Hanukkah Kids' Craft: Sponge Print Menorah

There are eight great nights for Hanukkah crafts for kids! The other day I was cutting apart a kitchen sponge. Not just for fun, but to make a stamper. After I coaxed the shape out of the sponge, I had all of these little bits left over. Not wanting to waste them, I put them to work in a menorah print project.

Not only does this children’s art activity teach your young artist about print-making, but it also acts as a holiday lesson. Sure, your preschooler can’t light the menorah by himself. But, with this printing project he can paint on a new flicker every night. Your child can also explore shape, texture, pattern and color!

Add some math to this activity too. Your child can cut out and print basic shapes, create patterns and count up to eight (actually nine, with the central ‘helper’ shamash candle).

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        A sponge

·        Tempera paints

·        Card stock paper

·        Scissors

Here’s What to Do:

1. Cut the sponge. Make geometric shapes (and have your child name them) or cut apart free-flowing forms.

2. Pour a few pools of paint. If you don’t have a palette, use a piece of wax paper or a paper plate.

3. Dip a sponge piece into the paint, coating one side completely. Press it onto the paper to make a print.

4. Repeat the paint print step, making a menorah. Your child can design whatever type of menorah he can imagine! He can also create color or shape patterns with the sponge printing.

5. Add nine candle to the top of the menorah. Use a thin rectangle-shaped sponge to do this. The middle candle (the shamash) is used to light the others. This one can be a bit taller than the rest of the candles.

6. Paint print a flame on for each night of Hanukkah. Go back to the art activity each night, adding a new yellow top to each candle with yellow tempera and a small sponge piece.

Are you looking for more kids’ crafts? Follow my Pinterest board for ideas!

Follow Mini Monets and Mommies's board Creative Kids Crafts on Pinterest.

DIY Chocolate Sugar Face Scrub

Hot chocolate sugar face scrub? Yes! And, you can make this DIY beauty facial at home for a fraction of the cost that a store-made brand would run.

 

(This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure statement for more information).

I’m fairly certain that I have the word ‘sucker’ scrawled across my forehead when it comes to anything that combines food and beauty. I’m not talking about slathering pounds of meaty lasagna across my face. But, any cosmetic, facial, cream, lotion or potion that has anything remotely chocolate, vanilla, cotton candy or frosting scented in it is completely irresistible to me. Maybe it’s the packaging or maybe it’s just the thought of smelling like a sweet, sweet cupcake all day long. In any case, I have somewhat of a spending problem when it comes to these beauty treats.

So, I decided to make my own. If chocolatey face scrubs are something that I know I just can’t pass up, why not try a DIY version (that is, instead of spending way more than I’d like to on one)? And, that’s where the hot chocolate sugar face scrub came into play. This is also an easy answer to a 'beauty day' with your child. If you've got a preschooler or young child who likes to explore with her sense of taste, chemical-filled store-bought facials are major no-no's. While your child certainly shouldn't gobble down this DIY scrub by the spoonful, it is only made from kitchen ingredients. That means a stray taste here or there isn't the worst thing in the world.

Before I go any farther, let me just say that the hot chocolate isn’t actually ‘hot’. It’s more of a slightly luke warm temperature. Obviously, actual hot chocolate would burn my skin (and yours too). With that in mind, never heat this mix up to a hot temperature. Again, let me say – never, ever touch or apply a hot mix to your skin. Only warm this scrub up to the temperature of warm running water from the faucet.

Why chocolate? For me the decision was mostly for the scent. I love, love, love the smell. But, some say that chocolate’s anti-oxidant properties are excellent for toning and hydration.

What else is in this  chocolate facial thing? As you’ll see, I’ve included heavy whipping cream. Aside from needing something to mix the chocolate with, I didn’t want anything oily in the mix. Some DIYers use coconut oil, olive oil or something similar as a base for homemade facial masks. My skin breaks out easily, so I don’t want to add oil to it. The cream was smooth enough to add some hydration, but didn’t make me feel like an oil slick had spread to my face.

I also added in coarse sugar. Aside from the sweetness factor, the thick grains acted as an exfoliant.

How did I make my chocolate scrub?

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        ¼ cup heavy whipping cream

·        1 tablespoon dark cocoa powder

·        2 tablespoons coarse cane sugar

Here’s What to Do:

1. Whisk together the cream and cocoa.

2. Pop the mix (in a microwave-safe bowl) into the microwave for about 20 seconds. Microwaves vary in terms of intensity, so you may need more or less time. Heat the mixture until it is only slightly warm to the touch. The idea here is to make sure that the cocoa powder melts into the cream. It should feel like warm tap water.

