ParenthoodNJ.com

Items Needed:* Colored paper
* White paint
* Black paint
* Orange paint
* Potatoes or cheap sponges
* Some paper plates
* Paintbrush
* A knife or scissors
* Glitter (optional)
* Hair dryer (optional)

This idea came from the The Usborne Big Book of Playtime Activities although we modified it a little bit.

1. You can cut a potato in half to use as a stamp or just cut two sponges to the desired size. We used sponges and cut one large oval and one small oval (adults should do this part).
2. Squeeze some black paint onto a paper plate. Take the larger oval stamp (potato or sponge) and dip it into the paint.
3. Wipe off any excess paint on the side of the plate and then apply the stamp to the paper to create your first penguin. (My 5-year-old could do this with minimal assistance from me but an advanced 4-year-old might be able to do it without much help).
4. Repeat for the second penguin body.
5. Let black paint dry for a few minutes. You can speed this up by using a hair dryer.
6. Put some white paint on a second paper plate. Take the smaller oval stamp and dip it into the white paint and apply it to the middle of the black oval for each penguin's belly.
7. Take the paintbrush and dip it into the white paint and make a circle for each penguin's eye. Clean the brush and then make a black painted circle to make the pupils. (A young child can probably try this although my daughter wanted me to do it for her).
8. Then put the brush in the black paint again and paint the wings. A preschooler could do this. My daughter had me do the first wing, then help her with the second wing and then she did the last two wings by herself.
9. Clean off the brush and apply the orange paint to make the beak and feet. You're basically painting triangle shapes, which my 5-year-old did on her own.
10. Use the smaller oval stamp dipped in white to make the snowballs on the bottom of the picture.
11. Your child can use a finger or the paintbrush dipped in white paint to make the falling snowflakes. Have your child make a "cross" shape and then an "x" shape to make the snowflakes. For a bit of added flair, you can sprinkle some glitter onto the snowflakes while the paint is still wet.

Items Needed:
* Foam, round blocks
* White foam sheet
* Gold pipe cleaner
* Brown pipe cleaner
* Tiny pom pom
* Piece of foam block
* Miniature ornament
* Glitter Glue
* Marker
* Scissors
* Craft glue

Note: For more of a winter feel, don't apply the wings and halo.

1. Cut the foam block in a square to be about a 1 1/2 inches square. (No need to cut if you find a block the right size).
2. Draw a face on one of the white foam blocks and glue on the nose.
3. Glue the blank, white foam block to your foam base and then glue the second white foam block (the one with the face) to the first one.
4. Cut out a wing shape out of the foam sheet and then glue it to the back of your snowman.
5. Take the gold pipe cleaner and insert it into the top of the foam block and then bend into a halo shape. (Cut it to size, if necessary).
6. Cut the brown pipe cleaner into two pieces. Insert each piece into either side for the arms.
7. Attach the miniature ornament to one of

Items Needed:
* A wooden clothespin
* Pair of googly eyes
* Pom Pom (red preferred)
* Festive Foam stickers (we used a wreath and bow)
* Holiday Light string or similar (used for miniature trees)
* Glue
* Glitter Glue and a paint brush (optional)

This is a very simple and inexpensive craft that can be done with young kids (as long as they don't try to eat the supplies).

1. Glue the eyes and pom pom nose to the clothespin.
2. Attach the clothespin to your wreath with glue if it's not a sticker.
3. Attach the bow to your wreath.
4. Wrap the decorative string around the "antlers" of your reindeer. Apply small amounts of glue to the antlers so the string will stick to some parts of the clothespin.
5. For some extra sparkle, spread some glitter glue on the antlers and face.
6. Place your festive reindeer in a prominent location and enjoy!

Items Needed:
* Piece of paper or card stock (white is best) - you might need a few pieces
* Craft paint (gold for wings and halo, other colors optional)
* Sponges (get a bunch from a Dollar Store)
* Paper Plates
* Paintbrush
* A few disposable rags or lots of paper towels

Note: I did this craft with my 5-year-old which I think is the ideal minimum age. If you try this with a younger child, I would recommend at least two adults help with this craft.

This craft, based on a project in The Usborne Big Book of Playtime Activities, can be messy and a little time consuming but it is worth the effort and makes a great keepsake.

