Coffee Filter Butterflies

We've been spending a lot of time outdoors lately and Stella is quite intrigued by bugs. So, I thought it was the perfect time to make a few of our own. Today we started with butterflies! Coffee filter butterflies are one of those classic crafts that I think everyone has made a one time or another. They are a favorite here!

You will need:

• coffee filters
• washable markers
• a spray bottle filled with water
• chenille stems 

First, color the coffee filter (the more color the better it will turn out). Next, spray the coffee filter generously with water. Finally (when it's dry), fold the filter accordion style and wrap the chenille stem around the middle, bending it to form antennae. Finished!

 

Bottle Print Flowers

Using an empty bottle dipped in paint…

…print flowers on a piece of construction paper.

Yeah, it’s just that easy! Now go ahead, make some flowers!

Paper Plate Umbrella

They say April showers bring May flowers, right? Well I sure hope so because we have definitely had our share of showers the past two days. So, to honor our spring showers, we made our very own paper plate umbrellas!

First, color a paper plate any way that you like and then cut it in half.

     

After it’s cut in half, cut a slit in each piece and fit the two halves together.

   

Next you need to add a handle made from construction paper.

   

Hang a few raindrops from your umbrella and add a string to hang it up.

Balloon Print Caterpillar

{For this project you will need}

a balloon

green, yellow, and orange paint

a piece of paper

1. Pour some yellow and green paint on a plate. Blow up the balloon.

2. Have your child dip the balloon into the paint and press it on the paper.

3. Continue until the caterpillar is the length you want.

4. Dip the balloon into orange paint to make the head.

5. Add a face and antennae and cut out your caterpillar.

Footprint Robin

One sure sign of Spring is the arrival of the first robin. We have already seen the first robin in our yard, how about you? Well, whether or not he's made an appearance, you can make a robin of your very own using just some paint and your feet!

1. Paint a foot brown and print it on a piece of paper. You may have to fill in the arch a bit.
2. Paint the robin's red breast.
3. Add feet, a beak, and an eye.

Welcome to Spring, Mr Robin!

Footprint Ducklings

Things are still getting back to normal around here from our busy week and weekend so I thought I would share another one of our favorite projects from Just For Fun. We'll be back to work tomorrow!

1. My favorite part, paint your child's foot with yellow paint.

2. Stamp them on a piece of construction paper.

3. We did this two times per paper.

4. Fill in the details, such as, grass, feet, beaks, and even clouds or flowers.

5. There you have it! Some cute little ducklings made with your feet:0)

...out like a lamb.

Last week, we welcomed March with our handprint lion so today I am sharing a handprint lamb. This one is fun because you can have a little snack as you are making it.

1. Trace your child's hand. Cut it out.

2. Apply a generous amount of glue to the hand, leaving the finger tips glue-free.

3. Glue popcorn to the hand. I had to crush it a little for Madelyn's because her hand is so small.

4. Glue an ear to the thumb and draw an eye and a mouth.

 ...out like a lamb!

Handprint Bunnies

What says spring like a cute, little bunny? Today we made an adorable bunny with our hand prints.

1. Paint the palm of your child's hand and the index and ring fingers.

2. Using a thumb dipped in pink paint, make a nose in the center of the palm.

3. Add some eyes, mouth, and whiskers to your bunny:0)

Tootsie Tulips

Spring is in the air and the flowers are bursting through the Earth to show off their brilliant colors! Today we made some colorful flowers of our own. These "tootsie" tulips are a project that we did every spring when I was working at a daycare center/ preschool. I just have to make them every year, because I can't resist the cuteness of little feet!

1. Paint the bottom of your child's foot and print it on a piece of construction paper. *Warning: This may cause uncontrollable giggling!

2. Add some leaves and a stem.

There you have it! A very simple project to brighten any room on a spring day!