3. Stir the mix again. At this point I transferred the mix into a new, smaller bowl. It kept it more manageable and helped it to cool down. If the cocoa is still a bit clumpy, that's ok.

4. Add the sugar, and mix it all together.

5. Test the scrub on the small spot on your hand or arm, making sure that it isn’t too hot first. If it’s steaming, smoking or bubbling it is definitely much too hot. Allow the mix to fully cool before applying it to any part of your skin. Testing the scrub also helps you to see if your skin reacts to it. I have extremely sensitive skin. Doing a test run first helps me to see if I’ll get a rash, redness or another issue form a cosmetic product.

6. Gently scrub your face in a light, circular motion. Keep the chocolate scrub away from your eyes and lips. (My teenage son played the role of photographer. He thought it was absolutely hilarious that I had brown goop all over my face and took this picture as slowly as he could).

7. Wash the scrub off with warm water. Pat dry with a soft towel.

That’s it! Easy enough, right? I’m a little bit of a safety freak, so I’m going to say again – this isn’t really a ‘hot’ chocolate recipe. The scrub should never get to the point of being a hot temperature. If it somehow does, let it cool down completely before applying it to your skin. A scrub that feels any warmer than the water that you shower with or the water that you typically wash your face with is way too hot. Also, if you know or suspect that you’re allergic or sensitive to any ingredient, skip the scrub.

 

 

Hanukkah Melting Menorah: Science and Art for Kids!

Celebrating Hanukkah in my house hasn’t always been ‘traditional’. I’m Jewish, and my husband is not. That means our son gets eight nights of presents, plus Christmas. It also means educating him about both holidays. That said, adding in some artsy fun is always welcome when it comes to teaching.

Ok, so my son has never been in love with art (of course, because I am an arts educator—sarcasm very much implied here). So, I’ve always tried adding another type of activity in with the art. This menorah art exploration also includes science as well. It’s also part of the Multicultural Kid Blogs Hanukkah for Kids series!

I’m a fan of coloring ice cubes and letting them melt into swirling, whirling water colors. Not only does the melting ice teach your child about the solid-to-liquid transformation, but it also adds in a lesson on color mixing. If you’re beginning to ask, “What does this have to do with Hanukkah?” – here it is. You can’t let your child play with the real menorah. Lit candles and a kid just don’t mix. With that in mind, you can make a crafty menorah. You and your child can also try this melting ice science/art menorah. Unlike the slowly burning flames of the menorah’s candle, these melting ‘candles’ won’t burn anyone or anything.

Before you begin, ask your child what he thinks will happen to his ice block menorah if he leaves it out. Dig a bit deeper and ask him to predict what it will eventually turn into (also ask how long he thinks it will take to melt).

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        Ice cube trays

·        Food coloring

·        Gold glitter

·        Card stock paper

Here’s What to Do:

1. Make the ice for the menorah. You need enough to make a base and ‘candle holders’. Keep in mind you need eight holders (one for each night of Hanukkah) and a center shamash candle. The shamash is the ‘attendant’ candle – the one that you use to light the others. Drip a few drops of food coloring into each compartment of the trays (sprinkle in some glitter too, if your child wants). Pour in water. Freeze.

2. Drip a few drops of yellow food coloring into another tray. You need at least none pieces to make nine flames. Sprinkle gold glitter on top to make sparkling flames. Freeze the flame cubes.

3. Pop the frozen cubes out of the freezer.

4. Stack the ice in the shape of a menorah on thick card stock paper. Encourage your child to explore and experiment with the engineering aspect of it. Let him stack the cubes in any way that he wants, making sure to count out the nine total candle holders. He can also make the center shamash holder taller than the other.

5. Add the ‘flames’. Stack the yellow and gold glitter cubes on top of the candles.

As the ice begins to melt your child can start spreading the flowing water colors around. By moving the different colors of ice he can discover what happens when the colors mix.

Eventually the menorah will melt. But, it won’t be gone. Save the remaining water color paint paper as a reminder of this Hanukkah activity.

Are you looking for more art and science activities? Follow my Pinterest board for more ideas!

Follow Mini Monets and Mommies's board Preschool Art and Science Activities on Pinterest.

Star Wars Crafts for Kids: Lightsaber Painting

Star Wars crafts for kids? Yep, the kids are practically foaming at their mouths to see The Force Awakens or they’ve watch all of the other movies something like a zillion times (I’ve been there too). You’ve managed to buy up every piece of movie merchandise that you deem reasonable, and now the kids want – more?

(This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure statement for more information).

Your junior Jedi can try out this lightsaber painting project. If lightsabers and painting aren’t exactly two things that seem to go together, you’re line of thinking is probably right. But, it’s also entirely possible. I’m not talking about using your child’s precious play lightsaber to get artsy. Instead, he can transform a paintbrush into one that looks like the Star Wars movie staple. How?

