Use a broad-tip marker to draw shapes (a circle, square, rectangle, triangle, oval, crescent, and so on) on the construction paper, one shape per sheet. Cover each sheet of paper with clear contact paper.

Materials

* Broad-tip marker
* Several sheets of construction paper or other colored paper
* Clear contact paper
* Play dough

On each page, have your child draw a picture of an animal that begins with that letter, or cut animal pictures from old magazines and glue them onto the page.

Materials

* Crayons or markers
* Small notebook or sheets of paper folded together and stapled inside a construction paper cover
* Glue
* Photos
* Child's blunt-tip safety scissors
* Old magazines

Glue the green paper onto the construction paper to fill in the shamrock.

Materials

* Pen or marker
* Construction paper
* Green tissue paper and/or crepe paper
* Magazines and catalogs (optional)
* Glue

The marker will wipe off with a damp paper towel so he can draw, wipe, and draw again on his pumpkin as many times as he likes.

Materials

* Small pumpkin
* Washable markers
* Damp paper towel

Have your child brush glue all over the cat shape, then press the tissue paper pieces onto the glue.

Materials

* Child's blunt-tip safety scissors
* Construction paper, poster board, or pencil and paper
* Black tissue paper
* Paintbrush
* Glue
* Googly eyes
* Black string licorice
* Pink construction paper, craft foam, or yarn (optional)
* Black yarn (optional)

Show your child how to dip the sponge piece into the paint, blot it on newspaper to absorb the excess paint, then lightly dab it around the edge of each leaf.

Materials

* Leaves
* Masking tape
* Construction paper or poster board
* Scissors
* Sponge
* Clothespin
* Liquid tempera paint in fall colors (orange, yellow, red, and brown)
* Shallow containers
* Newspaper
* Clear contact paper (optional)

Pressed flowers can be used to decorate a variety of paper items.

Materials

* Small flowers (pansies, violets, buttercups, daisies, and so on)
* Newspaper or other absorbent paper
* Heavy book
* Glue
* Plain note cards, note paper, or construction paper
* Clear contact paper

Remove the paper and peel off the leaf to reveal the print. then repeat process for each note card, using a different leaf or color of paint, if you like.

Materials

* Paintbrush
* Paints—for fun, use two or more colors
* Fresh small leaves
* Blank note cards
* Clean scrap paper

Have your child arrange the objects on the paper, then leave them for a couple of hours. You will be amazed that the sun has painted your picture. Wow!

Materials

* Dark-colored construction paper
* Natural objects (leaves, twigs, pine cones, and so on) or household objects (scissors, keys, combs, and so on)

Gather your cherubs for a little Valentine's Day fun. This heartfelt craft is a great way for you and your darlings to share love and affection. Creating these colorful hearts with your kids will be extra-special because they're homemade with love. Add some hugs and kisses for the whole family to enjoy what Valentine's Day is made of.

Materials

* Large sheets of paper (each at least 2 square feet)
* Tape or stapler
* Markers, crayons, paint, and/or paintbrushes
* Child's blunt-tip safety scissors
* Newspaper, tissue paper, or other paper scraps
* Hole punch and yarn (optional

When the paint is dry, use the painting as a greeting card, or cover it with clear contact paper and use it as a Valentine's Day place mat.

Materials

* Pencil
* Paper plate
* Child's blunt-tip safety scissors
* Red, white, or pink construction paper
* Sponge
* Red, white, and/or pink tempera paint
* Clear contact paper (optional)
* Marker (optional)

This Easter, get your little chickadees to hatch a new creation. The Easy Egg Mosaic will make quite the holiday sensation! Your child can color and create, and help you decorate for their upcoming visit from the Easter Bunny!

Materials

* Crayon, pen, or marker
* Construction paper
* Glue
* Colored eggshells
* Scissors
* Clear contact paper
* Tape
* Tissue paper in pastel colors

Dip the ball or pad into glue and press it onto the paper, then sprinkle it with glitter.

Materials

* Small textured ball or plastic scouring pad
* Liquid tempera paint
* Dark-colored construction paper
* Glue
* Glitter

If you like, glue plastic ants (or draw them on with a marker) onto the tablecloth.

Materials

* Red marker or tempera paint and paintbrush
* White construction paper
* Small paper plate
* Old magazines
* Scissors
* Glue
* Black plastic ants or black marker (optional)

Have your child tear the paper products into small pieces and stick them onto the plate.

