Paper Bag Puppets

This craft is SO fun for the kids- and very satisfying once they're done and realize it's a puppet!

I made several styles, but here are three for this go-round.  A raccoon, Pig, and Elephant:

The elephant an the Pig are made completely from felt, but the Racoon I printed the eyes and ears so It's not too complicated. 

Elephant: 

2 Ears- kidney shapes, Gray

1 Trunk- arm shape, Gray

2 Eyes- half ellipse, White

2 Pupils- circles, black

Pig:

2 Ears- triangles, pink

2 Eyes- circles, white

2 Pupils- circles, black

1 Nose- flat oval, pink

2 Arms, long oval, pink

Racoon:

2 Eyes, overlapping blaxk and white ovals

2 Ears, overlapping tirangles

1 Nose Tip, circle, black

1 Nose, circle, white

2 Arms, long oval, black

1 Belly, long oval, white

I tried to add the patterns, but am having an issue with it on blogger.... grrrr- so if you would like them, please e-mail me JenGood.

Once all the pieces are cut out, just have the kid(s) apply with a glue stick... do not be shy with adding the glue!  Especially with the felt.  Be very generous.  I do not recommend using liquid glue on this project though.  Once all pieces are added, the pig just needs a couple little nostrils added with a sharpie.  We also let the kids color 'clothes' on the bags.  lso, for very litle ones I cut down the bags a couple inches so they fit on their arms.  One of the moms suggested it and it worked out great!

Water Marbles

I know that we have all seen these on Pinterest... I finally gave in and bought some. Wow! They are SO fun!

These come as tiny little beads:

You put them in water for 4-6 hours. Here they are after about 2 hours:

Here they are at full "fill":

They are really squishy and bouncy! Even my teenager and his friends played with them! I highly recommend for some cool entertainment :)

Paper Plate Tambourines

This is a fun and easy craft for the littlest of toddlers!

What you need:

• Paper Plates (just not plastic, or plastic reinforced!)
• Beans. Just buy the cheapest pinto beans at the market!
• Stapler (and staples!)
• Stickers, crayons, stamps, markers- anything to decorate with!
• optional- wrapping ribbon, pipe cleaners

1. Turn the plates over and just color! Add stickers or stamps for effect!

This is Hunter, showing off his awesome decorating skills :)

2. If you want to add the "flair", do it now... cut a few strands of ribbon (wrapping ribbon is fine!), staple the ends to the inside of the plate, so they flow out like streamers. You can pop a hole in the ends to thread through a couple pipe cleaners so they stick out!

3. Turn over one of the plates (like you are eating) and add a couple handfuls of beans. Just add enough to make some *noise*!

4. Now lay the second plate over the first, and staple. I recommend stapling the four "corners" first, then stapling between them. The staples need to be close enough together so the beans don't fly out when shaken.

Viola! Tambourine! This project is easy and FUN! The little kids especially love it once it's done and they realize all the noise they can make!