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        A paintbrush

·        Kitchen foil

·        Black electrical tape

·        Scissors

·        Temperapaint

·        Paper

Here’s What to Do:

1. Tear a sheet of foil off of the roll. Fold it in half.

2. Place the paintbrush (brush side towards the bottom) at the end of the folded foil. Your child will cover the brush part and paint with the opposite end.

3. Fold the foil around the brush, creating a few layers. Your child only needs to cover half of the paintbrush. The foil is the lightsaber’s handle.

4. Use the tape to add accents to the handle. Cut the tape into pieces and wrap it around the foil. Your child can craft any designs he wants to.

 

5. Pour a few pools of paint onto a paper plate or make a wax paper palette.

6. Finger paint the tempera onto the paper.

7. Use the lightsaber to ‘draw’ in the paint. Make abstract patterns, designs or create a favorite character from the Star Wars movie (who doesn’t like Chewbacca in paint?).

And, there you go – Star Wars crafts for kids! Your child can also use the end of the lightsaber to directly paint with. Just dip it into the paint.

Are you looking for more kids’ crafts? Follow my Pinterest board for ideas!

Follow Mini Monets and Mommies's board Creative Kids Crafts on Pinterest.

Kids' Art Supply Gift Basket

Need a gift for a crafty kid? Looking for children’s art supplies that fit the bill for the upcoming holidays? Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or any other holiday, putting together an art supply gift basket is an easy way to spark some creativity in your child.

(This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure statement for more information).

Not only does Santa have to bring gifts to your house, but you’ve got some gift-giving to do when it comes to other people’s kids. There are cousins, friends and the occasional holiday party to bring presents to.

Every year my son and I donate a gift basket to our karate school’s holiday party auction. Honestly, I usually don’t put a huge amount of thought into it. There’s so, so, so, so much else to do. What happens? I stuff a basket with a few various scented lotions and shower gels, and call it a ‘pampering yourself’ basket. This year I decided to do something a little different.

I put together a few of my favorite kids’ art supplies. Ok, so I have more than a few favorites. That said, I couldn’t possibly fit them all into one gift basket. Even though I didn’t want to cheap-out on the basket, I also didn’t want to spend a crazy amount on it either. What did I do? Here are a few suggestions for putting together an arts and crafts materials basket for kids:

1. Go with the basics. Instead of stocking the gift with ultra-fancy artsy stuff that are a bit out of your price range, opt for simple materials that most kids know (and love). This means crayons, tempera paints, clay or colored pencils.

2. Add a few tools. I added paintbrushes, but you could also include clay tools or even pencil sharpeners.

3. Highlight one ‘special’ item. I picked out a set of glitter glue pens.

4. Pack a variety. You could pop in one paintbrush, or even a set of them. Or, you could get an array. I chose different sizes of brushes, along with sponge-tipped versions.

5. Give the gift recipient ideas on how to use the supplies! You can include an index card with a few art projects or print some out. I made these art activity printables to include in my gift basket. You can download it, print it and add it as well. The parents (especially those who aren’t particularly arts-inclined will appreciate the ideas). You can print out one or pick and choose depending on what types of materials you include.

Painting ideas:

 

Clay play:

 

Drawing ideas:

 

Are you looking for more artsy ideas? Follow my Pinterest board for activities!

 

Follow Mini Monets and Mommies's board Creative Kids Crafts on Pinterest.

Pecan Pie Cookie Ball Truffles

Cookie truffle balls are one of my favorite things to not bake. OK, so they might also be one of the few things that I ‘cook’ well. Pecan pie might not be anyone’s immediate thought when hearing the words, “Cookie balls”, but maybe it should be!

You’re looking for an easy dessert solution to your Thanksgiving and holiday party baking woes. This is super-simple, and the kids can even get in on the baking action.

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        1 cup pecans

·        Golden sandwich cookies (Oreos or other cookies, with a cream filing)

·        6 oz. softened cream cheese

·        1 cup brown sugar

·        ½ cup cornstarch

·        ¼ cup water

·        2 egg yolks

Here’s What to Do:

Make the cookie balls—

1. Crush the cookies in a food processor.

 

2. Mix the cream cheese in with the cookies.

3. Shape the mix into balls that are slightly smaller than plums.

4. Pop the cookie balls into the freezer for one hour.

5. Take the cookies out of the freezer.

Make the pecan mix –

1. Chop the pecans – if you didn’t already buy pre-chopped ones.

2. Measure and mix the brown sugar and cornstarch (if the kids are helping, this is a perfect opportunity to sneak in some math).

