you to make with your children that will mimic the colors of the stained-glass window and still let the light through.

Supplies:
Construction Paper
Scissors
Clear Contact Paper
various colors of tissue paper, cut into small 0.5" pieces


To start, figure out what design you want your Stained-glass window to be. Once you figure this out, draw the picture out on the construction paper and cut out. This should only be the outline of the picture (no details) as you are going to cut out the middle of this as well, leaving a thin frame of the image (see diagram below).

When you have the outline cut out, cut the clear contact paper into a square about 1-2 inches larger than the outline image. Peel back the paper coating and lay the image outline on the sticky side.

Now you are ready to create your masterpiece. Fill the inside of your image with the colored tissue paper (see diagram below). Once you are finished, simply stick the "stained-glass" hanging directly on the window. After it looses it's stickiness, you can "laminate" the hanging with another sheet of contact paper (basically sandwiching the tissue paper/frame between two pieces of contact paper). You can then punch a hole and hang it in front of the window or in the yard.


You can use this for fun decorations for every season. Use a leaf with yellows, browns and orange tissue paper for a fall decor. Use a black snowman outline with white tissue paper for winter. Use a pumpkin with orange tissue paper and black eyes, nose and mouth for a Halloween jack-o-lantern. The uses are endless!!! This is really easy and very little mess. Just keep non-used tissue paper squares in a Ziploc bag for future use!!

Make Your Own Puzzle

Do your kids like puzzles? Is it hard to find sturdy puzzles for the younger children? Want to make a personalized puzzle for your child? Well, if you answered YES to any of these questions, look no further because here is an easy way to make your own puzzles and the uses are ENDLESS!!!

Supplies:
Picture/coloring sheet (whatever image you want the finished puzzle to look like)*
Spray Glue
Foam Core (basically poster board with foam inside – you can buy it at wal-mart or target or any school supply place)
Box Cutter or Exacto Knife *parents should do cutting as blades are VERY sharp

* This makes the puzzle individualized. Use a photo of your child, a picture they have colored or a basic shape or an Egg for a game with Humpty Dumpty.

After your child has picked out the picture and decorated it, simply attach the picture to one side of the foam core. Cut the foam core to fit the image used. Then turn the whole piece over and draw puzzle piece shapes on back. For cutting purposes, it is best to use straight lines instead of the traditional rounded puzzle shape (see diagram for best straight line shape). Using the box cutter or exacto knife, cut along the lines. You can store these puzzles in Ziploc bags. They can be made into all kinds of different shapes, sizes and colors. The sky and your imagination are you limits!!!

What Time is it Mr. Wolf?

I am currently a missionary in Ensenada Mexico and work with children of various ages here. This is a game I learned here and all the kids I have EVER played this with LOVE it!! It is a variation of the classic "Red Light, Green Light" game we used to play as a kid.

Can be played with as little as 2 people but so much more fun when you add more!!

Kids are in a line with one across the room (he is Mr. Wolf) with his back to the others (see diagram below). Kids all ask, "Mr. Wolf, What time is it?". Mr. Wolf says a number between 1-12 (like a time of day). The kids take that many steps towards Mr. Wolf (ex. if Mr. Wolf says it is 2:00 or 2, kids take two steps forward toward Mr. Wolf). This is repeated until the kids are close to Mr. Wolf. When the kids ask the next time, "Mr. Wolf, What time is it?," Mr. Wolf says, "Dinner Time" and turns and chases the kids back to the starting line trying to catch on of them. The person that is caught is the new Mr. Wolf.


This game is super fun and can be played for hours. It is a great outdoors game but can be played inside a larger facility.

Have Old Broken Crayons?

If you are like most parents or child care providers, you have TONS of broken crayons all over the place. Most of them are broken into such small pieces that you can't use them anymore. Well, don't throw them away, put them into a plastic bag and store for a rainy day.

Make Your Own Holiday Crayons

Supplies:
old broken crayons (take off all paper)
plastic candy molds


Simply melt the broken crayons in the microwave stirring often so you don't burn them. Pour them into the candy molds and let dry. Pop them out and you have your very own fancy schmancy crayons in all kinds of shapes and sizes. You can even mix and match colors. Fill the bottome with one color, allow to dry fully and then add more colors.

These are great as party favors or just a great way to give new life to old broken crayons.

More Painting Ideas

Tired of the painting with a paintbrush? Try these fun and unusual objects to make really cool designs.

old toy cars and trucks
marbles
old comb
drinking straw
old toothbrush
old cookie cutters


Suggestions:

Drive the cars and trucks through the paint and then drive them around on your paper.

Roll marble in paint and then using a shoe box top roll the marble across the paper. This is create for stimulating hand-eye coordination. For a fun Halloween decoration, use black construction paper and white paint. Using a plastic container or old coffee can, cut paper to fit inside and roll marble around on the paper creating a "spider web". Simply add a plasic spider ring with the ring part cut off and hang.

Use the comb to create texture in your picture.

Water down some paint and put drops on the paper then have the child blow those drops around using the straw. Watch as the paint dances around the paper leaving really fun streaks.

Flick paint specs onto paper using an old toothbrush. Dip the toothbrush into the watered down paint and using your thumb or finger, run it along the toothbrush with the bristles down toward the paper. Watch as the paint drops in small dots all over the paper.

Dip the cookie cutters in paint and create fun villages or holiday pictures. This is also a great and easy way to make your own wrapping paper for Christmas. Simply use a roll of brown or white butcher paper. Spread the paper out and paint away with various Christmas cookie cutters. Let dry completely. You can do this outside on the sidewalk or driveway in the summer and roll it up ready to use at Christmas.

Look for more unusual things to paint with. Find things around the house that have different shapes and textures.

Watercolor Painting & Magic Pictures

Remember how much fun it was to paint with watercolors? Remember those pictures that all you needed was water and a paintbrush and they magically turned a black and white picture into a colorful painting? Here are some easy ways to paint with and make your own watercolors and magic pictures.

Make Your Own Watercolor Paint

Supplies:
food coloring
water

Simply mix a few drops of food coloring into the water and paint away. Mix different colors and amounts of each color to create a rainbow of choices.


Make Your Own Magic Pictures

Supplies:
Pre-drawn Coloring Sheets (coloring books or print off a few from your computer)
washable markers or watered down washable paint
cotton swap or chopstick

Simply dot the picture with the washable paint using the cotton swap or chopstick making sure that each space has color. You can also do this by dotting the picture with the washable marker as well although this can be time consuming if you have a large picture to cover.

Allow this to dry completely and then set aside for a rainy day. All the child needs to do is pull out a paintbrush and some water and paint away. The dried paint or marker will come back to life and spread when it is painted over with water.

Invisible Ink

Ever wanted to be a spy when you were a kid? Ever wanted to talk or write to your friends but never wanted your brother and sister to know what you said or wrote? Here is a really easy way to make some invisible ink so that your kids can do just that.

Supplies:
Lemons (or pure lemon juice)
cotton swabs (q-tips)
paper

In a small bowl, squeeze a couple of lemons taking out any seeds (you can also use bottled pure lemon juice). Using the cotton swabs, draw a fun picture on your paper. Let dry completely.

Using a heat source (like a lamp that has been on for a while, or a toaster or hair dryer) reveal the "secret" message/picture.

The heat turns the lemon juice a dark brown color.