Materials

* Paintbrush
* Glue thinned with water
* Clear plastic plate
* Red, white, and blue paper products (streamers, tissue paper, napkins, and so on)
* Confetti stars and glitter (optional)
* Poster putty

Cut the finished collage into strips and use them as bookmarks. Punch a hole in the top of each bookmark and add a ribbon tassel.

Materials

* White glue
* Water
* Liquid dish soap
* Wax paper
* Paintbrush
* Scissors
* Dark-colored construction paper (optional)
* Contact paper
* Hole punch
* Ribbon (optional)
* Tissue paper scraps in fall colors

This Thanksgiving, invite your child to join you in spicing up the season! A bit of love and laughter will add to the fun and then you all can enjoy this enticing turkey when you're done. So harvest up any little wild Indians or petite pilgrims and see who can create the most awesome autumn turkey!

Materials

* White glue
* Shallow container
* Construction paper, small paper plate, or small aluminum pie pan
* Pumpkin pie spice, allspice, ground cinnamon, or ground nutmeg
* Black and red markers

Thanksgiving is a good time to remind our children or grandchildren to be thankful for the many good things in their lives ... family, friends, opportunities to learn and grow. A natural way to call these thoughts to mind is to begin with a question: What are you thankful for?

Materials

* Old magazines and family photos
* Child's blunt-tip safety scissors
* Glue
* Construction paper
* Clear contact paper
* Index cards
* Small box or empty coffee can
* Brown poster board and leaf-colored (green, red, yellow, orange, and brown) construction paper

Cut some or all of the following Hanukkah shapes from the paper: candle, elephant, hammer, Star of David, and so on. You will then be adding glue and glitter to all of these shapes.

Materials

* Blue, yellow, or white construction paper
* Child's blunt-tip safety scissors
* Glue stick
* Small shoebox with lid
* Glitter
* 2 large rubber bands
* Confetti, colorful creative salt, spices, jelly powder, drink mix, or crushed multi-colored cereal (optional)

Place one triangle upside down over the top of the other. Make sure all six points are sticking out an equal distance. Glue the two triangles together.

Materials

* Marker
* Paper
* Wax paper
* Stapler
* Glue
* Glitter
* String
* Blue or yellow construction paper (optional)
* Paintbrush
* Hole punch (optional)

Beginning at one edge of the paper plate, cut along a spiral path, cutting around and around until you reach the center of the plate.

Materials

* Pen or marker
* Christmas cookie cutters
* Construction paper
* Scissors
* Glitter pens or paint pens (optional)
* Hole punch or tape
* Dental floss or embroidery thread
* Dinner-size paper plate (or file folder cut into a circle)

When her design is complete, show her how to cut pieces from the red and green paper to fit behind spaces in the black paper.

Materials

* Scrap paper
* Black, red, and green construction paper
* Child's blunt-tip safety scissors
* Glue

Have the kids make their own one-of-a-kind snowflakes and see how each one turns out differently ... just like the kids!

Materials

* White construction paper or tissue paper or a large white doily
* Safety scissors
* White glue
* Glitter

Passover commemorates the delivery of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. Its also a celebration of spring, so make these colorful paper flowers to welcome spring and decorate the Seder table.

Materials

* Colored construction paper
* Black marker
* Child's blunt-tip safety scissors
* Tissue paper in a variety of colors
* White glue or glue stick (non-toxic)
* Strips of stiff cardboard, 1 to 2 inches wide by 6 to 8 inches long
* Green garden tape
* Stapler

Celebrate Christmas with a little something sweet. Stuff your stockings with your favorite sugared treat. Deck your halls with stockings until the New Year! It's a great way for you and your tiny elf to spread Christmas cheer. Your colorful creations will glisten with glee, put them above the fireplace or hang'em on the tree. It's so much fun for the entire family!

Materials

* Red or green craft foam (or red or green construction paper covered with clear contact paper)
* Clear plastic page protector
* Scissors
* Hole punch
* Yarn or ribbon
* Candy

Kids love creating textures on paper. Show your child how to rub the side of the crayon on the paper over the object.

Pressed flowers can be used to decorate a variety of paper items

Materials

* Small flowers (pansies, violets, buttercups, daisies, and so on)
* Newspaper or other absorbent paper
* Heavy book
* Glue
* Plain note cards, note paper, or construction paper
* Clear contact paper

Did you want to know how to go about a paper mache project? This is how you create a paper mache craft project. Have fun.

Material:

Newspaper
Flour
Water
Cardboard cutouts