3. Add the water and egg yolks, mixing in a saucepan over a low heat.

4. Stir in the pecans. Continue mixing until you’ve got a pecan pie filling consistency.

Complete the recipe –

1. Coat the cookie balls with the pecan pie mix – be careful, it will be hot.

2. Serve! I served mine with vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of maple syrup. Yum!

Are you looking for more cookie truffle recipes?

What about pumpkin pie truffles?

 

OR, how about chocolate pretzel cookies?

 

Or, you could follow my Pinterest board for ideas galore!

 

Follow Mini Monets and Mommies's board Oreo Truffle Balls on Pinterest.

Sensory Slime Science, with Feathers!

What kid doesn’t relish the chance to make slime? Even though my son is 14 now, he still totally enjoys the ooey, gooey science-y stuff.

(This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure statement for more information).

Earlier in the week I made a vain attempt to use up my stockpile of glitter. The result? Disco slime! It was pretty cool (according to my now-teen). But, I also had an equally as impressive stockpile of craft feathers. There are only so many Thanksgiving turkey crafts that one family can stand, so I had to find another use for the rest of the faux feathers. I kind of imagined that adding feathers to slime wouldn’t work – or it might be totally awesome.

I can’t say it was genius or that the feathers fluffed out in the slimy mix. They did add a playful mix of color and a let’s call it ‘unique’ texture. So, the feather slime experiment turned out to be a pretty neat sensory exploration.

I’m going to suggest that you start this activity by making a few predictions. Set the feathers out in front of your child and ask him what he thinks will happen to them when he adds them to the slime mix. Invite your child to touch the feathers first. He can then think about (and talk about) how the feathers might change when they meet the gooey stuff.

And now on to the activity...

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        ¼ cup school glue – We used clear (not white) Elmer’s glue

·        ¼ cup liquid starch

·        ¼ cup water

·        Craftfeathers

·        Scissors

Here’s What to Do:

1. Measure and mix the glue and water. Use this opportunity to sneak in a math lesson. Not only can your child measure the glue and water, but he can also compare the two quantities (as equal).

2. Add a handful of craft feathers to the mixture. If you’re using larger craft feathers, cut them into pieces.

3. Slowly mix in the liquid starch. The glue and water should now start turning into a gelatinous consistency.

4. Play, explore and experiment with the sensory slime!

Are you looking for more slimy science for kids? Follow my Pinterest board for ideas!

Follow Mini Monets and Mommies's board Slime, Play Dough and Goo on Pinterest.

Disco Slime!

Disco slime! Ok, so it doesn’t play a Donna Summer song or a Bee Gees tune. But, it does sparkle like a disco ball. And, who doesn’t love a glittery kids’ art and science activity?

 

(This post contains affiliate links. Please see my disclosure statement for more information).

A little while back we made disco play dough. I thought I’d take it a step farther and try a slime version. It was super-simple to make, and my 14-year-old even enjoyed it (and lately he doesn’t enjoy much of anything that doesn’t involve the word ‘Xbox’ in it).

Slime recipes are fairly common. Go ahead and google it. You’ll probably find page after page that features a very similar how-to. There are a few varieties – this one is the liquid starch kind. Even though the ingredients are kid-friendly, they are far from edible. If you have a child who enjoys eating everything or regularly puts what he’s playing with into his mouth, hold off on experimenting with this slime. It is not in any way taste-safe (i.e., do not eat it!).

I made a small batch, but you can mix up more goo if you double the recipe. You’ll notice that each of the many ingredients come in equal quantities. You’ll also notice that you need to do some basic measurements. Why not throw in a little math lesson and let the kids do the measuring themselves?

Here’s What You’ll Need:

·        ¼ cup school glue (I’ve used regular white glue before. It works pretty well. This time I used clear Elmer’s glue. I have to say, I did like it better – if you like a clear slime).

·        ¼ cup water

·        ¼ cup liquid starch

·        Glitter!!!!!!

Here’s What to Do:

1. Measure ¼ cup of glue. Pour it into a bowl.

 

2. Measure ¼ cup of water. Mix that in with the glue.

3. Sprinkle in the glitter. Now, add some more. Do you have enough? Probably not. So, go ahead and add even more. Use lots of different colors to get that disco ball effect.

 

4. Measure ¼ cup liquid starch. Slowly mix it in, adding it bit by bit.

 

5. Continue to mix the slime (your child can use his hands to do this) until it is like runny gelatin.

 

 

You can add some more glitter now, if you don’t already have enough!

Are you looking for more slime ideas? Check out how to make alien slime.

 

Do you need some more kids’ art and science activities? Follow my Pinterest board for ideas.

Follow Mini Monets and Mommies's board Preschool Art and Science Activities on Pinterest.