Poppy Mother's Day!

Mother's Day is probably the most stressful day for me when it comes to creating crafts. I know, I know, Mom's love everything their sweet child makes for them - especially when it's got a "Happy Mother's Day" attached to it.......but the project should be more than a bunch of stuff slapped together....I believe that a Mother's Day project should have that special touch to it to make mom swoon and want to show it to everyone she knows and proudly say, "look what my child made for me!"

I remember when I was young and once a year "The Wizard of Oz" would come on tv. My mom would call my sisters and I in to watch it with her. The poppy scene would fascinate me and I think I'd ask her each year how little red, paper like flowers would make them fall asleep. Other than The Wizard of Oz and the Veterans in front of Walmart once a year, I don't think I've ever seen poppies anywhere else.

Last year at Mother's Day my mom was still mourning the loss of her own mother, who went to Heaven the year before. Although I didn't make one of these for her, I made it with her in mind. I really don't know if my mom even likes poppies, I know it's not her favorite flower (that would be Tiger Lily) but when I see them, it reminds me of her and red was my Grandma's favorite color....so that's how this project began to bloom.

Me & My Mom - at my Grandma's memorial service April 2, 2012

(I chose to wear a red top and shoes instead of black...

I even had my hair colored a bright shade of red!)

 

 

So.....here's what they inspired me to make:

 

 

Supplies needed:

Template of "The Red Poppy"

Green & Yellow Tempra Paint

Red Tempra Paint

Paintbrush

Red Tissue Paper or Red Construction Paper

Black construction paper (heavy weight is best)

Black Sharpie

White 8x8 bakery board

White construction paper

Red Ribbon

Scissors

Pencil

Hot Glue/Gun

Yellow and/or Red Rhinestones (shape doesn't matter)

 

 

I like to use Bakery Boards for crafts rather than foam board for my projects. I find mine at Hobby Lobby (in the baking aisle) they come in a variety of sizes and shapes and one side is white, the other brown - makes it perfect for crafting and they come 5-6 to a pack so it's perfect for small groups.

 

Mix the green and yellow tempra paints to create a beautiful light green - using a paintbrush, make 5 lines down the board (they don't need to be perfect!) These will be the stems of the poppies.

Set aside to dry.

 

 

I used the "The Red Poppy" template I found online

(click here: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDUpkCe0bGU1DOoVPwuraRk9YebpLXvi9okCG60L46bxwVEMoLov2Ft4EDpBs3OzebIEsjysohqpKvB-xNZtMEkfEWsU19PCjl_VohLRVbLtYU6T-EnaB6FqBPEuLVvq0-2gVgZuPeZbGb/s1600/Poppy+template.jpg )

Print a copy of the poppy ad centers in small, medium and a large size. Cut out and trace 2 copies each onto white construction paper - only 1 copy of the large size is needed.

 

Paint using the red tempra paint - let dry

 

After dry, glue on red tissue paper or construction paper onto backside of poppy - let dry

 

Cut out poppies. Bend the sides of the poppy leaves in and the tip up - I actually bent the leaves and then "crinkled" them up a bit and it made them look even better.

Using the template for the centers, draw the circle (with the slits) onto the black paper. Using your scissors, cut little slits all around the black circles, one for each of the poppies. Cut as close to the center as you can without cutting into the center. Glue the center down onto the middle of the appropriate poppy. (Be sure to glue ONLY the center!)

Add rhinestone to the black center of the poppy. After glued, gently use your fingertips to "fluff" up the center's slits so that they curl around the rhinestone. Again, the more crinkled up, the better. Just be careful not to tear them!

 

Glue poppies onto the bakery board - starting with the smaller ones on the outside, then the middle, and the large poppy in the center. It's okay if they are a little "crowded" - it makes the board look more full.

Use Sharpie to write "Poppy Mother's Day in a loose script across the stems.

I used a red grosgrain ribbon with black polka dots for the hanger - hot glue the ends onto each top corner, cut in center, and tie a small bow to hang.

 

 

That's it! It's pretty easy to make and it really looks beautiful - a perfect Mother's Day project that is sure to get an "Awe...."  

 

 

A Little Batty....

Although I'm 41, I'm somewhat of a newbie when it comes to Halloween. Growing up Halloween was not a holiday that we celebrated. So when I had my son and he started begging to dress up for Halloween, I reluctantly agreed and threw the Blue Power Ranger costume into the cart....I let him continue to dress up each year until he thought it was no longer "cool".  My daughter didn't like costumes until just a couple years ago so other than some church Halloween alternative events, that was the extent of my Halloween experience.

