How to Make a Secret Message Card

 
 I was going to make these with the school age kids I work with today, but a snow storm got in the way. I was really excited that they were going to be able to use this process for Valentines cards. Unfortunately the next time we meet will be after the holiday. Sigh...
 

 
The idea is to use Alphabet Noodles  to create cards that contain secret messages that can be revealed by rubbing over the area with a crayon. The card itself is like any basic hand made card, but the message is spelled out in pasta then hidden under an extra layer of paper. The lighter weight the 'cover' paper the more clearly the message shows when you create the rubbing, so be sure to use 20# (copy paper weight) or lighter.
 

A test rubbing made with heavier paper

 
 
 
 
 

Love Ewe Sheep

I came across a picture of these Love Ewe Sheep we made last year (before I started blogging) and thought it might inspire some Valentines cards.

To make them I cut out blocky "n" shapes for legs and faces shaped like a peanuts with floppy ears out of black construction paper. I also cut out a bunch of different sized hearts from red construction paper. The big sheep body is a crumpled coffee filter, and the smaller one is a crumpled oval of tissue paper. The kids glued all the pieces together on a background color of their choice.

One detail I do recall from making them was that it didn't matter if the legs were glued down first or not because little ones rarely glue edge tight anyway.

Thank You Streamers - Kid Craft

Thank You Streamers

A fun mail-able alternative to traditional thank you cards

Age: 18 Months and up (younger ones need more supervision)

Time: 10 - 20 min (+ Prep)

Theme: Saying Thank You, Sending Mail

Materials:

Copy Paper
Crepe Paper Streamers
Glue Stick(s)
String
Crayons or Markers
Reinforcement Labels (little donut shaped stickers used to reinforce pages in ring binders)
Adults and big kids get to use Scissors and a Hole Punch

Prep: For children who are not yet handy with scissors, precut 5 – 10 shapes (hearts, word bubbles, diamonds, whatever you like) out of copy paper. I found roughly 2” to be a good size. Cut a 24” strip of streamer.

Activity: Each child gets pre-cut shapes, or paper to make their own and markers or crayons to decorate them. Encourage them to write things that they are thankful for, such as a gift they received or an activity they did with the person they are making it for. Put away the Crayons and marker and get out the glue stick. Glue the shapes down the length of the streamer. Place a reinforcement label at the top then punch the hole through it. Add a string for hanging.

Notes/Tips: If you don’t have the labels (or even if you do), you can fold and glue the top of the streamer into a double layer to strengthen it.

Have fun embellishing! I have done this with two different age groups since the winter holiday break. The little ones added stickers and the older ones added snowflakes.

Banners fold flattest (best for mailing) back and forth accordion style

If doing this project with toddlers or pre-school kids I suggest reading Thank You Bear by Greg Foley too!
 

December Tis the Season to Send, Send, Send!

This year I've had a personal goal of sending out at least two pieces of snail mail a week. Letter writing is a art that is rapidly falling to the wayside and this is my own humble effort to keep the tradition alive. Most of what I send hasn't been letters at all. I've sent mostly cards and art made by the kids or myself. Still I have fallen behind on my goal. Thankfully the holiday offer fabulous momentum to send, send, send!
 

Here is a sneak peak at what will be going out in December:
 

Stationery card

View the entire collection of cards.

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.