Sunshine Growth and Pride (Card) – Toddler Art Project

Sunshine Growth and Pride - Tri-fold Card

Age: 18 Months - 5 Years (younger ones need more supervision)

Time: 15 min (+ Prep)

Theme: Greeting Card, Sun, Flower, Lion

Materials:

12 x 18 Construction Paper of any color other than green, orange or yellow (I used brown)
Yellow, Green & Orange Construction Paper
Glue Sticks
Coloring and/or writing materials
Adults get to use Scissors and Pinking Sheers

Prep: The card: Cut the 12 x 18 paper in the 18” direction at an angle from 4” from the top to 6” from the top. This will make 2 cards 18” long. Fold into thirds at the 6” and 12” points.
The pieces: Fold a full sheet of Orange paper into ¼’s on the 9” side (folded like M a sheet should yield 6). Using Pinking Sheers cut out circles leaving the folded edges intact. With normal scissors cut flower stems (1/card) and yellow circles slightly smaller than the orange ones (2/card). Finally cut lion bodies out of yellow paper (1/card).

 Activity: Each child gets a card, an orange 2ply circle, 2 yellow circles, a stem and a body.

Open the card and glue the Orange circle overlapping the center edge of the center card panel. Glue a yellow circle onto each side. Add a stem to one side and the lion body to the other. Refold the card and see how one thing became three! Color or write a personalized note on the card.

Notes/Tips: Don’t be afraid to freehand the lion pieces – Bumps for paws and a strip for a tail and you’re fine! There is no need to glue the body or the stem on first – Kids rarely glue edge-tight so they slip easily under the flower/lion head. This can easily be a big kid project by prepping only the card blanks and letting them do the rest themselves.

My New Hat - Toddler Art Project

My New Hat

Age: 18 Months - 5 Years (younger ones need more supervision)

Time: 10 min (+ Prep)

Theme: Hats

Books: 12 Hats for Lena by Karen Katz, Jennie’s Hat by Ezra Jack Keats

Materials:

Big Paper (12 x 18)

Card Stock Weight Paper

Crayons / Markers / Colored Pencils

Adults get to use Scissors and a Stapler

Prep: Cut the Card Stock into pieces about 4” x 6” (for the front of the hat). They can be left rectangular or shaped along the top similar to the front of a tiara or crown. Cut the ‘big’ paper into long strips 2-1/2” wide.  

Activity: Each child gets a pre-cut ‘front’ for their hat and crayons / Markers / Colored Pencils. Make it colorful. Add shapes, letters, trace hands; there is no wrong way to decorate it! When you are done, put your drawing tools away and have an adult help put it together.

Adult Assembly: Measure the 2-1/2” wide paper to the child’s head. It will NOT be long enough – but do not panic! The ‘gap’ is made up by the piece that the kids have colored. Staple them together to create a ring that can be worn.

Notes/Tips: Staple so that the tines of the staple point out so that little foreheads don’t get scratched. If you forget and do them the other way, cover the tines with a small piece of masking tape. Large index cards are an easy pre-cut alternative to cardstock in this project. Pinking sheers are a simple way to make paper look fancy. This project can be made ‘big kid friendly’ by adding ‘big kid supplies’ such as ribbon, feathers, stickers, beads, etc.  

Today She Turns 2!

The Birthday Girl

I am in awe! So much happens in the the first two years...

Just look how she has grown!

1st Photo Ever (thanks Erin!)