So when I started teaching in a Preschool and Halloween rolled around, I not only had an issue with having to suddenly participate in dressing up the school's costume theme for that year - but also coming up with crafts to make with the kiddos.

I have always thought bats were a cute - but creepy - creature and so they were one of my first Halloween crafts.

I created a couple of different bat crafts that the kids loved - both are easy to make.  The first craft is more for older children (or you can cut out the bat forms and let the smaller children glue on the pieces themselves) and the second is for either age group but works perfectly for babies-preschoolers ....and Mom's just love those little handprints! (the picture below was actually taken by one of my kiddo's mom's - she took it home, hung it up in her dining room and posted the picture on facebook to show it off!)

Supplies Needed:
small or large paper plate
Black construction paper
white construction paper
red glitter
scissors
hole punch
yellow or black ribbon
yellow tempra paint
Black tempra paint
Elmer's Glue
hot glue
white paint pen
Quote either printed and cut out or use a Sharpie to write on the back of the plate
Wiggly Eyes


Hole punch a small or large paper plate (hole punching prior to painting makes it easier)
Paint plate with yellow tempra paint. When finished drying, add a yellow or black ribbon for hanging.

Either print out or use a Sharpie to write out the quote:
 "I may drive you BATTY, but you can't help but LOVE me anyway!"
I used a cool Halloween font Transylvania - to type this - there's many out there....check Halloweenfonts.com to find more.


***TIP: You will need to paint both sides of the plate regardless of which craft you are making - after painting one side you can take a break and read the sweet book, Stellaluna by Janell Cannon with the children while you wait for the paint to dry to be able to paint the backside.

TO CREATE THE FIRST BAT: I actually freehanded the bat template and wings (sorry, I don't have it to post at the moment but will add as soon as I can find it!) If you aren't able to freestyle, google "bat template" and there's pages of templates available - just select one that you prefer. The trick to making this craft noticeable is the wings so make sure that the wings are well defined.

Depending on the age of the child, either let them cut out the template and glue on, or if younger, go ahead and cut out and let them glue onto the plate themselves. ***DO NOT GLUE THE WINGS DOWN TO THE PLATE!

Using the glue, make a heart on the belly of the bat and dots for the eyes and let the kids sprinkle the red glitter

For the wings, bend at each arch and then put a drop of glue at the first bend (the one closest to the body) This will keep the wings from drooping and will allow them to "flap"

TO CREATE THE SECOND BAT: Using black tempra paint, paint the palm of the child - being careful not to get paint on the fingers - make print on white construction paper. Make handprints using both hands - one on each side of the palm print - make sure it's touching the palm "head". Use the thumbprints for ears.

Using a hot glue gun, add large wiggle eyes.
Use a white paint pen to draw on the mouth/fangs (a white out pen works great too!)
Cut out the handprints leaving a little space around them and glue onto the paper plate (a large plate works best for this craft)

 

 

 

 

Fall Handprint Bunting

Supplies Needed: Construction paper in white, red, orange, green, yellow, and brown
Tempra paint in same colors, gold metallic (optional)
Twine or Raffia Ribbon
Hot glue / Elmer's Glue
Buttons in fall colors
A few straws
Scissors



The leaves changing colors is one of my favorite things about fall....and they were the inspiration for this bunting. 

We started out with making handprints on white paper. 
Rather than sticking with solid colors - we used Tempra Paint (for easy cleanup) in fall colors and added a metallic gold to give it a beautiful shimmer.

***TIP: rather than dipping hands in the paint on a plate, use a brush or finger and "paint" them on - being careful not to blend the colors too much on the hand - they will mix perfectly on the paper. Start out by doing the yellow based prints first...then use all the other color combinations. You don't need to wash hands until after all the prints are made - the colors mixing together add to the beauty of the artwork!

After drying, cut out prints leaving a little edge around them.

Glue onto Coordinating Rectangles - for added flair you can trim edges w/deco scissors.

Use raffia ribbon to make small bows...leaving the ribbon tails as long as you prefer...add a small color coordinating button to centers with hot glue.

For the back, cut pieces of straw about 1/2" and hot glue on to the back leaving about an inch or less space at the top of the paper.

Use the straws to thread twine or raffia ribbon thru to hang.

I tied the ends in a big loop knot with a decorative acorn hot glued on the knot - these will help keep your twine from falling through the straws.

***TIP: You could personalize it by adding a rectangle in the middle with a verse/quote/picture/initial or  put in extra cards with letters to spell out "Happy Fall" or the Family's last name  between the sets of  handprints.