Felt Bat and Poem

I've seen several posts about bat rhymes which inspired me to make my own.  I had a hard time trying to find a good bat picture to use as a stencil so I made my own.  A picture of the stencil is below.  Feel free to copy and print it out if you'd like. 

I made 5 bats and gave them wiggly eyes.

I decided to use this Bat poem found here.

Bat pattern:  

Enjoy!

Apple & Worm Magnet

Perfect Fall craft!

Here's a simple, yet cute Fall craft to do with preschool aged kids.  Here in Hilton, NY we have an annual Apple Fest at the beginning of October.  It's a kind of a big deal.  I like to do apple stories right around that time because the kids are all geared up for the Apple Fest.  

Here's what you need:

• Apple cut outs
• Red and white card stock 
• Small worms (I used a clip art worm)
• Scissors
• Hole punch
• Glue
• Pencil
• Crayons
• Magnets

To prep this craft you will need to carefully draw a bite mark out of the side of the red apple.  Cut that out and use your now bitten apple as a stencil for the rest of the apples.  That way your bite will be in the same spot and line up with the white apple when all is said and done.  To make the bite mark on the white apple, use the red cut apple and slide it to the left a little bit so you are cutting a little less out of the white apple.  Line up your apples and make sure it looks alright with the white peeking out a bit.  Go to town stenciling and cutting the rest of the apples. 

Punch a hole in the red apples near the center.  

Cut out small worms that can slide easily into the hole.

Now your project is ready for the kids.

I let the kids color their apples.  Some will color just the stem and leaf, others will make beautiful rainbow colored apples!

Once the kids are done coloring, use a glue stick and dab just a little bit of glue on the back side of the red apple near the hole.  Have the kids slip their worm into the apple and press the worm against the back.

Next, glue the white apple behind the red apple, be sure to try and line up your apples as best as you can.  Add a small magnet strip to the back and your done.

Enjoy!

3-D Christmas Tree

I was cleaning out some things in my storage room and came across this craft I did a few years ago.  It's definitely one I want to revisit this year.  There's a bit of prep work involved, but it makes an adorable decoration.  

What you need:

• Foam tree cutouts, I used my Die Cut machine and cut my own.
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun & glue
• old CDs
• Sequins
• Small holiday decorations
• School glue
• Glitter or fake snow

To make the tree take two tree cutouts and using scissors cut half way through the middle of the tree from top to bottom.  On the other tree cut half way through the middle from bottom toward the top.  Fit the two pieces together by placing them snug into the slots you just cut.  

Using your hot glue gun attach the tree to the middle of the CD with the shiny side of the CD facing up.  Once the tree is dried and standing straight up, glue on the other decorations.  I used a small present and a tiny candy cane.  Now it's ready for the kids!

Have the kids use school glue to add sequins for ornaments.  Once the sequins are on, have the kids spread glue all over the CD and put the white glitter or fake snow on top of the CD.

Enjoy!