1. Start with the "body" of the angel and apply your paint color to a paper plate. My daughter chose pink.
2. Rub the sponge on the plate and wipe off some excess and then place your child's hand on the sponge to apply the paint to his or her hand (this is like having a large ink pad).
3. Firmly place your child's painted hand in the center of the paper. If you don't get it right the first time, try again with a new piece.
4. Let the "body" dry for a few minutes; take this time to wipe off the excess paint.
(Note: You could do the wings first to prevent multiple hand cleanings, but you'd have to be pretty certain of your hand placements).
5. Assuming you've done the body hand print first, now apply your gold paint to another plate. Spread a sponge on the gold paint (You could use the other side of the first sponge but you will get very messy. For a cleaner option, rinse the first sponge or just use a new sponge for this color).
6. Press your child's hand onto the gold-painted sponge. Wipe off any excess and firmly apply the hand to the paper, slightly overlapping your "body" hand print.
7. Then apply your child's other hand to the gold-painted sponge (you may need to add some paint to the sponge). Press this hand to the other side of the "body."
8. Allow the paint to dry a little and wipe your child's hands off.
9. Rotate the paper so the fingers are pointed down.
10. Use a pale pink or cream paint (or whatever skin tone you'd prefer) and have your child finger paint a circle for the head and two finger prints for the hands. For younger kids, you can help guide them.
11. Dip your child's finger in whatever paint color you've chosen for the hair color and apply the hair around the head in a dot pattern.
12. Draw a face with your choice of colors for the eyes, nose and mouth. (A paintbrush might be best here and an adult might be needed for this part).
12. Use the gold paint and draw a halo. Small kids can use their finger or a paintbrush.
13. You can embellish the picture with other decorations such as stars which can be drawn with the finger or a paintbrush.

Items Needed:
* Assortment of beads
* Piece of wire
* Wire cutters

Note: If you have beads with wider holes, you can use a pipe cleaner instead of the wire.

1. Thread the first bead on and wrap the wire around that bead to create a "stop" so the beads won't fall off.
2. Thread the other beads onto the wire in whatever pattern you desire.
3. When you have enough beads, twist the wire into a curved shape.
4. Bend the wire into a loop and cut any excess wire (an adult should cut the wire).
Hang from your tree, mantel or anywhere in your house.

Items Needed:
* Piece of clear or white plastic
* Piece of white garland material
* Decorative garland (the kind for miniature trees)
* A miniature ornament for tree topper (we used an angel)
* Pencil or marker
* Piece of ribbon
* Scissors
* Glue
* Suction cup hook (optional)
Note: You can use a piece of card stock or cardboard instead of plastic to back your tree. We used plastic so the sun would shine through the tree for a sun catcher effect.

1. Draw a tree shape on your plastic or card stock. (Use a stencil if necessary).
2. Glue the white garland to the tree shape.
3. Wrap the decorative garland around the tree. Glue the ends to the back of the tree.
4. Attach the tree topper to the tree and glue it.
5. Tie the ribbon around the tree topper.
6. If this will be a sun catcher or window ornament,

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Items Needed:
* A Jingle Bell (red color ideal)
* 4 white medium pom poms
* 1 small pink pom pom
* pair of googly eyes
* red piece of felt
* 1 white pipe cleaner
* small ring and piece of string
* craft glue; hot glue gun is best
* scissors

Note: if using a hot glue gun, parental supervision - and parental involvement depending on the child's age- is required.

1. Glue one white pom pom to the top of the jingle bell.
2. Glue the other two pom poms to the bottom for his feet.
3. Cut the piece of felt into two triangles. Glue them to each other and attach to the pom pom head.
4. Once the glue has dried enough, bend the white pipe cleaner around the head and hat to make the hat's fur trim and Santa's beard. Cut the pipe cleaner if needed.
5. Glue on the pink nose and eyes.
6. Glue the top of the hat to one bottom corner of the hat and put the metal ring around the hat.
7. Thread the string through the hole and tie in a knot. Your Jingle Bell Santa is now read to be hung from your tree or elsewhere or it can be worn as a festive necklace.

When you're not Trick-or-Treating, reading Halloween books or enjoying other Spooky events during this Halloween weekend, check out ParenthoodNJ's craft ideas and Halloween crafts on the following sites:

Education.com - free printable coloring pages, craft ideas & more
Celebrate Halloween - Nick Jr offers ways to make your own costume & decorations, tasty treats & Halloween coloring cards
DLTK's Growing Together - another great site for free printables and craft ideas

Materials Needed:
* Large Black Pom Pom ball
* Several beads of different colors
* Googly eyes or eye stickers
* Pipe cleaners
* Hot glue strongly suggested (parental supervision required) but craft glue could work

Learn to make this cute, not creepy, spider for Halloween. We discovered this craft at the Miller-Cory House Museum.

1. Glue the pipe cleaners to the bottom of the pom pom ball. Let the glue dry completely. (Parents might want to do this step beforehand so kids don't have to wait; also a good idea if using a hot glue gun).

2. Use glue (craft glue is sufficient) to apply googly eyes or attach foam eye stickers.

3. String the beads along the pipe cleaners. Bend the bottom of each pipe cleaner so the beads don't fall off. Find the perfect spot for your crafty critter.